Hamilton = Sexy; Trump University Settlement = NOT Sexy

[mallorys_camera]

___ texted me last night: Going through a really bad spell of political depression. So bad that I am physically shaking.

True of many, many, many people I know right now.

This degree of angst and hypervigilance is not sustainable.

I think the way to survive it unscathed with one’s mental faculties intact is to remember to choose one’s battles wisely.

For example: When the Left zeroed in on the Hamilton tweetage yesterday, they were really letting themselves get played.

The big story yesterday was Trump’s payoff in the Trump University lawsuit. I gotta give Trump this: He's a master of redirection. And the Left allows itself to be misdirected every time.

To the best of my knowledge, Der Donald has never, ever settled a lawsuit before.

But, of course, that story is not as sexy as the Hamilton story. Nor does it provide beleaguered snowflakes with such endless opportunities to leap to the defense of artistic integrity, free speech, and making sure that a white man never again gets to play the Potentate of Siam in a revival of The King and I. No. The Trump settlement only gives those poor chumps who bought the Apprentice hype pennies back on the dollars they squandered in hopes of learning the secrets of real estate investment. Not a sexy story at all.

And you can be sure that nobody is gonna give those poor chumps who voted for Der Donald any pennies back on their investment. I’m not sure, of course, they deserve any lifeline out of the misery he is about to inflict upon them. They were shortsighted enough to vote for him.

Because – hello! – those infrastructure projects? They’ll all be automated, fuckers! Those coal workers and steel workers will not be reemployed. Robots will be doing the job. Even roads are now more high tech than just a layer of asphalt. Roads now have multiple layers. You don't see guys shoveling and leveling asphalt that much these days, unless it's just to patch a hole. So, the promised jobs won't appear. And I bet you anything there will be a sweet Trump Construction contract of hundreds of billions of dollars to build these things and the Wall.

Plus if everything is brought back to the USA and cheap Chinese imports will not be allowed in, and trade war tariffs added, hello-o-o-o inflation! That $15/hr minimum wage will be erased. Those without jobs will get squeezed even more.

You see what a vortex this endless political and economic speculation is? How it only exists to bring you d-o-w-n-nnnnnn…?

Like I said: You pick your battles wisely.

You do not agonize on behalf of a Broadway musical that’s charging close to $3,000 for an orchestra seat.

You quietly make a resolution to attend the next budget meeting of the city or county council meeting where you live.

You show up, and you watch.

You learn how it works.

And then you do something about it.

Not sexy, my friends. Not sexy at all. The real nuts and bolts of positive change seldom are.

###

My happy place is showtunes! So, I listened to a lot of them yesterday while reading up on Russian history. Man, those tsars were wacky.

I think Chicago has the most brilliant lyrics of any musical ever written:

Whatever happened to fair dealing
And pure ethics
And nice manners?
Why is it everyone now is a pain in the Ass?
Whatever happened to class?
Whatever happened to Please may I
And Yes thank you
And How charming?
Now every son of a bitch
Is a snake in the grass
Whatever happened to class?
Oh, there ain't no gentlemen to open up the doors,
There ain't no ladies now there's only pigs and whores
And even kids'll knock you down so's they can pass
Nobody's got no class!!!
Whatever happened to old values
And fine morals
And good breeding?
Now no-one even says oops
When they're passing their gas
Whatever happened to class?
Oh, There ain't no gentelmen that's fit for any use,
And any girl will touch your privates for a deuce
And even kids'll kick your shins and give ya sass
Nobody's got no class!
All you read about today is rape and theft
Jesus Christ, ain't there no decency left?
Nobody's got no class!
Every guy is a snot
Every girl is a twat
Holy shit
Holy shit
What a shame
What a shame
What became of class?

Comments

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

To the best of my knowledge, Der Donald has never, ever settled a lawsuit before.

As with most of his claims regarding his business acumen, this is a lie. He has settled at least a dozen times before (https://thinkprogress.org/donald-trump-says-i-dont-settle-but-we-found-13-times-he-did-3a7ae4678b22#.wtceplyt3) and responsible journalists mentioned this in their articles.

I think both incidents are important for very different reasons and plenty of people I know on the left manage to find time to talk about both.

[mallorys-camera.livejournal.com]

Well. good for you!

And thank you for the correction.

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

I just don't understand the point of a lot of attention policing I see around. If you think an important issue is getting ignored, by all means draw attention to it. But scolding people for finding other issues more pressing doesn't net you a lot of goodwill.

I'm not sure what's to say about the Trump University settlement besides, "Fuck, another missed opportunity." I really wanted to see that go to trial. Instead, it was settled for a fraction of what the eventual judgment was likely to be (upwards of $100 million). If anything, it constitutes an endorsement of Trump's acumen.

Meanwhile, there's lots to say about a President who doesn't understand or respect the First Amendment and how a polite call for consideration gets condemned as an "attack" while actual attacks in Trump's name are all but ignored. Not to mention the fact that he's still tweeting out nonsense like a publicity-hungry private citizen rather than the fucking leader of the free world.

(Personally, I think the fact that Trump's using an unsecured line to call world leaders because he wants to continue living in his penthouse instead of taking the accommodation that comes with the job is not getting near the scrutiny it deserves, but again that's just my humble opinion.)

[mallorys-camera.livejournal.com]

Hey. If you have the stamina to deal with every curve ball the Pussy Grabber in Chief lops your way and still live a happy, productive life, more power to you. I do not.

As I noted in this entry, many of the people I know do not.

The title of this entry really should be "Choose your battles wisely," but of course, that's not as eye-catching as the one I actually chose. :-)

If the price of Hamilton orchestra seats sinks below $2,000, I'll start worrying about Hamilton. Maybe. :-) Of course, your mileage may vary. :-)

"Attention policing" is a euphemism I haven't run across before. I like it! It's right up there with "virtue signaling," and I'm gonna figure out more ways to incorporate it into my everyday prattle.

Totally agree with you about that private line in Pussy Grabber Tower! Very ironic given all those alt-right fires that HRC's feet were toasted over.

[bleodswean.livejournal.com]

Seeing as so many were wrong about the election, I am going to maintain that they are equally wrong about fearful and dire term predictions.

As to Hamilton, we have long used art as a soapbox. I really don't have an issue with it other than, yes, the outrageous cost of the tickets and that smacks of a kind of elitism to me.

[mallorys-camera.livejournal.com]

Seeing as so many were wrong about the election, I am going to maintain that they are equally wrong about fearful and dire term predictions.

I sincerely hope you're right about that.

I own the Hamilton original cast recording. It's marvelous! But it's unlikely that I'll ever get to see the play because I'd never be able to afford to buy a ticket.

[angiereedgarner.livejournal.com]

Right on.

Also listening to Chicago quite a bit of late.

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

I don't think "choose your battles wisely" is a new lesson for most people. This is one of those situations where the diversity of the left really is a strength. Guaranteed, whatever awful thing he does, someone will be paying attention and call him out on it.

For obvious reasons, journalists are most concerned about freedom of expression so it's no surprise that that's the fight they're focusing their coverage on. It's also worth noting that if restrictions on free speech gain ground then informing people about all the other shenanigans going on gets that much harder.

That said, the activists I know have been most vociferous about calling Congress for such things as opposing the appointments of Bannon and Sessions, starting an investigation into Trump's massive conflicts of interest, and defending the ACA.

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

Well, the good news on that front is that, with all these Trump supporters boldly announcing their plans to boycott the show, prices are sure to start falling!

[mallorys-camera.livejournal.com]

I don't think "choose your battles wisely" is a new lesson for most people.

Possibly not in your circles. Definitely in mine. Everyone was really looking forward to waking up on November 9th and not having to think about politics again for another three years. Very few of the people I know are looking forward to extending that sense of conflict indefinitely. Again, your mileage may vary.

I was a journalist for many years so I'm quite aware how selection bias influences reportage. I'm not saying that freedom of expression is not important, by the way. I am saying that the fact that the Pussy Grabber in Chief is displaying umbrage does not constitute a major attack on the First Amendment. When he actually makes a move against free speech, you can be sure I will be on the front lines.

I applaud the good work that the activists you know are doing.

[mallorys-camera.livejournal.com]

There ya go! :-) Also loving how the Trumpets are "punishing" Starbucks by ordering lots and lots of $12 coffee drinks under Der Donald's name! :-)

[mallorys-camera.livejournal.com]

Chicago is really terrific.

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

When he actually makes a move against free speech, you can be sure I will be on the front lines.

There's something to the argument that by the time we get to that point, it's already too late.

Believe me, I would love not to focusing on politics right now. But these things don't wait.

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm not understanding that at all. What's the name for the opposite of a "boycott"?

[cah1470.livejournal.com]

Yes the 25 million dollar settlement was the story but when I read about it and began talking about it to a co-worker across from me his eyes glazed over. Then again I follow cases like Grey's Anatomy doctors watch surgeries. People really don't care and I am starting to think all this angst is just tragedy porn. At least that's what I call it, like Katrina and people crying over the 911 calls with people stuck in attics or 9/11 listening to victims final messages to loved ones. These events move from informative to sensational very quickly.

I do hope the scrutiny of his appointments continues because my God I knew it would be bad but I didn't think it would be this bad. It's interesting though five years ago this dude was doing all he could to be in with the likes of Russell Simmons and Jay Z giving Nene advice on how to be a rich bitch. Now he wants to appoint the four horsemen. This is why minorities always roll their eyes when people say well look at entertainment; clothes, music, etc. Things are improving right? Umm no not really they just want to steal what they like of the culture and profit from it. When they see Blue Ivy applying to the same private school I promise it will become less elite and within 5 years only rich black kids will go there.

[mallorys-camera.livejournal.com]

The appointments are insanely bad.

Since I know we listen to the same NPR programs, I'm sure you caught the All Things Considered story about the conflicts of interest looming on Pussy Grabber's horizon. I am utterly convinced that Pence, Cruz, Ryan et al want to bring him down. I wonder if they'll use the conflict of interest stuff to do it?

To your second point -- again, all I can say is that I look at my two sons, and I honestly don't believe they register race at all except as a cultural difference. I honestly, honestly believe that. Of course, we live in the North, and I specifically brought them up that way. But I think there's hope.

[mallorys-camera.livejournal.com]

There's something to the argument that by the time we get to that point, it's already too late.

Agreed. But I don't have the energy to sustain that degree of hypervigilance.

Plus, honestly? If I give up my life to track Pussy Grabber in Chief, he wins.

[mallorys-camera.livejournal.com]

A buycott? :-)

[cah1470.livejournal.com]

Yes I did listen to All Things Considered, PBS and NPR are my safe places :) and I do think they plan to bring him down. Especially Ryan he is probably smacking his chops over the prospect of Donald Trump.

I smirk to myself over the race thing but I keep that away from my sons. They have such light and the race stuff is so dark, especially here. On the bright side I've had strangers walk up to me and say "your son is insert incredibly complimentary thing" and in this neck of the woods that's saying something.

Hope in the world they create is necessary.

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

Looks like you're right: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/buycott (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/buycott).

[mallorys-camera.livejournal.com]

Spontaneous coinage on my part. Damn. Somebody beat me to it.

[sulphuroxide.livejournal.com]

I agree. 25 million is NOTHING. The attorneys who are representing the plaintiffs will get paid, and then what is left over? It's a bad deal for the plaintiffs but a good deal for the attorneys on both sides and trump. 25 million is trump paying off the plaintiff attorneys so as to screw the litigants.

[mallorys-camera.livejournal.com]

That was my thought, too. The settlement was an utter disgrace and the Left ought to have been drawing attention to that fact.

But no! Much sexier to defend Broadway stars.

Trump knew that, of course. He was playing the Left.