Josh & Anna Smuggar: A Series of Unfortunate Events

[truthtalk2014]

Does anyone know Josh's salary at the hater group he works for?

[ariel]

Does anyone know Josh's salary at the hater group he works for?

It's about $175k per year. 

[truthtalk2014]

It's about $175k per year. 

Oh wow!  No wonder Anna can afford to cook those huge breakfasts.  :)

[alegtostandon]

Not all women (or men) can even grow their hair super-long. Some of it is in the genes. My won't grow longer than a few inches below my shoulders, no matter how long I don't cut it. It just starts breaking off instead of continuing to grow. 

 

Anna's hair does look better than many of the Duggar girls' hair, I agree.

My hair is the same way, DangerousMinds...will not grow past my shoulders.

I remember in one of the very early episodes, it was said that the reason the girls kept their hair long and curly was that was the way "daddy" liked it. Wonder what would happen if one of the girls did get their hair cut into a bob. So funny, just realized the irony of the word.

[fliptopbox]

My hair seems to only grow to about my mid back. I dunno how many times I've grown my hair and then chopped it, just to grow it long again. but I guess these Duggar girls don't get that opportunity. Which is weird to me, it's just hair. I also wonder, are they allowed to dye it, or is that considered sinful?

[flyingdi]

Anna seems much more relaxed and has a much brighter personality without the Duggars around. She seems almost like a different person in the scenes that feature just her,Josh and the kids.

[galax-arena]

It's about $175k per year.

Daaaaaaaamn, I wish I had been born a Duggar.

 

Wait, wait, no I don't. What am I thinking? I'm a woman, Jim Bob would have just married me off to some asshole. 

[GEML]

That's a number that has been tossed out a bit, but it's the average that someone in his position would make.  But I can also guarantee that these groups would have held his lack of education against him, and I'm betting he makes significantly less than that.  Still a very nice, six figure number, but I'd be surprised if it were over $125,000.  

I'm partially basing this on the upcoming Values Voters conference -- no where on there is any Duggar even listed.  Josh's role seems to mainly be to go out into the hinterlands and fundraise.  That's a real role, and he's going to be able to go where other people can't, but DC is still a fairly snobbish city when it comes to credentials.  I've heard that Josh is trying to get his law degree (through some on-line weird school....but no matter) and that will make a big difference.  It may even be that the FRC is paying for extra education for him.  But I'm betting he makes less than what is the average.

[Literata]

 

I've heard that Josh is trying to get his law degree

Wouldn't he need his BA or BS degree first, and completion of the LSAT?

[bigskygirl]

How would he be able to handle getting his four year degree and law school while traveling and filming his great new life in D.C.  Plus I think his GED aka sitting at the family table homefooling would not get him into a good college. He would also have to think for himself and be responsible. I do not think college instructors would can take Duggar time too kindly.

[Ljohnson1987]

Smuggar will never get a real law degree. Maybe College Minus offers one.

[bigskygirl]

My three year old cat has a better chance of becoming a lawyer than Smuggly Do Rite does.

[JerseyGirl]

No way will he get a law degree.  I'm guessing his salary might be lower than $125k, but they may have thrown him a cost-of-living supplement bringnig it up to about mid-salary living in the DC area. 

[galax-arena]

Can you imagine Josh trying to get through a legit law school? LMAO. You don't have to be a genius to make it, but you do have to be willing to put in the work. Josh is such a lazy lump, ain't no way that's gonna happen.

 

And I'm picturing him trying to work through the logic questions on the LSAT... 

[wanderwoman]

Only on reality tv and fundy land could an uneducated, lazy, conservative Christian wing nut make $175,000 a year. If I were a donor to that organization, I would wonder how Josh can do all of the book signings, vacations, and trips to Arkansas that he does. Seems like a waste of money.

[trimthatfat]

Y'know...if Josh actually applied himself, he could get into law school. Would he go to Georgetown or Yale? No. But a semi-decent law school, probably. He'd have to buckle down and commit to make it happen though.  I just never like to say someone can't be something in life if they truly want it because I've seen some very inspirational stories about people beating the odds stacked against them.

 

Sigh. What a disservice Michelle and JB have done to their children by making education secondary. They've made it doubly difficult for their children to pursue schooling beyond the high school level.

[JerseyGirl]

The average salary for an Executive Director, Non-Profit Organization in Washington, District of Columbia is $86,670 per year. 

 

http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Executive_Director%2c_Non-Profit_Organization/Salary/4ed30373/Washington-DC

 

I think it might be less for a guy who was homeschooled, has a GED, and has never completed as much as an Associates degree?

Edited September 24, 2014 by JerseyGirl

[zenme]

I do not think college instructors would can take Duggar time too kindly

 

I agree.  Josh thinks he knows everything.  I could totally see Josh as one of those students that ALWAYS has an argument for the professor, you know, the guy that when he speaks everyone sighs because you know the discussion is going to be a 10 or 15 minute attempt of the student to show how much smarter he/she is than everyone else--including the professor.  Also, he doesn't seem the type to be able to keep up with the reading, or to put together a cohesive paper.  I've never seen Josh as much of a hard worker. 

[GEML]

There is Trinity Law School which will make arrangements. Basically there are ways around it if you aren't trying to get into a real law school. The biggest issue is passing the bar - something even those who come from very good law schools struggle to do.

I'm not trying to say this is a good idea (my husband has a JD from a top ten law school and works in DC so I know a lot about the culture) Just that in his narrow world "they do things a little different."

I figure he makes a decent salary and perhaps a bonus contingent on his fundraising successes.

Oh, and students who think they know everything and will lecture the professor are EVERY student at most law schools. It's a character flaw of the profession! ;)

Edited September 24, 2014 by GEML

[galax-arena]

Oh, and students who think they know everything and will lecture the professor are EVERY student at most law schools.

I once went to dinner with a bunch of 1Ls from Harvard Law School.

 

Worst. Evening. Ever.

[GEML]

(Howling)

They mellow out by their third year. Someone has to be the bottom third after all!

[Guest]

I just started watching the show (currently on Season 2 on Netflix), so I'm confused on a couple things.

 

They weren't dating/courting before Josh proposed? They went straight from "talking" to engaged? No courtship? From what her father said, she had agreed not to court til she was 20, and Josh proposed on her 20th birthday.

 

How long were they married before she got pregnant? In the episode they found out, she sounded like it had been a very long time.  Was it long only by fundy standards, or was it actually long?  On the show, it was just a few episodes, it seemed.

 

 

 

[Katydid]

I believe they were married for 4 months when they found out M1 was on her way. Anna did make it sound like they'd been trying for years, though.

[Guest]

I believe they were married for 4 months when they found out M1 was on her way. Anna did make it sound like they'd been trying for years, though.

Yeah, they just said that on the episode I'm currently watching. I should have just waited before posting.

 

That's pretty annoying that she acted like that.

[Barb23]

Smuggar will never get a real law degree. Maybe College Minus offers one.

or the Alert Academy! I was reading on their website they offer other "training" besides the rescue stuff:Firefighter/paramedic, building trades,property care, etc. There was even one for law enforcement which I cant see any police Dept accepting. Very costly too- the paramedic one was $10,000. I cant imagine how the fundie families can afford these programs. Maybe since the Duggar family is royalty with Gothard/ATI, they could start a law school program for Smuggar.

[bigskygirl]

The officer who oversees the volunteer program I am in said a majority of law enforcement departments will not accept an applicant if the person does not have a four year degree in criminal justice and/or other law enforcement related degrees. I do not know if they would accept someone with a GED or was homeschooled.

 

I would chuckle for a week to see Josh or John David deal with a drunk woman or a woman who does not want to be arrested. I remember reading someplace the reason why the girls went with their brothers to the volunteer fire department was to make sure they did not see or do the wrong thing. I could imagine having my husband or a female family member go with me because of the temptation of being around male officers or my fellow male volunteers. The horrors!!! I will go pray and hope God will not send me to you know where.

[juneday]

I believe they were married for 4 months when they found out M1 was on her way. Anna did make it sound like they'd been trying for years, though.

What were they doing, trying every night for four months? Gosh, that's a bad mental image...

Still, that is not a long time at all.

And I can't imagine that anyone would accept a law degree from ALERT.

[fliptopbox]

And I can't imagine that anyone would accept a law degree from ALERT.

It would probably only be impressive to the Duggars and maybe other fundies who were familiar with what ALERT is. Anyone else on the planet is gonna have a confused look and be like "ALERT who? WTF is that?" and then laugh. And that would be the right reaction since a law degree from Bill Gothard and his minions would be hysterical.

[Temperance]

You need undergraduate degree to get to be lawyer. Since when does Josh have one?

My fundie -lite friends had the same reaction when they were married four or five monthes before they were pregnant.  They got a puppy to compensate lack of baby.

 

That being said Josh and Anna are clearly not that fertile are or something. Six years and only three kids... 

[mimionthebeach]

That being said Josh and Anna are clearly not that fertile are or something. Six years and only three kids...

My money's on "or something".

[UmmHello]

This has probably been noted before somewhere but I havent really looked honestly, but I was watching the Graduation and a Surprise episode where Anna is talking to Marcus about going to the grocery store and she says "we are going to practice self control. do you know what self control is? Instant obedience.... to do what is right!" She sounds so freaking creepy and I do not think that definition fits self control exactly..

[HeyNow]

I think the definition of self control is off, because it's NOT the same as obeying someone/something outside of yourself.  And, in my experience, a baby doesn't really give a hoot!

 

This has probably been noted before somewhere but I havent really looked honestly, but I was watching the Graduation and a Surprise episode where Anna is talking to Marcus about going to the grocery store and she says "we are going to practice self control. do you know what self control is? Instant obedience.... to do what is right!" She sounds so freaking creepy and I do not think that definition fits self control exactly..

[GEML]

Yes, it's a shame that how mixed up their notions are. Self-control is internally driven, not externally. But Gothard doesn't want his followers thinking or trusting themselves or else he might not be able to control them.

[SusieQZie]

It seems Anna and Josh (and at least some of the rest of the fam) are having a ball at the Value Voters Summit (or something like that- I'm conservative politically, but it seems like the VVS is about every other weekend), as they have a ton of new pictures on their Instagrams.

 

Seems like all the hob-knobbing with DC folk inflates that ego of Josh's as much as those giant breakfasts do.

[Barb23]

This has probably been noted before somewhere but I havent really looked honestly, but I was watching the Graduation and a Surprise episode where Anna is talking to Marcus about going to the grocery store and she says "we are going to practice self control. do you know what self control is? Instant obedience.... to do what is right!" She sounds so freaking creepy and I do not think that definition fits self control exactly..

And Marcus was like 2 at the time.

[redbird]

I love that scene where Anna is talking to Michael about self control. His "yes" and "nooooooo" crack me up. And I think the definition she gives for self control is actually a good one. Instant obedience to do what is right. Like, I want a donut. But I know donuts are bad so I don't have one. If I instantly listen to that internal conscience, without acting first contrary to it and having to be corrected externally, I'm instantly obedient to rightness, aka I've shown self control. Obedience to do what is right is very different than obedience to an outside authority figure.

(Aside: I do, of course, constantly disobey re: donuts. To say I lack self control when it comes to donuts is akin to saying the Duggars have a few kids. Vaaaast understatement. TMish Anna.)

[bigskygirl]

I am surprise Josh has a picture of him with Sarah Palin on his twitter page since she has a daughter who got pregnant without being married. I think her son also got married after his girlfriend got pregnant. The horrors!!!

[GEML]

I'm moving to this thread from Jill says yes to the Dress.

Someone was talking about Josh and his cohorts not being very effective as their candidates don't win. But here is one of the dirty little secrets of Washington. You don't have to win. In fact, sometimes winning isn't all that great because you end up making less money and have to actually vote on real things and compromise.

What you do have to do is raise money and stay relevant. You have to be able to criticize those already elected (Democrat and Republican) at all times ). And whether or not Josh can do that, I don't know. I'm also not convinced that JB is happy that Josh took the DC position as it detracts from the show and many Gothard rules. Keep in mind that the FRC is headed by a man who once ran for president and "lost" (I put that in quotes as he never had a chance to win) but actually may not have been a candidate that the Duggars would have supported, although he is an extremely right wing conservative. They have several to choose from. People in this group are fighting each other for time, money and exposure. Having the Duggar name helps in some circles, saying he isn't like his parents helps in others.

Edited September 28, 2014 by GEML

[BitterApple]

It's pretty hard to get hired on with law enforcement agencies if you don't have a degree or military experience (at least where I live). Paying for any sort of training through ALERT is just throwing money down a rabbit hole. It would be like one of us trying to use the activities we did at summer camp as fodder for our resumes. Hiring managers would have a good laugh before tossing them in the trash.

[GEML]

Sure. But Josh never was someone looking for that kind of career. It really is a shame that he was kept from getting a real education. I'm not someone who personally is thrilled with his politics or ideology, but it's clear that this is the type of work he's wanted to do since he was a young man, and while he's found an opening despite his lack of serious training, it will likely hinder him long term.

[bigskygirl]

Nothing can stop him from getting a decent education now. Yes, he is married with three young children, but he could go to school part time or take on line classes. He is the reason why he is not furthering his education. He needs to cut the apron strings. Josh can believe he got the job on his own, but in reality, he is nothing but a younger clone of his parents.

[fliptopbox]

How is it that Josh was "allowed" to fly the coop and have a real job, one with an actual boss and everything? Doesn't that go against all that Gothard indoctrination bullshit? I mean I know they're all still mainly fundie religious wackos but still. I thought they believed a man was to be his own boss.

[bigskygirl]

He is spreading the Gothard movement message in the political world so Gothard would have no problems with Josh working for this one group. Plus what will he do with all of his political expertise since it would be wasted selling used cars back home.

[fliptopbox]

Political expertise? He's a good mouthpiece and does what he's told. I'm sure the only reason he got his job was because his family is "famous" for their beliefs. And maybe some extra push from JimBob. We all know he's been itching to get into office. Any office.

[truthtalk2014]

Nothing can stop him from getting a decent education now. Yes, he is married with three young children, but he could go to school part time or take on line classes. 

Yea, but what about Anna?  Heaven forbid Joshy has a serious health problem from all that tater tot casserole he grew up on?  What is Anna going to do?  

[bigskygirl]

According to Jim Bob, the kiddies are political experts because they have worked on a few candidate campaigns. 

 

Anna is sweet so I am sure she can find another man to marry to take care of her and the kids or she can always move in with the Duggars if something to Josh.

[GEML]

There have been rumors he's doing the online law courses through Trinity. It's by no means an accredited law school, but should he actually pass the bar, he will be an attorney, no matter how some of feel about the inadequacy of his education. (And I feel it is tremendously inadequate and am skeptical that he will pass any time soon, but hey, things do happen...)

[fliptopbox]

Yea, but what about Anna?  Heaven forbid Joshy has a serious health problem from all that tater tot casserole he grew up on?  What is Anna going to do?  

I know. She's gonna pray on it. Cos that's what women do in Duggarville. Heaven forbid a wife have a job of her own!! That's a man's job!

 

Although I do wonder, if Josh would die early does Gothard-ism allow Anna to court again and remarry? Or is she considered damaged goods and doomed to die as a lonely widow?

[bigskygirl]

How can someone take online classes to become a lawyer. Who would hire this person?  I can see taking online classes in Paralegal Studies or Legal Administrative Specialist, but law courses on the way becoming a lawyer. I must be missing something here.

[truthtalk2014]

 

Although I do wonder, if Josh would die early does Gothard-ism allow Anna to court again and remarry? Or is she considered damaged goods and doomed to die as a lonely widow?

Hmmm… I'm curious about that too.  After all, she must have a man in control of her.  Would she revert back to her father in Florida?  Would Jim Boob take over the task and put them in another sector of the metal building?  Or, maybe John David could step in?  

 

I feel a little sick now.