Growing Threat Of Political Violence A Danger To America’s Future!

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The reverberations from the attack on the White House Correspondents Association Annual Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel on Saturday, April 25 are massive, as it was a total shock to the 2,500 attendees and all of the Donald Trump government figures that were in danger from the crazed attack by Cole Tomas Allen, and it will take a long time to be fully processed.

While the gunman did not get through the perimeter at the hotel, the thought that such an attack could be mounted at all, is stunning.

The gunman had a whole set of grievances regarding what Donald Trump and his administration have been perpetrating in the 15 months since Trump came back to leadership of the federal government. And he specifically referred to Trump as a pedophile and rapist, relating to the Epstein files.

It is clear that the level of political violence is a menace to the long range stability of the government and American society.

It is highly concerning that it has come to the point that all members of Congress now require private security for their own safety, and their staffs are under constant threat as well.

This confrontational, “in your face” antagonism among members of both the Republican and Democratic parties, endangers all Americans, and has led to bloodshed and physical attacks that remind us of the pre Civil War period in the 1850s, as has been documented by various historical scholarly studies.

And the ability of unstable people to acquire guns in a society in which gun rights are seen as more important than general public safety is an alarm bell that makes one fear the future.

Shocking Threat Against Trump And Everyone At White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner

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In a totally shocking event, a lone gunman breached the Washington Hilton Hotel, the site of the shooting of President Ronald Reagan on March 30, 1981, in an attempt to harm President Donald Trump, and in theory, all those in the line of Presidential succession, at the White House Correspondents Association Annual Dinner.

About 2,500 attendees at the annual event were all in the line of danger from the crazed gunman, Cole Tomas Allen, a well educated resident of California, who graduated California Institute of Technology, graduating in 2017 with a mechanical engineering degree, and later gained a masters degree in computer science, and someone said to be thought to be no threat to anyone, based on people who know him.

This is a terrifying event, and the thought that the line of succession was endangered, is sobering. This is the result of the division that has become the norm in America in recent years; the easy accessibility of guns; and the reality of widespread mental illness.

While the gunman did not get into the actual ballroom where the event occurred, it is still horrifying and traumatic that such an event could occur in a well protected hotel by the Secret Service.

Political violence is a disease that is eating away at American domestic and international security.

The constant rising threats against members of Congress, as well as the executive and judicial branch, is a never ending crisis.

One does not have to be supportive of anyone in government, but the horrors of constant threats against individuals in all branches of government is a crisis that needs to be addressed in a sane manner.

Trump Cabinet Officers “Falling Like Flies” After Just A Year In Office, Repeat Of First Term Record!

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Here we are, only 15 months into Donald Trump’s second Presidential term, and Trump Cabinet Officers are “falling like flies”, following a trend that was also occurring in Trump’s first Presidential term from 2017-2021.

So far, the following have been removed from their positions:

Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security
Pam Bondi, Attorney General
Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Secretary of Labor
Mike Waltz, National Security Adviser
Susan Monarez, Centers for Disease Control Director
John Phelan, Secretary of the Navy
Many Senior Military Leaders
300,000 Federal Workers

Donald Trump is notable for having more turnover in his first term in the Presidency than any President before him, and already, it seems as if the same pattern is now in place in the second term.

Rumors abound that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and FBI Director Kash Patel may be on the way out. Also, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. may also face being fired at some point.

Trump Presidency Most Corrupt And Scandal Ridden In All Of American History!

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Massive grift and corruption and scandal, without any apology, or attempt to hide—that is the Donald Trump Presidency, by far the worst, most evil Presidency in American history, far surpassing the Richard Nixon, Warren G. Harding, Ulysses S. Grant, Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush administrations!

Notice that all of the most corrupt administrations were under Republican Presidents, a tragic reality that the party that was founded in the opposition to the expansion of slavery in 1854 has become the party of a totally different perspective on everything that the party represented under Abraham Lincoln in the Civil War Era and Theodore Roosevelt in the Progressive Era.

But Donald Trump is far worse in the level of venality than any of the earlier Presidents, with the only competitor for that unfortunate distinction being Richard Nixon.

When the era of Donald Trump is part of history, it will provide legions of investigation and research to uncover so much grift, corruption and scandal that at present is not even fully understood or realized.

Presidential scholars already rank Trump in the bottom three Presidents, alongside James Buchanan and Andrew Johnson, but the horrible events and controversies that are occurring now insure that Donald Trump will end up solidly in the basement as the worst, and in many ways, most dangerous President in American history, bar none.

The tragedy of it all is that Donald Trump really does not care about public opinion or Presidential experts, and the American population still contains 30-40 percent who think everything is fine, a troubling scenario that will undermine the American future for many decades moving forward.

Trump’s Public Opinion Ratings Sinking, Now 33 Percent, And Losing Major Voting Groups!

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Donald Trump’s public opinion ratings are sinking, presently at 33 percent.

Major voting blocs are abandoning him, including Latinos, Asian Americans, and voters without a college degree.

Already, women voters have soured on him, and young voters of both genders are also disillusioned with him.

The rising gas prices, along with the Iran War, are causing a collapse, just as occurred 46 years ago for President Jimmy Carter, with the Iran Hostage Seizure and rising gas prices.

There could not be two Presidents more different than Carter and Trump, but they share this commonality.

More specifically, Trump has 32 percent support on Iran; 30 percent on the economy; and 23 percent on the cost of living, and 40 percent on his immigration policy.

Only in eight states does Trump have majority support—Wyoming, North Dakota, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Idaho, Tennessee, Arkansas, and South Dakota. He is underwater in all of the “Swing States”, a troubling sign for the future, as he won all of those states.

And Trump has now reached a new low in public opinion ratings, lower than right after the US Capitol Insurrection on January 6, 2021, as he was about to leave office at the end of his first term, when he had a rating of 34 percent!

Reapportionment Battles Create Massive Struggle For Control Of House Of Representatives In The Future 120th Congress (2027-2029)!

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The reapportionment battle in Virginia yesterday resulted in a gerrymandering that will, in theory, provide four more likely Democratic held seats in the US House of Representatives for the future 120th Congress (2027-2029).

This is the latest development in the battle for the lower chamber of Congress, begun by President Donald Trump urging Texas to reapportion, and then further pursued in reaction by Democrats to do the same in California, and then other states also participating in gerrymandering in the midpoint of the decade, instead of the usual such action after the census that takes place across the nation in the decennial reapportionment.

Ironically, the action of Texas may partially backfire and help Democrats gain one or two seats, and of course, there is no certainty as to how elections based on this present gerrymandering activity will play itself out in reality.

On paper, it is pretty much a “wash”, at this point however, with the theoretical results being so far:

Texas 5 Republican gains
California 5 Democratic gains
Virginia 4 Democratic gains
Ohio 2 Republican gains
North Carolina 1 Republican gain
Missouri 1 Republican gain
Utah 1 Democratic gain
Florida (special session next week, potential 1-5 Republican gain

Before Florida, theoretically, Democrats may have gained a one seat edge, but if Florida succeeds in its gerrymandering, Republicans could gain a few seats edge.

Also, still in limbo, but possibly taking gerrymandering action before the elections in November, are New York, Georgia, and Louisiana.

Of course, this is not even taking into consideration that public opinion of Republicans is in rapid decline.

Also, there will be massive turnover, with many retirements, and some resignations to avoid expulsion.

The economic situation and anti Iran War views of vast majorities of Americans is making for a very favorable climate for Democrats, who already have won a vast majority of off year and special elections since the results of the Presidential Election of 2024, now nearly a year and a half ago.

Growing Rivalry Between Trump And Vance Not New In Presidential-Vice Presidential Historical Relationships!

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With the competition for the 2028 Presidential Election just months away, beginning after the Midterm Elections of 2026 this November, a growing rivalry between President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance is becoming quite evident.

As Vance plans to run for President, if he does not succeed by use of the 25th Amendment or Trump’s passing, it is clear that Trump has distanced himself from Vance, as Vance is the so called “dove” in his administration, who was not really supportive of the Iran War, which Vance is now working to try to resolve.

The history of Presidential-Vice Presidential relationships is rife with rivalries and tensions, including

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr
John Quincy Adams and John C. Calhoun
Andrew Jackson and John C. Calhoun
James Buchanan and John C. Breckinridge
Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin
Theodore Roosevelt and Charles W. Fairbanks
Woodrow Wilson and Thomas Marshall
Calvin Coolidge and Charles G. Dawes
Franklin D. Roosevelt and John Nance Garner
Franklin D. Roosevelt and Henry A. Wallace
Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon
John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson and Hubert Humphrey
Bill Clinton and Al Gore
George W. Bush and Dick Cheney
Donald Trump and Mike Pence

Realize that in the history of the Vice Presidency, only four Vice Presidents succeeded the President they served under:

John Adams after George Washington
Thomas Jefferson after John Adams
Martin Van Buren after Andrew Jackson
George H. W. Bush after Ronald Reagan

So the challenge for JD Vance to succeed Donald Trump by election, not succession, will be a long shot in the record of history!

Only John C. Breckinridge in 1860; Henry A. Wallace in 1948; Richard Nixon in 1960 and then 1968 (out of office); Hubert Humphrey in 1968; Walter Mondale in 1984 (out of office); Al Gore in 2000; Joe Biden in 2020 (out of office); and Kamala Harris in 2024, have been able to be the nominee of the party they served under as Vice President, and with only Nixon and Biden making it to the White House belatedly!

Odds Of Democratic Senate Majority Growing

Ronald 19 Comments

The odds of a Democratic Senate majority in the upcoming 120th Congress (2027-2029) are growing, based on recent estimates and judgments of political experts.

A total of four additional Democratic victors, and preservation of three contested Democratic seats, are the challenge the party faces in 2026.

At least six seats are in play that are presently Republican held seats:

Alaska–Mary Peltola
Ohio–Sherrod Brown
Maine–Graham Platner or Janet Mills
North Carolina–Roy Cooper
Texas–James Talarico
Iowa–Josh Turek or Zach Wahls

Nebraska, with an Independent, Dan Osborn, and Montana, with an Independent, Seth Bodnar, are “wild cards” as well.

And Florida, with Alexander Vindman or Angie Nixon is also perceived as a long shot.

Of course, New Hampshire with Chris Pappas; Georgia with Jon Ossoff up for reelection; and Michigan with Abdul El-Sayed, Mallory McMorrow and Haley Stevens, are Democratic states with major challenges to keep the seats.

One Week Away, And So Much News Occurring!

Ronald 124 Comments

This blogger, author, and scholar has been away in Philadelphia for the past week, first time since 2008, visiting all of the historic sites and museums in that city, and also enjoying the musical “1776”, at the Walnut Theater, the oldest theater in America, going back to 1809 (the year of Abraham Lincoln’s birth), so now celebrating its 217th year.

While on vacation, so much news occurred, as one can never escape from reality, so we saw, among other news events the following:

Exposure of the abuses perpetrated by California Democratic Congressman Eric Swallwell, a leading candidate for Governor, forcing his withdrawal from that race, and resignation from Congress, a totally stunning event.

The continued conflict between Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV, including Trump being depicted as Jesus, or being blessed by Jesus, a true blasphemy of the true teachings of Christianity. It has alienated millions of American Catholics from Donald Trump.

The surprising overwhelming defeat of Hungarian right wing leader Viktor Orban in national elections, a real blow to the Fascist orientation of both Orban, and of Donald Trump and JD Vance, who campaigned to save him, and failed massively, undermining both Trump’s image, and the future of JD Vance.

Growing indications that with the Iran War continuing,

and with growing criticism of many of Donald Trump’s Cabinet members,

and with higher prices affecting tens of millions of Americans,

and also the clearcut enrichment of Trump and his family against the emoluments clause of the Constitution,

that Republicans are on the road to massive losses in the upcoming midterm elections of 2026.

No Posting For About A Week, As Visiting Philadelphia To Celebrate SemiQuinCentennial Anniversary Of Declaration Of Independence!

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This author, scholar, and blogger will not be posting for about a week, as I will be visiting Philadelphia, where I have been before, but not for more than a decade, to celebrate the upcoming Semiquincentennial Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, officially taking place on July 4, 2026.

Among the sites to be visited are Independence National Historical Park, the Liberty Bell, the National Constitution Center, and the Museum of the American Revolution, but also other historic sites in a city, Philadelphia, much underrated as a great tourist city.

This author and blogger is well aware that a lot can happen, much of it likely regrettable, but upon return, commentary on events and personalities will resume.