LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Memorial donations to help dialysis center

It has been nearly 10 years since the tragic passing of my son, East Haddam resident and 2007 Vinal Regional High School graduate Joshua SchwartzEspinosa, at 20. His passing affected countless individuals, friends and family alike who continue to mourn his sudden loss of life.

Before Joshua was 2, he was diagnosed with Glomerulonephritis, a chronic kidney disease, which meant he would be subject to regular treatment and medication for the rest of his life. Despite fighting this chronic illness, Joshua never shied away from helping others in need. His love, compassion and selflessness were felt by many, and his cheer was enough to uplift the spirits of any person in his presence.

Joshua underwent regular treatment at the DaVita Dialysis Center in Middletown. He developed a deep relationship with the staff. During treatment, DaVita Dialysis provided Joshua extensive financial assistance to cover expenses his health insurance was unwilling to cover.

To honor Joshua’s memory, on Oct. 25, the anniversary of his passing, the family will be making a charitable donation to the DaVita Dialysis Center. The family would like to extend this opportunity to any family or friends that are willing and able to donate to this gracious medical facility on Joshua’s behalf.

Donations are payable to the “Joshua SchwartzEspinosa Memorial Fund” and can be made at any Liberty Bank or mailed to: Liberty Bank, 151 Main St., Deep River, CT 06417. For information, email miespinosa46@sbcglobal.net. Melissa Espinosa, East Haddam

Some Senate Republicans may back impeachment

The linchpin of any antiimpeachment argument is that it will be futile: the Republicanled Senate will never convict. This is rocksolid, accepted wisdom.

I challenge it, on two levels. First, the idea that American politics are predictable, that the future of American politics is clearly foreseeable, is goofy. Four years ago, there was basically nobody predicting a Trump presidency. If you’re paid to prognosticate, I guess it’s good to sound confident in your predictions now and then — but nobody actually knows.

There are also more specific reasons why I can imagine a Republican splitting with Trump. Although I can’t claim to feel any sympathy for Republican lawmakers, I do not envy them in their position. They knew, roughly speaking, who they were backing when they became the party of Trump, but they probably didn’t figure on being tied to a guy who, for instance, takes the word of Vladimir Putin over the word of our entire intelligence community, and says so on television.

They may not have realized how many Trump people are lawbreakers.

There is also the matter of principle: Republicans used to have them. Whether the principle is states’ rights, military readiness, balancing the federal budget, or adherence to the laws on the books, backing Trump has meant turning your back on something the party used to believe in, or at least talk about. That has to hurt.

If there is no impeachment, the Trump enablers can go about their business and hope for the best. If there is an impeachment, with attendant hearings and new evidence, Republicans in the Senate will eventually have to go on record, saying, “Yes, this is all fine by me. No problem here.”

In the event of impeachment, I can imagine some Republicans making a different choice. Eric Kuhn, Middletown