Trump Tower, Trump airlines, Trump Steaks, Trump University, Trump vitamins(?), The Apprentice. Most business ideas fail, but Trump figured out his persona and name was a winner.
Trump knows how to sell, and that is key to an entrepreneur - sell the vision and fill in the details later. He sold himself to America. Actually, I see him as the Billy Beane of big league politics: he found underappreciated assets (the deplorables) and rode to victory on half the budget of his opponent - after destroying Jeb Bush in similar fashion.
He sees America like a billionaire team owner sees his city fans: his joy is in bringing his fans joy, and it of course feeds his ego to do so as well. He says they will win so much they will get sick of it. I think of Kraft, Tom Brady and the Pats when I hear that. Boston fans are spoiled by success. Sick of winning? Well, they sure take it for granted anyway. It's interesting the affinity the Pat leadership and Trump share. Co-incidence? Trump's inaugural sounded like something a big league owner would give to his fans after buying a team. Those in the streets see America as a global community. Trump sees the global community as a global competition, the way a Seahawk fan sees the Packers and 49ers. Seahawks first.
I wanted to see if Trump had the discipline to stay on message and finish strong, after straying all over the map and taking that Access Hollywood body blow. That would have destroyed any other politician that did not have the press covering his back. I think he has a real affinity for his deplorables, and I think he got it when they didn't abandon him then. I think he really feels he owes it to them to keep his promises.
Thanks for indulging me, Doc. And Terry, I am still working on your 9-11 book. Solid reportage and at times I can see myself in Germany, and the flats and streets. I'm having a real hard time keeping all those characters and names straight. You know what would have been helpful? A nickname that descrIbes each one's personality, like the seven dwarfs.