12/28/18

My dear Friend and President, DJT,

We are having a blustery, beautiful blue sky day here in Davis. I'm afraid that you are having some rain in DC. It would be more aesthetically pleasing if it were snow. Don't you think? It's too bad that you can't join Melania and Barron in Palm Beach today where it's 79 degrees, perfect for some golf. I'm sorry that you are so committed to building a wall that you have to sacrifice precious time with your family. Are you sure it's worth it? Karl Rove cited a poll in the WSJ that only 28% of Americans think the wall should be an immediate priority. I encourage you to consider shifting your priorities to better align with the people's.

What do you think of the following quote from Karl's piece?  

"If Democrats were wise, they would offer some wall funding in return for something more popular, like a path to citizenship for illegal aliens brought to the U.S. as children, who know no other country as home except this one. That way Mr. Trump would get some of his wall funding, the nation would end a situation that a vast majority want resolved, and Americans might sense that Washington is stumbling into a compromise the country needs and wants. Not a bad way to start the new year."

 I think it's a great idea.

Right now, I am obsessed with "parrhesia" as I am interpreting student teachers' stories about when they were courageous. Have you ever heard of it? It's from the Ancient Greeks and involves speaking truth to power. Back in the day great monarchs wanted to have a few parrhesiastes in their court to help them get a clear perspective. Weak monarchs surrounded themselves with flatterers. Who is the parrhesiaste in the WH these days? 

Best,