Danger To American Democracy

NY Times Reports On White House “Situation Room” Discussions That Led To Decision To Go To War With Iran

Ronald 11 Comments

After more than five weeks of war, now the NY Times reports on the White House “Situation Room” discussions that led to the decision for Donald Trump to decide that America should go to war with Iran.

It is now more clear than ever before that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had an overwhelming impact on Donald Trump, and was actually present in the “Situation Room” to give the case for war.

But it is also clear that Vice President JD Vance had strong discomfort about going to war, and that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, General Dan Caine (Head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), and White House Chief of Staff Suzie Wiles, all had different levels of reservation about the military effort.

Interestingly, and disturbing, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard were not even part of the group considering what action to take.

At the same time, why would non diplomats Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who clearly botched their negotiations with Iran before February 28, and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt (who is way out of the loop in regards to her own utterances and behavior), even be part of the discussion?

Only Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was strongly advocating action, and the rest were wimpy and weak and caved in to Trump’s evil instincts.

The danger to the Strait of Hormuz being shut down was discussed by General Caine, and the concern about the depletion of munitions over time. And everyone certainly knew a war would have a disastrous economic effect, as well as undermine relations with NATO allies and other friendly nations, but the entire group, in differing levels, were too weak to come out and oppose the military action.

For this, the Trump Presidency and its participants on high levels will be condemned in the long run of history, and most certainly, it will have a massive negative effect on Donald Trump and the Republican Party in the upcoming Midterm Elections of 2026, although Trump is attempting to interfere in such elections, and must be vehemently fought in every way possible, in court and on the streets, to prevent such corruption and fixing or preventing elections.

American democracy is at stake, and everyone must be ready to do their part to promote necessary change, which should include the forced resignation or removal of Donald Trump, and replacement by Vice President Vance, who although he went along in a weak way with the actions taken, at least it is clear that he would be likely to change course when and if he became President of the United States!

A Massive Crisis As US And Israel Wage War On Iran, Throwing Mideast Into Chaos!

Ronald 35 Comments

What seemed evident has occurred, as Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel have this morning waged war on Iran, throwing the Mideast into chaos, and endangering stability of not only that area, but also the entire world, and also, endangering American national security itself!

Negotiations were going on with Iran, which was having discussions with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, neither officially in the government, to prevent them from trying to develop nuclear power that could, in theory, but without substance, someday lead to nuclear weapons. So what is clear is that “Regime Change” is the goal of this military intervention.

But all of a sudden, war is waged in the midst of the negotiations, and it seems clear it is designed to take pressure off Donald Trump regarding the “Epstein Files”, with the growing indication that Trump engaged in rape and abuse of underage girls over the years with the support of the despicable Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Trump did not go to Congress to gain backing for what he is doing, violating the War Powers Act, and he has demonstrated that his earlier professed “isolationist” views on foreign policy in his first term, have now been obliterated as he has proved to be an extreme aggressor in his year and more of his second term, including:

removing Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela without allowing opposition leaders to replace him;

threatened seizure of Greenland from Denmark;

has spoken of retaking the Panama Canal from Panama despite the Panama Canal Treaty that gave it back to Panama in the year 2000;

talked about Canada becoming the “51st State”;

has waged tariff wars against all nations, and in so doing, alienated our NATO allies and our Asian allies;

and has been belligerent toward international organizations, including the United Nations, but also so many other groups.

This development can be seen as promoting the goal of Trump to rally American “patriots” in support, and therefore, allow him to insure that his Republican Party, with the additional plan for action to interfere in the Midterm Elections of 2026, insure that the Democratic Party would be unable to gain control of either house of Congress. That would guarantee that Trump’s determination to control absolute power escalates ever more.

What is perfectly clear is that the war waged on Iran will not resolve itself in the short term, will not be equivalent of a Venezuela situation, and likely will require combat troops in the Middle East once again, at potential great cost of life on all sides including Americans, and will be a massive budget buster, harming our long range economic outlook.

So what millions of Americans did by electing Donald Trump, demonstrates how short sighted, lacking in knowledge, and often pure ignorance they were. So the long term battle for America for the long term, the battle for democracy and the rule of law, suffers ever further!

Trump’s Continued Attack On News Media A Dire Threat To The First Amendment!

Ronald 11 Comments

Donald Trump has unleashed massive attacks against a free press, attacking the news media, in an attempt to control the news of what he is perpetrating daily, abuses of the Consitution and the rule of law!

He has worked to undermine cable media, wanting to see CNN sold to a “friendly” billionaire who would distort reality to flatter him.

He has worked to destroy the legacy of CBS, and its heroic figures of the past, including Edward R. Murrow, Walter Cronkite, and Dan Rather.

He has also undermined ABC News, and is constantly on the attack against NBC News and the newly organized MS NOW, formerly MSNBC.

But he has also succeeded in influencing the Washington Post, owmed by billionaire Jeff Bezos, turning the editorial policy toward right wing propaganda points, and leading to many long term and famed journalists at that newspaper being forced out or resigning and retiring on their own.

The New York Times is resisting and fighting Trump’s attempt to damage “the newspaper of record”, a battle that is essential.

Trump has gone on the attack against women journalists in a very misogynistic manner.

Local news media are also being influenced in a deleterious manner by Trump threats.

The battle for a free press cannot be lost, as doing so would make clear that American democracy is in danger of failing!

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.