Iowa is Rubio Country

[BenBurch]

Rubio is the typical establishment Republican.  It's better to vote Democratic than vote for him.  Then again, it's typically better to vote D than vote for a Republican... 

[UWS]

How many people were at the inauguration?

Let's say 1.3 million people.

[UWS]

President Marco Rubio's Second Presidential Inauguration on January 20th 2021

Chief Justice of the United States : I Marco Antonio Rubio do solemnly swear...

Marco Rubio : I Marco Antonio Rubio do solemnly swear...

Chief Justice of the United States : ...that I will faithfully execute...

Marco Rubio : ...that I will faithfully execute...

Chief Justice of the United States : ...the office of President of the United States...

Marco Rubio : ...the office of President of the United States...

Chief Justice of the United States : ...and will with the best of my ability...

Marco Rubio : ...and will with the best of my ability...

Chief Justice of the United States : ...preserve, protect and defend...

Marco Rubio : ...preserve, protect and defend...

Chief Justice of the United States : ...the Constitution of the United States...

Marco Rubio : ...the Constitution of the United States...

Chief Justice of the United States : ...so help me God.

Marco Rubio : ...so help me God.

[Crowd cheers and applauds as Hail to the Chief is played by the orchestra]

Marco Rubio's second presidential inauguration speech :

Thank you, all. Thank you so very much. Vice-President Haley, Mr. Chief Justice, members of the United States Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens, today is a day in which, like every time we inaugurate a President, we celebrate the values defended by the Constitution of the United States of America. These are values articulated in the Declaration of Independence made almost 250 years ago. These are values that made America a special, great and exceptional nation and ensured that all human beings, men, women, white, black, Hispanic, Asian, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, etc. are created equal. These are rights we are endowed with by our creator and include life, freedom, liberty, democracy, freedom of religion, freedom of press, freedom of speech, gender equity and the pursuit of hapiness.

To ensure these rights are accessible for all, several Americans have, throughout our history, crossed the streets around this country to protest against the injustices their communities were suffering, thus mobilizing all the country against racism and intolerance, resulting to the expansion of civil rights for all the American people.

And throughout our country's history, from the American Revolution to the War on Terror, our enemies attempted to threat our values, freedom, democracy and security. So we understood that freedom is far from being free and that we have to fight for it. That's what we did throughout our history and along with our allies we prevailed and we defended our freedom. We understood that the preservation of our liberty requires a strong security and strong American leadership. We, the people of the United States, stood for this objective by standing for the preservation of American leadership through a strong military, strong alliances and strong diplomacy. As a result, we kept America safe, we successfully ended the War in Afghanistan, we are about to get to final victory against terrorism and we convinced North Korea to denuclearize. These are goals that will remain my top foreign policy priorities and duties as President of the United States in the next four years and that's how we will make America and the whole world safe and restore global peace and that's why we need to stand with our allies and to keep terrorists on defense until we get total and unconditional victory against them.

Preserving our freedom also requires expanding the American Dream and making it accessible for all Americans. That's why we passed immigration reform, thus giving access to American citizenship for all immigrants and reinforcing our economy thanks to the addition of more innovation and ingenuity in our workforce due to immigrants' knowledge about artificial intelligence that spurs innovation by the sponsoring tech firm. These innovations will keep benefiting consumers, and helping the tech firm compete with rivals in other countries. Their hard work of these immigrants will help them to accomplish their American Dream here on the land of opportunity where the impossible becomes possible like I did and like my parents did.

Because we passed school choice, we reformed our education system by expanding opportunities for low-income students to attend high-quality schools that would otherwise be accessible only to higher-income families, thus increasing their chances of success and of entry into the workforce. That is how we're going to create the jobs of tommorrow.

And finally, the preservation of our freedom requires a strong economy, the promotion of free enterprise and free market and keeping America's status as the best place in the world to do business and to find a good-paying job. That's why we will keep fighting to keep our people's fiscal burden low like we did in the last four years, to promote free trade for the sake of our competitiveness in the world economy, to preserve our independence from foreign energies while keeping our environment clean and to make it easy for our businesses to pursue their activities here in the United States, which we did and will keep doing through tax reform and infrastructure development through public-private partnerships. That's how we managed to get our unemployment rate at its lowest rate since 5 decades and that's how we will get our country in the next four years.

My oath is quite similar to the oath of enlistment that calls on our men and women in uniform to serve for their nation and defend the greatest nation in the history of the world. My oath is also similar to the pledge every single American citizen make to the flag that waves above and that fills our hearts with pride. We, the people, understand that freedom is precious and that's why we must and will fight for what is right and keep working together to accomplish our common goals in order to get things done. We, the people, will fight to ensure that our children, our grandchildren as well as future generations will earn a rising shining America and will be the most prosperous generations of Americans that ever lived.

So let's embrace freedom, liberty, democracy, unity and strength to ensure permanent prosperity and permanent security and peace for our nation and for the sake of freedom's triumph and America's triumph against all the challenges facing this great and wonderful country.

Thank you. May God bless you all and may God bless the United States of America.

[UWS]

In the Days after President Rubios 2nd Inauguration CNN revamped their new Political Team for 2021 and beyond:

CNN POLITICAL TEAM FOR 2021 AND BEYOND

Election Night Anchors: Anderson Cooper & Jake Tapper


Senior Political Analysts: Gloria Borger & Jim Acosta


Chief Political Analyst: John King


CNN Political Director: David Chalian


Senior White House Correspondent: Michelle Kosinski


Senior Correspondent for Vice President Haley: Sara Murray


Chief Congressional Correspondent: Dana Bash


Congressional Correspondents: Brianna Keilar & Sunlen Serfaty


CNN Pentagon Correspondent: Barbara Starr


CNN Political Commentators & Contributors:
David Axelrod (D, former Obama Senior Advisor), Kirsten Powers (D; former Clinton WH Press Secretary), Jen Psaki (D, former Obama State Department Official), Jennifer Granholm (D, former Michigan Governor), Ana Navarro (Republican Strategist), Alex Castellanos (Republican Strategist), Rick Santorum (R, former Pennsylvania Senator)








Wolf Blitzer:

"After 20 years of serving CNN as an Election Night Anchor first during the controversial 2000 Election, then as a Lead Anchor for CNN's Election Night in America Coverages from 2002 until 2020 it's time for me to step aside and let the younger Generation take over. I'll still be anchoring the 1pm ET Hour "Wolf" as well as the "Situation Room" from 5pm ET"

Blitzer called being the Moderator in the 3rd Presidential Debate last year between President Rubio and Senator Sanders an incredible privilege to do and the Highlight of his Political Anchoring.

CNN also announced that Anderson Cooper & Jake Tapper will keep their Weekly Shows "The Lead with Jake Tapper" as well as "AC360". Tapper will remain Anchor of CNN's Sunday Political Talk Show "State of the Union".

In the Days after President Rubios 2nd Inauguration the White House also made some changes announcing that Alex Conant will serve as the new White House Press Secretary while his wife Caitlin Conant will be the Spokesperson, Communications Director & PA for Vice President Haley.

WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCEMENTS

[/b][/u]

White House Press Secretary: Alex Conant


Spokesperson, Communications Directtor & PA to Vice President Haley: Caitlin Conant


Analysts describing the Conants being instrumental getting Rubios positive Message out during the 2016 & 2020 Presidential Campaigns.

[UWS]

Marco Rubio's Presidency
January 2021, Part 2

January 22 :
-President Rubio hosts Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic at the White House where he reaffirms reaffirm the importance of a long-term defense relationship between the United States and Croatia, which contributed to a stronger regional security in Eastern Europe against Russia.

January 24 :

-The Senate votes 97-3 for the Nuclear Security Act that has yet to pass the House of Representatives on January 31.

January 26 :

-President Rubio holds a bilateral press conference with Afghan president Ashraf Ghani in Washington D.C. to discuss the upcoming withdrawal of the U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Both leaders honored the courage of the allied troops that contributed to the eradication of radical Islamic terrorism in Afghanistan. The President also reiterated the benefits of the end of the War in Afghanistan such as a shift of the entire counterterrorist efforts in Syria in order to defeat ISIS there, which will ensure NATO's success in Syria.

January 27 :
-Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Rick Lazio declares during a press conference at the White House that thanks to the adoption of a balanced budget amendment, there will be enough surpluses to increase funding into further development of infrastructures, which will be beneficial for economic activities across the United States.

January 28 :

-In an effort to derail Iran's attempts to develop nuclear weapons and to further diminish Iran's ability to sponsor global terrorism, India decided to restrict its imports of Iranian crude oil for the sake of global security and peace by depriving Iran of the sources they need to strengthen their military and their nuclear arsenal. President Rubio praised New Delhi's actions and called them decisive in the process of getting the world to a denuclearized Iran.

January 29 :

-President Rubio gives a speech at Goodwill Industries in Rockville, Maryland where he calls on the Congress to work to pass a balanced budget amendment for the sake of fiscal responsibility, of budget balance and full-employment which would allow a squander of a part of future budget surpluses on further tax cuts for small businesses in order to further increase their productivity and encourage job creation.

January 31 :

-The House of Representatives approves the Nuclear Security Act with a 412-20 vote. The bill is later signed into law by President Rubio, thus increasing funding for American nonproliferation efforts, including the Cooperative Threat Reduction programs established by the landmark Nunn-Lugar legislation, increasing IAEA funding and enhancing the intelligence support it receives.

[Lord Admirale]

I just want to say something to the people offending this TL. So what if this TL is not one of those Love Stories? So what if it is optimistic? UWS our effort into it and we should respect that. If you don’t like it, then don’t read it.

I just want to say something to the people offending this TL. So what if this TL is not one of those Love Stories? So what if it is optimistic? UWS our effort into it and we should respect that. If you don’t like it, then don’t read it

Why did you post the same thing twice

[OBD]

I just want to say something to the people offending this TL. So what if this TL is not one of those Love Stories? So what if it is optimistic? UWS our effort into it and we should respect that. If you don’t like it, then don’t read it.

Okay, but 1) this was more appropriate about a month ago and 2) us 'liberal dems' get the point.

[UWS]

Congressional Leadership 117th United States Congress 3rd January 2021 to 3rd January 2023

SENATE

President: Nikki R. Haley (South Carolina)
President Pro-tempore: Jim Inhofe (Oklahoma)

Republicans

Senate Majority Leader: Cory Gardner (Colorado)
Senate Majority Whip: Tom Cotton (Arkansas)
Conference Chairman: John Thune (South Dakota)
Conference Vice Chairman: John James (Michigan)
Conference Policy Chair: John Kasich (Ohio)
Senate Campaign Committee: Steve Daines (Montana)

Democrats

Senate Minority Leader: Charles "Chuck" Schumer (New York)
Senate Minority Whip: Patty Murray (Washington)
Conference Chairwoman: Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota)
Conference Vice Chairman: Jeff Merkley (Oregon)
Conference Policy Chair: Christopher Coons (Delaware)
Senate Campaign Committee: Chris Van Hollen (Maryland)

HOUSE

Republicans

Speaker: Paul D. Ryan (Wisconsin)
Majority Leader: Kevin McCarthy (California)
Majority Whip: Steve Scalise (Louisiana)
Conference Chairwoman: Cathy McMorris Rogers (Washington)
Conference Vice Chairwoman: Vicky Hartzler (Missouri)
Campaign Committee: Adam Kinzinger (Illinois)

Democrats

Minority Leader: Hakeem Jeffries (New York)
Minority Whip: Cheri Bustos (Illinois)
Conference Chairman: Joseph P. Kenndy (Massachsetts)
Conference Vice Chairwoman: Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii)
Campaign Committee: John Delaney (Maryland)

[UWS]

Marco Rubio's Presidency
February 2021, Part 1

President Rubio's job approval rating :
Approve : 63 %
Disapprove : 35 %
Unsure : 2 %

February 1 :

-During a visit in Jakarta, Indonesia, Secretary of State Lindsey Graham declares that President Rubio's upcoming summit with Kim Jong-un in Singapore will finally mark a new chapter in the process of preserving peace in the Pacific and in « keeping the Pacific Ocean pacific. »

February 3 :

-President Rubio gives his 4th State of the Union Address in the U.S. Congress.

February 6 :

-The U.S. troops in Syria conducted a military offensive against an ISIS base located in the south of Salkhad, killing 100 jihadists and capturing 20 other.

February 7 :

-According to a new jobs report, 200 000 new jobs were created in the United States in January, bringing the unemployment rate from 2.4 % to 2.3 %.

February 8 :

-During a rally in Fort Worth, President Rubio called on the Congress to legislate on a balance budget amendment, which, as he declared, will get the necessary revenues to develop new social security and job training programs for the veterans through the investment of a part of future budget surpluses into it.

February 9 :

-The United States Olympic Committee announces that Seattle launched a bid to host the 2030 Winter Olympic Games.

February 11 :

-President Rubio hosts Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena at the White House where both leaders hold a bilateral press conference uring which they highlighted the importance of the relations between the United States and Sri Lanka and of their trade ties for the sake of prosperity, their defence relations for the sake of international security, their counter-terrorism efforts and their common goal to ensure the respect of human rights.

February 14 :
-President Rubio, his family and his cabinet celebrate Valentine's Day at the White House.

February 15 :

-Utah Senator Mia Love introduces the Support Act that would approve a U.S. arms deal with Indonesia in an effort to combat the jihadist organization of Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines and in Malysia. The Senate vote will be held on Febrary 22 and the House vote on March 1.

[adamevans]

Why is Patrick Leahy PPT? PPT has to be from the majority party.

[UWS]

Why is Patrick Leahy PPT? PPT has to be from the majority party.

That’s right. John Cornyn, then.

[2016]

Why is Patrick Leahy PPT? PPT has to be from the majority party.

That’s right. John Cronyn, then.

Wrong, that would be Jim Inhofe then I think and not Cornyn since Inhofe is older than Cornyn.

[UWS]

Why is Patrick Leahy PPT? PPT has to be from the majority party.

That’s right. John Cronyn, then.

Wrong, that would be Jim Inhofe then I think and not Cornyn since Inhofe is older than Cornyn.

It’s fixed.

[Lord Admirale]

When will the vote to repeal the 22nd be held?

[UWS]

United States Senate Composition 2021-2023

Republicans (69 with 1 Member mostly not voting due to Health Reasons)

Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III (Alabama)
Richard Doug Shelby (Alabama)
Daniel Scott Sullivan (Alaska)
Lisa Ann Murkowski (Alaska)
Jeffry Lane Flake (Arizona)
John Sidney McCain III (Arizona, not voting at the moment)
Thomas Bryant Cotton (Arkansas; Majority Whip)
John Nichols Boozman (Arkansas)
Condoleeza Rice (California)
Cory Scott Gardner (Colorado; Senate Majority Leader)
Darryl LeMon Glenn (Colorado)
Richard Lynn Scott (Florida)
Carlos Lopez-Cantera (Florida)
David Alfred Perdue Jr. (Georgia)
Johnny Hardy Isakson (Georgia)
James Elroy Risch (Idaho)
Michael Dean Crapo (Idaho)
Mark Steven Kirk (Illinois)
Michael Richard Pence (Indiana)
Todd Christopher Young (Indiana)
Joni Kay Ernst (Iowa)
Charles Ernest Grassley (Iowa)
Derek Schmidt (Kansas)
Gerald W. Moran (Kansas)
James R. Comer Jr. (Kentucky)
Randall Howard Paul (Kentucky)
William Morgan Cassidy (Louisiana)
John Neely Kennedy (Lousiana)
Susan Margaret Collins (Maine)
John James (Michigan)
Roger Frederick Wicker (Mississippi)
Dewey Philipp Bryant (Mississippi)
Ann Louise Wagner (Missouri)
Roy Dean Blunt (Missouri)
Gregory Richard Gianforte (Montana)
Steven David Daines (Montana)
Debra Strobel Fischer (Nebraska)
Benjamin Eric Sasse (Nebraska)
Dean Arthur Heller (Nevada)
Joseph John Heck (Nevada)
Richard Ashooh (New Hampshire)
Kelly Ann Ayotte (New Hampshire)
Susana M. Martinez (New Mexico)
Thomas Roland Tillis (North Carolina)
Richard Mauze Burr (North Carolina)
John Henry Hoeven (North Dakota)
John Stewart Dalrymple III (North Dakota)
John Richard Kasich Jr. (Ohio)
Robert Jones Portman (Ohio)
James Mountain Inhofe (Oklahoma)
James Paul Lankford (Oklahoma)
Patrick Joseph Toomey (Pennsylvania)
Marshall Clement Sanford Jr. (South Carolina)
Timothy Eugene Scott (South Carolina)
Marion Michael Rounds (South Dakota)
John Randoph Thune (South Dakota)
Robert Phillipps Corker Jr. (Tennessee)
William Edward Haslem (Tennessee)
George Prescott Bush (Texas)
John Cornyn III (Texas)
Ludmya "Mia" Love (Utah)
Josh Romney (Utah)
Scott William Taylor (Virginia)
Evan Hollin Jenkins (West Virginia)
Donald Leon Blankenship (West Virginia)
Mark Andrew Green (Wisconsin)
Ronald Harold Johnson (Wisconsin)
John Anthony Barrasso III (Wyoming)
Michael Bradley Enzi (Wyoming)

Democrats (31)

Kamala Devi Harris (California)
Christopher Scott Murphy (Connecticut)
Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut)
Thomas Richard Carper (Delaware)
Christopher Andrew Coons (Delaware)
Mazie Keiko Hirono (Hawaii)
Brian Emanuel Schatz (Hawaii)
Richard Joseph Durbin (Illinois)
Angus Stanley King Jr. (Maine; Independent caucusing with Democrats)
Benjamin Louis Cardin (Maryland)
Christopher van Hollen Jr. (Maryland)
Elizabeth Ann Warren (Massachusetts)
Edward John Markey (Massachusetts)
Gary Charles Peters Sr. (Michigan)
Amy Jean Klobuchar (Minnesota)
Christine Flint "Tina" Smith (Minnesota)
Robert Menendez (New Jersey)
Cory Anthony Booker (New Jersey)
Thomas Stewart Udall (New Mexico)
Kirsten Elizabeth Gillibrand (New York)
Charles Ellis Schumer (New York, Minority Leader)
Jeffrey Alan Merkley (Oregon)
Ronald Lee Wyden (Oregon)
Robert Patrick Casey Jr. (Pennsylvania)
Sheldon Whitehouse (Rhode Island)
John Francis Reed (Rhode Island)
Bernard Sanders (Vermont, Independent caucusing with Democrats)
Patrick Joseph Leahy (Vermont)
Timothy Michael Kaine (Virginia)
Maria Elaine Cantwell (Washington)
Patricia Lynn Murray (Washington, Minority Whip)

[UWS]

Marco Rubio's Presidency
February 2021, Part 2

February 16 :
-President Rubio hosts Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga at the White House where they hold a bilateral press conference about the importance of the two countries' economic relations.

February 18 :

-President Rubio expresses his support to Indonesia's quest to join TPP and highlights the benefits of Indonesia's TPP membership to the U.S. economy such as lower tariffs, increase of trade activities between the two countries and lower costs of trading. He calls on the Congress to legislate on this matter.

February 19 :

-In response to the international sanctions against Iran, Tehran is laying groundwork to launch cyberattacks on U.S., Europe.

February 20-21 :

-Responding to Iran's threat to conduct cyberattacks against the United States and Europe, President Rubio declares that the United States won't let Iran to threat global security and will always stand with their allies through all the means.


-Virginia Senator Scott Taylor introduces the Cybersecurity Act of 2021 that would clear the way for the establishment of a Cybersecurity Unit between the United States, Israel and India in order to counter any attempt by Iran to conduct cyberattacks against any nation in the world. A vote in the Senate will be held on February 28 and should the bill pass the senate another vote will be held at the House of Representatives on March 7.

February 22 :

-The Senate votes 85-13 for the Support Act that would approve a U.S. arms deal with Indonesia to fight Abu Sayyaf in the South China Sea area.

February 24 :

-In support to the counter-terrorist coalition in West Africa, Algeria announces the deployment of 10 000 troops in Niger to combat and eradicate ISIS in the Greater Sahara and Al Qaida. President Rubio praised this announcement, declaring that it marks the imminent beginning of a large allied military offensive against ISIS in West Africa and contribute to ISIS' total elimination in Africa thanks to the combination of Algeria's military strength (since Algeria is Africa's second military power after Egypt).

February 27 :

-President Rubio meets with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid in the Oval Office of the White House. Later that day, during a bilateral press conference in Washington D.C., both leaders expressed their hopes that the Cybersecurity Act will pass the Congress, which, as they declared, will ensure the success of a potential deal between the United States and North Korea on Pyongyang's denuclearization in addition of reinforcing global security.

February 28 :
-The Senate votes 93-5 for the Cybersecurity Act of 2021 that has yet to pass the House of Representatives on March 7.

[UWS]

President Marco Rubio's Fourth State of the Union Address

Mr. Speaker, Madam Vice President, Members of Congress, fellow Americans : this new year holds a lot of promises for America. Thanks to the hard work we have done in the last four years, the state of our Union is stronger than ever before.

[Applause]

Thanks to the willpower and determination of the American people and to the support they have given us, our country's economic power is at its strongest rate. Since the day I came in office, we created 12 million new jobs thanks to the promotion of free market, free enterprise and opportunity. Last year, by taking advantage of all of our sources of energy, including oil, coal, gas, wind, solar, nuclear and hydroelectricity, America has finally reached energy independence and is now the world's largest energy producer, which brought massive job creation in America and also deprived terrorists of the money they were getting from our past dependence on foreign energy to finance their terrorist activities, thus reinforcing our national security.

[Applause]

By basing our free trade policy on free enterprise, tax reform and the defense of the interests of our workers, we made the United States the first trade power in the world, we increased our competitiveness in the world economy and we favored job creation for Americans through great pro-growth deals, including the US-India Free Trade Agreement ratified in the previous year. By encouraging lower taxes for all businesses, including our manufacturing businesses, we managed to bring our jobs back, to make America the best place in the world to do business and create two and a half million new jobs. And thanks to the promotion of free trade, we counter-balanced China's trade power, we are now number one in auto production again and we allowed American businesses to make direct investments into foreign economies to produce goods at a lower cost in these environments.

[Applause]

By cutting taxes for all Americans, including the middle class, and all businesses, including small businesses (that are responsible for the creation of 80 % of jobs in America), by lowering our corporate tax rate from 40 % to 15 % and by favoring the formation of public-private partnerships to fund infrastructure projects for the development of new infrastructures, we led America to strong economic prosperity through massive job creation, reduction of poverty, reduction of our national debt, increase of the wages, increase of innovation and expansion of the American Dream.

[Applause]

Now we have the chance to balance the budget, which will allow a squander of a part of future budget surpluses on further tax cuts for small businesses in order to further increase their productivity and encourage job creation. Thanks to budget balance, we will et the necessary revenues to invest into our future. A part of future budget surpluses will be invested into education to ensure the success of our children and the creation of the jobs of tommorrow. We will also invest a part of future budget surpluses to develop new social security and job training programs for our veterans and into the development of renewable energies and into the development of further infrastructures, which will further encourage the implementation of new businesses in here in the United States, thus facilitating economic activities across the country and job creation. That's why I call on the Congress to adopt a balanced budget in order to finally balance the budget, to encourage fiscal responsibility, to make sure we'll have all the necessary revenues to invest into America's future without raising taxes and to get America to full-employment and permanent economic prosperity.

[Applause]

This year will mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11, one of the saddest days in America's history and the deadliest attack America has ever suffered on its territory. But we made it clear that we will not surrender, that we will stand against barbarism, tyranny and terrorism. We and our allies went after Al Qaida and after any terrorist organization seeking to threat our security and our values. Last year, we have also made strong progress in terms of national security and foreign policy. Last summer, our brave soldiers conducted in Karachi, Pakistan, a successful operation that Al Qaida leader Ayman al Zawahiri. Thanks to the reinforcement and modernization of our military and our intelligence programs, to India's military involvement in Afghanistan that combined the military strengths of the 1st and 4th military powers in the world and to the courage of our troops, we eliminated the last remaining pockets of jihadists in Afghanistan and Pakistan, we defeated Al Qaida, the Taliban and ISIS in the region and eradicated radical Islamic terrorism there, we have won the War in Afghanistan, the longest war in which the United States were involved and we finally restored peace, security and stability in Afghanistan.

[Applause]

Right now, we are about to accomplish our duty to ensure Afghanistan's stabilization by rebuilding this country and training their army to make them fully prepared to fully take over the responsibility of their country's security. Our troops will be coming home by the end of this year. Thanks to the end of the War in Afghanistan, we can now focus all of our attention on Syria, which will definitely accelerate our path to victory against ISIS there by staying on offense against them, striking them with our military power, rebuilding Syria and training the Syrian armed forces to ensure their full readiness to handle Syria's security. So this will definitely ensure our success in Syria. So our victory in Afghanistan allowed us to make a great step closer to our victory in the War on Terror.

[Applause]

Last year, six decades after the end of the Korean War, we finally got North Korea to denuclearize itself. We managed to get these results thanks to increased sanctions on North Korea and on its international firms that were transferring dollars to Kim Jong-un's regime to finance their nuclear program and help them to get nuclear weapons that would have been able to reach the United States and triggered a nuclear war by striking us and our allies in the region. We cut-off North Korea's crude oil supply, which further undermined their military power since every modern military mostly function through oil, thus weakening their economy as well as their military and their ability to develop nuclear weapons. We also took the advantage against Pyongyang by keeping our military and our navy strong, by reinforcing our military presence on the Pacific, by creating, along with our allies, the Pacific Treaty Organization. After the 2018 Japanese referendum on Japan's military status, Japan modified the 9th article of it's Constitution and remilitarized itself in order to counter the North Korean threat. And last summer, we created the US-Japan Cybersecurity Unit to counter any North Korean cyber-attack against us and our allies. And because North Korea was impounding China's fishing boats, China decided to increase sanctions against Pyongyang by halting Chinese imports of iron ore from North Korea in addition of reinforcing its military presence on the Yellow Sea. As a result, we brought Kim Jong-un at the negotiating table we got North Korea to dismantle its nuclear test site and to clear a path to negotiation on its denuclearization.

[Applause]

Thanks to North Korea's denuclearization and to all the economic, diplomatic and military pressure we exercised on Iran throughout my presidency, Iran will follow Pyongyang's lead and come back to reason by using its nuclear energy to develop Iran's economy instead of using it to develop nuclear weapons.

[Applause]

That's why my administration will make nuclear security one of its top priorities for this year. Recently, we increased funding for American nonproliferation efforts, including the Cooperative Threat Reduction programs established by the landmark Nunn-Lugar legislation, increased IAEA funding and enhanced the intelligence support it receives. We and our allies will work together to ratify the proposed Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty in order to prohibit the further production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other explosive devices. As a result we will ensure the success of any potential deal with North Korea in the aftermath of our upcoming summit with Kim Jong-un in Singapore. So 2021 will be a year marked by strong progress made for international peace.

[Applause]

That's why I call on you, my fellow Americans, despite our different views and different philosophies, to work together to create a favorable environment for peace, which requires strength, and for economic prosperity. That way, we will allow our children and grandchildren to grow up in a free, prosperous, peaceful and safe world and will earn all the opportunities previous generations couldn't have themselves. That's how we will ensure that they will inherit a rising shining America and that America's best days are ahead and that our fight to defend our freedomm our democracy and our Constitution will not be in vain.

Thank you. God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.

[UWS]

LOOKING AHEAD 2021 AND BEYOND

After President Rubios 1st Month in his 2nd Term CNN's Chief Political Analyst John King took a sneak peak at the Political Landscape from 2021 and beyond during his "Inside Politics with John King Show"...

VIRGINIA GOVERNOR RACE 2021

Potential Republican Candidate: Mark Obenshain
Potential Democratic Candidates: Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax, Attorney General Mark Herring

John King:

CNN is rating the Virginia Governor Race this year as TOSS UP despite President Rubios strong Election Victory there. Why "Potential Candidates"? Let me explain that to you. The Commonwealth of Virginia is the only State in the Country where the Governor can only serve one term. There is a strong effort though by the Republican-controlled State Legislature to pass an Amendment which would allow the Governor to serve two Terms. At this Point we ain't sure how Governor Gillespie will handle it. He could pass that Amendment through the State Legislature or he could put it up as a Referendum for a Vote on the November Ballot. A similar Referendum happened 2005 when Jon Corzine got elected as Governor of New Jersey. Because of scandal-plagued Governor Jim McGreevey the Voters of New Jersey decided to install a Lt. Governor Office.

NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR RACE 2021

Democratic Candidate: Incumbent Governor Phil Murphy
Republican Candidate: Bob Hugin

John King:

CNN is rating the New Jersey Governor Race this year as Likely Democratic. New Jersey is still a Blue State and has sided with the Party who doesn't control the White House for the last 5 Elections (McGreevey 2001, Corzine 2005, Christie 2009 & 2013, Murphy 2017)

SENATORS UP FOR REELECTION 2022

Republicans 26

Senator Richard Shelby (Alabama)
Senator Lisa Murkowski (Alaska)
Senator John McCain (Arizona; Potential Resignation due to Health Issues)
Senator John Boozman (Arkansas)
Senator Darryl Glenn (Colorado)
Senator Carlos Lopez-Cantera (Florida)
Senator Johnny Isakson (Georgia)
Senator Mike Crapo (Idaho)
Senator Mark Kirk (Illinois)
Senator Todd Young (Indiana)
Senator Chuck Grassley (Iowa)
Senator Jerry Moran (Kansas)
Senator Rand Paul (Kentucky)
Senator John N. Kennedy (Louisiana)
Senator Roy Blunt (Missouri)
Senator Joe Heck (Nevada)
Senator Kelly Ayotte (New Hampshire)
Senator Richard Burr (North Carolina)
Senator John Hoeven (North Dakota)
Senator Rob Portman (Ohio)
Senator James Lankford (Oklahoma)
Senator Pat Toomey (Pennsylvania)
Senator Tim Scott (South Carolina)
Senator John Thune (South Dakota)
Senator Mia Love (Utah)
Senator Ron Johnson (Wisconsin)

Democrats 8

Senator Kamala Harris (California)
Senator Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut)
Senator Brian Schatz (Hawaii)
Senator Chris van Hollen (Maryland)
Senator Chuck Schumer (New York)
Senator Ron Wyden (Oregon)
Senator Patrick Leahy (Vermont)
Senator Patty Murray (Washington)

John King:

As you can see that way more Republicans are up for Reelection in next years MidTerms than Democrats. We could have a lot of potential Republican Retirements. Senators Johnson (Wisconsin) and Burr (North Carolina) indicated during the 2016 Election that it would be their Final Term. We'll see if they follow threw this.

Ana Navarro (Republican Strategist & CNN Political Commentator)

Let's be clear: 6 years into a Presidency a tough for any Party who controls the White House. We're expecting to lose some Seats. However, Democrats would need to make a NET GAIN of 10 Seats to wrestle Republican Supermajority away and the Average Seats the Party who controls the WH is 6. If the Democrats cannot get 41 Seats after 2022 it would be a big failure on their Side. I think Republicans hit a bit their high water mark after the 2020 Elections.

David Axelrod (CNN Political Analyst & Commentator)

The Democrats have to rebuilt their Party. We cannot go down the "Sanders Route" anymore. We need common-sense Candidates who are willing work with the other side and not Liberal Firerands like Sen. Warren or Sherrod Brown (who lost his Seat in 2018 due to opposing the President at every Opportunity)

[UWS]

A tax cuts

[ Applause ]

A new American century

[ Applause ]

budget

military

[ Applause ]

Thanks.

[UWS]

Marco Rubio's Presidency
March 2021, Part 1

March 1 :

-The House of Representatives votes 385-48 for the Support Act that is later signed into law by President Rubio, thus approving a U.S. arms deal with Indonesia in an effort to combat Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines and in Malaysia.

March 3-4 :

-SandRidge Energy proposes a project of construction of pipeline that would transport oil from Oklahoma to Louisiana while passing through Texas. This project earned the support of Oklahoma Governor Mick Gornett and from the Rubio Administration that declared that thanks to the realization of this project, America's energy independence as well as job creation will be further reinforced.

March 7 :

-The House of Representatives votes 411-24 for the Cybersecurity Act of 2021. The bill is then signed into law by President Rubio, which established a cybersecurity unit between the United States, Israel and India in order to counter attempts by Iran to conduct cyberattacks against any nation in the world.

March 8 :
-President Rubio starts his foreign trip in East Asia that will include his upcoming summit with Kim Jong un on North Korea's denuclearization that will be held in Singapore.

March 9 :

-President Rubio arrives in Jakarta, Indonesia where he meets Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Both leaders signed a free trade deal approving Indonesia's entrance as a new member member nation of the Trans Pacific Partnership. During their bilateral press conference, Widodo praises President Rubio's leadership that contributed to the recent approval of the U.S.-Indonesia arms deal, declaring that it will lead to the eradication of terrorism in the South China Sea area through defeating Abu Sayyaf.

March 10 :

-President Rubio arrives in Colombo, Sri Lanka where he meets with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena with whom he discussed issues like the economic reltions between the 2 countries, free trade, energy, democracy and human rights, counter-terrorism and North Korea.

March 11 :

-President Rubio arrives Mumbai, India where he meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During a bilateral joint press conference, both leaders praised the effects of the U.S.-India military alliance created in 2017 on the success of the counter-terrorism missions in Afghanistan, including the total eradication of radical Islamic terrorism in the region and the restoration of peace and security there. President Rubio and Prime Minister Modi also declared that the recent creation of the Cybersecurity Unit between the U.S., India and Israel will finally strike the decisive blow to Iran by derailing its attempts of cyberattacks, which will bring Tehran back to reason and get Iran to denuclearize.

March 12 :

-During a stopover in South Korea, President Rubio and Secretary of State Lindsey Graham meet with U.S. soldiers at the Korean Demilitarized Zone. Philip S. Davidson, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, informs the President that according to North Korean military sources, Pyongyang is about to start dismantling the Sohae Satellite Launching Station.

March 13 :

-President Rubio attends the 2018 North Korea–United States summit with North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un at the Capella Hotel, in Sentosa, Singapore. During that long-waited and historical summit, the two leaders signed a joint statement stating the following : 1) The United States and the DPRK commit to establish new U.S.-DPRK relations in accordance with the desire of the peoples of the two countries for peace and prosperity; 2) The United States and the DPRK will join their efforts to build a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula; 3) Reaffirming the Panmunjom Declaration, the DPRK commits to work towards complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula; 4) The United States and the DPRK commit to recovering POW/MIA remains, including the immediate repatriation of those already identified.


-International reactions to the 2021 North Korea–United States summit are generally positive. Most countries and international organizations have expressed praise and hope that the summit is an important step in achieving peace on the Korean peninsula.

March 14 :

-During a press conference in San Francisco, California, President Rubio calls the recent U.S.-North Korea summit a massive success and a giant step towards a denuclearized North Korea and the restoration of peace and security in the Korean peninsula and all across the Pacific Ocean after almost 7 decades of hostility.

[Huey Long is a Republican]

If I can, so far, I'm going to post potential Democratic Candidates for 2024 as no Republican would Challenge Nikki Haley if she runs. If she doesn't, I have my own list.

Democrats:

Senator Cory Booker (NJ)
Senator Tim Kaine (VA)
Senator Kamala Harris (CA)
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY)
Fmr Governor John Hickenlooper (CO)
Senator Elizabeth Warren (MA)
Senator Chris Murphy (CT)
Representative Tulsi Gabbard (HI)

Republicans (only if Haley doesn't run) :

Senator Bill Haslam (TN)
Governor Charlie Baker (MA)
Senator John Kasich (OH)
Governor Ed Gillespie (VA)
Governor Scott Walker (WI)

[UWS]

Marco Rubio's Presidency
March 2021, Part 2

March 16 :

-In the aftermath of the March 13 U.S.-North Korea summit, Kim Jong-un officially announces the start of the dismantling of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station, thus making it clear that the summit is a success and reinforcing the process of pacification of the Korean peninsula.

March 17 :

-President Rubio hosts Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel at the White House. During their bilateral press conference in Washington D.C., they both declared that the ratification of the proposed Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty will be a top priority ahead of the next NATO summit that will take place on June 2021 in New York City.

March 20 :

-Mikhail Gorbachev, 90, who served as President of the Soviet Union at the end of the USSR and whose policies of glasnost ("openness") and perestroika ("restructuring") as well as his reorientation of Soviet strategic aims contributed to the end of the Cold War, praised President Rubio's diplomatic leadership during the U.S.-North Korea summit in Singapore, declaring that the statement concluded during that summit will finally restore peace in the Korean peninsula through the North Korea's denuclearization, thus eliminating this remnant of the Cold War.

March 22 :

-In the context of the 2022 midterms, U.S. Representative Martha McSally announces that she runs for Arizona Senator John McCain's senate seat. During her announcement speech that took place in Phoenix, Arizona, she praised President Rubio's foreign policy leadership that kept America safe, led to several successes against radical Islamic terrorism and recently held a summit with North Korea that guaranteed North Korea's denuclearization. She declared her intention to use her foreign policy experience and military background to ensure the adoption of President Rubio's policies to make America's security permanent.

March 24 :

-Louisiana Senator John Kennedy introduces a bill aimed at approving the construction of the proposed Trans-South pipeline that would transport oil from Oklahoma to Louisiana while passing through Texas. The Senate vote will be held on March 31 and the House vote on April 7.

March 26 :

-American and Egyptian naval forces began Exercise Eagle Response 18 at the Red Sea Naval Base. President Rubio declares that thanks to these military exercises, the defense relations between the United States and Egypt will be reinforced, which will be good news for the efforts to combat the Sheikh Omar Hadid Brigade (ISIS' branch in neighboring Gaza).


March 27 :

-Secretary of Energy Harold Hamm announced the Department of Energy (DOE) has selected nine domestic projects to receive nearly $20 million in funding for cost-shared research and development for advanced nuclear technologies.

March 28 :

-The Algerian Air Forces conducted airstrikes that killed 65 Islamic State in the Greater Sahara fighters near the village of Tongo Tongo, Niger.

March 31 :
-The Senate votes 69-29 for the bill that would approve the Trans-South Pipeline.

[2016]

If I can, so far, I'm going to post potential Democratic Candidates for 2024 as no Republican would Challenge Nikki Haley if she runs. If she doesn't, I have my own list.

Democrats:

Senator Cory Booker (NJ)
Senator Tim Kaine (VA)
Senator Kamala Harris (CA)
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY)
Fmr Governor John Hickenlooper (CO)
Senator Elizabeth Warren (MA)
Senator Chris Murphy (CT)
Representative Tulsi Gabbard (HI)

Republicans (only if Haley doesn't run) :

Senator Bill Haslam (TN)
Governor Charlie Baker (MA)
Senator John Kasich (OH)
Governor Ed Gillespie (VA)
Governor Scott Walker (WI)

Why would Gillibrand, Warren, Hickenlooper or Gabbard run again after they got creamed in the 2020 Primaries? They didn't even make it to the Top 3. Gabbard may run for Senate once Hirono retires.

The most likely Republican Candidates who will run in case Haley doesn't would be Paul Hogan, Charlie Baker and Mary Taylor (all 3 term-limited in 2022) but why wouldn't Haley run. She can make History. Do you know how old John Kasich or Ed Gillespie would be in 2024? Too old IMO to run.

I predict a POTUS Race between Haley and Harris in 2024.

[Huey Long is a Republican]

If I can, so far, I'm going to post potential Democratic Candidates for 2024 as no Republican would Challenge Nikki Haley if she runs. If she doesn't, I have my own list.

Democrats:

Senator Cory Booker (NJ)
Senator Tim Kaine (VA)
Senator Kamala Harris (CA)
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY)
Fmr Governor John Hickenlooper (CO)
Senator Elizabeth Warren (MA)
Senator Chris Murphy (CT)
Representative Tulsi Gabbard (HI)

Republicans (only if Haley doesn't run) :

Senator Bill Haslam (TN)
Governor Charlie Baker (MA)
Senator John Kasich (OH)
Governor Ed Gillespie (VA)
Governor Scott Walker (WI)

Why would Gillibrand, Warren, Hickenlooper or Gabbard run again after they got creamed in the 2020 Primaries? They didn't even make it to the Top 3. Gabbard may run for Senate once Hirono retires.

The most likely Republican Candidates who will run in case Haley doesn't would be Paul Hogan, Charlie Baker and Mary Taylor (all 3 term-limited in 2022) but why wouldn't Haley run. She can make History. Do you know how old John Kasich or Ed Gillespie would be in 2024? Too old IMO to run.

I predict a POTUS Race between Haley and Harris in 2024.

For the Dems, they may have gotten creamed in the Primaries but as we saw in 1988, 1996, 2008, and 2012, if you still have influence within the party, you can still run. They probably do and thus would probably run.

For the GOP, it's hypothetical.

[UWS]

Marco Rubio's Presidency
April 2021, Part 1

April 1 :

-Jill Vogel, the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 2017 announced during a rally in Roanoke, Virginia, that she launches a bid for Virginia Governor in 2021.

April 2-3 :

-Iran made threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, a highly important strategic location for international trade due to the fact that approximately 20 % of the world's petroleum (about 35 % of the petroleum traded by sea) passes through that strait. In response, President Rubio announces that the United States will send additional warships in the Strait of Hormuz in order to ensure its opening since the strait's closure could hurt the global economy through a reduction of petroleum trade in this region.


April 5 :

-Following Iran's threat to close the Strait of Hormuz, New Hampshire Senator Richard Ashooh introduces the Protection Act that would sanction Iranian steel as well as steel exportations to Iran in order to hinder the construction of Iranian warships and to further undermine their naval power, which would derail Iran's attempts to close the Strait of Hormuz. The senate vote will be held on April 12 and the House vote on April 19.

April 7 :

-The House of Representatives votes 282-135 for Senator Kennedy's Power Act that is later signed into law by President Rubio, thus approving the construction of the Trans-South pipeline.

April 8 :

-The Nigerien-Algerian armed forces conducted a military offensive against a base controlled by ISIS in the Greater Sahara and located in proximity with the Niger River near the Niger-Mali borders. While losing 30 soldiers during the attack, they managed to win the battle after they took control of the base and killed 212 jihadists, including Doundou Chefou, a mid level commander of ISGS.

April 11 :

-President Rubio hosts Syrian President Riad Darar at the White House with whom he discussed issues such as counter-terrorism, democracy, energy and economic relations. During their joint bilateral press conference at the White House, Darar praised the effects of the War in Afghanistan, reitering that it will accelerate the anihilation of ISIS in Syria by allowing the U.S. and their allies to focus entirely on Syria.

April 12 :
-The Senate votes 87-5 for the Protection Act that has yet to pass the House.

April 14 :

-A month after the U.S.-North Korea Summit, the United States received fallen service members’ remains from North Korea as it was planned in the statement signed by President Rubio and Kim Jong-un. During a speech at the Arlington National Cemetery, President Rubio honoured the memory of the U.S. soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the Korean War (1950-1953) in defense of freedom, democracy, justice and security.