Dear President Trump, It's been an incredibly hard, sad day and I'm not even directly affected by the worst of what you did today. I don't think I've got it in me to string together a coherent statement that is even remotely clever so I'm just going to list all the things I'm feeling sad … Continue reading A hard, sad day
Environment
You went and did what was expected of you
Dear President Trump, I understand you were visiting people in Texas today, loading provisions into vans, handing out hotdogs, giving hugs. I'm glad. They probably really needed your presence, to have a sense you care about Texans beyond whether they voted for you. I am curious, though, how many Hispanic and African American people you … Continue reading You went and did what was expected of you
It was 106 today in San Francisco
Dear President Trump, It got to 106 in San Francisco today. It's supposed to be over 90 here on Tuesday. Do you all really not see that these are not just normal variations in temperature but extremes that are probably just going to keep ratcheting up? Isn't anyone in your administration whispering in your ear … Continue reading It was 106 today in San Francisco
Instant karma
Dear President Trump, I don't know if everyone has it, but I've observed for decades that I seem to have instant karma. At least half the time I indulge in a petty or mean thought or behavior I get immediate feedback from the universe such that I stub my toe or choke on my own … Continue reading Instant karma
Have you no sense of decency?
Dear President Trump, This afternoon I got a garbled call from Laura just a few minutes after she left for the gym. She said there was a bad accident two blocks from our house and could I come down there. There were already two fire engines and four police cars when I got there and … Continue reading Have you no sense of decency?
You are the exact wrong leader for us
Dear President Trump, How are you going to play it with the major report on climate change your administration is currently reviewing? It's basically a no-win situation for you and as I see it, there are three potential courses you could take. The most likely option is you will suppress the report or insist on … Continue reading You are the exact wrong leader for us
Coal and tobacco are peas in a pod
Dear President Trump, You sure seem to be a vacationing kind of guy and given your previous ragging on President Obama for his vacations, you are probably accruing quite a bit of negative karma. Actually, you having fussed about him taking vacations and then turning around and taking something like three times as many vacation … Continue reading Coal and tobacco are peas in a pod
We watch you even though it’s exhausting
Dear President Trump, We are having some (more) semi-forced family time on day five of our California college tour trip and we are watching selected segments of "The Office" in order to see the especially embarrassing bits with the boss, Michael Scott. Have you seen the show? You and Michael have an awful lot in … Continue reading We watch you even though it’s exhausting
White people may be the equivalent of kudzu
Dear President Trump, In our backyard every spring we have hundreds of volunteer blue bells and every summer we have dozens of rose campions. Both are pretty and both are noxious invasive species that serious gardeners do their best to eradicate. Invasive species, whether plant or animal, are huge problems in lots of ecosystems as … Continue reading White people may be the equivalent of kudzu
Leave wild places wild
Dear President Trump, Tonight we took the dogs to Magnuson Park on Lake Washington. There's no particular reason you should know anything about Magnuson but it's quite an amazing place and I hope you can visit it sometime. It is on the site of the old Sand Point Naval Base. A lot of the buildings … Continue reading Leave wild places wild