Russia-Ukraine War

Unchecked Presidential Power Without Accountability!

Ronald 5 Comments

Donald Trump has, in a multitude of ways, and with the assistance of Republicans in Congress and the states, and the majority of the United States Supreme Court, gained unchecked Presidential power without accountability.

By comparison, Richard Nixon was a “choir boy”, and other Presidents who have been objectionable in different ways, such as Andrew Jackson, Andrew Johnson, and George W. Bush, pale by comparison!

Trump has horribly abused executive orders and issued outrageous pardons and commutations to law breakers, not only those from the January 6 US Capitol Insurrection, but also others who have committed other kinds of criminal acts.

Trump has incited the most extreme of MAGA Republicans to threaten lives of politicians who speak out or oppose him in any way.

Trump has worked to fix the elections in 2026, by outrageous interference promoting extreme gerrymanderins.

Trump has become an abuser in foreign policy, and totally alienated foreign nations and their leaders, and is very willing to undermine Ukraine, and promote the aggression of Vladimir Putin, as well as other authoritarians all around the world.

Trump has demonstrated extreme racism, misogyny, Islamophobia, nativism, and consorted with antisemites, while supposedly working with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Every day for more than ten months, Trump has worsened and undermined the lives of Americans, and instilled fear in people who are not white Christians.

And the problem is that his followers and his Cabinet and other top figures around him are only too willing to do his evil deeds with glee!

So even when and if Trump leaves the scene, the fear is that the cancer he has introduced into American government will be pursued beyond his lifetime!

Trump An Appeaser Of Russia Openly, Willing To Sacrifice Ukraine, Sending Dangerous Message That Can Also Affect Taiwan’s Future!

Ronald 9 Comments

It is well known that Donald Trump has an affinity for dictators, particularly Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation.

A Senate committee headed by Marco Rubio stated in 2019 that Russia had intervened in the Presidential Election of 2016 to favor Trump over Hillary Clinton.

Trump has denied this, but now he is pressuring Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, which has been fighting a brutal war of survival against Russia for nearly four years now, to give up part of their territory and other concessions to Russia, giving a deadline of Thanksgiving.

In the middle of this mess, Rubio, now Secretary of State, is caught in turmoil, and seems confused as to what is going on, as he has a long history of being hardline toward Russia and other autocracies!

Donald Trump has no problem becoming the new Neville Chamberlain of Great Britain, who conceded Czechoslovakia to Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany in 1938, which did not prevent the coming of World War II.

What Trump is perpetrating is a threat to NATO and, specifically, to Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania, all part of the old Soviet Union before 1989, and also to Poland.

Trump’s conceding to Putin is also a warning to Taiwan, with the growing threat that mainland China claims it will take over that island, as in their view, it is part of their nation, rather than an independent nation, as it has been since 1949.

THe lessons of history are being ignored, that giving in to authoritarians never works out well for democracies, particularly when there are unreliable allies.

The Unstable, Unpredictable Behavior Of Donald Trump

Ronald 53 Comments

It is a well known reality that Donald Trump has unstable, unpredictable behavior.

Regarding Ukraine, Trump has been all over the map, so to speak, seemingly backing Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but now, suddenly, demanding Ukraine make major concessions to Russia, after nearly four years of war and sacrifice.

Therefore, Trump is behaving like Neville Chamberlain of Great Britian with Adolf Hitler at the Munich Conference over the future of Czechoslovakia in 1938, which led to World War II, and Chamberlain being labeled as an “appeaser”!

Regarding New York City and its new Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, Trump termed Mamdani a “Communist”, and threatened cutoff of aid to the city, being totally hostile.

But suddenly, yesterday, there could not have been a more cordial, friendly meeting between the two men, with Trump wishing that Mamdani have a successful Mayoralty, truly mind blowing.

At the same time, Trump threatens execution of Democratic critics who warned military personnel against obeying illegal orders, as the military takes an oath to the US Constitution, not to any specific government leader, including the President.

This has led to death threata against these legislators.

So Trump’s behavior is unpredictable and dangerous, as there are signs that he has dementia, falls asleep in public, and makes irrational statements daily.

Donald Trump, Aggressor In Foreign Policy!

Ronald 77 Comments

Donald Trump is becoming an international law violator of massive proportions.

In his declining mental state, and being egged on by sycophants, including Pete Hegseth and Stephen Miller, who are very willing to use American military force to impose their views on other nations, we are seeing the constant attacks on boats in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific, that supposedly, are involved in drug dealing, but no information is being provided to Senators or Congressmen of key committees that deal with national defense and foreign policy.

So far, 18 boats have been attacked, and about 70 people have been killed, while a few survivors of these attacks are sent back to their home nations, which indicates there is no evidence of them being engaged in illegal actions, as if they were, they would be brought to trial in the United States.

Military and naval forces are growing toward what seems like a likely military attack, maybe even invasion, of Venezuela, with the aim of forcing President Nicolas Maduro from power.

This seems connected also to Venezuela’s alliance with Cuba, with the background plan, possibly, to overthrow the Cuban government, a nation where Raul Castro, brother of Fidel Castro, is still alive although retired, 66 years after the Cuban Revolution of 1959.

And there are hints that the US is ready to invade Mexico over the drug cartel issue, as well.

But outside the Western Hemisphere, suddenly there is a threat against the largest populated nation in Africa, Nigeria, because of religious turmoil, leading to the deaths of Christians, but also Muslims in that nation. Trump is using the Christian nationalist argument to threaten invasion of that nation, which would be a total disater if it were to occur.

Clearly, Donald Trump and his extremist Cabinet and advisers are waging the threat of potential military intervention, while sitting on the sidelines regarding the Russia-Ukraine War, and cozying up to nations that are “Communist” in their history, such as Kim Jong Un of North Korea and Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation, and disrupting the 76 year NATO alliance in the process.

Growing Dangers For Donald Trump After Nine Months In Office!

Ronald 46 Comments

President Donald Trump claims he has had major successes in his first nine months of his second term.

The truth belies that.

The last two months saw another trillion dollars added to the National Debt, to an all time high of $38 trillion, the fastest increase in history.

The attempts of Trump to gain backing of Vladimir Putin to end the war against Ukraine has failed, and another planned summit is now off.

The Israeli hostages were freed, but very little progress on the so called “20 point plan” has occurred, despite intervention of Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who are spending time in the Middle East.

The government shutdown, now in its 23rd day, second longest ever, is beginning to have a deleterious effect, as government workers are not being paid, and SNAP (Food Stamp) benefits are about to end for milions of needy Americans, and Trump is showing no signs of concern about the effect on the American people of his refusal to negotiate with the Democrats.

Speaker Mike Johnson is making a horrendous reputation for himself, refusing to swear in a newly elected Congresswoman, in order to hold off dealing with the revelation of the Epstein files.

The lunatic Tariff policies of Trump has totally alienated Canada, which now says the relationship of long standing has been irreparably harmed, and will never be the same.

These are just a few of the horrendous developments going on as Donald Trump destroys the White House, and demands $230 million from taxpayers as compensation for the prosections and convictions he faced for the January 6, 2021 US Capitol Insurrection, which sadly failed to prevent his coming back to the White House in the Presidential Election Of 2024.

24 Years After September 11: Nation Is Not Safe Under Donald Trump!

Ronald 81 Comments

The nation is arriving at the 24th Anniversary of the September 11 World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks by Al Qaeda, and with a sense that the world and the nation are at a difficult and dangerous time.

Donald Trump is undermining American foreign policy, alienating our allies in NATO and in Asia, with his tariffs, and his willingness to see tyrants such as Vladimir Putin in a more friendly manner, despite the Russia-Ukraine War.

Trump has undermined our defense capabilities with his incompetent choice of Pete Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense, and Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence.

Trump boasts about our defense and power, but America is not safer with his unstable leadership.

There is a lot to be concerned about regarding safety for the American people and nation in future years under Donald Trump’s Presidency.

80th Anniversary Of End Of World War II: Concerns About Future Of International Affairs Under Donald Trump!

Ronald 13 Comments

Eighty years ago, World War II finally came to an end, with the surrender of Japan, four months after the defeat of Nazi Germany.

The United States became the leading nation in the world, and was relied upon by democracies in Europe and Asia in the Cold War Years from 1945-1991, and the post Cold War Years since 1991.

But now, under Donald Trump, much of the world’s nations are not trusting the United States anymore, and Trump is alienating our allies in NATO as well as Asian nations.

At a summit in China, with Russia and India also present, those three nations made it clear that they were not going to let the United States under Donald Trump dictate to them, or control them through tariff wars and Trump rhetoric about American superiority.

Trump has alienated the largest populated nation in the world, India, over his 50 percent tariffs, and India is cozying up to its former rival, China, which is making clear its desire to control the world’s future as the dominant nation.

Meanwhile, Russia continues its war against Ukraine, and the summit of Trump and Vladimir Putin has led to no breakthrough on ending the war.

And Israel, determined to take over the Gaza Strip and allow the US to make it the Middle East “Riviera”, is committing genocide against the civilian population, and creating a long term continued nightmare for America in the Middle East.

So even though the 80th year anniversary of the end of the worst, most devastating war in human history, is being celebrated, the seeds of a truly horrifying World War III by an emboldented, authoritarian tyrant named Donald Trump, is provoking the majority of the world’s population against American dominance.

Trump also is now threatening Venezuela; and pursuing Greenland control being taken away from Denmark; and the issue of the Panama Canal is another worrisome matter.

The international situation at present is highly combustible, and America is clearly in rapid decline in prestige and influence at this anniversary.

A new close alliance of China, Russia, and India is a nightmare scenario, far more than even Nazi Germany and Japan during World War II.

Alaska Summit Of Trump And Putin A Win For Putin!

Ronald 20 Comments

Donald Trump met with Vladimir Putin on American soil in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, and it was a total win for Putin and Russia!

Putin was greeted by a “Red Carpet”, and was permitted to drive to the location of the summit in “The Beast” Presidential Car, which is usually only allowed for allied leaders such as Great Britain and France.

But Putin got “royal treatment”, and clearly, has no interest in stopping the war against Ukraine, and not even willing to agree to a cease fire.

Clearly, Trump can easily be flattered, as he was about Putin suggesting that their next summit be in Moscow.

But no agreements were reached about ending the war against Ukraine, and no indication of any substantive agreement on anything.

Trump is not concerned about European security of NATO allies or of Ukraine, and is more concerned about the possibility of winning the Nobel Peace Prize, than saving lives and showing toughness toward Russia.

His inability to show strength and determination are likely to encourage China to make moves toward Taiwan, with the clear understanding that Trump will not do anything to repel such an aggression.

Putin, an international war criminal, gained stature from the meeting, while Trump came across as a very weak excuse for a man, one with no principles except gaining wealth and abusing power over his fellow American countrymen.

The world is less safe as a result of this disaster of a summit, which should never have taken place, as there was no planning or agreements arranged before the meeting, which is the usual nature of a high level summit!

Is Donald Trump The New Neville Chamberlain Of Appeasement?

Ronald 24 Comments

Eighty Seven years ago, in October 1938, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain made a deal with Nazi Germany’s dictator Adolf Hitler, to hand over, peacefully, part of the nation of Czechoslovakia (the Sudetenland), to avoid possible war, without consulting that nation.

Less than a half year later, Germany seized the rest of Czechoslovakia, and then in September 1939, World War II began.

Chamberlain went down in history for the act of appeasement, making it clear for all time that one does not give in to a dictator, in the thought that doing so will prevent future conflict.

Rather, one must stand strong and be willing to defend freedom and democracy.

Generations of students have been taught this lesson, but now, Donald Trump seems ready to kowtow to Russian Federation dictator Vladimir Putin at the upcoming Alaska Summit this Friday, over the issue of the continuing assault on Ukraine since February 2022.

European nations in NATO and President Joe Biden have supported and supplied Ukraine with the ability to resist the Russian invasion, which has been brutal, but now Trump seems ready to hand over a portion of Ukraine to Putin, rewarding an aggressor, whose intention is to conquer all of that nation, in his bid to restore the former Russian Empire.

Trump, already perceived as overly willing to favor Russia, including the reality that Putin wanted Trump elected in 2016, and collaborated in bringing that result about, is ready to commit appeasement, undermining the international order, and with no concern for Ukranian democracy.

Already, the horrendous mistreatment of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Oval Office meeting in February was disgraceful beyond belief, and with Vice President JD Vance another disgraceful appeaser in his own right, joining in the assault on Zelenskyy before the entire world.

Vladimir Putin KNOWS he has the number of Donald Trump, and international stability is in danger, as all Trump wants is to win the Nobel Peace Prize, no matter what harm it does to democracy around the world.

If anything, Trump should win an award for the Appeasement Prize as the successor to Neville Chamberlain, whose reputation in history lies in tatters!

A Time To Celebrate: 17 Years Of “The Progressive Professor”, But Also A Time To Mourn The Demise Of The American Experiment! :(

Ronald 4 Comments

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.