The US Constitution

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.

Steve Bannon Says Trump Can Have Third Term, Totally Unconstitutional!

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In the midst of all the chaos and lunacy going on, including the destruction of the East Wing of the White House without any consulation or outside approval, now criminal adviser Steve Bannon suggests that Donald Trump can have a third term in the Presidency!

This is NOT possible under the 22nd Amendment, added to the Constitution in 1951, after Republicans promoted it as a reaction to the reality that Franklin D. Roosevelt had been elected four times to the Presidency.

There is no legal way for Trump to be in office beyond January 20, 2029, and to suggest otherwise, is terrifying and horrifying, as it implies a suspension of the Constitution!

Trump, also, is already showing signs of dementia, and is regularly temperamental and irrational, and would be between ages 82 and 86 in another term.

The only leaders who have ever served at such an advanced age as a leader of a major nation has been monarchs, which Trump considers himself to be in his mind.

But there is NO legal or constitutional way for what Steve Bannon suggests to occur!

52 Years: From Nixon And Agnew To Trump And Vance!

Ronald 122 Comments

Fifty two years ago, Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned under scandal, and ten months later, President Richard Nixon resigned in disgrace, abandoned by his own Republican Party in Congress.

Who would think that a half century later, we would have an outspoken, obnoxious, obsequious sycophant, JD Vance, with few qualifications to be President, being a heartbeat away from the White House, which has in Donald Trump a President far worse and more corrupt than Richard Nixon ever was!

And to top it off, the Republican Party in Congress is a lapdog, unwilling to challenge the President and Vice President, unlike how many of their party did so in the 1970s.

American democracy and the rule of law was under threat back then, and was saved by Gerald Ford and by opposition Democrats who worked together to overcome the worst elements of the Watergate Scandal.

Can we expect a similar situation in the present tense? At this moment, it seems as if we are witnessing the most dire threat to American democracy, since World War II and the Civil War, and it is hard to imagine we will come out of it as a nation based on the US Constitution, and just as we are to “celebrate” the 250th Anniversary of the American Republic and the Declaration Of Independence!

Hegseth, Trump Meeting With High Level Military A Totally Shocking Event, Beyond The Pale!

Ronald 6 Comments

Two days after the meeting at Quantico, Virginia of President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth with hundreds of top Generals and Admirals, an unprecedented event in person of so many defense and security people in one location, the nation is reeling from the event.

Trump came across as showing clearcut evidence of massive physical and mental decline, more like a ranting, raving, embarrassing maniac than anything else.

One would think this was as if he was the leader of the Russian Federation, or of China, North Korea, Iran, Hungary, Turkey, Egypt, El Salvador, or other like minded dictatorships than the leader of the American Republic.

Hegseth came across as a cocky, arrogant, egomaniac, who demonstrated total racism, misogyny, homophobia, and clearly a Fascist oriented, incompetent womanizer with a major alcohol problem, and with zero qualifications to lead the nation’s defenses.

The Generals and Admirals at this shocking event stayed silent, as is required, rather than what Trump was asking, that they applaud him, and with a threat that any opposition expressed would lead to the end of theif careers.

But in the aftermath, retired military people communicated with many of these hundreds of military leaders, and there was a clearcut judgment that the gathered audience was stunned and had grim looks on their faces.

Since the military is supposed to be loyal to the Constitution and their oath of service to that document, not to any individual who happens to be President, one wonders whether elements of military leadership at some point might be ready to take action against any threat to the Constitution and rule of law, in some form.

The thought that this government, more Fascist and authoritarian oriented by the day, might spend the next three plus years further consolidating power, and denying basic human rights, makes one wonder what can or should be done about the dire threat to American democracy.

Will there be fair elections in 2026 and 2028, or will this authoritarianism suspend the heritage of free, fair, and regularly scheduled elections?

The future of American democracy and the rule of law may lie in what these military leaders decide is their duty as the threats grow of the loss of freedom for 330 million Americans!

Republican Vice Presidents Since 1969—Vance The Worst Of The Worst Since Spiro Agnew! :(

Ronald 4 Comments

In the past 56 years, we have had six Republican Presidents—Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H W Bush, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump.

In that same period, we have had eight Republican Vice Presidents—Spiro Agnew, Gerald Ford, Nelson Rockefeller, George H W Bush, Dan Quayle, Dick Cheney, Mike Pence, and JD Vance.

It is well recognized that three of these six Republican Presidents are rated higher than the other three—meaning Ronald Reagan, George H W Bush, and Gerald Ford.

George W. Bush, Richard Nixon, and Donald Trump are in the bottom third, with Trump nearly at the total bottom.

When one looks at the eight Republican Vice Presidents, only Gerald Ford, Nelson Rockefeller, and George H W Bush are seen as above average.

Ranking the remaining five is ranking as much lower and far worse in performance, with Spiro Agnew seen as the bottom, but with Dan Quayle and Dick Cheney seen as not much better, and with Mike Pence just slightly above them.

And then, there is the present Vice President, JD Vance, who in seven months has managed to cause outrage by his utterances and his actions, making one fear the thought that he might be the successor to Donald Trump.

At age 41, if Vance became President by succession before the summer of 2027, he would be the youngest President in American history, as Theodore Roosevelt was 42 years and 10 and a half months of age when he succeeded the assassinated William McKinley in September 1901.

Compared to his predecessor, Mike Pence, Vance has managed to be much more controversial, and makes one at least admire Pence for having strong convictions, including refusing to accept Donald Trump’s assertion that he should support a rejection of the Electoral College results in the Presidential Election of 2020.

This led to the threatened hanging of Mike Pence by the January 6, 2021 US Capitol Insurrectionists, who had set up a noose outside the building.

One cannot be sure that Vance would be any improvement on Donald Trump, as he is clearly totally unprincipled and insensitive in his statements and actions, and therefore, cannot be trusted as a potential future Commander in Chief.

Vance should be promoting the preservation of American democracy, but seems more interested in supporting the authoritarianism of Donald Trump, which presents a dire threat to the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.

By comparison, the Democratic Party has had four Vice Presidents since 1969—Walter Mondale under Jimmy Carter; Al Gore under Bill Clinton; Joe Biden under Barack Obama; and Kamala Harris under Joe Biden.

While the view of Harris is too recent to be reliable, any estimation of the significance of Mondale, Gore, and Biden makes it clear that they are the top three Vice Presidents of modern times, and arguably, of all time!

Trump’s Revenge And Retribution Tour: Moving Toward Martial Law And Mass Prosecution Of “Enemies” Of Trump!

Ronald 51 Comments

Sadly and tragically, President Donald Trump is clearly on a revenge and retribution tour, moving toward what seems inevitably the declaration of martial law on the nation at some point in future months.

Already, he has sent in the National Guard to Los Angeles and now Washington, DC, and is threatening such actions in other “Blue” states and cities, including Chicago, New York, Baltimore, and Oakland, by specific statements, but likely elsewhere as well.

Trump also has the Justice Department under Attorney General Pam Bondi promoting FBI raids and investigations on Trump critics, including those who once worked for him, but have turned against him, most notably in last couple of days, of former National Security Adviser John Bolton.

One does not have to agree with everything Bolton has done and said in his career, but the idea of “weaponizing” the FBI, CIA, and other national security agencies against domestic critics is horrifying and terrorizing for the concept of the Bill of Rights.

In only seven months, the Trump Presidency has become a “clear and present danger” to basic American traditions of preserving American democracy, the US Constitution, and the rule of law.

The speed of acceleration of authoritarianism almost seems unstoppable at this point.

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.

51 Years Since Richard Nixon Resignation

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Today, August 9, marks the 51st Anniversary of the resignation from the Presidency of Richard Nixon, due to the Watergate Scandal.

A half century ago, his Republican Party had true principles and convictions, and their leadership made it clear in a visit to the White House that Nixon was on the road to being easily impeached by the House, with minority Republican support, as well as the Democratic Party majority, and that he would be unable to gain 34 Republican votes to save him from conviction in the US Senate.

Sadly, today, the Republican Party is owned totally by Donald Trump, with only a very few principled Republicans who have opposed him at any time.

THe Republican Party has lost its conservative principles and its soul, and the nation is in the process of the development of a Fascist authoritarianism, which endangers the US Constitution, American Democracy and the rule of law.

Donald Trump Ending Labor Union Protections For Federal Employees: A Total Disgrace! :(

Ronald 44 Comments

Donald Trump is in process of ending all labor union protections for federal employees, marking the biggest negative reaction since the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 was passed over President Harry Truman’s veto in 1947 by the Republican 80th Congress.

That action and the later Ronald Reagan firing of air traffic controllers in 1981 were among the lowest moments of organized labor history.

But federal government employees were able to protect their interests over the decades since then, but now a mortal blow to not just federal employees, but really all workers across the nation, has been dealt to the right of workers to organize.

The irony is that many members of labor unions stupidly, and with some bias toward racial minorities, supported Donald Trump in 2024 despite his felony convictions, two impeachments, and the inciting of the US Capitol Insurrection of January 6, 2021.

This is yet another attack on American democracy, the Constitution, and the rule of law!

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!