Rule Of Law

Proud Of My “Progressive” Views Even More After A Magnificent Victory By Democrats, Restoring American Democracy!

Ronald 31 Comments

The morning after “the morning after” massive Democratic Party victories in both the US House Of Representatives and the US Senate, the State Governorships, and also state legislative and executive positions, this author and blogger is still absorbing the glory of what has happened.

I will be writing over the next days and weeks, in detail, about the magnificence of the political changes coming to America.

But today, I wish to reassert my pride and convictions, which I have held my entire life, influenced by my parents, relatives, and friends who have promoted, as I do, belief in tolerance, compassion, decency, morality, ethics, empathy, and conscience.

I taught for 53 years in college and university classrooms, and have given hundreds of lectures to adults and senior citizens, enunciating my views to audiences that have mostly shared my passionate defense of American Democracy and the Rule of Law.

I have had a conscience that has always affected my relationships with others, and I have never believed in discrimination against any group—whether gay, lesbian, or transgender; African Americans; Hispanic-Latino Americans; Asian Americans, whether East or South Asian; Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist Americans; along with Christians (Catholic or Protestant); Jewish Americans; and Women, who are more than half of the American population.

So just as my blog calls me a “Progressive Professor”, I am also proud to call myself a “Liberal”, and despite massive criticism by opponents, I also am proud to be “Woke”, concerned about the lives and hopes of all kinds of Americans.

I oppose vehemently, those who promote hatred, discrimination, prejudice, bias; and specifically racism, misogyny, antiSemitism, Islamophobia, and mistreatment of gay and transgender Americans.

I will continue, as long as I can, to enunciate these views, as I have done for the past 18 years, and in a few days, will have reached a total of 9,000 entries.

Brilliant Messages Of Unity On Semiquincentennial Anniversary By Pope Leo XIV And NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani!

Ronald 1 Comment

At a time when Donald Trump is feverishly working to divide America, on its Semiquincentennial Anniversary, two true “statesmen” spoke of the “better angels” of America, and promoted tolerance and appreciation of the role of immigrants in the success of the American story over 250 years.

Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, demonstrated how statesmanlike both of them are, and give Americans who care about decency and open mindedness a sense that despite the divisiveness promoted by Donald Trump, that there is hope for revival of the American belief in Democracy and the Rule of Law.

Alarming Ignorance And Stupidity Of JD Vance About Richard Nixon: A Danger Sign For A Potential Vance Presidency!

Ronald 2 Comments

It is truly shocking how ignorant and purely stupid Vice President JD Vance is, despite his Ivy League education.

It makes one wonder about his basic knowledge and intelligence, when he makes light of Richard Nixon and the Watergate Scandal, and says it is a series of events that has been overdramatized, and was caused by what he terms “the deep state”.

Trying to sanitize Richard Nixon on the scandal that brought him down is simply an attempt to undermine and trivialize the massive scandals that have occurred under Donald Trump, both in the first term, and now his second term, which make Richard Nixon look, as a “choir boy” by comparison.

Richard Nixon had some real accomplishments in his Presidency, far more than Donald Trump, but his accountability for his scandals that caused his own Republican Party to turn against him a half century ago, sadly are not being repeated by the modern day Republican Party, which is totally sycophantic and submissive in a way that will condemn individual Cabinet Officers, and members of both houses of Congress in the long run of history.

It is very concerning that the possibility exists that JD Vance would NOT follow the same course on counting the electoral vote in the upcoming Presidential Election of 2028 that Mike Pence pursued on January 6, 2021. It endangered his life at the hands of the US Capitol Insurrectionists on that day, insurrectionists which have disgracefully been pardoned for their crimes, a massive abuse of the pardon power of the Presidency.

It should be seen as very worrisome also that one wonders whether JD Vance is aware that Richard Nixon in 1961; Hubert Humphrey in 1969; and Al Gore in 2001, all had to count and verify the votes of the Electoral College where they were the losing candidates in the recent presidential elections, and did so in a distinguished and appropriate manner.

It is also very concerning whether JD Vance is indeed qualified to be Commander in Chief with such lack of historical knowledge, truth, and understanding, as no responsible person should be trying to “whitewash” the Watergate Scandal, which assisted in strengthening American democracy and the rule of law.

Senate Democrats Split Over Graham Platner

Ronald 15 Comments

The victory of Graham Platner in the Maine Democratic primary for the US Senate was overwhelming, but has split many Senate Democrats, who retain doubts about the controversial history of their party’s nominee.

Among those registering doubts and misgivings are:

Arizona Senator Mark Kelly
New Mexico Senator Catherine Cortez Masto
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman
Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin
New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen
New Hampshire Senator Maggie Hassan
Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth
Vermont Senator Peter Welch

At the same time, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Ruben Gallego of Arizona, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, and other progressive oriented Democrats emphasize the need to support Platner despite his shortcomings.

The vast majority of Democratic Senators are seeing Platner as their best hope to reach a Senate majority in the Midterm Elections of 2026.

And they point out that despite his checkered record on many fronts, the opposition Republicans have so many more checkered backgrounds, including, most notably:

Donald Trump
Pete Hegseth
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Ken Paxton

The clear conclusion is that there are few “saints” in politics, and that the American people have overlooked or had to accept shortcomings in candidates over many years.

The days of candidates, such as Gary Hart, Bob Packwood and Eric Swalwell losing their careers due to their misbehaviors, seem even more distant than the 1980s and early 1990s, when ethics and morals seemed to matter more.

This author and blogger is very uncomfortable with Platner, but every effort to gain a Democratic majority in the Senate is essential, in order to fight to resist and reverse a lot of the damage of the Trump Presidency, and gain the recovery of American democracy and the rule of law.

This author and blogger is glad he does not live in Maine, as voting directly for Platner, who comes across as unseemly in so many ways, would be a very difficult effort.

But his record is just about the same as Texas Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton, who is not beneath vicious, unwarranted attacks on his opponent, Democrat James Talarico, so the mud slinging on both sides in this midterm election cycle is already in full swing.

The Supreme Court Wiping Out Justice, Equality, Reforms, And Restoring Late 19th Century Post Reconstruction And Gilded Age!

Ronald 34 Comments

Tragically, the Supreme Court majority in recent years has made it clear that their goal is to wipe out racial equality, and the sacrifices of the civil rights movement of the 1960s, and return America to the late 19th century Reconstruction and Gilded Age, a time of horrendous racial segregation and violence!

They have, systemically, worked to eliminate voting rights, as well as affirmative action, undermining the ability of racial minorities to have the same opportunities for the “American Dream” of equality, democracy, and the rule of law that white Americans have.

But also, the Supreme Court has undermined the rights of women (including taking away abortion rights); immigrant rights; labor rights; environmental and consumer rights; and instead, emphasized rights of corporations and promotion of right wing Christian values, reviving the mentality of the late 19th century, before the Progressive Era, the New Deal, and the Great Society!

The Supreme Court has wiped out much of the progress and reforms of the past century and a quarter, bringing back the ugly repression of the last third of the 19th century.

Somehow, the Supreme Court and lower courts must be reformed once Donald Trump has left the scene, in order to restore the great advancements and progress of the Chief Justice Earl Warren Court, and of the great reform Presidents since 1900.

King Charles’ Brilliant Speech To Congress Reminded Donald Trump And Republicans Of Basic Principles!

Ronald 76 Comments

King Charles’s brilliant speech to Congress yesterday emphasized where Donald Trump and Republicans have gone awry.

In a lofty, historic address, King Charles spoke about:

Checks and Balances, as expressed in the Magna Carta of 1215 and the English Bill of Rights of 1688-1689, expressing the principle that executive power needs to be regulated in a democratic republic, governed by the rule of law.

The importance of preserving the environment, by dealing with climate change for the future, a lifelong commitment begun when Charles was a young prince and heir to the throne.

The significance of the NATO alliance and the defense of Ukraine, calling for continuation of the more than 75 year alliance, and defense of a nation under horrendous attack for more than four years against a nation which threatens European stability.

Additionally, King Charles reminded America that after September 11, the NATO alliance unified behind the US in fighting against the shocking terrorist attack against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The importance of the US-UK relationship was emphasized, even if the two nations have had their differences over specific issues and matters at times.

King Charles also emphasized the need for Christianity to work toward the goal of interfaith tolerance of all religions and peoples around the world, resisting hatred and violence.

King Charles will do well in history for his brilliance in addressing the issues that need to be dealt with by the United States for a secure and stable future for the nation and the world.

The question is, however, whether Donald Trump and the present sycophantic Republican Party in Congress will take the steps needed to insure that future.

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

Ronald 17 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!

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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.