Month: August 2025

A Time To Celebrate: 17 Years Of “The Progressive Professor”, But Also A Time To Mourn The Demise Of The American Experiment! :(

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Today, August 11, marks precisely SEVENTEEN years of this author and blogger publishing commentary on this blog, “The Progressive Professor”, that was created in 2008, with the support and encouragement of my older son, David Feinman, who knew I had a passion to share my thoughts on American history, government and politics with others!

In those 17 years, there have been to date 8,550 articles published, and 28,532 comments made by my readers and followers. The comments added have been invaluable, and have, immensely, improved the whole concept of the blog, so I wish to thank all of those individuals who have committed themselves to contributing their thoughts and ideas, to the benefit of all those who read the blog daily.

In the present political climate, one cannot be certain that there will be a continuation of the blog long term, as these are dangerous times to be expressing thoughts, many of them critical, of events and personalities.

We may be witnessing the collapse of American democracy, the Constitution, and the rule of law, and we may not survive the Presidency of Donald Trump, with the ability to restore what we had over nearly 250 years–an evolving nation with many faults which moved toward “a more perfect union”.

That has been destroyed by a quarter century of deceit and right wing extremism, motivated from the time of the Presidential Election of 2000, when Al Gore was denied the Presidency in favor of George W. Bush by a Supreme Court which showed it had no principles other than promoting aggrandizement of the nation by the wealthy.

Barack Obama came along and gave us hope of recovery, but faced great and fierce opposition, and the right wing extremist factions worked to, once again, undermine the American experiment by denying Hillary Clinton the Presidency in 2016 in favor of Donald Trump, who had ill intentions from the beginning.

Donald Trump worked at destroying the American Republic, and the nation was only, miraculously, saved in 2020 by the good fortune of Joe Biden coming along at the right time.

But the right wing forces attempted a coup d’etat, an Insurrection, NOT as some people claimed just a “riot”, but now being wiped out as if it never happened, as those who were involved in criminal acts have been “exonerated” by Trump pardons.

But the “disease” promoted by Trump and minions–the spreading of nativism, racism, misogyny, and homophobia by religious extremists—managed to convince gullible and poorly educated Americans to vote in 2024 to overcome and destroy the Republic that they did not fully appreciate, a shocking development.

Now, the rest of us are forced to suffer the ignorance, stupidity, and bias of ill informed and ill educated people, and are seeing our civil liberties destroyed.

Personally, having retired completely from teaching at the university level after 53 years, this author and blogger is, fortunately, continuing to give lectures to adults and senior citizens in South Florida, but it is difficult to predict what will happen in the short run and long run regarding this blog.

I just wish to hope for the best for myself, and all those who read my blog, as we move forward to chart whatever the future brings, which at this moment, does not look promising.

The future seems, sadly, likely to see the promotion of authoritarianism; the collapse of the economy with destructive tariffs; and the triumph of evil in international affairs, as witnessed by the Russia-Ukraine War and the Israel-Gaza War.

Thanks again, for your support and encouragement, to all those who read and contribute to this blog.

Gerald Ford, Succeeding Richard Nixon 51 Years Ago, Saved The Presidency!

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Gerald Ford, the 38th President, succeeded Richard Nixon 51 years ago, and saved the Presidency.

Appointed Vice President under the 25th Amendment, and approved by both houses of Congress in a bipartisan manner, Gerald Ford was the right person to be next in line after the resignation of the corrupt Spiro Agnew in October 1973, in the midst of the crisis of the Watergate Scandal, that eventually brought Richard Nixon to resign from the Presidency.

Ford was a 25 year member of the House of Representatives, and Republican House Minority Leader for nine years, when he was elevated to the Vice Presidency.

Ford handled himself in an appropriate manner, in his 8 months as Vice President, and he represented basic decency and honesty as the successor to Richard Nixon.

His wife Betty stands out as the most outstanding Republican First Lady in her public role in modern times, and while Ford was only President for less than two and a half years, he elevated the office for the future.

We could only wish that Mike Pence in the first Donald Trump term, or JD Vance now in the second Trump term, had the principles, decency, and ethical and moral standing that Gerald Ford presented.

Ford was not perfect, of course, and two of his young aides at the time, later, sadly, became highly controversial, under President George W. Bush. Dick Cheney as Vice President, and Donald Rumsfeld as Secretary of Defense, did not do appropriately by their offices, with both seen as abusing power. But this was a quarter century after they were aides under Ford.

Ford also took the controversial action of pardoning Richard Nixon, still a center of debate as to the wisdom of such action. Certainly, it helped to lead to Ford’s defeat by Jimmy Carter in the Presidential Election Of 1976.

At the same time, Ford appointed one of the best modern Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, with Justice John Paul Stevens, who served the third longest on the Court in its history at 35 years, and retiring at the age of 90, second oldest in retirement. Unfortunately, present Republican appointments, all six of them, by Presidents George H W Bush, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump, have been major tragedies and disappointments.

Ford also signed the Helsinki Accords in 1975 with the Soviet Union, marking a move toward detente in the Cold War.

Overall, this author and blogger would say that Ford was the most decent modern Republican President, since the time of Dwight D. Eisenhower.

His historical reputation, and that of his wife, as a decent Presidential couple, shines a half century later.

51 Years Since Richard Nixon Resignation

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Today, August 9, marks the 51st Anniversary of the resignation from the Presidency of Richard Nixon, due to the Watergate Scandal.

A half century ago, his Republican Party had true principles and convictions, and their leadership made it clear in a visit to the White House that Nixon was on the road to being easily impeached by the House, with minority Republican support, as well as the Democratic Party majority, and that he would be unable to gain 34 Republican votes to save him from conviction in the US Senate.

Sadly, today, the Republican Party is owned totally by Donald Trump, with only a very few principled Republicans who have opposed him at any time.

THe Republican Party has lost its conservative principles and its soul, and the nation is in the process of the development of a Fascist authoritarianism, which endangers the US Constitution, American Democracy and the rule of law.

Donald Trump Ending Labor Union Protections For Federal Employees: A Total Disgrace! :(

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Donald Trump is in process of ending all labor union protections for federal employees, marking the biggest negative reaction since the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 was passed over President Harry Truman’s veto in 1947 by the Republican 80th Congress.

That action and the later Ronald Reagan firing of air traffic controllers in 1981 were among the lowest moments of organized labor history.

But federal government employees were able to protect their interests over the decades since then, but now a mortal blow to not just federal employees, but really all workers across the nation, has been dealt to the right of workers to organize.

The irony is that many members of labor unions stupidly, and with some bias toward racial minorities, supported Donald Trump in 2024 despite his felony convictions, two impeachments, and the inciting of the US Capitol Insurrection of January 6, 2021.

This is yet another attack on American democracy, the Constitution, and the rule of law!

Future Hopes For Democrats: James Talarico, Maxwell Frost, David Hogg

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In the midst of horrendous times under Donald Trump and the Republican Party majority in both houses of Congress, there are encouraging signs of future hope for Democrats in the younger generation.

Three such examples are Texas State Legislator James Talarico; Florida Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost; and Youth activist David Hogg, a survivor of the Parkland, Florida, Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Massacre in 2018.

Talarico is considering a run for US Senate in Texas at age 36, while Frost at age 28 has made a name for himself in the House of Representatives.

Hogg at age 25 is trying to promote younger people running for public office, and has, in the process, alienated older establishment Democrats, and was pushed out as a Vice President of the Democratic National Committee.

While it may not happen, it would be ideal if Talarico could be elected to the Senate, and for Frost to decide to run for the Senate in 2026, and for Hogg to have the opportunity to run for the House of Representatives.

Even if not occurring immediately in 2026, these three young men are positive signs for the future of the Democratic Party.

Rachel Maddow Makes Clear: Authoritarianism Has Arrived Under Donald Trump! :(

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On Monday evening, the great Rachel Maddow on MSNBC made the clear announcement that Authoritarianism has arrived! 🙁

It is no longer an issue of whether it is occurring, or is in process.

When one looks at the multitude of events and statements over the past six plus months, America is in dire straits in so many ways.

The Republican Party in Congress and the majority of the Supreme Court are in unison with most of what is being perpetrated by Donald Trump, his Cabinet, and others.

While there is opposition still existing, we have seen caving in by many law firms, corporations, and even more troubling, by several leading universities, and even concessions by ABC and CBS, and the end of the Corporation For Public Broadcasting, which helped support public televsion and radio since 1969.

This is the most depressing time in American history, and may be ranked historically as the most dangerous times since the threat of Fascism and Nazism in World War II.

It is hard not to be in despair, and a sense of fear has spread, as ICE agents arrest and detain people without just cause, and most having no criminal record of any kind.

Nativism, racism, misogyny, homophobia all are having their heyday! 🙁

American democracy is facing unprecedented challenges, and American national security is endangered, as America’s relationship with the world, including its long time allies, is endangered by the highest tariffs in a century, and a sense of lack of reliability of the nation to the world around it.

But, as Rachel Maddow makes clear, it is not a time for just despair, but rather for determination to resist in every way possible, including NOT allowing the naked attempt of Republicans to fix the 2026 Congressional elections and Congressional and Presidential Elections of 2028 and beyond.

There is widespread outrage being openly expressed all across the nation, and courage and principle must continue to be utilized in an active resistance!

The Voting Rights Act 60th Anniversary: Now Under Attack By Texas Republicans And Donald Trump

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Sixty years ago tomorrow (August 6, 1965), President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the momentous, monumental Voting Rights Act into law, ending a history of voting discrimination, denying African Americans and other racial minorities and poor people the right to vote.

This only came about after decades of violence and intimidation, particularly in the American South, and it was glorious that it was a Southerner, a Texan, Lyndon B. Johnson, who brought about this massive reform, with the support of a strong Democratic controlled Congress, but with many Republicans also joining in to support the legislation.

It is extremely sad that we are now witnessing a racist and authoritarian President, Donald Trump, attempting to promote what is clearly an attempt at a coup d’etat, advocating the diluting of voting rights of these various groups through extreme gerrymandering, which could lead to five seats gained by the Republican Party in Texas.

The battle to retain the hard fought voting rights gained, is one that must be pursued without compromise!

Ten Days Away, Coming Back To New Controversies Surrounding Donald Trump! :(

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This author and blogger took a vacation, visiting my old “haunts” in New York City, where he lived until 1989.

While it was great getting back to “my origins”, for only the third time in the past 36 years, new controversies erupted around Donald Trump and his administration while I was away.

At least ten areas of crisis grew while this author and blogger was away on vacation.

The earlier decision of CBS to cancel Stephen Colbert, occurring days before this author and blogger took a break, just to gain the ability to merge with new ownership accepted by Donald Trump, was just the beginning. And Trump celebrating Colbert’s show ending next May was a moment of total disgust!

Trump fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics because she revealed a report of weak employment growth in July, and massive revision downward of May and June figures, numbers she had no control over adjusting.

Trump’s tariffs, which will raise the cost of living dramatically in future months, are due to take place on August 7, with some nations being “punished” more than others, including Canada and Brazil, and all Americans paying the price for this insanity, as tariffs cause economic collapses historically!

Ghislane Maxwell, in prison for 20 years for sexual abuse of young girls, connected with the Jeffrey Epstein Scandal, was moved to a minimum security prison, after being interviewed by Trump’s Deputy Attorney General. This is seen as an attempt to move to pardon her, and avoid revelations of whether Donald Trump was involved in the sexual abuse, another sign of a coverup to protect Trump.

Texas is attempting to use the abuses of gerrymandering to insure possibly five more House seats to go to the Republican Party, an effort to insure Republican control of the House of Representatives, with the support of Donald Trump. Democrats have left the state, to try to avoid such abuses from occurring.

The National Museum of American History, connected with the Smithsonian Institution, temporarly removed an exhibit showing Trump’s two impeachments, although it now claims it will be restored in the future.

The number of ICE arrests is multiplying, including at immigration hearings, when people show up at their required appointments, gain a new court date, but then are grabbed by multiple ICE agents wearing masks, acting like the Nazi Gestapo!

The number of government workers are being decimated, which makes a future set of shortcomings that will affect Americans in many areas of government involvement, most notably the National Weather Serivce and the upcoming hurricane season, as well as air traffic control, which delayed this author and blogger’s flight to New York City by a TEN hour delay! 🙁

Trump has moved nuclear submarines closer to Russia, as relations between Trump and Vladimir Putin worsen, and as the Russian war against Ukraine continues unabated.

The mass starvation of Gaza residents by Israel continues, and Trump’s inability or lack of concern about what is seen by many as a growing Holocaust.

So trying to “escape” from the news really is not truly possible, as the nightmare of Donald Trump continues! 🙁