Former President Donald Trump Found Guilty

 I am copying and pasting Heather Cox Richardson's blog for today:

"After slightly less than ten hours of deliberation, a jury today found former president Donald J. Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in order to unlawfully influence the 2016 election.

For the first time in our history, a former president of the United States is a convicted felon.

For the first time in our history, a former president of the United States has been convicted of committing crimes to steal an election. 

Republican senators could have convicted Trump of high crimes and misdemeanors in 2019. In that year, the House impeached Trump after he tried to rig the 2020 presidential election by withholding congressionally appropriated funds to support Ukraine’s resistance to Russia’s 2014 invasion. He withheld the funds to try to force Ukraine president Volodomyr Zelensky to manufacture dirt on Democrat Joe Biden.

Republican senators could have convicted Trump, but they acquitted him.

Republican senators could have convicted Trump of high crimes and misdemeanors in 2021. In that year, the House impeached him after he tried to seize the presidency by instigating an attack on the U.S. Capitol and trying to rig the count of the electoral vote after Americans had elected Democrat Joe Biden. 

Republican senators could have convicted Trump, but they acquitted him.

Today, twelve ordinary Americans did what Republican senators refused to do. They protected the rule of law and held Trump accountable for his attempt to rig an election." 

From the NYT Editorial Board this morning:  "In a humble courtroom in Lower Manhattan on Thursday, a former president and current Republican standard-bearer was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The jury’s decision, and the facts presented at the trial, offer yet another reminder — perhaps the starkest to date — of the many reasons Donald Trump is unfit for office.

The guilty verdict in the former president’s hush-money case was reached by a unanimous jury of 12 randomly selected New Yorkers, who found that Mr. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, was guilty of falsifying business records to prevent voters from learning about a sexual encounter that he believed would have been politically damaging."

One more quote from Jeff Monroe on the 12Blog:  "What have we learned? Will this change anything? I wish it would but doubt it. Will Trump learn? Change? Don’t be ridiculous. The man’s narcissism prevents him from admitting error and he is incapable of remorse."

My thoughts and reactions:  I am amazed and happy with this verdict. I had thought it would be a hung jury--that at least one person would find it difficult to convict a man who seems to have so much power--bullying power--over others.  Jim thought they would convict but not on all 34 counts.  So now we wait for Trump's appeals--and sentencing in July.  He can still be elected president in November--even if it is from prison.  But he can't pardon himself from this state sentencing at least. 

I had prayed for this jury and am thankful they could come to a decision so quickly.  I will continue to pray for our country and good leaders.  I have prayed for Donald J. Trump that he can have a change of heart and stop insulting others and inciting violence. I am hoping that someone like Goldwater will come forward as he did when he told Nixon to resign.  We need  Republican leaders who will say this is enough and we need a better candidate to run in November. 

Grandpa and Grandma VK

 

Heather Cox Richardson in her Memorial Day post pointed out that when a serviceman died, the potential for generations after him died with him.  It made me think about my dad's coming home after 1 1/2 years in Europe during WWII and my coming into this world 9-10 months later.  And because he came home safely, I was born, and then Jim and I had three children and those children brought eight grandchildren into the world.  Generations--and may there be more to come.  It would be a blessing and a joy to see great-grandchildren come into this world but I know we will have to wait for that!

We moved to the East coast to be able to participate more in the lives of our children and grandchildren.  Saturday Laura was coming to Princeton to do the P-rade of Princeton alumni.  She wanted to bring A and R with her and wondered if they could be with us for the afternoon.  Susan and Jeff invited all of us for a cookout lunch on their deck.  They drove Laura into town and we brought A and R home with us.  I had been a bit concerned about entertaining them for the afternoon and had asked Laura to bring along a deck of cards.  I researched how to play Spoons--and it came back to me easily enough. But we never got to Spoons.  That will be saved for another time. 

 A had plans of his own.  He entertained us with a card magic trick and then a mind-reading trick.  R followed with her version of the card trick.  I was amazed at their cleverness and confidence!  I asked R to play Scrabble with me.  We had a great game in which I was ahead at first and then it was a tie and Ruth pulled it out to win at the end!  R and I made brownies--she said that she loves to bake and we both loved to eat those treats! Jim got both children to take short walks with him to the recycling bin and the mail room--his usual jaunts.  A  child's perspective is always interesting.  A asked Jim how we can find our own apartment when they all look alike.  Apartment living is definitely not a part of his life!  His oldest brother, now 17, can remember apartment living in NYC--but that was far different than ours--on the 34th floor of a skyscraper.  

I was surprised when Laura called to say she was on her way to pick up her children and head for home. The afternoon had gone so quickly!

Tonight we hope to leave our place around 5 in order to get to Black Rock Middle School's spring band concert.  Both R and S will be in their grade level bands and both are in auditioned jazz bands.  It's an hour's drive from here if there was minimal traffic but we don't count on that. More to come on this post after we get home tonight.  

-----------May 31.  There was NOT minimal traffic and we barely made it in time to the school in order to make a quick bathroom stop and get into the seats Laura had saved before the concert started.  R played in the 6th grade band numbers and even introduced one of them.  S played in the 8th grade numbers.  They both played in the competition jazz band numbers.  It was a joy to hear the concert and to be able to support our grandchildren's musical talents and hard work. 

When we got into the car, I turned on my cell phone and checked my email and Facebook--and to my complete surprise and joy, Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts by the NY jury.  More on that later today because it is a historic moment and a very troubling one. We were home by 10 pm. 

A Visit to Stonebridge

 

I have not had much to write about lately.  However, yesterday could be a day on which we will look back as being very important.  We met with Elise Hug, a sales coordinator at Stonebridge, a senior living community.  She has had email contact with Jim for a few years but we had not met her.  Rather than going to another group information meeting, Jim asked her to meet individually with us to answer our questions.

She began our time together by showing us two apartments, the Pennington and the Somerset.  Both were what we would request--two bedrooms plus a nook or den so that Jim could have a study.  We were very impressed with how spacious and bright the apartments looked.  Yes, there was a washer and a dryer.  Yes, the kitchen appliances were full sized.  There was good closet space and even a little screened-in porch. 

 We had questions about medical concerns.  There is a nurse on the premises and options for urgent care.  There is security if one falls or needs help quickly.  Some doctors come to appointments on site.

Plus the meal plan is enticing! A point system enables you to choose when you want to use their meals.  I don't understand the cafe option or the dining hall option but that we could figure out when and if we sign up. 

Elise explained a bit more about the options of traditional and refundable fees and also the difference for Lifecare options in which your rates for the next level of care do not increase.  Making these financial decisions is a challenge and a gamble because of course one cannot predict what the next years will bring.  She stressed that even as one goes on the wait list, there would be at least a two month process to get in.  And that not that many units come up as available. 

 We know that we have to be in good health and "independent" to be accepted as well as to meet financial criteria.  So far we think we would be OK in both accounts.  

So how do we know what we should do? We really like our lovely apartment here at Barclay Square.  We learned that New Jersey law says that one can break a lease to move into senior continued care housing.  That was news to us and good to know as we have just signed a lease until July 2025.  It was also good to learn that as expensive as buying into Stonebridge would be, there are tax benefits with deductions one can take. 

It is so much easier to stay right where we are and not face the stress of a move.  Fortunately we have downsized once five years ago.  Jim mentioned the challenge of getting to know another community which does not threaten me although I do wonder how you find dining partners night after night.  Jim did ask that if he moved to Stonebridge, would I join him and I heartily agreed.  So whatever we do, at this point we can do it together!  

In Praise of Facebook

 

Today is Mother's Day.  Jeff and Susan sent a beautiful bouquet a few days ago.  Laura sent greetings this morning with a text photo of her and R in Paris--with a group of other mothers and daughters; they plan to hear a Taylor Swift concert. Dan and Alexandra called this evening and did Facetime with us from their home in the Catskills.

 We didn't make it to church this morning because it was cold and rainy and easier to do Livestream when we have a several block walk from the municipal parking lot. So it is a bit of a melancholy day home alone with Jim--and grateful for his presence with me at least! 

On impulse when Facebook sent me a memory of a photo Susan posted in 2019 of Jim and me and baby Jeff, I shared it to my FB Feed with the caption "A long, long time ago I became a mother."  

That post has generated many likes and loves and so many comments that I added another comment saying "This is why I don't give up on Facebook.  On a rainy afternoon in Princeton, New Jersey, those comments bring me joy and connections!"

There is a comment from one of my 5th grade students (my first year of teaching) I had mentioned in an earlier blog, "That's my teacher!" There are several comments from high school friends and one from a Harvard student housing friend remembering how we hung out diapers together.  Neighbors from Raleigh remembered us.  A friend from our church in South Bend wondered when he first saw the photo if it was of "Weather Underground leaders re-emerging after years on the lam."  A couple of former Family LIteracy students commented.  Other friends from our South Bend church said they missed us!  Many wished me a Happy Mother's Day.

My heart is warmed to think of friends from each era in our lives--and the opportunity to keep up contacts with them that Facebook provides.