Josh & Anna Smuggar: A Series of Unfortunate Events

[JoanArc]

https://www.yahoo.com/tv/josh-duggar-wasnt-mentioned-once-022600394.html

 

 

A source close to the family tells ET that "no cameras were rolling" during the family's holiday festivities and that embattled eldest son Josh Duggar "wasn't mentioned once."

"Jinger was playing piano, kids were running around with toys," the source added. "It was a normal Christmas just without Josh there. It didn't feel like an elephant was in the room, Josh has been away for so long, it's just become normal to have him gone."

Never discuss your problems. EVER. Or even hint that Josh is alive. Denial's what the lord wants! I wouldn't expect they bring up molestation on Christmas morning, but poor Anna's still hanging out there.

 

 

treatment center -- in November. However, another source from within the Duggar family tells ET, "Josh did not leave his rehab to spend the holidays with the family."

"If some of the family went to see him, that is definitely not something everyone in the family knew," the source added.

Hmmm..

Edited January 5, 2016 by JoanArc

[LilyoftheValley]

This warms the cockles of my cold, dead heart. LOL

Mine too (just a little).  To me these are the kinds of lawyers who try and appeal to clients who really know nothing at all about what is going on with their case.  They are advertising to the least sophisticated client out there.  I mean everyone here gets that bikers cannot possibly be a protected class or that getting on a Harley does not magically give you special rights, yet this man is not above pretending like it does in order to get clients.  (Personally I think it's unethical).  

 

I could just see this guy now, very easily convincing Josh and Jim Bob of his legal prowess without them having a clue as to whether or not he actually knows what he is talking about.  

[Sew Sumi]

It could be developed into a sitcom!

[riverblue22]

I can't complain about Josh's lawyer.  My friend is caught up in a huge mess of a probate situation in Pennsylvania.  This all started because the (fundy) executor of the estate insisted on using a lawyer from his church, who it turns out is a complete idiot with no experience in probate law.  He has botched everything, won't even give copies of the wills to those named, and will probably spread the whole mess out for years.  At least Josh didn't end up with that guy!

[MarysWetBar]

I wanna see Jana riding away from Crazytown on the back of that hog with her hair flying and her skirt up to her thighs! Feeling the rumble and heat of the engine. ..well..you get it :)

If lawyer dude is a grifter, who cares? That's called karma.

[greenturtle36]

I thought he told Anna that he slept wit Danica, but it wasn't rough?

 

according to this link    http://www.ibtimes.com/anna-duggar-secretly-visits-josh-rehab-ask-about-danica-dillon-report-2218805

 

Josh Duggar apparently denied the tryst to his wife. “Josh told Anna that since he was living a life of sin, he isn’t surprised that people are making things up about him,” the source said. “But Josh doesn’t confess anything until he is absolutely caught in a lie.”

Anna Duggar reportedly took him at his word. “She believes everything Josh says. She actually thinks he’s getting better,” the insider said.

 

 

I took that to mean, he was claiming that she lied.  I thought it meant he claimed she lied about the whole thing, maybe it was just about the rough part.

[Sew Sumi]

Given the way Josh is trying to nuance this in court, I can't imagine what, if anything, he's told Anna about the actual sex/rape of the sex worker. After all, Anna seems to subscribe to the "joyfully available" wife rape mentality. To be honest, I doubt they have ever had a conversation about the details of his trysts with Danica. 

[LilyoftheValley]

The more I think about Josh, the more I think that this woman is probably telling the truth, or is very close to telling the truth.  Based upon the way that Josh treats his sisters and his wife, I can only assume that he absolutely hates women.  He finally had one he "owned" for that night whom he could take out some of his rage on.  

Edited January 6, 2016 by LilyoftheValley

[RedDelicious]

I don't think Anna knows any more about the prostitution tryst than she did about the multiple molestations before they got married.

That said, I feel so badly for her that she's stuck in the place she's in. She never had a way out to begin with. And now she's in even deeper in the girls dorm.

If we all won the lottery tomorrow, we could open a Duggar Recovery Center for Women and Children. On a beach with no fundie swimwear allowed.

[tabloidlover]

I don't think Anna knows any more about the prostitution tryst than she did about the multiple molestations before they got married.

That said, I feel so badly for her that she's stuck in the place she's in. She never had a way out to begin with. And now she's in even deeper in the girls dorm.

If we all won the lottery tomorrow, we could open a Duggar Recovery Center for Women and Children. On a beach with no fundie swimwear allowed.

I don't think she has any knowledge of either scandal either.  In the world she was raised in (and married into, for that matter) it is a wife's job to take her husband at his word.  She is not to question him nor is she to demand answers.  She is to accept whatever he tells her and submit accordingly.  So sad.

[toodles]

So how long until they announce the "band aid baby",the sweet blessing that magically makes all the mess go away?

Would bet money on the miracle baby. Poor little thing.

[Muffyn]

Please let the guys who write South Park see this. Let's face it, Saddam Hussein and Satan still makes me laugh.

 

And Jim Boob would not be performing the favor. We all know he'd subcontract that little job.

"Bin, when you're done scrubbing the toilets, I have another job for you," Jim Bob said with a big grin and a twinkle in his (soulless) eye.   Even Satan was happy to have Bin rather than JB.  JB skeeves him out too.  

[Vaysh]

The more I think about Josh, the more I think that this woman is probably tell the truth, or is very close to telling the truth.  Based upon the way that Josh treats his sisters and his wife, I can only assume that he absolutely hates women.  He finally had one he "owned" for that night whom he could take out some of his rage on.

 

 

Yes, being taught that any sexual thoughts before marriage is of the devil and that women are stumbling blocks on your way to salvation will rather naturally lead to the idea that women are evil harlots that needs to be controlled and subjugated. Pretty much the history of the Christian religion right there.

 

Then of course you add a Gothardite first son superiority complex the size of Arkansas with accompanying entitlement issues, a mother who abandoned him at an early age to have a bazillion more children, and a massive madonna/whore complex, and you get... Josh.

 

I have no problem believing he treated this woman as trash. Because he was taught that this woman was trash.

[greenturtle36]

The more I think about Josh, the more I think that this woman is probably telling the truth, or is very close to telling the truth.  Based upon the way that Josh treats his sisters and his wife, I can only assume that he absolutely hates women.  He finally had one he "owned" for that night whom he could take out some of his rage on.  

 

oh god yes.  Aside from being raised with the idea that women were inferior to him, and only exist to serve him... women are not human to him.  They are objects to be used by him.   

 

Have you ever heard of "micro expressions?"   Like on the show "Lie to Me."  Where you can look at subtle facial expressions on people.  I've seen a few pictures of he and Anna together, and I noticed one corner of his mouth is pointing down while one is pointing up.  That's the micro expression for "contempt".  

 

It's typical of christians to blame accusations on "the devil" and "the devil is lying to you" and "the devil is causing people to lie about me because of Jesus" and all that crap.  I know that's what he told Anna.

 

But  yes, you are spot on.  He likes "pussy", but he most definitely hates women.

On the question about biker's rights, you sparked my curiosity, so I took a look.  Apparently, bikers fight for their right to ride motorcycles without their helmet, among other things... they don't like safety regulations and they don't like sobriety checkpoints.  They claim it infringes on their rights.  Whatever that means.

[toodles]

oh god yes.  Aside from being raised with the idea that women were inferior to him, and only exist to serve him... women are not human to him.  They are objects to be used by him.   

 

Have you ever heard of "micro expressions?"   Like on the show "Lie to Me."  Where you can look at subtle facial expressions on people.  I've seen a few pictures of he and Anna together, and I noticed one corner of his mouth is pointing down while one is pointing up.  That's the micro expression for "contempt".  

 

It's typical of christians to blame accusations on "the devil" and "the devil is lying to you" and "the devil is causing people to lie about me because of Jesus" and all that crap.  I know that's what he told Anna.

 

But  yes, you are spot on.  He likes "pussy", but he most definitely hates women.On the question about biker's rights, you sparked my curiosity, so I took a look.  Apparently, bikers fight for their right to ride motorcycles without their helmet, among other things... they don't like safety regulations and they don't like sobriety checkpoints.  They claim it infringes on their rights.  Whatever that means.

Not to drag this off topic too much, but right to what? Have your brains scattered across the road or drive drunk? I don't remember reading anything about that in the constitution.

Ok. I'm done.

[Vaysh]

Have you ever heard of "micro expressions?"   Like on the show "Lie to Me."  Where you can look at subtle facial expressions on people.  I've seen a few pictures of he and Anna together, and I noticed one corner of his mouth is pointing down while one is pointing up.  That's the micro expression for "contempt".

I am spending way too much time analysing Duggar facial expressions based on what Lie To Me taught me about micro expressions. God, I miss that show.

 

As weird as it may sound, Lie to Me was the gateway to my strange and random Duggar obsession because I caught a few clips here and there and I just couldn't help noticing the discrepancy between what they were saying and what their faces showed.

 

Anna's parts of the specials were really interesting because you could see the bits where she really was upset and sad and then there were other scenes where she was clearly not beliveing a thing she said. Let's just say that unless she had a botox treatment in between shots, she was faking some of the sadness (or she was on her tenth take and just numb at that point).

[LilyoftheValley]

oh god yes.  Aside from being raised with the idea that women were inferior to him, and only exist to serve him... women are not human to him.  They are objects to be used by him.   

 

Have you ever heard of "micro expressions?"   Like on the show "Lie to Me."  Where you can look at subtle facial expressions on people.  I've seen a few pictures of he and Anna together, and I noticed one corner of his mouth is pointing down while one is pointing up.  That's the micro expression for "contempt".  

 

It's typical of christians to blame accusations on "the devil" and "the devil is lying to you" and "the devil is causing people to lie about me because of Jesus" and all that crap.  I know that's what he told Anna.

 

But  yes, you are spot on.  He likes "pussy", but he most definitely hates women.

On the question about biker's rights, you sparked my curiosity, so I took a look.  Apparently, bikers fight for their right to ride motorcycles without their helmet, among other things... they don't like safety regulations and they don't like sobriety checkpoints.  They claim it infringes on their rights.  Whatever that means.

It doesn't mean anything.  Bikers don't have any rights - they're just people using a certain mode of transportation.  

 

Anyway back to Josh.  Yes he loves pussy but hates women.  I know a lot of people argue that porn is harmless, but I think for a guy like Josh, his excessive consumption of porn has been extremely harmful.  It completely reinforced what he already thought about women, and there is a lot of porn out there that combines physical abuse of women with the sex.  

 

If this guy could have remained unmarried, and had casual, protected sex with whomever he pleased, then so much of his issues would not have had such tragic consequences.  I hope that at least a few fundie parents will see where this all went wrong: Josh was screaming to his parents who he really was and what he really wanted, and they completely dismissed his own wants and needs and pressured him into a life that was just not for him.

 

Oh yeah and the idea of him holding Anna in contempt reminded me of a couple of things.  First of all, a habitual liar always holds the person they are lying to in contempt.  But also it made me think of men who claim they "put women on a pedestal" and then are shocked that every woman they date dumps them and goes out with an "asshole".  It is the same concept with the super subservient wife: both kinds of people are proclaiming that they have no value.  Similar to economic principles, people don't want goods with no value and they also do not want mates with no value.  Anna's actions have just screamed "no value" to Josh, despite people telling her she has great value to him as a baby machine.  It's an interesting phenomenon really - by being everything to Josh she has made herself nothing to him.   

Edited January 6, 2016 by LilyoftheValley

[GeeGolly]

I'm not sure Josh hates woman, but I believe he thinks them to be second class citizens. It's another Gothard twisted thought process he tries to teach, of subjugating them, while simultaneously revering them. 

 

I'm not even sure Josh engaged in rough sex. The civil suit came out after the Ashley Madison scandal, when Josh was all over the news.

 

And while I'm not a lawyer, the documents for the case to be dismissed have to filed in legalese. I don't think you file for a case to be dismissed by saying "I didn't do it" because that is what the case would be for; to prove someones guilt.

 

I am curiously waiting for it to all unfold.

[lafcolleen]

Ok wait a minute here.

He told Anna the encounter never happened, and that Danica Dillon is lying and "people are making things up about me" because of christian persecution bullcrap.

Now, the reason for dismissing the lawsuit does not say that at all. It says that she was not injured by the contact, and that she consented to it.

OK, so which is true, Josh? How can she have consented to something she's making up? How can she be "not injured by" contact that didn't happen? It either happened or it didn't, Josh.

You didn't deny that it happened in the documentation submitted by your lawyers. You just lie to your wife, yet again. You shitbag.

The filing is a Motion to Dismiss. For such a motion, you don't have disputed facts (there are some exceptions but they don't appear to apply here - I haven't read the pleadings myself).

In a motion to dismiss, you take the position that - taking the complaint as truly setting forth the relevant facts, the plaintiff still has no legally enforceable right or claim.

So I don't think this means anything yet. We'll see what else comes out.

[Chalby]

I think from here on out, I want to see Josh fulfilling all of Anna's fantasies and requirements, and not the opposite. I would have him on a dog leash if I were Anna.

So we would see a lot of Josh vacuuming, scrubbing floors and cooking dinner? If my hubby does all of that, he's guaranteed a good time ;)

[Chalby]

Maybe they'll marry Anna off to John David. Might kill two birds with one stone right there.

In all seriousness, I wish Anna would look at Josh's brothers. There's a couple of them who are decent guys. Probably a little naive about the real world, but with good intentions. Josh didn't marry for the right reasons; he clearly should have been on his own, sowing his 'oats', and preferably with age-appropriate females. Anna just wanted to marry a good guy who'll love her and be loyal. I am sure there's at least one male Duggar who would step up. Isn't that an actual solution in other cultures? Or does the husband have to die before you marry his brother?

[Chalby]

30 days? That would not be long enough for anything. 3 to 4 months is about normal, here anyway.

Bottom line, the Duggars are using a media calendar for his sex rehab. I doubt very much if he is truly following a rehabilitation program because I don't think he believes what he did, was wrong. Yep, six months should be enough time for this story to be relegated to page 10 in the news. 

[Chalby]

... everyone is supposed to forgive him because he "graduated" and "developed a more personal relationship with Jesus". If you're looking to avoid responsibility for the mess you've created...

When I hear of all the atrocities done 'in Jesus' name" be it wars, abuse, etc., I can only imagine there will never be a Second Coming, and guaranteed He's kicking himself for the first 'coming'.

Edited January 6, 2016 by Chalby

[Chalby]

Oh I'd hire him. Not for lawyering..but. .um...something...something.

My God, that lawyer's picture is something else.If they wanted to remain low-key in the media, they are on the wrong path. This guy screams "media slut".

[Micks Picks]

Some time ago, when census records were easily obtainable on line without having to be a member of ancestor.com, I saw where an uncle in the 1800s would be married to one person in one census, and be married to her sister in the next census.  The reason was because the first sister died so he just took the next one.  Had to have somebody to care for the young-uns.   I found this a couple of times.  

[kandinski]

Zero sympathy left. She's an uneducated zombie by KNOWINGLY marrying a pedophile and putting those kids (and more to come) in continued danger every single day. Zero sympathy and zero respect. Those babies deserve better.

[CofCinci]

Zero sympathy left. She's an uneducated zombie by KNOWINGLY marrying a pedophile and putting those kids (and more to come) in continued danger every single day. Zero sympathy and zero respect. Those babies deserve better.

Yes.

Anna and her children are entitled to part of the Duggar money pie if she were to leave. Plus, she can easily make a deal for her own reality breaking free series. She holds the keys to her prison door. If she's spending each night crying in Jana's old bed, it's now her own fault. Leave. You're not going to be broke, Anna. He's going to do this all again because he's never received any true therapy. Hopefully his next victim isn't one of his own daughters.

[Lemur]

I'm not sure Josh hates woman, but I believe he thinks them to be second class citizens. It's another Gothard twisted thought process he tries to teach, of subjugating them, while simultaneously revering them. 

 

I'm not even sure Josh engaged in rough sex. The civil suit came out after the Ashley Madison scandal, when Josh was all over the news.

 

And while I'm not a lawyer, the documents for the case to be dismissed have to filed in legalese. I don't think you file for a case to be dismissed by saying "I didn't do it" because that is what the case would be for; to prove someones guilt.

 

I am curiously waiting for it to all unfold.

 

Even if Josh doesn't hate women, I'm sure he's got one helluva Mommy Complex after having been reared by the Clown Car and Smilin' Joe Bullshit.  Dude is probably a walking Netflix documentary of suppressed desires, patchwork Christian theology, hubris, and self-delusion.

 

As for the Motion for Dismissal, these are the usual opening shots in a legal battle.  Nothing really to see here.  I'm sure the next motion will be change of venue of the like.  

 

On the question about biker's rights, you sparked my curiosity, so I took a look.  Apparently, bikers fight for their right to ride motorcycles without their helmet, among other things... they don't like safety regulations and they don't like sobriety checkpoints.  They claim it infringes on their rights. Whatever that means.

 

They managed to repeal the helmet law in PA a could of years back.  It's that whole rebel biker/government overreach thing that plays so well in the certain parts of PA.  (The joke, when I was out at Penn State was you have Pittsburgh on side, Philadelphia on the other and Alabama all around.  You can guess what "certain parts" I'm referring to.)

[riverblue22]

I have been a number of places with no helmet laws.  I got stuck in a biker rally in Daytona with thousands of helmetless bikers.  I've since learned they can be referred to as organ donors.

[Albanyguy]

My God, that lawyer's picture is something else.If they wanted to remain low-key in the media, they are on the wrong path. This guy screams "media slut".

Ah, leave it to Jim Bob to pick this guy. He must be offering his services for free or at a greatly reduced price in exchange for the publicity. Buy used and save the difference...

With a head rag wearing, motorcycle riding lawyer heading up Josh's defense, I see nothing but good times ahead for us here. The Duggars really are the gift that keeps on giving, aren't they?

[LilyoftheValley]

Bottom line, the Duggars are using a media calendar for his sex rehab. I doubt very much if he is truly following a rehabilitation program because I don't think he believes what he did, was wrong. Yep, six months should be enough time for this story to be relegated to page 10 in the news. 

Yeah that is the thing.  What he did only "ruined" his life because he got caught.  Since youth he has shown that he feels entitled to do what he likes with females.  They're mainly using that place as you say, to keep him out of the spotlight until this all simmers down a bit.  My guess is that this is all making Josh's misogyny problems even worse.  Now he is being punished for wanting sex and one part of the punishment is being denied sex for six months.  Then to further his punishment, he will have to spend even more time being good and not going out to strip clubs or visiting hookers.  

 

This guy must be so sexually unhealthy right now.  I actually hope the douche gets some real therapy from an atheist.   

[Saylii]

Yes.

Anna and her children are entitled to part of the Duggar money pie if she were to leave. Plus, she can easily make a deal for her own reality breaking free series. She holds the keys to her prison door. If she's spending each night crying in Jana's old bed, it's now her own fault. Leave. You're not going to be broke, Anna. He's going to do this all again because he's never received any true therapy. Hopefully his next victim isn't one of his own daughters.

Anna's only entitled to Josh's money. If they did have a separate contract as speculated, she doesn't have access to any of the family pot. Josh is also now unemployed and now written out of any TLC contract. If she leaves, she will probably have to pay spousal support to Josh out of any money made from TLC herself. Then the Duggar's can also challenge the custody of the M-kids and tie her up in legal proceedings for years.

Monetarily, it's not so easy for Anna to escape. She wasn't in Washington D.C. long enough to develop a backbone when it comes to her in-laws. If she were in her 30's and this happened, she may have felt more comfortable leaving.

[LilyoftheValley]

Anna's only entitled to Josh's money. If they did have a separate contract as speculated, she doesn't have access to any of the family pot. Josh is also now unemployed and now written out of any TLC contract. If she leaves, she will probably have to pay spousal support to Josh out of any money made from TLC herself. Then the Duggar's can also challenge the custody of the M-kids and tie her up in legal proceedings for years.

Monetarily, it's not so easy for Anna to escape. She wasn't in Washington D.C. long enough to develop a backbone when it comes to her in-laws. If she were in her 30's and this happened, she may have felt more comfortable leaving.

Anna could make a fortune on a tell-all book about the Duggars.  The thing is that she still believes in her religion so she won't do that.  Anna has more agency to make a ton of money than 99.99% of the women in the world (and that is absolutely not an exaggeration).  

Edited January 6, 2016 by LilyoftheValley

[lookeyloo]

Anna could make a fortune on a tell-all book about the Duggars.  The thing is that she still believes in her religion so she won't do that.  Anna has more agency to make a ton of money than 99.99% of the women in the world (and that is absolutely not an exaggeration).  

Yes, if her source of income is a reality show or a tell all book.  Is that what you mean?  I can't see her undereducated self getting a job that could support herself and the 4 Ms.  Who would hire her to do what?  She would need some training or a fabulous opportunity where some business takes her on and trains her and promotes her and gives her a living wage.  

[Fuzzysox]

Yes, if her source of income is a reality show or a tell all book.  Is that what you mean?  I can't see her undereducated self getting a job that could support herself and the 4 Ms.  Who would hire her to do what?  She would need some training or a fabulous opportunity where some business takes her on and trains her and promotes her and gives her a living wage.  

Anna and Josh's income will come from the redemption tour. I doubt Boob wasted $7,000 on nothing. This way he can push RA, have the mega church  "I'm no longer a sinner bus tour" and a book and they should be set for at least a good two years.

[LilyoftheValley]

Yes, if her source of income is a reality show or a tell all book.  Is that what you mean?  I can't see her undereducated self getting a job that could support herself and the 4 Ms.  Who would hire her to do what?  She would need some training or a fabulous opportunity where some business takes her on and trains her and promotes her and gives her a living wage.  

What I mean is that she has something of value to exchange for lots of money - her story.  She has the agency to make a million dollars right now if she so chooses.  I do not have that kind of agency right now, do you?  Probably not.  Anna is in the absolute smallest minority of people on the world who have that option.  As the reality currently stands, Anna, a person with no education and limited brain power could set her and her children up for life if she opted to.  

 

She is too brainwashed and stupid to actually do it, but she has the ability to earn the kind of money it takes most of us a lifetime to earn.  

[Saylii]

What I mean is that she has something of value to exchange for lots of money - her story. She has the agency to make a million dollars right now if she so chooses. I do not have that kind of agency right now, do you? Probably not. Anna is in the absolute smallest minority of people on the world who have that option. As the reality currently stands, Anna, a person with no education and limited brain power could set her and her children up for life if she opted to.

She is too brainwashed and stupid to actually do it, but she has the ability to earn the kind of money it takes most of us a lifetime to earn.

You're overestimating what she can do with her story. A tell-all book might fetch a six figure advance around $250,000. She would make pennies on the dollar in royalties after that. Her story probably wouldn't be made into a movie because it's already played out. She may get another $250,000 from lining up exclusive interviews, but that generally pays out once. Half a million dollars max lifetime doesn't support four kids for a long time. She would probably never get her own reality show since the leghumpers would abandon her pretty quickly (and Josh would have to sign off if his kids were involved).

Josh and the Duggars can also negotiate basically a gag order as part of the divorce. If she doesn't divorce Josh first, he'd get half. He'd also most likely get spousal support after the fact if there was a big income disparity. If she shared custody at all, she'd probably end up paying him child support as well. Then the Duggars could sue her if she started releasing their dirty secrets if she didn't take hard proof with her.

Other reality stars make tons of $$$ because they create a brand out of themselves. I'm not sure Anna has the staying power to do that, especially if she's not willing to sign up for other reality shows that are a conglomerate of other washed up reality stars.

Edited January 6, 2016 by Saylii

[kokapetl]

Can Anna realistically get a book or tv deal that would give her financial independence? Unless Anna suddenly acquired Kris Jenner's business acumen through some sort of curse, she's at the Duggars mercy.

[LilyoftheValley]

Can Anna realistically get a book or tv deal that would give her financial independence? Unless Anna suddenly acquired Kris Jenner's business acumen through some sort of curse, she's at the Duggars mercy.

That is what agents and lawyers are for.  

[LilyoftheValley]

You're overestimating what she can do with her story. A tell-all book might fetch a six figure advance around $250,000. She would make pennies on the dollar in royalties after that. Her story probably wouldn't be made into a movie because it's already played out. She may get another $250,000 from lining up exclusive interviews, but that generally pays out once. Half a million dollars max lifetime doesn't support four kids for a long time. She would probably never get her own reality show since the leghumpers would abandon her pretty quickly (and Josh would have to sign off if his kids were involved).

Josh and the Duggars can also negotiate basically a gag order as part of the divorce. If she doesn't divorce Josh first, he'd get half. He'd also most likely get spousal support after the fact if there was a big income disparity. If she shared custody at all, she'd probably end up paying him child support as well. Then the Duggars could sue her if she started releasing their dirty secrets if she didn't take hard proof with her.

Other reality stars make tons of $$$ because they create a brand out of themselves. I'm not sure Anna has the staying power to do that, especially if she's not willing to sign up for other reality shows that are a conglomerate of other washed up reality stars.

You do the book, you do interviews, you give speeches....there are a lot of ways for Anna to make a decent living off of all of this.  

One other thing.  Assuming Anna was careful and everything in her book was true (or 99% of it), then I do not think the Duggars would have the balls to sue her.  It is only libel if it is false, so the Duggars would be relentlessly deposed by Anna's lawyers.  Lying in a deposition is perjury, a crime which could potentially land them in jail.  If my memory serves correctly, the Duggars were not bold liars the other times they have been deposed.  Also, Anna looks like the victim of the Duggars right now, so suing her would make them look doubly bad.  If I were Anna, I would take that small risk.  After all, if it true, then it would be hard for the Duggars to win a lawsuit against her.  

[Lemur]

I had a nightmare ... Josh and Anna on Celebrity Couples Therapy.  In this case, hosted by the Sad Panda that is Dr. Drew.  Christ.

[questionfear]

Even if Anna got a decent book deal, you're assuming she'd be willing to 100% turn her back on her family and religion. No one's going to pay her to peel back the curtain partway-either she goes into detail on how crazy the entire fundie world is, or she has no shot of making any money off a tell-all. 

 

It's hard enough for someone to leave an entrenched community-it's got to be even harder when you need to monetize your raised middle finger to them as you go. 

[GeeGolly]

You all make good points!

 

Writing a tell all would maybe give Anna enough money to buy her time to go back to school and get a job but that's about it. She would be starting completely over.

 

And starting completely over means leaving everything and nearly everyone she knows. That would be hard enough as a single woman, but incredibly hard as a single mom of four.

 

As cheap as the Duggars are I don't believe Josh would ask for spousal support. In their world that is just wrong. I also don't think they would fight for custody either, mostly because of what it would do for their image.

 

Anna may have choices, but from my perspective they all suck, and not because of anything she did wrong.

[GeeGolly]

Agreed Anna's choices suck AND that she did nothing at all to deserve this mess. However, such is life. She is not the first, last, nor only woman to find herself with truly awful options through no fault of her own. It's SO time for that 'What did you do to bring this on yourself?' perspective to die - bad things sometimes happen to good people for no other reason than life is random, and we are all called to find and be our best self at those times.

Well said Fundieland!!

[kandinski]

Listen if Tlc consider hours of boring Duggar story lines tv worthy,then they would bite through a metal door to get her to sign up for "Anna A New beginning".

A new house,some planted new "friends",you know people would watch the s*** out of that!

Edited January 6, 2016 by kandinski

[Vaysh]

If she leaves, she will probably have to pay spousal support to Josh out of any money made from TLC herself.

 

He'd also most likely get spousal support after the fact if there was a big income disparity.

 

Um. Forgive the non-American but I'm a little confused here. What is this spousal support thing? Why would Anna have to support or give Josh any money after a divorce? They're divorced. Relationship severed. Once they've divvied up their assets, shouldn't that be the end of their financial ties? In fact, wouldn't Anna be the one getting money from Josh in the form of child support unless they had shared and equal custody?

[Saylii]

Um. Forgive the non-American but I'm a little confused here. What is this spousal support thing? Why would Anna have to support or give Josh any money after a divorce? They're divorced. Relationship severed. Once they've divvied up their assets, shouldn't that be the end of their financial ties? In fact, wouldn't Anna be the one getting money from Josh in the form of child support unless they had shared and equal custody?

It's support so one spouse doesn't end up on the street after a divorce, basically. My cousin was forced to pay spousal support to her good for nothing ex-husband. He quit his job and moved in with his mom the day my cousin filed for divorce. She was a pharmacy tech at Walgreen's and had primary custody of their three children. She had to pay him close to $1,000/mo because in the eyes of the court he was "unemployed and homeless". She also has to pay him child support when he has the kids in the summer. He doesn't work at all, so she doesn't get anything from him. She can petition to have the spousal support removed if he ever gets a job or ever gets married. That will probably never happen.

[Vaysh]

Wow. My sympathies to your cousin.

 

I guess I can see why this would've been a good thing back in the day when most women were housewives with no work experience and there was no social safety net for divorced women, but it also sounds like a system that could easily be abused today. I guess I just find the idea that Anna would have to give Josh anything in order to get away from him to be supremely unfair.

Edited January 6, 2016 by Vaysh

[LilyoftheValley]

Um. Forgive the non-American but I'm a little confused here. What is this spousal support thing? Why would Anna have to support or give Josh any money after a divorce? They're divorced. Relationship severed. Once they've divvied up their assets, shouldn't that be the end of their financial ties? In fact, wouldn't Anna be the one getting money from Josh in the form of child support unless they had shared and equal custody?

It depends on a lot of factors.  Often assets are divided at divorce, but in the case where say the wife never worked and stayed home for twenty years, the court might order spousal support for a period of time until she gets on her feet.  It is generally not more than a few years.  Basically the policy is that a spouse should not become a welfare case because she gave up her career and ability to earn money in order to raise kids and take care of the household.  

 

It is not common for spousal support to go on long term though.  I do not think Anna would be paying it to Josh since she never earned money during their actual marriage and he is the one with the "job skills".  

 

But alas, Anna will never leave the Duggars and will just become Martyr Junior alongside Michelle.  

Edited January 7, 2016 by LilyoftheValley

[GeeGolly]

Um. Forgive the non-American but I'm a little confused here. What is this spousal support thing? Why would Anna have to support or give Josh any money after a divorce? They're divorced. Relationship severed. Once they've divvied up their assets, shouldn't that be the end of their financial ties? In fact, wouldn't Anna be the one getting money from Josh in the form of child support unless they had shared and equal custody?

Spousal support is short-term support. Kind of like get-back-on-your-feet support for the non-working (or in some cases the lower salaried) spouse. It comes down to state laws, length of marriage, contribution to the marriage/family, i.e. one spouse putting the other through school and then becoming the stay at home spouse, as well as good (and bad) lawyering. And of course any prenuptial agreement that may be in place.

Edited January 7, 2016 by GeeGolly