Thoughts for the Day, August 27, 2025: Inch by Inch
Inch by Inch, Day by Day………..
Quote of the Day: “Not that I don’t have — I would — the right to do anything I want to do. I’m the president of the United States. If I think our country is in danger — and it is in danger in these cities — I can do it” President Trump
President Trump’s bid to fire a member of the Federal Reserve board is a new escalation of his efforts to amass more power over American government and society.
Trump has inserted himself into just about every aspect of American life — beyond politics and governance. He is staging a cultural revolution reminiscent of the one in China in the 1960s and ‘70s that destroyed much of the country’s heritage and suppressed intellectual thought.
Trump wants to fundamentally change the culture of our country to reflect not America as it is today, but as it once was, controlled by an old, white, conservative patriarchy. He is attempting to turn back the tide of what he calls left “woke” messaging in everything from university curriculum to Hollywood movies to elementary school reading lists.
To solidify his utopia of a white Christian nation, Trump has infiltrated and appropriated control of some of the most revered cultural institutions in America.
Library of Congress-One of the oldest and most important cultural bodies in the country is the Library of Congress.
The Smithsonian-The Smithsonian, founded in 1846, is an independent cultural institution made up of 21 museums, 21 libraries, 14 education and research centers, historic landmarks, and a zoo “for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” It welcomes 30 million visitors every year and is run by a board of regents consisting of three U.S. senators, three representatives, and members of the public.
The Kennedy Center-The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is the cultural hub of Washington, D.C. It hosts hundreds of plays, concerts, and dance performances every year. The center celebrates and promotes American artistic talent, while serving as the official residence of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera.
PBS & NPR-President Lyndon Johnson signed the Public Broadcasting Act into law 60 years ago, making way for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR).
Of course Trump is doing more, much more, to move the needle backward. Almost every executive action is about not improving our nation, but rebranding America with a Trump logo. He is using the power of the presidency to rewrite American history and destroy our culture as we have known it — and remake the nation in his sordid image.
On every front, Trump is trying to take hold of power that belongs to others—to Congress, to the courts, to independent agencies like the Fed, most importantly, the power that belongs to us, the American people, the power to vote. Force and intimidation are not strategies we associate with American presidents. Those are not constitutional prerogatives the Founding Fathers assigned to the president. That is how dictators operate. That is how Trump operates.
Let’s call it what it is. There is no reason to pretend that this isn’t happening. It’s time for all of us to stand up and be heard.
Note: the above is a combination of various news articles and blogs, including the NY Times, Heather Cox Richardson, Joyce Vance and Dan Rather as well as my own words.
Weakness personified
Of all the things that are going on with the Trump presidency, the thing that turns my stomach the most is the Republican lapdogs in congress who are allowing Trump to run roughshod over the constitution by ignoring the constitutionally defined rolls of the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of government. They have forsaken their oath of office. They are a dishonor to their position. (Note: the Democrat members of congress are not much better as they continue to play under the rules of an antiquated rulebook that no longer applies.)
Each member of congress takes an oath of office to honor the constitution and the laws of the land. This includes honoring the constitutionally defined roles of the executive, judicial, and legislative. Out of fear of retribution and retaliation, members of Congress do not speak out loud enough, or pushback hard enough on Trump and his actions. They sit back and acquiesce to everything Trump does and wants to do.
The Constitution as defined by our founding fathers is crumbling before our eyes as all members of congress sit back and allow it to happen. It makes me ill.
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Finally, some pushback
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is not afraid of President Trump. He is challenging Trump in a way I have not seen. He is using his governor’s pulpit to pushback and go toe-to-toe with Trump.
“The state of Illinois is ready to stand against this military deployment with every peaceful tool we have. We will see the Trump administration in court. We will use every lever in our disposal to protect the people of Illinois and their rights.”
“Finally,” he said, “to the Trump administration officials who are complicit in this scheme, to the public servants who have forsaken their oath to the Constitution to serve the petty whims of an arrogant little man, to any federal official who would come to Chicago and try to incite my people into violence as a pretext for something darker and more dangerous, we are watching, and we are taking names. This country has survived darker periods than the one that we are going through right now. And eventually, the pendulum will swing back, maybe even next year. Donald Trump has already shown himself to have little regard for the many acolytes that he has encouraged to commit crimes on his behalf. You can delay justice for a time, but history shows you cannot prevent it from finding you eventually.
“If you hurt my people, nothing will stop me, not time or political circumstance, from making sure that you face justice under our constitutional rule of law. As Dr. King once said, the arc of the moral Universe is long, but it bends toward justice. Humbly, I would add, it doesn't bend on its own. History tells us we often have to apply force needed to make sure that the arc gets where it needs to go. This is one of those times.”
Governor Pritzker gets my Orchid of the Day
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Quote of the Day: See above by President Trump
Onion of the Day: The sloppy play by the Tigers in their first two games with the Athletics. Errors, missing the cutoff, bobbles, walks, poor baserunning, etc. have led to unearned runs and missed opportunities in their two losses to the Athletics in a two-run game and a one-run game.
Question of the Day: What does it take for the Democrats in congress to show some backbone and spine and start playing by the new political rulebook that Trump is following?
Lyrics of the Day: Well, if you told me you were drowning, I would not lend a hand. I’ve seen your face before, my friend but I don't know if you know who I am.
Well, I was there and I saw what you did I saw it with my own two eyes
So you can wipe off that grin, I know where you've been. It's all been a pack of lies.
If you think you know the song and the artist, send me your answer in the comments section of the blog.
Answer to Lyrics of the Day for August 25: You can call me Al. Paul Simon
Video of the Day: He is not Steve Perry, but Arnel Pineda is damn good. Don’t Stop Believin’
(1240) Journey - Don't Stop Believin' (Live In Japan 2017: Escape + Frontiers) - YouTube
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