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I am heading to the DMV to renew my Driver’s License. It will, I expect — this time, I sort of hope — take hours and hours. That way, whatever I find when I emerge from that special world will be a sort of relief.
This is a time of newly made-up ritual for those of us opposed to Trump. I tested my blood sugar this morning with a prick to my left middle finger, all the better to greet the Trump Presidency. Then I had jasmine green tea with a couple of croissants for breakfast. This is all silliness, I recognize — my ruefully asserting my counterculture identity in the face of the leaper headed my/our way as we transition, at the moment this is published, from President Gallant to President Goofus. Those of my stripe are probably occupying themselves with other meaningless acts of mock rebellion as the noon hour approaches Washington D.C.
But there’s one thing that I won’t say, because it is too silly. I will not say that “Donald Trump is Not My President.”
He is. Or, at least, by the time you read this, while I’m at the DMV, he will be. MY President. YOUR President. OUR President. That’s the problem right there! No point in wishing it away.
We earned him. Republicans, obviously, earned him — honorable exceptions aside. Independents — well, we might as well blame you as well. There is a heated debate within the Democratic Party as to whether it is even permissible to credit Hillary and her supporters for this result. On Facebook last week, I was involved in a discussion on the post of an old female friend from Pittsburgh. I had said that not only Bernie Sanders was more likely to win. A friend of hers called me a sexist, opposed to voting for a woman. I said that, no, I had wanted Sen. Elizabeth Warren to win — and that I think that she too would have won. So would Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. And that part of the lesson here was: don’t nominate the second-least-liked candidate in Presidential polling history in the expectation of that candidate knocking off the most-least-liked, because that’s cutting things too close. And this friend of a friend said “see, that’s how these men are — they say they’ll vote for any woman except the one who’s actually running!” And I said “she DID run, and she DID lose — by losing exactly the part of the country that I and others, including Trump, SAID that she would lose!” And she explained to me that she did NOT lose, she won by almost three million votes, and anyway it was Comey and Putin who…. That’s where we Democrats are as a party right now. We, the “fact-based”-party, have to deal with others within our ranks who deny the existence and importance of the Electoral College, and who blame Russian “rat-fucking” (that’s actually a recognized term for “political dirty tricks”) for a failure to inspire that was already evident more than a year ago.
We may never get over this one. You think that the Balkan peoples have long memories of past grievances? We didn’t nominate Sanders, when it comes down to it, because George McGovern lost in 1972.
But there is one thing on which I think that we can all agree, best put into words by the blogger Duncan “Atrios” Black 15 or so years ago: we must “Document the Atrocities.” In other words: Take Good Notes.
I’m of the opinion that in content Trump is not all that different from most Republican Presidential candidates. In style, absolutely — he has brought a coarsening to our political system that is truly stunning. But in content, he is with two exceptions — skepticism towards NATO and the national security establishment and opposition to free trade, both of which are to some extent refreshing, and which also probably doom him — pretty standard fare. His Cabinet appointments (note to Cynthia: you can’t say that “he’s done nothing yet” because they’re what he’s done) are by and large antagonistic to the regulatory and administrative roles they are supposed to play.
He may not recognize the contradictions of his policies regarding the national security state and the administration of justice — and he will surely deny then once he does recognize them — but he’s very much in the mode there of Nixon, Reagan, and the Bushes. (Also of Clinton and Obama much of the time, one must admit.)
On education, on housing, on crime, on the environment, on health care, on women’s rights, etc., Donald Trump is set to implement long-held conservative Republican theories of governance. Maybe they’ll succeed; probably they won’t. But in any event, the test of those idea will now be performed, and what we absolutely CAN’T allow is for the truth that emerges to be hidden, mangled, or forgotten. Future Americans — if there are any, if the argument made by the pastor who will give Trump’s official prayer that Obama had “paved the way for the Antichrist” turns out not to be ironically true — need to know and understand what happened here. It’s not just Trump that is being tested by this top-to-bottom, federal-to-state-and-local, domination by Republicans: it’s Mike Pence and Paul Ryan and the rest of the gang too.
They’re going to try to fuzz over their mistakes. Don’t let them. Prepare to bear witness. Pen and paper ready.
Take good notes.
(Oh: and the “omega” is the scientific symbol used for “resistance.”)
Ω
These photos from the Women’s Marches across the globe don’t necessarily prove much — but they do imply something big. Take a look!
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/01/21/world/womens-march-pictures.html
*”America….America…..God Bless his grace on thee and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea – Including Alaska, Hawaii and all our possessions scattered around the world.” Meanwhile, as long as our country is still free – “Let us Prey!”
We will hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Those in the country illegally should be especially cautious. There is no such thing as a safe space in real life.
OK, I think you guys ENJOY putting me in a position where I have to defend the President I can’t stand and didn’t vote for. Is there an OJB pool for how long it takes into the new Trump administration for me to completely lose my shit? (If so let Richard in on it, he can use the cash.) We were watching the President do the embarrassing Junior Prom hold-and-sway with his gorgeous wife at the Ball tonight, and so glad that the Pences came out to salvage the MOST awkward moment in Inaugural history, rejoicing that it was obvious that Mike and Mrs. Pence KNOW how to cut a rug, but are holding back a touch to not blow past the clumsy new boss. He gets it. Pence gets his job. And I said, THAT guy (Pence) will run the country and THAT guy (Ooompa Loompa in tux) will Tweet about it, and Richard fist-bumped me and said PLEASE GOD…PLEASE. So let’s see, because NOT ALL of Trump’s choices have been losers in my mind. See? That came almost sort of close to being complimentary to The Donald. I can do this…
Sez Mr. Diamond: “His Cabinet appointments (note to Cynthia: you can’t say that “he’s done nothing yet” because they’re what he’s done) are by and large antagonistic to the regulatory and administrative roles they are supposed to play.”
So far I have not seen any cabinet orders to round up entire blocks of immigrants for “the camps” that we Republicans have been secretly building for their containment…but hey, give it a week. In the meantime, may I ask WHAT the protestors believe they are accomplishing out there smashing the windows of Starbucks? because, what?–they think the Starbucks CEO backed Trump? (If they had we would have gotten REAL Christmas cups this year instead of DIVIDING the nation with their “war on Christmas.” NOTE TO EVERYONE, Cynthia is being SARCASTIC. You are shocked, I know.)
This is where I am surprised we don’t see eye to eye. Together you and I have stood shocked and dismayed as Natalie Meeks fulfilled the regulatory and administrative role she was supposed to play in building the ARTIC and pushing the STREETCAR, both projects being firmly woven into the long-term fabric of transportation policies for the County and the region. We longed for a Public Works director willing to stand up and publicly denounce the plans as horse manure, and refuse to put their own career and reputation behind such boondoggles. And we shared our mutual horror when that outcome eluded the taxpayers of Anaheim. But, after all, Meeks was merely fulfilling the regulatory and administrative role assigned to her. Right?
Now the President brings in those most likely to do EXACTLY that very thing we had hoped for locally, to look at how government functions and ask seriously, IS THIS THE BEST WAY TO ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS? Is there perhaps a better way to provide for the American people those core services we expect from our taxes? If we brought in Randall O’Toole to run OCTA (wow, that idea got me more excited than it should have) that would be someone antagonistic to the regulatory and administrative roles he was assigned to play, and we would ALL celebrate for a week (minimum) on Ryan’s Anger Management brewing projects. So what is the problem? Because I don’t recall ANYONE here at OJB being big fans of the mega monster that government has become on ANY level. We spend our free time telling our significant others, “be there in a minute, just want to finish writing this” as we poke, prod, and generally irritate our local government officials for their misuse of public funds, and now Greg suddenly wants government DEFENDED? Uh…? So you go ahead and “resist” putting people into positions of oversight that might take a second look at government and ask if there might be a better way to provide for the American people.
I’m going to sit back and watch and see where this leads us. Frankly, running out onto K street to be flash-banged doesn’t look nearly as appealing to me tonight as being home by the fireplace, admiring Melania’s amazing blue suit and making comparisons to Jackie O, and HOPING and PRAYING that she has a reason to stick with the blowhard she married, beyond the money, and he has some deep well of humanity in him we have not yet seen. (No I have not been drinking.) And Rick Perry’s appointment to a department he doesn’t understand is entirely exempt from the rant stated above. I give you that one without argument or resistance. Forehead smacking moment, entirely without defense or justification.
Wait. I don’t think any of us said Anaheim shouldn’t have a Public Works Director.
But Trump is naming an EPA head who doesn’t believe in ANY of the EPA’s mission. And etc.
*Cynthia – being optimistic is always attractive. But when it come to being optimistic about someone who is Manic Depressive and with serious mental psychosis………you just have to step back and wait a bit before you attempt to apologize for bad conduct, poor demeanor and rude and obnoxious trappings. But perhaps we are being too kind ourselves? Who knows? One thing is for sure…..this is no Ronald Reagan, no Barack Obama and not even a George and Laura Bush. This is a LBJ/Early Jimmy Carter/Gerald Ford/Richard Nixon person… When we are finally able to have professionals get a solid documented diagnosis….we will be able to go on from there. What do they say about evil intent: It is clear as the nose on your face! You know it when you see it, hear it, smell it or just repeat the words…out loud…..if you dare! When Donald Trump can do a great Alec Baldwin impression……we will be impressed. But….until then……Dr. D seems to have the right handle on this stuff.
Ashley Judd just now!
I still like Sojourner Truth’s original, but this was a good cover version.
Free Melania
*Yeah, the Trump Dynasty will be: A cross between passed episodes of: “Get Smart” and “The Gong Show!” “Clear and Present Danger” – Too bad Obama didn’t tell him: “Get off my plane!”
“Great day in the morning…..” as Michael Douglas said in “Romancing the Stone”. This was truly a most special day in American History. The Trump Press Secretary Melts Down with his first Presentation out of the box. The world awoke with outrage, intelligence and desire to overturn the “Rigged Election” by Vlade Putin. This was amazing and we remember the great numbers seen on TV during the Vietnam era. They were Boy Scout outings compared to these Worldwide gatherings of some targeted and directed gathering of eagles. Seeing the entire Congressional Black Caucus, Senator Kristen Gilliabrand and Debbie Wasserman Schultz……John Lewis, Ashley Judd, Madonna and the rest of luminaries which included the great icon Gloria Steinem.. And that was just in D.C. – 500,000 or Trumps 22 with CGI Millions? You pick….Watching Chicago, LA, NYC, Paris, London, Rome, Barcelone, Melbourne and Capetown……wow………..OK Trumpster….your turn. Let’s see how many folks you can draw worldwide tomorrow?
Has anyone looked at the agenda and staff reports for Anaheim’s Tuesday meeting? Agenda item 21 looks like it is giving someone a nice big raise on top of the pay and full time status already returned to her.
If you had followed the discussion on this topic at a previous Council meeting, you’d know that they had decided to create a new full-time rating for the position of Aide to the Mayor. This makes sense to anyone who realize that the Mayor’s aide does a lot more than the other aides. Certainly she does more than a publicly paid, though otherwise-pensioned, PR Flack like Kris Murray’s “aide” Arianna Barrios.
I paid attention to the 12-20-2016 council meeting and agenda item 41.
That item returned the Policy Aide to full time status and with it, raised her salary by $40k to reflect her return to full time status.
Agenda item 21 of this Tuesday’s meeting calls for her to get an additional $47,000 annually. Read the f*ing staff report.
Is thay what you really want? Do you really want to see some government hack get an almost $4,000 monthly pay increase to do the exact same job she did before?
I thought this blog was supposed to expose the kleptos, not to serve as their apologist.
I’ll check it out when I have time. For now, I’ll presume that you’re reporting accurately.
My guess, and that’s all it is, is that this may be a function of her compensation having been held down artificially (and for political reasons) by the kleptos for several years.
Is it proper compensation? At worst, I think that there would be a fair case for it. Unlike various other aides, she has professional level skills and credentials to do policy analysis — and her using those skills over the past several years saved Anaheim millions and millions of dollars. If the vendido Council majority had listened to her research, she could have saved the city hundreds of millions more.
Of course, the impact of this ransacking of future city revenues won’t be felt for a decade or more — make that AND more — which of course was the whole point of the exercise to begin with: Loot now and let a future Latino-dominated government deal with the problems when they become clear.
If you’re going to remain anonymous, for whatever reason, ease away from insults. If you want to slam people, I need to know who you are.
OK, here is the Staff Report for Item 21 for everyone to consult:
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And here are the two resolutions:
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I don’t see much reason to change my tentative answer above. This is a professional-level policy position for which Mishal Montgomery is amply qualified. Will she be doing the same thing as before? Not really: before, she was fighting a defensive battle against policies being made by Curt Pringle and Todd Priest, and/or whoever else, in their own interest at the expense of the public interest. Now she will be assisting the air in actually making policy, as would ideally have been the case during the previous six years as well.
There is no tangible expansion in responsibilities that justifies such an increase.
When professionals get promoted to higher level positions, they take on additional levels of responsibility and must produce measurable results.
Show me a job description document that lists actual responsibilities she will perform to justify her new salary. I think it would have been included in the staff report if such a document existed.
The new council majority allows Mishal to take a different approach to how she performs her current responsibilities. So what. Anaheim’s Police Chief will also need to take a different approach to how he leads because of the new environment that comes with the new council majority. That doesn’t justify a pay raise for him.
Denise Barnes was elected because of Mishal Montgomery’s management of her campaign. She did a great job in getting a Conservative Republican outsider elected in a predominantly Democratic district. Denise may be eternally thankful for that work, but it is not the job of the Anaheim taxpayer to reimburse Mishal for that accomplishment.
During the Inauguration Council Meeting, Denise requested that an item be added to the 12/20/2016 City Council Agenda to bring Mishal back to full time and increase her salary. That was done. Maybe I’m wrong here, but this new salary increase is a separate agenda item. I dont’ recall Denise requesting this increase be added to a meeting agenda during the 12/20 or 1/10 council meetings. So, how did it get added? I thought only Mayor Tait had the ability to add agenda items like this outside of the Council Meetings. It clearly states that this agenda item was placed by Denise.
The measure of politicians is not how they act while in the minority, it’s how they act when in the majority. I understand why punishment was dished out to Tait’s political enemies that occurred in the previous meetings. That happens in politics. But, giving out huge pay increases to your supporters at city taxpayer expense? That leaves a bad stench.
I have to ask at this point what it is that you think the aides to other Councilmembers have generally done. So far as I understand, it is NOTHING like what Montgomery has done over the years — and her compensation has only been as low as it was because the former Council majority retaiiated against her as a way of getting back at Tait.
You are, in effect, trying to penalize Montgomery for having gone beyond the bare responsibilities of her job for years — providing professional-level policy analysis expertise — and saying that she now has the responsibility to continue going well beyond the scope of her duties while remaining undercompensated. (The very difference in job titles indicates some of the difference in the expectation for her positions.) You are making a very weird argument.
I could understand your being outraged at Kris Murray steering public funds to her campaign PF flack Arianna Barrios to spend time burnishing her Murray’s reputation while the actually policy analysis was coming from those who stood to gain financially from the policies Murray supported. (Which you apparently aren’t.) But to be upset at Montgomery being compensated for work done at a professional level that her training justifies is just weird. Do you really think that Anaheim — as opposed to comparable cities like Long Beach — having all of its high-level policy analysis done by people who are are out to soak the city for personal gain is appropriate? Again, that’s just weird.
The studies that Anaheim has procured over the past five years, from vendors who know what foregone conclusion they are supposed to reach, have been extremely shabby. Montgomery is one of the few people well positioned to note and address their defects. Don’t you think that that might just be worth more than public money spent fluffing up Kris Murray’s reputation. She’s not being compensated for her support of Barnes; she’s being compensated for her attempts to save the city far more than her raise as she moves to full time.
Your penultimate paragraph suggests that you don’t understand the basics of how the system works. Who puts things onto the agenda from in between meetings? THE CITY MANAGER! The perversity of the system during the past 3+ years has been that the former Council majority had access to the City Manager and could get her or him to place their item on the agenda whenever they wanted, while Mayor Tait — frozen out of power by a hostile Staff — could only get items put onto the agenda during the previous meetings Council Comment. Did you really not understand this process until now? Barnes’s motion instructed Staff to come back with a proposal that would satisfy certain ends, and it’s STAFF’S job to figure out how to do so. Mystery solved!
There was no “punishment dishes out” to “Tait’s political enemies.” Lucille Kring has been a terrible, untrustworthy, and self-interested city representative whose main interest in committee appointments has been getting payments for attending meetings. The new Council said “enough of that.” Jordan Brandman, on the OC Water District Board, was essentially hanging out his shingle offer to carry forward the proposals of monstrous ripoffs like Poseidon and Cadiz to anyone who would pay him his commission — INDIRECTLY, of course, so as not (he thinks) to violate political reform laws. The new Council said “enough of that too.”
I don’t know where you’re getting your information about the Council, but you should sniff it a bit more closely. It’s suffused with “a bad stench.”
Here’s a guy who has been taking good notes for two years.
https://youtu.be/sc3AU_FRIWM
I would suggest you use “scare quotes” around mr. trumps title and lower case.