Beltway Insider: Trump/Impeachment, UK/The Hague Terror, Mexico/Cartels, Congo Measles Crisis, 2020

President Donald Trump, who spent the Thanksgiving holiday with the First Lady in Afghanistan serving meals to U.S. troops still deployed, announced he nor any of his attorneys will not participate in the upcoming judiciary committee hearings.

President Trump's job approval rating, which was tracked for the two-week time period ending November 15, 2019, increased two percentage points to 43% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness decreased one percentage points to 54%. A slight 3% of the population polled have no opinion. Ratings are calculated bi-monthly.

Trump Prepares for Phase II of the Impeachment Hearings

"In a letter to Chairman Jerrold Nadler, White House counsel to the President Pat Cipollone said, "We cannot fairly be expected to participate in a hearing while the witnesses are yet to be named and while it remains unclear whether the Judiciary Committee will afford the President a fair process through additional hearings. More importantly, an invitation to an academic discussion with law professors does not begin to provide the President with an semblance of a fair process. Accordingly, under the current circumstances, we do not intend to participate in your Wednesday hearing," CNN reported.


Beltway Insider: Trump Impeachment/Mueller to Testify, Epstein/Prince Andrew, RBG, 2020


The Impeachment Process

Essentially, after the closed-door depositions lead by Chairman Adam Schiff, (D-CA) will be drafted into a report of which will be presented covering the Articles of Impeachment.

"In all, three committees involved in the impeachment inquiry — the Intelligence, Oversight and Foreign Affairs panels — issued document requests and subpoenas over a six-week period in the probe. Along the way, investigators uncovered a "massive amount of evidence in short order," Schiff said in a letter to his colleagues Monday. "As the evidence conclusively shows, President Trump conditioned official acts — a White House meeting desperately desired by the new Ukrainian president and critical U.S. military assistance — on Ukraine announcing sham, politically-motivated investigations that would help President Trump's 2020 reelection campaign," reported NPR.

ISIS 2.0: London and The Netherlands Face Twin Terror Attacks

A lone wolf terrorist was killed by a London police officer after he initiated a random stabbing rampage on the London Bridge killing two before he was subdued by citizens using a fire extinguisher and a culinary tool.

Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, both graduates of Cambridge were killed by Usman Khan before he was rushed by private citizens who sprang into action.

Khan who was seen in a video disoriented as a stranger continued to spray him with the fire extinguisher, and other using what appeared to be a long tusk type object knocked the knife from his hand. As he was tackled the scene was surrounded by police officers who removed the citizen from the terrorist and neutralized the threat.

One of those who sprang into action has been identified as James Ford, allegedly convicted in 2004 for the murder of Amanda Champion, in 2003. He was released on a day pass to attend a rehabilitation class taught by the two victims.

The Netherlands attack which has been attributed to a homeless man, with no terror ties, has none the less cast a pale over the beginning of the festive holiday season.

Europe, UK, US Elevates Terror Watch Hauge Terror

After the twin knife attacks over the Thanksgiving holiday European nations, the United Kingdom and the United States have all raised their terror alert levels which the public will see as an increase in police and SWAT presence, the absence of free standing mail boxes and large stone or decorative barricades at strategic locations. The public is also encouraged to be on heightened alert as is always encouraged during the holiday season.

Officials encourage the public "If you see something unusual say something and allow officials to sort it out."


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The recent tactical take down of the Islamic State leader death of the Islamic State leader, Abu Nakr-al Baghdadi, during a pre-dawn raidwas thought to have dismantled the international terror group when in fact the attack has given way to ISIS 2.0, a regrouping and the desperate need to exhibit a show of strength over this holiday season.

Mexico: Cartels Attack Local Police Headquarters; 21 Dead, Including Four Officers

Four Mexican police officers lost their lives in an hour-long gun battle that left seventeen cartel members dead after the gang initiated an unprovoked attack against the Villa Union City Hall building leaving the structure riddled with bullets marks.

The attack occurred in the small town of about 3,000 residents which has become the newest land grab town as Mexican cartels continue to carve up turf and territory. The cartels drove a modified pick up with a Texas license plate LGR-1265 and the initials C.D.N. in large white letters on the doors. Police have identified the letters as the acronym for the newest cartel, Cartel of the Northeast.

"The government of the northern state of Coahuila said state police clashed at midday with a group of heavily armed gunmen riding in pickup trucks in the small town of Villa Union, about 40 miles (65 km) southwest of the border city of Piedras Negras. Standing outside the Villa Union mayor's bullet-ridden offices, Coahuila Governor Miguel Angel Riquelme told reporters the state had acted "decisively" to tackle the cartel henchmen," Reuters reported.

A local townsperson recorded the sound and the plume of black smoke rising from the scene. The sound of heavy artillery and automatic weapons can be heard on the tape which has been seen on many news affiliates, is shocking as the entire battle is played out in broad daylight.

Security forces moved quickly to restore the town and secure the of Villa Union City Hall which also housed the Mayor's office. The building is pockmarked with hundreds of bullets holes, shattered windows and broken glass.

The brazen broad daylight attack is a response to President Donald Trump's statement this week after he told the Mexican President he might just classify the gangs as terror organizations which release additional monies to fight the small militaries these cartels possess as the move closer to the United States border.


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A terror designation would allow the President and other nations to move against the cartels unilaterally. This decision came in response to the slaughter of nine Americans including twin eight-month-old babies as members of three families drove through the north eastern territory.

Measles Epidemic: West African Nation Faces Unprecedented Spread of Deadly Disease

A Measles epidemic, in the African nation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has killed more than 5,000 since the initial numbers were released in January according to The World Health Organization.

The amount of deaths surpasses those killed during the height of the recent Ebola crisis three years ago.

"The measles outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed more than 5,000 people since January – more than double the death toll for the country's Ebola epidemic. Kate O'Brien, the director of the WHO's immunisation department, told reporters in Geneva: "The DRC [measles] outbreak is the largest worldwide. It is one of the largest that we have seen." Mrs. O'Brien added that epidemic had spread "all over the country," noting that most of those affected were "children and babies". As of November 17, the country had registered a total of 250,270 measles cases, including 5,110 deaths, the WHO said," reported the Express.

2020: Bloomberg Strategy; Biden, Sanders Retain Front Runner Status, Harris Loses Top Aide

Democratic Presidential contender and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has begun his rebuild America strategy campaign which launched one week ago inundating every media platform with his record of success as New York City mayor. Truthfully, Bloomberg was good for New York. His policies are traditionally democratic and even his change of party in order to ensure a third term victory may have been a bit sneaky, and yet it created a through line which provided sufficient time to see projects through to completion.

Glancing over the 2020 Democratic Polls from Tuesday, November 19 through Thursday, November 28, 2019, the numbers show Bloomberg will need to do more than plaster "Big Business" with his campaign video as the numbers still have Biden leading across every poll except four. He splits his leads with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) twice and South Bend Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg twice. He also ties once with Sanders.

Biden Enjoys Comfortable Lead

Biden, who enjoys a comfortable lead in the polls, has been through the primary process on one or more occasion which make the upcoming four months, through Super Tuesday, just another phase in the process.

December Democratic Debate

And then there were six . . er, um, seven. With the final democratic debate of 2019 set for December 19, 2019. Candidates have until December 12, 2019 to qualify.

Of the six candidates who have qualified Former Vice President Joe Biden, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, California Senator Kamala Harris, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar.


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New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard, Billionaire Tom Steyer, businessman Andrew Yang and former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro are all hoping to meet the threshold of participation.

Newest Candidate Mike Bloomberg refuses to accept donations so he is automatically ineligible to participate.

Senator Harris Loses Top Aide

Senator Kamala Harris, (D-CA) who many believed could pose a serious threat to the current administration and in fact become the first female African American president, is facing severe erosion as a top aide in her campaign Director of Operation Kelly Mehlenbacher has resigned.

Her letter of resignation began with "It is with a heavy heart that I submit my resignation as State Operations Director at Kamala Harris for the People, effective November 30, 2019. This is my third presidential campaign and I have never seen an organization treat its staff so poorly. While I still believe that Senator Harris is the strongest candidate to win in the General Election in 2020, I no longer have confidence in our campaign or its leadership. The treatment of our staff over the last two weeks was the final straw in this very difficult decision."

She continued by explaining the poor mismanagement, the lack of reciprocal dedication the campaign had to its devoted staff, and the belief that top management including the Senator's sister, Maya Harris and her Campaign Manager Juan Rodriguez, have a clue as to what they are doing and the lack of leaders "who will lead," as reported by the New York Times. The complete letter can be seen here.

Harris who many touted as the female version of her predecessor former President Barack Obama, has been seen depicted as less than honorable or ethical in her efforts to further her career goals and aspirations. Her relationship with former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, which many believed was the sole motivation she received appointments to the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and also to the Medical Assistance Commission. While she has admitted to "dating" Brown his professional interest in her career has been the subject of media scrutiny.

Harris, who has shown she can share the big stage with the party stalwarts and carry an acceptable amount of baggage also, can essentially to this date deliver California, which isn't enough for a President or Vice President candidate. With no real plan to convert more than simply a demographic, as elections are won on the Electoral College not on securing the female or African America vote.

States must be won. Unfortunately for Ms. Harris California has been a safe democratic state since 1992 with presidential candidates carrying the state in the general election by a margin of at minimum 30%.

Mehlenbacher didn't queue up in the employment lines; she was hired immediately by Michael Bloomberg, the most recent candidate to toss his hat in the ring.

Representative Joe Sestak Bids Adieu

Former Pennsylvania Representative Joe Sestak, a long shot for the Democratic Presidential nomination, has ended his campaign in a heartfelt email blast to supporters.

 

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

Sources: Various © Articles covered by Copyright protection.

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