My e-pal, JK, frequently raises the mysterious subject of 'The Donald' but fails to be explicit on whether or not he thinks 'The Donald' is, in the famous words of "1066 and All That", "A Good Thing" or "A Bad thing". I'm not complaining because deciphering JK's comments is the equivalent of doing The Times' crossword puzzle, it's entertaining and educational. Of course, I do realise that I, too, may be sinking into incomprehensibility (cor, that's a Big Word!) because many of my British and European readers might not have a clue as to who 'The Donald' is - and even worse, they might not give a toss anyway!
So let me explain that 'The Donald' is a 'title' for Mr. Donald Trump, the well-know, er, well, I'm not too sure what he is well-known for except being exceedingly rich - and there's nothing wrong in that. A quick skim-read of his Wiki entry gives the flavour of the man and this particular extract adds some spice:
In March 1990, after an analyst at Janney Montgomery Scott said that Trump's Taj Mahal project would initially "break records" but would fail before the end of that year, Trump threatened to sue the firm unless the analyst recanted or was fired. The analyst refused to retract the statements, and was fired by his firm.[177] Taj Mahal declared bankruptcy for the first time in November 1990.[178] A defamation lawsuit by the analyst against Trump for $2 million was settled out of court.[179] The analyst's statements regarding the Taj Mahal's prospects were later called "stunningly accurate".[180]
From his Wiki entry it appears that 'The Donald' is an exceedingly successful businessman and that not the least of his abilities seems to be the way in which he can raise enormous sums of money for grand projects which later go bust but only after 'The Donald' has made a graceful exit! There is, I feel, more than a touch of 'Del Boy' about him.
The Donald Del Boy
Once again, 'The Donald' has announced his intention to run for President of the United States. It's probably not true but it seems like he has been making this announcement every four years for the last 30 years! And each time, he suddenly withdraws his candidacy at the last moment. Is this, I ask myself, a man on whom one can rely? Well, 'The Kraut' doesn't think so. According to The Daily Caller:
Syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer ripped into real estate mogul Donald Trump Monday night, dismissing him as a “rodeo clown” and his antics as “not serious politics.”
In the same article, George Will, another eminent American commentator, said this:
“Donald Trump now has learned from this that every four or five days, he could say something that would make him sound like the guy nursing his sixth beer at the end of a bar in Duluth,” Will said earlier in the program. “But because he’s a billionaire, people will pay attention to it, and he can take all the oxygen out of this campaign with regularly recurring outrages like this.”
Sorry, Donald, old chap, but it sounds to me that you're 'not quite 16 annas to the rupee'. Of course, that applies to most of the politicians in the race but there, you see, is the art and craft of the true politician - they never let it show. You, on the other hand, flaunt it.
Mr Trump is like own Mr Farage. He refreshes the parts that other politicians don't even bother to try and reach.
Posted by: backofanenvelope | Sunday, 12 July 2015 at 10:16
Well, so did dear old Adolph of sacred memory. Read Trump's business history and ask yourself if you would lend him your last £50?
Posted by: David Duff | Sunday, 12 July 2015 at 11:18
Well, not my last fifty. But if I was an American, I might invest 50 just so he can upset the rest of them.
Posted by: backofanenvelope | Sunday, 12 July 2015 at 11:30
http://20committee.com/2015/07/02/why-trump-matters/
Posted by: JK | Sunday, 12 July 2015 at 12:45
http://www.redstate.com/2015/07/10/donald-point-illegal-immigrants-five-times-likely-commit-felonies/
Posted by: JK | Sunday, 12 July 2015 at 12:56
"Trump, at least at the moment, fills that bill. He’s saying things that much of the country is thinking or at least wondering about. And they want answers. That, of course, is where Trump will fall short. However, there are many out there very happy with the fact that marginal Republican or not, Trump is making the establishment Republicans very uncomfortable (to the point that they’re trying to find ways to keep him out of debates, etc.). Frankly, they need to be uncomfortable."
http://hotair.com/archives/2015/07/10/explaining-the-trump-poll-numbers/
Posted by: JK | Sunday, 12 July 2015 at 13:15
Now look here, BOE, this sort of subversive behaviour is all well and good for the likes of Russell Brand but not from 'a former senior air person'!
Posted by: David Duff | Sunday, 12 July 2015 at 13:21
Well, JK, they seem to have the measure of 'The Donald' but perhaps the most worrying factor is the deep distrust Americans now appear to have for all of their politicians. "There may be troubles ahead"!
Posted by: David Duff | Sunday, 12 July 2015 at 13:31
Trust, like respect, has to be earned!
Posted by: Backofanenvelope | Sunday, 12 July 2015 at 13:40
"Well, JK, they seem to have the measure of 'The Donald' but perhaps the most worrying factor is the deep distrust Americans now appear to have for all of their politicians."
Yep David, the problem for the Republicans though, is the 2012 Republican Primaries Debates are all on YouTube.
Been a heckuva lot of "evolving" going on in what passes for politician's memories since the last time - too bad the Electorate has Google!
Posted by: JK | Sunday, 12 July 2015 at 18:44
Mistrust of government officials is written in our Constitution. We make an exception, "in time of war." That's one reason we don't like war, because it requires more trust than we have seen to be healthy. If only all parties participated in the culture of mistrust, we'd have a pretty healthy country, once again.
Posted by: Michael Adams | Sunday, 12 July 2015 at 19:57
"Former Hewlett-Packard CEO and presidential candidate Carly Fiorina seemed to embrace Trump's views.
"Donald Trump taps into an anger that I hear every day," she told ABC's "This Week", adding that wanting to secure the nation's borders was "not extreme, it's commonsense".
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/12/us-usa-election-trump-republicans-idUSKCN0PM0RH20150712
Posted by: JK | Monday, 13 July 2015 at 02:07
That Carly can't be elected President is prima fascia evidence that the US is not ready for self government.
Posted by: Michael Adams | Monday, 13 July 2015 at 13:32
Jk. Lenin recognised the right of self determination. Britain seems to have given that up voluntarily although thankfully we did not join in in the Franco Germanic Euro. YET!
Posted by: jimmy glesga | Monday, 13 July 2015 at 22:39
"Sorry, Donald, old chap, but it sounds to me that you're 'not quite 16 annas to the rupee'."
http://20committee.com/2015/07/15/trump-and-hitlers-recreated-bodyguard/
Posted by: JK | Friday, 17 July 2015 at 21:02
Oh dear, what a total prat!
Posted by: David Duff | Friday, 17 July 2015 at 21:22