I am a professor of American History, Government and Politics, a lecturer on modern American topics, an author and a blogger.
I am the author of two books:
– Twilight of Progressivism: The Western Republican Senators and the New Deal (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1981)
– Assassinations, Threats and the American Presidency: From Andrew Jackson to Barack Obama (Rowman & Littlefield, 2015).
– Assassinations, Threats and the American Presidency: From Andrew Jackson to Barack Obama (Rowman & Littlefield, 2015).
In addition to blogging on this website, I publish a regular column on History News Network, and my writing has appeared in TIME Magazine, Newsweek, and The Hill. And as of August 27, 2019, I have a Blog Page of all my articles on History News Network so far published, and new articles will be added to that list, all under my name Ronald L. Feinman.
Professor Feinman, I just recently discovered your website and I am so enjoying reading intelligent discussion on all of these important issues! I have added your site to my “favorites” and will be checking it regularly. I am a professor in nursing education at a state university and just like you “I am proud to call myself a liberal and a progressive!”. You hit the nail on the head when you stated the TRUTH ” it’s been the liberals and progressives who have promoted, political, social and economic reforms”…not the conservatives. The right wing works hard to fool….rather…LIE to Americans about this fact. Thank you for creating this site and speaking the truth.
Hello Prof. Feinman, knowing you, and people like you, who share the liberation of freedom of speech and constructiveness towards a better movement of our nation, is extremely rewarding and an honor.
Conservation does not speak for us all, yet, it only masquerades and holds back the TRUTH. But, we all have to wake up and look in the mirror, at some time or another. Also, too much conservation, on the other hand, never allows for those riskful, yet, greatest opportunities in life. Thank you for sharing this website of enlightment.
Dear Prof,
From one “prof” to another, I was delighted to stumble on your blog while looking for the origins of the tea party. Didn’t know there were any liberals in FL, but you probably thought there aren’t any in Virginia either. I lay the impetus for the tea party squarely at the feet of the “Party of NO” and their constant vitriol. They made people angry (well, those that weren’t already angry about having an African American President) and now they’re having to live with the results (e.g., Mitch McConnell watching his chosen candidate go down in flames at the hands of the tea partiers).
Mike in Richmond
Have a wonderful time in NY with your Sons Professor!!
marggie Mitchell
It is always humorous to me when a pseudo-intellectual “professor” pretends to further his ideas by claiming a vote of confidence from other supposedly “intellectuals.” Making correct economic decisions is not a democratic activity. When people don’t do their homework and take the time to understand a situation, they make emotional claims and use other’s emotional claims as proof that their own are in the correct direction.
I am actually quite excited to have you as my professor this semester(Maybe more seeing as I want to take Political science next semester). Reading your blogs, and listening to you in class I can already tell this will be my favorite class of the semester/year.
I may not agree with everything politically that you may have to say, but that doesn’t make it wrong/right.
Being a history junkie myself I can’t wait to begin.
Yo professor remember Jonathan? You still have’nt broken out of the left-right paradigm huh? Left and right are labels slapped on us to keep us bickering amoungst each other while the elite of this country still hold on through the reigns of power. Obama’s just as much a puppet as Bush was. Controlled by the same corporations, and the longer we ignore this fact the tighter there grasp becomes. WAKE UP AMERICA!!! Everyone who reads this comment needs to watch “The Obama deception” on YouTube.
My suggestion is that on your home page where your own very lucid commentaries appear there should be an indication of the date of the commentary and perhaps a means of looking up your writings for previous dates. Your participation in the “Hostel at Home” sessions made it possible for me to become a fan of your web site. i know you will keep up your excellent comments.
Professor Ronald Feinman:
I congratulate you on breaking the stranglehold the Conservative Republicans have on Florida since 1995!
I too am proud to be a Progressive in a Red State as beautiful as Florida.
Professor Feinman, make sure you keep the fire under the feet of our right wing friends in the state legislature and of course, Governor-Elect Scott.
MA
Professor, why not work harder at proving yourself right (correct) rather than proving the “other side” wrong? Everything I’ve seen here is focused on an apparent hatred of the right-wing, laced with insults, inaccuracies and the occasional celebration when things aren’t going well for the right. No viable information here other than you are clearly hard core left and despise and are unwilling to work with anyone on the right. If you are correct in your political beliefs, how about focusing more on those and possible solutions and writing pieces focusing on politicians that you support?
Professor,
Thank you for your thoughtful response to my comment(s). You message was completely unexpected, but very welcome!
As I have written to you via email, if you investigate my blog in more detail, rather than just a few entries, you will see I have been critical of Obama at times and of other progressives when they are wrong, and have also spent a lot of time discussing historical moments and anniversary commemorations, and have also commended many Republicans such as Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, Richard Lugar, John McCain, Scott Brown, Lindsey Graham and others when they have shown courage and conviction.
I am not promoting hate, inaccuracies,and insults, but simply expressing my strong passions and beliefs, which is the purpose of a blog. When I see what I believe is wrong, I do not back away from challenge and criticism. If anything, progressives and liberals have failed to defend their view from the vicious lies and attacks of the Right.
So I challenge you to read my blog in more detail and more regularly and have you realize that your momentary view is not the truth about my blog!
Found your site when LinkedIn suggested I “link” with you. Strongly admire and agree with your statement paragraph beginning “I am proud…”
I hope to check back on your posts and I am going to look through your links. I’m especially interested in your Research links. I’m a family law attorney. I’ve increasingly become more interested in American History over the past few years and even more so as it relates to all aspects of politics.
Donna Goldman
Uh, how is letting people keep what they earn a “redistribution of wealth”?
And – I wish you would stop using so many exclamation marks! You have no actual arguments, so you must resort to ad-homium attacks, lofty rhetoric, and exclamation marks! Sad.
Sorry Ron this started as a coment to you and ended up going after mike who in typical right wing fashaion hates what he himself does.
Tell me what koch’s have earned. They’re trust fund babies who consolidated daddies wealth by being ruthless and literally robbing the public like the robber barons of old. First of all I’ll digress from the premise that we are living in a Democracy. The recent election clearly made this country a plutocracy. The kochs now have more power than both houses and the president. The SCOTUS is also in their pockets. witness thomas and scalia at Palm Beach, and does anybody really think mrs. thomas is worth $700,000 to make to make harassing phone calls to Anita Hill and echo faux news.
They did it by using the Obama victory as a wedge to divide the country. Than either by accident or through genius they funded and guided the t-party to drive a wedge into the right and into it’s position as a spoiler party. These storm troops keep the republicans in line while they further cement and reinforce the foundation of their new plutocracy. Just the other day they called the weeper of the house a fool and threatened him with a primary. cantor is also chiming another tune in Virginia because of t-party heat, which has moved the entire country more in line with koch libertarian desires.
Their use of media outlets is also something to behold and they should be proud of it.. Everybody knows the sun rises in the west and the media is biased to the left. The facts just don’t bear that out, and they have people like palin calling it the lame stream media when it is in reality its a propaganda arm of the new plutocracy.
The other act of genius is they did it with taxpayer funding. It hit me the other day when it was noted oil subsidies where 400+billion and $435 or so millions of that went to lobbying. Looking into the kochs we find they make a cool $1 billion a year off the taxpayers and invest it wisely into the republican party. The result they buy votes than they ask and get more subsidies and the circle continues. That my friend means we either live in a welfare state or a plutocracy.
The previous poster is nothing more than a useful idiot spouting off faux news talking points and pretending he knows what he’s talking about. This is an answer to him and not the complimentary post I started to write.
Ron, I so respect you and voraciously read your blog. I hated to correct you but I knew for sure what you wanted to say. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve made a typo like that.. My brain thinks faster than I type~ LOL~ and then, even when I read it back I still have the text in my mind’s eye and don’t even see the mistake!
I was particularly interested in your entry concerning Rick Scott and what he is doing to teachers and college professors in Florida. Being a professor myself that REALLY makes me angry. What a waste of talent and a really stupid idea! This whole right wing agenda to destroy the people who work hard in this country, and take more from the working poor, the sick and the most vulnerable supposedly to “balance the budget” , while the rich receive more tax benefits is about as underhanded as it gets….. another reason I love your blog and the clarity you bring to issues such as this one. It’s in the details! People need to know exactly how all this terrible legislation will mightily affect so many! So many conservative voters simply don’t seem to understand these things are going to affect them too, not just us “Liberals”! Unfortunately, even when presented with the facts, they still can not or will not connect.
I sure hope you don’t mind, I often quote or refer to you verbally or in writing on other the forums (always with appropriate citation of course!) I frequent.
I remain-
Your Maryland Fan!
Maggie Mitchell
I listened to your lecture in Coral Springs today (August 16) and enjoyed it very much. I agree with everything you said. You were very inspiring. I hope your feelings and knowledge reach more people in the next 15 months. The outlook for our country is very grim with the potential candidates for the presidency. I only hope that more people come to understand what is at stake.
As a conservative patriot of the founding fathers and the constitution, I am genuinely intrigued by the Progressive thought process. I’ve heard so much passionate rhetoric from the Progressives selling Democracy and Freedom; yet it seems that every step they take drives us further from the very freedom they preach. How does taking money from anyone; rich or poor; increasing taxes and regulations which bind and restrict all of us, or mandating spending of our money on Health Care, Social Security, or any other Government Program; how does any of that increase our freedoms?
I understand that Progressives feel that they’re attacking Big Business, and not necessarily “Small Business”, but they are inadvertently killing everyone by growing Government, and increasing the burden on the middle class. And what’s funny is that Big Business isn’t hurt at all. In fact, they have been in bed with Government since the beginning. So by growing government, and killing the “small business” middle class, you’re actually HELPING Big Business to get more power and control than they already had. You’re HELPING the enemy that you think you’re destroying, and hurting the rest of us that you think you’re trying to save.
They’ve fooled us all.
Check out “American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America” by Colin Woodward. I found it very helpful in understanding what is going on in our country.
We have never had shared values. From the start, the Northeast and midland cultures embodied true patriotic American values of equal rights, freedom and building strong communities. They were joined by the Pacific coast communities in later years.
The greedy Southern white ruling class has been the albatross around our neck from the beginning. The South (and New York) did little to support the war for independence, and actually wanted to stay part of England. The traitorous Southern leaders had such disregard for human rights and justice embodied in the US Constitution that they schemed, plotted to evade the law, seceded and attacked the U.S.A. After the civil war, their barbaric society returned to it’s criminal ways for over a century until again Federal courts and troops had to intervene.
The conservative Republicans represent the continued influence of these Southern values on our Nation. While these so called “Southern gentlemen” continue to weaken our Republic with ignorance, bigotry and greed, and are certainly not patriotic, we have no choice but to deal with them. Peel back their smooth public talk, look deeper, read our history, and connect the dots. From the start there has been a battle going on within our country between the forces of good and the forces of evil. It continues…
A synopsis of “American Nations” can be found in the Washington Monthly Magazine at this link:
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/magazine/novemberdecember_2011/features/a_geography_lesson_for_the_tea032846.php?page=all&print=true
I have been under the impression that we are a Constitutional Republic. I have neverr been able to understand the progressive movement or point of view, just as progressives find it hard to understand mine. That is what makes our country great for now. There are MANY progressive governments throughout the world. There is one government like ours. Conservative or liberal, progressives spend money. Look at our debt. My goodness, did you all just skip accounting in all of your years in school? Do you know how credit works? Economics? Probably not, but progressives seem to be able to rationalize anything. The values we learned are different. So will be our perspectives. Let’s hope we can shake hands as Americans after our debate; as the coin sez, E Plurbis Unium.
I am delighted that you wii soon be a speaker at Stratford Court. You may remember me from the Hostel At Home program. I was the one who recommended you to Saundra who is the Director of Activities at Stratford Court. Best Regards -Aaron
I am an independent with liberal social ideas, live and let live, almost age 60. I live in North Florida/South Georgia…a place where lies about President Obama are constant and always believed…always. No matter what anyone says, Religion and Race are the factors that allow Republicans to play the “fear” and “danger” card…they just will not come out and say it directly. Mitt Romney is a”cult” Mormon and that is a serious problem with Evangelicals…I laugh as they will be forced to vote for a Mormon who started Romney/Obamacare! Never vote for President Obama, they are BOXED IN!
I wonder how Newt defines “slut” when he had a 6 year illicit affair. As a Professor…to Professor…you should pose that question…and his possible/probable use of birth control during that 6 year time frame…WOW, where is Rush when you need him?
No politician wants to define exactly what is or is not a “small business” or a person in “the middle class” as they want EVERYONE to think they are speaking about THEM! A classic misdirect…it works. Just ask a politician to define those terms if you get the chance…good luck.
Republican suicide?
Suicide is never a good thing…except in this case.
Jim
STAND YOUR GROUND!
It’s impossible to distinguish between you and the Democrat Party’s symbol. You are the ultimate jackass!
Why would you ever want to give a criminal the advantage? Have you or any of your family had the terrifying experience of being the victim of a rape mugging or life threatening action? BET NOT!
I carry a concealed weapon and if I ever had the misfortune of my life being threatened, when the cops arrived to investigate they would ask; Why did you shoot him ELEVEN times?”. My reply would be; Because I ran out of bullets.”
Thier definitely would be one less criminal that you, the ACLU, and the remainder of the Democrat liberal wimps could embrace.
Long live the NRA!
Dear Professor Feiman, I took you history class and BCC years ago, and one thing I have to post on your blog, that you are fantastic history teacher, and that I have enjoyed listening to the stories about US past. I am originally from Serbia and haven’t been exposed to American History before, so having your class felt like reading very exciting book that you couldn’t put down. I will take some time and start reading your blog. Just wanted to tell you how great you are because teachers usually don’t get enough of praise. I am teacher as well at Cross Creek School in Pompano Beach, but I teach math and science to seventh and eight graders.
Keep up the good work,
Maggie
Thank you very much, Margareta. Your sentiments are very much appreciated, and I hope you will enjoy and be enlightened reading my blog on a regular basis, and feel free to contribute comments if you wish! 🙂
“The conservative Republicans represent the continued influence of these Southern values on our Nation. While these so called “Southern gentlemen†continue to weaken our Republic with ignorance, bigotry and greed, and are certainly not patriotic, we have no choice but to deal with them. Peel back their smooth public talk, look deeper, read our history, and connect the dots. From the start there has been a battle going on within our country between the forces of good and the forces of evil. It continues…”
Ignorance is bliss I guess; perhaps you should take the dear professors history class… and pay particular attention to the part about why the Republican Party was formed. That is if the good professor doesn’t teach revisionist history.
You may also want to take a look at this answer, I can’t speak for the accuracy of the entire thing but I do know most of it is true: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Was_the_democratic_party_associated_with_the_KKK Again, the good professor should be able to verify it, and again that is provided he is honest.
It is indeed correct that the Republican Party of Lincoln and of Reconstruction brought about the constitutional amendments, and other civil rights actions in the 1860s and 1870s. However, as part of the deal to end Reconstruction in the South, the Republican Party abandoned African Americans after 1877.
The Southern wing of the Democratic Party did indeed promote Jim Crow legislation, racism, and segregation, but Republican and Democratic Presidents ignored these violations until after World War II, when Harry Truman integrated the military and Washington DC, after having expressed racist thoughts in letters earlier in his life.
Northern Democrats fought for civil rights in the 1950s and 1960s, alongside Northern Republicans, and brought about civil rights laws in the 1960s, with only a few Southern Democrats supporting the legislation.
Once Lyndon Johnson got the Civil Rights Act through, a vast majority of conservative Southern Democrats left the party over the next two decades, starting with Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, and became Republicans, and the solid Democratic South proceeded to become heavily Republican, continuing the racist views that they had had as Democrats, and today, the Republicans have become the critics of civil rights and affirmative action, replacing the Democrats.
The point is that the Southern influence has damaged and disgraced both the Democratic and Republican Party at different times, and that is outrageous, considering that the South lost the Civil War a century and a half ago, and yet still have influence much like they had in the post Civil War years, making African Americans second class citizens. It is a cancer on America, sorry to say.
Much of what you see in this article is correct, but not all of it, but it still comes down to the reality that the issue of race still dominates the nation, and most specifically in the South, and the Republican Party is no longer the party of Lincoln, and the Democrats, because of the loss of the dominant South fifty years ago, is generally much more open minded and tolerant on the issue of race than the GOP. So there has been a basic turn around by the two major political parties in America, a sad circumstance.
So in conclusion, there is both truth and falsehood in the article, but I am not the person who would deny that there is some truth, mixed with fable, in the article you have presented.
We all need to work on race relations, and realize that utilizing race on the part of anyone for political gain is absolutely reprehensible!
Thanks for writing me about this!
I enjoy reading your blogs.
maggie
The Wackos are Gunning for You. Keep the Faith!
Really enjoy your lectures at Coral Spring and today at Delray Beach. Am so glad students are being presented with more than one side of the American story.
So Professor – I understand where you are coming from politically so let me ask you a question:
President Obama bases his political posturing on “sticking it to the rich” in order to help the middle class. Yet, in the last month he has held two fundraising events in New York City where the donation was $40,000 a plate.
Clearly your average bus driver, fireman, clerical worker and even middle manager doesn’t have $40K to spare to attend on a fundraiser so its probably fair to assume the people who did attend were part of that 1% elite we hear so much about?
Isn’t it rank hypocrisy for a politician who bashes a demographic wealth segment with one hand and then rubs cosy shoulders with them and holds out the other hand for massive donations?
On principal, shouldn’t he be refusing that money given that it comes from such a hated segment of society to the Left or are you going to resort the the “end justifies the means” argument to justify fund raisers like this?
PS. I’m curious to see if you leave this posting up and debate me or delete it because its an indefensible position for a left wing president. And stop calling yourselves “progressives” Socialism isn’t progressive as Greece, Portugal, Spain, Ireland and Italy are busily finding out to their cost………
I have no problem in putting your comment on this blog.
In an ideal world, yes, no politician should accept money from the top one percent, but since the other side is raising money from the Koch brothers, Sheldon Adelson and other Wall Street top one percent, there is no way that a candidate can compete, raising money from the other 99 percent alone.
However, over three million people have contributed to the Obama campaign, and the percentage gained from the top one percent is a vastly lower percentage than is the case with the Romney campaign.
And those who contribute to Obama have no expectation of any favors from him, and realize there are people in the top one percent who have no problem with paying higher taxes, as part of patriotism, and with the reality that the rate for the rich reached 90 percent under FDR and Ike, 70 percent under Nixon, and 50 percent under Reagan and Clinton, and Reagan said those who have more wealth should pay more. And the nation and the wealthy prospered under these higher tax rates.
It does not hurt a wealthy person to pay more, but it hurts an average person who has to do without providing education for his children, or a senior citizen who cannot afford medication, or someone who loses his home or job and is desperate.
There is a saying–there for but the grace of God go I–and that needs to be remembered when one wishes to only think of how much fortune he needs, when much of it is not spent or invested, and is just acquired for the sake of having it!
Those who are blessed with wealth have the responsibility to be thankful and stop complaining, and certainly not wish to evade taxes by sending the wealth to the Cayman Islands or Bermuda or Switzerland, all of which undermines the American economy.
It is also the proper thing to do for those who claim to be “religious”, as one should have ethics and morality, which some seem to forget while mouthing that they believe the teachings of their faith.
This nation is more stratified than ever before, and we are in a new Gilded Age, and the nation must start expecting those who have had a great tax cut for more than ten years now to start paying their fair share of taxes and stop complaining!
I hope this answers your question, but I have a feeling it will not satisfy you, but I stand by what I have said!
Thanks for commenting!
This is an excellent blog. However, I am trying to figure out how to email you because I don’t want to announce publicly about one of your Mass Media links is involved with plagiarism and has been under investigation…
Liberals and progressives made revolution in Russia, killed millions, ran from the revolution all over the world – learn the simple history lesson, professor.
Sadly, you are showing your ignorance, Alex, as it was NOT liberals and progressives who made revolution in Russia and killed millions.
Even Socialist parties condemned the Russian Revolution and opposed it, and liberals and progressives believe in human freedom and dignity, and have never supported dictatorship and loss of civil liberties and civil rights.
You need to do some studying of the “isms” before you make statements that make you look foolish, and without knowledge.
Calling a liberal or progressive a Communist is the old Joseph McCarthy tactic, now used by Allen West, and it only reflects badly on those who use it.
Thank for detailed answer. Maybe you could explain – why Obama’s campaign using slogan of Italian communists “Forward” (Avanti)?http://www.independentsentinel.com/2012/05/forward-vorwarts-avanti/
The fact that Obama uses a term or word does not make him, automatically, a Socialist. This is conspiracy theory at its worst!
Plus, socialism has different meanings in different countries historically, and is totally distorted by many so called experts, who don’t know what they are talking about.
Obama is far from a Socialist—intelligent observers see him as a moderate centrist tipped a little to the left–similar to Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson, but then there are those who think of them as Socialists, Communists, Fascists, etc because they love to throw labels around without understanding them.
Obama will be seen as positive in the long run by most serious observers, but he will always have his enemies as well, but that is true of every President and other historic leaders, so what else is new?
Prof..I read your remarks every day and I am in total agreement with what you say. I hope that the results of the election are what you predicte..however there is still time and you can never be to sure.
Thanks for your support!
Of course, one can never be 100 percent sure,but the math of the electoral college is clear, and the polls are clear, and Romney keeps on wounding himself, and this is NOT 1948 and Thomas Dewey, who was ahead and lost.
Romney is behind and will lose!
Dr. Feinman,
I have enjoyed all you classes and learned a lot about American history thru your teachings. Thank you.
I was reading the The Washington Times and come across some quotations that you made.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/ronald-l-feinman/
Otto
It’s a shame we pay people to indoctrinate and brainwash kids as socialists (or fascists, although that seems rare). The socialist agenda has significantly progressed over the last one hundred years, not in small part through the infiltration of the entire college system by a vast majority of left wing professors. I always though educators should be about critical thinking, creative thinking and an awareness of facts. Maybe that’s all wrong. It certainly looks like facts and critical thinking are becoming a rare commodity. Now it seems is all about teaching kids to have a certain opinion through the use of psychological methods. Or are professors truly unbiased and instilling people to think for themselves using facts and sound methods of reason?
Dear Comrade
You appear to do very little of value but you appear to be highly paid. No wonder the biggest suckers are those who have taken out loans to get a (second rate) college eductaion with kook Professors such as yourself
I found your site today and I have added it to my favorite’s list. It’s refreshing to find a page that reflects some of my views. Not all, but enough to make me want to come back and read more going forward. I also like the fact that it will drive those from the “Right” up the wall…..That alone is more than enoughto keep me coming back. Over and over and over and over……..Thanks…
I welcome you, Taylor, to the site and welcome more comments from you as well as the one on the Tea Party Movement from three years ago. I would be interested in hearing where you do disagree, and I welcome debate and discussion. Thanks!
Please add a “LIKE” link for Facebook, so that I (and others) might easily bring attention to your important topics—-and your progressive political philosophy! Thanks.
I am looking into this matter, and thanks for suggesting it!
Mission accomplished! Oops, maybe not the best line to use! LOL
Hello Professor!
I was unable to leave my comment on your blog about the 165th Anniversary of Seneca Falls….great article!
Our team at ERA Action and PDA ERA 3 State Strategy (Progressive Democrats of America) are working tirelessly to make the Equal Rights Amendment the law of the land. In our initiative to build coalitions for the ERA, we have made allies with national organizations, including The National Organization for Women (NOW), The Feminist Majority Foundation, Foundation, The National Council of Women’s Organization (NCWO) and their ERA Task Force, and other grassroots movements, just to name a few.
We have just launched a national Thunderclap in honor of American ‘shero’, Alice Paul, who authored and introduced the Equal Rights Amendment at the Seneca Falls convention, 90 long years ago on July 21, 1923. This Thunderclap is gaining more and more support by the hour and is intended to call attention to the current legislation that was introduced, May 9, 2013, to remove the deadline for the ERA for ratification in the states. The Senate bipartisan resolution, S.J.RES15, has 29 federal co-sponsors and the companion resolution in the House, H.J.RES43, has 77 co-sponsors. In just 2 months since the bills were introduced, activists have managed to get these legislators signed on to the legislation. PDA just conducted their monthly Lobbying Day yesterday, and we now have 3 Congressional Representatives to formally add to the House bill next week, which brings us to 80 co-sponsors. Very exciting!
If you would like more information on our ongoing actions or to profile our movement in your blog, we would love to hear from you.
I am sorry to hear you had problems leaving this comment on the entry, as that should not be a problem, so try in the future to write on the actual blog entry. Thanks so much!
Interesting description of yourself. I find it somewhat discouraging that you are a professor of American History and Government . I want to ask you: do you teach history and government as what it is HISTORY, the study of the past? Or: do you teach HISTORY as to your Liberal, Progressive ideals and are your student allowed to disagree with your opinion. HISTORY is the most important subject in school and college. Neither Conservative nor Liberal has a right to teach the subject by their opinion only. Then again you might be one of the few that tells it like it was and accepts other students point of view. I was one of those HS HISTORY teachers that allowed students to think and base their thoughts on the facts as they stated and proven.
Jon, I can assure you that I tell history as it is, and accept other points of view in classes, and give differing sides on controversial issues and leaders, not a one sided view. But on a blog, I have the right to express my personal views, and welcome debate and discussion, as long as it is civilized and avoids name calling and rudeness. I am a very popular professor, and have had students take me for multiple courses, because I have an entertaining manner of speaking, and am friendly and receptive, and get students to think and analyze!
It’s refreshing to see progressive blogs on the internet. Mostly I find that the conservative voice is loud and clear in America. The Liberal voice is there but hard to find. Thank you and keep up the good work.
Thank you, John, and I welcome you to leave any comments you wish to offer!
I think it was Will Durant who once said,
“History is mostly guessing, the rest is prejudice”
; )
Very interesting quote, Paul! Thanks!
Just found you. Perfect bite sized digesting nuggets of wisdom. I’ll be following you Professor!
Welcome, Kyle, and I hope you will contribute to the blog! 🙂
Just heard you on NPR. I would be happy to have Joe Biden as vice-president for 8 more years. Now that I’ve found your blog, I’ll a regular reader. Thanks
Thanks, Marshall, for your kind words and I welcome your commentary on the blog, seven and a half years and running!
Dear Professor:
I don’t understand how you can rate Washington as president lower than number 1. Here is a man who led and won the revolutionary war. Served as president of the constitutional convention. Served as our first president and practically invented the executive branch of our government. And, after serving two terms rejected the crown and successfuly managed a bloodless transfer of power to John Adams. All this was done dispite the efforts of political opponents and of Great Britain in the background plottting his failure.
Reg Read, Durango
I understand what you are saying, but most scholars put Lincoln first and some put FDR second. No question, however, that Washington is among the greats of the Presidency!
Another progressive blog you may be interested in adding to your blog list: http://shareblue.com/
Speaking of blogs for the list, here is another progressive blog recommendation: http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/
The Facebook page is where that blog author is more active: https://www.facebook.com/SmartypantsBlog
Winning Progressive is the blog that got me and my family into politics on the web. That blog has now been moved to Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/WinningProgressive
Dr. Feinman, I saw your article about how Trump’s Presidency will be the second shortest in US History. I hope you are right. Did you teach at NY Institute of Technology in the early 80’s? If so I had you as my American History Professor for two semesters. I see that you are a Baseball fan, and I remember you talking about how you went to Daryl Strawberry’s first pro game (or something to do with Strawberry) Loved your classes, and hope you are right about Trump.
Hello Dr. Feinman, you were my professor for several classes at PBCC, BCC & FAU back in the mid 90’s. I was really good friends with Professor Leonard Bruton and I wrote a paper why I thought Bill Clinton was the best president of the 20th Century which you were very complimentary of. Hope you are doing well, very glad to have stumbled upon your blog.
I’m so happy I found you online! I’m a rarity, I think. I’m a Liberal Republican, in Baltimore. I was looking for ways that I can get involved, and found your site….and being a history junkie, I’m even happier. I sent you a friend request on Facebook, and look forward to following you there, and here.
The Winning Progressive blog now posts on Twitter more than Facebook. https://twitter.com/WinProgressive
Professor Feinman,
It is rare that I find myself in agreement with your views, being rather centrist myself, but I appreciate the effort and sincerity you put into your own journalism. I would like it if modern media took a cue from respectable journalists(or in your case, a blogger) on both sides of the aisle who value news over views. You and Prager U videos are two of my greatest sources of information.
That being said, I would be interested in hearing your take on some parts of history, such as WWI(which I have very strong views on myself). You seem like an intelligent and cultured man, and that is hard to find. Far too many pseudo-intellectuals acting as provocateurs and ideologues on both sides.
– Alexander Silverstone
Prof. Feinman, I consider myself lucky to have found your website. It’s great to hear an intelligent person speak of today’s issue(s), without having to be boastful or demeaning. I will follow you and I too am proud to be a liberal citizen. Thank you for this site and to keep us abreast and on course.
Another avenue for Conversation… .
Dr. Feinman
Not sure you will remember me, I was in several of your classes at both
BCC and FAU. I was a returning in student in the early 2000, former truck driver, waitress, and jack of all trades. After FAU I attended ETSU in Johnson City, Tn. I have been teaching for almost 12 now at ETSU (English composition classes) and NESCC, American and world history.
I am glad I found the blog and I will be following.
Thank you, Sallie Trudden!
I do recall you, and very happy you are now going to read my blog, and feel free to contribute anytime! 🙂
I had previously posted links for Winning Progressive. They are no longer on Twitter and their Facebook hasn’t been active since 2020. Because of that, I’m removing them from my list of political blogs I follow.