Yesterday President Trump held a day of meetings with corporate business titans, CEO’s, and also skilled labor union officials.  However, two men were transparently absent from both group meetings: U.S. CoC President Tom Donohue, and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka.

The reasoning for their absence is more sunlight upon the UniParty swamp.  Insofar as politics in DC is a false choice assembly of two political parties sharing the same goals and ideology, the uniparty, so too are Donohue and Trumka two sides of the same coin.
The GOPe wing of the UniParty is funded by Tom Donohue and his crony capitalistic U.S. Chamber of Commerce lobbying group.  The DEM wing of the UniParty is funded by Richard Trumka and his consorts in the SEIU and AFSCME.
Both Donohue and Trumka are operational agents and groundskeepers for the Swamp.  It’s an open secret never discussed by media; however, in the era of Trump their transparent absence speaks loudly.
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I can’t speak highly enough of Judge Andrew Hanen. He stood alone in the gap, steadfast, against the entire weaponized Obama DOJ and White House apparatus…

Backstory HERE – and HERE – and HERE – and HERE

After a three-year-long Mexican standoff – today Judge Hanen rears righteously back in his chair, launches a well-chewed batch of tobaccy into the spittoon next to the swinging doors of the saloon, and deliberately says ‘git out‘….
The twitchy DOJ lawyers stumble all over themselves as they clamor desperately backwards for the exit.

[page 7] Nevertheless, two important factors have arisen since the time the Government finally chose to file the evidence long-requested by the Court. First, the country has held a national election—the result of which has caused the parties to file a motion to stay. As stated above, that issue will be addressed in a separate order. Second, and more directly related to the evaluation of the need for remedial action, the second anniversary for the three-year Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) extensions —the subject matter of the misrepresentations— has come and gone.  (ruling link)
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In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

President Trump Twitter @POTUS / Vice President Pence Twitter @VP

Sean Spicer Twitter @PressSec

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

Washington DC is a bubble of self-centered ideological brethren.  The statistics within the DC vote speak for themselves: 91% supported Clinton, 4% supported Trump.  That’s an ideological ratio of 22:1  (link)  For every one resident within DC who identifies as a Trump supporter, there are twenty two who are opposed to President Trump policy initiatives and approach.
Each day the DC media personalities, producers, pundits and journalists interact and live within this skewed isolated bubble and outlook toward the world.  In their coffee shops, restaurants, and the schools attended by their children, that 22:1 ratio is the reality behind how their cognitive disconnect originates.

That 22:1 ratio is also the primary reason why all evidence that doesn’t align with what the bubble interests define as their world-view must be reconciled to a reality that fits their day-to-day experiences and interactions.
Data that is counter-intuitive to their echo-chambered views must be re-purposed to fit their cognitive narrative; hence “alternate fact assembly” is the outcome.
However, here’s some data gathering they just cannot reconcile to their comfort:

WASHINGTON – Though some cried while others cheered, both sides tuned into to watch President Trump’s inauguration in sizable numbers – record-breaking numbers, in fact. The event has broken new ground, becoming the largest, single live news event that content delivery network Akamai has ever hosted, the company says, following an analysis of its live video data.

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A powerful commemorative video highlighting the inauguration of President Donald J Trump, the “People’s President”.

The Senate has just voted to confirm Representative Mike Pompeo as CIA Director.  This represents the third intelligence and security nomination confirmed –  General Kelly (DHS) and General Mattis (DoD) receiving earlier confirmations.

WASHINGTON – The Senate has confirmed Rep. Mike Pompeo, a Kansas Republican, to be President Donald Trump’s CIA director.  The vote tally is 66-32, with a significant number of Democrats voting no. Two senators are delayed by weather. (link)

Two republican senators Tom Cotton (Yes) and Rand Paul (No) outline the dynamic within the overall DC intelligence outlook from the GOP.  Neither are 100% correct; each distinct outlook has both merit and concern.
In the space between the two Senators, we can identify the fundamental position of President Trump toward this nomination.  The “deep state” is dangerous, even when it is necessary; however, liberty must not be sacrificed upon the alter of security.
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The America-First winning is exponential.   Union leadership met today with a pro-jobs, pro-growth, pro-USA president.  Leadership from construction/manufacturing, pipe fitters, steel workers and industrial machinist unions met today with President Trump and exit the meeting with incredible praise for the respect he showed them.

Pause.  Let that sink in.  Union Leadership praising a Republican President. It’s a new day folks, and President Trump is the leading edge of a tectonic political realignment.
Just to put an exclamation point on the evolution, President Trump takes union leadership into the oval office and puts icing on the cake.  Watch, and more importantly ‘listen’ to this video:

Union leaders say they’re looking forward to working with Pres Trump: “The respect [he] just showed us… was nothing short of incredible.” pic.twitter.com/ra6T3lKsCR

— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) January 23, 2017

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Legacy left-wing media will do their earnest best to downplay these events.
A few hours earlier President Trump brought the Corporate Executive Officers of major U.S. manufacturing businesses into a similar meeting to discuss the agenda of America First policy and outline his economic policy initiatives. (more…)

A vote from within the Senate Foreign Relations Committee could be coming shortly to send Rex Tillerson’s nomination to the full senate for confirmation as Secretary of State.
Senator Marco Rubio issues a passive-aggressive statement saying he will reluctantly support Tillerson:

“Given the uncertainty that exists both at home and abroad about the direction of our foreign policy, it would be against our national interests to have this confirmation unnecessarily delayed or embroiled in controversy. Therefore, despite my reservations, I will support Mr. Tillerson’s nomination in committee and in the full Senate.” (link)

UPDATE: 6:00pm ET (CNN) Former ExxonMobil chief executive Rex Tillerson won the backing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Monday to be secretary of state when it voted to send his nomination to the full Senate with a recommendation of approval. The vote was 11-10.  Full Senate vote not scheduled but anticipated next week.

Well, it’s officially official.  A people’s president who keeps campaign promises.  TPP is dead, and Commerce Secretary nominee Wilbur Ross, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and the head of the White House Trade Council, Peter Navarro, are expected to lead negotiations on new bi-lateral trade agreements.
GOPe republicans will respond with angst, and traditional liberal democrats are stuck because the majority of their constituents, and labor unions, support Trump’s position.

WASHINGTON DC – President Trump signed an executive order on Monday announcing his plan to withdraw the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal.
The order fulfills Trump’s campaign promise to abandon the Pacific Rim trade pact early in his administration.

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