Josh & Anna Smuggar: A Series of Unfortunate Events

[shipmate]

I am gonna miss the M kids.  They ended up being my favorites from all the Duggar offspring

[JoanArc]

 

Other pics confirm that the Duggar boys are working on his house, or were whenever the aerial shots were taken.

I'd be pissed if I were a Duggar boy doing remodeling for Josh's hideaway, knowing I likely will never have it as easy.

[Jellybeans]

I'd be pissed if I were a Duggar boy doing remodeling for Josh's hideaway, knowing I likely will never have it as easy.

I don't know if he will ever have his life back.

[Sew Sumi]

He did, however, have quite a decent run. Someone like Josiah is probably seething. He is the most like Josh, personality wise, and probably saw a bright future for himself in the spotlight. 

[Jellybeans]

He did, however, have quite a decent run. Someone like Josiah is probably seething. He is the most like Josh, personality wise, and probably saw a bright future for himself in the spotlight.

I see no reason for the public to blame Josiah for anything. Of course they will...best thing he can do is be himself.

[Sew Sumi]

I'm not blaming Josiah, just saying that his window for public exposure may have closed due to the actions of his brother. And as we have said, that's life. Doors close all the time, and I don't care what the Duggar party line has been on the Fox specials; they wouldn't have done them if they "didn't care" or were "at peace" regarding the future of the show. Stevie Wonder could see what was up here. 

[Absolom]

I think Josiah, Jill, and Jessa are the most likely candidates to have resentment against Josh.  I can't even say it isn't his fault this is coming out now.  He could have been the person who irritated someone to the point of calling In Touch with his FRC Action work and posturing.  Jill and Jessa at least got their engagement and wedding episodes and Jessa could maybe be relieved if she doesn't have to give birth on camera.  Josiah though was on the edge of "his" season and now it's probably all gone.  I can see it hitting him hard especially since he seems more like Josh in many ways than the others.

[silverspoons]

I don't know if he will ever have his life back.

I think he might get back an easier life. I think Josh loved the dream of DC but found out how tiring and hectic life was and was torn between his dream of life in politics and the slower pace life of Arkansas. Remember how Josh used to barley be able to get to the car lot at 10am? and he could go out for long lunches and have Anna stop by whenever he wanted. He said in dishing with the Duggar's that he kind of missed the small house and simple times of Arkansas.

 

Now he will have a debt free home. Yes it needs some work but it is livable. Anna doesn't seem like she needs granite and all the upgrades. His dad will find him some sort of work behind the scenes to pay the bills, maybe real estate, storage units, or some sort of buying and selling for profit. Will Josh make 6 figures, no. He will have a 5 bedroom debt free home on 2 acres and enough money to pay the bills and have a decent life. I think Josh might have wanted to travel with all the politicians in 2016 but in reality the actual work was more then he wanted. I bet he will enjoy his life in Arkansas.

[Cherrio]

Isn't there an unpaid back tax problem with Josh?

 

Bin could get a promotion and Josh could be on toilet detail.

[Sew Sumi]

The taxes were paid off about two weeks before the scandal broke. 

[silverspoons]

Isn't there an unpaid back tax problem with Josh?

 

Bin could get a promotion and Josh could be on toilet detail.

I believe it was posted he paid off the taxes a few weeks ago? I'm not sure if it was all or just part of them.

 

No Jim Bob would make Josh, Ben's toilet cleaning supervisor. Josh is not allowed to work underneath anyone!

[Churchhoney]

The pic, I believe, was taken when they arrived back in DC after the scandal broke. (eta: I remember that escalator behind them from the other pics with Anna in it. This also shows how detatched Anna was from Josh). Other pics confirm that the Duggar boys are working on his house, or were whenever the aerial shots were taken. 

 

http://okmagazine.com/photos/josh-duggar-moving-buy-news-home-arkansas-molestation-scandal/photo/1001265538/

 

Yep, that Reagan National picture shows them heading from the ticket counter to the gates. And, wow, he does seem to have lost a lot of weight.

[Seashell Lover]

http://news.yahoo.com/josh-duggar-moving-back-arkansas-205500302.html

Can you believe this bullshit why the hell does Smuggar need a bodyguard?

[SpottedCoachDog]

I'm clueless on how to do links, but Daily Mail has a story about the move on their U.S. Home page. It says Steve Nield and Josh are friends and it has pics of both the Maryland home and the new house in Arkansas. New house isn't bad at all.

[GEML]

I don't know. I think he said he missed life back in AR to be kind. I don't think he really missed it. It was in AR that he started down the path to being and looking so unhealthy in the first place. I think it was speeding up in DC because he was realizing just how messed up his whole life was (and little did we know....) but is he going to be happier and healthier now? I'm skeptical.

[Sew Sumi]

The US Weekly link I posted maybe 20 posts back has pics of the new Smuggar digs. 

[Maizie131]

Yep, that Reagan National picture shows them heading from the ticket counter to the gates. And, wow, he does seem to have lost a lot of weight.

Churchhoney - When I saw his weight loss, I really did feel bad -- NOT that he didn't NEED to lose it, but thinking it may very well be due to stress (of his/his father's own making, but still...).  Then I looked at the picture of his little girl in a near-ankle-length dress and got pissed off.  It's summertime & no doubt high temps & humidity in DC & Arkansas, and that little girl will NEVER be able to wear a pair of cute shorts with matching tank top.  THAT's the kinda stuff that angers me about their "religion".  BTW, my 2 sweet Granddaughters have several adorable sundresses, but because they're so active, we have them wear "cartwheel shorts" under them, which even they prefer -- they don't want anyone to see their UNDERPANTS!  ha!  We're Catholic, but that's got nothing to do w/it.  I just wish all those kids could have a normal life. 

[GEML]

Well, they would have had a much greater chance of having a normal life (however we want to define that - my own children's clothing has always been rather traditional) if they could have stayed in DC rather than being back in JB's control. So much for even the little boys wearing shorts and Anna's high heels...

[HumblePi]

Then I looked at the picture of his little girl in a near-ankle-length dress and got pissed off.  It's summertime & no doubt high temps & humidity in DC & Arkansas, and that little girl will NEVER be able to wear a pair of cute shorts with matching tank top. 

Unfortunately, Josh and Anna will raise their children as they were raised, with sexual repression and denial. After hearing Jim Bob tell Megyn Kelly that they talked to others within their home-church when they first found out what Josh was doing, there were others within their cult that confessed to them that they have had similar incidents of sexual molestation happen with their own children. So, I suppose that was comforting in some way to Michelle and Jim Bob. "Oh it's not so bad if it happened to others. We're still great parents and can't be blamed".

[EarlGreyTea]

Yep, that Reagan National picture shows them heading from the ticket counter to the gates. And, wow, he does seem to have lost a lot of weight.

 

Yeah, he has! I guess I'm comparing his weight to the trip he took with Anna where he went on the trapeze or whatever, but he does look a lot smaller. I went through a lot of stress a few years ago where I lost 4 pounds in two days, and it's amazing how much extreme stress can affect your weight and appetite.

[msblossom]

The taxes were paid off about two weeks before the scandal broke.

Lucky for him! Seriously, if those were still outstanding he'd have some real trouble trying to pay those down on a significantly lower income.

Now that his earning potential has decreased I wonder if Anna will finally stop pushing for so many darn kids??

[MarysWetBar]

If you've raised a teenage boy, it's not rocket science.

I raised two but the oldest was much more stealth. My younger son had to be wrestled into the bath or shower from the time he was around seven. .lol

Suddenly, he's Mr. Clean, showering up to five times a day :)

I basically lived through their teenage years by acting oblivious so as to not warp their sexuality..lol

[msblossom]

I don't know. I think he said he missed life back in AR to be kind. I don't think he really missed it. It was in AR that he started down the path to being and looking so unhealthy in the first place. I think it was speeding up in DC because he was realizing just how messed up his whole life was (and little did we know....) but is he going to be happier and healthier now? I'm skeptical.

I think you're right, but what choice does he have? He's got to try to make the best of it. I am speculating that a job will come in the form of something JB sets up for him -- here we go again. While I'm sure Josh is appreciative, I'll bet he hates having to answer to JB, though I'm sure JB gets off on it in a passive-aggressive way. He'll have control over Josh and his family once again. In this sense, it does make me feel a little bad for Josh, because I don't like seeing JB having anything over on his kids.

[CofCinci]

Man, my heart really goes out to Anna. First, she finds out the true extent of her husband's history of molesting his sisters. Then, he's forced to resign from a good job. Add on the stress off a cross-country move into a house that needs seriously work to be liveable --- plus, she's pregnant. Now they need security too? This poor girl needs to break into MEchelle's Xanax stash.

The youger rando Duggar sons that are renovating Josh and Anna's recently purchased home probably have no idea what their big brother did years ago to their sister-mothers.

Edited June 10, 2015 by CofCinci

[irisheyes]

Yep, that Reagan National picture shows them heading from the ticket counter to the gates. And, wow, he does seem to have lost a lot of weight.

And from the pictures of the house in Arkansas, they'll be living in their own "compound". So much for hoping that Anna would meet some young moms like herself who were a little more "fundie-lite" and could give her ideas and suggestions for homeschool curriculum that wasn't ATI. Now, she'll just be surrounded by Duggars all day every day. Do you think they'll get a discount on the Wisdom Booklets?

[Churchhoney]

And from the pictures of the house in Arkansas, they'll be living in their own "compound". So much for hoping that Anna would meet some young moms like herself who were a little more "fundie-lite" and could give her ideas and suggestions for homeschool curriculum that wasn't ATI. Now, she'll just be surrounded by Duggars all day every day. Do you think they'll get a discount on the Wisdom Booklets?

 

Yeah, it's really sad that they'll now be constrained like this -- just as they were starting to look as if they enjoyed spreading their wings a bit.

[NikSac]

This poor girl needs to break into MEchelle's Xanax stash.

 

And she probably can't even do that, since she's pregnant. I feel really bad for her as well. I don't really believe she knew the extent of what happened, but even if she did I'm sure she never expected this mess. Especially so close to having her 4th baby.  I find myself kind of pissed off on her behalf that they couldn't at least delay moving until after the baby was born, too, but I can see where maybe they had to financially or for security reasons. 

[Tunia]

I found the last paragraph of this article to be quite surprising, as I hadn't seen the number of instances called out before:

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/josh-duggar-spotted-moving-maryland-home-article-1.2252215

 

To wit:

 

Following his initial apology in a statement released May 21, Josh also admitted to sexually molesting his sisters and a family friend at least 15 times between 2002 and 2003.

 

[CarolMK]

I really hate to say this, but I don't see how their marriage can survive something like this. No matter how Anna was raised, the stress level has to be catastrophic for Anna. I know that in their world, divorce is practically non-existent, but I can't see that she's able to trust him anymore. How can you be married to somebody that you don't trust, especially given the nature of his background? There must be a few people that the Duggars know who are divorced who share their values.

 

Edited June 10, 2015 by CarolMK

[NikSac]

I found the last paragraph of this article to be quite surprising, as I hadn't seen the number of instances called out before:

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/josh-duggar-spotted-moving-maryland-home-article-1.2252215

 

To wit:

 

Following his initial apology in a statement released May 21, Josh also admitted to sexually molesting his sisters and a family friend at least 15 times between 2002 and 2003.

 

Wow, I mean not that I'm really surprised at all but I can't believe it went from 5 to 7 to 15 so fast.  When did he admit to 15? I don't remember seeing that before.

[JocelynCavanaugh]

 

I really hate to say this, but I don't see how their marriage can survive something like this. No matter how Anna was raised, the stress level has to be catastrophic for Anna. I know that in their world, divorce is practically non-existent, but I can't see that she's able to trust him anymore. How can you be married to somebody that you don't trust, especially given the nature of his background? There must be a few people that the Duggars know who are divorced who share their values.

 

 

Anna probably can't/doesn't trust Josh at this point, but rather than divorce (which would probably be very difficult, if not impossible, for her to initiate), she'll probably just shut down and go through the motions. I could see a lot of resentment and distance forming between them, which might also lead to Josh acting out sexually in yet more fun and exciting ways such as porn addiction or adultery. Maybe at that point, though, Anna could finally justify leaving him. 

[Darknight]

I hope they at least enroll the kids in some extracurriculars. Kids are smart. I hope they aren't stressing out over this

[auntieminem]

I found the last paragraph of this article to be quite surprising, as I hadn't seen the number of instances called out before:

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/josh-duggar-spotted-moving-maryland-home-article-1.2252215

 

To wit:

Huh?  Where are they getting this.  I have not seen it anywhere else.  Not believing this until a more reputable source verifies.   

[riverblue22]

I thought I read in Intouch last week a reference to more than 20 episodes of molestation.

[alegria]

Huh?  Where are they getting this.  I have not seen it anywhere else.  Not believing this until a more reputable source verifies.   

 

 

"It’s moving day for Josh Duggar and family" -- Washington Post -- http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/reliable-source/wp/2015/06/09/its-moving-day-for-josh-duggar-and-family/

Edited June 10, 2015 by alegria

[Micks Picks]

I actually feel badly that any possibility of growth they might have experienced in DC is gone.  Anna was so far into babies, to the detriment of Josh, but there was some hope I thought.  Now any growth for either of them is gone, and their children's lives will not be enriched.  It's such a pity, really.

[Hpmec]

I have a feeling the JoshandAnna baby train is about to slow way down. No way will Smuggar be able to afford to keep rampantly populating the earth on a very reduced income with little to no hope of ever making big bucks again. He wasn't happy about this last pregnancy, and, given all that's happened, I can't see him thinking it's a good idea for Anna to keep pumping them out no matter what she wants.

 

Edited June 10, 2015 by Bella
removed speculation that's forbidden here

[fireice13]

I could also see them not having as many kids because Anna will put up a good front with the family and in public, but in private Josh may be in another bedroom. If she truly doesn't trust him. However, with how she was raised she may trust him because it's what was drilled into her from birth.

[DangerousMinds]

Unfortunately, Josh and Anna will raise their children as they were raised, with sexual repression and denial. After hearing Jim Bob tell Megyn Kelly that they talked to others within their home-church when they first found out what Josh was doing, there were others within their cult that confessed to them that they have had similar incidents of sexual molestation happen with their own children. So, I suppose that was comforting in some way to Michelle and Jim Bob. "Oh it's not so bad if it happened to others. We're still great parents and can't be blamed".

Clergy are mandated child neglect/abuse reporters in many states. What about Arkansas? Seems a lot was "confessed" in church.

[starfire]

When I saw his weight loss, I really did feel bad -- NOT that he didn't NEED to lose it, but thinking it may very well be due to stress (of his/his father's own making, but still...). 

 

If the weight loss was caused by stress related to the molestation scandal, I wonder how far in advance the Duggars were aware the scandal was going to break  before it actually did. The airport pics were taken only one day after InTouch published the first article about the molestation.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3089944/Embattled-reality-star-Josh-Duggar-arrives-DC-airport-alongside-pregnant-wife-three-children-one-day-child-molestation-allegations-surfaced.html

[Churchhoney]

Clergy are mandated child neglect/abuse reporters in many states. What about Arkansas? Seems a lot was "confessed" in church.

 

It was probably in a church with no actual clergy though, right? ... Hey! Another advantage of home churching!

If the weight loss was caused by stress related to the molestation scandal, I wonder how far in advance the Duggars were aware the scandal was going to break  before it actually did. The airport pics were taken only one day after InTouch published the first article about the molestation.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3089944/Embattled-reality-star-Josh-Duggar-arrives-DC-airport-alongside-pregnant-wife-three-children-one-day-child-molestation-allegations-surfaced.html

 

Oh, good catch. Maybe he was motivated to lose the pounds by his inability to swing his legs over a trapeze or something.

[CofCinci]

They're a church when it comes to tax breaks but they're conveniently not a church when it comes to mandated reporting.

[NEGirl]

I hate to say this, but there is a very small part of me that is feeling sorry for Josh. According to the article, they belonged to a regular church and were making friends with all the young families.  The DC move appeared to be good for the both of them. You could see that both Josh and Anna were slowly changing a bit with the move away from JB. Now, that will all change - back to the kool aid and the car lot. Poor  Anna and those kids. I think they knew at least a few days before the story was published that the shit was going to hit the fan. That would explain why Anna was near tears in the last show and why everyone looked so sad.

Edited June 10, 2015 by NEGirl

[Iguessnot]

I've generally been inclined to give Josh the benefit of the doubt that this stuff was isolated to the years that it was reported to be, and since then he's moved past it. Lots of people do stupid things when they're a teen (though most of us at least have the benefit of not doing things quite that stupid or gross), and turn into respectable adults. Maybe I'm generous :) but I still feel like Josh has generally become a respectable adult especially considering his parents and his circumstances. And I too had such high hopes for him & Anna in DC away from his family.

 

I don't really know what Josh could possibly say other than what he said in his statement when it first broke, though, beyond a tell-all about what his parents were really like and all that, which I doubt he would do. Mostly I just hope that he & Anna are able to make some kind of decent life for themselves, and not spend it living in JB's pocketbook.

He diddled his sisters. Why would I want to hear anything else than an apology? Yuck. Jim Bob and crew were stupid to do those interviews because there was no way to make that stuff look good. A little while back I wrote a post saying how it bugged me how people would contact the producers suggesting scenarios for this reality family to recreate. In the same vein some people want Josh to grant an interview, and they have already written a script of what he should say. I hope the girls have come to grips with what happened to them. I hope Josh was truly sorry and stopped what he was doing. If he hadn't made amends with his sisters before, I hope he does now. I hope they all slink into obscurity. 

Edited June 11, 2015 by Iguessnot

[Skittl1321]

I raised two but the oldest was much more stealth. My younger son had to be wrestled into the bath or shower from the time he was around seven. .lol

Suddenly, he's Mr. Clean, showering up to five times a day :)

I basically lived through their teenage years by acting oblivious so as to not warp their sexuality..lol

 

I went to a reunion with my Girl Scout troop. I'm not a Mom, so I laughed at how casual the Moms of boys were talking about this thing. There was one with 3 teenagers, at lunch, she literally used the phrase "Oh my God, there is so much masturbating going on in my house."

 

 

I have a feeling the JoshandAnna baby train is about to slow way down. No way will Smuggar be able to afford to keep rampantly populating the earth on a very reduced income with little to no hope of ever making big bucks again.

Affordability has never stopped ATI families before. Many live in poverty.

[CofCinci]

I hate to say this, but there is a very small part of me that is feeling sorry for Josh. According to the article, they belonged to a regular church and were making friends with all the young families. The DC move appeared to be good for the both of them. You could see that both Josh and Anna were slowly changing a bit with the move away from JB. Now, that will all change - back to the kool aid and the car lot. Poor Anna and those kids. I think they knew at least a few days before the story was published that the shit was going to hit the fan. That would explain why Anna was near tears in the last show and why everyone looked so sad.

I too feel some empathy for Josh. [snip] His parents failed him in so many ways. His life is falling apart right now due to his parents poor decision-making. Don't get me wrong, Josh was old enough to assume responsibility for his behaviors but in the end Bob failed as a Shepard or whatever the hell they regard themselves as instead of trying to be good parents.

Edited June 10, 2015 by bigskygirl
Speculation about why Josh molested girls

[dorcastrilling]

I too feel some empathy for Josh. His parents failed him in so many ways. His life is falling apart right now due to his parents poor decision-making. Don't get me wrong, Josh was old enough to assume responsibility for his behaviors but in the end Bob failed as a Shepard or whatever the hell they regard themselves as instead of trying to be good parents.

 

1,000 times this. If there is any truth to him coming to those two idiots, crying and confessing, he was obviously looking for help.

[Darknight]

I hope Josh has sense to abstain a bit. He doesn't need any more kids right now

[Jellybeans]

I don't think Josh is returning to the car lot.

[JenCarroll]

Affordability has never stopped ATI families before. Many live in poverty.

But mostly those folks have not had years of living large and had to go back to poverty. I gather some members have given up solid employment to comply with Gothard's preference for self-employment, and that could not have been good for their finances, but I don't think most of those families were world travelers, or had access to luxuries like the Duggars have.

Edited June 10, 2015 by JenCarroll