‘Convicted fraudster and criminal’ still poses massive threat to our freedoms | Opinion

Trump convictions

By now, we’ve all heard the news that former President Donald Trump was found guilty of all 34 felony counts of falsifying his company’s business records to keep information from voters that he knew would harm his 2016 presidential campaign.

This isn’t just about “hush money” payments. It’s about breaking the law to hide the truth from the American people 11 days before a presidential election.

Trump has a clear pattern of lying to the American people and trying to undermine our elections in order to cling to power. He still faces three additional indictments and 54 criminal charges, including federal charges for inciting an insurrection to overturn the 2020 election. In spite of all of this, he’s still running for president.

Trump is a convicted fraudster and criminal who still poses a massive threat to our fundamental freedoms. We can’t let him hold the highest office in our land in 2025. It’s up to all of us to hold him accountable and defeat him at the ballot box in November.

LaRue Brewer, Lexington

Law & Order

Isn’t it interesting that the so-called “Law and Order” party has no desire for either when its application through the judicial system is seen as a threat to their hold on power? But in the age of former President Donald Trump, what is up is down, and what is right is wrong. The same people that yelled, “Lock her up,” are now saying “Oh no, don’t lock him up” even though the courts see him as a convicted felon as determined by his peers. It is sad to see one man as such a threat to democracy. It is more than sad to see those that encourage him on.

Bob Sutton, Springfield

Republican propaganda

“Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it.” This quote is attributed to Joseph Goebbels. This concept is now part of the Republican game plan, especially since their leader, former President Donald J. Trump, has been convicted of 34 felony charges. “Stop the Steal” is a lie, but it has been repeated so much that people believe it. The Jan. 6 attack on our nation’s Capitol was an insurrection, but the Republicans think that it was normal tourism. Trump’s convictions are a tribute to the Rule of Law as set forth in the Constitution, not a liberal plot. It’s time that reasonable people stand up for truth and VOTE. This is our only choice to counter the lies!

James Ware, Lexington

Trump character

The results are in and the facts are clear. What do they mean? In my view, the information I have tells me that if you still support former President Donald Trump, you no longer are representing your views through a political party, but you are now part of a cult.

Factual data has been collected over the past nine years that clearly define the person you are supporting. The cult that he has formed allows you to ignore his character and the clear threat he poses to our democracy and the word order. Do you really want a cult leader as president?

William Farnau, Lexington

Trump’s conviction

Twelve jurors picked by both the prosecution and defense from the public at large over five weeks listened to 20 prosecution witnesses and two defense witnesses, were offered scores of crucial documents, including checks to Michael Cohen bearing Trump’s signature. One of the jurors got their news from Truth Social, and a second from Fox News. The rest got their news from Google, ABC, CBS, NBC & MSNBC. Twice these jurors were read the New York law that covers business fraud which has put hundreds if not thousands of others in jail for similar offenses. These jurors, based upon the evidence and the witnesses, found Trump guilty!

It’s been a common phrase among Americans that “No man is above the law.” Yet the party that has for years portrayed themselves as the “Law & Order” party has almost to a person portrayed Trump’s 34 count guilty verdict as a travesty of justice. It seems our Republican politicians think the laws don’t apply to Republicans but apply only to those they disagree with, such as Hunter Biden.

Either the laws apply to all, or they apply to none!

Joe Crouch, Lexington

Everything he touches

A friend, a major airline stewardess, told me a story about being in a waiting area reading a book, in full uniform because she was catching the plane to her next work flight.

A man walked up to her and started ranting about her airline’s food, service, bag retrieval, seating...

She slowly pulled down her book and said: “Did it ever occur to you that everything you touch turns to s**t?”

I can’t think of a better question to ask convicted felon former President Donald Trump.

If you’re old enough to have watched his journey, you wonder why it has taken so long for his lies, threats, bankruptcies, fraud, and lack of human norms, civility, or decency to catch up with him. I think it was the national attention he got in the non-reality reality show, “The Apprentice” where he could say, “You’re fired!” to those pandering for his attention.

But what makes GOP senators, representatives, governors, judges, lawyers grovel before him? Are power, money, and control so overpowering that these officials are willing to give up the very freedoms of the persons they pretend to represent (and who pay their salaries)?

We’ve seen this movie before. Now it’s called Enslavement 3.0.

Ramona Rush, Lexington

Birth Control

Recently, Democrats tried to pass a bill in Congress that would guarantee Americans right to birth control and IVF. The republicans blocked it.

They told us that they wanted to leave abortion decisions up to the states; they lied! We know that from the beginning they intended to pass legislation forbidding abortion in all 50 states.

They told us they had no intention to limit or forbid birth control. They were lying! “Uncle Tom Thomas” let the cat out of the bag when, following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, he opined that the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) might take up constitutional and judicial guarantees pertaining to birth control and same sex marriage.

We also know from recent decisions pertaining to religiously focused charter schools that the “Reich” wing majority of SCOTUS does not believe in the sanctity of the separation of church and state. In fact they do not believe in much of the United States Constitution.

Jim Porter, Danville

Abortion arguments

I have been following the debate on abortion. Moreover, I have perused Hannah Matthews’ “You or Someone You Love : Reflections from an Abortion Doula.” Matthews did not convince me to become pro abortion, but she did help me to see her vista.

Matthews very quickly admits that pro abortionists are on a dangerous road. Often these women are poor and afraid. Pro-lifers make their lives pure hell. We judge them without even knowing their stories.

We need to stop being dogmatic. Jesus said the world would know us by our love .Well, where is our love?

Tmoura Gardner, Lexington

Criminalizing homelessness

The Safer Kentucky Act of 2024 takes a punitive approach to homelessness, framing unsheltered individuals as criminals and deviants. The legislation overlooks systemic factors and lacks a humanitarian response. Historically, homelessness has been blamed on individual failings, such as poor decisions and substance use, ignoring issues like the lack of affordable housing, long waitlists for mental health and substance abuse treatment, employment barriers due to criminal records, and low-wage jobs.

The Act aims to protect those with housing and income stability but harms those without. To effectively address homelessness, we must consider all contributing factors. According to the Homeless and Housing Coalition of Kentucky, the state is short over 89,000 affordable rental homes and unsheltered individuals often lack the required identification documents for housing.

Reframing homelessness in Kentucky involves acknowledging historical and systemic issues. By contacting legislative members on the Affordable Housing Caucus and working with community partners, we can create more affordable housing solutions. This ensures safety and stability for both housed and unhoused citizens, addressing root causes of homelessness rather than punishing those affected by it.

Andrea Sparrow, Frankfort

Compiled by Liz Carey