Author: Ronald

Speculation Begins About Successor To Donald Trump Among MAGA Republicans, As His “Lame Duck” Status Has Begun!

Ronald 5 Comments

One year since the Presidential Election of 2024, and Donald Trump is facing defeats, challenges, losses, and is no longer seen as invulnerable.

Marjorie Taylor Greene, a “true believer”, has denounced Trump for abandoning many of the ideas that he promoted in the campaign, and she is not the only one who is starting to rebel against the concept that Donald Trump is invulnerable.

And rumors and gossip is spreading about who will succeed Trump, as the term “lame duck” has started to permeate political discussions.

Of course, Vice President JD Vance is the theoretical successor, and might end up in the White House, as Donald Trump continues to deteriorate mentally, and as his unpredictable behavior multiplies.

But even if that happens, it is not a guarantee that Vance would be the heir of MAGA Republicans, as there are too many ambitious people to claim that Vance is a shoo in for 2028.

Among those who seem likely to compete are:

Eric Trump, the President’s younger son from his first marriage

Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas

Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida

Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky

But there are others as well, including

Governor Glenn Youngkin of Virginia

Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas

Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri

The Unstable, Unpredictable Behavior Of Donald Trump

Ronald 53 Comments

It is a well known reality that Donald Trump has unstable, unpredictable behavior.

Regarding Ukraine, Trump has been all over the map, so to speak, seemingly backing Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but now, suddenly, demanding Ukraine make major concessions to Russia, after nearly four years of war and sacrifice.

Therefore, Trump is behaving like Neville Chamberlain of Great Britian with Adolf Hitler at the Munich Conference over the future of Czechoslovakia in 1938, which led to World War II, and Chamberlain being labeled as an “appeaser”!

Regarding New York City and its new Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, Trump termed Mamdani a “Communist”, and threatened cutoff of aid to the city, being totally hostile.

But suddenly, yesterday, there could not have been a more cordial, friendly meeting between the two men, with Trump wishing that Mamdani have a successful Mayoralty, truly mind blowing.

At the same time, Trump threatens execution of Democratic critics who warned military personnel against obeying illegal orders, as the military takes an oath to the US Constitution, not to any specific government leader, including the President.

This has led to death threata against these legislators.

So Trump’s behavior is unpredictable and dangerous, as there are signs that he has dementia, falls asleep in public, and makes irrational statements daily.

Trump Threats To Execute Political Opponents Escalating The Constitutional Crisis That Trump Represents!

Ronald 3 Comments

Donald Trump, crazily, has accused Democratic political opponents in Congress of sedition, punishable by death, because of them stating that soldiers in the military do not have to obey illegal orders against the Constitution of the United States. They swear allegiance to the Constitution, not to a particular President or administration.

Six lawmakers, Senators Mark Kelly of Arizona Navy) and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan (CIA and Department Of Defense analyst), and House members Jason Crow of Colorado (Army), Chris DeLuzio of Pennsylvania (Navy), Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire (Navy), and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania (Air Force) reacted in condemnation, and now face death threats perpetrated by Trump’s denunciation of them.

This threat by Trump is “an alarm bell in the night”, a danger sign that the nation is moving ever closer to an authoritarian Fascist dictatorship, if the Republican Party in Congress, and the Supreme Court majority do not react in fierce opposition!

It is clear that Donald Trump is “running scared”, as he suffers defeats in federal courts, and has his own MAGA Republicans backing away from him regarding the Epstein Scandal, where he was forced to give in, as a few courageous Republicans defied him in wanting to release the records.

The entire Congress has gone along on wanting the revelation of who was involved in the abuse of young women and girls by wealthy and powerful individuals, including Donald Trump himself!

Momentous Day: Robert F. Kennedy Centennial And Joe Biden’s 83rd Birthday!

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Today, November 20, is a momentous day, as it is the Centennial of the birth of Robert K. Kennedy, former Attorney General, US Senator, and Democratic Presidential contender in 1968 before his tragic assassination.

It is also the 83rd Birthday of former President Joe Biden, who saw RFK as his model, being 17 years older, but sharing the same birthday.

Biden had a bust of RFK on his desk in the White House, and it was always evident when he was sitting and being interviewed on camera.

Joe Biden is under constant attack by Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans, but he will be rated much higher in history than Donald Trump could ever hope for.

Biden is a President who is not fully appreciated, but already is in the mid teens in ratings of Presidents, such as the Siena College Research Institute Poll of 2022 and the American Political Science Association Poll of 2024, while Trump is last or near last in both surveys.

This is a day to celebrate for both Robert F. Kennedy and Joe Biden, but also sad that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, the namesake of his father, has so disgraced his family name by his lunatic behavior as Secretary of Health and Human Services for Donald Trump, as well as his disgraceful personal behavior throughout his life, indicating a low standard of ethics and morals!

Ken Burns’ “American Revolution” Documentary Latest In Long Line Of His Contributions To Historical Knowledge!

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Anyone who is an historian, including this author and blogger, would be certain to applaud Documentarian Ken Burns, who has devoted his career to the development of brilliant historical documentaries on a host of subjects for the past 40 years, presently including “The American Revolution” on PBS!

These include the following topics:

The Civil War
The National Parks
Baseball
The War (World War II)
The Vietnam War
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Jefferson
Country Music
The Roosevelts
The West
The US And The Holocaust
Jazz
Prohibition
Mark Twain
Brooklyn Bridge
Huey Long
The Statue of Liberty
The Dust Bowl
Jackie Robinson
Leonardo Da Vinci

Trump And Republicans Suffer Major Setbacks!

Ronald 19 Comments

Donald Trump and the Republican Party are suffering major setbacks, and giving hope to those who believe in the preservation of American democracy!

After resisting the issue of the Epstein files, Donald Trump finally caved in, and today, the House of Representatives saw all members, except for one Republican, give up on trying to avoid revelations on the issue of sexual abuse of women and young girls, by a host of wealthy people promoted by Jeffrey Epstein, who called Donald Trump his “best friend” for many years.

And a great victory against discriminatory Texas gerrymandering was won by the decision of a three judge panel, including a Trump appointed judge, that Texas was promoting an unjust action, negating it, which gives Democrats who successfully are redistricting California, a major edge for midterm elections in 2026!

And cases are being lost in court about the use of the National Guard and ICE agents around the country, in the midst of horrendous abuses being visited on immigrants who are victims of racial profiling, even when citizens.

The Catholic clergy are also taking a strong stand against the mistreatment of immigrants by ICE Agents.

Additionally, with the effects of tariffs causing rise in prices of all kinds of goods, public opinion ratings of Donald Trump are collapsing, coming close to an all time low, near what it was at the time of the US Capitol January 6 Insurrection!

The fight for democracy will be won by resistance of decent Americans against the abuses being perpetrated by Donald Trump and his Fascist lawbreakers!

It is a fight that will take patience and determination, but it can be won!

MS NOW New Name For Former MSNBC: Still Best Cable News Channel!

Ronald 5 Comments

The former cable news channel, MNSBC, in existence since 1996, now has been recast as MS NOW.

It still has the same shows, hosts, and contributors it has had in the recent past, after being recast in recent months.

It remains, by far, the best, most competent, and most accurate cable news channel, surpassing the original news channel, CNN, which has become far less reputable as time has passed.

And MS NOW is way beyond other cable news channels, most specifically Fox News Channel, which has become, ever more, a total disgrace in regards to accuracy, and has been more of a contributor to Trump Administration appointments of horrendous individuals who have no concern for the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, and the rule of law!

Even more disgraceful are NewsMax TV, and OANN (One America News Network), which make Fox News Channel look, comparatively, “respectable”, although it is not such.

NewsNation is a recent addition to cable news channels, perceived as “best” after MS NOW and CNN, and with such luminaries as Chris Cuomo, Elizabeth Vargas, and Leland Vittert.

Right Wing Fanatics Who Endanger America With Their Rhetoric!

Ronald 15 Comments

Freedom of speech is essential as part of the Bill of Rights, but that does not mean that anything uttered by right wing fanatics should be be given slack as free to exploit for profit without accountability.

We have those who have no issue with dividing America for their own profit, and some of them are beyond the pale.

They would include Tucker Carlson, formerly of CNN and later before leaving, at Fox News Channel, now a loose cannon, and becoming more extreme and reckless by the day.

It also includes Megyn Kelly, who acts totally different than a decade ago, before she was on NBC and then dismissed, and now has gone off the deep end in her rhetoric.

It also includes Nick Fuentes, an avowed antisemite, racist, nativist, and misogynist, who has no issue with appealing to single white men who are finding it difficult to adjust to difficult economic times, even though he is himself of Hispanic ancestry!

Fuentes was a major critic of Charlie Kirk before his assassination, thinking he was not extreme enough in his utterances and beliefs!

These are just three of a much larger group of Republican Right extremists, who present a dire threat to political stability for the American future, and unfortunately, have the ear of Republican leadership, including Donald Trump, JD Vance, and the Trump Cabinet Officers, who often embrace them!

Donald Trump Backtracking On Tariffs And Immigration Somewhat, But Denies Reversal!

Ronald 79 Comments

Donald Trump made having high protective tariffs and strict immigration enforcement two of his key policies when he began his second term in the Presidency.

But now, Trump is backtracking on both tariffs and immigration, as he has come to realize that it is undermining his public opinion ratings.

So with the higher cost of living, known as “affordability”, affecting millions of Americans, suddenly, tariffs on tomatoes, beef, coffee, and bananas, and other products are coming down, with cutting of tariffs on these goods coming from foreign nations.

On immigration, while ICE raids are continuing in an abusive manner, suddenly, Trump is realizing that there are immigrants with particular skills and talents, who now he says are essential to be allowed to migrate to America and contribute to American economic growth.

Clearly, after ten months in office, and after Democrats won handily in the various races that took place two weeks ago, Donald Trump is “caving in”, as his public opinion ratings are in free fall, in the mid 30s!

The Question Of Chuck Schumer Remaining As Senate Minority Leader

Ronald 2 Comments

Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York has come under fire for the reality that eight members of his caucus abandoned the unified party stand on the Federal Government Shutdown, leading to an end of the 43 day crisis, but leaving the issue of health care for millions of American unsettled as 2026 comes upon us.

Millions of Americans are learning their health care costs will dramatically increase, sometimes double or triple the amount monthly, making many have to consider abandoning any insurance coverage, a very dangerous action for anyone to consider.

So the thought is whether Schumer should give his leadership of the Senate Democrats, but the question is who would replace him, and be able to accomplish advancement of Democratic Party initiatives, leading up to the midterm Congressional Elections of 2026, and beyond.

Clearly, any Democratic Senator facing election in 2026 cannot become the Minority Leader.

But also, none of the seven Democrats who voted to end the Federal Government Shutdown can become an alternative to Chuck Schumer.

Additionally, any Democrat retiring in 2026 is ineligible for the position of Minority Leader moving forward.

Also, any Democrat considering the possibility of a White House run in 2028 would not be a likely alternative.

So looking at the present roster of Senate Democrats in the leadership group means there are slim alternatives for now to replace Schumer.

So it seems to this blogger and author, that the only possible alternatives would be the following:

Adam Schiff of California
Brian Schatz of Hawaii
Chris Van Hollen of Maryland
Elissa Slotkin of Michigan
Martin Heinrich of New Mexico
Kirsten Gillibrand of New York

Only Schatz and Gillibrand have any leadership position at the moment in the Senate—-Chief Deputy Whip and Deputy Secretary of the Democratic Caucus in the case of Schatz, and Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in the case of Gillibrand.