Beltway Insider: Biden/Ukraine War, Roe vs Wade, Mid-Terms COVID/Vaccine Totals, Hotel Explosion, Kailia Posey

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President Biden has met with the leaders of the G7, and the leaders have agreed to a new set of sanctions against Russia President Vladimir Putin to deny him the funding needed to fuel the war with Ukraine.

The President's job approval rating, according to the website fivethirtyeight.com, for the period ending May 8, 2022 increased by 0.5% to 42.2% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness increased by 0.1% to 52.4% of those polled who disapprove of his effectiveness. A slight 3% of the population polled have no opinion. Ratings are calculated weekly.


Beltway Insider: Biden/Ukraine War, DOD Summit, COVID/Vaccine Totals, Cig Ban, LA Riots, Naomi Judd


Ukraine War

The Ukraine-Russian War, which is entering into its 11th week, is becoming the costliest war in history for Russia. At eleven weeks the war is costing the maniacal leader $900million per day to maintain his determination to reunite the old Soviet border.

President Biden, in a meeting today with leaders of the G7, have pledged to phase out dependence on Russia oil in response to Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

"The move is intended to hit the "main artery" of Russia's economy and deny President Vladimir Putin "the revenue he needs to fund the war," the White House said. Although the United States had already banned the import of Russian oil, the European Union is considering a proposal to do the same. The G-7 consists of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States," reported The Washington Post.

Russia Bombs School

More than 60 Ukrainians are feared dead after a school that had served as a local bomb shelter was hit on Saturday, in a bombing raid, in the Donbas region of Ukraine. Thirty of the 90 civilians have been rescued.

"The incident in the eastern village of Bilohorivka could rank among the deadliest attacks on civilians in Ukraine since Russia invaded on Feb. 24.," reported The Washington Post.

Survivors explained that at the time of the attack, the shelter was housing closer to forty people, and only 12 survived. With the hope of finding any additional survivors dwindling the truth remains clearly evidence Putin will target the spirit of the nation in a belief that murdering their loved ones will force them into surrender.

Unfortunately, the numbers reflect a single bombing incident when in reality the war has displaced more than 13million Ukrainians, and killed more than 46K, with another 400 missing and 12K with non-fatal injuries.

Putin's Mega Yacht Seized

Russian President Vladimir Putin's, mega luxury yacht Scheherazade, valued at $700million has been seized from the port of Italy under a freeze decree issued by the Italian government

"Before Friday, Italy had managed to detain a $560 million megayacht connected to Andrey Melnichenko, a coal and fertilizer tycoon who is one of Russia's 10 richest people. Italy has also blocked access to villas that oligarchs use as summer getaways," reported The Washington Post.

Putin's reported mistress Olympic gymnast, Alina Kakaeva, is also on the list of targeted associated of the Russian leader. While her name appears of the circulated list of potential sanctioned individuals with close ties to the Russian leader, she has not yet been officially sanctioned. Her name appears in the 26th sanction package and if passed her assets in the EU would be seized and she would be banned from EU travel.


World News: Russia and The New Frontier


SCOTUS Brief Leaked

The Supreme Court of The United States Chief Justice John Roberts called the leaked brief, which announces the expected decision to overturn Row v Wade, the controversial 1973 landmark decision that granted women the right to an abortion on demand, "appalling."

"This was a singular and egregious breach of that trust that is an affront to the Court and the community of public servants who work here. I have directed the Marshal of the Court to launch an investigation into the source of the leak," Roberts said in a statement Tuesday," CNN reported.

Sets Off Firestorm

The leaked brief created a firestorm of protests across the nation. For many the idea that protesting the yet to be announced decision could or would somehow influence the highest court's decision or cause the associate justices who have allegedly created a majority opinion to change their decision is futile.

Associate Justices on the nations highest court accept the appointment understanding the lifetime term limits. Vacancies on the bench are created by retirement or death. Blaming the opinion of the Court, as a product of former President Donald Trump and therefore a product of the GOP, simply tosses gasoline on the fire the fuels our highly divided society.

Returning the Abortion question, and along with the decisions of viability and the complexities of the Abortion question, to states allows the states constituents to take a larger role in self-governance. State elected leaders are responsible to their citizens, and the citizens either vote and play a part in their own future or pass on voting and allow others to rule over them.

Granted the voting process is often a crap shoot, even the candidates can seem to be the lesser of two evils, and still citizens will sort through the evils and may determine on this single issue the direction of their vote. The freedom of choice should be inherent to the Constitution's Fourteenth Amendment, to choose life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

The Leaked Brief Authored by Associate Justice Samuel A. Alito

The first draft of the document which can be seen here explains many of the Constitutional arguments presented over the course of the last fifty years. Moreover, it explains the deeply divisive nature of the issue and the expectation of the Court that the ruling will give birth to a new, more determined effort by the people to have their voice heard and even if they did have foreknowledge of the future and what divisions this decision will cause their choice is to interpret the law, which is essentially their jobs.

Below is an excerpt of the brief.

"Neither decision [Roe or Casey] has ended debate over the issue of a constitutional right to obtain an abortion. Indeed, in this case, 26 States expressly ask us to override Roe and Casey and to return the issue of abortion to the people and their elected representatives. This Court's inability to end debate on the issue should not have been surprising. This Court cannot bring about the permanent resolution of a rancorous national controversy simply by dictating a settlement and telling the people to move on. Whatever influence the Court may have on the public attitudes must stem from the strength of our opinions, not an attempt to exercise "raw judicial power." Roe, 410 U.S., at 222 (White, J. dissenting).

We do not pretend to know how our political system or society will respond to today's decision overruling Roe and Casey. And even if we could foresee what will happen, we could have no authority to let that knowledge influence our decision. We can only do our job, which is to interpret the law, apply longstanding principles of stare decisis and decide the case accordingly.

We there hold that the constitution does not confer a right to abortion. Roe and Casey must be overruled, and the authority to regulate abortion musted be returned to the people and their elected representative." (page 64-65).

Mid-Terms

The 2022 mid-term elections are shaping up to be a battleground with two major issues: Roe v Wade, and the economy, along with astronomical gas prices, rising food prices and the upsell mentality consumers are facing at every service provider.

All 435 U.S. Representatives and 35 of the 100 U.S. Senators are facing re-election. The mid-term elections, for many, are seen as the indicator of the political landscape and used as a predictor of the upcoming general 2024 presidential election.

Rising consumer prices could become a major determining factor in the upcoming election.

Gas Prices Climb

Gas prices at the pump are climbing and expected to reach $7.50 a gallon in most major cities along the west coast before the beginning of what is considered the summer travel season. Travel through Los Angeles area from downtown to the westside to Santa Monica saw prices ranging from $5.49 per gallon to $6.69 per gallon.

U.S. consumers are being held hostage at the gas pump due to the Ukraine/Russian war that has weaponized energy. The sanction of Russian energy and the E.U. decision to move away from Russian energy sources caused a sharp increase in natural gas and oil prices globally. This will continue to cause rising gas prices for U.S. consumers.

The national average is $4.17 per gallon, and factors gas pump prices in all 50 states.


Medical Science: COVID-19 - Amid Drums of War


U.S. COVID-19 Deaths Near 1M

COVID-19 has become an unwelcome member of global society. It's continual regeneration into new variants of equal, lesser, or greater strength will reman in society even as we transition to the endemic stage of the pandemic. Deaths in the United States will reach 1million by June 1, 2022.

As we enter the endemic stage, the fight will continue, variants will rise, some stronger others simply annoying, and we will survive.

Vaccine Totals

Bloomberg.com has built a vaccine tracker which can be seen here. "In the U.S., 578 million doses have been given so far. During the last week, shots were administered at an average rate of 73,154 doses a day," Bloomberg.com reported.

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 one-week period ending May 8, 2022, coronavirus cases globally increased by 3,516,749 new confirmed cases, bringing the total of confirmed cases worldwide to 516,778,645 people with a total worldwide death toll of 6,249,402 deaths, and a 7-day death rate increase of 15,703. (Data from The New York Times).

COVID US Totals

Infections rates in the United States are also on the rise. For the seven-day period ending May 8, 2022, the total confirmed cases rose to 81,766,001 people with new confirmed cases increasing by 505,329 with a 7-day average of 72,189 cases per day. The coronavirus has claimed 996,256 total deaths, adding 4,246 more deaths over the 7-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. And the truth is so bizarre you can't even wrap your mind around it.

Hotel Explosion Kills 30 injuries 75

A major explosion rocked the luxury property Hotel Saratoga, in Havana, Cuba, on Friday, killing 30 and injury dozens including children in what is being called a tragic accident possibly due to a gas leak. The 96-room property was undergoing renovations at the time of the explosion.

"No tourists were staying at Havana's 96-room Hotel Saratoga because it was undergoing renovations, Havana Gov. Reinaldo García Zapata told the Communist Party newspaper Granma. "It's not a bomb or an attack. It is a tragic accident," President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who visited the site, said in a tweet," the APnews.com reported.

The Hotel Saratoga, in the heart of Havana, has been the choice property for VIPs, dignitaries, and entertainment.


Dr. Mark Goulston, Suicide Prevention Expert, Speaks On Teen Suicide and The Warning Signs


Kailia Posey Dies

Toddlers and Tiaras star Kailia Posey, 16, died this week by her own hand. The child star, who transitioned her fame into teen screen opportunities, died two weeks after her 16th birthday.

"I don't have words or any thoughts. A beautiful baby girl is gone,' Posey's mother, Marcy Posey Gatterman, posted to Facebook, confirming her daughter's death. Later, Gatterman told TMZ in a statement that her daughter 'made the rash decision to end her earthly life," reported The Dailymail.com.

Gifted, talented, beautiful, and intelligent, with an exceptional future, the star was known to have struggled with depression, although those who knew her have commented publicly that they did not know how bad the struggles had become.

Her body was discovered in her car at Birch Bay Park, a coastline park nine miles from the Canadian border, in Washington State.

If you or a loved one is experiencing anxiety, depression, suicide ideation or thoughts of self-harm call the National Suicide Hotline at 800-273-8255 or text Crisis text at 741741. Non-judgmental counselors are waiting to chat.

 

For more information on President Joe Biden www.whitehouse.gov.

Sources: Various © Articles covered by Copyright protection.