Imagining if Lyndon B. Johnson Were To Meet Donald Trump!

Ronald 5 Comments

Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973) was the second greatest domestic policy President after Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945).

Both Democratic Presidents gave America its greatest social welfare and social safety network with Medicare and Medicaid under LBJ, and Social Security under FDR.

But LBJ went much further with great accomplishments in other areas of reform, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, greatly expanded the National Defense Education Act, fighting poverty in both rural and urban America, environmental and consumer reforms, promotion of NPR and PBS, immigration reform, and other reforms, more than anyone since FDR and after LBJ to the present!

So, if LBJ were alive today, and saw what Donald Trump has done in his first Presidency, and his unmatched level of cruelty in his much more oppressive, repressive second term in just less than four months, he would have open confrontations with Trump, and would use the most vile, salty language imaginable!

And with his domineering personality traits, LBJ would put Trump in his place and tame him, without an ounce of being “gentlemanly” in any sense!

Arrest Of Newark, New Jersey Mayor A Danger Sign On Civil Liberties Violations!

Ronald 1 Comment

The arrest of Newark, New Jersey Mayor Ras Baraka for “trespassing” at a new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility on Friday is a danger sign and alarm bell for the future of Civil Liberties and the Bill of Rights!

The totally horrendous Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff For Policy and Homeland Security Adviser to Donald Trump, is threatening that the writ of habeus corpus, guaranteed to everyone in the nation, not just citizens but all people in the country, might be suspended is a horrifying threat to the future of the American Republic.

Claiming an “invasion” by immigrants, which is not so, and with no declaration of war, is a massive abuse of the Constitution, and the federal courts, and specifically, the Supreme Court, needs to intervene expeditiously and prevent any such edict!

The Accession Of Pope Leo XIV A Moment To Have Hope About The Future!

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The accession of Pope Leo XIV on the 80th Anniversary of VE Day, the end of World War II in Europe, and defeating the evil of Nazi Germany, is a moment to have hope for the future, at a time when there are so many gloomy realities that have occurred in 2025.

Not only the continuation of the Russia-Ukraine War and the Israel-Gaza War, and the possible war between India and Pakistan, but also the unrelenting gloom and negativism of the first nearly 16 weeks of the second Trump Presidency, has made for a very difficult few months for those people who have a sense of compassion, decency, empathy, morality and ethics!

This author and blogger is Jewish, but had tears of joy at the accession of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost to the Papacy, as he is truly a man of the people, of ordinary citizens of all nations, and stands out as a totally different mentality than Donald Trump, JD Vance, and the rest of the criminal crowd governing America in these times.

It is already clear that Pope Leo XIV will become “controversial” in his utterances and actions, and will cause the American government to lash out against him, but he will be a beacon against the evil of Trump and his minions.

The Pope is not just for Catholics, but for people of all religions, nationalities, races, and genders, and he will be an advocate for the poor, the disadvantaged, the marginalized, the needy, and promote dialogue and build bridges for all mankind!

The 80th Anniversary Of End Of World War II In Europe, And The Inspiration Presented By Pope Leo XIV To The Challenge Of Trump, Vance, And Authoritarian Fascism!

Ronald 6 Comments

Today marks the 80th Anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, although the war against Japan lasted until the surrender ceremony on September 2, 1945.

The war against Fascism caused more death and destruction than any war in human history, and yet, today, in 2025, we face new threats from a domestic Fascism that allies itself with authoritarian dictators around the world.

And it is not just Donald Trump who is a threat, but his whole administration from JD Vance downward through the Cabinet and other advisers, all of whom are dedicated to the destruction of the Constitution, as we approach the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, based on rebellion against a King!

Harry Truman was the right person to be President 80 years ago, but the thought of JD Vance as a “backup” to Donald Trump, as Truman was to Franklin D. Roosevelt, is enough to undermine one’s mental and physical state.

Even in his so called conversion to Catholicism, Vance has demonstrated that he is a phony Catholic, and the new Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago, has already, three months ago, called out Vance on his despicable view of Christianity!

Pope Leo XIV will, clearly, be a challenge to the Fascism of Trump and Vance, and an inspiration to those who despair over what is happening to the American Republic!

Essential To Have Younger Voices Advance In Democratic Party

Ronald 3 Comments

If the Democratic Party is to recover from the defeat in the Presidential Election of 2024, and the losing of seats in the US Senate races of 2024, it is essential that younger voices be advanced in the party structure and leadership.

With a few members of the party in both houses of Congress deciding to retire in 2026, this is the time for “new blood” to play a major role in the future.

So in the House of Representatives, this includes such members as:

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York
Jasmine Crockett of Texas
Maxwell Frost of Florida
Ro Khanna of California
Robert Garcia of California
Joe Neguse of Colorado
Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania
Greg Casar of Texas
Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts

and includes such members of the Senate as:

Ruben Gallego of Arizona
Chris Murphy of Connecticut
Jon Ossoff of Georgia
Cory Booker of New Jersey
Andy Kim of New Jersey

The call by Democratic National Committee Vice President David Hogg, who is just 25 years old, for a youth movement in the party in future elections, and the advancement of younger members of the party in Congress, makes total sense!

Donald Trump, The Disruptor In Chief!

Ronald 59 Comments

Donald Trump is the Disruptor in Chief.

He has declared the Gulf of Mexico is the Gulf of America.

He wants Veterans Day (November 11) and V E Day (May 8) to be renamed.

He wants Alcatraz, an infamous prison off of San Francisco, closed six decades ago and a much visited national park since then, to be renovated and reopened for the “worst of the worst” criminals.

He has no shame, and portrays himself as a potential Pope before the Catholic Church conclave to select the successor to Pope Francis.

He also shares the image of Darth Vader on “Star Wars Day”, May 4, as a muscular image of himself.

He wants to put tariffs on foreign produced films.

He wants to purge the Smithsonian Institution and its various museums of any references to race and gender.

He has mounted an attack on higher education at the top Ivy League universities.

He wonders if he must obey the Consitution that he swore the oath to enforce both in 2017 and 2025.

He wants anyone opposed to him and his actions in the past and present to be prosecuted by a Justice Department that is his personal fiefdom.

He has taken action against corporations, law firms, and media organizations to force them into compliance or face the consequences.

He refuses to make sure the laws are faithfully executed, even from federal courts, and doubts about the veracity of “due process”.

He lies incessantly without a sense of shame or guilt, and no one can trust anything he says.

There has never been a President anything like him, not even Richard Nixon at his worst!

The Hidden Victims Of Donald Trump’s Economic Disaster!

Ronald 3 Comments

As the effects of Donald Trump’s fixation on protective tariffs as a major part of his economic policies take hold, there are many hidden victims, who will suffer the most.

With escalating prices on all kinds of consumer goods, not just dolls or pencils, as stated by Trump in his Meet The Press interview that aired on Sunday, there will be massive suffering and spreading poverty across America.

Many of the white working class people who thought Donald Trump would be preferable to a mixed race woman as President (Kamala Harris), will suffer mightily, as many will lose their jobs, will lose their homes, will be unable to purchase basic “groceries”, including eggs, so much emphasized in the campaign in 2024.

But also, African Americans and Latino Americans will suffer mightily, as they lose opportunities to move ahead, with the attack on DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion), which will affect educational opportunities, and employment prospects.

Additionally, many of “Generation Z”, already having difficulties moving ahead toward independence from their family upbringing, will have to endure the uncertainty of their futures, in an economy which is moving toward a severe recession, if not a Second Great Depression.

With a national government headed by billionaires, the oligarchy that controls so much of the American economic future, having no concern except their own greed, selfishness and further aggrandizement, a revival of the “Gilded Age” of the late 19th century will lead to further exploitation and great human suffering.

And internationally, the nation will be under the greatest threat since World War II, as isolationism, which helped to bring about the horrors of that war, will put American national security at risk.

It is sad to write this “gloomy” essay, but this author and blogger senses that this is the future of America in the age of Donald Trump, and with no certainty that it would be improved once Trump leaves office, if he does, by January 20, 2029, if not sooner!

Trump “Meet The Press” Interview Highly Disturbing!

Ronald 18 Comments

To commemorate his first 100 Days in Office, Donald Trump had an interview with Kristen Welker of NBC’s “Meet the Press”.

Trump expressed doubt that he had to obey the federal courts on the issue of the Alien Enemies Act not being able to be used as a justification of mass deportation of immigrants, with many of them going to the horrendous prison in El Salvador that the Trump Administration is paying to take many deported migrants, many of whom are not involved in any Venezuelan gang, or having an otherwise criminal record. This includes Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a case which has been dragging on for nearly two months.

The idea of due process seems insignificant to Trump, and he “passed the buck” to Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is outrageous in her utterances, along with many other Trump Cabinet members!

So America is in a clear constitutional crisis, but also Trump is creating continued crises over his “expansionist” goals in foreign policy.

Therefore, Trump doubled down on the concept of taking Greenland away from Denmark, possibly by military force, and will continue to promote Canada as the “51st State”, when he meets this week with the Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, whose party had an amazing revival in the recent national elections.

He also insulted Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett for being outspoken, calling her low level intellect, a characterization he used in 2024 against his Presidential opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. So the common theme is to insult intelligent, educated, outspoken black women, a clear sign of racism!

Trump came across during the interview as overly combative, delusional, and clearly intending to defy the Constitution, rule of law, and the federal courts!

Two Close Allies, Canada And Australia, Vote Against Trumpism!

Ronald 1 Comment

This past week has been amazing in two close English speaking allies, Canada and Australia.

Both had “liberal” governments that were unpopular and seemed likely to lose Parliamentary control to more conservative parties that were seen as closer to Donald Trump.

But both nations just had parliamentary elections, and the liberal parties that had been in trouble swept to victory in major upsets.

And in both nations, the leader of the opposition conservatives lost his seat in the Parliament.

So Donald Trump, by his arrogance and belligerence toward close allies, has undermined the special arrangement America has had with those four nations that speak English, including New Zealand and the United Kingdom, along with Canada and Australia.

Their special intelligence arrangement has been known as “Five Eyes”, but now Trump has destroyed that special alliance and closeness, undermining American national security and world national security at the same time.

New Zealand and the United Kingdom also will see the need to end their reliance on the United States intelligence and security apparatus, undermining America and making war much more likely, with America not having close, reliable allies.

What has existed for many decades has been destroyed by Trump, and it will not be easy or likely even after he is gone in the future, to restore the old trust that “Five Eyes” nations had for each other.

Signal Gate Scandal Made Worse By Forced Removal Of Michael Waltz!

Ronald 2 Comments

The move by Donald Trump to oust National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, due to the Signal Chat Leak Crisis, is a bad omen for the future of American National Security.

Waltz was a traditional conservative Republican, who gave up his House seat in Florida to take on the challenge of engaging in promoting American national security.

But in the Trump White House, which is bending over backwards to please Vladimir Putin and to abandon Ukraine, Waltz was seen as a “problem”.

What should have happened was the dismissal of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, not Waltz, and putting Waltz in as United Nations Ambassador is an indication that his status is much reduced.

Meanwhile, Marco Rubio taking on the position of National Security Adviser temporarily is totally crazy, as being Secretary of State is more than enough work for one man.

And Rubio is no Henry Kissinger, who held both jobs, but in reverse in the Nixon and Ford Administrations.

This whole situation is an indication early on that Trump is on the way, possibly, to more turnover in his second term, than in his first term, which set a record of such turnovers in American history.

The international order is going to be in great danger, with an unstable, unpredictable, and unreliable Chief Executive in the Oval Office!