Civil Liberties Violations

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.

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!

Rapid Return Of Wrongly Deported Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia Should Be Expedited Promptly!

Ronald 20 Comments

The arrest of Maryland resident Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a native of El Salvador, who has lived in the United States for the past 15 years, and his rapid deportation to the maximum security prison run by the dictator of El Salvador, all an administrative error, is an outrageous violation of human rights.

Garcia was identified as a Venezuela gang member wrongfully, and the concept of removing anyone to prison overseas without due process, a writ of habeus corpus–without charges, a court hearing, and ability to have a lawyer defend his rights in court—smacks of open Fascism, in the vein of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and other vicious dictators past and present. This is a threat to all Americans, whether citizens or migrants.

The Justice Department under Pam Bondi has been moving slowly on expediting this 29 years old family man’s return, despite the Supreme Court calling for the expediting of the return.

Tomorrow, Monday, April 14, the dictator of El Salvador is visiting the White House, and he should come with Mr. Garcia, to resolve the matter.

There is no excuse for any further delay, and every American should see this situation as a dire threat to all Americans, that if one person can be illegally deported without basic rights guaranteed to all residents in the nation, then all of us are unsafe!

And Garcia would have every right to speak his mind about his now month long incarceration and abuse he has suffered, as this violation of human rights is a danger sign to all Americans!

Trump’s Victimization Of Ethnic Groups–Haitians, Venezuelans, Palestinians, And More!

Ronald 20 Comments

Donald Trump has been on a campaign to victimize various ethnic groups, most notably Haitians, Venezuelans, and Palestinians.

Trump claimed that Haitians were eating cats and dogs in Springfield, Ohio, during the 2024 Presidential campaign, asserting so in his debate with Kamala Harris.

Trump has ended Temporary Protected Status for Haitians, and for Venezuelans, and is promoting the myth that all Venezuelan immigrants are members of gangs or have committed criminal acts, a great distortion of the truth.

Now young Venezuelan men, many of whom are not gang members or criminals, have been deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcment (ICE) to the horrendous superprison in El Salvador, a nation with horrendous human rights violations.

The Israel-Gaza War has led to victimization of all Palestinians, and to the deportation of some, and a lack of concern by Donald Trump at the massive losses of women, children, the elderly, as Israel continues what is seen by many observers as a promotion of “ethnic cleansing”.

Those of us who are not Haitian, Venezuelan, or Palestinian, should not sit easily and think we are safe from loss of our civil rights, as really, all Americans who dissent at what is going on could, one day, face similar horrendous circumstances!

Civil Liberties Under Attack With Arrest Of Palestinian, Mahmoud Khalil, Activist From Columbia University!

Ronald 1 Comment

Civil liberties are under attack in the Trump Presidency, and the recent arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student of Palestinian descent, is an alarm bell, as there is no justification for his arrest by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and his detention in secret in a prison in Louisiana.

Khalil may have political viewpoints about the Israel-Gaza War that are unpopular and opposed by many American Jews and other supporters of Israel, but that is not justification for the move to deport, when he is here legally on a green card, a permanent resident card with the permission to work,and has not committed any felonies.

Khalil led student demonstrations last spring, but when did we declare there is no freedom of assembly, and freedom of speech, just because some of us may not agree with one’s viewpoints?

This was not the way that demonstrations at the University of Virginia in 2017 by white supremacists and Nazi sympathizers were treated, by Donald Trump!

Trump is acting like a dictator threatening all Americans’ rights to the First Amendment, and this case must be fought to restore the basic principles of the Bill of Rights.

This was abrogated by President John Adams in the 1790s, Woodrow Wilson during and after World War I, and Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II, most infamously among our Presidents, and it is not a political or partisan view to oppose violations of the rights under the First Amendment to the Constitution!

Trump “Purge” Of FBI And Other Intelligence Agencies Will Make America Less Safe And In Much Greater Danger Long Term!

Ronald 30 Comments

The “purge” going on in the FBI and other intelligence agencies, at th order of Donald Trump, is a danger sign of the authoritarian dictatorship that is being created, more so on a daily basis!

Trump only wants sycophants to work in these agencies, and that creates a massive threat to American democracy and American national security.

It will embolden domestic and foreign terrorist groups, and only helps our true adversaries, including Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran.

The nation and its citizens will be under constant threat of the loss of our basic civil liberties, as exist in the Bill of Rights and other constitutional amendments and Supreme Court decisions over the milleniums.

The fact that the Republican Party majority in Congress, and the Supreme Court majority, have contributed to this threat to all Americans, and are remaining silent as the basic structures of our government are being dismantled, is a fire bell in the night.

We are creating hostile neighbors on our borders by our economic warfare on Canada and Mexico, a very dangerous situation that will cause a major economic collapse over the coming months.

It is clear that Donald Trump is setting out to destroy America, by promoting anarchy and chaos, and is a threat to the survival of our Constitution, just as we arrive in 2026 with the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence!

Republican State Legislatures Are Becoming Fascist Strongholds, Stifling Free Speech!

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Republican state legislatures, many of them holding two thirds of the seats or more, are rapidly becoming Fascist strongholds, stifling free speech, free assembly, and freedom to protest!

Tennessee, by expelling two African American members joining a protest demanding gun regulations after six people are slaughtered at a Christian elementary school in Nashville, is an outrage and racist at its core, as a white woman member who took part in the protest, was not expelled!

The state legislatures in not just Tennessee, but also Florida, Texas, Mississippi, Virginia, Montana, and other “red” states, are stripping civil liberties, including the ability of the public to testify against extremist legislation, being given 30 seconds to one minute, to testify.

Arrogant, out of control governors, including Ron DeSantis of Florida, Greg Abbott of Texas, Glenn Youngkin of Virginia, and others are promoting abuses of power way out of line with constitutional government!

The three governors mentioned above all have Presidential ambitions, and clearly, would be a danger to American democracy and constitutional government, were they to gain the power of the Oval Office!

The Nightmare Of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis: Establishing An Authoritarian Governorship!

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Florida has had a Republican Party dominance since 1998, when Jeb Bush was elected Governor, but looking back over the past 24 years, his time in office (1999-2007) was a clear dream as compared to the two most recent Republican governors (Rick Scott 2011-2019) and Ron DeSantis 2019- Present).

Scott was a man with a crooked background of Medicare fraud, who “bought’ the Governorship with his massive wealth, and is now Senator Scott, who refused to accept Joe Biden’s victory in the Presidential Election of 2020, and he can be seen as a traitor and seditionist!

But by comparison, the present Governor, DeSantis, is far worse for state government, as he has promoted:

Refusal to back federal guidelines on COVID 19 vaccinations and masking, causing higher cases and death rates than any other state per capita.

Interfering with setting up an additional Congressional district, by opposing representation for minorities, and attempting to promote extreme Republican gerrymandering.

Open discrimination in law against gays and transgender individuals in public schools, undermining security and safety for such children.

Banned discussion of race in discussion of American history in public schools and universities, avoiding discussion of slavery, segregation, and civil rights, and ignoring mistreatment of other racial minorities.

Promoted passage of an abortion ban after 15 weeks, similiar to Mississippi, with no exception for rape or incest.

Allowed “election police” to monitor elections, even though there is no record of any election irregularities.

Promoted allowance for drivers to threaten demonstrators who block roads, which are limitations on their freedom of assembly.

Impose term limits on school board members by state edict, after cutting pay for COVID 19 Mask Policies.

Ron DeSantis is taking away the powers of local governments, centralizing it in the state government, making him the equivalent of an authoritarian dictator, with his Republican Party willingly going along!

He is also promoting ethnic and class warfare, as he advocates “culture wars”!

Book Banning and Parental Rights are the slogans being used to justify censorship and restrictions on civil liberties!

It is urgent that DeSantis be pushed out of office this fall by Florida voters to prevent this man from running for President, and the thought that he might win the White House is terrifying!

Presidential Egomania Led To Disaster Under Woodrow Wilson, Herbert Hoover, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, And Now Donald Trump

Ronald 3 Comments

The problem of Presidential egomania has led to disaster under a number of Presidents.

It caused Woodrow Wilson to promote civil liberties violations during World War I, and to refuse to negotiate with the US Senate over the Versailles Treaty and League of Nations. It also led to his paralytic stroke in the fall of 1919, which undermined the rest of his term, and his refusal to step aside for Vice President Thomas Marshall at a time of tumultuous internal events in the last 17 months of his term, including the infamous Palmer Raids (Red Scare) in 1919-1920.

It caused Herbert Hoover to refuse to adjust his view on laissez faire, causing the Great Depression to become much worse, and lead to his massive defeat by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932. That economic disaster was made even worse by Hoover’s refusal of cooperation with the President Elect, adding another million people to the unemployment rolls before the 1933 inauguration of his successor.

It caused Lyndon B. Johnson to damage his domestic Great Society legacy by his insistence on continuing the war in Vietnam, and then finally being pushed out of the race for reelection in the spring of 1968, leading to the election of Richard Nixon.

It caused Richard Nixon, who had some real accomplishments in domestic and foreign affairs, to destroy his own Presidency by his own insecurities and desire to get his “enemies”, leading to the Watergate Scandal and his downfall less than two years after an overwhelming reelection victory in 1972.

So two Democratic and two Republican Presidents, all of whom had ability and intelligence, threw away their Presidencies due to egomania!

And now, we have Donald Trump, who is allowing the nation to be decimated by the COVID 19 Pandemic, politicizing face masks and social distancing, and therefore, responsible for the greatest loss of life in a short time in American history, and facing almost certain repudiation by the American people in ten days!

The difference is that Trump’s egomania and narcissism is far more dangerous than that of Wilson, Hoover, Johnson and Nixon, as he is the first one to indicate he will refuse to accept the election results and to leave office peacefully.

Trump is creating a massive political and social crisis as we have voter intimidation and threats already occurring.

The Republican Party is working to delegitimize the election count, already occurring in California, a state that the Republicans are insured of losing, but are brazenly taking illegal actions!

The Trump Military Parade On Independence Day A Mockery Of American Liberty, Democracy, And Freedom

Ronald 8 Comments

It is totally preposterous and disgraceful that Donald Trump is insisting on wasting tax dollars for a military parade on Independence Day in Washington, DC.

There has never been a national military parade on any holiday, and to use July 4th as an opportunity to promote his own grandeur is obscene beyond belief.

It also could damage the roads of the capital city, and makes Independence Day a political event, when it is supposed to be a moment of celebrating American liberty.

Holding such a parade copies what is done in totalitarian nations, and we do not need to flaunt our military might on the day that represents freedom and democracy.

Hopefully, the turnout will be lower than normal, and the networks should not televise his political speech, glorifying his disgraceful violations of civil liberties, including the disgrace of the mistreatment of migrant women and children at our southern borders.