I think the dollar store will have to start calling itself the dollar-fifty store because of this China thing. As I have said before, less consumer merch is good for the environment - not so good for the economy but maybe it's time we put people to work doing things besides working at Walmart. …
…I hope you'll talk to Sonny Perdue about his jokes. Paul Krugman, writing in today's NYT, quoted him as asking, “What do you call two farmers in a basement?” and replying, "a whine cellar." Framers are allowed to tell that kind of joke to each other, but not the Secretary of Agriculture. Please help him understand he should not be perpetuating negative stereotypes about farmers….
… I was disappointed to see that you are relaxing regulation on methane leaks. I encourage you to give Shell U.S. President Gretchen Watkins a call so you can better understand why that regulation is a good idea. Perhaps she'll persuade you that "Climate change is real and is a problem that the society needs to engage in." …
…My suggestion is to let go of the idea of having the next G7 at your hotel in Florida…. the group just met in a beachy kind of place and Florida in the summer is just too humid! I suggest Aspen instead. It's beautiful. Security is doable. …The mountains in the summer are gorgeous. Please give this suggestion some consideration….
…Biarritz looks lovely. I hope you take a minute to enjoy the beauty of the place. Maybe go out to the beach to see the surfers or go to the new Cité de l'Océan et du Surf where you could do a bunch of virtual reality activities to learn more about the ocean. I expect that it would help you understand why the G7 folk are worried about plastics in the ocean. It would be well worth the visit.
…Reading about him in today's NYT reminds me that he operates like so many of the adolescent boys I used to teach, acting out to get attention. The NYT says that he has a "singular grip" on your immigration policy and that he is your " ideological chaperone." I hope you will find some kinder, gentler people to inform your thinking about immigration. ..
…Speaking of Bibi, he's got his hands full trying to figure out what to do with Ayelet Shaked (AS), the new "Iron Woman" who is leading the "United Right" Zionist coalition. Do you know about her? I find it fascinating that a secular woman is representing orthodox Jews who prefer to segregate the sexes. Some people think she could become the PM….
