Rule Of Law

The Decline Of Honest Journalism: Washington Post, CBS, And Potential Threat To CNN!

Ronald 4 Comments

American Democracy is in dire danger, with the decline of honest journalism, and with major news sources compromised.

The Washington Post, owned by Amazon tech entreneur Jeff Bezos, has just cut one third of its staff, including such departments as sports, local news, international news, and previously moving opinion columns toward a right wing slant. This was the newspaper which exposed the Watergate Scandal under President Richard Nixon, and has won the second most Pulitzer Prizes in Journalism, only behind the New York Times.

CBS News has become a disaster under Bari Weiss, no longer a beacon of decent, honest journalism, and if Walter Cronkite and Edward R. Murrow were still alive, they would be in shock, as retired 94 year old Dan Rather, most assuredly, is now.

CNN is in danger of being taken over by the same Billionaire Larry Ellison family that now controls CBS News, and could lead to the destruction of the original, award winning cable news channel, created in 1980 by Ted Turner.

With the decline of so many reliable news sources, and Donald Trump interfering with freedom of the press, the future looks gloomy for upholding truth and facts, and maintaining the Constitution and the rule of law in the future!

Trump Administration In Violation Of Five Amendments: First, Fourth, Fifth, Tenth, Fourteenth!

Ronald 83 Comments

The Donald Trump Presidency, the most abusive and unconstitutional Administration by far in American history, is openly defying five constitutional Amendments, including four that are the basic Bill of Rights.

First Amendment–freedom of speech, press, assembly

Fourth Amendment–No unreasonable search and seizure, and no warrants to be issued but upon probable cause

Fifth Amendment–No deprivation of life, liberty, or property without due process of law

Tenth Amendment–The powers not specifically delegated to the federal government, are reserved to the states

Fourteenth Amendment–No denial or limits on due process and equal protection of the laws.

THe actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minnesota in particular, and in Chicago, Los Angeles, Maine, and soon to be in Ohio, and a threat to other “Blue” states and cities, is a massive abuse of power, that needs to be condemned, and opposed vigorously in court cases.

Such organizations as the American Civil Liberties Union; Common Cause; Southern Poverty Law Center; People For The American Way; Southern Christian Leadership Conference; Public Citizen are involved in constant law suits and investigations to protect our civil liberties, protect democracy, and promote the rule of law.

On Tragic Anniversary Of Second Trump Inauguration, Three Republicans Share The Greatest Blame And Responsibility For Unhinged Donald Trump!

Ronald 4 Comments

On the tragic Anniversary of the Second Trump Inauguration, three Republicans share the greatest blame and responsibility for the unhinged Donald Trump and his authoritarian bent.

As leaders of the legislative and judicial branches, they had the responsibility to protect American democracy, the US Constitution, and the rule of law, which they have totally failed at doing.

This is referring to

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson
Senate Majority Leader John Thune
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts

One might claim that no one could expect them to control their party members in both chambers, and the other Supreme Court Justices.

But this author and blogger vehemently disagrees.

The two legislators were more interested in protecting their own positions than doing what was right, refuse to support and endorse the horrors perpetrated by Donald Trump and his Cabinet in the past year.

And Chief Justice Roberts could have worked with the three Democratic members of the Supreme Court, and with Trump appointees Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh to insure judicial intervention to curb Trump’s authoritarian bent.

So Johnson, Thune, and Roberts are NOT Profiles in Courage, but rather Betrayers of their oaths of office, and their names and reputations in history long term will be that they were villains, enemies of American democracy!

They have solidified their negative stain on history, which will never be overcome, as they should be perceived as Traitors!

Trump Administration In Violation Of Five Amendments: First, Fourth, Fifth, Tenth, Fourteenth!

Ronald Leave a comment

The Donald Trump Presidency, the most abusive and unconstitutional Administration by far in American history, is openly defying five constitutional Amendments, including four that are the basic Bill of Rights.

First Amendment–Freedom of speech, press, and assembly

Fourth Amendment–No unreasonable search and seizure, and no warrants to be issued without probable cause

Fifth Amendment–No deprivation of life, liberty, or property without due process of law

Tenth Amendment–The powers not specifically delegated to the federal government, are reserved to the states

Fourteenth Amendment–No denial or limits on due process and equal protection of the laws

The actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minnesota in particular, and in Chicago, Los Angeles, Maine, and soon to be in Ohio, and a threat to other “Blue” states and cities, is a massive abuse of power, that needs to be condemned, and opposed vigorously in court cases.

Such organizations as the American Civil Liberties Union; Common Cause; Southern Poverty Law Center; People For The American Way; Southern Christian Leadership Conference; Public Citizen are involved in constant law suits and investigations to protect our civil liberties, protect democracy, and promote the rule of law.

Total Disarray In State Department, Justice Department, And Health And Human Services Department: Undermining National Security, Constitutional Protections, And Public Health!

Ronald 36 Comments

After nearly a year of the second Trump Presidency, there is total disarray in the State Department, in the Justice Department, and in the Health and Human Services Department.

And that is making a general statement, as ALL government departments and agencies are in “Free Fall”, undermining American national security, the rule of law, and the public health of 340 million Americans.

Many experienced diplomats, attorneys, and medical and health spcialists have been forced out of government service, or have resigned, undermining the protections provided by these talented former government employees.

As a result, our intelligence capability and our alliance with NATO is harmed, and it endangers American foreign relations long term.

As a result, the concept of the rule of law is historically damaged, as the government goes after critics with unsubstantiated charges, and is ignoring true issues involving civil rights advancements since the Great Society of the 1960s.

At the same time, those who have committed criminal acts, as for instance those at the US Capitol Insurrection of January 6, 2021, receive pardons and commutations, and are emboldened to continue their earlier threats to law and order.

And corporations are well aware that they can abuse consumer and environmental regulations, and Presidential pardons for corporate abusers are readily available, as we move back to deregulation. similar to the Gilded Age of the late 19th century.

Additionally, children and adults both are threatened by the attack on vaccines, and the whole nation is endangered by the failure to provide adequate protection from natural disasters, with the cutbacks in the National Weather Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

And the attack on science in general is a dire threat, as we are witnessing destruction of research that will have a deleterious effect on America.

The Donald Trump Presidency is causing a long term destructive effect that will undermine the future generations of Americans!

MS NOW New Name For Former MSNBC: Still Best Cable News Channel!

Ronald 5 Comments

The former cable news channel, MNSBC, in existence since 1996, now has been recast as MS NOW.

It still has the same shows, hosts, and contributors it has had in the recent past, after being recast in recent months.

It remains, by far, the best, most competent, and most accurate cable news channel, surpassing the original news channel, CNN, which has become far less reputable as time has passed.

And MS NOW is way beyond other cable news channels, most specifically Fox News Channel, which has become, ever more, a total disgrace in regards to accuracy, and has been more of a contributor to Trump Administration appointments of horrendous individuals who have no concern for the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, and the rule of law!

Even more disgraceful are NewsMax TV, and OANN (One America News Network), which make Fox News Channel look, comparatively, “respectable”, although it is not such.

NewsNation is a recent addition to cable news channels, perceived as “best” after MS NOW and CNN, and with such luminaries as Chris Cuomo, Elizabeth Vargas, and Leland Vittert.

Back From Vacation Break, And Total Mayhem! :(

Ronald 58 Comments

This author and blogger took a well deserved and needed vacation, and avoided following news of public affairs for the past ten days!

Now I am back, and total mayhem is in process on so many levels!

The continued violation of civil liberties, with the arrest by ICE of unjustified individuals; the arrest of a Democratic Mayoral candidate and New York City Controller Brad Lander; and the decision to back up Israel’s war on Iran by Donald Trump taking the bold action, without Congressional consultation or approval under the War Powers Act of 1973, to bomb Iranian nuclear sites—this all causes a sense of total mayhem in action!

We have a President who has taken a controversial action without any consultation, and his mental stability seems lacking in a sense of giving confidence that he knows what he is perpetrating, a possible major Mideast War, having learned nothing from the Iraq War and the Afghanistan War.

40,000 US troops are in danger in the Middle East by the unstable, emotional reaction of Donald Trump, who is continuing to alienate our long term allies in Europe, Canada, and in Asia.

We have just passed the five month point of this four year term, and there is no comparison possible for the tumultuous, overwhelming, and shocking series of events that have taken place in both foreign and domestic policy!

One has to wonder how the survival of American democracy and the rule of law, and our 80 year stable set of allies in the world, can be accomplished with the reality that there are three years and seven months until the next Presidential Inauguration, and one year and five months until the next Congressional Elections, which the Democrats need to win to attempt to put controls on the most dangerous President in American history!

It is hard to be optimistic as we look to the future!

Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift, And Other Artists Challenge Trump Destructiveness, Inspiring Millions!

Ronald 1 Comment

Leading entertainers, including most notably, Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift, recently, are speaking out about the cruelty and horrors of the policies of Donald Trump in the past four months.

It is causing Trump to act irrationally in his utterances on Truth Social and in public statements.

Trump is trying to silence these and other cultural critics, but they are refusing to back down, inspiring millions of Americans!

Insults and looney statements are only empowering such entertainers to ramp up their attacks on a President, who is acting in a dictatorial manner in a multitude of ways.

All Americans should honor and praise these entertainers for refusing to bend the knee, as giving in to a bully, which is what Trump is, only emboldens him to go further in abuses of power.

The same support is needed for news media, universities, law firms, and courageous politicians who are promoting resistance, as well as principled judges who are taking action to stop the abuses of power being promoted by the most dangerous President in American history.

It is such groups and individuals who will, in the long run of history, be seen as the true champions of the Constitution, rule of law, the Bill of Rights, and the promotion of freedom and democracy.

With the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence only 13 months away, these various champions of tolerance are the true heroes setting an example for all Americans!

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.

Key Issues For Kamala Harris To Emphasize In Last Week Of Campaign!

admin 6 Comments

Kamala Harris gave a great speech last night at the Ellipse near the White House, the site of the incitement of the January 6, 2021 Insurrection at the US Capitol by Donald Trump, with an estimated crowd of 60,000 people cheering on the Vice President.

It was a well tailored speech, calling for promoting unity and finding common ground, rather than the division and chaos of Donald Trump.

It offered bipartisanship with Republicans, and the promotion of working to overcome the divide that has been promoted by Trump since 2015.

Now, with six days to go until the election, but with many (more than 40 million people) already having voted, the emphasis by Kamala Harris and Tim Walz should be:

Emphasizing a positive view of America and its future, rather than the negativism and division promoted by Donald Trump.

Promotion of women’s right to control their own bodies, and to restore abortion rights.

Promotion of the reality that economic growth has occurred, and that Harris offers improved economic futures for the younger generation through expansion of social programs, including housing, health care, and education advancements.

Reviving the efforts for a bipartisan immigration reform proposal that was negated by Donald Trump, although sponsored by and supported by conservative Republican Senators, along with Democrats.

Importance of retaining our alliances with other nations as essential for the long term defense and political stability of America, as well as the world at large.

The push is on to promote massive increase in voting, particularly by the younger generation Z which has an opportunity to participate in American democracy for the first time for many.