No, sir, we have strong reason to believe that he already understands that he has acted in an indiscreet and hot-headed manner. It would be a greater blow to him and to his country than to us if this letter were to come out.



—The Adventure of the Second Stain, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle



From Politico:



Schumer spoke to Trump twice Thursday afternoon, according to the Democratic leader's office. After hearing his position, Trump informed Schumer that he was in the process of sending a "very nasty letter" but would try to stop the letter from being sent, Schumer's office said. Trump said that he would apologize if he was unable to prevent the letter from going out, Schumer's office said.



At issue, of course, was the spectacularly intemperate letter dispatched by the president* to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in response to some criticisms that Schumer had made concerning the chaotic federal response to the pandemic. This letter should immediately be put on display at the National Archives as a warning to the nation of the consequences of electing a game-show host and failed casino grifter to the highest political office in the land. The gist:



“If you spent less time on your ridiculous impeachment hoax, which went haplessly on forever and ended up going nowhere (except increasing my poll numbers), and instead focused on helping the people of New York, then New York would not have been so completely unprepared . . . You have been missing in action, except when it comes to the ‘press.’”



The letter is perfectly in character, as is the partial walk-back reported by Politico. This has been your morning warning that, as The Master put it, it’s doom alone that counts.



“You think, sir, that unless this document is recovered there will be war?”

“I think it is very probable.”

“Then, sir, prepare for war.”



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Charles P. Pierce Charles P Pierce is the author of four books, most recently Idiot America, and has been a working journalist since 1976.

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