April 15 is a curiously fraught day in American history. In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers to put down a rebellion in the southern states. In 1865, Lincoln breathed his last at 7:22 a.m., and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, who adored the president, said, “Now he belongs to the ages.”
Thank you for referencing this was the day of Lincoln’s demise and the Boston Marathon bombing. That bombing involved my neighbors where the mother was a participant and her two children, a boy and a girl, and husband were anxious observers. One of those bombs caused shrapnel to penetrate near the son’s groin. He was in the hospital for quite a few weeks. He had been standing near another child who was injured also. Obama visited with the families and I know my neighbors really felt the warmth and sincerity he projected. The family was, of course, traumatized for years but the son I mentioned, is graduating from Annapolis Naval Academy next month. He plans to stay in the military. I saw him a few months back when he was home for the holidays. He called out to me and gave me a big hug. I have known him since he was a wee lad and now he is this tall handsome man who has his future ahead of him. I truly wish this for every child and for them to grow up knowing Biden and Harris have their backs. Those like Trump and Company must be put out to pasture. Thanks, Heather.
My favorite line here, that "only a few dozen of his supporters showed up at the court today."
The fat, pampered, ever-grifting orange liar had called out for his supporters massively to storm the proceedings. They didn't show. Lawrence O'Donnell on his evening show also dwelt on this.
Dems haven't even begun to get together, running for office in the November elections. It'll be wonderful when they do. But we may be looking at MAGA fatigue. Millions may be realizing they've been hearing the same lies, the same braggadocio, the same relentless, self-pitying victimization.
Pathetic while it lasted. But the dictator allies and mass murderers are still at it abroad. U.S. billionaires are still at their schemes in America. Clarence court still can't read the Constitution's Article 14, section three. And Dems, so aided by legions of good women across the land, are still yet to come alive as historic tide should turn finally this year.
Today also happens to be the day, 80 years ago, that my uncle, Walter Kattenburg, age 24, and my aunt, Sophia Kattenburg-Polak, age 22, were murdered at Auschwitz. I was 3 years old then, and would never get to know them. Today, I’m burning memorial candles to honor them.
Kinda weird, that the criminal orange hemorrhoid from Queens is trying to return the United States to those days.
On one hand, the events of today are historically sad, in that it really has come to this.
On the other hand, the events of today are historically promising in that 12 ordinary jurors and a few nerdy lawyers get a fair shot to nail their country's slimiest scumbag, and there ain't nothing more he can do about it.
One has to wonder how Trump will hold up, sitting at the defense table for week after week and seething. How will his demented psyche handle the growing realization that prison awaits? An epic meltdown seems inevitable. It’s all going to be messy and fraught as justice, finally, arrives.
I always appreciate the historical context you provide. After a day spend reading admittedly very good legal analyses of events from Joyce Vance, Chris of Law Dork and many others, a bit of history to add depth is a welcome breath of fresh air.
"Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff all released their taxes, revealing that their salaries make up most of their income."
It seems to me that this is one of those "If you can't take the heat..." things that ought to go with accepting a powerful public office. History indicates that maintaining adequate separation of what one in such a position does to benefit their private interests that may have negative tradeoffs (cough, cough) on the public interest they are obligated to serve, is an ongoing challenge, and not one that is always adequately observed. Personal privacy is a right, but less so when one chooses to impose impacts on others., legally or not. If our representatives are to serve a government of, by and for the people, we have a right to demand enhanced transparency concerning what they are up to. If you what to be a private citizen, fine. If you want to be entrusted with sweeping public powers, expect greatly increased supervision. That power remains the property of the public.
It gives me a warm feeling simply to know that the man is being compelled to sit silently (mostly) in a chair for 32 hours per week while someone else commands the spotlight and directs the proceedings. Perhaps the only two things the man cares about; money and votes, are both flowing away between his fingers. His stock continues to sag and the poll numbers are now moving in a direction that doesn't favor him. And, there are still 7 months to go before November. I believe he's in a slow-motion death spiral as a public figure.
I wonder whether our republic is exhausted. Everything about Trump seems to be rotten to the core, yet he has a following. Pro-Putin Republicans, about eighty in number (at most) obstruct aid, the denial of which saps the Ukrainian will to fight. Russia then butchers a free, proud, democratic people.
What is it about these M.A.G.A. people? what do they see in the tripe of Putin and Trump?
(EDITED from a tasteless statement motivated by my sense that there is a homo-erotic element to Trump's affection for strongmen.)
The bail bond is flimsy, like everything else about Trump. The slide in Truth Social stock pricing proves what it really is: a massive political contribution channeled through a conduit in the capital markets. That money raised can now circumvent limits of donors by obscuring the dark money. The whole thing stinks. Can not accountability be faster and more agile?
In 2013, my daughter was standing between where the bombs exploded while she was a student in Boston. She was unharmed but it took her years before she told me how close she was right those who were injured.
My question is this: assuming a jury can be selected, and that Trump again ignores the gag order after being warned on many occasions of the possible consequences, can't the judge lock him up for the duration of the trial?
Second question: assuming the evidence warrants a guilty verdict (for felonies) when all is said and done, is it possible he might be sentenced to jail time? And would this not technically be a first offense? Do first offenders usually get jail time?
I know several of you out there are lawyers and know all the answers.
Almost eighty years to the day, during the second week of April, two of the most transformative American presidents died, Abraham Lincoln and FDR.
In 2016, Steve Bannon boasted the Donald Trump would be the most transformative president ever.
He might be, but the other two presidents transformed American democracy by expanding it. Trump will transform America democracy by destroying it.
Transformation is not always a good thing.
Thank you for referencing this was the day of Lincoln’s demise and the Boston Marathon bombing. That bombing involved my neighbors where the mother was a participant and her two children, a boy and a girl, and husband were anxious observers. One of those bombs caused shrapnel to penetrate near the son’s groin. He was in the hospital for quite a few weeks. He had been standing near another child who was injured also. Obama visited with the families and I know my neighbors really felt the warmth and sincerity he projected. The family was, of course, traumatized for years but the son I mentioned, is graduating from Annapolis Naval Academy next month. He plans to stay in the military. I saw him a few months back when he was home for the holidays. He called out to me and gave me a big hug. I have known him since he was a wee lad and now he is this tall handsome man who has his future ahead of him. I truly wish this for every child and for them to grow up knowing Biden and Harris have their backs. Those like Trump and Company must be put out to pasture. Thanks, Heather.
Busy day. Thank you for the summary.
The doddering old fart falling asleep in his trial should be featured in a split-screen commercial with Biden actually governing at the same time.
My favorite line here, that "only a few dozen of his supporters showed up at the court today."
The fat, pampered, ever-grifting orange liar had called out for his supporters massively to storm the proceedings. They didn't show. Lawrence O'Donnell on his evening show also dwelt on this.
Dems haven't even begun to get together, running for office in the November elections. It'll be wonderful when they do. But we may be looking at MAGA fatigue. Millions may be realizing they've been hearing the same lies, the same braggadocio, the same relentless, self-pitying victimization.
Pathetic while it lasted. But the dictator allies and mass murderers are still at it abroad. U.S. billionaires are still at their schemes in America. Clarence court still can't read the Constitution's Article 14, section three. And Dems, so aided by legions of good women across the land, are still yet to come alive as historic tide should turn finally this year.
Today also happens to be the day, 80 years ago, that my uncle, Walter Kattenburg, age 24, and my aunt, Sophia Kattenburg-Polak, age 22, were murdered at Auschwitz. I was 3 years old then, and would never get to know them. Today, I’m burning memorial candles to honor them.
Kinda weird, that the criminal orange hemorrhoid from Queens is trying to return the United States to those days.
NEVER AGAIN!
Imagine this: Trump having to sit quietly at a table...for hours a day, four days a week...for to up to 6-8 weeks.
Wonderful.
On one hand, the events of today are historically sad, in that it really has come to this.
On the other hand, the events of today are historically promising in that 12 ordinary jurors and a few nerdy lawyers get a fair shot to nail their country's slimiest scumbag, and there ain't nothing more he can do about it.
Thanks so much Like the trial within context of prior history So appreciate all the work you do for the good for democracy and for we the people 😀💐🙏
One has to wonder how Trump will hold up, sitting at the defense table for week after week and seething. How will his demented psyche handle the growing realization that prison awaits? An epic meltdown seems inevitable. It’s all going to be messy and fraught as justice, finally, arrives.
I always appreciate the historical context you provide. After a day spend reading admittedly very good legal analyses of events from Joyce Vance, Chris of Law Dork and many others, a bit of history to add depth is a welcome breath of fresh air.
"Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff all released their taxes, revealing that their salaries make up most of their income."
It seems to me that this is one of those "If you can't take the heat..." things that ought to go with accepting a powerful public office. History indicates that maintaining adequate separation of what one in such a position does to benefit their private interests that may have negative tradeoffs (cough, cough) on the public interest they are obligated to serve, is an ongoing challenge, and not one that is always adequately observed. Personal privacy is a right, but less so when one chooses to impose impacts on others., legally or not. If our representatives are to serve a government of, by and for the people, we have a right to demand enhanced transparency concerning what they are up to. If you what to be a private citizen, fine. If you want to be entrusted with sweeping public powers, expect greatly increased supervision. That power remains the property of the public.
It gives me a warm feeling simply to know that the man is being compelled to sit silently (mostly) in a chair for 32 hours per week while someone else commands the spotlight and directs the proceedings. Perhaps the only two things the man cares about; money and votes, are both flowing away between his fingers. His stock continues to sag and the poll numbers are now moving in a direction that doesn't favor him. And, there are still 7 months to go before November. I believe he's in a slow-motion death spiral as a public figure.
Rick Wilson is right. Everything Trump Touches, Dies.
I wonder whether our republic is exhausted. Everything about Trump seems to be rotten to the core, yet he has a following. Pro-Putin Republicans, about eighty in number (at most) obstruct aid, the denial of which saps the Ukrainian will to fight. Russia then butchers a free, proud, democratic people.
What is it about these M.A.G.A. people? what do they see in the tripe of Putin and Trump?
(EDITED from a tasteless statement motivated by my sense that there is a homo-erotic element to Trump's affection for strongmen.)
The bail bond is flimsy, like everything else about Trump. The slide in Truth Social stock pricing proves what it really is: a massive political contribution channeled through a conduit in the capital markets. That money raised can now circumvent limits of donors by obscuring the dark money. The whole thing stinks. Can not accountability be faster and more agile?
In 2013, my daughter was standing between where the bombs exploded while she was a student in Boston. She was unharmed but it took her years before she told me how close she was right those who were injured.
My question is this: assuming a jury can be selected, and that Trump again ignores the gag order after being warned on many occasions of the possible consequences, can't the judge lock him up for the duration of the trial?
Second question: assuming the evidence warrants a guilty verdict (for felonies) when all is said and done, is it possible he might be sentenced to jail time? And would this not technically be a first offense? Do first offenders usually get jail time?
I know several of you out there are lawyers and know all the answers.
Thank you.