News and Politics

Discussion about news and politics

With One Month To Go, Virginia And New Jersey Gubernatorial Races Seem Safe For Democrats!

Ronald 11 Comments

With one month to go until the only two state Gubernatorial elections of 2025 in Virginia and New Jersey, signs seem clear that the Democrats are in very good shape.

This is not a time to “rest on laurels”, but Abigail Spanberger in Virginia and Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey are ahead of their Republican opponents, more so the case in Virginia.

Both are women with military careers and national security backgrounds, and their opponents are horrendous alternatives, particularly so in Virginia.

Spanberger served in the CIA, and Sherrill was a Naval Aviator.

So hopefully, there will be a continuation of a “Blue Wave”, which has been showing up in less publicized races to fill state legislative seats and other local races, or House of Representatives vacancies, across America.

The Rapid Decline Of Honest Journalism

Ronald 5 Comments

A very sad and dangerous situation exists, where journalism at all levels has been compromised in the time of the Trump Presidency.

We have seen courageous, challenging journalists such as Terry Moran of ABC News and Jim Acosta of CNN forced out of their positions for the “nerve” to challenge Donald Trump and his supporters on their policies and actions.

We have seen ABC News and CBS News making financial settlements after lawsuits by Donald Trump over their coverage of news and interviews that Trump decided to sue, and the settlements leading to contributions to a future Donald Trump Presidential Library in South Florida.

We have seen major newspapers, such as the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post, making changes designed to avoid alienating Trump.

We have seen late night comedians, such as Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, along with “The View” and “Saturday Night Live” coming under attack, as well as the leadership and tone of “Sixty Minutes” being changed dramatically.

The new ownership of CBS by the billionaire Larry Ellison family is in process of destroying the long held, high level, reputation of that news network, that had such courageous journalists in the past as Edward R. Murrow, Walter Cronkite, and Dan Rather.

The coverage of White House press conferences and other activities, including the Pentagon, has been compromised by Trump, his Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, censoring who can be present, who can ask questions, and denying freedom of speech and press at every turn.

This is all very alarming, as without a free, uncontrolled media environment, and without the ability to have comedy shows that can make fun of government leaders and policies, we are on the road to a total Fascist authoritarian government, which, once accomplished, will be hard to prevent long term damage.

The Trump Cabinet The Worst, Most Corrupt In American History!

Ronald 75 Comments

Past Presidents of the United States have had Cabinet officers who have been corrupt or outrageous in conduct, but never has any President had so many as Donald Trump.

There are no redeeming qualities for most of the Trump Cabinet and other top advisors, but some are the worst of the worst.

This select list would include, in no special order the following nine advisers to Trump:

Secretary of Defense (War) Pete Hegseth
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Attorney General Pam Bondi
Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard
Director of the Office of Management And Budget Russell Vought
White House Border Czar Thomas Homan
White House Deputy Chief of Staff and Homeland Security Adviser Stephen Miller

Interestingly, when one looks at other Presidents and their Cabinet members, it is reality that Republicans are infamous for presiding over more corruption, particularly so under

Ulysses S. Grant (1869-1877)
Warren G. Harding (1921-1923)
Richard Nixon (1969-1974)
Ronald Reagan (1981-1989)
George W. Bush (2001-2009)
Donald Trump first term (2017-2021)

While there have been some examples of corruption under Democratic Presidents, none of them match anywhere near the level of these six Republican Presidents, including Donald Trump!

Massive Loss Of Federal Workers A Crime Against American Prosperity And Security!

Ronald 2 Comments

The ongoing massive loss of Federal Workers in a multitude of agencies, and the shutting down of various agencies, is a crime against American economic security, and a massive threat to American national security!

Many Americans may think that federal workers, many of them civil service, are insignificant in the daily lives of the nation, but nothing could be further from the truth and reality.

Many of these government workers may not be noticed in a direct sense, but they make all of our lives much more stable, secure, and humane.

The gutting of government agencies, such as USAID, FEMA, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Department of Education, and others, undermines the ability of the nation to continue its mission of protection of the vulnerable, whether national or international.

The effect on government workers, who are in larger numbers in Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, is already being felt in the rapidly rising unemployment rates in those communities.

Many of these talented workers have devoted their lives to government service, or have recently entered federal service with a commitment to do good, and now, their talents and abilities are lost to the nation and its future.

This is a tragedy of massive proportions, as now, loyalty to Donald Trump and MAGA Republican ideals dominates, instead of competence, decency, integrity, and the vast institutional knowledge of tens of thousands of dedicated federal workers.

This will undermine the American future, both in domestic and foreign policy, and the damage done will be lost for an eternity, and we have to hope and pray it will not do harm to the American Republic in the long term!

Hegseth, Trump Meeting With High Level Military A Totally Shocking Event, Beyond The Pale!

Ronald 6 Comments

Two days after the meeting at Quantico, Virginia of President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth with hundreds of top Generals and Admirals, an unprecedented event in person of so many defense and security people in one location, the nation is reeling from the event.

Trump came across as showing clearcut evidence of massive physical and mental decline, more like a ranting, raving, embarrassing maniac than anything else.

One would think this was as if he was the leader of the Russian Federation, or of China, North Korea, Iran, Hungary, Turkey, Egypt, El Salvador, or other like minded dictatorships than the leader of the American Republic.

Hegseth came across as a cocky, arrogant, egomaniac, who demonstrated total racism, misogyny, homophobia, and clearly a Fascist oriented, incompetent womanizer with a major alcohol problem, and with zero qualifications to lead the nation’s defenses.

The Generals and Admirals at this shocking event stayed silent, as is required, rather than what Trump was asking, that they applaud him, and with a threat that any opposition expressed would lead to the end of theif careers.

But in the aftermath, retired military people communicated with many of these hundreds of military leaders, and there was a clearcut judgment that the gathered audience was stunned and had grim looks on their faces.

Since the military is supposed to be loyal to the Constitution and their oath of service to that document, not to any individual who happens to be President, one wonders whether elements of military leadership at some point might be ready to take action against any threat to the Constitution and rule of law, in some form.

The thought that this government, more Fascist and authoritarian oriented by the day, might spend the next three plus years further consolidating power, and denying basic human rights, makes one wonder what can or should be done about the dire threat to American democracy.

Will there be fair elections in 2026 and 2028, or will this authoritarianism suspend the heritage of free, fair, and regularly scheduled elections?

The future of American democracy and the rule of law may lie in what these military leaders decide is their duty as the threats grow of the loss of freedom for 330 million Americans!

In The Midst Of Massive Injustice, A Moment To Salute Jimmy Carter, On What Would Have Been His 101st Birthday!

Ronald Leave a comment

In the midst of massive injustice, and living through the worst Presidency in American history, far worse than the first term of Donald Trump, we should all pause and reflect on something that can make us smile!

Today, October 1, would have been the 101st Birthday of President Jimmy Carter, who passed away at the age of 100 on December 29, 2024, almost three months past his birthday, and the longest lived President in American history.

Jimmy Carter is diametrically opposite of Donald Trump, as Carter can be regarded as likely the most decent, humane, truly religious, sincere, compassionate, empathetic, intelligent person ever to occupy the White House, bar none!

Carter may not have accomplished the greatness of Presidents such as Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt, and his time in office was tough, but he gave his “All”, as the hardest working President of modern times!

Carter will be remembered for the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, the most important development in modern Middle East history.

He will be remembered for his great environmental advocacy (the greatest of any one term President), and for the justice of arranging for the Panama Canal, forced on Panama by Theodore Roosevelt, to be returned to their sovereignty under international law.

He also established the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); recognized Mainland China; and presided over the creation of the Department of Energy, the Department of Education, and the Department of Health and Human Services, among other accomplishments.

Carter also promoted human rights as a foreign policy goal, and created the Carter Center, post Presidency, to deal with tropical diseases and promote free and fair elections, and won the Nobel Peace Prize a generation after his Presidency, along with building housing for the poor with his own hands for Habitat For Humanity.

And he also gave America the man regarded by many experts as the best, most effective, most engaged Vice President in American history, Walter Mondale. Additionally, he struck up a close friendship with his one time rival, Gerald Ford, the closest Presidential relationship of two rivals for the Presidency since John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.

Carter’s reputation will continue to rise, and the contrast with Donald Trump is stark and shocking.

God bless the soul of the 39th President, Jimmy Carter!

“Wicked” Star Ariana Grande Summarizes Damage Done By Trump Presidency After Eight Months

Ronald Leave a comment

The star of the “Wicked” movie series, Ariana Grande, has summarized the damage done by eight months of the Donald Trump Second Presidency.

What she had to say cannot be said much better than she did.

Has life improved because of:

Immigrants violently torn from their families?

Trans individuals being blamed for virtually everything and living in fear?

Free Speech being on the brink of collapse?

Have groceries become cheaper?

Have Health Insurance premiums gone down?

Has Work/Life balance improved?

Has Ability to take a vacation improved?

Is one happier?

Has widespread suffering for others benefited you?

Added to this list of questions she poses, this author and blogger adds:

Are the nation’s civil liberties, economic prowess, international leadership being preserved for future generations?

Is our government leadership in the hands of competent, decent, individuals or is corruption and malfeasance rampant?

The Greatest Criminal President Promoting “War On Crime” To Keep Support Of MAGA Base, While Undermining American Domestic Tranquility And Threatening National Security!

Ronald 66 Comments

Here we are, 250 days after the Presidential Inauguration of 2025, and we have never had any Presidency quite like the present situation.

Yes, Franklin D. Roosevelt had tremendous intervention in the Great Depression in his first eight months and beyond of his “New Deal”.

But now, Donald Trump has managed to conduct the greatest “Criminal” Presidency, way surpassing Richard Nixon by massive amounts.

He has utilized more than 200 Executive Orders in eight months, an all time record, and higher than almost all past American Presidents.

He has promoted a so called “War on Crime”, which is victimizing thousands upon thousands of immigrants, racial minories, and citizens as well, ignoring due process and establishing what could be considered a non death series of “concentration camps” to hold the victims.

But there is the horrifying possibility that an unhinged Donald Trump, in league with his corrupt Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, and his corrupt Attorney General Pam Bondi, and with the support of other Cabinet officers, and other aides, including the extremely dangerous Stephen Miller, Thomas Homan, Russell Vought, and a multitude of others, could go further and decide to utilize summary justice, meaning executions!

It is not beyond the realm of possibility in the lunatic world we live in now, and undermining American economic security, our national defense, and our position in world affairs!

Growing Concern About Hegseth Meeting With All Military Leadership In Virginia: Is Its Purpose A Danger To American Democracy?

Ronald 14 Comments

There is growing concern about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calling for hundreds of Generals and Admirals around thw world to leave their posts, and all arrive in Quantico, Virginia this coming Tuesday for a meeting, without announced purposes, and now, with President Trump stating he would attend.

This endangers readiness and preparedness for our national defense and national security, and there is the potential threat that enemy nations could attempt a potential attack on this mass group of military leaders from all the military branches being in one location that is known publicly.

It may seem hysterical to some, but the idea that Russia, China, North Korea, or Iran, could coordinate a potential December 7 or September 11 type of attack by drone warfare or otherwise, is not believed by some observers to be outside of possibility.

We must all pray that such a horrendous event, underminining our national security, would never happen, but it is concerning.

There is also the thought that this meeting could be a stepping stone to an isolationist turn in American foreign policy and national defense, toward the concept of “America First”.

This could lead to the feared idea of our militery being turned on Americans in so called “sanctuary cities” and on implementing much greater mass ICE raids on immigrants, and even American citizens, therefore undermining and threatening American democracy itself!

Massive Setbacks On A Century And More Of Reforms Since Theodore Roosevelt!

Ronald 36 Comments

The United States, from the time of Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Era (1900-1917), began what has been a century of massive political, social, and economic reform, making America a growing vibrant democracy that survived two World Wars and the Cold War.

But now, under Donald Trump and his evil aims, America is in the process of losing a multitude of reforms that have benefited the nation.

Among them:

Environmental legislation
Consumer legislation
Social Security
Medicare and Medicaid
Women Suffrage
Civil Rights Legislation
Labor Legislation
Corporate Regulations
Housing Legislation
Agricultural Legislation
Disabilities Legislation
Immigration Reforms
Educational Legislation

These areas of reform occurred under multiple Presidents of both parties.

But leave it to “Project 2025”, and the entire century plus of reforms and commitment to a better nation for all, is in the process of being wiped out!