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

President Trump returned to Washington after meeting with Troops in Iraq to begin the contentious budget wars that have resulted in a partial government shutdown and created a deeper divide between the White House and both Houses.

 

According to Gallup, President Trump's job approval, over the past month, increased by one percentage point to 39% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness as President remained constant at 56%.

Trump/Pols "No Wall; No Budget"

The Border Wall, again the concept of reinforced steel and concrete slabs 20 foot high, is the evolution of the 2006 Security Fence overwhelmingly supported by both parties. The more intensive material used will drive the cost of construction higher and the maintenance, which no one is pausing to consider will for the next twenty years cost $1billion per year to maintain.


Beltway Insider: Trump/Government Shutdown, Border Wall, Syria; Gatwick Drones


The Border Wall/Security Fence budgetary stalemate may end up being a draw with heavily trafficked areas given the concrete wall and other areas the fence. Unless, the idea which hasn't been proposed by the President is to build the Great Wall of the Southwest from the California border to the Rio Grande? If that is the case, why can't it become a project that lawmakers in each state would be willing to fund, creating a Wall that memorializes great leaders from each state the wall would pass through.

Walled Cities, clearly not a new concept and used historically to keep enemies out of communities and if the construction is studied the walls, or modernized gated communities, have positions to guard against intruders. Not simply slabs in the desert.

Government Shut Down Squeeze

The United States government is entering into a third week of partial shutdown. Except those government workers who are on an extended furlough, few Americans have yet to experience the border wall squeeze.

Our National Parks have become garbage dumps, as thousands have found the free access too sweet a deal to pass on. The unpatrolled national treasures are now filled with every kind of person from the respectful to downright vandals.

Reports indicate trash is piling up, restrooms are worse, sewage and filth both inside facilities and outside is damaging the pristine settings. Plastics, vandalism, destroyed property, disease and contamination from debris and rotting human waste have caused works to tape entrances to bar access.

The Border Wall wars are disrupting life in these United States.


The Healthcare Revolution: More Choices, Not More Taxes


The IRS is on furlough. With a little more than three weeks until the first wave of 2018 Taxes hit, the usual electronic promise of three weeks may end up being three months. Every person who files a tax return, even politicians, could experience a delay.

For the 12.4% of Americans who receive SNAP benefits, January should be on track, with no disruptions. Should the shut down move into the third week in January, the possibility of February disruptions become possible.

Soon the shutdown may effect children in states where the Border Wall is meaningless and where feeding a family is more important than impotent government.

The Border Wall wars are disrupting life in these United States.

House Swears In Newest Representatives and They Swear Back

Youthful spirited representatives, the newest class arrived in Washington, a vocal raucous bunch, this week to take the oath of office, pledging their allegiance to the nation. The exuberance was palpable

The first class includes Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), a member of a contentious group who have decided confronting the old guard is the easiest way to dominate these old white men who run the nation. With job security lasting only two years, the folks back home will be watching to ensure their investment in each of these candidates is worth the only power in politics the common man wields; his vote.


Machiavelli And The Bad Genius


To begin with a expletive laced declaration of war against the President may have seemed appropriate to set oneself apart from the pack of newbies and in reality it did nothing more than put a bull's eye of the Representative and those youthful Friday night binge parties antics did nothing more than reveal her core.

Politics is a nasty business, these young Rep's as hopeful and dedicated as they appear are nearly yesterday's news dismissed over an inability to find appropriate words to voice the feelings without relying on those often spoke, when language skills are limited, outside the hallowed halls of the House of Representatives Chambers.

Of all the good that Representative Rashida Tlaib may end up doing it will always pale to the outburst that tarnished her name, reputation, the voter's confidence and so now instead of a bright future one is faced with a political crisis that will erode and undermine each step unless it is managed.

Decorum has its place, as does utilitarianism, many may want to dismiss the notion that decorum must be destroyed in order to expose the frauds among us.

In reality decorum, like the political system that elevates and separates us from totalitarianism and dictatorial governments has a level of decorum attached. Many believed it was understood without direct messaging explaining what is acceptable and what is not with the walls of the chambers.

The old white men, the ones with money, can easily fund the republican on the home front that will over the next two years plaster every misstep, every outburst, every miscommunication, every mistake on every possible messaging platform, and the high hopes, dreams and beliefs that carried these newbies to this date will be yesterday's news. Or worse, the language will already dismiss the credibility.

Even as the president has lowered the standards of the office souldn't be taken as permission or an indicator that all elected officials should follow. 

A one sheet of acceptable exclamatory verbiage, including expletive usage, is in order.

The Probability of Impeachment

As the now-infamous F-bomb echoed through the hallowed halls of the House Chambers and from coast to coast dissecting the declaration is next on the agenda. Washington is a town with dual memory skills, at times egregious violations are short-lived and never remembered other times never forgotten.

During a reception for the action organization, MoveOn.org, the newly elected Representative said, "We're going to go in there and impeach the motherfucker."

She has remained unapologetic and insists the President has met his match.

Truth be told, even when the president is caught dead rights to center, the impeachment process is a challenge. Without wading into former President Bill Clinton's egregious breech, the fact remains the votes weren't there. Without wading into the muck, mire, and swamp of Trump's political situation, the fact remains the votes aren't there.

The Trump Presidency will run its course. It will become a footnote in history, even as he believes differently. The 2020 election primary is beginning and none too soon many, on both sides of the aisle, will say. It appears the responsibility of the democratic majority is clear.

Two years is a short time to begin a new job with a huge gaff, and breech in decorum, promise the unattainable, and return to Michigan in two years hoping for a second chance to prove it was all a misunderstanding.

Impeachment Process

Granted, President Trump has left himself wide open for an Impeachment according to the Constitution.

And the House of Representatives now with a democratic majority, the lower legislative body, has sole discretionary power to bring impeachment proceedings. Hold the champagne, the caveat is that the upper legislative house, the Senate, has the sole power to try, as in a criminal trial, all impeachments.

So without wading into the political messiness of the Trump presidency, the House can initiate impeachment charges and newly elected House Majority leader Nancy Pelosi (holding the gavel for a second time) understands the power she wields.


A Vest to Breathe Better


Should Robert A. Mueller recommend and if a Grand Jury finds cause both of which would strengthen an Impeachment charge, the House may move forward. Or, potentially, they can move on his unbecoming conduct.

Crimes committed before taking office, let's say, collusion or conspiring with the Russians to influence, cheat, or circumvent the political process are grounds. Would one of his layered loyalists step up and take the blame knowing presidential pardon awaits? Morally reprehensible behaviors prior to becoming president, not so strong.

For arguments sake, let's say Pelosi and the House Democrats, begin impeachment proceedings. The Republican led senate, even at 51R-49D-2I, is still an uphill battle. It seems unlikely the Republican led Senate would turn on the man, distasteful baggage or not, that put them in power. Historically only two Presidents have faced impeachments, Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, neither were successful and both remained in office.

Should impeachment proceedings begin, Trump remains in office while the process is ongoing. So yes, the House can bring impeachment charges against the President although a successful impeachment seems unlikely.

On the flip side of this all out war, the threat of Impeachment may be enough to tame the brash, aggressive and unbecoming behavior and get government back to running for the people or not.

Brexit Looms

Three years ago when the people of the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, it was an historically unsettling. Fast forward to now, as the most expensive divorce in history is becoming a reality.

The European Union has presented a deal, there will no longer be negotiations. The EU has made it clear the deal which is to begin debate in Parliament is the only deal that will be presented.

For Prime Minister Theresa May, she has taken to the BBC's Andrew Marr Show to stump, in a sense, for the ratification by Members of Parliament to endorse, or vote yes, on the deal.

The vote had been schedule for the last of December 2018. It was postponed and now the vote is upcoming. The Prime Minster is, essentially, in the same position she was before the Christmas break. The only change, of course, is the time frame.

Of course, the possibility of a straw vote to determine how far apart the two sides are in reality is probably not a consideration.

For citizens of the UK, especially those who are having separation anxiety, the possibility of a second referendum in the time before March 29, 2019, the official end date is nearly impossible.

Could it be done? Yes. It would mean tabling every discussion, gathering a majority vote for holding a second referendum, and with a leave vote still a possibility as the second referendum will still be stay or leave, the deal would remain the same. Would it allow members to study the deal, yes. It won't however, allow for further debate with the EU. They have endorsed the only deal they will offer.

So essentially, it is a straw vote on the deal, more debate, a vote, or a straw vote, a second referendum vote, an extension of Article 50 and the exit date (and six additional months at this point is at most a minor inconvenience) and either back to a straw vote on the deal or send it to the shredder.

Stalking Awareness Month

President Trump has marked January as National Stalking Awareness month.

"Stalking endangers the safety and well-being of millions of men and women each year.  Too often, this serious crime goes unreported and unaddressed, prolonging feelings of helplessness and anxiety experienced by too many Americans," the president's message read.

Further the actions were outlined, "Stalkers attempt to provoke fear in their victims through repeated and unwanted contact, including explicit and implied threats, following or waiting for the victim, and harassing the victim by misusing social media.  These and other threatening actions often cause victims to endure physical and emotional distress.  Young women are disproportionately victimized by stalking, but anyone can be affected by it or other forms of harassment.  An overwhelming majority of victims are stalked by someone they know, and those recently separated or divorced are the highest at risk."

If you or anyone you know is experiencing any of the behaviors outlined in the above paragraph reporting the crime is necessary. Even as many in law enforcement are slow to recognize stalking and those disenfranchised citizens, the most vulnerable among us are often the victims and overlooked.

Sensitivity training, re-educating, humanizing those who assist victims of stalking would go a long way toward destigmatizing stalking victims.

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

Sources: Whitehouse.gov, Wikipedia.com

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