Danger To American Democracy

Release Of Israeli Hostages A Major Accomplishment For Donald Trump, BUT What About Preserving Democracy In America?

Ronald 12 Comments

The deal struck by President Donald Trump that has led today to the release of Israeli hostages is a major accomplishment, for which Trump deserves credit and praise.

However, Trump is over the top in his belief that a new world has emerged in the Middle East, as if this arrangement solves all of the issues involving the Palestinians and Israel, and the reality that Hamas has not been totally dissolved.

So the likelihood is for future warfare and conflict, and more bloodshed down the road, if not immediately.

This is a sad situation, but is a realistic assessment.

So while Trump can be praised for what he has done, and it has made him popular in Israel, the reality is that it does not make up for the total destruction of American democracy and the rule of law at home in America.

Trump has been engaged with his sycophants in the Cabinet, in the MAGA Republican Congress, and in the Supreme Court, in undermining the Bill of Rights.

It is clearly well along toward establishment of an authoritarian Fascist government, that is nativist, racist, misgonynist, homophobic, and imperialist oriented on the world stage, with his threats toward Latin America, Canada, and NATO, and his creating tensions around the world with his crazy tariff policies.

Sycophancy Of Trump Cabinet Beyond The Pale!

Ronald 51 Comments

The word “Sycophancy” means “obsequious behavior toward someone important in order to gain advantage”.

This is the kind of behavior by those who serve or wish to serve a King, an Emperor, an authoritarian dictator of either the Left (Communism), or the Right (Fascism).

It is not the behavior that is acceptable in a democracy, as it encourages lying and deceit, and engaging in corruption and scandal, which undermines the citizens of any nation.

And yet, that is exactly what is occurring during the past seven plus months of the second Donald Trump Presidency.

The Trump Cabinet and other advisers are the most corrupt, disgraceful, and outrageous group of any President in the entire history of the United States.

At televised Cabinet Meetings, they praise Donald Trump in an extreme way as would happen under Joseph Stalin in the former Soviet Union and Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany, as well as other past authoritarian dictatorships and historically, absolute monarchs and Emperors throughout World History.

It is also what goes on around Vladimir Putin in the Russian Federation; Kim Jong Un in North Korea, Xi Jinping in China, and other modern extremist dictatorships.

It is impossible to rank Trump sycophants, as they are all horrendous, obnoxious excuses for human beings.

Whether it is Pam Bondi, Kristi Noem, Tulsi Gabbard, or any other woman around Trump, they are all enough to make one shudder in horror.

Whether it is Pete Hegseth, Howard Lutnick, Scott Bessent, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Russell Vought, or any other man around Trump, they are a total disaster.

The same feeling exists around Vice President JD Vance, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as terrible as he is, lying to himself, and complying with Trump, seen as the “least” disgraceful Cabinet member, but not someone to applaud in any sense!

Taking Another Break From The Horrors Of The Trump Presidency!

Ronald 74 Comments

It has been an exasperating six months for this author and blogger, as we are witnessing the persistent attack on American democracy, the Constitution, and the rule of law by Donald Trump and his Cabinet officers and other loyalists.

So another break, going on vacation again, is in the offing, with the expectation that there will be a resumption of commentary by the week of August 4.

Meanwhile, to my readers and followers, I wish you all peace and tranquility, a major challenge in these times!

Trump Cabinet And Team Most Controversial And Incompetent America Has Seen From Any President!

Ronald 60 Comments

After three months in office, Donald Trump has created a Cabinet and other Team members seen as the most controversial and incompetent of any in American history.

The people he selected have proved to be the most arrogant, nasty, meanspirited, and “in your face” of any Presidential Cabinet America has seen.

And the sense is clear that the potential for corruption, malfeasance, and grift is massive, more so than the first Trump term, and more than that of Richard Nixon.

Among those who are seen as fitting the description above include:

Thomas Homan, Border Czar, Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Stephen Miller, Homeland Security Adviser and Deputy Chief of Staff
Russell Vought, Director of Office of Management and Budget
Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense
Robert F. Kennedy Jr, Secretary of Health and Human Services
Pam Bondi, Attorney General
Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security
Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce
Kash Patel, FBI Director
Tulsi Gabbard, Director National Intelligence
Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary

By comparison, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is a “choir boy”, but even he has repudiated all of the views and principles of his political career, “selling his soul” to Donald Trump! 🙁

The concept of Trump and his Cabinet and other advisors following the rule of law, the Constitution, and the perpetuation of American democracy, tragically, does not exist! 🙁

250th Anniversary Of American Revolution, And America Faces Existential Crisis Worse Than Civil War, Great Depression, And World War II! :(

Ronald 30 Comments

Tomorrow, April 19, 1775, saw the first shots of the American Revolution!

This is the beginning of celebrations, which in less than 15 months, will be the celebration of the Declaration of Independence.

There is much to celebrate about the accomplishment of independence and the establishment of a democracy with a Constitution and Bill of Rights that made American a beacon for the world of what is possible when good intentions prevail!

But sadly, America faces an existential crisis, the greatest since the Civil War, the Great Depression, and World War II!

However, as tragic as those events were, America was fortunate to have two great Presidents, Abraham Lincoln and Frenklin D. Roosevelt, to follow the masterful statesmanship of George Washington to resolve these major moments of challenge to the rule of law.

But now, we have an existential crisis with the return to the Presidency of the most dangerous, unethical, and corrupt Chief Executive the nation has ever faced, and presenting massive challenge to the economic stability, the civil liberties, and the international role of America, which is being upended daily by Donald Trump, and his minions, his sycophants, who have no concern other than their own aggrandizement!

As a scholar and professor, who has just retired from the classroom, but will continue to give lectures to senior citizens and other adults, and also continue to express his views on this blog, the present and future are extremely alarming.

There is a sense of foreboding as to whether the American Republic and democracy will survive the onslaught against the basic principles enunciated 250 years ago, and reasserted 85-90 years later in the Civil War Era, and then again 70-80 years later in the Great Depression and World War II Era!

All good, decent people must be willing to speak out and challenge any attempt to stifle freedom and advocate support of totalitarian ideologies, as the present Administration is in the process of working to accomplish!

Civil War Ended 160 Years Ago Today, But New Civil War Burgeoning Over Trump Tariff War On Middle And Working Class! :(

Ronald 5 Comments

Today, April 9, 1865–160 years ago—the American Civil War came to an end, with the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia.

It is sad on this commemorative anniversary that America is engaged in a Tariff War with the entire world, undermining the American and world economy, as well as international diplomacy!

This burgeoning Tariff War endangers a breakdown in American society, as retirement accounts are destroyed, and as the social safety system of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other essential programs lie in disarray, undermining security for tens of millions of Americans.

With all of the guns millions of Americans own, the possibility of a new Civil War is horrifying, but a real possibility.

The tensions against the superwealthy will escalate by the middle and working classes, and the racial, ethnic, religious, and gender tensions that are being provoked, also represent a dire threat to the survival of American democracy, the Constitution, and the rule of law.

Donald Trump Trying To Bully Senate Into Submission On Appointments!

admin 13 Comments

Donald Trump is clearly working to bully the Republican majority in the US Senate into submission regarding his many controversial Cabinet and other appointments, and stripping the Senate’s power of “advise and consent” on Presidential appointments.

Trump’s aim is to make the US Senate lose its status as a co-equal branch of government, along with the House of Representatives, part of his plot to establish an authoritarian executive branch, uncontrolled by the legislative branch.

In so doing, he is working to undermine the Constitution, rule of law, and American democracy.

This, despite the reality that his victory was NOT a massive one, and that he has not won a majority of all votes cast by the American people, while defeating Kamala Harris by less than a two point margin.

Trump is causing our closest allies, including the United Kingdom, France, Israel, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to consider NOT sharing intelligence information.

Such an eventuality undermines American national security, and puts America in danger from its adversary nations, including Russia, North Korea, China, and Iran, among others.

Trump’s Mental Instability And Deterioration Getting Worse Every Day!

admin 3 Comments

Not enough attention has been paid to the rapid mental deterioration of Donald Trump that he demonstrates daily at his campaign rallies and in his statements on Truth Social.

When one compares his ranting and raving, and his massive exaggerations in all he says and publishes, it is clear he is not mentally stable to lead our nation and have control of the nuclear codes.

Many complained that Joe Biden was clearly in some decline mentally, but nothing as threatening and dangerous as Trump has presented to anyone who has any sense of wanting normality in behavior and public statements.

Trump would be a danger to everyone, and yet his wife and children seem oblivious to his mental state, and Republican office holders just ignore his behavior, as if it is normal.

The nation cannot survive four years of this maniacal behavior, so it is clear JD Vance would have greater power and authority than any Vice President has ever had.

But Vance himself has demonstrated that he is a liar, a chameleon, a person who is in league with right wing tech tycoons, who do not wish well for the vast variety of Americans.

A technology run dictatorship, with Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, and others is a horrifying thought, and it is urgent that the message get out that, as Liz Cheney and many other Republicans and conservatives who are not presently office holders have made clear, that it is extremely necessary for people who may not agree with Democratic nominee Kamala Harris on every issue, to see her as the only alternative to save American democracy, the Constitution, and the rule of law!

Dangers To American Democracy: Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

admin 31 Comments

It is more clear than ever that the major dangers to American democracy are Elon Musk, the owner of X (Twitter); Donald Trump; and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Musk is spending massive amounts of money backing Trump’s bid to go back to the White House, and is promoting as much publicity as possible to support a man who tried to overthrow the US government on January 6, 2021.

And it is clear that mentally, both Trump and RFK Jr are unstable figures who would endanger the stability of America domestically and in foreign affairs.

RFK Jr. has only been able to make it to the ballot in 15 states so far, but may end up on most state ballots, and there are people who without rhyme or reason will vote for him. The danger is if RFK Jr. is on the ballot in “battleground” states, that could tip the balance in the Electoral College! And if he is not on other state ballots, those annoyed by that reality might vote for Trump, who would have gone to Kennedy, otherwise.

So these three individuals are “a clear and present danger”, who yet could determine the future of the nation!

Growing Threats Of Violence And Dictatorship By Donald Trump

admin 4 Comments

Donald Trump clearly has not become more reasonable as a result of the attempted assassination on July 13, and he brags about not being “nicer”.

Trump is being more vicious and violent in his language at his campaign rallies, and is again promoting the idea that once this election takes place in November, there will be no need for any further elections, as a dictatorship will be established by his victory.

His rally crowds cheer him on, an unnerving spectacle, and JD Vance only makes it worse with his attacks on “cat ladies without children” and his otherwise incendiary rhetoric, that makes clear he is trying to be the next generation of Donald Trump, a man he once loathed!

So no one who believes in American democracy, the Constitution, and the rule of law can sit on the sidelines in this upcoming Presidential and Congressional Elections of 2024!