10/4/2023

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            Is this Kevin McCarthy (KOM) situation a SNAFU or apocalypse? It may be unprecedented, but is an ungovernable GOP going to end democracy as we know it? Are we on our way to a demonocracy in the House? We both know that the media tends toward sensational so getting a clear picture is a challenge.

            Have you spoken with KOM? Do you think Rep. Patrick T. McHenry will end up running things for the duration since no one has a plan for a new speaker? I remember him from your budget talks in June as KOM’s surrogate budget nerd. He looks nice enough, but he did kick NPP out of her office while she’s here in CA for DiFi’s funeral. What’s up with that?

I can’t help but think, “better the devil you know than the devil you don't know,” as we move forward.

            While I was not a fan of KOM, I did appreciate his final remark during his comments yesterday about wanting to do his work with a smile. My dad would have loved that!

            I am excited to see how our new Senator Laphonza Butler does as the first Black lesbian to serve. Please give her a warm welcome to the Hill.

Please continue to monitor the situation in Burma. Today’s news indicates that 1000 civilians have fled from the Northern Shan state into China because their villages were bombed because the local Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) runs check points, seizes & publicly incinerates illicit narcotics, destroys opium fields. These actions anger the military, their border guard forces, & pro-junta ethnic armies – all of whom profit from the drug trade.

I’m amazed the Chinese accepted refugees, but if they can do it so can we!

BYBS,