Don't Buy a Ticket to the Sideshow
Your time is more valuable than that
The Master of “Let’s leak a new story or quote to distract them from that heinous thing I did” is assembling this season’s cast of Battle of the Network Stars.
Why? Ask yourself 'Why'.
Most (OK, maybe not any, but I fear looking directly at the burning crazy so maybe I missed one) most are clearly not qualified. Most are so unqualified even their own party are appalled. Incredulous.
DISTRACTED. And that may just be the thing, might it not?
We see, read, hear, watch the message: “Here is THIS suggestion” (-and that is what it is. He can’t anoint or knight people. He can name them whatever he wants, but these are his suggestions-)
“Here is this suggestion as this minute’s outrage. Discuss!”
Sound bite in place, social media engaged. Dopamine delivered.
And now we meet over our digital adjoining fences to prod and postulate the meaning. The unsuitably of the person to the task.
To make the MEMES. (Always the memes)
Now we are looking at them. At those things. Not at him. And not at the people behind him. Not at the King Makers. Not at @heritagefoundation . Not at the people who have been working for this for years.
Don’t buy into the distraction.
(When the suggested ones give way for ‘Well! At least is wasn’t 'Unqualified Person A'!” and we move on, what will we have gotten? Reduced evil? Less obvious unsuitability and incompetence? Less harm? Isn't ANY harm bad?)
Don’t spend your time and money on a ticket to the circus sideshows.
You may ask yourself: "Well, what should we do, then?"
- Talk to your neighbors.
- Find dopamine elsewhere.
- Prepare personally and support those that will be your national advocates.
- Run for local elections.
- Prepare for midterms.
- Look for the truth not the flash- bang.
Doom scrolling speaks to a part of each of us. We are - ok I am- carrying terror around with us daily.
Don’t give in and say, even to yourself if you can help it: ‘He’ll just do what he wants. Laws don’t matter.’ That- for now at least- isn’t true.
Laws matter. The people working to keep it so need support.
You know, all those other people that we elected all those other times? The ones that are there to be a check-and-balance to the power of an individual or fraction of the rest of the population? Yes. Those people.
Call your Congressperson, your Senators and Representatives. Demand that there are no 'Recess Appointments'.
Recess Appointments
Here's what that means and what they are:
Article II, Section 2, Clause 3:
The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.
The Recess Appointments Clause, authorizing the President to make temporary appointments when the Senate is not in session, was adopted by the Constitutional Convention without dissent and without debate regarding the intent and scope of its terms. In the Federalist No. 67, Alexander Hamilton refers to the recess appointment power as nothing more than a supplement . . . for the purpose of establishing an auxiliary method of appointment, in cases to which the general method was inadequate.
It is generally accepted that the Clause was designed to enable the President to ensure the unfettered operation of the government during periods when the Senate was not in session and therefore unable to perform its advice and consent function.
In addition to fostering administrative continuity, Presidents have exercised authority under the Recess Appointments Clause for political purposes, appointing officials who might have difficulty securing Senate confirmation. (which is what the President-elect is trying to now... before he is actually sworn in)- https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S2-C3-1/ALDE_00001144/
Check yourself before posting such advance compliance.
Make them ALL work the way they are supposed to do. The way we elected them to do. Don't sigh and throw up your hands and say your voice doesn't make a difference. Because it DOES.
So make yourself heard.
So: give voice to reason instead of adding to the whispers of despair.
Don’t let your words give form to the sideshow distraction. Because our words matter.
Comment welcomed.
About the Creator
Judey Kalchik
It's my time to find and use my voice.
Poetry, short stories, memories, and a lot of things I think and wish I'd known a long time ago.
You can also find me on Medium
And please follow me on Threads, too!
Keep reading
More stories from Judey Kalchik and writers in The Swamp and other communities.
OKAY ALREADY- So What?
August 2025 edit: The Project 2025 Tracker. Original Content I've thought about this for a while, and when I saw the short written and performed by Jason Kravits below, I knew it was time to write about it. Take a minute or so to watch and listen.
By Judey Kalchik about a year ago in The Swamp
Why Black History Matters in America?
The United States of America is celebrating their 250th anniversary in 2026. I'm proud to be an American and as someone who was born here, I wouldn't imagine myself living anywhere else. This is a country where opportunities are possible. Where anyone can be successful in anything they desire to do. Equality, community, and togetherness are the backbones of what America is and should be about. However, we have an administration who wants to erase and disregard those who have made positive, meaningful impacts in our country, specifically Black figures, such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and Maya Angelou. President Trump and his administration have been constantly complaining and fighting against what they call the "Woke agenda". They use this excuse as a distraction from other issues they refuse to address, such as the high cost of living, climate change, and inflation. That equality is dividing America, when in reality, it's bringing us together. Being woke is not tied to a specific political party. No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, you can still care about other people and their plights. Compassion and empathy for others isn't tied to a political party, either. We were taught as children to treat others the way we want to be treated and not judge others because they're different from us. Caring about others isn't a personal attack on your beliefs. It doesn't make you any less of a person. People who are easily offended over African American figures, past or present, or anything related to it, are grasping at straws. Current and future generations need to know who people like Harriet Tubman and Shirley Chisholm were, especially in the classroom. Black History is part of American History. It should be recognized, not hidden or forgotten. Besides, you can't shield children from everything, just because your feelings are easily hurt.
By Mark Wesley Pritchard 8 days ago in The Swamp
Former Prince Andrew Moves Out of Royal Lodge at Windsor
Former Prince Andrew, now officially known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, has moved out of Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, bringing an end to more than twenty years of residence at one of the British monarchy’s most prestigious properties. While the move itself was carried out quietly, its implications are anything but small. It represents another chapter in the dramatic fall of a once-senior royal figure whose name has become inseparably linked with controversy.
By Ayesha Lashari5 days ago in The Swamp
📢 Raise Your Voice Thread: 02/05/2026
Our “Raise Your Voice Threads” are hosted most alternating Thursdays at 12PM ET to offer creators more avenues to uncover exceptional stories on Vocal. As we are continuously searching for fresh creators and inspiring stories, this thread provides an opportunity to exchange and discuss the stories that have moved and motivated us on Vocal.
By Raise Your Voice by Vocal5 days ago in Resources
Comments (4)
To me your writing is informative and creative. You write what you know and feel. Isn't that what a writer is supposed to do.
The distraction aspect is very true, but not unique to this person, or new. It's been an ongoing thing for several years, made stronger by social media and the 24 hour news cycle. The first part of this legacy is well-known to people in media, particularly political journalists and commentators - when there's a negative story to tell, send out the press release on a Friday afternoon, when people are least likely to pay attention. Ideally, release it right before a holiday. Second, use social media to put out counter-narratives through memes, etc. showing support for the official or candidate, questioning a negative story, targeting the opposing party or candidate, anything to discredit the bad story. Finally, as you noted, distract with another story. Something evergreen. Two great ones are aliens and the Kennedy assassination. Just this week, I think it was Tuesday, I heard a Senator say they're opening a second round of investigations into UFOs, including those seen underwater by our Navy, this time focused on whether we have stored artifacts in the form of wreckage, bodies, etc, As soon as he started talking about that I wondered what it was that we weren't supposed to be noticing.
If you follow me on Threads you may notice this grew out of a Thread series I posted there. I encourage you to look at all of the content you create and maximize its reach however you can. Sure- it can earn you a few cents. But if it was important enough for you to write, it should be important enough for you to share, shouldn't it?
This is so encouraging and motivating. Thank you for reminding us that we still have a voice.