Barack Obama

Preposterous Idea: Nobel Peace Prize For Trump, Or Addition To Mount Rushmore!

Ronald 51 Comments

Donald Trump, and those who support him without any qualms, are promoting preposterous ideas, that indicate total delusion.

The idea of a Nobel Peace Prize for Trump is hilarious, as he has no credentials to win such an award, and it seems clear that the Nobel Committee will not consider giving an authoritarian who is Fascist and mentally deranged, such an award.

The fact that Trump is also a convicted felon, and was impeached twice, and has had multiple bankruptcies, and have lied so often that he has no idea of truth, only adds to the craziness of the concept of a Nobel Peace Prize.

Also, the idea of Trump being added to Mount Rushmore National Monument in South Dakota, is immediately a joke.

Of course, then South Dakota Governor, and current Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, was the loon who came up with that idea, which led to her gaining a position in the Trump Administration as close to the worst single appointment of a long list of many. Noem is a danger in her position, and an embarrassment to the idea of women in government!

For one thing, no one can be added to that monument, without creating damage to the tenuous condition of that site.

But also, if there were to be the equivalent of a second Mount Rushmore being created somewhere else on American soil, Trump would not be on the list to be considered.

Instead, the likelihood would be a combination of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman or Lyndon B. Johnson, Ronald Reagan, and Barack Obama!

Reagan would be the Republican to add, not Trump!

This is silly season, overall, with the craziness of the Nobel Peace Prize and Mount Rushmore being bandied about as proper awards for Trump, and it will never happen!

Maryland Governor Wes Moore MSNBC Jen Psaki Interview An Inspiration, Emerging As Sensational Presidential Possibility In 2028!

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Maryland Governor Wes Moore appeared on Jen Psaki’s evening show on MSNBC on Tuesday evening, and it was a true revelation.

Already impressed with Moore before now, this author and blogger was “blown away” by Moore’s tough stand on the issue of Donald Trump using the National Guard in Washington, DC, and calling out the President for his lies about crime statistics.

His 20 minute interview was masterful, and one sensed, whether he intends so or not, that Moore has been catapulted into the Democratic Presidential field for 2028!

There will be a multitude of potential candidates over the next few years, but Moore certainly drew attention by his assertiveness and toughness, and reminds one in many ways of former President Barack Obama.

As a Governor and with a military record one can be proud of, Moore has advantages in both areas of expertise, that even Obama did not have.

And having had one African American President, there is no reason why the nation cannot, 20 years after the election of the first African American President, have a repeat scenario once again of a man who would do the nation proud, and help to revive American democracy!

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

Ronald 4 Comments

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.

Past Presidential Disputes Never Anything Like Trump With His Predecessors!

Ronald 5 Comments

Donald Trump’s incessant attacks on many of his predecessors in the White House is unparalleled in American history!

Trump has attacked over the years not only Barack Obama, but also Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, and both Presidents Bush in vehement and outrageous ways.

In the past, there were cases of “bad blood” between Presidents, but nothing on the scale of what Trump has done.

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson had strong criticism of each other, as well as Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams, and neither Adams attended the inauguration of his successor. But later, Adams and Jefferson revived their former friendship, with extensive letter correspondence over the last 14 years of their lives.

John Tyler, Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan were unhappy with Abraham Lincoln’s policies during the Civil War.

Andrew Johnson had issues with his successor, Ulysses S. Grant, and refused to attend Grant’s inauguration.

Theodore Roosevelt fought bitterly against his own annointed successor, William Howard Taft, and challenged him in 1912, and both TR and Wilson were at odds very often with Woodrow Wilson.

Herbert Hoover was very bitter in his loss to Franklin D. Rooosevelt, and during the terms that FDR was in office, probably more vehement than any other situation other than Trump, and FDR never invited Hoover to visit the White House.

Harry Truman was critical of Dwight D. Eisenhower to some extent, and he and Richard Nixon were dire enemies, until Nixon brought the Truman piano in the White House to the Truman Library in 1969.

Jimmy Carter tended to be critical of other Presidents, but in the case of Gerald Ford, they became the best of friends after both had left office. Carter remained a strong critic, but in a dignified manner, of George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump.

Despite past rivalries, both Bush Presidents and Bill Clinton became good friends in later years, and the same for Barack Obama and the two Bushes.

It is extremely inappropriate for the members of the “Presidents Club” to be lambasting others in that group, and it was refreshing that Carter and Ford became friends, and that the Bushes and Clinton were cooperative, as well as Obama with the Bushes.

But then, Donald Trump has destroyed the idea of camaraderie among the small, select group who have the opportunity to be President of the United States.

Donald Trump Revives Barack Obama Hatred With Crazy Charges Of Treason Regarding Presidential Elections Of 2016 And 2020!

Ronald 8 Comments

Donald Trump is attempting to divert attention from the Jeffrey Epstein Scandal, which has caused an uproar among MAGA Republicans.

His latest tactic is to have Tulsi Gabbard, former Democratic Hawaii Congresswoman with a controversial record on foreign policy issues, and appointed Director of National Intelligence by Trump, to conjure up almost a decade later that President Barack Obama was involved in a conspiracy to destroy Trump’s election in 2016 over Hillary Clinton, and even making claims about the Presidential Election of 2020, which Trump still contends was “fixed” by the Democrats.

This ploy is being utilized, despite Marco Rubio, presently Secretary of State, and head of the Senate Intelligence Committee in 2019, asserting back then that Trump was assisted in winning in 2016 by Russian collusion.

It is a shock that Trump and Gabbard are claiming that Barack Obama has committed treason, a charge never labeled by a sitting President against a former President, who has been subjected to constant attack by Trump going back as far as 2011 onward.

This diversion from the damage and harm that Donald Trump is waging against the American people, and his willingness to do anything to take attention away from the Epstein Scandal, is stunning.

But no matter what Trump, Gabbard, and Attorney General Pam Bondi work to accomplish, there will be no actual charge of treason, as it has no basis, and just further proves how far Donald Trump is willing to go to promote retribution and revenge against so called “enemies” of his criminal activities.

Odd Change Of Support For Both Political Parties: Will It Affect The Future?

Ronald 7 Comments

The tradition has been that African Americans and Latinos, and people who are working class and less educated voters, tend to vote Democratic, and that white suburbanites and wealthy, educated voters vote Republican.

That changed in the Presidential Election Of 2024, but it is hard to know if it is simply a one time occurrence.

What is clear also is that young women are moving more toward the Democrats, while younger men are moving toward the Republicans, but again, that may be an outlier as well.

It makes trying to project ahead for the Midterm Congressional and state elections of 2026, and the Presidential Election of 2028, a massive challenge for both parties.

At this point, Democrats have a tremendous, talented group of Governors, along with a few Senators and Representatives, who are seen as potential national candidates.

Having so many potential candidates may be a blessing, or a curse, while the Republicans, seemingly, have far fewer potential candidates.

Recruitment of candidates for state and national office is in full swing now, as the talent pool will be particularly urgent for Democrats!

Whether the Democrats can reorganize much of the coalition that won the Presidency twice for Barack Obama ins 2008 and 2012 is a crucial matter, as we plan ahead for 2026 and 2028.

Shocking Diagnosis On Joe Biden: Time For Compassion And Unity!

Ronald 6 Comments

The revelation on Sunday that former President Joe Biden has stage 4 Prostate Cancer, and that it has metatasized to his bones, is a shock and a time for compassion and unity, as well as prayers for his recovery, which although daunting, is a possibility.

Even President Donald Trump and Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene have found it possible to send their good wishes and avoid the constant attacks they have unleashed on Joe Biden, while he was President, and now as a former President.

This author and blogger has seen Joe Biden as the most compassionate, decent, empathetic political leader, bar none, since the tragic death of Hubert H. Humphrey a long 47 years ago, in 1978.

At that time, I looked around and saw Biden as the best model to replace Humphrey, and wished for him to become President, with him unable to accomplish this goal in 1988 and 2008.

But I was thrilled when Barack Obama made Joe Biden his Vice President, and their relationship and interaction was only surpassed in American history before and since, by Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale from 1977-1981.

Looking back now, it is clear that had Joe Biden somehow won a second term, he would, most likely, be forced to resign, and Kamala Harris would have become President.

If only Joe Biden had realized, at his age, that it was time to retire, and had done so earlier, the nightmare America is living through in the present, could have been avoided.

That is the tragedy of a man who wanted the best for his nation, but yet, may have blundered in not realizing his age and mortality earlier than July 2024, when he announced he would not run, and was replaced by Harris.

In any case, let all of us pray for Joe Biden’s recovery, and many more years of life in retirement!

The Problem Of Age In The Presidency Made Clear!

Ronald 3 Comments

At the end of his time in the Presidency, Dwight D. Eisenhower, who left office in January 1961 at the age of 70 years and 3 months, was the oldest President in American history.

Eisenhower made the statement that no one older than himself as he left office should be in the Oval Office.

However, that was not to be, as Ronald Reagan entered the Presidency a few weeks short of 70, and had signs of Alzheimer’s Disease detected by his second term, although he was well protected by his staff who denied any issue, and left office nearly 78 years old. Only years later, was it made clear that he had dementia, and he lived on until age 93, but not even knowing his own wife, Nancy, in the last few years of his life.

And then, we had others even older when winning the Presidency than Reagan, becoming nominees–specifically Bob Dole at age 73 in 1996, and John McCain at age 72 in 2008.

Neither won the Presidency, but the age issue was still there, and then Donald Trump won the Presidency and was seven months beyond the age of 70 when he took the Presidential oath in 2017.

And then, Joe Biden won the Presidency, and took the oath at age 78 in 2021.

And finally, Donald Trump returned to the White House at age 78 in 2025, five months older than Biden was four years earlier.

So the issue of age has become a crisis, and not only for Presidents, but also for members of Congress, and sometimes Governors, who are serving in their 70s and 80s, avoiding retirement.

There is a dire need for some youth in the Presidency, like we had with John F. Kennedy at age 43 in 1961; Bill Clinton at age 46 (and his Vice President Al Gore at age 44) in 1993; and Barack Obama at 47 in 2009.

Sadly, Joe Biden displayed evidence of mental and physical decline, now being debated and published about, and Donald Trump, both in his first, and now his second term, has also shown great evidence of decline.

So in 2028, youth is likely to be triumphant, and all for the better, although one can be sure some political figures who are reaching higher ages, are likely to contend for the Presidential nominations.

Whatever “Honeymoon” Trump Had Is Gone, Based On Public Opinion Polls At End Of First Hundred Days!

Ronald 20 Comments

Donald Trump supporters and the President himself love to say he has had a “honeymoon”, even though his 49.9 percent victory in the popular vote in the Presidential Election of 2024 was the worst since Richard Nixon in 1968 and John F. Kennedy in 1960.

But polls now coming out show Trump’s “honeymoon’, if it existed, is over, as he has the lowest public opinion rating after 100 days in office of any President since public opinion polls began decades ago.

Trump has 44 percent support in the Fox News Poll, down from 45 percent after the first hundred days of his first term!

Meanwhile, Joe Biden had 54 percent; Barack Obama had 62 percent; and George W. Bush had 63 percent at this point of their administrations.

This is a bad sign for Trump, who, one must recall, lost the popular vote by 2.85 million in 2016 and by 7.1 million in 2020!

Trump has never been able to gain majority support of the population at any time, despite his delusions that he is widely accepted!

And in The Economist poll after 100 days, Trump is rated even lower than in the Fox News poll, at 41 percent!

55th Anniversary Of Earth Day, But Trump Is Promoting Defiance On Environmental Issues!

Ronald 4 Comments

Wisconsin Democratic Senator Gaylord Nelson is considered the brainchild of Earth Day, first celebrated on April 22, 1970, and embraced by President Richard Nixon, who went on to accomplish one of the best environmental records of all Presidents, considered just behind Theodore Roosevelt.

Later Presidents, and especially Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton (with the encouragement of Vice President Al Gore), Barack Obama, and Joe Biden—all Democrats—advocated for the environment, while Ronald Reagan in particular, and even more so, Donald Trump, have worked against facing the threat of climate change and global warming.

Instead, Trump is promoting drilling for oil and natural gas, mining for coal, and cutting down forest lands, all undermining the future of the planet, and American conservation of natural resources.

Already, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin is on a campaign to reverse the great progress made under Joe Biden and earlier Democratic Presidents.