Trump

Yep, It’s As Bad As I Feared

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I wrote the following on November 6, 2024, after Trump was elected the 47th POTUS.

These are my gut reactions, overreactions, and, in italics, what I now think about what I wrote then.

Honestly, I’m not sure how any dad with a daughter could cast a vote for him. Pretty much, still feel this way. Sorry, not sorry. I don’t know what else to tell you.

Trump voters just voted to give Ukraine to Russia. Untold thousands will now die in that war because of what Trump won’t do. Well, perhaps an overreaction here, that is if Ukraine does remain a sovereign country through this scam of a negotiation process, which, so far, has excluded Ukraine. We always knew Trump liked and respected Putin, but what Trump did this week behind Ukraine’s back was worse than I thought. I sort of saw US support for Ukraine completely drying up, the war continuing, and Russia eventually grinding down what’s left of Ukrainian armed forces. Russia gains complete control over Ukraine. The end.

Some of my worst fears now: a countrywide law banning abortion beyond 6-12 weeks, Vance running and winning in 2028, the climate and Earth not having any sort of advocate anymore in any branch of our government, the way women are thought about and treated in this country getting worse, worry for minorities, corporations getting even bigger tax breaks, including the top 5% income earners. As for the nationwide abortion ban, I am not ruling it out. Vance running in 2028 is a strong possibility. I feel the same about the future of women and minorities under this administration. It’s abundantly clear, more than I thought possible on Nov 6, that corporations are going to rule this administration, more accurately, their CEOs. As for tax breaks, we are already living under Trump tax breaks, which were passed in 2017. I suspect he wants further tax breaks for his super wealthy friends. As for everyone else, he doesn’t care.

You can praise Hitler and get elected. Still in strong agreement here. It’s worse than we could have imagined. Elon did the Nazi salute and there was no uproar. Only morons argued that he was trying to show that his heart goes out to his supporters.

History made, first convicted felon elected to the Office of the President. Accurate.

Trump has a lot of trust in our election infrastructure when he wins. Same.

I fear that Trump will be very successful in increasing the power of the executive and limiting the checks and balances the other branches of the government supposedly have on executive power. This has also been way worse than I could have imagined. There is no one in power making a great fuss like I would expect. I’ve been very disappointed in the Democrats response to the first month of Trump’s term.

I am sad for London and Kate. So many women out there did not vote for Harris because they think a woman can’t handle the job. Yep, still true.

I heard people say they liked Trump more because they got stimulus checks in the mail during his first term. Enough said. These are not critical thinkers.

A Little Remorse

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I am just one of many Harris voters who know people who voted for Trump. They are in my family. They are friends. Some of them are acquaintances. I know people who abstained from voting because they could not bring themselves to vote for any presidential candidate. Odds are, if you voted for Harris, you know these people too and, there is a very good chance, you find yourself completely dismayed at the absolute silence from this crowd, like I do.

Not a peep from anyone about this gem from yesterday: Federal cuts to the World Trade Center Health Program have resulted in a 23% reduction in the agency’s staffing and could put 9/11 survivors at risk, critics said Tuesday. New York Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand have already reached out to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., demanding the “insulting” and “un-American” cuts to the program be rescinded.

The people who have done this have made a living off of, and risen to power on, calling anyone who does not support them or their views un-American. Yet, this is maybe the most un-American thing I have seen in the news this week and, if you haven’t been paying attention, there have been a lot of un-American blockbusters lately.

How about this one: Trump claims Ukraine started the war with Russia. Do my family members who follow Trump on Instagram or who think Tucker Carlson is a journalist recognize how dangerous appeasing Putin is? I grew up in an America in which people did not aspire to be Neville Chamberlain. If you have to look that name up, you’re part of the problem.

As far as I know, Trump supporters in my life enjoy the outdoors, including our National Parks, but their support of him has directly led to extreme staffing shortages at nearly all parks and monuments. Already, hours of visitor centers and other outposts within parks have had to limit their hours of operation. To be fair, many parks faced a staffing shortage before Trump took office the second time around, but now, things are about to get much worse… “The only locksmith at Yosemite National Park in California, the sole EMT ranger at neighboring Devils Postpile National Monument, an experienced sled dog musher in Alaska’s Denali National Park. These are just a few of the several thousand national parks and forests employees abruptly terminated last week by the Trump administration, in what some are calling the “Valentine’s Day massacre.” You better head to a park soon. Otherwise, no one can tell you for sure if they will be open this summer or even have enough staff to welcome visitors.

I have been sharing my outrage on social media almost every day since Trump was elected. I have dozens of friends who have lost their jobs or are expecting an email at any time of day to let them know they have been fired.

Yet, not one word of regret. Not one public expression of worry for democracy, federal employees (their families, livelihoods, health insurance), air travel safety, a prepubescent Elon disciple fiddling with your SSN or bank account numbers, or the rampant McCarthyism spreading into every corner of our government.

A friend told me, “I want the people I know who voted for him to admit they made a mistake, but they’re watching a news station [Fox News] that consistently tells them they’re winning.”

I so want this too. Even if it’s not regret. I would take, I voted for him, but now I am really concerned about this or that…. That would be so refreshing to hear. Show us you care. Show us hesitancy.

But we all want to be right all the time. We hate to swallow our pride and admit a mistake. Like we can’t be against something until it directly bites us in the ass. That is how Trump supporters are, I guess, forging ahead. I mean, that, plus cognitive dissonance and the Fox News IV drip.

Rising above the din of American democracy and institutions crumbling is the loudest sound of all, the silence of those who are watching it all burn down.

Soft Power and USAID’s Strength

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Soft power in international relations and diplomacy, as I understand it, is a power (or tactic, if you will) that is utilized by global powers, in the US’s case, superpower, to gain favor with a great number of countries around the world that the US, quite possibly, would otherwise have little to no interaction with. Favor is gained through attractive measures (not coercion) such as targeting a program or initiative in that foreign country that the US would like to assist. In theory, this program aligns with traditional American principles on the world stage; bringing a democratic political process to countries without it; protecting the rights of all people regardless of age, sex, race, or sexual orientation; an elimination or drastic decrease of diseases via vaccines or simple mosquito nets; maternal health in poverty-stricken or war-torn countries; or sharing best practices when it comes to environmental protection or conservation. That is to name just a few of the just causes the US has pursued since the founding of USAID in 1961 by then President Kennedy.

Prior to USAID, the idea of international development assistance was proposed by President Harry S. Truman, with the initial goals of, “Creating markets for the United States by reducing poverty and increasing production in developing countries.” And, “Diminishing the threat of communism by helping countries prosper under capitalism.” In decades since, USAID shifted to prioritize a wide variety of areas from population planning, education, to stabilizing currencies and financial systems, and ending extreme poverty.

It is from our international cooperation with countries receiving USAID packages that the US has built a vast array of allies throughout the globe. Countries, and other populations helped, recognize the US as a friend and, rightfully, have come to believe that we are interested in building up other nations, no matter where they are on the map. Up until two weeks ago, we have aided many nations with significant undertakings as well as countries with minor projects and initiatives.

The bond between America and these foreign partners is decades old and its strength invaluable to our stance as a global superpower. Other nations vying for global prominence, or dominance, have limited opportunity for advancement with the governments and people USAID has worked with for decades. The importance of a foreign country’s loyalty and trust in the US cannot be emphasized enough. This is soft power. Far cheaper and safer than hard power. And, many would argue, more effective.

Desperate as these populations are, when USAID, its employees, and its funding disappear in a week, they will naturally turn to other powers for myriad reasons. Standing at the ready, China and Russia, eager to fill the power vacuum and more than happy to take the place of the United States, will offer aid in their own way. It may not be the way the US was helping, but it will be enough for us to lose our status. Friendships will weaken, or worse, disappear. Protected environments will flounder and be drained of their resources. And when one of these countries has an emergency, someone will pick up the phone and dial China because right now Trump, his voters, and the Republican party aren’t answering the call from the weary, from the burdened, or from the poor. How much damage will be done remains to be seen. As a friend recently told me, this is “the start of a huge crack in all that is good.”

The Fork In The Road – Edited for Clarity

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During the first week of his administration, President Trump issued a number of directives concerning the federal workforce. Among those directives, the President required that employees return to in-person work, restored accountability LOYALTY for employees who have policy-making authority, restored accountability for senior career executives, and reformed WHITEWASHED the federal hiring process to focus on merit NEPOTISM. As a result of the above orders, the reform of the federal workforce will be significant.

The reformed federal workforce will be built around four pillars:

  1. Return to Office: The substantial majority of federal employees who have been working remotely since Covid will be required to return to their physical offices…
  2. Performance Culture: The federal workforce should be comprised of the best America has to offer. We will insist on excellence LOYALTY at every level – our performance standards will be updated to reward and promote those that exceed expectations SERVITUDE and address in a fair PREJUDICE and open OPAQUE way those who do not meet the high standards which the taxpayers of this country have a right to demand BEND THE KNEE.
  3. More streamlined and flexible workforce: While a few agencies and even branches of the military are likely to see increases (BECAUSE SOME OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS PROFIT FROM WAR) in the size of their workforce, the majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force. These actions are likely to WILL include the use of furloughs and the reclassification to at-will (MEANING WE CAN FIRE YOUR ASS AT ANY MOMENT) status for a substantial number of federal employees.
  4. Enhanced standards of conduct: The federal workforce should be comprised of employees who are reliable, loyal (THEY ACTUALLY PUT LOYAL IN, NOT MY EDIT), trustworthy, and who strive for excellence FOLLOWING ORDERS in their daily work. Employees will be subject to enhanced standards of suitability LOYALTY and conduct as we move forward. Employees who engage in unlawful behavior FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION or other misconduct will be prioritized for appropriate investigation JAIL TIME and discipline, including termination LOSS OF FINGERNAILS.

Each of the pillars outlined above will be pursued in accordance with applicable law (AS BEST WE UNDERSTAND THOSE PESKY LAWS), consistent with your agency’s policies, and to the extent permitted under relevant collective-bargaining agreements.

If you choose to remain in your current position, we thank you for your renewed focus LOYALTY TO THE PRESIDENT EVEN THOUGH FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE LOYAL TO THE CONSTITUTION… we look forward to working together as part of an improved WHITER, BLANDER, DUMBER, federal workforce. At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency but should your position be eliminated you will be treated with dignity AS WE QUICKLY REBRAND YOUR OFFICE AND ELIMINATE YOUR CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS. (DOGE NEEDS THE LIVING SPACE).

If you choose not to continue in your current role in the federal workforce, we thank you for your service to your country and you will be provided with a dignified FUCKED OVER…utilizing a deferred resignation program…

Whichever path you choose, we thank you for your service to The United States of America, BUT IT’S A NEW WORLD NOW. THE CONSTITUTION IS OUT. THERE IS ONE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT. SERVE ACCORDINGLY.

The Fork In The Road Email

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Just in case you have not read the now infamous email sent to federal employees over a week ago I have included it in this post. As a reminder, Elon Musk sent an email to Twitter employees in 2022 similarly titled. Ultimately, he fired 80% of Twitter employees. The email to federal employees reads as follows:

(No Salutation)

During the first week of his administration, President Trump issued a number of directives concerning the federal workforce. Among those directives, the President required that employees return to in-person work, restored accountability for employees who have policy-making authority, restored accountability for senior career executives, and reformed the federal hiring process to focus on merit. As a result of the above orders, the reform of the federal workforce will be significant.

The reformed federal workforce will be built around four pillars:

  1. Return to Office: The substantial majority of federal employees who have been working remotely since Covid will be required to return to their physical offices five days a week. Going forward, we also expect our physical offices to undergo meaningful consolidation and divestitures, potentially resulting in physical office relocations for a number of federal workers.
  2. Performance Culture: The federal workforce should be comprised of the best America has to offer. We will insist on excellence at every level – our performance standards will be updated to reward and promote those that exceed expectations and address in a fair and open way those who do not meet the high standards which the taxpayers of this country have a right to demand.
  3. More streamlined and flexible workforce: While a few agencies and even branches of the military are likely to see increases in the size of their workforce, the majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force. These actions are likely to include the use of furloughs and the reclassification to at-will status for a substantial number of federal employees.
  4. Enhanced standards of conduct: The federal workforce should be comprised of employees who are reliable, loyal, trustworthy, and who strive for excellence in their daily work. Employees will be subject to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct as we move forward. Employees who engage in unlawful behavior or other misconduct will be prioritized for appropriate investigation and discipline, including termination.

Each of the pillars outlined above will be pursued in accordance with applicable law, consistent with your agency’s policies, and to the extent permitted under relevant collective-bargaining agreements.

If you choose to remain in your current position, we thank you for your renewed focus on serving American people to the best of your abilities and look forward to working together as part of an improved federal workforce. At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency but should your position be eliminated you will be treated with dignity and will be afforded the protections in place for such positions.

If you choose not to continue in your current role in the federal workforce, we thank you for your service to your country and you will be provided with a dignified, fair departure from the federal government utilizing a deferred resignation program. This program begins effective January 28 and is available to all federal employees until February 6. If you resign under this program, you will retain all pay and benefits regardless of your daily workload and will be exempted from all applicable in-person work requirements until September 30, 2025 (or earlier if you choose to accelerate your resignation for any reason). The details of this separation plan can be found below.

Whichever path you choose, we thank you for your service to The United States of America.

******************************************************

Upon review of the below deferred resignation letter, if you wish to resign:

  1. Select “Reply” to this email. You must reply from your government account. A reply from an account other than your government account will not be accepted.
  2. Type the word “Resign” into the body of this replay email. Hit “Send”.

THE LAST DAY TO ACCEPT THE DEFERRED RESIGNATION PROGRAM IS FEBRUARY 6, 2025.

Deferred resignation is available to all full-time federal employees except for military personnel of the armed forces, employees of the U.S. Postal Service, those in positions related to immigration enforcement and national security, and those in any other positions specifically excluded by your employing agency.

DEFERRED RESIGNATION LETTER

January 28, 2025

Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from employment with my employing agency, effective September 30, 2025. I understand that I have the right to accelerate, but not extend, my resignation date if I wish to take advantage of the deferred resignation program. I also understand that if I am (or become) eligible for early or normal retirement before my resignation date, that I retain the right to elect early or normal retirement (once eligible) at any point prior to my resignation date.

Given my impending resignation, I understand I will be exempt from any “Return to Office” requirements pursuant to recent directives and that I will maintain my current compensation and retain all existing benefits (including but not limited to retirement accruals) until my final resignation date.

I am certain of my decision to resign and my choice to resign is fully voluntary. I understand my employing agency will likely make adjustments in response to my resignation including moving, eliminating, consolidating, reassigning my position and tasks, reducing my official duties, and/or placing me on paid administrative leave until my resignation date.

I am committed to ensuring a smooth transition during my remaining time at my employing agency. Accordingly, I will assist my employing agency with completing reasonable and customary tasks and processes to facilitate my departure.

I understand that my acceptance of this offer will be sent to the Office of Personnel Management (“OPM”) which will then share it with my agency employer. I hereby consent to OPM receiving, reviewing, and forwarding my acceptance.

*********************************************************************************************************

*************

Upon submission of your resignation, you will receive a confirmation email acknowledging receipt of your email. Any replies to this email shall be for the exclusive use of accepting the deferred resignation letter. Any other replies to this email will not be reviewed, forwarded, or retained other than as required by applicable federal records laws.

Once your resignation is validly sent and received, the human resources department of your employing agency will contact you to complete additional documentation, if any.

END OF EMAIL.

I will post again next week and include my comments to several of these disturbingly-worded sentences. Have a good weekend.

A Drive Up Dayton

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As I drive Dayton Street north to take my kids to school the city boundaries are so zig-zagged that I may be in Denver one block and in Aurora the next, never really quite knowing which city I am in from the moment I turn onto the street until I turn off of it in the Central Park neighborhood of Denver.

My house borders Dayton in southeast Denver, so I start the drive there, but I am quickly surrounded by the western edge of Aurora, the city that Trump claims has been taken over by a Venezuelan gang. I even drive within one block of the Edge at Lowry apartments, which made national headlines in the late summer/early fall when a ring doorbell camera recorded armed gang members knocking on an apartment door. Further north I drive by Vintage Theater, a staple among theater venues in the greater Denver area.

When Dayton approaches and crosses Colfax is when things get interesting. Colfax is bustling any time of day, but in the morning it’s full of pedestrians and bus riders going to and from school and work. There doesn’t seem to be much rhyme or reason to how pedestrians cross the street here or how drivers navigate the madness.

Once north of Colfax, Dayton is lined with day laborers who have congregated there for over two decades. They line the sidewalks with their lunches (if they are lucky enough to have them) and wave at any car that drives by, hoping the driver is looking to hire them for a project. When they wave at me, I don’t wave back, out of not wanting to give them some false hope. When a car does pull over though, it is surrounded and overwhelmed by people willing to work on just about any project I imagine. Regardless of the weather or time of year, Dayton Street from Colfax to 16th Ave is lined with those willing to work. I have seen a hundred workers on this block of Dayton.

Naturally, I have been interested in how Trump’s policies would affect this block of Dayton, especially since it is in Aurora and Trump stated that immigration raids would start in this city. Well, he’s a bit late, so he lied again, but they did start yesterday. Even prior to the raids, the number of day laborers drastically decreased. This morning, I counted five of them on the street, still friendly, still waving, still eager to do the work no one else is going to do.

Where have the rest gone? Well, that is a good question and I think in the days, weeks, and months ahead we might get answers or we might not, but for starters here is a fact (remember those?): based on the promised mass deportation, “Gross domestic product (GDP) would be reduced by 1.4 percent in the first year, and cumulative GDP would be reduced by $4.7 trillion over 10 years.” It is not a stretch to conclude either that day laborers who used to get regular work by lining the sidewalks of Dayton have been forced into a cat and mouse game with ICE agents, in which the immigrants might become more and more desperate to make a living here in Aurora or Denver. Surely, that will be the case for some immigrants. Where do they look for work now? Pushing them off the streets into the dark recesses of an Aurora apartment complex for the entire day can’t be good. They are looking for decent pay and constructive work in the daytime. When forced onto the streets at nighttime, the same might not be said. This would be a very unfortunate result of ICE raids here in Denver and elsewhere, but do keep in mind this is a population that respects the rule of law here in the US more than US-born Americans. So, they have that going for them, even though the strongest and most capable government in the world is not willing to help them anymore.

Someone Else’s Hot Take

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I have not taken the time to sit down and write about the election results. I am still in the process of getting through the shock, absorbing the news, and watching Stephen Colbert’s Election Night special on Showtime. But there are quite a few politicians and journalists who have sat down in the aftermath to record their thoughts or to share a story and some advice. Today, I share with you one letter of note. “A Letter to Young Women: How We Will All Move Forward Together Now.”

So how do you cope with how you feel right now?

First, don’t be destructive: Don’t burn a flag, don’t be vitriolic. Anger will give you a worse hangover than cheap tequila.

Second, you are allowed wine—preferably to drink with friends because I know how lonely you are feeling.

Third, find your thing. Find your cause, and get back in the game. Be a mentor or volunteer. Remember every priority of Secretary Clinton’s and dive into one headfirst. Most importantly, bring your friends.

It’s our responsibility to form a tribe unlike anything that’s ever been seen before—one that is stronger, louder, and more ferocious than ever. The suffragettes didn’t win us the right to vote by walking down the street with headphones on, reading Twitter. We cannot let this happen again.

It’s a short, passionate letter. You can read the rest by Alyssa Mastromonaco at Broadly.

The Body-Shaming Candidate

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During the last two presidential campaigns I wrote blogs primarily about politics.

So far, in 2016, I’ve stayed away from blogging political on here. But election day will be here very quickly and I need to say a few things about this election, specifically about one of the candidates. I’ll get around to posting my thoughts on Mr. Trump, but for now I wanted to share this one commercial with you. It is made by Donald Trump himself, but it is an ad paid for by Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Mr. Trump merely provided all the material.

As a father of a beloved, precious little girl, Secretary Clinton could not have produced a better commercial. When you’re running against a candidate who thinks of women “as a collection of sex toys” (Comedian Samantha Bee’s words) reminding all the fathers of little girls all over this great land of Trump’s distaste for women is the most powerful message you can send.