Beltway Insider: Trump/Dems Stall on Wall, Primetime Plea, Secret Russian Meets; Dems and 2020; Sylvia Chase

President Donald Trump has remained steadfast in his demands over the Border Wall sparring with democrats as the atmosphere has shifted with the revelations the Mueller investigation indicates he assisted Putin in destabilizing the government to secure victory.

According to Gallup, President Trump's job approval, over the past month, remained constant at 39% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness as President decreased by one percentage point to 55%.

President's Primetime Plea

The President took to the airwaves this week attempting to explain to the American people the reasoning for the government shut down. Shifting blame from the polices of the wall to the democratic leadership as each explained the Wall and the shut down were each being held hostage and leveraged against the other.


Beltway Insider: Trump/Pols at Odds, Border Wall, Rep’s Gone Wild; Brexit Looms; Stalking


The facts are as they have been save the millions of government workers who are not receiving paychecks, the southern border security and illegal immigration which has plagued each presidency over the last quarter century is increasing.

With those millions of illegals attempting to cross into the united States illegally, some make it and become contributing members without issue. Others chose a different path and become the worst offenders of society.

The damage of those who have chosen a life of crime, and it isn't petty rehabilitatable crime, it is ingrained violence, that marks a degradation in society, of a brutality that appears natural. Many join or recruit the disenfranchised in the fringes creating increased gang violence. These are all facts. All agree an increased border security is necessary.

The Wall, as it is designed, isn't the answer. Staggered double rows of cement or steel pylons or pillars, which allow the border security agents to maintain a visual ground presence with canine assistance in the center lane.

The Wall nor using it for leverage against millions of law abiding Americans who are facing nearly a month of no wages. Many junior Representatives explained before they received their first paycheck they were unable to secure housing in the DC area. Imagine the millions waiting, the mortgages, the monthly bills, insurance, not waiting. The government needs to be reopened now.

Preview for State of the Union

President Trump's State of the Union Address will be held on January 29, 2019. With the message he will emphasis the policies of the Trump Presidency are bringing a better life to America.

Expect to hear him reiterate the continued drop in unemployment, and how Americans are heading back to work and the United States is celebrating one of the lowest unemployment periods in history. Its doubtful he will speak on the millions of workers who are underemployed as employment wages have failed to catch up to cost of living increases.

Touting his tax revision, which Americans will benefit from for the first time in 2019, remains the only policy that will keep him in office. Should his tax plan be attacked by potential candidates voters will see only one effect of trickle down politics and that is less money.


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The Border Wall which is escalating to one of the most contentious issues in political history, unless compromise is reached by January 29, the speech will be used to explain to the American people that democrats are causing the disruption in government.

The policies of the wall, and on a broader topic, immigration, have been in place since 2006. Trump, who is accustomed to building bigger has brought that philosophy to the Wall. Each administration since 2006 has come to a compromise on the immigration along the United States southern border. This administration will also. Fits of rage demoralize and undermine the process.

In reality the State of The Union may be used by the president to once again attempt to discredit the Mueller investigation and any criminal involvement in securing the White House.

Trump's Secret Russian Meetings

With Democrats taking control of the House and California Representative Nancy Pelosi winning the Speaker of the House position, for a second time, the possibility of Impeachment has become a shadowing reality in Washington.

Recent revelations that President Trump met secretly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, to which the president has vehemently denied, and even demanded his translator forfeit control of the notes taken at the meeting as well as clearing any calendar entry that would indicate the two were schedule to meet.


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"The Post reported that Trump has gone to "extraordinary lengths" to conceal direct conversations he has had with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Times article revealed that the FBI opened a counterintelligence investigation into Trump after he fired former bureau director James Comey in 2017, suspecting the president could be working on behalf of Russia. Trump has angrily denied allegations that he worked with Russia and has regularly attacked the media for reporting on the investigation. But Bernstein slammed Trump's dismissal of the probe," Newsweek reported.

President Trump has continued to fight allegations of collusion since his historic and unprecedented victory over Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton, in the 2016 election.

With the Mueller investigation securing solid information and guilty verdicts the upcoming sentencing phase for General Michal T. Flynn, who in accordance with his plea deal must participate in the investigation and must "testify fully, completely and truthfully before any and all Grand Juries in the District of Columbia and elsewhere, and at any and all trials of cases or other court proceedings in the District of Columbia and elsewhere, at which your client's testimony may be deemed relevant by the Government." [U.S. v. Michael T. Flynn, 1:17-cr-00232, District of Columbia]

Trump, who maintains a fair and square victory position, has also maintained a stronger positioning against Vladimir Putin than any other president. Using the micro-messaging platform Twitter, the president said, "I have been FAR tougher on Russia than Obama, Bush or Clinton. Maybe tougher than any other President. At the same time, & as I have often said, getting along with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing. I fully expect that someday we will have good relations with Russia again!," he wrote on Twitter on Saturday.

Turkey, Syria Foreign Policy Soundbite

President Trump also took to twitter to express his views and policies on Syria, Turkey, Russia and Iran."Starting the long overdue pullout from Syria while hitting the little remaining ISIS territorial caliphate hard, and from many directions. Will attack again from existing nearby base if it reforms. Will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds. Create 20 mile safe zone....Likewise, do not want the Kurds to provoke Turkey. Russia, Iran and Syria have been the biggest beneficiaries of the long term U.S. policy of destroying ISIS in Syria - natural enemies. We also benefit but it is now time to bring our troops back home. Stop the ENDLESS WARS!," he wrote (1) in two (2) separate posts.

Let The Games Begin - Democrats Begin the 2020 Primary Season

The 2020 Presidential Primary season begins officially with the February 2020 New Hampshire primary, which is the second defining contest of the primary season after the Iowa Caucuses.

The current state of the Union and its leader has escalated the democratic hopefuls to toss their hats into what appears to be a very crowded group of possible candidates with the hope of securing enough momentum throughout 2019 to distinguish themselves and become the name of record in 2020.

Although not complete, below is a brief list of six candidates that have announced or are expected to shortly.

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren has formed an exploratory committee and although she is sounding more like an "official" candidate in stump speeches and priority visits to Iowa and multiple visits to New Hampshire, she insists she is testing the water.

Her senatorial win was a first for a female in Massachusetts. Her current position, and Methodist Caucasian heritage, doesn't define the depth of character. Having experienced extreme poverty, due to medical bills and the loss of her father's income, during her teen years she began waiting tables at 13 to help.


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'"This is about who the rules work for," Warren said. "We need to make change in this country. Not little, itty-bitty change. Not change at the margins. Not a nibble around the edges. Not even pass one good law here and one good law there. We need to make systemic change in this country,"' CNN reports.

Julian Castro, a former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under former President Barack Obama, and former Mayor of San Antonio, has already officially announced his intent to run for President.

A career politician and lawyer Castro, who of Latino heritage, became the youngest councilman in San Antonio history at 26, when he defeated a 25 year veteran. He has continued to distinguish himself and unify the population. Not with upsets, he lost the San Antonio mayoral race in 2005 and came back to win the race in 2009. In 2014 he accepted an invitation from former President Obama to join his White House administration. He is globally known and recognized as a distinguished leader.

Former Iraq war veteran Tulsi Gabbard, a Hawaiian of Samoan and Hindi heritage, Democratic Representative has announced her intent to seek the nomination. A relative unknown, the Hawaiian native is a three term representative. Backing Bernie Sanders in 2016, she has been criticized for her aggressive actions against White House foreign policy and has visited Syria meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Gabbard's foreign policy positions, critical to voters, is somewhat murky and in some cases in direct opposition to all global governing bodies including the US policy, US allies, the United Nations and G7. She has visited Iowa and New Hampshire and is expected to return. A memoir to familiarize voters with the potential candidate is due to hit the streets May 2019.


The field is populating with many of the parties well-known names. Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, once rumored to be vetted for Hillary Clinton's VP spot, has announced he intends to stump in Iowa without officially announcing an exploratory committee or full intention to seek the nomination. He is cautiously wading into the pool.

California Senator Kamala Harris, is expected to announce on Martin Luther King Day from Oakland, California, her intention to seek the nomination.

New York Senator Kristen Gillabrand, is also heading to Iowa. Although not formally announced, the quiet additions to her team indicate to veteran political watchers a 2020 announcement is imminent.

These of course are the junior presidential hopeful, with three Castro, Warren and Brown having been this close either holding White House staff appointments or considerations for the Vice President spot.

The highly recognized pool of possible candidates also includes former Vice President Joe Biden, who has consistently been named the Number 1 choice among democratic voters. Vermont Senator and 2016 spoiler Senator Bernie Sanders, former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton, even former First Lady Michelle Obama, who has widespread recognition and sky high ratings, have been rumored to be interested in reentering the political race.


A Vest to Breathe Better


As each of the candidates impress upon the voters the need to send a resounding message, forward, that politics in the Republican era, riddled with secrecy, strife, moral aberration and self-seeking policy is over.

Sylvia Chase, Investigative News Pioneer, Dies

Sylvia Chase, one of the first female investigative news journalists hired by major networks based on skills, has died. She was 80.

One of only a handful of women including Connie Chung and Leslie Stahl who, in the 1970's were struggling to be taken seriously as broadcast news journalists by the then male dominated news networks on the national level, began her reporting in junior high school.

Working her way through college, she graduated from UCLA in 1961, right before the axis of society would shift and she at its crux. She eventually rose in the ranks and was hired by CBS in New York. She earned the title by TV Guide of "the most trusted women in broadcast news" reporting on hard hitting and generally tabooed subjects including the AIDS crisis, exploding gas tanks, diabetes, racism in law enforcement, sex abuse in the work place and in prisons and the abuse of children cared for by federally funded programs.

Chase was an original member of the ABC newsmagazine 20/20, a correspondent for the newsmagazine Primetime and was honored with many achievement based awards including the coveted Peabody Award and an 1978 Emmy for Investigative News Reporting.

Reporting at the height of the Watergate Scandal, Chase, who was often called "tough" explained the difference between tough and tenacious, as she was relentless in her pursuit of an interview with president Nixon's daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower. She said, '"the basic rule [of investigative news reporting] is not to take "no" ever."' She eventually secured the interview.

Ms. Chase, who recently underwent brain surgery, was recuperating in her home in Marin County when she passed. Funeral arrangements have not been made public.

For more information on President Donald Trump: www.whitehouse.gov

Sources: Whitehouse.gov, Wikipedia.com

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