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For those who had the luxury and time and inclination to watch five days of an impeachment trial, and watched discussions, and read extensively, this may not be necessary.  But if you were not and did not, this is my analysis of what happened and why. 

Enjoy. 

The music is by G. Kevin Dewey, a musical legend in southeast Michigan.  

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Jews had traditionally said that they were "Germans of the Jewish faith" or something similar. But by the end of the 19th century there was a new movement -- Jewish nationalism or Zionism -- that had a different perspective.  Zionism is the belief that the Jews are not merely a religious or an ethnic group but a national people living in temporary exile and awaiting a return to their homeland.  How did this transformation occur?  This podcast discusses the enlightenment, its impact on Jewish thinking and Jewish standing in Europe,  the reaction against the enlightenment.  It discusses scientific racism, the Dreyfus Affair, the pogroms of 1881, the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, and the devastating impact of late industrialization on the Jewish social and economic system.  

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It is often helpful to understand how we think before we approach new material.  In American discourse, there are three dominant narratives in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, the Jewish Narrative, the Arab Narrative, and the Evangelical Narrative.   Each of these has a way of integrating and interpreting material that creates a coherent explanation of the nature of the conflict and how the various parties interact.    Many people deny they have a pre-existing narrative.  Their perspectives are objective and rooted in facts.  So they say.  

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I am going to present a series of podcasts on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.  For 40 years I taught a class on that topic.  I have published and lectured on that topic, and have visited Israel and Palestine (and other countries in the region) multiple times.  I think I have interesting insights that I am pleased to share.   This introduction will give you an idea of what will be in that series.  

Those who want to engage this topic seriously should also listen to the podcast on the narratives about Israel, and the podcast on Rules of Good Studenting.  

Many of these podcasts will be an hour long.  

Thoughtful feed back is welcome.  [email protected] 

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This is a discussion of the history and logic of impeachment.   What did our founders have in mind when they wrote of "high crimes"?  What do the concepts of Contract Theory of Government and "we the people" tell us?  Is the President subject to the law the way other citizens are?  Is there such a thing as "absolute Immunity," as Donald Trump said?  Is the president just like Louis XIV "except four years at a time," as Richard Nixon said? Can a President be sued while in office?  Or even arrested for shooting someone?  Can a president be impeached for being honest and well-meaning but totally incompetent?  

We will look at four cases, the non-impeachment of John Tyler, the impeachment and trial of Andrew Johnson, the  likely impeachment of Richard Nixon, and the impeachment and trial of Bill Clinton?  Should we think of TWO people in the Oval Office, Mr. President and Mr. Citizen?  If Mr. President uses his office to help Mr. Citizen (for example during a re-election campaign) would that be abuse of power?

Thanks to G. Kevin Dewey for writing the theme music, "Taking Stock." 

Thoughtful comments are welcome:  [email protected]

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Professor Stockton introduces himself and some of the topics he will be discussing.  Among those are the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict,  Religion and Politics, non-western political systems, the politics of revolution, American politics, public opinion and voting behavior, religio-ethnic groups, graveyards, contemporary events, and occasionally books and films of merit.  

Thoughtful comments are always welcome:  [email protected]

Update:  I am new at this.  Podcasts cannot accommodate power point lectures.  I will try to find an alternative posting technique.