12/30/2024

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            Today’s HX, #6, indicates we should maintain apprehensive caution & not prosecute contentions to the bitter end. I believe you & I know when to hold ‘em & when to fold ‘em. I think Jimmy Carter (39) did, too. I hope 45 figures it out.

            Decency!!! Thanks so much for emphasizing that in your remarks about the passing of 39. Those who were listening closely to the press conference could infer your unstated comparison to 45/47, especially when you mentioned that 39 would never call someone names.

            39’s ever-present grin suggested he had lots of mischief on his mind as if he was constantly joking with himself. He managed to do as George Fox suggested & “walked cheerfully over the world, answering to that of God in everyone.” Do you think 39 decided to let go in 2024 so he would not have to see the transition of power that will happen in 2025? Perhaps he knew that the attention he is getting in his death will get under the skin of 45/47, so he got in his last jab in as he departed this life.

            I’m afraid that one of the things I remember best about 39 was his interview with Playboy magazine in 1976 when “he admitted to feelings of 'lust' & committing 'adultery many times in my heart.'” My dad (HTA) quoted that incessantly when we debated about Bill Clinton.

            According to Dartmouth Prof, Randall Balmer, 39 “was a bit of a contrarian” &  “just a very stubborn man,” much like HTA. While they may have had similar dispositions, I’m sure HTA was appalled by 39’s malaise speech where he scolded Americans for being consumers.

            I encourage you to consider honoring 39’s legacy by drawing attention to his 2013 visits to Burma with the Elders, where he said, ““Myanmar [Burma] still has a long way to go … with the treatment of the Muslim citizens in the northwest, near Bangladesh... The citizenship for them has to be addressed. I think we still have a long way to go in getting political dialogue to build on the ceasefires."

            The Carter Center may be asked to monitor the upcoming elections that China wants the junta to put on. It’ll be interesting to see what they decide to do.

            Enjoy the rest of your vacation,

            BYBS,

            RCA

PS – I encourage you to listen to some Kenny Rogers. His voice is soothing & his lyrics are provocative. My favorite verse this AM is “'Cause every hand's a winner & every hand's a loser & the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep."