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Be careful what you (pretend to) wish for

Oh the irony. Trump never had any real intention of becoming President. From the very beginning, this was purely a Trump brand marketing exercise – a way to get enormous publicity for free.

That is why Trump could say whatever he wanted, make all sorts of crazy promises and threats – because he wasn’t even trying to get elected. He never envisaged he would actually be put in the position of having to explain to people why he can’t make the Mexican government pay for a wall to be built along their border, why he can’t stop manufacturing jobs being lost to automation, why he can’t make the world demand for coal grow.

This pursuit of publicity was revealed by Donald’s sons in an interview in May.

When asked about what happens to the Trump Organisation should their father lose the presidential race, Don Jr. said the company comes out ahead because of the enhanced name recognition.

Eric added, “I think he’s already won,” and he certainly wasn’t talking about the vote.

Asked about The Apprentice, Don Jr said “It has been great for the brand, and ultimately, that is something that’s very important to all of us.”

In a shock to everyone, the Trump camp probably most of all, 70 year old Trump will now have to, for the first time in his life, devote himself 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for the next four years, to public service.

I would imagine he is dreading the prospect. He can’t just declare himself bankrupt and walk away as he has done on six previous occasions when things got tricky.

There are several current or threatened court cases brought both by and against Trump.

He is accused of raping a 13 year old .

In addition to several suits over Trump University, Trump has threatened lawsuits against a dozen or more women who’ve accused him of sexual impropriety in recent months—and several of those women have threatened to countersue if he comes after them.

There’s also a New York state investigation into his charitable foundation and a reported federal investigation into some of his advisers’ ties to Russia.

Beyond that, there’s litigation that Trump himself launched, like the pair of suits against celebrity chefs who backed out of plans to open restaurants in his new luxury Washington hotel.

This is how Trump has lived, using other people’s money to make a fortune, walking away from creditors when it suits him, ripping people off, suing and being sued (reminiscent of Clive Palmer), and at all times promoting the Trump brand. All publicity is good.

Well the marketing worked Donald. The trouble is, you can’t walk away when things go pear-shaped this time and you can’t get your kids to take on the workload for you.

The people of America have just handed executive power to a property developer to unwind any regulation he wants to. And they will have to endure being represented on the world stage by an even bigger embarrassment than Abbott who looks positively statesmanlike in comparison.

The moral of this tale, for all concerned, is be careful what you wish for.

33 comments

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  1. David Stephens

    Let’s hope Pence is the full quid

  2. Jaquix

    So true, Kaye, so true. Better not say what I really wish for, might be bad karma, but boy do I hope it comes true. I thought he looked very chastened when being showed around the White House. Melania follows everywhere like an obedient puppy. Did anyone notice that he didnt have his wife by his side when doing his victory speech, but his young son, who I have to say looked unimpressed and distinctly uncomfortable.

  3. Jack Straw

    I agree Kaye. Trump never had any real intention of becoming President.It has just been his nasty little one uppmanship game. Yes indeed be careful for what you wish for. There’s a little bit of Clive Palmer in this too.

  4. Kaye Lee

    Jaquix,

    That kid is 10 years old and it was about 2am. The poor little mite was tired. I really dislike this trend by politicians to drag their families around with them. I see absolutely no point in it. It’s purely for image and I am so sick of being sold “image”. Just get on and do the job, your family has nothing to do with it.

  5. Wayne Turner

    Sadly Pence is as bad as Trump,he’s a massive nutjob,so no hope there.

    When Trump doesn’t deliver,he will return to “scapegoating” the poor non-white minorities.Sadly,don’t be surprised that those that fell for Trump will fall for it,because they will NEVER admit to themselves that Trump was never going to save and help them.Oh dear.. straight out of the Liberal party playbook.

    Too many of the working class/poor/unemployed are their own worst enemy.

    Well said Kaye.Totally agree and the kids comment is spot on.It’s phoney and no you are NOT like us.Kids,your kids having nothing to do with it.It’s fake.It’s the crap Abbott couldn’t stop pulling.

    Good luck America,and the world…. It’s going to need it.

  6. jimhaz

    [ I look very much forward to being your president, and hopefully at the end of two years or three years or four years or maybe even eight years you will say so many of you worked so hard for us, with you]

    I interpreted this as being that he will suffer” holding the presidency for two years.

    The media is saying this was a statesmanlike speech. Yeah but only in relative terms to his campaign though – otherwise it was humdrum – all over the place.

  7. Jaquix

    Whether that “quote” was true or not, it certainly “rings true” – you can just imagine him saying these words.

  8. Kaye Lee

    That quote might be fake but this one from Turnbull isn’t.

    Writing in the Sydney University newsletter, Honi Soit, Turnbull lauded the Labor Party as a “wealth of opinion and class…diverse and less likely than the conservatives to blindly rally behind one great leader”. Menzies’ Liberals, on the other hand, had “warmed the treasury benches” for 23 years with “the steak-fed bottoms of the sons of Toorak and the champions of Double Bay”.

  9. Jaquix

    That speech was definitely not written by Trump himself. Obviously written by an experienced political speech writer. It was so contrary to everything Trump had said during his campaign. I think his fans expected him to come on stage leading Hillary in chains ……

  10. Jaquix

    Kaye thanks for digging up that Honi Soit piece. Just shows how far he’s strayed.

  11. kerri

    This is interesting. As I said to hubby whilst watching the victory speech (both of us indulging in some Trump bashing) “He looks scared” not when giving the speech but when walking out to the podium. We also noted the look of complete confusion and lostness on the face of Baron, his son! I have been asking all along what’s in it for him?? There were the rumours of a failure giving him the opportunity to start up Trump News, but yeah! If the dopey brothers gave it away then that makes eminent sense! But I do think he will fob off a lot of the work. Especially to Ivanka and her hubby. The other concern I have is the potential for tantrum. Someone who has taken great pleasure in shouting “You’re fired” (because I want you fired) will show even less capability than our PM for compromise and negotiation. Can you imagine a face off between Trump and Kim Yong Un???
    Exciting times indeed!

  12. Douglas Pye

    Indeed Kaye … the Trump Presidency is an absolute expression of the utter EXASPERATION of a large share of the American population !

    Fed up to (and past) the back teeth with globialisation … outsourcing … privatisation … and the inequality of neoliberalism … are we not so very, very privileged to have this U S example right in front of (and indeed UP) our Noses at this time !??.

    ” Only in America ” ?? ….. tick appropriate Australian boxes ! ……….. and , more to the point ,…….. take Action ….. Take $$$ BIG MONEY $$$ out of politics !! …. along with ex Politicians & LOBBYISTS !! …. If the time was ever Prime … it’s NOW !! …

  13. jimhaz

    Pence doesn’t beleive in the Theory Of Evolution

  14. Kaye Lee

    I hesitated to include the rape allegation but there is a very disturbing quote in the linked article…

    Mr. Epstein’s own sexual crimes and parties with underage girls are well documented, as is Mr. Trump’s relationship with him two decades ago in New York City. Mr. Trump told a reporter a few years ago: “I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it, Jeffrey enjoys his social life.”

  15. Harquebus

    I wonder if he plays golf.

  16. bobrafto

    H
    Only in the locker room.

  17. Kaye Lee

    Harquebus,

    In 2013, he and Ivanka (his daughter) were guests on the Wendy Williams Show where they were asked what they favourite thing they had in common was. Ivanka answered: “Either real estate or golf.”

    Mr Trump jokingly replied: “Well, I was going to say sex, but I can’t relate that to her.”

    In an appearance on The View in 2006, he was asked how he would feel if Ivanka, a former model, ever appeared in Playboy Magazine.

    “I don’t think Ivanka would do that, although she does have a very nice figure. I’ve said if Ivanka weren’t my daughter, perhaps I’d be dating her.”

    He followed it up with: “Isn’t that terrible? How terrible? Is that terrible?”

    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/donald-trump-jokes-about-sex-when-asked-what-he-has-in-common-with-ivanka-trump-a7382811.html

  18. Tooley

    How do you even publish this dribble under Australia Independent Media, try fact checking more than reposting a Huff Po article. Your a disgrace, its hilarious your still talking crap when Trump has won. You still don’t realise how disconnected you are with reality

  19. bobrafto

    Kaye
    That is one angle that sounds plausible, however, Trump has reached 70 and I believe he had achieved all he could in his business career and the Presidency was the pinnacle of success.

    He wouldn’t have exerted that much campaigning energy just for the publicity for his business interests as he was already a household name.

    And he wasn’t going to take a loss graciously.

    Trump could be another Reagan, both b grade actors.

    Trumps demeanour has changed now that he has caught the car as was evidenced on tv with the meeting with Obama.

  20. Kaye Lee

    ” try fact checking more than reposting a Huff Po article. ”

    I have linked to several articles from a variety of sources because I think people should be able to see where the info comes from. Which one are you objecting to Tooley and I would be happy to fact check it? My proposition that Trump did this as a marketing exercise is my own.

    “your still talking crap when Trump has won.”

    I don’t stop listening and learning based on an election cycle.

    “You still don’t realise how disconnected you are with reality”

    That is what sites like this are for…to discuss the disconnect between politicians, policies, media reporting and reality. I would be happy to discuss whatever reality you feel I am missing and I would be interested on how you feel Trump (or Hanson) will improve the world.

  21. Michael Taylor

    Kaye, if Trump had have lost then I’m sure that Tooley would be screaming from the rooftops. The people who smirk things such as “you lost, now deal with it” are the ones who themselves often can’t deal with it when they are on the losing side.

  22. Kaye Lee

    Michael,

    Tooley isn’t the only one who seems to share a mentality that the end game is winning an election – job done, dust hands off. It is both liberating and difficult to not be aligned. I doubt and question everything. I can’t relax for three or four years because so and so was elected – none of them have earned my trust that far and I doubt they ever will.

  23. Terry2

    During the election campaign, Trump singled our Ford Motor Company who have shifted most of their small car and automotive parts production to Mexico. He told Ford that if they continued to do this he would slap a 35% import duty on their products coming back into the USA and make them uncompetitive.

    He has made similar statements about Chinese imports which, with a 45% tariff would hit people like Walmart hard and of course their customers. The

    As noted in the Michael Moore documentary, a lot of people in America are scared of what free trade and globalisation is doing to their country and their jobs : they heard what Trump was saying but it remains to be seen if he will follow through ; the TPP is already gone.

    Fundamentally the Trump administration has far more in common with Russia’s Putin than it does with Australia’s Liberal Party.

    Can we expect Turnbull or Shorten to make similar noises to Ford Australia, GM Holden or Toyota ?

  24. totaram

    Tooley:”How do you even publish this dribble under Australia Independent Media, try fact checking more than reposting a Huff Po article. Your a disgrace, its hilarious your still talking crap when Trump has won. You still don’t realise how disconnected you are with reality”

    Does this even make sense to anyone? This guy feels that what S/he has posted is a meaningful response to the article. No mention of court cases, or any attempt to address the points made here. Just the idea that Trump has won so everyone should shut up and say how wonderful he is. These are the typical Dunning-Kruger disadvantaged people who talk about reality but seem to have little connection to it. Sadly. there are millions of them. And the more we cut funding for education, the more there will be in the years to come . All according to the neo-liberal plan to dumb people down so they can be easily manipulated. See how the turkeys vote joyously for Christmas! I do despair for the future of the human race.

  25. Kaye Lee

    As Turnbull and Abbott act like children pushing to the front of the line to make friends with Trump with whom they apparently have a lot in common, I much preferred Merkel’s response:

    “|Germany and America are bound by common values – democracy, freedom, as well as respect for the rule of law and the dignity of each and every person, regardless of their origin, skin color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, or political views. It is based on these values that I wish to offer close cooperation, both with me personally and between our countries’ governments.”

  26. femailpower

    It is a known fact that Trump went into a chip shop at one point and walked out WITHOUT PAYING FOR WHAT HE BOUGHT. He was eating the chips and he just walked out!! This is a clear indication of what he is likely to do to the American economy and then to sooo many other countries. And HOW many women have asked for compensation for having had Trump’s eyes on them. It just proves what he does to the wonderful strength and dignity of these women. The stock market went into spasm when Trump became President. Mexican hat prices fell horrendously because of the fear of UV reduction if the wall goes up. And what did Trump do to Hillary and all the small girls she spoke to in her sad and moving concession speech. The man should be ashamed of himself! He will damage them in their development and they are likely to be scared of small dogs for ever more. Business shuddered like a blancmange when the colour red began spreading over the election forecast map. Maps everywhere were affected and it’s going to be a long time after his four years are up for them to return to a readable quality – IF he last for four years which is unlikely. Only women would recognise that as our intelligence is far greater even though it has been SO terribly affected by Donald Trump just mentioning that he was running for President. I can’t imagine the terrible destruction he’s going to do to the entire world – I mean, think of the chips! I hope the media grabs a hold of this and realises the true import of what I’m saying. I mean what a horrible man for all the wrong reasons – and then some!

  27. Kaye Lee

    If you are trying to point out how trivial Trump is, I would have to agree with you femailpower. Unfortunately, that trivial man just got elected to be President. Now he may have been hiding his light under a bushel and will turn out to have some inspiring solutions to the issues facing the world. Or maybe he will just continue to be trivial. But the future can’t change the past and that alone makes this man inappropriate for the job on soooooo many grounds.

  28. Matters Not

    totaram at 8:06 pm

    . These are the typical Dunning-Kruger disadvantaged people who talk about reality but seem to have little connection to it. Sadly. there are millions of them. And the more we cut funding for education, the more there will be in the years to come

    Can agree, but only in general terms. Perhaps the problem lies in the concept of ‘reality’ itself. Perhaps ‘reality’ is in fact an intellectual ‘construct’, somewhat dependent on what the ‘constructor’ brings to bear – intellectually speaking? For example, there would be many in the US (and elsewhere) who would see the rise of Trump completely in terms of God’s will. And can only construct a ‘reality’ in those terms. After all, the Christian God is an ever present ‘driver of the bus’. Nothing happens unless he decides. Accordingly, Trump is there via the courtesy of God.

    On the other hand there are those who disregard the ‘magical’ view of the world and look to concepts developed in fields such as philosophy, sociology, psychology and the like. Accordingly, they construct a different ‘reality’.

    The point being that how we think about the world, the reality we construct, depends on the assumptions we bring to bear.

    Or is there a ‘reality’ that is completely free from human construction? And if so where do we find it?

  29. Exoplanet

    Irrationality is fun. Ask anyone to deny it. See how that works?

  30. Exoplanet

    ‘Or is there a ‘reality’ that is completely free from human construction? And if so where do we find it?’

    Can we disprove solipsism? Not in this place we sure as shit can’t. Or anywhere, actually, but ….

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