Dear President Trump, Because it’s the polite thing to do I will wish you a happy St. Patrick’s day, though I really don’t want to wish you a happy anything. I know it can’t be a literally apt metaphor since it’s been going on way too long, but you are stepping on my last nerve. … Continue reading “Dictatorship for Dummies”
What is wrong with you?
Dear President Trump, What is wrong with you? Seriously, I really want to know. Psychologists, like psychiatrists, aren’t supposed to diagnose people we don’t actually assess in-person so I will refrain from saying you have any particular diagnosis or diagnoses. However, I think it’s completely fair to use observed behaviors and see how they may … Continue reading What is wrong with you?
Morally bereft political calculus
Dear President Trump, Although it has apparently already slipped below the “this is top news” section of the WP, there was a lengthy article this morning about the gun violence school walk out yesterday. Unfortunately it unhelpfully said “tens of thousands” took part, but given that kids from thousands of schools across the country participated, … Continue reading Morally bereft political calculus
Kindness revisited
Dear President Trump, I wasn’t able to catch the exact wording of the saying or who it was attributed to because I was running late, but I saw something to this effect on someone’s office door yesterday: “Choose kindness whenever possible, which is always.” Isn’t that nice? I really mean it, I think it’s a … Continue reading Kindness revisited
West Wing revolving door
Dear President Trump, It’s like “The Gong Show” at your place, isn’t it? You all should probably install a revolving door to make it easier for people to exit quickly when you are done using them and to usher in the newbies all in a whoosh so they come in good and disoriented. The other … Continue reading West Wing revolving door
Resisting weak resignation
Dear President Trump, I don’t remember whether the hymn I’m going to tell you about from the service yesterday is the same one that prompted tears and comforting of tears, but it certainly might be. The hymn’s title is “God of Grace, God of Glory” and the lead line of the 5th verse is “Save … Continue reading Resisting weak resignation
Tender truths
Dear President Trump, I thought for sure I’d written to you about confirmation bias before, but I just did a quick search of my running letters document and I couldn’t find the term. It’s an important idea to understand so I’ve been remiss. Essentially it is how we tend to preferentially pick out things in … Continue reading Tender truths
Mental health and masculinity
Dear President Trump, We have posters all over the VA that say “It takes the courage and strength of a warrior to ask for help….” Some have a silhouette of a single solider with his head in his hands and others have a male hand reaching down from a military vehicle to help another male … Continue reading Mental health and masculinity
POTUS fails on Management Do’s and Don’ts
Dear President Trump, This week I took the three-hour VA’s EEO Compliance Training for Managers and Supervisors. Have you taken the equivalent one for the Executive Branch? Surely there is one. If not, you can borrow ours. We have to do it every two years to stay on top of the new laws and to … Continue reading POTUS fails on Management Do’s and Don’ts
Magpies of a different feather
Dear President Trump, The other day a friend who is reading my letters to you on my blog (yes, I did get it set up and if you want to check it out, the url is http://www.dailytrumpletters) commented about the bouncing variety of topics I cover over the course of a week. I told him … Continue reading Magpies of a different feather
Daily Trump Letters 