Presidential Election of 2008

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! :(

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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.

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

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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!

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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!

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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.

Kamala Harris Being Judged Differently Due To Race And Gender

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This entry is being revised from the original entry, which accidentally was deleted by the author, for which I apologize. I will be brief in summarizing my ideas on this entry with the same title, and anyone who had commented on the original entry, I would ask to submit a similar comment, and again, my apologies for the blunder, which has never happened before today, and will not happen again!

John F. Kennedy (Catholic); Barack Obama (African American); and Hillary Clinton (female), all faced discrimination and bias due to their uniqueness as Presidential candidates in 1960, 2008, and 2016, respectively.

In the first two cases, the issue of Catholicism and of race were overcome, while Clinton, although winning the popular vote by 2.85 million, was unable to win the Electoral College.

Now, Kamala Harris who is the second woman to seek the Presidency and has Asian Indian and African-Jamaican heritage, is facing critics who are claiming she is unqualified on intelligence and on abilities and knowledge, to occupy the Oval Office.

Harris has had more government experience than most Presidents, more than all Presidents since 1900, except for Lyndon B. Johnson, Gerald Ford, and Joe Biden.

Harris is also much more intelligent than some Presidents, including Warren G. Harding, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump since 1900; and also more qualified to be President than some Vice Presidents who succeeded to the Oval Office, including Andrew Johnson and Calvin Coolidge.

So the negativism around Harris in some circles should be seen as not worthy of being considered, and hopefully, she will break the barrier as the first woman President in American history!

Kamala Harris Has Moved Into Lead In Polls, Two Months After Entrance Into Presidential Campaign

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Two months after Democrat Kamala Harris entered the Presidential race, and two weeks after the ABC Harris-Trump debate that Harris clearly won, finally she has moved into the lead in multiple polls.

Particularly among women, Harris has a commanding lead, creating what is for now at least a clear gender gap, as with men, Trump is slightly ahead or there is a even balance, depending on the poll.

Harris is also ahead among college educated voters and voters over the age of 50, while Trump is ahead among non college educated voters and voters under 50.

However, younger and first time voters (those under 30) have been inspired by Harris’s candidacy, in a way that they were not feeling toward Joe Biden.

Also, it is clear that Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz is inspirational, and helping Harris greatly in gaining public support.

And now we are nine days away from the CBS Vice Presidential debate on Tuesday October 1 between Walz and Republican Vice Presidential nominee JD Vance, who is polling horribly, regarded as the worst VP nominee in modern times, even worse than Sarah Palin in 2008, which is quite a statement!

Reality: If Trump Wins, JD Vance Likely Will Be President During The Term!

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It is time for all Americans to understand that voting for Donald Trump insures that Vice Presidential nominee, Senator JD Vance, is likely to become President during the term.

It is clear that Donald Trump is in rapid decline mentally; that he looks very aged and stressed in recent rallies; that his views are constantly changing and are totally inconsistent; and that he is constantly rambling and losing his audiences as a result.

JD Vance has NOT promoted a sense of stability and decency, and instead, comes across as having a lower rating in public opinion polls than Sarah Palin, the Vice Presidential running mate of John McCain in the Presidential Election of 2008!

Vance adds NOTHING to Trump’s candidacy, and has alienated women in particular by his outrageous statements and assertions in the six weeks since he was chosen as Trump’s Vice Presidential running mate.

His own history of being a chameleon, calling Trump as like Hitler eight years ago, and now praising him, is clearly just self serving, as he is readying himself to be President.

His constantly changing religious views mark him as unstable, and for him to promote his religion for his children over his wife’s Hinduism, is odd, as usually, the mother’s religion is the one that children follow in most marriages of mixed religious views.

Also, Vance has close ties to the following right wing figures:

Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri
Senator Mike Lee of Utah
Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas
Senator Marco Rubio of Florida
President of the Heritage Foundation Kevin Roberts
Media Personality Tucker Carlson
Former Trump Strategist Steve Bannon
Donald Trump Jr.

So anyone who thinks Vance is not significant, and would not play a major role in the future of Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans is living in delusion!

Kamala Harris Utilizing Barack Obama Team In Her Presidential Campaign

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Kamala Harris is utilizing the people who helped Barack Obama in his election campaign in 2008, and helped him in his Presidency.

This includes David Plouffe, Stephanie Cutter, Mitch Stewart, and David Binder, and with Jennifer Palmieri becoming an adviser to Harris’s husband, Douglas Emhoff, who would become “First Gentleman”, if his wife is elected President.

Additionally, some staff who worked in the Hillary Clinton Presidential campaign in 2016 will join the team in an effort to bolster the Harris Presidential effort.

These are promising steps forward in the Harris Presidential campaign!

JD Vance Joins Controversial List Of Republican Vice Presidential Candidates!

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The Republican Party is infamous for selecting controversial Vice Presidential candidates, and some of them end up elected and become true disasters.

This history goes back to Richard Nixon being selected by Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952, as Nixon was a promoter of the “Red Scare” even before the nation heard of Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy. While Nixon ended up having some positive aspects to his later Presidency, he was involved in the Watergate Scandal, leading to his resignation in 1974, but thank goodness with Gerald Ford as his successor.

Richard Nixon selected Spiro Agnew as his Vice President in 1968, and Agnew became extremely controversial in that office over nearly five years, coming to be known as “Nixon’s Nixon”, until he was forced out in 1973 for corruption charges, resigning and saving the nation from his potential Presidency.

George H. W. Bush selected Dan Quayle as his Vice President in 1988, and the nation had to pray for Bush’s good health, as Quayle came across as not very bright, amid concern that despite his ignorance and stupidity, that he might become President.

John McCain selected Sarah Palin as his Vice Presidential nominee in 2008, but the nation was saved from this ignorant, not very bright, and divisive woman being a heartbeat away when Barack Obama won the Presidency over McCain.

And now, we have JD Vance in 2024, who is a “chameleon”, who has changed his views on Donald Trump, and now can be seen as a threat, based on his lies and deception, if Trump becomes President, and cannot finish his term. Vance’s right wing leanings connect him to the evils of the John Birch Society.

Vance is a backer of Project 2025, and wrote the preface for this 922 page document, and must be seen as “a clear and present danger” to American democracy and the rule of law!