No Kings weekend! I was a little concerned when I saw the date. Marcy 28 is early to plan an outdoor demonstration at this latitude, as years of frozen Opening Day Tigers fans can tell you. And to be sure, it was chilly. But the sun was out and the sky blue and I put my T-shirt over my longjanes and sweater, and was fine:
No sign this time; the shirt would have to do. The Grosse Pointe crowd was hundreds strong, on both sides of Mack Avenue, and pretty much a reflection of the area — older, white, pushing strollers and walking dogs. After I got my steps in walking both sides of the street, look who I ran into:
Kate, collecting signatures for Abdul el-Sayed, the most progressive Democratic gubernatorial candidate.
From there, I headed to Clark Park in Detroit for one of that city’s demonstrations. Very different vibe there. Younger, leftier, more interested in, what’s the word? Intersectionality. There were lots of tables for Palestinian rights, labor rights, etc. Buy a keffiya and support the cause, etc. The main reason I went to this one was to meet a friend, contribute to the headcount and then repair to one of the dozens of great Mexican restaurants in the neighborhood. It’s important to stand up to injustice, but you gotta leave time for lunch.
As always, the signs were great. Here’s one man’s opinion of the top 10 nationwide, and I agree. Especially the one about Tiger Woods. Timely!
Speaking of which, I’m torn between human empathy for an obviously troubled and drug-addicted mess of a human, and the guy who is dating Don Jr.’s ex, accepted the Medal of Freedom from Trump and seems to be on Team MAGA. You know what I mean? On the one hand, get him some help (again) and on the other? Fuck that guy.
Funny, the things you learn when you look up a Trump, in this case Don Jr.’s ex, Vanessa:
Trump Jr. had proposed to her with a US$100,000 ring (equivalent to $165,000 in 2025) that he had received as a gift from a jeweler in exchange for proposing to her in front of paparazzi outside of the jeweler’s store at the Short Hills mall in New Jersey.
And still she said yes. The whole family, pieces of shit to the last one.
While we’re on trivial subjects like this, check out what our tax dollars are buying (and don’t give me any crap about how it’s “privately funded.” That’s only how much the president will stuff in his pockets) on the White House grounds. The specs on this new “ballroom” are insane. There are steps that lead nowhere, sightlines disrupted, etc. And what’s more:
As recently as October, the president was still increasing the ballroom’s capacity, the kind of decision needed at the concept stage. And the White House has said it plans to begin building in the spring, a timeline that would mean construction documents would have to be prepared even as the design was still under review. (Before a judge demanded in December that the project seek review by these two commissions, the administration appeared poised to skip them entirely.)
He ruined the Rose Garden, is in the process of turning the Treaty Room into another guest bedroom (for who?!) and now has dug up the walkway on the Colonnade between the executive offices and the residence. He’s putting down black granite, having already fucked it up with that stupid “presidential hall of fame.” I hope he slips and falls and smashes his skull on it. Maggots will likely pour out.
OK, then. I seem to be losing my cheerful mood, post-protest. Gotta finish the taxes and do a few other chores. Later, all.