MAY 28, 2024 and DONALD TRUMP

Today could well be the beginning of the end of Donald Trump.  Closing arguments began with his defense, and he went on for almost three hours.  At the end, Judge Juan Merchan scolded Trump's attorney Todd Blanche for outrageous comments about "prison time."  Blanche ended calling Michael Cohen (in reference to Tom Brady being the Greatest Of All Time, or GOAT) the Greatest Liar Of All Time (GLOAT).

Prosecution lawyer Joshua Steinglass (on the left, with Susan Hoffinger, who did most of the prosecuting, and Alvin Bragg) is now making his closing arguments, but his presentation is expected to go on for four and a half hours, so maybe the Judge might cut him off for finish tomorrow.  If this happens, this gives the prosecution some time to better prepare for a more convincing conclusion.  When will the jury be given instructions to have them deliberate on the verdict?  Chances are there will be a break for the end of the prosecution case, so that will probably begin on Wednesday.

The side that gives the second and final closing arguments would be at advantage, and Trump has already complained about favoritism.  However, in the state of New York, this sequence is always the case.  This might differ in other states.  In a Federal trial, it mostly is Prosecution, followed by Defense, and ending with a Prosecution rebuttal.  

Here is my current sense:

• With all the tribulations facing Trump, from his coup attempt on 6January2021 to several times losing trials on personal cases to the three other criminal cases awaiting a decision from the Supreme Court, any logical conclusion would have him shamed from even going public today.

• 
  However, Trump has his devoted supporters who overlook the fact that he lies, cheats, has numerous affairs says he will become a dictator, and will end democracy in the the U.S.
• And oh, in addition to E. Jean Carroll, Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, at least 23 other women have accused Trump of sexual misconduct.

• 
  In spite of all that, almost all the polls today show that he is beating Joe Biden to become our next president.  Incredible!

• 
  So when you have 12 "neutral" jurors on the trial, it's not impossible that half of them might still support him.

• 
  They do have a vote count after deliberations, so the odds of all 12 voting him guilty on anything would be statistically impossible under those conditions.

• 
  It would not surprise me if the jury keeps deliberating until next week.
• It that happens, the odds are high that it will be a hung jury.
• Trump will count this as a victory, even if the vote is 11-1, 10-2, etc., against him, and the voting public might actually agree.

• 
  The odds of acquittal has to be low, that is, 12-0 that he is not guilty.
• There is that other matter of misdemeanor or felony.  If there are 34 misdemeanors, Trump will say he won.
• Even one felony conviction could result in 4 years of incarceration.

• 
  Judge Merchan can unilaterally overlook this prospect and merely place him on probation.  But Trump and his team have so pissed off the judge, that surely this won't happen.  Lot of unknowns.

• 
  In any case, if guilty of anything, Trump will appeal, and this process will probably extend past the 5November2024 presidential election day.
• If a hung jury, the prosecution will probably seek a re-trial, especially if only a couple of jurors voted in support of Trump.  But this will not conclude before election day.

• 
  He will be selected by the Republican National Convention in July to be their candidate for president.  He wiped out his opposition.  There is no other choice no matter what happens in New York this week or next.
• There will be a new president selected on 5November 2024.
• The majority of Americans based on recent polls could make Trump President of the United States 47 (PUS 47).  
• Remarkable.

Otherwise, May 28 has had an interesting history:

• 585 BC:  there was a solar eclipse, as predicted by Greek philosopher Thales.  The eclipse sets this day off as the earliest precise date.
• 1588:  the Spanish Armada, with 130,000 ships and 30,000 men set sail from Lisbon for the English Channel.  The effort failed.  A subsequent English Armada in return also failed.  Three more Spanish Armadas.  No one won this undeclared Spanish-English war.
• 
  1892:  John Muir organized the Sierra Club.
• 1907:  first Isle of Man TT race.  You had to have watched 60 Minutes to appreciate the lunacy of this event.
• 
  1934:  the Dione quintuplets are born, Ontario, Canada, the first to survive infancy.  The Miracle and Tragedy.  Miracle, yes, but tragedy?  They were taken from the family by the Red Cross, then Ontario government, and became a significant tourist attraction.

• 
  1937  The Nazi Party creates Volkswagen.
• Today is:
• Menstrual Hygiene Day.
• National Burger Day.
• World Hunger Day

Good a day as any to show photos of how and what I'm eating.  I'll start with a review of Ray's Cafe:

• The owner, now for 40 years, is Felix Pintor.
• Moved to Kalihi in 1971 from Vigan, Philippines.
• Worked as a dishwasher at the Ilikai Hotel, but eventually got promoted alongside the chef.
• Opened his own restaurant in downtown Honolulu, but moved to 2033 N. King Street in Little Manila.
• Restaurant called Ray, for his son.
• Serves local kine style food.

• 
  Elaine has been working there since 1987.  Says Felix, I'm supposed to marry her, but she's married already so no can.
• Open everyday from 6AM to 5PM.
• At 74, asked when he plans to retire, and says he's too young yet.
• This is the best value restaurant in the world.  Honest.
• Boxer Manny Pacquiao has been here.  So has Governor Josh Green, here with Felix.

Specials of the day.  Ordered Ham Hock and Grilled Ono/Fried Chicken.  Asked where the closest store was for beer, and was sent down the road to a tiny shop.  Hurricane is the best value in beer, and is 8.1% alcohol.

Another outing was to our older sister Arcadia for a party.  A van took us there and back.

Drinks.

Buffet.

Oxtail soup and a few bottles of wine on our Wednesday night dining room table.

Otherwise, in my apartment.

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