Month: August 2016

8th Anniversary Of “The Progressive Professor”, And 5,300 Entries And Counting!

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Today is the 8th Anniversary of this blog, The Progressive Professor!

It began in 2008 at the time of the national conventions selecting Barack Obama and John McCain as the Presidential nominees.

It has covered the controversies, issues, and personalities of the years of Barack Obama as President.

It has been enriched by the contributions in comments of many people who have added insight on many of the issues discussed, and I wish to thank all of them who have been part of the past eight years.

It has also witnessed a few trolls who have joined in at times, wishing to muddy up the waters, so to speak, but failing at that goal.

On this 8th anniversary, we have just reached the grand total of 5,300 entries, an amazing amount for a blog to have accomplished over just eight years.

I have been fortunate enough, in the interim, to retire full time from teaching, but keep a connection with part time teaching. But I have also been able to lecture 40-50 times a year locally to adults and senior citizens in South Florida.

I have also published my book on Presidential Assassinations and Threats, and have been on C Span, NPR, and many other radio interviews.

And I have been appreciative of the opportunity to write articles for TheHill.com and HNN.us (History News Network) on my book and on public affairs (with 28 essays on HNN and counting).

All of my activities are listed on the right side of the blog, and anyone can watch, listen, or read the links at your leisure.

And now my Assassinations book will be coming out in paperback in March 2017.

I hope to continue this blog for many more years, and look forward to it with great expectations, as we elect a new President and move into the future!

Thanks again to everyone, especially my readers who do not comment, but read me regularly, as it is much appreciated!

Historians Organize Against Donald Trump: Is That A Proper Role? YES!

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More than 600 historians and scholars, including myself, have joined a group of Historians Against Donald Trump to register our concern about the possible election of a man who is perceived by just about all people in the field, except a few, to be a danger to America and its future.

There are those observers who think historians should not get involved in political races, but this is a constitutional crisis in the making, as many see it, and it is essential that people versed in the history of leadership, both good and bad, worldwide, speak their minds and warn Americans of the threat that they face, were Trump, somehow, magically able to win.

This is not a usual election, but instead is a turning point in American history that will have a vast effect on the future of the nation.

And now when Donald Trump hints at “Second Amendment remedies” against Hillary Clinton, if she wins the election, to prevent Supreme Court appointments, it is even more necessary than ever to have historians speak out about the threat of violence.

And as the author of a book on Presidential and Presidential candidate assassinations, this blogger feels a need to speak out openly of the threat of Donald Trump.

Later today, my thoughts on Trump, implying an assassination of Hillary Clinton might be a “Second Amendment remedy”, are being published on HNN, History News Network website.

August 9–One Constitutional Crisis (Richard Nixon) Solved, But Three Months To Potential New Constitutional Crisis (Donald Trump)!

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On this day, August 9, 1974, a major constitutional crisis was solved with the resignation of Richard Nixon, who had abused the law and the Constitution, and who finally decided to resign under pressure of an impending impeachment.

But there were concerns that he might declare martial law, and the Chief of Staff, Alexander Haig, told the Pentagon to ignore any such order that might come from the President, who clearly was unraveling mentally in his last days in the Presidency.

But Nixon had enough sense to realize that his historical reputation would be even worse, so he still had a sense of reality, as he fell from power.

Now 42 years later, we have a true maniac, a madman, a demagogue, a Fascist, a bully, a misogynist, a racist, a nativist, a xenophobe, an ignorant person on foreign policy, a threat to world stability, and a very mentally unstable individual, in Donald Trump!

And just today, on the 42nd anniversary of the Nixon crisis coming to an end, the present crisis grows as Trump called for “Second Amendment’ supporters to do what must be done if Hillary Clinton was to win, a hint of assassination!

Trump’s language today at a rally in North Carolina only encourages the nuts and whackos among us, and he should be prosecuted for what he said.

Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut has called for prosecution, and former CIA head Michael Hayden said that if any ordinary citizen said what Trump uttered today, he would be lo9cked up and prosecuted.

This is the time to stop Donald Trump, as he is emerging as a direct threat to civil order, with hints that he will not accept defeat, and will encourage violence among his lunatic and clueless followers, even after November.

This is, without a doubt, the worst moment in our political history since the Watergate scandal, and in many ways, more dangerous!

Donald Trump’s Connection To Senator Joseph McCarthy, Roy Cohn, And The Red Scare Of The 1950s

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Donald Trump has a connection to Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin, the horrific Red Scare demagogue of the early 1950s.

McCarthy made his career on assaulting the reputation of anyone who dared criticize him his witch hunt for Communists, in the government, and outside the government.

McCarthy had no common decency, no sense of propriety, and yet drew millions of supporters to his hateful rhetoric and actions.

And McCarthy had, as his chief henchman, a young, totally unprincipled lawyer named Roy Cohn, who was a total hypocrite in everything he did and said.

He was Jewish and promoted anti semitism with his attacks on Jews who were leftist in their beliefs, but not engaged in espionage.

Cohn was also gay, but would never admit it, even when he was dying of AIDS, and ruined many people’s lives with promotion of accusations against the character of critics, some of whom were gay.

Cohn was also an adviser to Trump, as he built up his real estate empire, and helped to groom him to be the egotistical demagogue that he has become.

Trump is following Cohn in spirit, by his attacks on Mexicans and Muslims, and his demonizing of all critics, including the parents of a Muslim soldier killed in Iraq in 2004.

Trump has no scruples, ethics, or morals, just like Joseph McCarthy and Roy Cohn.

70 Years Of American Foreign Policy Challenged By Donald Trump

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It seems clear that Donald Trump, were he to become President, would totally upend American foreign policy, under both Republican and Democratic Presidents, from Harry Truman to Barack Obama.

His “love affair” with Russian leader Vladimir Putin is very dangerous, and will create instability in Europe, with the issue of the Baltic States being under threat, and undermining NATO in the process, which has been in effect since 1949.

His compliments of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un will destabilize South Korea and Japan.

His lack of understanding of the complex Middle East will cause more disarray in an area already in turmoil.

His lack of knowledge of foreign policy will cause other nations, particularly our allies, to believe that he a dangerous, unstable individual to lead the most powerful nation in the world.

His temper, and poor judgment, will lead to foreign interventions out of pique.

We cannot afford someone as Commander in Chief who lacks the respect of the military and the intelligence community.

Confidence In American Future: FDR, Reagan, Obama; Gloom, Doom, Fear View: Herbert Hoover, Richard Nixon, Donald Trump

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A positive view of America’s future always is the better approach, one of hope and confidence, and we have had American Presidents who have campaigned on that theme.

Franklin D. Roosevelt did such in 1932.

Ronald Reagan did such in 1980

Barack Obama did such in 2008.

On the other hand, we have had Presidents who did just the opposite, promoted gloom, doom, and fear.

Herbert Hoover was very negative in 1932.

Richard Nixon was very negative in 1968.

And now, Donald Trump is doing such in 2016.

As with FDR, Reagan, and Obama, the result was victory.

And with Hoover and Nixon, their rating in history is very low.

And, well, with Donald Trump, he will go down as the most disastrous Presidential nominee in all of American history, even though he will not lose 49 states, as George McGovern in 1972 or Walter Mondale did in 1984, or 46 states as Alf Landon did in 1936. The number of states lost does not matter, as all three campaigned with dignity, something impossible of achievement by Donald Trump.

Need For Moral Courage Of Paul Ryan And Mitch McConnell To Denounce Donald Trump, For Their Historical Reputation

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The time has come for Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to take responsibility for the disaster that is Donald Trump.

Even though a plurality of voters in Republican primaries and caucuses chose Trump over 16 contenders for the GOP Presidential nomination, it is clear that Donald Trump is a “Train Wreck”, and that the Republican Party will self destruct if they do not back away from Trump.

It is the job of the GOP leaders in both houses to take it upon themselves to take leadership in the mission to force Trump out of the race, and replace him with Vice Presidential nominee, Governor Mike Pence of Indiana.

If Trump became very sick, which he actually is in a mental sense, he would be replaced by his running mate, and if he passed away, that is the same scenario.

Pence may not have run for President, but he was the choice of Trump for VP, so he would become the Presidential nominee, and he, in consultation with the Republican National Committee, would choose the new Vice Presidential nominee.

Ultimately, the Republican Party must think of its long term future, not just this election, but if they do not repudiate Trump now, the party is going to suffer a massive defeat, from which they are highly unlikely to recover!

Large Numbers Of Republicans And Conservatives, And Growing, Coming Out Against Donald Trump

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We are starting to see Donald Trump losing more and more Republican and conservative support as a result of his total disintegration in process.

He has shown the worst possible traits, so many that one cannot list all of them in one blog entry, but a few of them are:

Ordering the removal of a mother and her crying child from a rally
Attacking the Khans, whose son sacrificed his life in Iraq
Accepting a Purple Heart from a person, and saying he always wanted one
Threatening to add the New York Times to a list of media banned from his rallies, including the Washington Post, Politico, and Huffington Post, among others
Claiming that the public opinion polls are rigged against him, and hinting that he might not participate in Presidential debates in September and October
Refusing to support John McCain and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan in their reelection races.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, and many conservative intellectuals, connected to conservative think tanks, and to the National Review and The Weekly Standard, have denounced Trump as dangerous in foreign policy, as well as totally unhinged in so many areas, and on so many issues.

It is clearly time that the Republican National Committee break their ties to this maniac, and take the nomination away from him, and the sooner the better!

What Is Wrong With Donald Trump’s Family?

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As one watches and observes the antics of Donald Trump, one has to wonder what is wrong with his family members?

Why cannot Melania Trump, his wife, advise him to stop name calling, character assassination, and destroying any chance of unity during and after this Presidential campaign?

Why cannot his adult children–Donald Jr, Eric,and Ivanka– all from his first wife, not sit down with him and warn him that he is harming his own campaign?

Can the fact of money and inheritance be so dominant that everyone in the Trump family cannot feel free to speak up?

Can they not be worried about his mental instability, and the embarrassment that he is every single day?

Can they stand by and allow the self destruction of someone they love, who is creating crazed crowds to scare the rest of us on their own mental sanity, or lack of it, with the way they react to his public rallies?

This country is more important than any one of us in the nation, and the Trump family has a responsibility to intervene for the public good, and stop putting their egos and wealth into the forefront!

The Donald Trump Connection To Authoritarian Leadership

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It is very disturbing that Donald Trump has a connection to, and admiration for, authoritarian leadership.

Trump’s Russian connections are very troubling, and his lying about his past connections and relationship to Vladimir Putin are alarming.

The fact that Trump has suggested strongly that NATO needs to be reconsidered as part of American foreign policy, and his threat to stand aside if Putin were to try to seize the Baltic States–Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia–is an opening for Putin to take action, threatening the stability of the entire European continent.

The reality that Trump has his top aide, Paul Mantafort, having had connections to a pro Russian government in Ukraine, is horrifying. Trump has said that Russia does not control the Crimean area, which is delusional.

And Trump has also praised Kim Jong Un, the maniac who runs North Korea and has threatened nuclear attack against its neighbors and the United States.

It is clear that Trump is ignorant of the effect of his statements on national security and relations with our allies.

Were he elected President, the whole world would be harmed by his reckless speech and actions.