(UPDATED) Ebenezer Trump Plays Golf while Thousands Die, Millions Starve and More Are About to Lose Their Unemployment Benefits and Homes

What did Ebenezer Trump do when he flew to his taxpayer-subsidized retreat Mara Largo in West Palm Beach, Florida?

Did he give a thoughtful and comforting Christmas Day address to the American People during this time of the pandemic and economic uncertainty?

No.

Did he express sadness and a resoluteness to work hard these last 25 days of his Presidency for the memories of the thousands that have died from COVID 19, the thousands that are infected with the Coronavirus, the millions that are facing food insecurity, and the other millions facing the prospects of losing their unemployment insurance and/or homes?

Are you kidding?

Did he sign the COVID 19 relief and Omnibus Spending bill that passed with large bipartisan margins in Congress that will provide extended unemployment insurance, an eviction moratorium, direct (albeit pitifully small) payments to Americans, small business assistance, vaccination purchasing and distribution to the states, and aid to schools, infrastructure, and the transportation sector?

Nope, and it has been on his Florida desk since Thursday.

What has Donald Trump been doing since he landed in Florida?

• Played Golf.
• Tweeted criticism of the media for not putting his wife on the cover of any fashion magazines since she became First Lady. 
• Played Golf. 
• Moaned and groaned about his election loss and increasing Republican acknowledgment of the Biden win.
• Played Golf.
• Tweeted his criticism of the COVID 19 relief and Omnibus Spending Bill, calling for an increase in direct payments of $2000 to all Americans and the cutting of foreign aid. 

It is amazing that the Trump supporters probably do not fathom that it was his administration that negotiated the COVID 19 and Omnibus spending bills with Congress and that the 2016 and 2020 Popular Vote Loser did not give any indication he would not sign the bill.

The Democrats were willing to go along with Trump’s call for $2000 in direct payments (remember it was the Democrat’s idea in the first place) and pass it through unanimous consent in the House on Christmas Eve.

The House Republicans, acting like little Scrooges, objected and instead offered a motion to cut the foreign aid which was also rejected.

Lindsey Graham, the blow with the wind backstabbing Senator from South Carolina played golf with Trump yesterday and called on Republicans to consider both the $2000 in direct payments and the repeal of section 230 big tech liability protection in the Defense bill that Trump did veto.

While Mr. Trump’s actions and inactions this last week (do not forget his pardons of personal cronies and mass murderers,) are a political gift to Democrats (especially for Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock running in the two Senate runoff elections in Georgia,) it would be better for the country and the American People if the COVID 19 relief and Omnibus funding Bill were signed into law so the suffering could stop for some and lessen for others.

Democrats can still move forward on increasing the direct payments to Americans and override Mr. Trump’s veto of the Defense bill and let Republican Representatives and Senators show what they care about more: The American People and the Nation’s Defense or their deference to the Chief Executive Demagogue.

Hopefully, Republicans will pick the American People and the Nation’s Defense.

Hopefully.

UPDATE

President-Elect Joe Biden issued a statement, condemning Mr. Trump’s inaction towards COVID Relief. It reads:

“It is the day after Christmas, and millions of families don’t know if they’ll be able to make ends meet because of President Donald Trump’s refusal to sign an economic relief bill approved by Congress with an overwhelming and bipartisan majority.”

“This abdication of responsibility has devastating consequences. Today, about 10 million Americans will lose unemployment insurance benefits. In just a few days, government funding will expire, putting vital services and paychecks for military personnel at risk. In less than a week, a moratorium on evictions expires, putting millions at risk of being forced from their homes over the holidays. Delay means more small businesses won’t survive this dark winter because they lack access to the lifeline they need, and Americans face further delays in getting the direct payments they deserve as quickly as possible to help deal with the economic devastation caused by COVID-19. And while there is hope with the vaccines, we need funding to be able to distribute and administer them to millions of Americans, including frontline health care workers.”

“This bill is critical. It needs to be signed into law now. But it is also a first step and down payment on more action that we’ll need to take early in the new year to revive the economy and contain the pandemic — including meeting the dire need for funding to distribute and administer the vaccine and to increase our testing capacity.”

“In November, the American people spoke clearly that now is a time for bipartisan action and compromise. I was heartened to see members of Congress heed that message, reach across the aisle, and work together. President Trump should join them, and make sure millions of Americans can put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads in this holiday season.”