55 Years Of Earth Day And The Environmental Protection Agency!

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On April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day was declared by Richard Nixon, although it was a number of Democratic Senators, including most notably Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, who pushed the idea, accepted and made official by the US government.

On April 22, 1994, the 25th Earth Day declaration, Richard Nixon passed away, now 30 years having passed since then.

Joe Biden has been very active in promoting environmental reform, and many environmental groups, including the Conservation Lands Foundation have hailed Biden as one of the best Presidents on the issue of the environment!

Much work has been done, but the environmental movement still faces threats from MAGA Republicans and Donald Trump, who if returned to the White House, would cut back on advancements that have occurred!

So the battle for the future of the environment still rages!

House Republican Majority Support Putin Over Ukraine!

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It is now official: More than half of the House of Representatives Republicans support Vladimir Putin and Russia, as 112 of the party members voted against aid to Ukraine!

So the Republican Party is dominated now in the House of Representatives by MAGA Republicans, and are loyal to Donald Trump, who has no interest in preserving democracy, and is a threat to the survival of European democracies and NATO!

This trend has been obvious since Donald Trump announced his candidacy for President nine years ago, and cozied up to Russia at that time and since!

This needs to be emphasized by Democrats for the Presidential and Congressional Elections coming up in just over six months!

The Republican Party is a “clear and present danger” to American democracy, the US Constitution, and the rule of law, and must be fully exposed as what they are–traitors to America!

Antisemitism On College Campuses Alarming!

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The Israel-Hamas War in the Gaza Strip has created a new wave of antisemitism on American college campuses.

It has caused threats and dangers to American Jewish students, and has led to massive demonstrations and sitins on campuses, as well as blockages of traffic in New York City and elsewhere.

The House Republicans have exploited this issue, condemning university Presidents who have, in many cases, been slow to take any action.

But it has also led to criticism at Columbia University, who has banned various student groups and expelled some students, and cracked down on “academic freedom’ of some college professors.

This whole situation is very awkward in so many ways, with no easy solution, but to have student groups promoting hate and desire to destroy Israel’s right to exist, and to threaten all American Jews, is unacceptable.

College professors have the responsibility to promote dialogue, not to advocate for hate and division in any controversy, as they are perceived as role models for students.

So debate and discussion with a professor being the moderator is the only proper role, and the purpose should be to bring the temperature down and promote interaction without taking away the safety and security and basic rights of all concerned!

Weak, Unprincipled Critics Of Trump Still Will Vote For Him In November!

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It is stunning and shocking how weak and unprincipled critics of Trump still will vote for him in November, despite his promoting the US Capitol Insurrection of January 6, 2021!

Amopng these disgraceful indiviiduals are:

Former Vice President Mike Pence
Former Attorney General Bill Barr
New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu

And these three just in the past week have so shown they have no spine!

They all, clearly, know of Trump’s crimes and shortcomings, but still, while not endorsing him, will vote for him!

This is a horrible example for the future generation, that we have such individuals, and there are many more, who will support Trump simply based on party loyalty, as more imortant than country!

Loss Of A True Statesman: Florida Governor And Senator Bob Graham!

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The state of Florida and the nation has lost a true statesman, former Governor and Senator Bob Graham, who passed away at the age of 87.

Graham was a class act as Florida Governor from 1979-1987, and as a US Senator from 1987-2005.

A leader who was of Presidential stature, he was on the short list for Vice President for Bill Clinton in 1992 and Al Gore in 2000, and briefly sought the Presidency himself in 2004.

He was a very effective governor of the Sunshine state, a true star when compared to recent Republican governors Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis. His emphasis was on promotion of the environment and advancement of education.

Graham was Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee from 2001-2003, and worked to oppose the Iraq War under George W. Bush as based on faulty intelligence.

A half brother with the same last name, Phil Graham, came to own the Washington Post.

Florida has not been the same politically since Democrats such as Bob Graham left office, and as Republicans took over state government and domination of Congressional seats.

Donald Trump Trial Proof Of Rule Of Law Applies To Everyone!

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The first criminal trial of Donald Trump has begun, and while there is no way to know what the outcome will be in the next couple of months, one thing stands out!

Donald Trump is being held accountable under the Constitution and the rule of law, despite his wealth and his stature as a former President of the United States!

For the first time in his life, he is under restrictions, including being in the courtroom daily whether he wishes to or not!

It seems clear that his public opinion ratings are not going to rise, as a result of his being held accountable in a court of law!

Changes In Voter Registration Across America

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Changes in voter registration, while not a guarantee of voting patterns, are in flux in recent years.

Examples include the following trends:

The more educated one is, the more likely that such people are registered Democrats.

The less educated one is, the more likely that such people are registered Republicans.

The more rural location of an individual, and the more religiously devout an individual is, the more likely he or she is Republican.

Evangelical Christians, devout Catholics, and Orthodox Jews are more likely to be Republicans.

Those who live in urban areas are still much more likely Democratic registered, while those in suburbia are more evenly divided, but more Democratic than traditionally in recent decades when they were more likely Republican.

The Hispanic-Latino population is less reliably registered Democratic than in the past, particularly those who identify as evangelical Protestants, while if Catholics, still more likely Democratic.

While women are more likely to be registered Democratic, white women have moved toward Republican orientation.

With the reality that all of these trends are in flux, it is clear that trying to predict future voting patterns and election results is a gamble, and there are no guarantees.

Donald Trump’s First Criminal Trial Begins

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Belatedly, after so many delays and obstructive tactics, finally, Donald Trump will face the first criminal trial that any President of the United States has faced, on Monday morning.

Arguably the least significant of the four trials the former President faces over time, it is bound, nevertheless, to have a negative effect on Trump’s campaign to be returned to the White House.

Trump will have to sit in court four days a week and keep his mouth shut, and while there will be no televising of his trial, there will be reporters in the courtroom to report on every detail of the trial, including any reaction that Trump displays.

The facc that there are many witnesses, including those who had once been close to Trump, will have a dramatic effect on the trial and public opinion.

And the shock that Hope Hicks, who was so closely linked to Trump, is going to testify, is a major surprise.

Polls already indicate declining support for Trump, and no matter how much he makes himself the “victim”, he is, finally, being held to accountability for the first time in his life!

The Likelihood Of Further US Engagement In Overseas Conflicts

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This author and blogger has the sense of foreboding, that the United States will soon become more involved in overseas conflicts in a more direct manner.

The Russia-Ukraine War and the Israel-Gaza Conflict are escalating dangerously, and both represent major problems for American foreign policy.

Attempting to promote more military aid to Ukraine has been a struggle, and the sense is that Russia is emboldened by the inability of the US being able to promote more aid to Ukraine, ironically likely insuring a wider conflict.

Russia is likely to attempt to expand the war against former Soviet Union held areas before 1989—Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania. This would bring the US and NATO into a wider conflict.

The Israel-Gaza conflict is likely to escalate with Iranian involvement, and will put America into the cross hairs of supporting a right wing Israeli government, which has shown no concern about human rights in its war on Hamas, sadly making the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to suffer massive loss of civilians.

All that these two conflicts are doing is complicating Joe Biden’s Presidential campaign.

One would expect that there could be wider war soon, against all desires, and if that happens, as sad as that is, it would help insure Joe Biden’s victory, despite vehement anger of many, as no President has ever lost an election for another term in a time of war!

FDR Death, And Harry Truman Succession To The Presidency Commemorated!

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Sixty nine years ago, in the midst of late stages of World War II, the longest serving American President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, passed away at the age of 63 in Warm Springs, Georgia.

The impact of FDR in his years in office, and the continued significance of his policies and actions, reverberates in America seven decades later, and he is usually ranked second or third among all Presidents in polls and surveys of Presidential scholars.

Serving more than 12 years and starting a fourth term in office, he had a far greater impact in many ways than Abraham Lincoln, who is usually ranked as the greatest American President.

FDR’s “New Deal” still affects America, and his leadership in World War II was crucial for the survival of democracy in the nation and the world.

The death of FDR also led to the Presidency of Harry Truman, tremendously underrated throughout his Presidency and for a generation after his retirement.

But once Truman passed away, recognition of his courageous, principled leadership emerged, and now he is ranked in the top five or six of all Presidents!

His continuation and expansion of the New Deal through the Fair Deal, and his strong leadership in the emerging Cold War made his Presidency extremely significant!