So it’s been a depressing 36 hours. I managed to get over to the university and drown sorrow in work: life must go on (and if it doesn’t the Trumpists win).

I’m probably quite odd in this regard, but my biggest worry is the potential destruction of the professional federal Civil Service. For all that they can bumble sometimes, the federal bureaucracy is full of good people who want to do right by their country and have the knowledge and experience to do so. In any normal administration they would push back on unconstitutional policies, and give advice to the best of their ability. If instead you have cabinet members who are petty, vindictive, small-minded ideologues (and especially if the civil service protections are rolled back) the best people will leave or be forced out, never to return. I know the Supreme Court gets everyone’s attention, but I think it’s worth putting a bit of effort into supporting the employees of the government through what are likely to be some very dark times.

I also worry about what one does about improving a country in which people aren’t able to recognize a man who literally lies all the time and gaslights everyone. Wish I had good ideas.

Aside: re “the Constitution won’t let him do that”: Trump personifies the spirit of “let him enforce it”. So unless sanctions up to and including impeachment are on the table, there’s no reason to believe that he’ll be stopped in anyone saying “you’re not allowed to do that”. But this is what happens when you elect a sociopath.