January 1, GOP Grows Weary of Trump Over Syria, G-7 Snafus

This Day in History | 1917

Members of the U.S. Army’s 1st Division become the first American troops to see action in World War I at Luneville, France. 

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Good morning Middle Americans, 

It was bound to happen sooner or later, we all knew the “squishes” in the GOP Senate would start to grow tired of President Trump’s antics.  And the more we hear about this whole situation with Doral, the more we learn about people like Sen. Mitt Romney (aka Pierre Delecto), who apparently has had enough.  It is curious though. A decision to host a global summit at Trump’s own golf course is what pushed some of these guys over the edge. That’s what appears to have done it.  The other thing we are curious about: Will acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney survive the week.  Sec. of State Mike Pompeo returned from Turkey and distanced himself from Mulvaney’s apparent admission of a quid pro quo by the Trump administration to force Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden and the Democrats in exchange for military aide. 

Meanwhile, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard seems to be making the most of Hillary Clinton’s baseless attacks on 2020 presidential candidate from Hawaii.  Gabbard’s clapped back in the best way, she’s using Clinton’s comments for fundraising, and Clinton has gone silent. 

Finally, we know Mondays are brutal, but we wanted to share something with you that might lift your spirits. Have you seen the video of the teacher disarming, and hugging a would-be school shooter?  Must see stuff.  Read and Watch it all below. 

– Fraser Dixon

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Sec. Mike Pompeo Distances Himself From Mulvaney’s Ukraine Admissions

(ABC News) – Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on ABC’s “This Week” that he never saw the kind of quid pro quo that acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney referred to on Thursday with regard to the decision-making process he was involved in on Ukraine.

“The conversation was always around what were the strategic implications,” Pompeo told ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos on Sunday. “Would that money get to the right place or would there be corruption in Ukraine and the money wouldn’t flow to the mission that it was intended for.”

Watch Sec. of State Mike Pompeo interview with ABC News here

Weary GOP Pushed Trump to Kill G-7 at Doral

(Washington Post) – President Trump was forced to abandon his decision to host next year’s Group of Seven summit at his private golf club after it became clear the move had alienated Republicans and swiftly become part of the impeachment inquiry that threatens his presidency.

In a round of phone calls with conservative allies this weekend, Trump was told Republicans are struggling to defend him on so many fronts, according to an administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters.

Read more about the GOP-led revolt against the Doral G-7 from the Washington Post here

Gabbard Fundraises Off Clinton’s Attack

(The Atlantic) – What was Hillary Clinton thinking? The 2016 Democratic nominee, for some reason, felt the need to insert herself into the 2020 race with an attack on Tulsi Gabbard, an oddball Democratic presidential contender who barely registered in polls. The congresswoman from Hawaii is a completely discreditable candidate—more on that in a moment—but Clinton’s accusation that Gabbard is a tool of the Russians was so blunt and clumsy that it has added new life to a primary bid that should never have existed in the first place. Within a day, Gabbard was already fundraising off of it, a development as predictable as a sunrise.

Read more about Clinton’s unintentional boost of Gabbard from the Atlantic

See Tulsi’s powerful video response to Hillary Clinton here

Viral Video Shows Coach Disarm, Hug Suicidal Student

(NBC News) – Newly released surveillance video shows the moment an Oregon school coach disarmed and hugged a shotgun-wielding student, averting a potential tragedy.

Angel Granados-Diaz, 19, is seen on the video walking into the fine arts building of Parkrose High School in Portland with a shotgun hidden under his jacket on May 17, 2019.

Watch the video here