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From NBC’s Domenico Montanaro
Donald Trump has never won elective office -- for any position.
Yet, from time to time, he likes to fashion himself as someone who could be president. And in the most recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, Trump, in large part because of his name recognition, has rocketed to second place among Republicans and the top choice among Tea Party activists.
We’ve seen this movie before.
Trump has flirted with presidential bids twice previously -- in 1987 and 1999. Both times he didn’t actually up and run, but what did go up was the buzz surrounding him and sales of whatever The Donald was pushing at the time.
A cover profile of him from the now-defunct George magazine in its February-March 2000 issue, when he was toying with a presidential bid in the 2000 cycle, is instructive.
“Nonetheless once every decade or so Trump begins reminding folks that millions upon millions of them would like nothing better than to have him as their president, and up rockets his public image—and his income,” wrote Christopher Byron, the story’s author. “Up go the sales of whatever ghosted autobiography he happens to have in stores at the moment, up go the rental values of his apartments, in come more day-tripping gamblers lured to his Atlantic City casinos—in short, up goes the market price of the most valuable, and promotable, possession Trump has: his name.
“Then, like Kenny Rogers character who ‘knows when to hold ’em, and knows when to fold ’em,’ he simply places his cards facedown on the table, sweeps his winnings into his lap, and exits the quadrennial poker game without ever showing his hand—namely, the obligatory audited personal financial statement, required of serious candidates, that would reveal how modestly wealthy, relatively speaking, he really is.”
In 1987, per George:
“[W]hen Trump’s book leaped onto the best-seller list for the next 48 weeks, Trump’s campaign for the presidency faded away until nothing remained but the smile of a Cheshire cat.”
And Trump in the profile all but admitted it was about the money.
“I’m the only one who makes money when he runs,” Trump said. “I got a fortune for the book I came out with. Also, I’m the highest-paid speaker out there. I’m making 12 speeches a year at $100,000 each.”
Trump said on NBC’s Today show this morning that he would welcome filing the required financial disclosure. But the George profile highlights the smoke and mirrors of Trump’s wealth. Of his ostentatious home in Palm Beach, FL, once owned by cereal magnate Marjorie Merriweather Post:
“[T]o save it from seizure by creditors as his business empire crumbled, he turned it into a kind of real-life Love Boat for status-hungry businessmen you’ve never heard of. Trump sells memberships to the place for $100,000 a pop, which is not a bad way to pay the bills.”
And:
“His ownership of the Plaza Hotel was stripped from him, he lost his mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut, and he even wound up having to turn his treasured Mar-a-Lago [the Palm Beach home] into a spa open to the paying public.”
How would this square in Iowa?
It’s well known that Newt Gingrich’s biggest hurdle with social conservatives is his multiple marriages. But Trump, not only has had his share of marriages, few of his competitors’ exes were as scantily clad. For example, in the George piece, there was “the arrival, midway through the meeting, of a half-naked fashion model wrapped in a towel about the size of a dinner napkin, who approaches the two of us and joins the discussion.”
That woman was then-Melania Knauss, whom “Trump paraded around as his potential first lady.” They broke up, per the story, but she is now Trump's wife. He touted her as a “supermodel,” when “in reality,” she was “represented by a modeling agency owned by Trump.” Knauss’ rate doubled, and “20 percent of her modeling fees go to Trump, who also collects another 20 percent from agencies and publishing companies that hire her.” He “pocked 30 percent” of his second wife, Marla Maples’, brief stint as a Broadway actress.
He’s certainly not likely to win over women, not just with his prior marriages or his management of their modeling and acting careers, but then there's this quote in George about a woman who appeared in his house en route to the spa: “That bitch had some nerve, the way she treated Ron Perelman.”
(The woman was Patricia Duff, described by New York magazine as a political activist, who was Perelman’s third wife. Their marriage dissolved in a messy divorce.)
If that’s not enough, of course, Trump’s most well known for his involvement as a casino owner -- “the source of most of the cash and calamity in his life over the past 20 years."
Or his owning “a 282-foot yacht that had previously belonged to Saudi Arabian arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi.”
Or his general self-absorption, penchant for exaggeration, and self-aggrandizement, including a wall of magazine cover devoted to himself in his New York office, and even an oil painting of himself that sits in the Palm Beach home, which George described this way:
“[T]he Trumpster is tricked out in a white tennis sweater, with his mop of sandy hair tousled as if he’d just come in from a love game, set, match with Rudy Valle.”
Or his “various properties” that “slid into bankruptcy, and he was forced to sell his yacht as well as his airline….” He defended the bankruptcies on MSNBC’s Daily Rundown: “I never went bankrupt,” Trump said, trying to draw a distinction between personal bankruptcy and putting a company into Chapter 11. “Many of the biggest people in this country, many times have filed Chapter 11s on various companies in order to reduce debts.” He added, “I’ve done an unbelievable job” and used the laws of the country to help his companies.
The George story points out:
“[T]he siren song of the slot machines and craps tables was also the reason for his collapse into a prepackaged bankruptcy reorganization—from which he emerged as only a minority owner in a business he once owned outright. The fiasco in Atlantic City also led to the bank-directed reorganization of his real estate holdings, reducing him to little more than a manager of buildings he once owned.”
The line of using the laws is an old one, according to the George story, which pointed out his private plane was “registered in the offshore tax-haven domicile of Bermuda.” Trump responded: “I play by the rules, and the rules say I can keep a plane in Bermuda, so I do.”
Trump says his wealth is really wrapped up in real estate. But a Trump executive, quoted in the George story, via the book “Lost Tycoon,” said:
“It was all a shell game. We never had any unencumbered cash. We were always creating new partnerships and corporate entities to shift the money around. We were always robbing Peter to pay Paul.”
Case in point, in order to make it easier to borrow money, George wrote:
“Trump had his organization prepare a bogus net worth statement that pegged his net worth to $3.7 billion by wildly inflating the value of his assets, and then circulated it to the press. The ploy helped convince Fortune to proclaim him an authentic billionaire that autumn, and that in turn helped him secure the financing to buy the Eastern Airlines Shuttle and, thereafter, the Taj Mahal.”
For the record, Forbes, George wrote, said his net worth was likely $1.6 billion when the profile was written, but “much of his wealth s not from his own wheeling and dealing, but simply represents the Queens, New York, apartment buildings he inherited from his father, Fred.”
The conventional wisdom is that Trump would benefit financially from yet another flirtation with running for president. But as public-relations guru Jack O’Dwyer warned in the George piece:
“Publicity is like a football. You never know which way it’s going to bounce next. One false move and he could have the whole country laughing at him.”
Considering Trump’s doubling down -- to use a casino term -- on birtherism, it’s a very real possibility this time around that the third time won’t be the charm.
Leave a Comment:
Trump is a fraud.
His father's first buildings were in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, out by the aquarium.
Trump Jr. only got into real estate because daddy gave him money to play with.
But give credit where credit is due.....look at what he did with his play money.
You know what? This is all politics. We base our shortsighted bias' based on Fox, Msnbc and CNN. We don't research we don't look beneath the piles of papers we just turn on the television as though at church and whatever Chris Mathews or Glenn Beck or Anderson Cooper Says we nod the coconut and agree.
Is there anyone who is not running for office looking into the allegations of the birth certificate? If Kerry floated a balloon saying Sarah Palin was born in Russia, we all know that every liberal would be swearing to it as gospel.
As Americans we don't love this country, we do everything we can to screw it up like a bucnh of spoiled brats. We are lucky to have presidents change without gun fire, though, if given the chance, you can bet Nancy Pellosi would be loaded and cocked just to keep her spot at the dinner table.
The truth is Obama is an American. He's also a lousy president. It's not his fault per se'. He ran and the country voted him in without credentials, experience, a resume or anything. But we only have him for the next couple of years and then we have a chance to correct this debacle.
I think most people disagree about the President not having credentials or experience or "anything":
Like more than half of the nation's founders, he is a lawyer, who also taught Constitutional law and was a civil rights attorney. But even just the political experience is not "nothing", serving in the Illinois State Senate from 1997 to 2004 and the U.S. Senate from 2004 until being elected President. Obviously there is more, but the point is made. For all the talk about Hillary Clinton, whom I wanted to win the nomination, her political experience is a lot less impressive (unless you want to count 8 years of First Lady...)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama
In the meantime, Trump has never even run a political campaign, let alone served any elected office. That is zero political experience, for those keeping score. If anyone wants to know what happens when a corporate billionaire with no experience buys an election, look at "Governor" Rick Scott here in Florida. He's killing us very fast down here.
As far as the 2012 election, time will tell. Although judging from yesterday's poll, Obama should win reelection without too much trouble, as he leads again even a generic Republican, and so far we have seen nobody in a position to really challenge his reelection.
Donald Trump is the poster child for financial and social chaos - and he's come through smelling like a rose....Hmmmm - Considering the overall condition of the US economically and socially - I think he might just be our man with a plan....Would it be such a bad idea to put a savvy SOB in the WH?? Is it time for an arrogant b@st@rd who won't take "NO" for an answer - and who defends the financial integrity of the US like a Mother elephant because he's so greedy it can't see things any other way??? Think about it.....Donald Trump might not be who you WANT for president, but he might be who we NEED for president....
Never happen! But let's say in a fake world he was President. He would run it like a reality show and look for ratings and money to dictate his next move.
Throw everyone under the bus and then tell whoever he didn't like - you are fired!
He's just a self - serving ranting fool - nobody in their right mind would want him as President of the United States... one idiot was enough and thank GOD he is gone.
Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA
Nope - I don't think you've called this one right....I believe he is one arrogant SOB that won't have failure as an option....And he knows how to dig out of big, deep holes - And he knows how to make the money flow - I also believe he says what he means, and he means what he says.....When he says he's a staunch advocate for not letting America get screwed by other countries; America comes first - I think he means it. When he says job creation is a priority - I'll bet he makes it a priority.......We need to keep things in the proper perspective - WE DON'T NEED A BUDDY IN THE WH - WE NEED AN AMERICAN-LOVING, CONFIDENT AND EFFECTIVE LEADER THAT CAN TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS...
Isn't this the same idiot (Trump) that sued West Palm Beach county because his flag pole was not up to building codes and claimed that it was a violation of his rights? Isn't that the same idiot that in another lawsuit claimed that the expansion of the Palm Beach International Airport would 'bother' him with noise over his mansion and asked $10 million in punitive damages the noisiest plane in the whole PBIA is... his 727???? What a turd...
It is hard to watch Donald with a straight face and for some reason he can't find Obama's birth certificate.
It's at AREA 51-SECTION BS-Row ZILCH; IT'S RIGHT THERE; along with all the rest of the aliens. This can only be viewed by Liberals; they will believe anything.
Yeah, they believe that actually Donald Trump can be a candidate...
1987 & 1999 - He din't run because he tested the waters and knew he would lose. So instead of wasting millions on a campaign - He made money. Not necessarily a negative here - Mr. Trump is business to the bone, and won't lose for anything.......Now picture that in the WH. I certainly don't see any government shut-downs in his future...
MsGypsy - you can suck up as much as you want. It ain't gonna get you on his show. Wait, he isn't on The Biggest Loser is he. Oops, my bad.
The Donald will never win with hair like that.
Leave it to a liberal idiot from pmsnbc to write a article like this. Even though trump will not be the next president he brings up great thought for the average american to think about. since the left knows that most people only listen to sound bytes and this scares all ignorant liberals who care more about their idealistic thought than the US of America. Remember their main duty is miss information. We need more public figures to stand up and speak the truth and not worry about political correctness and how it will effect their job..That is a true patriot
We saw this movie before. The blob!!!! Or... who's that wig??? Or Dumb and Trump...
I was dismayed when nightly news had clips of Trump demanding Obama's BC and then the show DIDN'T show the BC that's been available ever since the election. Even been certified by the HI Governor who was a republican. Not to mention the birth announcements in 2 HI newspapers. Then there's the basic fact that since his Mom was American, he automatically was born American. Not going to Tivo them anymore. Running out of news shows to watch that don't lie while telling the truth.
In an effort to discredit the guy, you have highlighted exactly why he's a man for these times: A long track record of bending the rules to extricate himself from impending financial, business, and perceptual doom.
This is where the country's future lies. Why not have a professional business manager in office, after all the prior amateurs have failed?. At least we'd sink with a proper captain at the helm on the way down.
Of course, the real powers would never let the guy in. But maintaining the illusion of possibility is still important. Some out here still don't smell the writing on the wall.
Nicky Tesla,
Yes I can see it now...
The country has no money. Let's jiggle the the books and privatize SSI and Medicare; then declare them bankrupt. We can defund Education, Energy, and Labor, NOT business functions. We can then EXPAND Agriculture, Commerce, Interior, and State; the money funnels to BUSINESS, domestic and foreign. DOD and Homeland Security can be "contracted" to one of many Blackwater wannabees.
Budget fixed in 18 months! "The Donald" resigns, wirtes a million best-seller and moves on. Meanwhile, his Vice President gets to clean up the pieces. (Sort of like Alaska?)
Oh please! This guy is an absolute nut-case. Convince me how anyone in their right minds would take this clown seriously, and especially w/ that friggin hair-do. Are you kidding?? All he is ....is arrogant, fat, arrogant, loud-mouthed, arrogant, obnoxious, and oh did I say, arrogant. Get real!!!
His first order of business would be to mortgage the White House.............
Just another rip off republican and we give him face time we are the @!$%#ed up ones
Donald chump.
I got an idea....how about Trump as president, Sharon Angle as VP and good ole Gary Busey as Sec. of State... hahahhha
I like it! A Palin Trump Ticket. I could use four years of laughter.
Hey Mr. Trump. Why didn't you run for the Senate last year!?
Do we have any better solutions then the idiot we have? is there a better solution to the shutdown, at this point Palin would be better and I hate Palin.
I think Donald Trump has the potential to be a great president, especially after listening to him speak on several key issues such as American jobs going elsewhere. He needs no one's money, so he would not be beholden to anyone. His transgressions are not the same as Gingrich's because Gingrich espoused family values and morality and Donald Trump never did, so although they both did close to the same thing, Gingrich is a hippocrite and Trump is not.
trump is just a liar.
I almost but not quite agree with you, is there anyone else you might suggest?
He's hedging his bets totally on the Tea Party. He figures he can keep them on as long as he keeps up the birther banter. Everyone knows that caucuses and primaries are the extremists and not the average voter, so the Tea Party could have a major role in deciding the candidate. Once he's the candidate, the party faithful with back him and he'll pick up people who are only voting for him because he's GOP or as a vote against Obama. In a nutshell, that's how I see the game he's playing.
Can he win? My head says no, but with all the people who vote for Mickey Mouse as a write in candidate and the ones who don't even know who's running or think about voting until the week before, as scary as it is, yes he could win. People have enough trouble separating Reality TV (an oxymoron for sure) with real life as it is. Since he'd have to quit The Apprentice to run, his best pitch for votes would be to tell people to vote for him so they could see his next reality show "President Donald".
Well, Mr. Trump (may I call you Donald), Donald, looks like you've got some work to do. You're got more money than sense, pay whatever agency you reguire to investigate the "Mystery of the President's Birthplace". Spend as much time as you like. It seems that's the plan. Its the focus. It solves all the riddles of the economy, the broken healthcare industry, the crumbling infrastructure, the biggest divide between you, Donald and the poor. Don't forget our failing educational system and our reliance on 20th Century industry and resources in lieu of planning for the future. Yep, let's set that damn birther situation right as soon as. What a waste of time. Sorry Donald, you're fired.
Trump's recent "birther" comments prove one thing. He hasn't a clue about Presidential qualifications OR citizenship laws.
And that pretty much disqualifies him for elected office.
However, we still got saddled with the infamous C-student-turned-war-criminal and his arrest record daddy had cleaned up for him, didn't we.
The last decent right-winger to run for President was Dwight Eisenhower. I don't see a single decent human being among their ranks today and don't expect to see one until we can shut down the right-wing propaganda machine and de-program 60-70 million Reaganite cultists.
Very easy to sit on the sidelines and talk about what you would do if your were the President. The fact is we have systemic problems in this country that have developed over decades and they are going to be extremely difficult to remedy. Add to that a distracted, self absorbed, overwhelmingly ignorant electorate and a tax system that favors corporate interests and the rich and power at the expense of the common individual. It is a recipe for complete disaster. All we need is an egomaniac and a buffoon like Trump at the helm. The fact that he is taken even the slightest best seriously speaks volumes about where we are at as a country.
At a time when corporate America is becoming more powerful and just as abusive as ever the LAST thing I want is for someone like Trump to then become president. If the past is any indicator, Trump will always put himself first and use the presidency to enrich himself even more.