Donald Trump inherited a bunch of money, built and bought a lot of buildings, including gambling casinos, married a beauty or two, provided hundreds of thousands of jobs — or so he claims — and has become even more famous for turning the act of dismissal into one of the ruder expressions of the awful era of reality television.
All that in his opinion makes him qualified to be president of the United States.
That’s what he told a national audience tuned into the Today Show the other morning without actually saying he was going to run for the job.
A few minutes later the next guest, the irrepressible Bill Cosby, all but told Today host Meredith Vieira that Trump should do something biologically impossible, adding that the only thing the king of the comb-over is running “is his mouth.”
Since then, Trump has joined those demanding that Barack Obama prove he legally holds the presidency by releasing his birth certificate. That stunt alone has boosted Trump to the top of the early polls of potential GOP nominees.
Whether or not the man whose name is plastered over a hunk of Atlantic City and is referred to by the New York media as “the Donald” decides to give Republicans the opportunity to carry their banner is beside the point.
The fact he is even mentioned shows where the Republican Party is in terms of viable candidates for next year’s election. No one has yet actually declared to oppose Obama, who has made it clear he is seeking reelection.
Some people have signaled they may be in, and it is to say the least an eclectic bunch — Newt Gingrich, Haley Barbour, Michele Bachmann, Sarah Palin and Tim Pawlenty (Tim who?). At this juncture, Mitt Romney would have to be considered a frontrunner.
Only Palin could be counted a household name and the polls show she has suddenly developed a case of the “negatives” among Republicans and independents.
Mitch Daniels is the most sensible possibility and might even make it a race, especially one that focuses on the growing fiscal problems.
But the president’s campaign treasury is way ahead and likely to stay that way for some time, giving him a sizable advantage in a race that is likely to cost the tidy sum of $2 billion.
You read that right. Obama is expected to spend $1 billion on his campaign — and he won’t even have to worry about a primary.
So why shouldn’t this improbable character from the Manhattan real estate jungles believe he could do the job? After all in this country anyone can run for president, including, as Cosby said, “that fellow from the old Smothers Brothers Show,” referring to comedian Pat Paulsen who announced for the presidency more than once as a publicity lark. Leave it to Cosby to come up with the appropriate comparison. Maybe he should run.
Opposing Obama won’t be easy. The president’s ability on the stump is daunting. In this era only Bill Clinton could match his charisma.
That may have diminished some but not enough to give the current crop of opponents much hope in the hurricane that is a presidential campaign. The task will be to convince voters that they were better off before they elected him and that they will be better off when he is out of the White House.
How easy is that in an economy continuing to show improvement and given the power of an incumbent to dictate the news?
So if this is one of those elections without an obvious opponent why not look at the likes of “the Donald?” It would be a hoot.
Every few weeks he could sack his campaign manager or one of his key advisers just for show. “You’re fired!” could become the campaign cry.
It would drive the political pundits crazy. He could comp free nights at the “Taj” or the “Plaza” in Atlantic City for big donors. Smaller contributors could be offered a free meal at the casinos’ buffets with those giving $20 or under receiving coupons for a discount at the ancient hotdog stands along the boardwalk.
Go for it Trump, baby. We can hardly wait.
Dan K. Thomasson is a former editor of the Scripps Howard News Service.