Inauguration Day coincided with Martin Luther King Day this year. I chose to honor MLK that day.
As I started this post, we had lived through three days of this presidential term. 1,457 to go.
I'm struggling, to be honest.
I was able to avoid most of the news from Inaguration Day and started peeking my head up the following day, still not reading deeply, because it is overwhelming and distressing.
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A couple inauguration notes:
- He didn't put his hand on the bible, not even the $59.99 one, as he took the oath. Doesn't matter. He doesn't intend to keep the oath no matter what.
- Oligarchs were in attendance, on the stage, in front of the cabinet.
- Melania wore a big weird hat.
I'm not the only one who avoided the inauguration. Viewership was way down compared to 2021 and 2017.
There's been all kind of talk about a new Gilded Age. Yeah, of course. For the richie rich white robber barons and oligarch tech bros.
For the rest of us, it's the dawn of the Age of Cruelty.
In just the last few days, cruelty and lawlessness have been celebrated.
Take the Pardons.... Please
The 1500 pardons of January 6 convicts was a travesty of justice. The story goes that originally The Felon was going to take the January 6 pardons "case by case." Violent offenders would not be offered a pardon. Vice President Vancey Pants said so out loud: "If you committed violence on that day, obviously you shouldn’t be pardoned."
Duh. None of them should be pardoned, firstly. If you are going to consider it, howzabout don't pardon those who beat police officers to the point of severe injuries leading to their deaths? How easy is that?
Not so easy. See, 1500 cases is a lot for widdle brains who wants to get quick to committing other cruelties. So, The Felon said, "Fuck it, release 'em all."
Daniel Rodriguez, who used a stun gun to tase police officer Michael Fanone in the neck and who later bragged on social media, "Omg I did so much fucking shit rn [right now] and got away,” and “Tazzed the fuck out of the blue."? Release him.
The one who beat an officer in the head with a fire extinguisher? Release him.
The one who carried a pistol and zip ties into the Capitol, wanting to do real harm to Speaker Pelosi and whose son testified against him, resulting in death threats from his father for doing so? Release him.
Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, who orchestrated events that day, who was convicted of seditious conspiracy and sentenced to 22 years? Release him.
Notorious founder of the Oath Keepers, Stewart Rhodes, who also was convicted of seditious conspiracy? Release him.
Numerous Proud Boys and Oath Keepers members, found guilty of seditious conspiracy and other felonies? Release them.
Neo-Nazi Tyler Bradley Dykes, who stole a police riot shield from an officer and used it against them, and who quoted Adolph Hitler before the attack, and who was convicted of his actions during "Unite the Right" Charlottesville attack? Release him.
The one who assaulted a person and stole their photography equipment and who was found guilty of three felonies and seven misdemeanors? Release him.
Andrew Taake, who used a metal whip and bear spray against officers, and plead guilty for assaulting a police officer? Release him.
Christopher Quaglin, who was found guilty of 14 felonies and two misdemeanors, whose actions included choking a police officer? Release him.
Taylor James Johnatakis, who was found guilty of three felonies, including assaulting a police officer, and four misdemeanors? Release him.
David Dempsey, who used multiple weapons against police officers, including "his hands, feet, flag poles, crutches, pepper spray, broken pieces of furniture, and anything else he could get his hands on," who has a long rap sheet of violent offenses and who plead guilty to charges for his actions on January 6? Release him.
The one who embraced violence as a solution and who confessed in video in the third person, saying, "So if you want to know where Ryan Nichols stands, Ryan Nichols stands for violence," and "I will f---ing die for this. But before I do that, I plan on making other people die first, for their country, if it gets down to that."? Release him.
One person has rejected her pardon: Pamela Hemphill of Idaho has rejected the pardon. She has served her time, and she is taking full responsibility by leaving the conviction on her record. She said, "It’s an insult to the Capitol Police, to the rule of law and to the nation. If I accept a pardon, I’m continuing their propaganda, their gaslighting and all their falsehoods they’re putting out there about Jan. 6.”
The rest of the 1,500? We are not safer for them being back on the streets. We are not safer for the message it sends to others who will do his violent bidding, knowing there will be no consequences. This is dark, dark, dangerous stuff, my friends.
Another dangerous pardon
Ross Ulbricht. He founded Silk Road, an online portal for buying and selling illegal drugs and for the laundering of money derived from it. He was sentenced in 2015 to to life in prison for running the website, which was linked to the narcotic overdose deaths of at least six individuals. Trump34 gifted him a full pardon.
The Nazi Salute
Repulsive. Elon Musk is an unrivaled turd. Well, maybe rivaled only by the Nazi turd he aspires to be.
Yes, this happened on the inaugural stage of the United States of America.
Leon downplayed it and brushed off criticism. Many others also tried to tell us that it wasn't what it obviously 100% was. There were plenty of apologists, but none were more shocking and awful than that from the Freaking Anti-Defamation League, who said it was just a little awkward dilly.
Sure, sure. Let's give this avowed white supremacist a bit of grace.
You know who isn't downplaying it and making it into something it's not? Actual Nazis.
The Germans get it. This was projected onto a German Tesla plant:
Muskovite knew what he was doing. It was not a mistake or some loving gesture from the heart. We saw what we saw.
As noted in The Guardian,
"Lenz Jacobsen, a journalist, wrote in Die Zeit in a piece headlined A Hitler salute is a Hitler salute is a Hitler salute: "Whoever on a political stage, making a political speech in front of a partly far-right audience, elongates his arm diagonally in the air both forcefully and repeatedly, is making a Hitler salute. There’s no such ‘probably’ or ‘similar to’ or ‘controversial’ about it. The gesture speaks for itself."
How many of you have accidentally done the salute? How many of you will go to work tomorrow and thank your co-workers for their hard work with this gesture? Go in tomorrow with it and report back.
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| It's common knowledge |
This is real video
WTAF? Downloading new instructions from der Führer?
Elon Musk high on Ketamine and Crack at the inauguration.
— Eggrolltime (@eggrolltime.bsky.social) January 21, 2025 at 3:21 PM
[image or embed]
The Cruel Executive Actions Blitzkrieg
We've seen a shock and awe of executive action bombs rain down on America. It's hard to keep up, and I'm sure I'm missing something.
He's breaking the United States. He has cruel agenda, and he is using dozens of executive actions to implement it. He really does want to destroy America.
What he's done in just the first week:
Lower the price of eggs?
Not yet.
Gutted the DEI programs
The government's DEI websites have disappeared. Employees in DEI positions have been put on leave.
Rejected WHO
He withdrew the U.S. from the World Health Organization.
Constitution? What Constitution?
He completely erased the Constitution page from the White House.gov website.
Global Warming is a Hoax!
So, let's withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement.
Let's hope for rising water levels so we can have "more oceanfront property."
He froze spending under the Inflation Reduction Act, which was meant to preserve the environment by implementing clean energy policies, including wind power.
Ooooh those evil windmills, going around causing cancer!
He hates trans people
I don't understand the vitriol. People are just trying to live authentic lives. Why the hate?
Among the actions against the rights of trans people:
He called for the federal government to define sex only as female and male. This could evenually affect his holy grail of high school sports teams, but for now it limits the options on passports, informs policies for federal prisons, as well as blocks federal policies that allow people to use the pronouns that align with their gender.
He went so far as to declare in the weird executive order that sex shall be determined by the sex at conception. Trouble is, even with the narrow definition of male/female, the sex of all embryos starts as female. He just declared us all female.
And somehow this executive order, by virtue of its title, is supposedly "defending women from gender ideology extremism." Whatever that is.
Gee, I feel so much safer!
We know from medical science and psychiatric science that gender and sexuality are not so easily defined and exist on a spectrum.
But you knew that. This is just more hate-filled villainy.
There are many possibilities in sex and gender. Here are a few:
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Putting our health at risk
By withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization. The WHO is a powerhouse of 194 participating countries, who work together to tackle health threats, both communicable threats like Covid and HIV, and chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer. Withdrawing from WHO may hinder the CDC's ability to manage each year's flu response as well as the emerging avian flu. The U.S. contributes about 20% of WHO's budget. The organization will be hurting. The world is stronger together. This pullout is alarming.
Here at home, Felon47 ordered all the federal health agencies to stop giving information about bird flu and other emerging public health risks. How cruel can you be? We need information. There are health dangers out there. It's the president's job to protect the people. So wicked.
It's a stopgap, but here is Canada's Public Health Notices page.
Trump34 has halted distribution of AIDS medications in poor countries around the world and has gone so far as to tell officials not to distribute medications already purchased.
The Felon also halted research-grant reviews, which effectively halted health research funding, including funding for cancer research. The NIH is prevented from funding 80% of medical research grants. It's a $47 billion budget that is stopped in its tracks. Cruel.
Constitution? What Constitution? Part 2
Trump34 wants to end birthright citizenship. The first judge to look at the case and blocked its implementation, called the order "blatantly unconstitutional." Obvi! Birthright citizenship is enshrined in the 14th Amendment. It is pretty darn clear: "Fourteenth Amendment, Section 1: All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside."
And don't believe his lie that the U.S. is the "only nation" to have birthright citizenship. Thirty-three other countries do, including Mexico, Canada, Brazil, and dozens of other countries, mostly in the Americas.
Side note: the judge who blocked the order is a Reagan appointee, nominated to the bench in 1981.
Inconceivably, he went so far as to question Native Americans' citizenship. This is so stupid it boggles the mind. The racism is palpable.
Read more about this debacle from AP News.
Retribution Much?
The Felon took away security detail from Anthony Fauci, Mike Pompeo, and Brian Cook. He said he wouldn't feel a sense of responsibility if anything happened to them. Asshole!
La Migra out in force
One of his first and most cruel actions was to delete the app which facilitated entry to the U.S. and which helped migrants get appointments for asylum assistance.
He has called out the Schutzstaffel ICE to terrorize communities across the country. He recessed the law that prevented ICE raids in churches, hospitals, and schools. They can even take people at funerals and weddings. It's terrorism, plain and simple.
In Bakersfield, California, it was actually Border Patrol who was doing the terrorizing. 300 miles away from the border.
It was reported that many field workers were not going to work. For example, a number of workers in the Bakersfield, California area, did not show up to their harvest work.
As of this writing, there have already been nearly 1000 arrests across the country, including people from churches. He has put a quota on ICE and wants 1000-1500 arrests and deportations per day.
Here in my community, large SUVs and police were stopping brown people in typically brown neighborhoods. Brown immigrants are terrified. Brown citizens are terrified. Everyone is terrified.
How are the MAGAts going to feel when the brown people are gone but they have no orange juice to go with their $20/dozen eggs, and no lettuce for their burgers?
Hey we're fine! Our refrigerators are empty but at least we have no brown people walking the streets!
He loaded up a military plane with immigrants and sent the plane to Mexico. Mexico refused its landing.
He sent several military planeloads of Colombian migrants to Colombia. At first, the Colombian government refused them, but The Felon hit back: "OK then you have to give me your lunch money! Neener neener neener!" His threat to impose a 25% tariff, increasing to 50% after a week, caused Colombia to relent.
Denali is now again Mt. McKinley.
What a dick.
He hasn't really renamed it officially; many lawmakers are resistant. He can call it whatever he wants.The rest of us will call it by its name. The Felonious Punk should go pound sand.
Crime Much?
He has already committed crimes and it hasn't even been one week. That tracks.
Crime 1: giving comfort to a seditionist. See the list of pardoned seditionists above, the main ones being the notorious Enrique Tarrio and Stewart Rhodes.
We turn again to our friend, the 14th Amendment:
Fourteenth Amendment. Equal Protection and Other Rights.
Section 3 - Disqualification from Holding Office.No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Crime 2: He fired the 18 Inspectors General, whose job it is to keep many federal agencies on the straight and narrow. They sniff out waste, fraud, misconduct, and abuses of power.
The crime: firing them without just cause and without 30 days' notice to Congress.
My Senator Adam Schiff was the first to call out the illegality of the order. Inspector General Hannibal "Mike" Ware wrote this letter:
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And please, remember this:
Let's turn to the positives.
Reverand Marianne Budde is a goddam American Hero. She speaks truth to power in the most poignant way.
Here is an interview with Rev. Budde with Rachel Maddow. Worth the watch. She really is a special person.
Babyhands responded in a typical loser way.
Other right-wing figures responded with vitriol and hate to the person who simply asked for mercy.
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| Remember: postcards are always better than letters. Envelopes are considered a risk! |
No one knows exactly what will happen in the next four years, but I return to the question: How are we going to get out of this?
➡️ By not giving up joy. They cannot take your hobbies, nature, and love.
➡️ By continuing to be informed. They cannot take our inner thoughts.
➡️ By finding and being people like Rev. Budde.
➡️ By doing small actions often.
➡️ By remembering: They cannot make wrong right, as hard as they try.
Not one of us is going to get us out of this, but all of us will, together.
Which brings me to: your moment of action
It's a repeat: donate to the ACLU or other legal organization that is ready to bring litigation to stop these heinous orders.
Second action: Help spread the word about how to resist ICE raids. You can distribute information cards to folks at risk:
Here is an information card from ACLU in English.
Here is the information from ACLU en Español.
Here is another version in Spanish from Immigrant Legal Resource Center.
If you know people who could benefit from this information, print it out and share it, or share the links. (Bonus: donating to the ACLU or ILRC will help fund outreach).
A Few Memes and Toons
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| A caveat to this one: it is unconfirmed. It may be normal reorganization by a new administration (but who are we kidding?) |
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| Or elderly. Or a child. |
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| Benjamin Slyngstad |
Your Moment of Beauty
If you don't know Scottish poet Len Pennie, you should! Shout out to Anne for pointing me to her!
And your regular reminder: We will be all right: Drumpf can't escape political gravity.
As I finish this, we're one week down. 207 weeks to go. We got this!
RESIST!
Thank you to all resisters for the content you send! And as always, many thanks to my proofreader, Karenone! All remaining errors are mine!
