1/10/19

My dear Friend and President, DJT,

You are off to McAllen, TX, today. I've never been to the City of Palms, have you? You picked the right time of year to visit. It's going to be a balmy 70-degree today. The editors of the McAllen Monitor welcome you to talk to ALL of the people affected by the Wall so you can get a better appreciation of the complexity of the issue. I think that's a great idea!

The Houston Chronicle says the visit was Bill Shine's idea and that you aren't too excited about it. I doubt that's true because you don't do anything that you don't want to do. You are your own man - for better or for worse. I think that's a good quality even if, sometimes, I cringe at the things you say and do. I have to agree with Kelly C's comment that you "have a gut for what sells and an eye for what compels."

Will Vicente Gonzalez who represents McAllen in the House be joining you? I understand that you, two, dined together at the WH back in the summer of 2017 and that you had a cordial visit. He says he's glad that you'll be visiting McAllen today so you can see how safe it is. 

As you know, he's not a fan of the wall. Among other things he's worried that it will contribute to flooding during the monsoon rains that sometimes come through there. I learned today that in 2014 the border wall exacerbated a flood in Nogales. Vicente doesn't want that to happen to McAllen. He'd like you to focus on filling the 7500 vacancies in the Border patrol. That might be hard to do if fed employees sometimes don't get paid.

It was nice of you to pass out candy at the meeting with NPD and CES at the WH yesterday. I'm sorry that it didn't turn out well. I hope today is more enjoyable than yesterday.

Best,