Shultz on Trump’s talks in Finland
The SFJazz Center was sold out for Monday’s onstage discussion, “Perspective With the Honorable George P. Shultz,” which featured the elder statesman speaking with Peter Schwartz, senior vice president of Salesforce.com. The event was sponsored by the Long Now Foundation and the Asia Society. Joe Garofoli, The Chronicle’s senior political writer, was there, and mentioned to me that it was curious Shultz, respected stalwart of the Republican Party, hadn’t once mentioned that day’s big news story, about the news conference after President Trump’s meeting with Vladimir Putin.
I wrote to Shultz asking about that, and he responded through his assistant, Susan Schendel. “Mr. Shultz said that during the Q&A at the Long Now event, he explained how things were done in the Reagan administration, and said he was sorry the Reagan example was not followed.
“He asked me to let you know that he is in full agreement with John McCain,” and then she provided a link to McCain’s statement (probably the strongest of any sitting senator), which began by referring to the news conference as “one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory. The damage inflicted by President Trump’s naiveté, egotism, false equivalence, and sympathy for autocrats is difficult to calculate. But it is clear that the summit in Helsinki was a tragic mistake.”
Whizzing around the internet — and www.vanityfair.com — are reports that
Queen Elizabeth used the language of brooch to send Donald Trump subliminal messages. While he was in London: On July 12, she wore a pin that had been given to her by the Obamas in 2011. On Friday, July 13, for a face-to-face meeting, she wore one her mother had worn to the state funeral of George VI. The next day, she sported a sapphire pin given to her by the Canadian people. (Note: I don’t think they chipped in to buy it.)
P.S. The Trump-Putin meeting went on for longer than planned, surmises Bob
Wieder, to give Trump time to iron Putin’s shirts.
On the other hand, a story of redemption, responsibility, peace on earth and vehicular etiquette is told by Bob Mateo.
After participating in Sunday Streets in the Mission last weekend, he returned to his car, which was parked at 18th and San Carlos streets between Mission and Valencia, and came upon a note on his windshield: “Sorry, I scraped your bumper. Call me, (510) XXX-XXXX.”
He looked at the bumper, and in one corner, found a scrape about 3 by 9 inches, also a quarter-size area of paint that had been abraded away. “I thought something like ‘Hmm, it’s not too, too bad. Not very noticeable. No dent. Not much of a big deal. Besides, it’s an 18-year-old car with some door dings and other body blemishes.’ At home, I called the number and got the guy’s answering machine.”
He left a message identifying himself as the owner of the car, and saying there were two things he wanted to express: “One: I very much appreciate your honesty. The world needs more honest people like you. Two: I’m not going to make an issue about it. The car’s 18 years old and if you looked at the rest of the car, you would’ve noticed the dashboard is warped, a hubcap’s missing and there are several other dings and dents. However, no rust.” Mateo informed the other driver that he wasn’t going to “worry about it, so you don’t worry about it. But, if you’re really feeling guilty, you can send me a pizza or a cheeseburger and we’ll call it even.”
A couple hours later, he called back. That conversation included his question: “So what do you like on your pizza?” Mateo thought he was joking, but answered (spinach, artichoke, mushrooms, olives, pineapple and sausage), adding that the other driver was “extremely lucky that the owner of the car isn’t someone yelling and swearing at you, and is laughing right now.” The other driver got Mateo’s address and a convenient time.
The pizza — exactly as specified — arrived Monday, and Mateo called the sender to say thanks.
Malcolm Gissen, who attended the recent swearing-in ceremonies for new District Eight Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, said he thinks Mandelman is the first city official ever to use the word “verklempt” at such a ceremony.
PUBLIC EAVESDROPPING “I flunked my driving test. I was supposed to back up in reverse, and I hit the wall. I said to him, ‘So? I know where it is now!’ ” Woman at El Cerrito Senior Center overheard by Anita Bohn