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#  CityWatch Today: It's Not Working

October 23 2017

Written by Abby Zimet.

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GUEST COLUMNIST--What happened this weekend: Sgt. La David Johnson, killed in Niger under still-murky circumstances and dismissively dubbed "your guy" in last week's calamitous "condolence" call to his widow, was [buried](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/10/21/funeral-held-for-sgt-la-david-johnson-fallen-soldier-caught-in-trump-call-controversy/?utm_term=.a5948db062bc), as his family and fellow soldiers wept.

In still-[devastated](https://twitter.com/search?q=%23puertorico) Puerto Rico, 85% of island residents remain without power, over 30% have no power, experts are [worried](https://qz.com/1107750/puerto-rico-is-primed-for-a-disease-outbreak-due-to-water-contamination/) about water-borne diseases descending, and former governor Alejandro García Padilla [posted](https://splinternews.com/puerto-rico-s-ex-governor-tweets-photo-of-surgery-by-ce-1819752001) a photo of a gloomy operating room where surgeons [worked ](https://twitter.com/agarciapadilla/status/921535831990587394/photo/1)by cellphone flashlights. (*Photo above.)*

To help stricken residents, all five former [presidents](https://thinkprogress.org/as-five-former-presidents-focus-on-hurricane-relief-trump-plays-golf-4ae23b4875cc/) hosted an [unprecedented](https://splinternews.com/trump-can-t-stop-inserting-himself-into-former-presiden-1819739508) "Deep from the Heart: One America Appeal" benefit concert of [country music](https://twitter.com/hashtag/OneAmericaAppeal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Ftime.com%2F4992497%2Fone-america-appeal-concert-presidents%2F) in Texas; stressing the need for unity, they raised $31 million. Trump was M.I.A, except for a weird recorded message he[ beamed ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=35&v=G46NYFFBWyo)to the crowd from a teleprompter that bore no resemblance to [reality.](https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/puerto-rico-hurricane-relief-brown/) "The American people have done what we do best," he [shouted. ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=35&v=G46NYFFBWyo)"We came together, we helped one another, and through it all, we remained resilient."

Trump wasn't at the benefit because it was only for real presidents, and besides he was way busy: [giving ](https://www.commondreams.org/further/2017/10/21/%20http%3A/www.cbc.ca/news/world/puerto-ricans-new-york-1.4364546)himself a 10 out of 10 for fixing Puerto Rico, [continuing ](http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/356585-trump-dem-lawmaker-gift-that-keeps-on-giving-for-the-gop)his feud with Rep. Frederica Wilson, [ranting ](http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/356587-trump-news-organizations-have-lost-cred)about fake news, [bragging ](https://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/349258/trump-on-his-well-crafted-tweets-im-able-to-go-bing-bing-bing/)about his tweets - “I’m like, a person that does well with that kind of thing” - and [playing](https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/921751847622381568) golf.

For Mr. I'm-going-to-be-working-for-you-I'm-not-going-to-have-time-to-go-play-golf, he's played *a lot* of golf. We [know ](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/how-much-time-trump-spending-trump-properties-n753366)because there are websites [tracking it, ](http://trumpgolfcount.com/#services)complete with [comparisons ](http://trumpgolfcount.com/#services)to Obama.

![](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/images/stories/Oct-2017/085u.png)This weekend, though he [tried ](https://www.commondreams.org/further/2017/10/21/%20https%3A/www.inquisitr.com/4571349/trump-refuses-to-tell-media-when-he-golfs-after-3rd-straight-weekend-spent-golfing/)to hide it, Trump [visited ](http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/356530-trump-heads-to-his-virginia-golf-club-for-third-consecutive-weekend)his Virginia golf club both Saturday - four hours - and Sunday - five hours. It was the third consecutive [weekend](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/how-much-time-trump-spending-trump-properties-n753366) he spent playing golf.

It was his 75th day playing golf. Since his teeny inauguration, he has spent one of every three days at a Trump property and one of every four days at a Trump golf club playing golf. He has now spent over $74 million of Americans' money playing golf.

OK, uncle: We're tired of winning.

*(Guest columnist Abby Zimet offers her insight daily at the popular* [Common Dreams](http://commondreams.org) *… where this perspective was first posted.)*

*-cw*

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