(Pic courtesy of DonkeyHotey, via Flickr)
From the “Oh for F**k Sakes” files – it looks like reality TV Star Donald Trump is teasing the unhappy Republican base once again. USA Today is reporting that Trump is plans to endorse someone (who cares?) in the next month or so, but also will not rule out an independent run if, as he says “the nominee is someone who can’t win”.
I know that I am falling into the Trump-trap by even writing about this horseshit, but I just can’t let it go. This is a publicity scam. Donald Trump is not and never will really run for President of the United States.
There is just no there, there. Just like the folks who are actually in GOP Goat Rodeo “The Donald” can’t stand the scrutiny that comes with running for president.
The problems for Trump are legion. First off and most importantly he has never held elected office, not even dog catcher. While that might not be as big a deal the bat shit insane red meat base of the Republican Party, he would not be running as a Republican and it does matter to the voters that he would need to win.
Then there is the issue that his finances would be investigated. There is some real doubt that he is actually a billionaire as he has claimed time and again. As Lawrence O’Donnell pointed out, real billionaires don’t have reality TV shows nor need the money that they would be paid for that kind of work.
Then, of course there is his whole Birtherism spasm from earlier this year. The memory hole is pretty deep, but remember that Trump was beating his breast and claiming that he had (unnamed) investigators in Hawaii and they had “explosive” information.
Then President Obama released his long from birth certificate and Trump’s faux campaign imploded and all that disappeared. If he actually threw his hat into the ring as and independent then questions about whom those (imaginary) investigators were and what they found out would be among the first questions asked.
If you thought that erstwhile candidate Herman Cain was an ego driven candidacy you ain’t seen nothing compared to a Trump candidacy!
But again this is not a real announcement. It is all designed to get more publicty for his turn as a moderator of one of the Goat Rodeo events that he’ll host in the week in between Christmas and New Years.
He needs this because there are already three of the regulars that will not be there. Cain by virtue of his “suspended” campaign. Jon Huntsman plans to hold a Town Hall meeting in New Hampshire rather than attend an event where he is likely to get little benefit.
Then there is the Mad Elf of the GOP, Rep. Ron Paul who has said:
“The selection of a reality television personality to host a presidential debate that voters nationwide will be watching is beneath the office of the Presidency and flies in the face of that office’s history and dignity. Mr. Trump’s participation as moderator will distract from questions and answers concerning important issues such as the national economy, crushing federal government debt, the role of the federal government, foreign policy, and the like. To be sure, Mr. Trump’s participation will contribute to an unwanted circus-like atmosphere.
Ouch! And it goes on from there!
But Rep. Paul is right about one thing (even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while), that this is going to make the Goat Rodeo even more circus like. Think for a minute about the kind of moderator Trump will be.
We know that Trump is Trump’s biggest fan. How is he going to get his size…Pi?... ego out of the way long enough for the candidates to speak? He is likely to be confrontational instead of even politely differential as most moderators have been up to now.
I have no doubt that it will be entertaining in that just-can’t-look-away-from-the-train-wreck sort of way, but what it will not be is edifying as to the candidates qualification to be president (not that any of them short of Huntsman really are qualified to lead the nation).
Come to think of it, it might be edifying in one area, the pathology of Trumps narcissism. But who wants to watch a show like that during the holiday season? Might as well turn on live coverage of a intestinal resection.
If you are looking for a bright side, there is one, and it is for the nation and Democrats. This will probably be a pretty widely watched Goat Rodeo. Every time the nation tunes in and sees what passes for candidates in the GOP there is a greater chance that we will not have to suffer horribly under the administration of one of them.
Even Mitt “I’m Running for President for Pete’s Sake!” Romney will have trouble hiding in the reduced field that will attend Trumps ego stoking “debate”. With only five on the stage there is going to be a lot more time for his glaring flaws to come to the fore.
So, let’s let this be the last time we talk about Trump and his (ahem) trumped up teasing about running for president. He is a huckster who has more scams than hair and will do and say anything to get his name in the news and boost his brand.
Hopefully the public has had enough of this kind of faux candidacy in what should be a serious consideration of possible occupants of the Oval Office.
The floor is yours.