Beltway Insider: Biden in Ireland, Pentagon Documents Leak, SCOTUS Turmoil, Multiple Shootings, Coronation, 2024

Details: Category: Beltway Insider; Published on Sunday, 16 April 2023 15:00; Written by Janet Walker

President Biden traveled to Ireland this week to celebrate the 25^th Anniversary of the Good Friday Peace Agreement, which ended sectarian violence and to mark the first trip to his ancestral roots as President of the United States.

The President's job approval rating, according to the website fivethirtyeight.com, for the period ending April 16, 2023 increased by 0.6% to 43.1% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness increased by 0.1% to 52.9% 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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Biden in Ireland

President Biden's visit to Ireland went largely unnoticed in the American press, as the pressing domestic issues, mass shootings and document leaks seemed to overtake the news cycle each day. For many, including the president the limited spotlight of the media seemed to allow him to be more relaxed through the three-day journey.

For many the only hiccup in the President's Irish trip was his selfie with former Sein Finn Leader Gerry Adams, who led the underground organization during 1983-2018, during the height of the Irish Republican Army's Terrorist Bombings, determined effort to gain independence from British rule.

"Adams has always denied membership in the IRA itself, although he has continued to face allegations that he was involved in its terrorist activities. Adams was one of a number of Irish republican officials who were banned from British airwaves by the government of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher," Foxnews.com reported.

The Discord Leaks Reveal Russian Military Gutted by Ukraine War

Jack Teixeira, 21, the Air National Guardsman at the center of the high-level document leaks posted on a gaming platform, was arrested this week barely days after the revelation of sensitive information involving the U.S. spying on allies and Russian-Ukraine war information.

In Ireland when the story on the leak of the documents and Teixeira's subsequent arrest, President "Biden said he has asked to "make sure they get to the root of why he had access in the first place," reported The Washington Post.

While it is not uncommon for governments to gather intelligence on all state actors, both allies and enemies, the documents posted on the chat room Discord, a members only online boy's club, which was operated by Teixeira, who appeared to have a devoted following within the group, revealed information which was not widely circulated including Egypt's intent to sell weapons to Russia to use against the Ukraine and that Russia's military is nearly depleted and will take decades to rebuild.

The Washington Post, which has reviewed 50 pages of the documents and more than 300 photos, reported the documents also reveal, current and informed information on the daily workings of the Russian-Ukraine war, information on each government's ability to maintain current strategies, strength of military, and which nations where willing, clandestinely, to provide weapons to Russia to further Putin's war.

Essentially, the documents confirm that the Russian-Ukraine war is costing Russia, it's people and its military more than the value of a vendetta.

"This is not just about taking home documents. That is, of course, itself illegal. But this is about the transmission, both the unlawful retention and the transmission of the documents," [United States Attorney General Merrick] Garland said," The Washington Post reported.

After reviewing the articles reported by The Washington Post, The New York Times, and other media organizations, what remains disturbing is both the amount of information Teixeira was able to take home and the volume of information he was able to transmit online before the information became known.

It appears as the group tightened its membership restrictions; the documents appeared to increase in sensitivity. Teixeira, who went by the name OG, continued to elevate himself as a leader in the chat room that has been operational since the 2020 pandemic, which means at 18 years of age, he had access to top-secret documents.

Beside the clear psychological issues with allowing an 18 to 21-year-old access to top secret documents, many would explain the entire responsibility rests on Teixeira, as he violated protocols, and was driven to reveal these documents, the fact remains that the government, of those directly responsibility for hiring him are complacent and have some level of culpability.

With the information available it appears that Teixeira wanted to be the center of everyone's attention, with access to sensitive information he became elevated in standing, preeminence, and he could command their attention. It has also been reported that members of the group, even with the strict membership controls were foreigners.

Obviously, the fact that this information was being disseminated online was widely known to everyone, including enemies of the United States, everyone it appears except the FBI.

World News: Chinese President Xi-Jinping Elevates Himself to The Man To Stop Putin’s War

SCOTUS Turmoil: Associate Justice Clarence Thomas III

Recent reversals in "settled law of the land" landmarked Supreme Court rulings have caused an upheaval in American society, a woman's right to choose her reproductive care and decisions being the most prominent ruling overturned with this newly conservative court.

As the conservative court has the power to reverse many liberties which have become ingrained in the fabric of America, including LGBTQ rights as well as interracial marriage rights, finding motivation to remove a member of the conservative Supreme Court of the United States Associate Justice has become the cause of the moment.

The removal of Associate Justice Clarence Thomas III has become the focus of several media investigations, as reports of his business dealings which border on grey areas of the law and his wife's philanthropic efforts for conservative issues has raised more than one red flag of appearance of impropriety.

"Democratic lawmakers are calling for an investigation into Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas after ProPublica revealed Thursday that he had failed to report real estate deals made with Harlan Crow, a Dallas business executive and influential Republican donor to causes related to the law and judiciary," The Washington Post reported.

Forcing a change in the membership of the Supreme Court would allow President Biden, a democratic to nominate a liberal leaning justice, and at this point with the Democrats still holding the majority in the Senate the nomination would confirmed.

Vaccine Totals

As of April 16, 2023, in the United States, 674,711,945 have been administered with a 7-day increase weekly increase of 336,739 doses. More than 90% of the population have received the two-dose vaccine. (Date from the CDC). As of April 16, 2023, 13,340,275,493 vaccines doses have been administered worldwide (Data from WHO).

Coronavirus Totals

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 week ending April 16, 2023, the total of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide reached 762,791,152 people, with a 7-day increase of 598,983 with a total worldwide death toll of 6,897,025 deaths. (Data from The World Health Organization).

COVID U.S. Totals

Infections rates in the United States are also on the rise. For the 7-day period ending April 16, 2023, the total confirmed cases rose to 104,348,746 people with new confirmed cases increasing by 105,857 with a 7-day average of 15,122 cases per day. The coronavirus has claimed 1,128,404 total deaths, adding 1,300 more deaths over the 7-day period. (Data from the CDC).

Pentagon's Diary Gets Personal

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

Four Dead, Nine Injured in Louisville Mass Shooting: Second Shooting Unfolds Hours Later

Bullets Flying Over America

Once again America is waking up to the news of a mass shooting, this time shots rang out at a Sweet Sixteen party in Dadeville, Alabama, killing four teens and injuring upwards of 15 others, presumably all teens. More than 12 hours have passed since an unidentified assailant entered the Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio, which had been rented out for the celebration, and local and federal authorities have remained silent on many of the details.

"So far, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has confirmed "four fatalities" and "multiple injuries" after gunfire erupted at approximately 10:34 p.m. near the 200 Block of Broadnax Street in Dadeville, located in Tallapoosa County," Foxnews.com reported.

Police have identified one fatality, Philstavious Dowdell, a graduating senior who had been accepted to Jacksonville State University on a football scholarship. There are no words to describe the loss. No further information is available. Police have not said if the shooter is at large. A rural community, Dadeville has approximately 3000 residents and the shooting has caused unspeakable heartache.

This tragedy caps the end of another tragic week of gun violence in America that begin with the Louisville Bank Mass Shooting, that left five dead and nine injured, and just a few hours from another Louisville shooting that left two dead and four injured.

Macron Hikes Retirement by Two Years

French President Emmanuel Macron, despite serious opposition has passed his bill to raise the legal retirement age in France by two years, from 62 years to 64.

"Pension reform in France, where the right to retire on a full pension at 62 is deeply cherished, is always a highly sensitive issue and even more so in recent months with social discontent mounting over the surging cost of living," CNN reported.

Another Day; Another Shooting; Another List; Another Lost

King Charles III Prepares for Coronation

The official coronation for King Charles III, the first-born son of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, is set for May 5, 2023, and has been the subject of much speculation over the attending Royals, and if the King who prefers a slimmed down monarchy will exclude family members from his big day.

With Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, exiting Royal life for a quieter existence in America, and as they have decided that airing the dirty royal laundry is the best method toward gaining independence and freedom, it remained unclear if King Charles would exclude the pair. Buckingham Palace confirmed this week the Prince Harry will attend the ceremony and his wife, Meghan, will not and will remain in America with the couple's two children, Prince Archie, 4, and one year old, Princess Lilibet.

As far as the remainder of the guest list, all crowned heads of European will be in attendance, as will the crowned Emperor of Japan and his wife, President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden will also be in attendance. The expected global televised audience in Britain is upwards of 30 million, and throughout the world, the coronation which can be streamed and screened, in parts or in its entirety, across multiple mediums, could reach as high as 250 million people.

GOP Lost in Trumpland; Pompeo Closes Door on 2024 Run

Even as former President Trump confronts a legal battle in Manhattan, the pool of potential republican presidential candidates is narrowing as former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has removed himself from consideration.

"I have made a decision," he said. "[We] have prayerfully come to the conclusion we are not going to join the race in 2024. While we care deeply about America and the issues I've been talking about for the past year-and-half – and frankly for decades – matter an awful lot, this isn't our moment," Foxnews.com reported.

2024 is Looking Ugly

With a little more than 18 months until the 2024 President election the news is grim for the GOP. Although President Biden has not announced his intent to seek reelection, it is understood than he does in fact plan to run.

Of the potential republican candidates that could galvanize the GOP, former Trump Vice President Mike Pence is well-known enough to possibly pull together a winning ticket and Florida governor Ron DeSantis are the two politicians that could bring the ticket together.

The conservative fringe that believes the 2020 presidency was stolen from Trump has a devotion based on cognitive and or cultural bias akin to a religious tenant of selection, they believe "their" candidate suffered egregious harm at the hands of the democratic party, who utilized a cabal of influencers who managed to manipulate the outcome. He lost, that's all. It's time for the party to move on and find a new "star."

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