Beltway Insider: Biden/September 11, Queen Elizabeth, Funeral, Royal Transition, COVID/Vaccine Totals, Uvalde, Marsha Hunt

Details: Category: Beltway Insider; Published on Sunday, 11 September 2022 11:11; Written by Janet Walker

In a week filled with global transition, President Biden attended the 21^st Commemorative Service of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks at the Pentagon, where he delivered remarks, as Vice-President Kamala Harris attended services in New York City.

The President's job approval rating, according to the website fivethirtyeight.com, for the period ending September 11, 2022 increased by 0.2% to 42.5% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness decreased by 0.5% to 53.0% of those polled who disapprove of his effectiveness. A slight 3% of the population polled have no opinion. Ratings are calculated weekly.

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September 11, 2001

Today marks 21 years since America suffered the worst homeland terror attack since the 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor, 60 years earlier. The years have put time, distance, and perspective between that day and this, and for those who remember and those who lost loved ones, friends, family and even a sense of security, and can remember, September 11, 2001, should be remembered for the day when Americans, notoriously jaded New Yorkers became kind, concerned, helpful, and Washingtonians rushed to aid the fallen.

U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was photographed sleeves rolled up, at the Pentagon helping the wounded on his watch. With the nation reeling, he stayed on duty, a solider leader to the end, when in reality he should have been in a bunker ensuring the continuation of government.

Stories like these and uncommon acts of bravery, courage, are the archives that remain of that day. Stories of United Flight 93, a group of passengers determined to stop the final blow planned by the terrorists, knowing they were dead either way, decided to rally for their country, and though phone recordings none recognized themselves as overtly patriotic.

Fate, an unfortunate twist of fate, placed them in the first line of defense of their nation and they accepted the challenge. As we know they saved the Capitol building from destruction and died in field in Shanksville Pennsylvania. There is a lesson here for the January 6 insurrectionists. Loyalty to nation does not equate to destruction of government.

For many a generation has passed, 21 years, many New Yorkers working in the Wall Street area were too young to remember that day. It was a beautiful fall day in New York, perfect temperatures, a crisp cool morning, which by now historians and film makers have documented the sequence of events. We understand 8:48am marked a turning point.

September 11, 2001 - We Remember

The words have been said, written, rewritten, and re-said over the last 21 years, the names of those lost read annually to a public who needs to understand this day cannot blur into the annals of history as just another day. This day shifted the geopolitics and shifted the spheres of homes, lives, futures.

We, as a nation became vulnerable and the world, especially those who see us through a lens filtered with hate rejoiced. Hate could have triumph if it weren't for those jaded New Yorkers and Washingtonians who showed up in mass to bring supplies, donate time, money, services, work together on the piles, roll up their sleeves, offer encouragement, be supportive, and remain hopeful.

We lost that day, for sure. We lost many who were just beginning their careers, many who through a cruel twist were attending events, or came to work early to get a jump on things, many who decided one life may be reachable and worth saving over their own.

Now 21 years later, we pause, remembering. We read the names of those lost; we remember in solemn memorials. We also remember how we, as a nation, triumphed on that day, when all seemed lost, we somehow found strength and courage we didn't know we possessed and moved forward.

Hope springs eternal. Can we take today as we remember and not see the loss but the life, a smile that takes us back to before, pre 9/11, and just for a moment pause and remember the joy, love, laughter that we held before that day? I hope.

Queen Elizabeth II Dies

Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest reigning monarch died this week, propelling the nation into a designated period of mourning, in a carefully choregraphed and preplanned ceremony honoring the life and legacy of Her Majesty the Queen.

Immediately upon her death, which followed hours after a statement by her doctors announced that her health was under watch, Charles, the longest serving heir to the throne and oldest to ever assume the title, become King.

Buckingham Palace, in a released statement stated, "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow."

Condolences and tributes from presidents, celebrities, business, and industry leaders, and those of whom she influenced by her devotion to duty, family, and her life, populated social media and media around the world.

President Biden, who announced he will be attending the funeral scheduled for September 19, 2022, said, "Queen Elizabeth II was a stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy who deepened the bedrock Alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States. She helped make our relationship special."

Russian president Vladimir Putin, who in the same message offered condolences to King Charles III, released a statement, "The most important events in the recent history of the United Kingdom are inextricably linked with the name of Her Majesty. For many decades, Elizabeth II rightfully enjoyed the love and respect of her subjects, as well as authority on the world stage," Spectator.co.uk reported.

"Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter that he would never forget the queen's "warmth and kindness. During one of the meetings she showed me the handkerchief Mahatma Gandhi gifted her on her wedding," he said. "I will always cherish that gesture," The Washington Post reported.

New Zealand's Prime Minster Jacinda Arden expressed her condolences, stating she believes her nation will grow even stronger under the reign of King Charles III. New York City's Empire State building paid tribute with royal colors of purple and a projected image of a young Queen. The Sydney Opera House outlined each of its vaulted arches in white against a black out with a single arch featuring the image of Elizabeth II.

Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's Longest Reigning Monarch, Dies

Transition of Power

King Charles III announced on Twitter, "Queen Elizabeth was a life well lived; a promise with destiny kept and she is mourned most deeply in her passing. That promise of lifelong service I renew to you all today."

As heir to the throne, which has long been discussed and dissected in the media especially over the last five years, Charles, who since July 1, 1969, had been officially known as the Prince of Wales, the title, which is given to the future heir, a title he now passes to his first-born heir William, who at the death of Her Majesty The Queen, became the Prince of Wales.

With the passing of Elizabeth II, the face of the nation will also change. As sovereign her images and name were singularly associated with every area of life in the United Kingdom which means certain changes will be slowly integrated into the life while other changes will be immediate.

On the immediate, the National Anthem, Flags and Royal Warrants which are granted to individuals who provide goods and services to the Queen, will be changed. Over the next two years, the British sterling, the legal tender in the UK will also undergo changes.

"Currently, there are 4.5 billion sterling banknotes in circulation with a combined value of £80 billion, with Queen Elizabeth II's face on them. Following the monarch's death, the banknotes and coins will be replaced with alternatives, featuring the head of the new monarch, King Charles III, in this case. However, the replacement will likely take two years before the old currency is phased out," reported the Business-Standard.com.

Funeral

Throngs of people lined the streets as the cortege carrying the Queen's casket made its way through towns, villages, and the English countryside, some applauding, other bowing their heads, farmers formed an honor guard as her procession passed, visible signs and testaments of the devotion and loyalty her subjects felt for her were evident.

The procession has arrived in Edinburgh, and will continue its journey until reaching Westminster Abbey, where she will lie in state, allowing mourners to pay their respects. The state funeral will be held on September 19, 2022. Unlike the funeral of her husband, Prince Philip, during the height of Covid, Her Majesty's funeral will be attended by heads of state and many others.

A Life in Pictures

With the reflections of her life being played out in media around the world, the images of her as a mechanic serving her country during the war, seem to stand out, among all the regal, pomp, circumstance of her long reign, the gowns, jewels and all that society holds as esteemed.

Seeing these images of her, in her wartime uniform, up to her elbows in grease, not concerned for her appearance and yet still managing to pull off beautiful, it seemed these were genuine moments of happiness.

Vaccine Totals

Bloomberg.com has built a vaccine tracker which can be seen here. "In the US, 611 million doses have been given so far. During the last week, shots were administered at an average rate of 24,332 doses a day," Bloomberg.com reported.

Coronavirus Totals

"COVID is "not going to be eradicated, and it's not going to be eliminated," Fauci said Tuesday in an interview with National Public Radio. Instead, the White House's chief medical adviser said, COVID will become "something we can live with and doesn't disrupt us," reported Fortune.com.

Mandates have been altered or lifted in most urban areas with limited exceptions, and the population is encouraged to maintain personal protective practices. Masks are optional and tolerated. Vaccines and boosters are still considered the most effective agents against contracting the Coronavirus.

For the one-week period ending September 11, 2022, coronavirus cases globally increased by 7,740,685 new confirmed cases, bringing the total of confirmed cases worldwide to 608,044,835 people with a total worldwide death toll of 6,492,496 deaths, and a 14-day death rate increase of 28,380. (Data from The New York Times).

COVID U.S. Totals

Infections rates in the United States are also on the rise. For the seven-day period ending September 11, 2022, the total confirmed cases rose to 95,006,059 people with new confirmed cases increasing by 1,058,178 with a 14-day average of 75,584 cases per day. The coronavirus has claimed 1,046,145 total deaths, adding 6,441 more deaths over the 14-day period. (Data from The New York Times).

Pentagon's Diary Gets Personal

Protecting for gain of function knowledge only aides those who initiated the constitutional violations. It does nothing to combat the homegrown terrorism or the narcissistic above the law belief. The best obtainable version of the truth.

World News: Queen Elizabeth II and The Weight of Inheritance

Uvalde Students Return to School

As nearly four months has passed since the nation gripping news of a mass shooting in Uvalde Texas killed 19 students and two educators on the last day of school, a new school year is beginning in the small Texas town.

Robb Elementary school is closed. No student or educator will ever enter the doors again. A rise in homeschooling is also marking the new school year. Traumatized students and parents still grieving over the loss, and suffering through Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, have caused parents to choose to keep their children at home, until they figure out how to navigate the new normal.

As the details emerged over the summer, local law officials were attempting to control the narrative, which inflamed the nation when it was discovered that 376 officers arrived on the scene prepared to act and all on this day followed the lack of leadership and direction and directly contributed to the deaths.

As is was Uvalde police chief Pete Arredondo was terminated, the Texas House of representatives, Texas AG Ken Paxton, and Uvalde District Attorney Christina Busbee, have not announced if they would seek criminal indictments against any person present on that day.

Marsha Hunt, Backlisted Actress, Dies

Marsha Hunt, a name nearly erased from existence, died this week in Sherman Oaks, California. She was 104.

Ms. Hunt, a character actress in the 1930s and 1940s for both Paramount and MGM, became well known for her ability to transform as an actress playing across time from her 20s, aging decades in four different films.

As an up and coming Hollywood influencer, she along with other recognized talent Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall , Danny Kaye and John Huston, all considered part of the Hollywood liberal elite, attended the House Un-American Activities hearings in support of those under investigation.

"In 1947, Hunt and her second husband, screenwriter Robert Presnell Jr., joined the Committee for the First Amendment, which questioned the legality of the House Un-American Activities Committee that was seeking to flush communists out of the entertainment industry, reported The Hollywood Reporter.

As history explains, fearmongering, hatred, and jealousy over influence, ignited an all-consuming destructive fire which destroyed the lives and careers of many promising Hollywood talent and writers, some survived other did not. And as history has also shown, it was the jealousy of one man, Senator Joseph McCarthy, that ignited profound caustic rage fueled by a singular intent to destroy.

For more information on President Joe Biden w ww.whitehouse.gov.