Author: Ronald

Back From Vacation Break, And Total Mayhem! :(

Ronald 58 Comments

This author and blogger took a well deserved and needed vacation, and avoided following news of public affairs for the past ten days!

Now I am back, and total mayhem is in process on so many levels!

The continued violation of civil liberties, with the arrest by ICE of unjustified individuals; the arrest of a Democratic Mayoral candidate and New York City Controller Brad Lander; and the decision to back up Israel’s war on Iran by Donald Trump taking the bold action, without Congressional consultation or approval under the War Powers Act of 1973, to bomb Iranian nuclear sites—this all causes a sense of total mayhem in action!

We have a President who has taken a controversial action without any consultation, and his mental stability seems lacking in a sense of giving confidence that he knows what he is perpetrating, a possible major Mideast War, having learned nothing from the Iraq War and the Afghanistan War.

40,000 US troops are in danger in the Middle East by the unstable, emotional reaction of Donald Trump, who is continuing to alienate our long term allies in Europe, Canada, and in Asia.

We have just passed the five month point of this four year term, and there is no comparison possible for the tumultuous, overwhelming, and shocking series of events that have taken place in both foreign and domestic policy!

One has to wonder how the survival of American democracy and the rule of law, and our 80 year stable set of allies in the world, can be accomplished with the reality that there are three years and seven months until the next Presidential Inauguration, and one year and five months until the next Congressional Elections, which the Democrats need to win to attempt to put controls on the most dangerous President in American history!

It is hard to be optimistic as we look to the future!

Taking A 2 Week Hiatus From Commentary

Ronald 137 Comments

After NOT having any time off from commentary in the year 2025, this author and blogger is taking a 2 week hiatus from posting any entries, as I go on vacation.

I expect to be back on Tuesday June 24, knowing a lot of disturbing news will occur in the interim, but everyone needs a break.

I will “see” my readers and followers later in the month, and wish everyone the best in a difficult time.

Trump Threatens Heavy Force Against Protesters At Military Parade To Celebrate His Birthday!

Ronald 2 Comments

Donald Trump is threatening heavy force against any protesters at his Birthday Military Parade on this Saturday, June 14.

It is expected that there will be “No Kings” Marches all over the nation, including in Washington, DC, so this is a very worrisome situation.

There are hints that he may invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807, even though normal demonstrations and freedom of assembly are protected by the First Amendment.

There is a sense of foreboding of what is about to occur over the next few days and weeks.

The thought that the US Marines are being given the role of military force against civilians is a shock to all decent Americans, and a danger sign of authoritarianism potentially coming.

This is a very tense time in America, as it, seemingly, is veering toward a possible, dangerous turning point that threatens American democracy, the rule of law, and the Bill of Rights.

Trump Calling Out Marines For Domestic Use, And Threatening Arrest Of Gavin Newsom Totally Beyond The Pale!

Ronald 7 Comments

President Donald Trump’s decision to call out the Marines for domestic use in Los Angeles to back up deportation raids, and his threat to arrest California Gavin Newsom, has escalated the crisis of Trump moving toward authoritarianism!

The possibility of the invoking of the Insurrection Act, when there is no rebellion or invasion, is horrifying, and moves America close to a true Fascist dictatorship, reminiscent in many ways to Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy.

And yet, millions of Americans seem content, as their racism, nativism, and lack of concern about anyone other than their selfish selves, is demonstrated for all to see.

The worship of money, and prejudice toward immigrants shows how sick and demented many Americans are, until the time comes, that they would become victims themselves.

When that horrifying moment occurs for many of these unprincipled, selfish people who only care about their financial bottom line, there will be no sympathy by those who have, vigorously, opposed Donald Trump and his evil supporters in the Republican Party, who are not patriots, but rather traitors to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the rule of law!

US Army Military Parade For Trump’s Birthday Totally Uncalled For, While Veterans Benefits Are Being Cut!

Ronald 7 Comments

The US Army 250th Anniversary Grand Military Parade and Celebration on Armed Forces Day, June 14, which is also Donald Trump’s 79th birthday, will cost an estimated $45 million, and deploy thousands of troops and tanks, reminiscent of an authoritarian dictator’s parade, as for Adolf Hitler or Joseph Stalin. Normally, such a parade would not be so elaborate and costly.

It is an unnecessary expense, totally uncalled for, and yet another sign of the danger Donald Trump repesents, and it will do great harm to the streets of Washington DC, along with shutting down all air traffic into Reagan National Airport for the entire day.

It is ironic that Trump is supporting this, since he was a draft dodger and used false claims of “bone spurs” to avoid any military service, and his own sons have avoided such military commitment on their own.

And this is a President who ridiculed Senator John McCain for having been a prisoner of war in Vietnam, and called those who served and died for the nation as “suckers” and “losers” when in Normandy, France to commemorate D Day while he was in office for his first term.

No earlier President ever called for or advocated a military parade to salute a President, and Dwight D. Eisenhower specifically spoke out against such a concept, even though he had been a general during World War II.

THe waste of government resources, and glorification of Trump is a total outrage.

Meanwhile, Veterans Benefits are being cut in the “Big And Beautiful” legislation being promoted for passage in Congress.

Trump Utilizing National Guard In Los Angeles, Defying Governor And Mayor, Highly Unusual!

Ronald 28 Comments

With immigration raids and arrests mounting all over the nation, but particularly in the major cities of Los Angeles and New York City, Donald Trump has taken the step of escalating his authoritarian impluses by deciding to utilize the National Guard in LA, against the wishes of Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass. It is extremely unusual and rare to take such an action against the recomendations of state and local officials.

This is clearly seen as a move toward total crackdown on basic civil liberties, perpetrated by Thomas Homan, Stephen Miller, Kristi Noem, Pam Bondi, Pete Hegseth, and a host of other Trump appointees.

We have entered a “police state” situation, with great danger of massive violence and bloodshed, and it could spread quickly around the nation, and lead to the potential of civil war, a horrifying scenario!

There is no indication of massive violence, just of street protests, so this is a power grab by Trump and his government perpetrated to justify suspension of basic First Amendment rights.

It is not clear what can be done about the aggressive and abusive moves inititated by Donald Trump, so we are in a period of great mourning for our Constitution, rule of law, and American democracy!

Trump-Musk Split A Major Boon For Democrats!

Ronald 10 Comments

The sudden end of the “bromance” between Donald Trump and Elon Musk may have surprised many observers, but there were many others who predicted it would happen, but maybe not so rapidly.

At this point, Trump seems to have all the cards in the battle, as it seems highly unlikely that many, if any, Republican officeholders in Congress, particularly in the House of Representatives, are going to rush to Musk’s side.

But Musk’s threat to form a third political party, and to finance opponents to many Republicans in the House and US Senate who face election contests in 2026, throws a “fly in the ointment”, complicating the hope of Trump and Republican office holders to keep their majorities, particularly in the lower chamber, but even possibly in the Senate.

So this split can be seen as a major boon for Democrats, looking forward, if they can manage the breakup of Trump and Musk in a way that benefits their party.

Defense Department Removing Civil Rights Leaders’ Names From Naval Ships An Absolute Outrage!

Ronald 2 Comments

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is on a tear, working to eliminate all civil rights heroes who have had US naval vessels named after them.

Already, the name of gay icon Harvey Milk is being removed, but this is just the beginning.

Also likely to have their names scrubbed from naval vessels are the following civil rights heroes:

Thurgood Marshall, first African American Supreme Court Justice

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, female Supreme Court Justice, who promoted gender equality and civil rights

John Lewis, Georgia Congressman, who marched for civil rights

Medgar Evers, Mississippi civil rights activist, who was assassinated

Harriet Tubman, Underground Railroad Conductor and Union Spy during the Civil War

Dolores Huerta, Labor leader and co-founder of United Farm Workers Union

Cesar Chavez, Labor leader and Civil Rights activist and co-founder of United Farm Workers Union

Lucy Stone, prominent activist for women’s rights and the abolition of slavery

Somehow, something must be done to avert this outrageous set of actions, totally uncalled for, and unAmerican!

It is simply an attack on race, gender, sexuality, and basic common decency of civil rights for all Americans!

The Attempted “Whitewashing” Of American History Will NOT Survive In The Future!

Ronald 26 Comments

As a veteran of the college and university classroom, and having just retired after 53 years of teaching American history, government, and politics, I want to make clear that the attempted “white washing” of American history by the Trump Administration, will NOT succeed in the long run!

The truth and facts and reality of American history–the good, the bad, and the ugly–cannot be eliminated just because the present national government sets out to destroy the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution and its multitude of museums, and the many other historical sites and memorials.

Short term, we are seeing the attempt to reverse reality of the past, and it is a long hard struggle that will be waged over the years in the future, but the truth will win out in the long run!

We are not going to go back to a purely white Christian version of American history, as we will keep the faith on the truth of African American history; Latino American history; American Women’s history; Asian American history; Native American history; Gay and Lesbian American history; and Jewish American history!

All areas of American history will continue to be spoken about, taught to students, and scholarly works published!

“Red” state governors and legislatures, most notably in Florida and Texas, will continue to attempt to wipe out the reality of the historical record, and short term, they may be triumphing, but the battle to retain and preserve the past in an accurate manner, will return in the future.

And “Blue” state governors and their legislatures, and city mayors and city councils around urban America, will fight the good fight to keep alive the historical record as it is, explaining to future generations the positives and negatives of American history, and hold the federal, state, and local governments accountable for their actions!

Anything worth preserving requires dedication and commitment, and all scholars of American history, including this author and blogger, will NEVER give up the fight for the truth and reality!

Massive Suffering And Death Promoted By Evil Donald Trump, Who Has No Conscience!

Ronald 37 Comments

Anyone, except the most uncaring individuals, can fail to see how Donald Trump is promoting massive suffering and death, and has total evil and cruelty as his mantra, and no sense of morality, ethics, compassion, empathy, or conscience.

But the House Republicans have shown willingness to go along with this horrendous bill that would cut millions of Americans off SNAP (Food Stamps) and Medicaid, and also threaten major cuts in Medicare.

Republicans have not spoken up on the wiping out of USAID (US Agency for International Development), which has saved millions of people overseas who have varying diseases and illnesses. This includes the elimination of PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Program For Aids Relief), President George W. Bush’s major contribution in office, which has saved 26 million lives in Africa.

But Republicans have not been willing to speak up on the mass deportation of immigrants, most of whom are not criminals, as Stephen Miller, Thomas Homan, and Kristi Noem continue their heartless, cruel, inhumane quest to remove people at the rate of 3,000 per day, without any ethical or moral qualms.

The damage and harm being visited by an oppressive, Gestapo type Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has its agents wearing masks, as if this is Nazi Germany revived, is horrifying!

The shock that Elon Musk, as he leaves the government, has condemned the “Big and Beautiful” bill gives hope that the Senate will reject the legislation, but at this point, there is no way to step in and stop the executive abuse of power by Donald Trump and his authoritarian Fascist supporters against millions of immigrants, most who have broken no laws other than entering without authorization into America, but with the desire for a better life!