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Articles by Bob Topper
Mid-Terms 2026, Trump, Ukraine, And American Democracy’s Final Battle
News updates By Bob Topper: A disturbing essay by conservative Republican Judge Michael J. Luttig, The Final Battle for American Democracy, lays out steps that Trump and his minions will likely take to overturn the results of the coming midterm election. The Trump gang will refuse to seat a duly elected Democrat majority. This possibility should not be ignored.… By Bob Topper: A disturbing essay by conservative Republican Judge Michael J.
The cost of abandoning America’s founding principles
As a college student in Washington D.C., I visited our nation’s great museums and monuments – the White House, and the Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln Memorials. Seeing the Lincoln Memorial after midnight, when the lights were dimmed, was especially moving. Then, Lincoln’s face came alive, somber, and compassionate, yet determined. In the 1960’s, one could drive up to the Lincoln […] Remember Me
The cost of abandoning America’s founding principles
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... By Bob Topper As a college student in Washington D.C. I visited our nation’s great museums and monuments – the White House, and the Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln Memorials. Seeing the Lincoln Memorial after midnight, when the lights were dimmed, was especially moving. Then, Lincoln’s face came alive, somber, and compassionate, yet determined.
The Cost of Abandoning America’s Founding Principles
As a college student in Washington, D.C. I visited our nation’s great museums and monuments – the White House and the Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln Memorials. Seeing the Lincoln Memorial after midnight, when the lights were dimmed, was especially moving. Then, Lincoln’s face came alive, somber, and compassionate, yet determined. In the 1960’s one could drive up to the Lincoln Memorial at any time of day and park in front of the Reflecting Pool. Washington is not so open and inviting today.
Moderate Democrats are making a mistake
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... By Bob Topper In an earlier essay on “Why Democrats Lost Voter Confidence,” I noted that the Democratic party’s approval rating was a dismal 33%. Nine months later their approval is still dismal, at 37.8%, only slightly better than Trump’s, and that is after the incompetence and corruption of his administration has become evident to all but the die-hard supporters. Still, Democrats hope to win the House and possibly the Senate in the midterm elections.
Moderate Democrats are making a mistake
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Capitalism or Socialism? It’s not a binary choice. Moderate Democrats are making a mistake.
Breaking News But hope is not strategy and it risks blinding Democrats to a harsh reality. Despite widespread dissatisfaction with the current administration, the Democratic Party remains less favorable in voters’ eyes than the Republican Party. Criticizing Trump is not enough. To regain voter confidence, they must also reevaluate and change their own policies and positions. The post Capitalism or Socialism? It’s not a binary choice. Moderate Democrats are making a mistake.
Corporate Democrats Should Be Listening To Progressives—Instead Of Fighting Them
Africa By Bob Topper Photos: Wikimedia Commons Photo Above: Florida progressive Angela Nixon shocked the Democratic Party establishment beating leadership favorite Alex Vindman, in the 2026 Florida Democratic Primary. Vindman had a $16 million war-chest, while Nixon couldn’t even afford a television ad. In an earlier essay on “Why Democrats Lost Voter Confidence,” I noted that the Democratic party’s approval rating was a dismal 33%.
Pope Leo And George Washington—Defenders Of Religious Freedom
Africa By Bob Topper Photos: YouTube Screenshots|Wikimedia Commons In his farewell address, Washington warned of the danger of political parties. He believed that loyalty to a party over the nation would divide the country and he feared that cunning individuals would use party power for revenge and their own gain. As America celebrates its 250th year, Washington’s fears have been realized.
George Washington and Pope Leo – Defenders of Religious Freedom
In his farewell address, Washington warned of the danger of political parties. He believed that loyalty to a party over the nation would divide the country and he feared that cunning individuals would use party power for revenge and their own gain. As America celebrates its 250th year, Washington’s fears have been realized.
Topper: AI agents should be good citizens
With artificial intelligence, we are entering an era where information owned by the public can be manipulated to benefit special interests and at the expense of the common good. Far worse, Stephen Hawking, perhaps the brightest mind of this generation, warned that AI could bring about the end of the human race. That prospect has also concerned AI developers, including Sam Altman, Dario Amodei, Elon Musk, and the “godfather of AI,” Geoffrey Hinton.
Is AI An Existential Threat To Humanity?
Africa By Bob Topper Photos: Wikimedia Commons With artificial intelligence, we are entering an era where information that is owned by the public can be manipulated to benefit special interests and at the expense of the common good. Far worse, Stephen Hawking, perhaps the brightest mind of this generation, warned that AI could bring about the end of the human race.
Faith Over Facts: Cognitive Dissonance in Today’s Republican Party
The most concerning example of cognitive dissonance is the Republican adoration of Donald Trump, some claiming he was divinely ordained to lead America to greatness. For years I have tried to understand how and why so many of my family and friends, good and intelligent people, buy into the Trump-MAGA promise of quick and easy solutions to complex problems. I see why they believe government has let them down and understand why they believe transgender athletes should not compete in women’s sports.
Cognitive Dissonance and the Republican Party
For years, I have tried to understand how and why so many of my family and friends, good and intelligent people, buy into the Trump-MAGA promise of quick and easy solutions to complex problems. I see why they believe the government has let them down and understand why they believe transgender athletes should not compete in women’s sports.
OPINION: Why the separation of church and state is crucial for democracy
During the Age of Reason, the Enlightenment thinkers realized that human reasoning provided a better understanding of our natural world than the explanations found in ancient religions. The Enlightenment spawned Humanism, a non-religious, democratic, and ethical life stance that emphasized human reason, compassion, and scientific inquiry rather than divine intervention.
Why the Separation of Church and State is Crucial for Democracy
During the Age of Reason, the Enlightenment thinkers realized that human reasoning provided a better understanding of our natural world than the explanations found in ancient religions. The Enlightenment spawned Humanism, a non-religious, democratic, and ethical life stance that emphasized human reason, compassion, and scientific inquiry rather than divine intervention.
Why the separation of church and state is crucial for democracy
During the Age of Reason, the Enlightenment thinkers realized that human reasoning provided a better understanding of our natural world than the explanations found in ancient religions. The Enlightenment spawned Humanism, a non-religious, democratic, and ethical life stance that emphasized human reason, compassion, and scientific inquiry rather than divine intervention.
Opinion: Why the separation of church and state is crucial for democracy
During the Age of Reason, the Enlightenment thinkers realized that human reasoning provided a better understanding of our natural world than the explanations found in ancient religions. The Enlightenment spawned humanism, a non-religious, democratic and ethical life stance that emphasized human reason, compassion and scientific inquiry rather than divine intervention.
Why we need a Federal Artificial Intelligence Commission
The Airwaves Radio was introduced commercially in 1920, when the Westinghouse Corp. launched station KDKA in Pittsburg. Other stations followed. Because transmission frequencies could be chosen arbitrarily, stations interfered with one another’s broadcasts. The system became chaotic; listeners could hear two stations simultaneously.
Lessons About AI Must Be Learned For The Common Good
Africa News Reported By Bob Topper Photos: Wikimedia Commons In the last century people marveled at the Wright brothers’ success. Just 66 years later, an awestruck world watched American astronauts walk on the moon. Technical advances became prosaic. But we should be paying more attention to Artificial Intelligence. For this revolution we will not be casual observers. It will change our lives in fundamental ways. We are not prepared and our government is sleeping.
AI and the Lesson Not Learned
In the last century people marveled at the Wright brothers’ success. Just 66 years later, an awestruck world watched American astronauts walk on the moon. Technical advances became prosaic. But we should be paying more attention to Artificial Intelligence. For this revolution we will not be casual observers. It will change our lives in fundamental ways. We are not prepared and our government is sleeping.
AI, and the lessons unlearned from history
Photo: © Kaikoro/stock.adobe.com In the last century people marveled at the Wright Brothers’ success. Just 66 years later, an awestruck world watched American astronauts walk on the moon. Technical advances became prosaic. But we should be paying more attention to AI. For this revolution we will not be casual observers. It will change our lives in fundamental ways. We are not prepared, and our government is sleeping.
Unbounded Narcissism: Trump’s Authoritarian Art Of Exploitation Endangers Our World
American News Updates Pressured by Donald Trump, the bill was voted down in the Republican controlled House of Representatives. Trump wanted immigration to be a central issue in his upcoming campaign for re-election. It should have been clear to everyone then that Trump sought to exploit the immigration problem, not solve it. His motive? Political gain. With the deployment of ICE troops in Minnesota the exploitation goes on.
King of the World - Trump and the Art of Exploitation
In 2024, the Senate passed a bipartisan immigration and security bill negotiated by Republican Senator James Langford of Oklahoma. The $118 billion package allocated $60 billion to Ukraine defense, and over $20 billion to DHS for border security enforcement, including detention facilities, personnel, technology, and asylum processing. Pressured by Donald Trump, the bill was voted down in the Republican controlled House of Representatives.
Commentary: Elections have yielded Mencken’s prophesy
In December 1783, George Washington resigned his commission as Commander-in-Chief and returned to his beloved Mount Vernon. He was one of the wealthiest men in America. He could have been king; loved and revered national hero, who would have denied him? But he had devoted eight years of his life leading the War of Independence and was committed to an American Republic.
Morons and the inner soul of the American people
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... By Bob Topper In December of 1783, George Washington resigned his commission as Commander-in-Chief and returned to his beloved Mount Vernon. He was one of the wealthiest men in America. He could have been king; loved and revered national hero, who would have denied him? But he had devoted eight years of his life leading the War of Independence and was committed to an American Republic.
Morons and the Inner Soul of the American People
In December of 1783, George Washington resigned his commission as Commander-in-Chief and returned to his beloved Mount Vernon. He was one of the wealthiest men in America. He could have been king; loved and revered national hero, who would have denied him? But he had devoted eight years of his life leading the War of Independence and was committed to an American Republic.
An appeal for diversity, inclusion
Religious conservatives waged a 50-year battle to deny the rights of gay and lesbian people, especially the right to marry. As the dominate force in the GOP, they coerced traditional Republicans to formally oppose same sex marriage, and make it a national political issue in the 1990’s. They also oppose the Equality Act which would extend federal protections to LGBTQ people nationwide. And at the state level, Republican legislators, as in Florida, passed “don’t say gay” laws targeting LBGTQ people.
Topper: Trans, the new anti-gay crusade
Religious conservatives waged a 50-year battle to deny the rights of gay and lesbian people, especially the right to marry. As the dominant force in the GOP, they coerced traditional Republicans to formally oppose same-sex marriage, and make it a national political issue in the 1990s. They also oppose the Equality Act, which would extend federal protections to LGBTQ people nationwide. And at the state level, Republican legislators, as in Florida, passed “don’t say gay” laws targeting LGBTQ people.
Trans - the new anti-gay crusade
Religious conservatives waged a 50-year battle to deny the rights of gay and lesbian people, especially the right to marry. As the dominate force in the GOP, they coerced traditional Republicans to formally oppose same sex marriage, and make it a national political issue in the 1990’s. They also oppose the Equality Act which would extend federal protections to LGBTQ people nationwide. And at the state level, Republican legislators, as in Florida, passed “don’t say gay” laws targeting LBGTQ people.
Trans - the New Anti-Gay Crusade
Image by Delia Giandeini. Religious conservatives waged a 50-year battle to deny the rights of gay and lesbian people, especially the right to marry. As the dominate force in the GOP, they coerced traditional Republicans to formally oppose same sex marriage, and make it a national political issue in the 1990’s. They also oppose the Equality Act which would extend federal protections to LGBTQ people nationwide.
The Conservative Right’s Transphobic Hysteria Is The New Anti-Gay Crusade
Black News Africa By Bob Topper Photos: Wikimedia Commons Religious conservatives waged a 50-year battle to deny the rights of gay and lesbian people, especially the right to marry. As the dominate force in the GOP, they coerced traditional Republicans to formally oppose same sex marriage, and make it a national political issue in the 1990’s. They also oppose the Equality Act which would extend federal protections to LGBTQ people nationwide.
Woke - Weaponized language
In 1939, Billie Holiday gave voice to a nation’s darkest truths with Strange Fruit, her haunting lament for the bodies of Black men and women hanging from trees in the Southern states. The year before, bluesman Lead Belly had recorded Scottsboro Boys, a ballad chronicling the prosecution of nine Black teenagers falsely accused of rape.
Topper: Why Democrats lost voter confidence
Democrats are relieved by the outcome of the last election. They think the people finally see the Trump administration for what it is, a fascist-leaning government that favors the rich and well-connected, at the expense of the poor. The wins are impressive, but to move past the Trump era, there is much more work to do. Democrats lost two presidential elections to a charlatan and the party approval rating is abysmal. A Wall Street Journal poll conducted in July showed their favorability at only 33%.
Democrats' struggle to regain voter trust
(PeaceVoice) – Democrats are relieved by the outcome of the last election. They think that the people finally see the Trump administration for what it is, a fascist-leaning government that favors the rich and well connected at the expense of the poor. The wins are impressive, but to move past the Trump era, there is much more work to do. Democrats lost two presidential elections to a charlatan and the party’s approval rating is abysmal.
Why Democrats Lost Voter Confidence
Democrats are relieved by the outcome of the last election. They think that the people finally see the Trump administration for what it is, a fascist-leaning government that favors the rich and well-connected at the expense of the poor. The wins are impressive, but to move past the Trump era, there is much more work to do. Democrats lost two presidential elections to a charlatan and the party’s approval rating is abysmal.
Why Democrats lost voter confidence
Democrats are relieved by the outcome of the last election. They think that the people finally see the Trump administration for what it is, a fascist-leaning government that favors the rich and well-connected at the expense of the poor. The wins are impressive, but to move past the Trump era, there is much more work to do. Democrats lost two presidential elections to a charlatan, and the party’s approval rating is abysmal. A Wall Street Journal poll conducted in July showed favorability at only 33%.
Commentary: America embracing fascism?
Fascism is an ultra-nationalist political ideology that rejects liberal democracy and values nation and race over the individual. It is strict authoritarian rule wrapped in nationalism, and it is fundamentally opposed to American ideals of freedom, equality, and democracy. Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini were fascist dictatorial leaders in WWII. Both Germany and Italy were responsible for horrific crimes against humanity.
America: the first antifascist nation
Fascism is an ultra-nationalist political ideology that rejects liberal democracy and values nation and race over the individual. It is strict authoritarian rule wrapped in nationalism, and it is fundamentally opposed to American ideals of freedom, equality, and democracy. Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini were fascist dictatorial leaders in WWII. Both Germany and Italy were responsible for horrific crimes against humanity.
America - the First Antifascist Nation
Fascism is an ultra-nationalist political ideology that rejects liberal democracy and values nation and race over the individual. It is strict authoritarian rule wrapped in nationalism, and it is fundamentally opposed to American ideals of freedom, equality, and democracy. Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini were fascist dictatorial leaders in WWII. Both Germany and Italywere responsible for horrific crimes against humanity.
Christians Don’t Own the Moral High Ground?
Fundamentalists were angered in 1973 when the Supreme Court confirmed the right to abortion and the rights of the LGBTQ community to live life as they choose. In their eyes, these human rights were seen as violating God’s laws. Moreover, they worried that with the decline in church attendance, America would become a godless and immoral society.
Christians no longer own the moral high ground
Fundamentalists were angered in 1973 when the Supreme Court confirmed the right to abortion and the rights of the LGBTQ community to live life as they choose. In their eyes, these human rights violated god’s laws. Moreover, they worried that with the decline in church attendance, America would become a godless and immoral society.
Topper: Why the shakedown of liberal education?
According to the University of Texas, the four overriding purposes of a liberal education are the comprehension of “liberty” and “humanism;” the “contemplation of truth and virtue;” and mastering the “skills of learning, and of constructing knowledge out of information.” These objectives have been supported by every administration in memory, both Republican and Democratic, for a liberal education provides the skills needed for people to contribute to our complex society in rational and...
The Education Shakedown
According to the , the four overriding purposes of a liberal education are; the comprehension of “liberty” and “humanism;” the “contemplation of truth and virtue” and mastering the “skills of learning, and of constructing knowledge out of information.” These objectives have been supported by every administration in memory, both Republican and Democratic, for a liberal education provides the skills needed for people to contribute to our complex society in rational and meaningful ways.
Why the shakedown of liberal education?
According to the , the four overriding purposes of a liberal education are: the comprehension of “liberty” and “humanism;” the “contemplation of truth and virtue,” and mastering the “skills of learning, and of constructing knowledge out of information.” These objectives have been supported by every administration in memory, both Republican and Democratic, for a A Yet the Trump administration has demanded outrageous sums from universities that champion liberal education...Columbia - 200...
The Root of Our Political Divide? Money.
Die-hard supporters like to claim that Trump is no different than any other politician; they are all corrupt. A good friend of mine took that position recently when I commented about the money Trump has accumulated since the November election. He defended Trump saying that Biden did the same thing. False equivalents like this and strawman arguments are the Republican go-to strategies. According to Forbes, Biden’s estimated net worth is $10 million.
The root of our political divide? Money.
Die-hard supporters like to claim that President Donald Trump is no different than any other politician; they are all corrupt. A good friend of mine took that position recently when I commented about the money Trump has accumulated since the November election. He defended Trump saying that Joe Biden did the same thing. False equivalents like this and strawman arguments are the Republican go-to strategies. According to Forbes, Biden's estimated net worth is $10 million.
Autocrat Goals: MAGA Works to Achieve Trump’s Dream
Autocrats acquire their extreme wealth at the expense of the people. Trump acts like an autocrat and wants to be one, an ambition that MAGA Republicans support. Autocrats acquire their extreme wealth at the expense of the people. Trump acts like an autocrat and wants to be one, an ambition that MAGA Republicans support. Die-hard supporters like to claim that Trump is no different than any other politician; they are all corrupt.
The Root of Our Political Divide? Money
Die-hard supporters like to claim that Trump is no different than any other politician; they are all corrupt. A good friend of mine took that position recently when I commented about the money Trump has accumulated since the November election. He defended Trump saying that Biden did the same thing. False equivalents like this and strawman arguments are the Republican go-to strategies. According to Forbes, Biden's estimated net worth is $10 million.
Christian Nationalists and Trump Establish Minority Rule
In Miracles and Wonder – the Historical Mystery of Jesus, Princeton historian and professor of religion Elaine Pagels explains how and why Christianity appealed to so many people. After 2,000 years, it still captivates some 28% of the world population – more than any other faith or declared secularists.
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