Beltway Insider: GOP Wins Big; ISIS Militants Bring Down Jet; ACA Enrollment; SNL/Trump; Job Numbers

Voters took to the polls this week in the mid-term elections and, still reeling from what they consider a lack of leadership, sent a resounding message to Washington and ventured into uncharted GOP territory in the hopes of solid change.

According to Gallup, President Obama's job approval, over the past week, increased two percentage points to 48% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness as President decreased one percentage point to 49%.

ISIS Brings Down Russian Metrojet

Russian Metrojet Flight 9268, carrying 228 passengers and crew members was brought down over the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula at 31,000 feet, after leaving the resort town of Sharm el-Shikk, presumably by a bomb that had been planted on board.

ISIS backed militants, Wilayat Sinai, have been named as responsible for the mid-air cataclysmic disaster and subsequent breakup of the Airbus A321-200, the most fatal in Russian aviation history. A detonation, of some sort, had been the initial assessment due to the large debris field usually the most prominent indicator of catastrophic disintegration.

"It is accurate to say that the United States has not made our own determination about the cause of the incident.  But based on what we know and based on, in part at least, what's been publicly reported in terms of claims of responsibility, we can't rule anything out, including the possibility of terrorist involvement," said Josh Earnest, White House Press Secretary.

The force which brought down the Russian jet, filled with primarily Russian tourists, became the question. The initial theory remained an external force struck the jet on or near the tail section.

Later reports, based on evidence collected at the scene, are closing in on an on-board bomb that had been smuggled onto the aircraft.

A branch of ISIS loyalists, a group of no more than 500 men located in the Egyptian Saini, have claimed responsibility for the bombing without offering substantiated proof or evidence, including any operative passenger manifest or other definitive proof. Nor did they offer details only the responsible party would have.

"I think it's too early to assess at this point the effectiveness of the investigation.  But I just would observe, that it's in the interest of the Egyptian government to get to the bottom of this kind of incident, frankly to be sure that it doesn't happen again," Earnest said.

ISIS/ISIL Coalition

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently came to the global table again, after expulsion from the G8 and nearly 18 months of banishment and sectorial sanctions against his nation, in agreement against the ongoing threat of ISIS/ISIL and the ideology.

Attempting to usurp the democratic direction, stop the refugee migration and bring an end to the nearly six year civil war waging within Syria, Putin expected military solution, an iron fist, would be the most understood message.

Obama, the other leaders of the G7, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, UK Prime Minster David Cameron, Japan Prime Minister Abe, Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau, France President François Hollande, and European Union (EU) Council President Donald Tusk, Commission President Jena-Claude Juncker are still of the mindset of a democratic exchange of power, with Basher al-Assad, relinquishing his title and authority with an interim democratic government in place until free election can be held and the nation can return to some sort of balance and normalcy.

Putin, who has supplied the beleaguered leader with military weapons, and Assad, a long Russian loyalist, may have believed a unified approach to ISIS/ISIL, outside the coalition direction, would result in a peace accord.

ISIS, Islamic State Fighters, are looking for a central location in a sympathetic nation and as they already forged loyalty with Assad, which is common knowledge. The ISIS plan appears to become entrenched in the Syrian nation hoping to carve out a section for their homeland.

Thecaliphateis a form of Islamic government, not religion, a strict order led by acaliph,a person considered a political and religious successor to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, and a leader of the entire Muslim community.

As Putin witnessed with the bombing of Flight 9268, Assad will find his loyalty with ISIS/ISIL comes at a high cost, possibly higher than he is willing to pay.

Putin, ISIS/ISIL and Flight 9268

Putin may have felt was necessary for regional stability and may have understood this week the lunacy of the ISIS ideology as the murder of 228 of Russia's citizens are now victims, murdered by ISIS loyalists.

The Islamic State Fighters have said the downing of the Airbus and the murder of innocent lives was retaliation for Airstrikes aimed at ISIS targets the Russian leader took part in.

Russia announced Friday it was suspending flights to all of Egypt, joining the UK and Ireland, which had stopped flights to Sharm el-Sheikh. At least a half-dozen Western European governments told their citizens not to travel there. The United States has not made any official statement or decision outside of warning citizens on the potential of terrorist attack when traveling.

Egypt's ISIS Struggle

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the third since the ousting of former President Hosni Mubarak, who resigned under pressure of the Arab Spring demonstrators, has been testing the long term international relations Egypt's past government has secured with the United States and other democratic nations.

The current internal struggles with the frequency of Islamic State Fighter attacks, the most recent the bombing of Russian Flight 9628, has the Egyptian nation once dedicated to the principals of peace concerned the Sinai region could be the next targeted area in the ISIS/ISIL territorial annexation plan.

The Sinai insurgency, Wilayat Sinai, has dedicated themselves to furthering the principals of ISIS/ISIL and ending the rule of nations. Wilayat is known for the downing an Egyptian Helicopter in 2014, a rocket attack on an Egyptian NAVY ship in the Mediterranean and admitted placing the bomb in the cargo hold of the Russian Airbus. 

From all credible reports the bomb was smuggled on board the ill-fated Airbus during a stopover in the Egyptian tourist destination of Sharm el-Shikk.

At this point it is not clear if the explosion occurred from the checked baggage compartments, or cargo hold, or if a suicide bomber, which is highly unlikely, self-detonated although detonation could have been triggered through a checked and seated passenger. A suicide bomber detonating a checked bomb laden bag.

Either the Egyptian government has yet to ask any foreign government, namely the United States for assistance in forensic analysis or data recovery or they don't need it. The forensic scientists are nearly as modern and current as the technology used throughout the world. Egyptian ForensicAviation specialists have been trained by their U.S. counterparts.

"The United States does have an important national security relationship with Egypt, and our ability to coordinate on security issues enhances the security not just of the Egyptian people, but also the American people.  And that's a security relationship that we value.  

 "At this point I think it's too early to determine, to draw any conclusions about the effectiveness of the investigation, considering the very difficult environment in which that investigation is taking place.  Obviously, the details of this incident are difficult to assess, given the far-flung nature of the wreckage and given the other questions that have been raised," Earnest said. 

No nation, ally or enemy, remains loyal or forges a loyalty with the Islamic State Fighters for any length of time as they remain self-focused, determined and dedicated to the continuation of a singular dominance with relationships and expectations secondary.

President Vladimir Putin has been quoted as saying "ISIS has picked the wrong enemy." The former KGB Director is prepared to launch a full scale war against the Islamic State Fighters.

Republicans Win Big Again in Mid-Term Elections

Voters took to the polls this week in the mid-term elections and, still reeling from what they consider a lack of leadership, sent a resounding message to Washington and ventured into uncharted GOP territory in the hopes of solid change.

Presidential politics notwithstanding the tradition in off year elections, such as this current year, fewer people are geared to exercise their choice and obligation as a citizen to vote and therefore the few can actually make a majority and in some cases people win on by a small, single digit, margin.

On the State election level, Governors, State Senators, the Democrats have seen considerable losses with no substantive explanation. The facts remain the numbers proffered by the federal government are aggregate, a collective and average of all 50 states, and not specific to the individual states and people want financial recovery and not rhetoric from their leaders.

 "There are a lot of theories proffered about why Democrats have not performed as well as we would like either at the state level or in off-year elections.  Some of that is observations that have been made by some about the strategy that Republicans have focused on, on redistricting efforts which has recently started to bear fruit for them.  Some demographers have observed that Democrats are more likely to live in densely populated urban communities, which has consequences for drawing legislative lines.  In other cases, particularly in off-year elections, Republicans have been more effective in turning out their vote, "Earnest said.

Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Begins With Healthy Communities Challenge

The Affordable Care Act, Obamacare, the government mandated health plan is again reaching out to the nation as more than twenty cities have been chosen as Healthy Communities Challenge in the administration's latest attempt to galvanize more support for the health care law.

Obamacare, which has been mandated since June 2012, has opened the door for the millions of uninsured Americans to purchase affordable health insurance.

Since 2010 more than 17.6 million Americans have purchased coverage.

"The nation's uninsured rate now stands at its lowest level ever. But still, in communities across the country, 10.5 million people eligible for Marketplace coverage remain uninsured," said White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest.

The Healthy Communities Challenge is an initiative the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has developed in association choosing communities where a majority of the population remains uninsured. Working with local political leadership, communities will be encouraged and informed through a publicity campaign the choices available.

The Healthy Communities Challenge Campaigns are designed to answer the most asked questions and address obstacles.

Trump and Saturday Night Live

Donald Trump, the GOP Presidential front-runner, drew a large crowd of Latino protesters, at Rockefeller Center, home to NBC studios, chanting, waving signs, some with lewd images and offering a reward for disruption of the live sketch comedy broadcast.

Trump, who largely received poor rating for his comedic endeavors, was the target of a large crowd of Hispanic and Latino activists' organization protesting the candidate's position and statements on immigration.

The protestors chanting and waving signs while some played bongos as they marched up Sixth Avenue in New York City besieging the 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The largely peaceful crowd, from photos available, has been estimated between 500 and 1000 demonstrators. Upon arriving at the NBC Studios the protestors were cordoned behind New York Police barricades.

The leaders were calling for network executives to replace the polarizing candidate, who continues to lead in the polls among registered Republicans, even as his comments stray further right.

The recent demonstration stems from his immigration policies and word choice. Organizers of the demonstration offered up to $5000.00 to anyone willing to yell "Racist" during the live broadcast.

Saturday Night Live just celebrated its 40th Season and has seen its share of controversy. Irish singer Sinead O'Conner, in October 1992, ripped a photo of then Pope John Paul II over a difference of opinions with the Catholic Church.

Always known for skirting the edge of good taste and even dumpster diving for a laugh, Saturday Night Live has found its best fodder from the daily headlines, political candidates and global leaders.

Scandals are a treasure trove of sketch comedy and The Donald, as he is known, is no exception. He will remain a source of comedy as are all candidates.

It's never been a richer season for the SNL troupe.

October Job Numbers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released October employment numbers this week and while the overall numbers remained essentially unchanged the current totals are indicating the Obama Administration has made real effort in economic development and job creation.

The economy added 271,000 jobs in October which remained on track and steady. The overall unemployment rate has dropped to an impressive 5.0%. The total number of unemployed persons remains at 7.9million.

The Federal unemployment number is deceptive, as each state economy is different outside of Puerto Rico, all states have seen a drop in unemployment.

Specific worker groups are still facing difficulties with teenagers facing the highest rate of unemployment at 15.9%, African-Americans, 9.2% and Hispanics at 6.3%.

The numbers are dramatically less than five years ago, when the overall unemployment numbers remained cemented for nearly forty weeks at 8.0%.

Over the past three month job gains have averaged out to 187,000 per month.

The greatest recession, since the great depression, had all, even the economists working for this administration, unsure of the probability that the United States would fully recover before 2017 and if workers would need to face extensive retraining to reenter a changed workforce.

The challenge and legacy for the Obama Administration remains one of leaving office with Labor Statistics lower than any preceding president.

For more information on President Barack Obama: www.whitehouse.gov

Sources: Whitehouse.gov, Wikipedia.com

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