1/04/2021

White House News (白宮消息) | Jan. 4, 2021

 2 - White House News in Chinese (weebly.com)

In this Dec. 15, 2006, file photo, outgoing Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, left, shakes hands with Vice President Dick Cheney during an Armed Forces Full Honor Review for Rumsfeld at the Pentagon. All 10 living former secretaries of defense, including Rumsfeld and Cheney, have joined in cautioning against any attempt to use the military in the cause of overturning the November 2020 presidential election.
Extraordinary warning to Trump by 10 former Pentagon chiefs

Jan. 4, 2021 - WASHINGTON (AP) — In an extraordinary rebuke of President Donald Trump, all 10 living former secretaries of defense cautioned Sunday against any move to involve the military in pursuing claims of election fraud, arguing that it would take the country into “dangerous, unlawful and unconstitutional territory.”

The 10 men, both Democrats and Republicans, signed on to an opinion article published in The Washington Post that implicitly questioned Trump’s willingness to follow his Constitutional duty to peacefully relinquish power on Jan. 20. Following the Nov. 3 election and subsequent recounts in some states, as well as unsuccessful court challenges, the outcome is clear, they wrote, while not specifying Trump in the article.

“The time for questioning the results has passed; the time for the formal counting of the electoral college votes, as prescribed in the Constitution and statute, has arrived,” they wrote.

The former Pentagon chiefs warned against use of the military in any effort to change the outcome.

“Efforts to involve the U.S. armed forces in resolving election disputes would take us into dangerous, unlawful and unconstitutional territory,” they wrote. “Civilian and military officials who direct or carry out such measures would be accountable, including potentially facing criminal penalties, for the grave consequences of their actions on our republic.”

A number of senior military officers, including Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have said publicly in recent weeks that the military has no role in determining the outcome of U.S. elections and that their loyalty is to the Constitution, not to an individual leader or a political party.     continue to read

...Driving the news: Milley arrived in Israel last Thursday after visiting several Arab capitals. It was his third visit to the region this year, and came amid fears of Iranian retaliation over the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.

  • Milley met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Defense Benny Gantz and Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Aviv Kochavi.


Behind the scenes: The main message to Milley from the Israelis was that Biden shouldn't rush back into the 2015 deal but should instead take advantage of the fact that Iran is in a weak position, Israeli officials who attended the talks say.

  • If Biden doesn't use the leverage the U.S. has accumulated through its "maximum pressure" sanctions regime, the Israelis argued, he'll find it impossible to make a better deal later.

  • “We stressed that the starting point of any talks with Iran is much better for the U.S. today than it was in 2013. What is needed now is to be tough in order to get a better deal," an Israeli official said...     source from

Amy Klobuchar Rips Ted Cruz-Led Gang of Senators Threatening to Reject Biden Victory on Jan. 6: ‘Can You Please Get a Grip?’

Jan. 2 - Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar was among several prominent Democrats who slammed the Ted Cruz-led gang of a dozen Republican senators who are threatening to reject President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory over President Donald Trump when the results are certified on January 6th.


On Saturday, Cruz released a joint statement with fellow Senators Ron Johnson (R-WI), James Lankford (R-K), Steve Daines (R-MT), John Kennedy (R-LA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Mike Braun (R-IN) and Senators-elect Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Bill Hagerty (R-N), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) that said the group will reject President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory over President Donald Trump if their demand for an “emergency audit” is not met.

Including Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, who has already promised to object, there are now an even dozen Republican senators attempting to overthrow the results of the election.

Klobuchar was one of the more pointed voices in the Senate to criticize the move, writing “With all due respect to my Republican colleagues in the Senate who are doing this: can you please get a grip? Election officials across the country, including Republican Governors, have certified these results. This is embarrassing.”     continue to read

1/02/2021

White House News (白宮消息) | Jan. 2, 2021

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JANUARY 1, 2021
U.S. Senate
Senate Session
The Senate
 voted 80-12 to limit debate of the defense policy veto. 60 votes ere needed. The Senate moved to an immediate
Joe Biden’s in-tray: The five key foreign policy issues

Jan. 2 - Whenever there is a new leader behind the desk in the Oval Office, they are sure to be tested by America’s adversaries. Joe Biden will be no different. In fact, because of the unconventional nature of Donald Trump’s foreign policy, it is logical to assume that more than few leaders around the world will be interested in testing the next administration.

Many wonder — both friend and foe, and not unreasonably — if President Trump has changed the way US foreign policy is made for good, or will Biden bring it back in line with the status quo ante?

Heading into 2021, the next administration’s in-tray will be full. Undoubtedly, the focus will be the domestic situation in the US. Top priorities will include rolling out the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine and dealing with the economic consequences of the pandemic. Nevertheless, global events do not slow or stop just for a new president. There are five areas in which President Biden and his administration will be tested early when it comes to international affairs.     continue to read

US, Iran ratchet up military activity ahead of Soleimani killing anniversary
US official says some Iranian maritime forces in Persian Gulf ramped up their readiness levels in past 48 hours

Jan. 2 - The US and Iran charged each other with ratcheting up tensions in the Persian Gulf as concerns about potential conflict build days before Iran marks one year since the US assassinated its most powerful military figure and less than three weeks before President-elect Joe Biden takes office.

Iran appealed to the UN Security Council on Thursday to stop the US from conducting what it called heightened “military adventurism” in the Gulf and the Oman Sea, including dispatching nuclear-armed bombers to the region, declaring that it did not want conflict but would defend itself if necessary.

Meanwhile, a US official with direct knowledge of the latest intelligence told CNN on Friday that some Iranian maritime forces in the Gulf ramped up their readiness levels in the last 48 hours. Earlier this week, defense officials told CNN new intelligence showed Iran has been moving short range ballistic missiles into Iraq.

The quickening military activity is matched by rhetoric. The head of Iran’s elite Quds military force suggested Friday that retaliation for US crimes may come from “people from your own house.” President Donald Trump, who reportedly asked for military options to deal with Iran in November, tweeted last week that he will “hold Iran responsible” should any Americans be killed.

And Israeli media amplified an Arab newspaper report that cited unnamed US sources saying Israel and Saudi Arabia are lobbying Trump to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities before he leaves office.   continue to read 
 Relations between the two countries have deteriorated under US President Donald Trump
China sees 'new window of hope' in ties with United States in 2021


Jan. 2 - vBEIJING (BLOOMBERG) - China and the United States can open a "new window of hope" in bilateral ties in the new year, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, urging Washington to resolve disputes through dialogue.


"Our US policy will maintain continuity and stability and we are willing to develop China-US relations in a coordinated, cooperative and stable manner with the American side," Wang was cited as saying in the transcript of an interview posted on the ministry's website.


The foreign minister said the US's "completely wrong" policies on China were to blame for "unprecedented difficulties" between the two countries in recent years.

Relations between the two countries have deteriorated under US President Donald Trump, with growing differences in issues ranging from trade and technology to Hong Kong and the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a separate statement, Wang urged the European Union to commit to world unity instead of "serving bloc politics," and to look beyond ideological differences.     source


Serbia opens pipeline for Russian gas, ignores US opposition
Defying U.S. calls to reduce its dependency on Russian energy supplies, Serbia has officially launched a new gas link that will bring additional Russian gas to the Balkan country via Bulgaria and Turkey

Jan. 2,BELGRADE, Serbia -- Defying U.S. calls to reduce its dependency on energy supplies from Russia, Serbia on Friday officially launched a new gas link that will bring additional Russian gas to the Balkan country via Bulgaria and Turkey.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic attended a ceremony Friday for the opening of the 400-kilometer (250-mile) section of the Turkish Stream pipeline, saying that Serbia has become “much richer” thanks to the new Russian energy supplies.     continue to read

1/01/2021

White House News (白宮消息) | Jan. 1, 2021

 2 - White House News in Chinese (weebly.com)

2020 general election
Main article: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Georgia § District 14Greene began her 2020 candidacy in Georgia's 6th congressional district, but shifted her campaign to the 14th district after incumbent Tom Graves announced he would not run for reelection.[7] She ran on the slogan "Save America, Stop Socialism".[8][9] In the days before the primary election, Facebook took down a Greene video for violating its terms of service. In the video she held an AR-15 style rifle and warned "antifa terrorists" to "stay the hell out of Northwest Georgia".[8]
Greene finished in first place in the primary election and faced John Cowan in the runoff election.[10] Greene defeated Cowan to win the nomination on August 11. Greene was considered an overwhelming favorite to win the seat in the general election, as the 14th typically votes heavily Republican.[11] The 14th has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+27, making it the 10th most Republican district in the nation and the third most Republican district in the Eastern Time Zone. Among Georgia's congressional districts, only the neighboring 9th district is more Republican. Donald Trump carried the 14th with 75 percent of the vote in 2016, his eighth-best performance in the nation.[12] On the day after Greene's runoff victory, Trump tweeted his support for her, describing Greene as a "future Republican Star" who "is strong on everything and never gives up — a real WINNER!"[13]

Greene was initially expected to face Democratic IT specialist Kevin Van Ausdal, but he withdrew from the race on September 11, 2020. This left Greene unopposed for the general election, though the district is so heavily Republican that Van Ausdal would have faced nearly impossible odds had he stayed in the race.[14] Since the 14th's creation in 2012, no Democrat has won more than 30 percent of the vote.[15]
In the general election, Greene won with 74 percent of the vote. Van Audsal, whose name remained on the ballot, took 25 percent.[16] Greene became the second Republican woman to represent Georgia in the House. The first, Karen Handel, was elected to represent the 6th in a special election in 2017,[17] but was defeated for a full term in 2018. Thus, Greene became the first Republican woman elected to a full term from a Georgia district.
QAnon Kook Marjorie Taylor Greene Heading To Congress?
Aug 13, 2020
Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has been blasted for making racist videos, has won the runoff for Georgia’s Republican primary.
Two Republican members of the House of Representatives tell CNN that they expect at least 140 of their GOP colleagues in the House to vote against counting the electoral votes on January 6 when Congress is expected to certify President-elect Joe Biden's victory.

Dec. 31, (CNN) -- Two Republican members of the House of Representatives tell CNN that they expect at least 140 of their GOP colleagues in the House to vote against counting the electoral votes on January 6 when Congress is expected to certify President-elect Joe Biden's victory.     more details
 




12/31/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | Dec. 31 2020

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DECEMBER 30, 2020 | PART OF U.S. SENATE
U.S. Senate
Senators McConnell and Schumer on Veto Override and Stimulus Checks
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell 
(R-KY) took to the floor to talk about COVID-19 relief efforts, and his reasons for tying an increase in stimulus checks to repealing Section 230 and election investigations. He was followed by the Democratic Leader, Chuck Schumer (NY), who started out criticizing Senator Hawley’s (R-MO) decision to contest the Electoral College results, before turning to the president’s veto of the Defense Authorization bill.
GOP Georgia Senate Candidates Flip-Flop On Stimulus As Voter Turnout Soars

Dec. 30 - The Democrats vying for the Georgia Senate seats are going to get a last-minute push from President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. The Washington Post reports, “Harris plans to tout the two Democratic Senate candidates at an event in Savannah on Sunday, and Biden will appear in Atlanta on Monday, Biden’s campaign announced.” On the Republican side, Donald Trump is expected to hold a rally in Dalton, a heavily conservative city in Northwest Georgia. But there are questions about whether the rally will be focused on Republican senators, David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler or be all about Trump once again airing his baseless election grievances.  Late Tuesday, the current president tweeted:


I love the Great State of Georgia, but the people who run it, from the Governor, @BrianKempGA, to the Secretary of State, are a complete disaster and don’t have a clue, or worse. Nobody can be this stupid. Just allow us to find the crime, and turn the state Republican…other acts of fraud and irregularities as well. STAY TUNED!     continue to read
Record-smashing 2.3 million people already voted in Georgia runoff
Dec. 29, 2020
PRESIDENT TRUMP FILES WISCONSIN CASE IN UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT

Dec. 30 - President Donald J. Trump, in his personal capacity as candidate for re-election, today filed an appeal in the United States Supreme Court seeking to ensure election integrity in Wisconsin.
The lawsuit asks the Supreme Court to declare the Wisconsin election unconstitutional and void as a result of the multiple violations of law, and order the Wisconsin state legislature to appoint electors consistent with Article II, Sec 1.2 of the United States Constitution.

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals specifically held that if the Trump Campaign proved its case, it could void the election as “failed”, and order decertification of the Biden electors, requiring the Wisconsin legislature to appoint electors. The Seventh Circuit Court affirmed a dismissal of the challenge to the November 3, 2020 election based on the doctrine of “laches” – essentially saying the campaign should have filed suit before the election – even though the scope of illegal absentee ballots and the results of the election were as yet unknown and the changes in law and administration of the election in violation of the U.S. Constitution happened on the eve and day of the election.      continue to read


Biden White House to issue memo to halt or delay midnight regulations on January 20

Dec. 30, (CNN)On Joe Biden's first day as President, his White House will issue a memo to halt or delay midnight regulations and actions taken by the Trump administration that will not have taken effect by Inauguration Day, Biden transition spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters on Wednesday.


Psaki noted that issuing a regulatory freeze is standard practice for an incoming administration, "but this freeze will apply not only to regulations but also guidance documents -- documents that can have enormous consequences on the lives of the American people."

The memo will take effect after noon ET on January 20, Psaki said, after Biden is inaugurated.The memo is part of a broader push the Biden transition team has previewed to immediately undo several of outgoing President Donald Trump's policies.     continue to read



Trump repeats voting fraud claims without evidence
🇺🇸 US Election @BBC News live - BBC

Nov 6, 2020



President Donald Trump leaves a rally in Rome, Ga., on Nov. 1, 2020.
Trump administration speeds up 'midnight rule-making,' creating hurdles for Biden
The administration's last-minute rules include contentious proposals that President-elect Joe Biden is likely to oppose.

Dec. 30 -  Since Election Day, the Trump administration has completed dozens of new regulations in a final flurry of rule-making, including restrictions on access to asylum, reduced wages for guest farmworkers and a rejection of stricter limits for soot emissions, despite a growing body of evidence that soot pollution is contributing to premature death.

The White House has made a concerted push to finish new rules before President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, despite President Donald Trump’s ongoing refusal to accept the election results. Once rules are finalized and take effect, undoing them is usually a time-consuming and labor-intensive process.     continue to read


12/30/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | Dec. 30 2020

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DECEMBER 29, 2020
President-elect Biden Remarks on COVID-19
President-elect Biden delivered remarks in Wilmington, Delaware, on the coronavirus pandemic. He discussed five key areas that he said all Americans should be made aware: that things will get worse before they get better, the current vaccine distribution plan is falling behind, the vaccine will be made available to all Americans, the Defense Production Act will be used to accelerate vaccine production, and the new administration will institute a 100 day mask mandate where possible. 
'I am not a Russian or a hacker': Repairman who handed over Hunter's laptop releases YouTube video saying his military family 'fought against the people I'm accused of being'
John Paul Mac Isaac owns a Mac repair shop in Wilmington, Delaware

Dec. 30 - 
The Delaware computer engineer who found himself at the center of a media storm after he passed Hunter Biden's laptop to Rudy Giuliani, who then leaked it to the press, has spoken out to clear his name.     continue to read
Mac Isaac said his world had been turned upside down since Hunter Biden (left) arrived

After damaging emails from the computer were published in October, which purported to show Hunter introducing his father to his business partner in Ukraine, conspiracy theories began swirling online that the repair shop story was a cover and that the content had been passed to Trump's lawyer by Russian hackers.


Some even speculated that Mac Isaac could be himself a spy. ​

...​Hunter left three damaged Apple laptops at Mac Isaac's shop in April 2019 but never returned or paid the $85 bill for recovering the data from them...