INSIDE TRUMP’S CHRISTMAS STOCKING — TWO VIEWPOINTS: Click here for the companion piece, ‘Think Your Holiday Gift List Is Tough? Imagine Filling Trump’s Stocking,’ by Chris Talgo.
When President Trump awakens on Christmas morning, after tweeting for 30 minutes, he furiously races over to the White House Christmas tree to see what he received. He quickly discovers his oversize stocking bulging with gifts and begins to open the dozens of presents he has received from his fellow Americans and world leaders.
—From the pope: A board game called Two Truths and Two Hundred Lies
—From Vladimir Putin: A statue of the Kremlin
—From Twitter: a lifetime supply of I-Phones
—From Robert Mueller: a subpoena for an interview
—From the rule of law: a sign that says “January 20, 2021”
—From the Russian company Internet Research Agency: A Russian doll
—From major donors: more requests for Presidential Medals of Freedom for their spouses
—From House Democrats: a copy of President Trump’s current approval ratings
—From Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi: A copy of the movie “Manchurian Candidate”
—From billionaires, corporations and special interests: a gold-plated thank-you note for passing a tax bill that gives a massive tax break to the ultra-wealthy (and could eventually lead to higher taxes for millions of middle-class Americans)
—From Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts: a copy of the Constitution
—From Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell: a copy of the Beatles’ song “Back in the USSR”
—From Jeff Bezos: A free subscription to Amazon Prime
—From Michael Flynn: a request for a pardon
—From Michael Cohen: a lump of coal
—From CNN: a copy of their highest ratings (plus a lump of coal)
—From the New York Times: a copy of their highest subscription figures
—From reporters: a restraining order
—From the Office of Government Ethics: a picture of a swamp
—From democracy: A “help wanted” sign
—From American taxpayers: a bill for the millions of dollars wasted on the failed “voter fraud” commission and a bill to cover the millions of dollars in security costs for the dozens of golf trips to Mar-a-Lago and his other resorts
—From the Trump Foundation: a “gone out of business” sign
—From Mike Pence: a painting of the Oval Office
—From Melania, Ivanka, Eric and Donald Jr.: a “get out of jail free” card
—From Ryan Zinke, Sean Spicer, Hope Hicks, Rex Tillerson, Anthony Scaramucci, Jeff Sessions, Tom Price, H.R. McMaster, Reince Priebus, Steve Bannon (and at least two dozen other former high-level Trump administration officials): updated resumes and reference requests
—From Common Cause: A copy of our report Art of the Lie
Happy holidays, Mr. President! On behalf of Common Cause’s 1.2 million members who are fighting to strengthen our democracy at the national, state and local levels, we look forward to expanding our work to empower the voices of all Americans in government.
