Beltway Insider: Trump Fails to Rally GOP; ObamaCare Holds; London/ISIS; Mosul/Airstrikes; Cincinnati

President Donald Trump suffered an embarrassing defeat this week as lawmakers failed to pull together enough votes to repeal the much-hated Affordable Care Act which has stood nearly fifty GOP fueled attacks during two presidencies.

According to Gallup, President Trump's job approval, over the past week, decreased five percentage point to 40% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness as President increased five percentage points to 54%. 

Trump Trounced; Fails to Rally GOP

President Donald Trump felt the sting of failure this week as his much-heralded attempt to destroy the legacies of former President Barack Obama, and especially the Affordable Care Act, fell significantly behind expectations coming nearly 15 votes shy of passage.

Prior to the Friday vote, at every opportunity, even during the press conference for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Trump remained on the campaign stump declaring "Obamacare is a failure."

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer headed up Friday's Press Conference with a synopsis of the Trump effort in gathering the necessary votes to repeal and replace and the expected outcome.

"The President has been working the phones and having in-person meetings since the American Health Care Act was introduced.  He's left everything on the field when it comes to this bill.  The President and congressional Republicans promised the American people that they would repeal and replace this broken system," Spicer said.  

Repeal and Replace Fails

President Trump spoke to the media during a late Friday afternoon press conference after the AHCA failed to gather the necessary votes to overturn the Affordable Care Act.

Using the words "explode and exploding" no less than nine times throughout the course of the press conference, Trump continued to preach fear to the American people as he spoke of ObamaCare remaining the healthcare mandate for American citizens.

"So, Obamacare is exploding.  With no Democrat support, we couldn't quite get there.  We were just a very small number of votes short.  A lot of people don't realize how good our bill was because they were viewing phase one.  But when you add phase two, which was mostly the signings of Secretary Price, and you add phase three, it became a great bill.  Premiums would have gone down and it would have been very stable, it would have been very strong, But we're very, very close.  And again, I think what will happen is Obamacare, unfortunately, will explode." Trump said. 

Trump remained upbeat praising the republican stalwarts, "I want to thank the Republican Party.  I want to thank Paul Ryan -- he worked very, very hard, I will tell you that.  He worked very, very hard.  Tom Price and Mike Pence, who's right here, our Vice President, our great Vice President.  Everybody worked hard.

And he also singled out democratic leaders: "I think the losers are Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, because now they own Obamacare.  They own it -- 100 percent own it."

ObamaCare Holds; Withstands 43rd Straight GOP Attack Through Two Presidencies

The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, the universal Healthcare legislation created under former President Barack Obama remained steadfast defending itself for the 43rd straight attack by House Republicans.

The landmark legislation has withstood assaults from its initiation through the final hurdle, a Supreme Court Defense, in which Chief Justice John Roberts, a conservative republican appointed under former Republican President George W. Bush, joined by Justices Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan, delivered the concurring opinion to carry the Affordable Care Act to a 5-4 victory, which marked the final attempt of the GOP under the Obama Presidency to fight to repeal.

The legislation drew many opinions from the nine-member court with Justice Ginsberg joining both sides, offering both concurring and dissenting opinions.

The election of Donald Trump, who campaigned on the failings of Obamacare and promised his constituency he would singlehandedly repeal and replace the ACA which has provided healthcare benefits to millions of previously uninsured Americans, brought ObamaCare once again to the floor and forefront of the bi-partisan war that is a mark of failing government and stood, again, against the onslaughts of the hatred from Republicans who simply desire to champion a bill themselves, thus ensuring a wide base would actively remain party loyalists.

Hillary Clinton Reacts To ACA Victory

Hillary Clinton, Former Democratic Presidential Candidate, said, upon hearing the news said via Twitter, "Today was a victory for all Americans. Today was a victory for the 24,000,000 people at risk of losing their health insurance, for seniors, for families battling the quiet epidemic of addiction, for new moms and women everywhere. Most of all it's a victory for anyone who believes affordable health care is a human right."

She continued, "We cannot forget: this victory happened because people in every corner of our country committed their time and energy to calling their representatives, showing up at town hall meetings, and making their voices heard. The fight isn't over yet – we will have to punch back on future bad ideas and embrace good ones to make health care more affordable but we are reminded today that there is no substitute for standing up and defending our values."

Russians/Campaign Interference

California Representative Adam Schiff, and ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee has maintained diligence in the effort to determine the extent of the interference from the Russian government in the recent Presidential election.

Representative Schiff said, via Twitter, March 20, "The Intelligence community concluded the Russians will interfere again this is why [a] full investigation is important to [the] country. Please stop.

Previous Twitter statements included, on Trump/Russian connection: "There is more than circumstantial evidence now . . . and is very much worthy of investigation." {March 22, 2017}

"The events this week only underscore need for an independent commission to conduct its own Russia investigation along with congress." {March 26, 2017}

"The American people demand and deserve the truth. Congress must create an independent commission to #FollowtheFacts on Russia." {March 25, 2017}

Ivanka Trump Given West Wing Office; Advises President and World Leaders

Nepotism continues to be a through line of the Trump White House as Ivanka Trump Kushner, the power hungry first daughter, has been given an Office in the White House West Wing. Her duties, from all accounts will be advising her father on polices that are directly related to women.

Ms. Trump-Kushner holds a Bachelor's Degree from Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania. She has no prior experience with governmental affairs, international policies, or administrations or leading world organizations dedicated to the advancement of all peoples.

Trump-Kushner will be attending the World Economic summit in Berlin, Germany in April 2017.

Beltway Insider: Trump/Merkel Meet; Clinton; Paris; Brexit; Border Wall; Conway/DOJ; Chuck Barry

London Terror Attack: Islamic State Claims Responsibility

A lone wolf Islamic State operative, known to MI5, with a previous criminal record, has been named by British officials as the only suspect in Wednesday's deadly attack on Westminster Bridge that killed four and injured 50.

An encrypted message sent from a yet unknown Islamic State operative set the London Terrorist Attack in motion bringing lone wolf operative Khalid Masood to carry out his orders.

The 52-year-old British born, father of two daughters, sped across the Westminster Pedestrian Bridge in a Hyundai i40, at around 2:30pm Wednesday.

Kurt Cochran, 54 and his wife, Melissa, American tourists from Utah, were celebrating their 25th Wedding Anniversary. Kurt was killed.

Masood accelerated and in just 82 seconds rammed his vehicle into crowds unable to escape. The would-be terrorist wasn't finished. He jumped out of his car with two long knives, in the newest attack style of the Islamic state and began stabbing innocent bystanders.

Media reports Masood entered the New Palace Yard, and was on foot heading into the Member's Entrance to Parliament, when he encountered Police Constable Keith Palmer, an unarmed House of Parliament patrol officer. He stabbed the veteran Police Constable multiple times before he attempted to gain entry into the House of Parliament.

He used the knives to attempt to clear his path, lunging at officer who attempt to subdue. Two military police come onto the scene and Masood is hot and killed. Masood entered the bridge at 2:39pm and is shot and dies at 2:45pm.

The Beginning of the End

Khalid Masood, it has been reported, was an angry man. A father of two teenage daughters, he managed to persuade one to convert to radical Islam and separated from his wife and daughter who wouldn't convert or give up the freedoms of western life and lifestyle she had been accustomed. He pressured her to wear the traditional Islam burqa and she refused

Radicalization for Masood, the process in which Islamic State or cult leaders find the weakness or vulnerable point and then exploit it, agreeing with the disgruntled or marginalized feelings to gain comradery, is unknown.

Masood had a criminal record, spending time in prison for drug related crimes and armed robbery, and from published reports he wasn't considered a "true Muslim." [news.com.au]

He was known to binge on crack cocaine for days, engage in sexual relations with prostitutes, and terrorize his drug hosts when the drugs were gone using a knife.

"He was a madman. After one four-day crack session, one druggie pal got paranoid and accused him of being an undercover cop. Adrian went absolutely wild and ran to the kitchen to grab the biggest knife he could find. He went back in the room and slashed the guy's face to pieces. It was horrific, but he always had that darker side about him," said former landlady Cassie Harvard. [The Sun]

Machetes Next Banned Weapons

Machetes, once a farming implement used to cut down heavy thick growth in places such as the Amazon Rain Forest or sheaves of wheat, have recently become the secondary weapon of choice in car ram Islamic State attacks.

The recent attack in Westminster brought the use of knives, swords, and machetes to the forefront as Khalid Masood, used a knife, the type of which has yet to be released, to murder Police Constable Keith Palmer, and injure several others before he was subdued.

The Westminster Attack is not the first combination style attack engaged by the Islamic State as the lone wolf soldiers responsible are suddenly called up from peripheral positions to engage in what is deemed honorable action on the front lines and strike in the heart of the targets.

Ohio State University students attending the main campus, in Columbus, Ohio were recently the target of a one-two Islamic State car/knife attack when Abdul Razak Ali Artan, 20, rammed his vehicle into a crowd and as they came to his rescue, believing it was an accident, he jumped from his vehicle, with a large knife and began stabbing those good Samaritan who came forward.

He was shot and killed by campus security and the threat contained. From all accounts, he also acted alone.

Machetes are described as "a large clever like cutting tool. The blade is typically 32.5 to 60 centimeters (12.8 to 24 inches long and under 3 millimeters (0.12in) thick." Machetes are relatively inexpensive, can be purchased without any waiting time, bought openly, with no questions asked.

The length of the weapon make it easier to use and as the blade is positioned some distance, up to 2feet, away from the attacker the chance of hand to hand engagement to disarm are nearly impossible.

Machetes are designed to inflict substantial damage and mass casualty as they migrate from agricultural usage to Islamic state weapon of choice.

Cincinnati Mass Shooting Leaves 1 Dead; 15 Injured

Cameo, a nightclub in the southern Ohio city of Cincinnati, was the scene of chaos and carnage as several shooters were in the club and sprayed the crowd with gunfire leaving one dead and 16 others injured.

Upwards of two hundred patrons where inside the club when, from limited reports, an argument broke out among several guests and they all pulled weapons each firing upon the others.

With bullets blazing in two different directions, chaos erupted as patrons attempted to flee.

Obryan Spikes, 27, died in the crossfire. Another patron who has not been named is in extremely critical condition. The medical condition of the other fourteen have not yet been disclosed.

No arrest have been made. Jeff Ruby, a Cincinnati restaurateur is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible he said via twitter.

Mosul Air Raids Kill Civilians

In the Battle to retake Mosul, Iraqi ground forces along with the 66-nation coalition force have, for the last three months, engaged in heavy fighting with ISIS forces striking back in attempts to retake ground in Mosul.

The fierce, violent, battles between Iraqi forces and ISIL/ISIS have intensified with civilian casualty mounting as Iraqi officials are reporting Coalition Airstrikes have repeatedly missed the intended target killing upwards of 200 civilians.

Iraqi forces are said to control 60% of western Mosul.

The Islamic State has been driven back and from all published reports have had their infrastructure fractured with training camps demolished and top Islamic State officers killed.

The Battle to retake Mosul has raged on for the last five months.

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

Sources: Whitehouse.gov, Wikipedia.com, 

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