#1455 dot

[1455days]

-Executive Order, via Quartz

“A sign was fastened above Jesus’ head, announcing the charge against him.” -Matthew 27:37

By quoting this verse I am by no means trying to compare immigrants with Jesus. That would be crazy. It just popped into my head as soon as I read this part of the executive order, and I just want to keep that image in mind, because the Romans’ charge against him was a matter of labels. He was called the Son of God, and for this he was labeled “King of the Jews” and put to death.

We’re still dealing with labels. What we see in this passage and throughout history is that the people in power are always the ones giving out the labels -- both to themselves and to others. A star on the coat. A number on the arm. Trump is labeling himself a savior, the only one who can stop the supposed “American carnage” and make our country “great again.” He’s also labeled himself a victim of the “dishonest media.” Yet he is the most powerful person in the world. It is an insult to those who are really suffering for him to say he’s maligned by the media, whose job it is to be skeptical of him. Presidents are rewarded for their good decisions after their presidency is over, and until then they have to be regarded with skepticism so that we might recognize and call out all the infinitesimal steps that lead us toward tyranny. They do this with every president, and rightly. Trump and his advisers will label him a victim in hopes that we will not listen to the media’s skepticism and will side blindly with him as our only savior and source of truth.

But you know that’s not true, right? The president is not and never has been our savior. He is not the source of truth. We get to decide what he is; he does not get to tell us.

But that won’t stop him from trying. Now he has gone even further by labeling immigrants “public safety threats.” Don’t mistake this latest stunt for simply calling out criminals; this is taking the actions of a few and assigning blame to all, and creating an association in your mind that immigrants=criminals. Don’t let it pass your notice that there is no mention in the order of “illegal” aliens. It simply says “aliens.” A weekly list of “criminal actions committed by aliens.” This is an important step toward assigning every ill of society to foreigners, even innocent ones. It’s a step toward a physical label, marking those who carry this “blame” simply because they were not born here and we were. 

I bring up the Bible to remind any Christian who still wants to give this administration a chance about what Jesus actually said and taught about the meek, the humble, the disadvantaged, about sinners and criminals. To remind you of the passages about strangers in your land, about sojourners, the fatherless, the widows, the resident aliens, about the Egyptians wandering in the desert, about entertaining angels unaware. 

Do unto others.

Love thy neighbor.

There but for the grace of God.

Shall I go on?

[1455days]

1,378 days left

So much is going on -- a torrent of information and outrage. So much that I have to resort to a list. A LIST. 

-Environment: I don’t even want to talk about the pipeline executive order, or the pipeline spill, because there’s too much good as a response, too much resistance to Trump favoring big business over the environment. A thousand people protesting in D.C., plus more planned in Philly and even humble ol’ Lancaster, PA. As I type, Greenpeace protesters have climbed a crane and dropped a 70′x35′ banner that says RESIST. The video of these people hanging from a crane 270 feet in the air over downtown D.C. is crazy and awesome. 

My old state’s governor, Jerry Brown, has said in no uncertain terms that California will not acquiesce to GOP policies on healthcare, immigration and the environment. Because of course they won’t. 

Badlands National Park not only tweeted science facts in spite of an EPA media blackout, but they have started a new Twitter account, @AltNatParkSer, the “Unofficial ‘Resistance’ team of the U.S. National Park Service.” I like to think Leslie Knope played a small part in this.

-Jobs: 28,000 jobs, Trump says. That’s how many the construction of the pipeline will create. But individual construction jobs are, by nature, temporary. The effects of the pipeline will not be. 

-Immigration: Our new signature-happy president has signed another executive order to restrict immigration from Muslim-majority nations. I don’t have to talk about why this isn’t okay, right? He’s also moving forward with his wall.

-Military: What the hell is up with that “I’ll send in the Feds!” tweet? It emboldens people who don’t care about the legality of it; it alarms people who do; but really, it distracts from what else is going on. Like this voter fraud issue. He wants to launch a “massive investigation” where there is no evidence. 

-Net neutrality: It’s gone. It’s done. 

-Healthcare: It’s gone. It’s done. 

Not really, but still we have no replacement for the ACA.

Planned Parenthood rallies are set for February 11. For both sides. So that will be a fun time, I’m sure, with everyone coming together and “caring loudly” at each other. DEMOCRACY!!

-Scientists: Not only are they planning their own March on Washington for March (maybe Pi Day??), but 314 Action is helping scientists run for office. #carlosforpresident #pleasecampaigninlabcoats

-Free press: Six journalists, along with over 200 protesters, were arrested during Inauguration Day protests for felony rioting. Their arrest documents cite that they were simply part of the group that was vandalizing and harassing police. Showing credentials had no effect. I’ve talked a lot about the press lately, so I won’t spend time discussing the White House instructing the press what to say or the complaints against their treatment of Trump. Terry Gross’ interview with Megyn Kelly from after the election talks about how we have to look behind what the administration is trying to use as a distraction and search for the real story. 

This is moving toward not just an un-free press, but an un-free public (un-free? Eesh). The Turkish president has jailed hundreds of journalists for speaking badly of him -- Trump is thin-skinned and extremely litigious, which is not good news for our free speech and press. If policies like Erdogan’s go into place, any dissent will be seen as divisive at best and terrorism at worst, justifying more extreme responses.

This guy is moving fast. I don’t like not being able to focus in-depth on one issue at a time, but I’ve already been typing for two hours this morning. THERE’S TOO MUCH. He’s passed no legislation, but he’s got a flurry of executive orders that promise to make good on his campaign platform. In his eyes, this will mean he is a success as a president. “Look at everything I’ve achieved in less than a week!” Yes, he’s running the country like a business, coming in as the new CEO, cleaning house and slashing the budget. But the point of government is not to make a profit. The point of government is to protect its citizens, provide services, and benefit all -- not just the wealthy and the minority of citizens who voted for an insane candidate.

-Mental state: Cautiously optimistic. It’s a strange feeling stirring inside me after months.

-Pocket Constitution: I made a joke in a previous post about keeping several handy copies of the Constitution on you at all times. Right after I posted it, this ad from the ACLU popped up. Buy in bulk!

Bonus: 

-Kellyanne Conway: Did you see her standup? 

Also DID YOU SEE THAT SHE ALLEGEDLY PUNCHED A GUY THREE TIMES AT THE INAUGURATION BALL??

-The Netherlands: Have been kicking ass lately.

[1455days]

1,378 days left

You guys see that video going around with Big Joe yelling at protesters, telling them to “be smart,” that if they don’t unite behind the president, they’ll bring about martial law?

This is exactly what will happen. But it won’t be the protesters’ fault. Whether you agree with them or not, the protesters are exercising their rights as American citizens. Still, the protesters will be the excuse to bring about martial law. The violence in Chicago and other cities will be the excuse to bring about martial law. The “war on police” will be the excuse to bring about martial law. 

There will always be an excuse. Martial law was always coming once we agreed to hand power over to this man. And it will divide the country even more that those exercising their Constitutional rights are used as the scapegoats. The people will be turned against each other, and the administration’s job will be that much easier.

Please talk to each other. Protests are against those in power; we must be more open and calm with ordinary people who disagree with us and can’t see why we object to the new president. Don’t dismiss their views out of hand. They aren’t stupid, and they have lived experiences that have made them support Trump. Find out what those are. Share your experiences and knowledge. Be gentle and kind but persistent, until you make them understand your side. They don’t have to agree with your views, but they must believe that you have the right to disagree with them and with the president. This is imperative. It is the First Amendment. Pull out your handy copy of the Constitution and have them read it aloud if you have to. Give them your handy copy of the Constitution (you have five more in your bag, right?) so they won’t forget. It’s the first one. Easy peasy.

It will not be hard for the government to take absolute control if it seems to the people like a reasonable progression. It will not take force to topple a democracy if, in the minds of the people, it is already dead.

[1455days]

1,380 days left

Alright. Let’s talk about Sean Spicer’s press conference. Specifically, the part where he went off on the press’ treatment of Trump over the campaign and the first few days of his presidency. 

According to Spicer, our new president finds it demoralizing to look at the news every day and see not the overwhelming support that he expects, but negative reporting that undermines all the good he’s trying to do.

OH MY GOD.

Are you fucking kidding me? If that isn’t your reaction when you hear that -- if you identify with the president because maybe you know what it’s like to feel demoralized because people once said you couldn’t do something -- I would like to urge you to reexamine what the press are actually saying and what kind of person the president of this country has shown himself to be.

When the press and critics have been saying, “He can’t do these things,” what they’re really saying is, “He shouldn’t do these things” or “Please don’t do these things” or “Why are you doing these things?” or “Oh god how can this be reality please stop now with these things.” 

This isn’t a Lifetime movie where the underdog defies the odds and wins the day. This is a billionaire businessman with no government experience, untold conflicts of interest, and enough contempt for the way the government works and the expectations of the American people that he refuses to divest interest in his companies or to release his tax returns. This is a narcissist whose self-aggrandizement crowds out any compassion he might have once had. This is a child who is used to being praised and getting whatever he wants, and as soon as he gets made fun of on SNL, he proves himself utterly incapable of moving past it. This is a man who admitted to his voters’ faces on his victory tour that he only made promises like “Lock her up” and “Drain the swamp” because they “PLAYED WELL.” He is admitting without reserve that he conned everyone, and now he wants to play innocent and claim he has our best interests in mind?

Fuck him. And fuck anyone who paints him as a delicate flower who understandably gets sad without a constant diet of affirmation. He wanted this position, he knew that it would entail criticism, and the media are not going to stop calling him out when he deserves it. Which is all the time.

So Spicer, no, the media are not going to praise the cabinet appointments because they are terrible. They are not going to actively look for things the president does right and congratulate him on them because 1) has he done anything worth praising? and 2) THAT IS NOT THEIR JOB. They are a check on the president’s power. As you’re so fond of saying, “Period.” They are not going to go easy on the president just because you asked them to. And if a majority of news outlets are criticizing him, it’s not because they’re conspiring against him or because they’re making up facts; maybe it’s time for him to look outside his window and see the millions of people who voted against him, who are watching every move this administration makes, who are telling the president exactly how he can keep their best interests in mind and act for their benefit instead of his own.

[1455days]

1380 days left

The conflict of interest stuff is interesting because he still seems to be treating this like it’s the business world, where you network and make relationships and there’s no real regulation about conflicts of interest. He games the system, and that seems to be what he’s trying to do here, too. He’s looking for loopholes and taking advantage of the fact that we’ve always assumed presidents would do the right thing because if they didn’t they wouldn’t be reelected (at best) or be impeached (at worst. Well...not worst. But...you know).

Presumably he feels like he has a mandate to keep behaving and making decisions the way he has throughout his career. He won the presidency in spite of everything we know about him. Everything he does is to further his brand, and this is the biggest platform he can give it.

He didn’t sign a contract when he became president. He’s taking advantage of the good faith assumptions his office affords. Even when he is called on his wrongdoing, he’s used to getting out of it, using intimidating or throwing money at every problem until it goes away. He has never admitted and will never admit guilt over anything. He will never apologize for his actions. Anything he doesn’t have to do, he won’t do. He’s going to get away with whatever he can and work to do whatever is in his own best interest. And sucks to our ass-mar.

In conclusion, donate if you can to the ACLU here.

[1455days]

1382 days left

A million, million and a half? Really? That’s your best estimate?

It’s okay, Donnie. Numbers are hard.

[1455days]

‘He Has This Deep Fear That He Is Not a Legitimate President’

On the eve of the inauguration, Trump’s biographers ponder his refusal to bend his ego to his new office.

Know your enemy.

[1455days]

1382 days left

Millions of women showed up all around the world to march and protest. Millions in the United States alone will not forget to show up in the same force at the midterms -- and in 1,382 days -- to vote out the smoking remains of this shit-show administration.