The world's most famous comb-over resides on his head. What's inside it is another matter. I'm talking about Donald Trump. He wants you to think he's running for president. He's not.
The reality show candidate has taken over the media lately with his non-stop ranting about President Obama's birth certificate, or rather his lack of one. To downplay any question as to whether he is playing a very dangerous race card, Trump claims “I have a great relationship with the blacks”. In order to further his great relationship with “the blacks”, Trump goes on to say that Obama is the worst president ever, even worse than Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush, all of whom Trump previously gave the honor.
Trump's surge to the top of several recent polls has given members of the media a chance to hyperventilate, and given Trump's ego a chance to inflate even more than it's usual grandiose level. And comedians everywhere have been given new material, the kind that can only be called stranger than fiction, and of course funnier, especially to Democrats.
Democrats have gotten a good laugh at this Republican sideshow, while Trump's popularity in the polls has left his rivals dazed and confused. None of Trump's potential opponents have been particularly specific or consistent on policy issues, and Trump has been especially bizarre and prone to hyperbole when he isn't babbling about Obama's birth certificate.
An example of Trump's foreign policy strategy: re-invade the Middle East and take control of Iraq's oil fields. In a recent interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, Trump rationalizes that because we spent $1.5 trillion in Iraq ousting Saddam Hussein, we've earned the right to Iraq's reserves of crude oil.
“So we steal an oil field?” asked Stephanopoulos, trying to keep a straight face.
Trump responded: “Excuse me. You're not stealing. Excuse me. You're not stealing anything. You're taking – we're reimbursing ourselves – at least, at a minimum, and I say more. We're taking back $1.5 trillion to reimburse ourselves.”
This type of wacky psychobabble is calculated to grab headlines. Unlike Charlie Sheen, who also recently brought the media to a frenzy, Trump is not delusional and is not showing signs of mental illness. He has always talked like this, being prone to outlandish statements and embellishments of the facts. He doesn't really seem like he cares about facts or substance. He's obviously more interested in the delivery. He craves the spotlight.
If you agree with what Trump is saying, well, you're the one who's delusional, not him. He's just another carnival huckster looking for publicity. The facts are irrelevant. The joke's on you.
Trump is content taking his clown act to the airwaves, urging his paranoid followers to take up his crusade demanding that Obama prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that he's not a Kenyan-born Muslim out to destroy America.
It's fun to watch Trump MC a fight between Gary Busey and Meat Loaf, but do you really want the reality show host setting Middle East policy?
There will always be a fringe group of right wing crazies who think Trump is up for the job, but when reality sets in, the Republican party will settle into politics as usual, which means there will emerge a candidate with a normal hair line and some semblance of rational thinking.
Like most of the Republican field, Trump has not yet confirmed that he is a candidate. But even if he were to decide to run, there is no way he would win the nomination. A well-known publicity addict, when Trump sees a microphone and camera, he can't contain his bluster. But it's all a publicity stunt, and nothing more, which explains why Trump is announcing his decision about whether he will seek the nomination on the season finale of “The Apprentice”.
It's all about the ratings, not only for Trump and his NBC show, but for the media, who are following his every word as if he's the second coming of Charlie Sheen, which he is. But as for Trump, it's all a stunt used to increase his show's ratings, sell his bottled water and signature mail-order steak, bring people to his casinos and golf courses, and feed his giant ego.
Or maybe I'm wrong. But if Trump becomes president, I'm moving to Kenya.
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This is a sad commentary on the Republican party. Trump for president? Not in my lifetime.
ReplyDeleteThat's one hell of a promotional bonanza for NBC's "Apprentice". The media tour worked for Charlie Sheen, and now it's working for Trump.
ReplyDeleteThe "Birthers" are going to follow Trump no matter what, but the rest of us know what's really going on.
I'm laughing so hard I'm crying. I can't get enough of the entertainment that passes for news these days.
ReplyDeleteI saw clips of the George Stephanopoulos interview. He seemed to be wondering what he was doing in the same room as this lunatic.
As the Tea Party 'birthers' continue to believe this nonsense, it is becoming clear that the Republican party is losing it's credibility.
It's true, Democrats are having a good laugh at the spectacle, but in the end, everyone will forget Donald Trump, just like they're forgeting Charlie Sheen. Until then, we'll just enjoy the show.
Hey, Donald...duck! The tribe has spoken. You've been voted off the island.
ReplyDeleteWith multi-trillion dollar deficits, and government spending out of control, of course we need someone in Washington who knows how to run a business. However, I'm sure the Republicans (or the Democrats, for that matter) can find someone better than this clown. How about Bill Gates? I hear he's looking for something to do these days.
ReplyDeletelol... You've hit the nail on the head with this one. (excuse the pun, or analogy, or whatever)
ReplyDeleteLot of stuff here I wasn't aware of. It seems too funny to be true. Sieze Iraq's oil fields, huh?
ReplyDeleteStranger than fiction.
ReplyDeleteYour lucky your readers all all Democrats. Some of this stuff is a bit one-sided, don't you think? and this has nothing to do with racism. I don't know how the author came up with that. Trump's not the only one wanting to know whjy Obama can't produce a valid birth certificate. Also, he makes a good case on his Iraq statements. We spend a lot of money on that war and what do we get in return? Makes sense to me. A lot of people are fed up with the lackluster leadership and are looking for a man like Trump who says what's on his mind. I bet not only is he going to announce thaqt he's running but he might even win the nomination. If he does, then he has a good shot at winning. The country is tired of a president who can't seem to get anything done. And to the point that he's doing this as a publicity stunt is ignorant. He doesn't need the money from a TV show. He has billions of dollars. He can do whatever he wants, and I think he's a serious contender.
ReplyDeleteThe Republican party needs some damage control to reverse this trend of fringe candidates taking over the dialogue. Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann are bad enough, but now Trump? The American people can't be that gullible.
ReplyDeleteI agree that most likely there will be a sensible candidate when all is said and done, but by that time, there won't be much of the campaign left to get the message out. As you remember, Obama got into the race two years early last time. As of today, there is no major GOP candidate.
It's true, Trump has not announced he's running officially. But who else would get this much attention without even being in the race? Mitt Romney has tons of money. Where is he. Maybe he should buy an ad or something.
Obama and the Democrats are in great position at the moment, even with the economy and the Middle East situation. I can't see Obama losing to whoever the Republicans choose. The credibility of the Republican party was lost long ago. Trump is just adding to their woes.
Ron Paul just announced he might run. That's a step up, but is that the best the Republican's have to offer. I think Paul is just popular with the Tea Party, so he can't win anyway.
ReplyDeleteFirst Trump, now Ron Paul. I'm getting my passport ready. I'm going to Kenya too!
ReplyDeleteDon't knock The Donald.
ReplyDeleteHow much proof does Trump need? Hasn't the birth certificate been posted on various internet sites? There are more important issues to discuss. This shows how completely ignorant Trump is of real problems facing the country.
ReplyDeleteSo Obama releases his birth certificate. Now Trump is investigating Obama's Ivy credentials. It seems that Obama was only admitted because of affirmative action, according to Trump. Do I detect a hint of racism here?
ReplyDeletelolz
ReplyDelete