Beltway Insider: Biden/2023, Peace Talks, Putin Critic, George Santos, Idaho Murders, COVID/Vaccine Totals, Notable Deaths

Details: Category: Beltway Insider; Published on Sunday, 01 January 2023 12:00; Written by Janet Walker

President Biden, over the last two weeks, has reminded Americans of the great distance we have traveled since the onset of the pandemic, the loved ones lost, heartache and the unconquerable spirit of hope woven into our DNA.

The President's job approval rating, according to the website fivethirtyeight.com, for the period ending January 1, 2023 increased by 0.4% to 43.3% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness decreased by 0.5% at 51.3% 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/RFMA, JFK, Immigrants, Fentanyl, Fauci Retires, COVID/Vaccine Totals, Jan 6, NYC/Highland Park Shooters

Biden's Vision of America

Biden, who is vacationing in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, refused further speculation on his intentions to run for reelection, and reiterated the importance of family.

During his Christmas message he explained tragedy and loss may arrive unexpectedly, as it did "50 years ago this week [when] I lost my first wife and my infant daughter in a car accident, and my two sons were badly injured, when they were out shopping for a Christmas tree. I know how hard this time of year can be."

As we move away from the holiday spirit, when random acts of kindness seem to appear unexpectedly, Biden's vision for America, has this concept of neighbor helping neighbor, becoming a vein running throughout our nation, which of course, won't magically suppress challenges and hardships, or soothe the deepest of wounds, and still, it will help. If there is one lesson, we can take from the pandemic lockdowns, it is that we all need each other.

Ukraine, Russia February Peace Talks

With the Ukraine-Russian war nearly at the one-year mark, the tragedies, and triumphs of the past year for Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, have unified the world, ostracized Russia, nearly bankrupted the Russian economy and divided the globe.

The unreasonable demands for cessation, from both sides, coupled with the past year's horrors, unrestrained brutality, mass murders, senseless violence, displacements, all create an uncertainty even before a possible date has been formalized.

"Ukraine this week proposed a "peace" summit by the end of February but said Russia could participate only if it first faces a war-crimes tribunal. That drew a frosty response from the Kremlin, with Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov saying that Kyiv must accept all of Russia's demands, including that it give up four Ukrainian regions that Moscow claims to have annexed," reported The New York Times.

With the hardline positioning of the Ukraine and Russia, the possibility of peace talks appears to be derailed before they begin.

Another Putin Critic Dies Mysteriously

Pavel Antov, 65, a Russian tycoon and open critic of Putin and his policies on the Ukraine invasion died over the holiday season in a fall from a hotel window in India, the second of his party to die suspiciously.

"The millionaire's death is the latest in a series of unexplained deaths involving Russian tycoons since the start of the Russian invasion, many of whom have openly criticised the war," reported BBC.com.

George Santos, Congressman-Elect, Under Investigation

George Santos, the recently elected republican congressman from New York, has yet to be sworn into office and has already distinguished himself, and may not in a manner he can escape.

A member of the whatever it takes to secure one's goals generation, including lying, cheating, thieving, conniving, circumventing and any other traditionally unethical behaviors Santo's has become every man, literally, in his approach to flipping New York's 3^rd Congressional district, from democratic control to republican.

"He said he is part Black. He said he is the grandson of Holocaust survivors. He claimed he helped develop "carbon capture technology." He claimed to have worked at companies that never employed him. He claimed to be a graduate of two universities, only to admit that he has no college degree at all," reported The Washington Post.

Santos has said he will serve his term; the Nassau Country Prosecutor has said she will prosecute if wrong doing is discovered; the former Congressional democrat has said he would agree to a re-match, if Santos decide to face his voters, who now understand the embellishments are real.

Idaho College Murders: Police Arrest Suspect

Police Arrest Suspect in Idaho College Murders

Moscow, Idaho police announced this week, the arrest of Bryan Christopher Kohberger, 28, a Ph.D. Criminal Justice student at neighboring Washington State University, in the gruesome and brutal quadruple homicide of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20.

"After being arrested in Pennsylvania, Bryan Kohberger, 28, plans to waive his right to an extradition hearing in court on Tuesday, public defender Jason LaBar of Monroe County, Pa., told The Washington Post. If he follows through, it will speed up his removal to Idaho and accelerate the release of information that police say implicates him in the case," reported The Washington Post.

The suspect was arrested in Scranton, Pennsylvania, at his parents' home during an early morning raid. Police have not stated what investigative information, other than the white Hyundai Elantra which was caught on surveillance camera speeding by a convenience store in the early morning of November 13, 2022, which coincided with investigators timeline.

Little else is known about the student. Days following the murder he attended classes and according to statements from other students, appeared normal. He completed his first semester as a doctoral student.

A new report, posted in The New York Post states, Kohberger allegedly stalked the victims which has been documented through cellphone signals, this fact has not been substantiated by authorities in the case.

It is expected that Kohberger will request a change of venue to Boise, Idaho, as publicity, as well as fear, has tainted the potential jury pool in the local community. The possibility of securing a jury pool and reasonable doubt increases within a larger metropolitan area.

Leader of Foiled Plot to Kidnap Michigan Governor Sentenced

The co-leader of the plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitman was sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison for his role in the 2020 conspiracy.

"The abduction of the governor was only meant to be the beginning of Croft's reign of terror," [Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils] Kessler said. " He called for riots, 'torching' government officials in their sleep and setting off a 'domino' effect of violence across the country," Foxnews.com reported.

Infiltrated by the FBI, the government broke up the organization month before the 202 election and arrested co-leader Croft, 47, along with Adam Fox, 39, who received 16 years in prison, and several others within the organization.

The cancel culture, which essentially allows for a mass group of people to target anyone over spoken opinions and philosophies, morphed into violent actions which birthed the political right-wing militias and other fringe groups who aligned themselves with former president Donald Trump, who encouraged this style of insurrectionist uprisings, is finally being curbed as the nation's voting population choose leaders who, when possible, are stopping these radical activists and setting examples, to those who may interpret limited action as permission, with harsh and vital responses to attacks on our democracy.

Vaccine Totals

As of January 1, 2023, in the United States, 939,127,005 vaccines have been distributed, with a 14-day increase of 7,785,420 and 663,822,575 have been administered with a 14-day increase weekly increase of 3,421,763 doses. More than 90% of the population have received the two-dose vaccine. (Date from the CDC). As of January 1, 2023, 13,073,712,554, vaccines doses have been administered worldwide.

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 two-week period ending January 1, 2023, the total of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide reached 651,918,402 people, with a 14-day increase of 3,945,491 with a total worldwide death toll of 6,656,601 deaths, and a 7-day death rate increase of 13,769. (Data from The World Health Organization).

COVID U.S. Totals

Infections rates in the United States are also on the rise. For the 14-day period ending January 1, 2023, the total confirmed cases rose to 100,622,056 people with new confirmed cases increasing by 916,961 with a 14-day average of 65,497 cases per day. The coronavirus has claimed 1,088,481 total deaths, adding 5,202 more deaths over the 14-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 the homegrown terrorism or the narcissistic above the law belief. The best obtainable version of the truth.

World News: Bribery European Parliament Style

Notable Deaths - Barbara Walters, Pope Benedict XVI, Pele, Franco Harris, Vivienne Westwood

Journalism, sports, religion and fashion each, within the past two weeks, lost icons to their industries. Barbara Walters, 93, the trailblazing journalist known for her tough as nails questioning and at times awkward on-air failings, passed away this week.

Breaking barriers from the beginning of her career in 1961, when women were not considered trustworthy enough to serve the news to the nation evening viewers, Walters, determined to overcome every obstacle, forged ahead, becoming the most widely celebrated TV journalist of her time.

"Ms. Walters repeatedly enjoyed the last guffaw over doubters and detractors during a career spanning five decades. She shattered glass ceilings, sending shards into many male egos. She became the most durable and versatile TV host of her era, as well as a celebrity more controversial than many of the ones she covered," reported The Washington Post.

For decades she hosted ABC's 20/20, a news program with co-host Jon Stossel, and as the premier dame of talk-television, and guaranteed ratings winner, she also hosted hundreds of interview specials including the Academy Awards led-in, an hour of celebrity interviews with the entertainment industries luminaries. She ended her career launching The View, the current opinion morning talk show, that spawned lookalikes on each of the networks. Walters paved the path for many after her. Television's cache of female on-air personalities owe their opportunities, and many their careers, to her. She passed away, December 30, in her home in New York City. She is survived by one daughter.

Vivienne Westwood

Fashion icon Vivienne Westwood, 81, whom described by "The Victoria and Albert Museum, which houses some of her works, … as a "true revolutionary and rebellious force in fashion," according to the BBC, died this week in her home in London.

Known for her punk fashion haute couture, Westwood died December 29, leaving behind a legacy which transformed British punk fashion, a legion of devoted fans, and an empire that extended beyond the runway.

Lauded and remembered by supermodels, celebrities, musicians and activists, including former Sex Pistols guitarist Glen Matlock and The Pretenders Chrissie Hyndes, who paid tribute to Westwood on Twitter writing, "Vivienne is gone and the world is already a less interesting place."

London Travel Review: Vibrant, Electric, Enchanting

Soccer Star Pele, Football Great Franco Harris

Sports stars Pele, the Soccer King, whose ability, and skill redefined the sport and turned soccer into an international sport, died this week at age 82. NFL superstar Franco Harris, the former running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who died two days before his Number 32 jersey was to be retired. Known for the miracle catch, Harris, was revered throughout the NFL, in the Pittsburgh region and known as to many as a mentor and statesman.

Pope Benedict XVI

For the 1.3billion Catholics, the announcement of the passing of Pope Benedict XVI, who ten years ago in 2013, at the age of 85 resigned, becoming the first leader in 600 years to leave the position. His courage was shocking to many, especially as the Pontiff explained to the Vatican Cardinals in Latin.

Benedict explained he, "repeatedly examined my conscience before God" and concluded that the modern world, "subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith," required a pope in better physical and intellectual condition. "My strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited" to the papacy, he said," reported The Washington Post.

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