Dear President Trump, Just because we’re both human, you and I have some basic things in common, like we both put our pants on one leg at a time, that sort of thing. Well, unless you have someone dress you and to keep you focused they make a game out of it and have you … Continue reading Checking virulent pomposity
Use Your Powers for Good
Our collective house is on fire and now is not the time to tinker
Dear President Trump, By the end of the day when I return to edit this letter to you, we’ll all know whether McGahn showed up in response to the House Judiciary Committee’s subpoena slated to start at 10am your time. The odds that he’ll attend are infinitesimally small, but who knows, maybe he’ll have a … Continue reading Our collective house is on fire and now is not the time to tinker
Whether the Democrats step up is now the most pressing question
Dear President Trump, All day I’ve been asking myself if I can really stand by my position that the biggest, most consequential question of our lifetimes is whether the Democrats will step up and stop waffling on impeachment. It’s a bold claim since it spans the lifetimes of the youngest newborn baby and that of … Continue reading Whether the Democrats step up is now the most pressing question
What’s real and needs attention
Dear President Trump, I’m well past the years when hormones regularly amped up my emotional tenderness. And before pressing on, no, such cycling is not a sign of female weakness or irrationality. Rather, it’s a built-in course-corrector or truth serum that puts us back in touch with what’s real and needs attention. I would go … Continue reading What’s real and needs attention
Speck-hood
Dear President Trump, I’m torn between elaborating on what seems to me to be the word of the day, which is “sordid,” and wrestling with the reality of being a speck. I think I’ll just list three of the sordid bits that are floating on top of the oil slick this morning and then move … Continue reading Speck-hood
So many phoenixes rising (out of the ashes of the patriarchy)
Dear President Trump, This morning I have three true stories for you, all of which I heard on the same day last week. The first involves a woman who re-entered the work force a few years ago and whose talents have quickly become apparent. Recently her boss asked her to take over a poor-performing department … Continue reading So many phoenixes rising (out of the ashes of the patriarchy)
And yet and still
Dear President Trump, The title of the Easter sermon this morning was “In Praise of What Isn’t.” Our pastor’s theme was how crucial it is that we not get stuck on what is and lose sight of what can be. She wasn’t saying that we should ignore what is or pretend that the bad things … Continue reading And yet and still
A case for impeachment
Dear President Trump, This will likely seem a strange place from which to launch today’s letter to you, but bear with me and we’ll see if I can pull it off. Two minutes ago I gave one of our toilets a “good enough” scrub with the toilet brush. While doing so, I remembered how a … Continue reading A case for impeachment
Yemen, votes, and a veto
Dear President Trump, Veto #2 is behind you and again it seems unlikely that there’s any chance this side of hell that either the House or the Senate (let alone both) can muster enough votes to override you so our involvement in the Saudi-backed war in Yemen will continue. Indefinitely. Using the words “veto” and … Continue reading Yemen, votes, and a veto
Katie Porter rocks!
Dear President Trump, This morning, once I was fully awake, I realized I was thinking about California Representative Katie Porter. Yesterday evening I watched her laser-focused questioning of JPMorgan Chase’s CEO, Jamie Dimon, and apparently she was so compelling my brain wouldn’t let her go. Did you see the clips? No? I’m shocked! Well, the … Continue reading Katie Porter rocks!