Beltway Insider: Trump/Putin/G20, Dems Slugfest Debate, SCOTUS Hear DACA, James Field Sentenced

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a sit down this week during the recent G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan where the two leaders seemed friendly as they sat for reporters while each expressed a disdain for media.

According to Gallup, President Trump's job approval rating, which was tracked for the two week time period of June 3 -16, 2019, increased three percentage points to 43% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness as President remained consistent at 55%. A slight 3% of the population polled have no opinion. Ratings are calculated bi-monthly.

Trump Meets Putin at G20

President Donald Trump surprised the world again with his choice of acknowledgments, as the leaders of the 19 largest economies converged on Osaka, Japan to discuss the most pressing global agendas.

A G20 Special Session held on Digital Economy stated definitively the position of the United States.


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"As we expand digital trade, we must also ensure the resilience and security of our 5G networks.  This is essential to our shared safety and prosperity. Further, the United States opposes data localization and policies, which have been used to restrict digital trade flows and violate privacy and intellectual property protections. The United States seeks a future of digital trade that empowers all people.  We look forward to working with other G20 members to advance an open, fair, and market-based digital economy that provides a free flow of data and brings new prosperity to all nations," President Trump said, during the Special Meeting on Digital Economy.

Trump, and the Gang of Four

President Trump also shocked the world with his choices of acknowledgements of the world's most concerning dictators and leaders.

As President Trump and Russian President Putin sat for reporters, the president was asked to warn the Russian dictator on interfering with the upcoming election. To which, Trump, jokingly, and without looking at Putin, said, "Don't meddle in the election, please," Trump said, jokingly wagging his finger at Putin, while avoiding eye contact with Putin as the two leaders appeared before reporters," as reported in www.Motherjones.com

On Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has been implicated in the gruesome murder and dismemberment of Washington Post Journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, President Trump said during a Friday meeting "You have done a spectacular job."

Trump has also ignored the United Nations recommendation to have the FBI continue investigating the claim which the confirms the US intelligence assessments that MBS personally ordered Khashoggi's gruesome murder, Trump said that "nobody so far has pointed directly a finger at the future king of Saudi Arabia."

President Trump also became the first President to step across the North Korean border since the Korean War began 70 years ago. After two unsuccessful attempts to secure a total denuclearization deal with the Jong-un, the dictator sent word to the President and as he would be in the region possibly the two could meet. Kim Jong-un suggested they meet at the DMZ line, the demilitarized zone, a first for any United States president in modern history. 

The President also had words of praise for North Korea President Kim Jong-un, whom he has developed a special bond: "I want to thank Chairman Kim.  When I put out the social media notification, if he didn't show up, the press was going to make me look very bad.  So, you made us both look good, and I appreciate it. We've developed a great relationship. It's just an honor to be with you, and it was an honor that you asked me to step over that line.  And I want to thank you.  It's been great.  We were just saying, one of the folks from the media was saying this could to be a very historic moment, and I guess that's what it is," he said.

The two men met for an historic photo opportunity.


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Of course the final memorable moment of the G20 had more to do with Ivanka than the President as the First Daughter, who has elevated herself to surrogate presidential status, attempted to join a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, outgoing British Prime Minister Theresa May, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and International Monetary Fund head Christine Lagarde, needless to say it was an epic fail for the first daughter and quite possibly the right moment to discuss her quiet exit as counselor to the president.

Democratic Debate – The Race Race, Slugfest and Other Unmentionables

The 2020 Presidential primary season begins in February 2020, seven short months away and by Super Tuesday, March 3, 2020, the majority of these more than two dozen qualified candidates will be returning home in their present positions.

The first political debate, sponsored by NBC, and aired across two nights brought the 24 Democratic contenders to the stage. Placement was randomly selected, and candidates were notified three days prior to the debate their night and position assignment.

Drawing ratings of more than 18.1million viewers across three mediums, NBC, Telemundo and MSNBC, the public is ready to move on and gear up for the upcoming electoral process. Moderated by Lester Holt, Savannah Guthrie, Jose Diaz-Balart, Rachel Maddow and Chuck Todd the questions were standard and current including immigration, healthcare, jobs, same sex/trans and transitioning equality, green energy, restoring manufacturing jobs to once thriving Midwest, and several group, show of hands, position defining, questions.

Harris Follows Trump Campaign Debate Attacks

With so many jockeying for a ticket that can only hold two, the top two contenders, former Vice-President Joe Biden and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders were the targets of the others as each have lengthy careers in public service equaling many years of position, associations, and recorded history to be uncovered.

The debate took an ugly turn, as Senator Kamala Harris (CA-D) launched her Donald Trump style character attack, creating the illusion of nasty associations with elected officials in the 1970's and edging close but pausing before calling former Vice President Joe Biden a racist. She ended her rope-a-dope romp by calling his position on Civil rights "concerning."

Her attack, reminiscent of President Trump's campaign and debate style, which was geared toward instilling doubt in the minds of the people and negating all qualifications that come with a lengthy public service record.

She lost points in the eyes of many by resorting to fear-mongering and a whiny, boo-hoo, poor me position on busing in the 1970's when politicians were going with the cards dealt. Progressiveness and a world where equality for all hadn't been realized even as some, including Biden, were attempting to make it actionable.

Her second-grade busing experience and memory may have had less to do with anti-segregation as it did to highlight the age difference, as she was suffering through policies that he was assisting in creating. Either way, the ugliness she brought to the podium, a tactic she believes works, doesn't become her.

Hot Topics – Age, Race, Love, Assimilation and The Skeletons

Age may become a factor, which is reminiscent of a speech the late Princess Diana delivered in the days before her death, which called for the largest demographic, those in elder years, to be allowed to thrive and continue to active members of society ensuring that wisdom, mentor-ship, will be available.

Race has also become a factor as the Trump campaign has initiated rhetoric against Ms. Harris on her race, who for the record is born of a Jamaican American and Tamli-American linage. Possibly more to draw attention to her marriage to Douglass Emhoff, a Caucasian.


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The attacks have been condemned and dismissed. As Ms. Harris is hungry and willing to initiate attacks against the party front runner, her lifestyle choices will become exposed. In her early career she participated in a deceptive relationship, an affair, with former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, which he states as fact. She received favoritism in her employment as part of the perks of her relationship.

Her qualifications don't preclude her need for engaging in relationships that will allegedly open doors. She is educated and qualified, and as a woman of color, she had advantages in the workplace that others didn't. If she were a man, she would be called to abandon her pursuits of the Oval Office and resign her position.

While many believe that love is love and ethnicity, orientation or age (May-December, not pedophilia) shouldn't shadow feelings, preferences or lifestyle choices. For many voters this is not true, and they hold familial, generational and historical traditions. Her choice some may say reflect assimilation and good career positioning.

Democrats Rising

The first night which included a few relative unknowns including Representative Tim Ryan (D-OH), and Governor Steve Bullock, (D-MT) and former Representative John Delaney, (D-MD). It also included New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who appeared ready to challenge and carrying over his position and power over as mayor to the debate, his demeanor appeared more of domineering leadership.

The field of contenders added and subtracted as some fared better than others when questioned and under the glare of the television lights and worldwide audience.

Survivors include Representative Tulsi Gabbard, (D-HI), poised, strong, articulate, a former War hero serving two tours in Afghanistan, Ms. Gabbard remained composed when questioned, presented herself in a dignified and presidential manner. Her ratings hit a campaign high of 35.1 % on the day following the debate.

As covered in the Beltway Insider, she carries some derailing baggage with a few bizarre statements of support for Syria and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

As all agree President Trump is unfit to serve and with the lengthy investigation and findings which he touts as vindication may only be based in law which states a sitting President can not be indicted.

The Second Democratic Debate Rules

The second set of debates in July will operate in the same format, two night of ten candidates each, and the rules are made by the Democratic National Committee. As of June 24, 2019 more, then half have met the requirements of poll numbers and donors. No candidate has met the requirements on donors alone.

"To qualify via polling, a candidate must reach 1 percent in at least three national or early-state polls from qualifying polling organizations. To qualify via donors, a candidate must have at least 65,000 unique donors with at least 200 donors in at least 20 states. Information released by campaigns is used to determine whether a candidate has hit the donor threshold. If a campaign reached 65,000 donors but did not say whether it had at least 200 donors in 20 states, we assumed that it had met the latter requirement as well. Candidates have to prove to the DNC that they have met the donor requirements," reports the political website www.fivethirtyeight.com.


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Biden, Booker, Buttigieg, Castro, Gabbard, Gillibrand, Harris, Inslee, Klobuchar, O'Rourke, Sanders, Warren, Williamson and Yang have all qualified through Polls and Donors. Bennet, Bullock, de Blasio, Delaney, Hickenlooper, Ryan, Swalwell, Gravel, Moulton have met the threshold in polls only.

As long as only 20 candidates meet the requirements, no tiebreakers or criteria set by the DNC needs to initiate.

SCOTUS Agrees to Hear DACA, Refuses Abortion Case

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments on DACA, an abbreviation for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, in the next term which begins October 2019.

"DACA and other protections for immigrants have emerged as a major theme for Democrats seeking the 2020 presidential nomination: Several candidates, including Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), said during Thursday night's debate that restoring DACA protections would be one of the first things they would do if elected president. The Trump administration announced in 2017 that it would wind down the Obama-era program, sparking outcry. The rescission of the program included a six-month window for Congress to pass legislation offering similar protections for DACA recipients, but lawmakers were unable to get a bill to the president's desk," The Hill reported.

The decision could come as early as June 2020 and prove to be an influencing factor in the 2020 Presidential election.

The Supreme Court also sent a strong message to those state who are seeking to overturn Roe v Wade, the 1973 landmark decision which legalized abortion. Privacy rights extend into the 21st century even as we have grown accustomed to many invasions of privacy.

The right to privacy was the deciding factor in Roe v Wade. "Then, "with virtually no further explanation of the privacy value", the Court ruled that regardless of exactly which of its provisions were involved, the U.S. Constitution's guarantees of liberty covered a right to privacy that generally protected a pregnant woman's decision whether or not to abort a pregnancy. This right of privacy, whether it be founded in the Fourteenth Amendment's concept of personal liberty and restrictions upon state action, as we feel it is, or ... in the Ninth Amendment's reservation of rights to the people, is broad enough to encompass a woman's decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy," reports Wikipedia.

James Field Sentenced in Hate Crime

James Field, the White Supremacist Neo-Nazi, who drove through a crowd of counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, and killed Heather Heyer and injured more than a dozen others has been sentenced to life in prison.

 

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

Sources: whitehouse.gov.

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