Katrina vanden Heuvel: Emperor Trump Has No Clothes

[marmar]

from The Nation:




Emperor Trump Has No Clothes

Katrina vanden Heuvel
April 22, 2011


For a media that loves infotainment, the horse race and spectacle—and has trouble tackling real policy issues and digging deep—Donald Trump is the gift that keeps on giving: all spectacle, all the time.

Now he’s out there on his ugly birther trip, riding it to the top of the polls amidst a GOP presidential field in disarray. And other than a few notable exceptions, the media is largely playing the role of cheering spectator for Trump’s latest self-aggrandizing parade—none more so than Fox, which has treated his birtherism-based candidacy as a cause célèbre. Media Matters notes thirteen Trump appearances on the network since March 20.

But the more significant issue raised by the media coverage is this: if Trump is going to portray himself as a presidential contender, and the media is going to give him mega-time to do that, then let’s take a hard look at his record and his views—particularly on “fiscal responsibility,” which Congressman Paul Ryan and the GOP say is the issue of our time.

“I haven’t seen anybody do anything for a long time that’s really tough coverage on Donald,” says David Cay Johnston, the Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter formerly with the New York Times, who has written extensively about Trump’s net worth as well as his business dealings in the gambling industry in his book Temples of Chance. “He’s done exceptionally well at getting the media to treat him on the grounds that he wants—which is he doesn’t mind if you poke fun at him as long as you’re writing about him and making him sound important.” .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thenation.com/blog/160112/emperor-trump-has-no-clothes

[madokie]

1. To me he fits the mold, if there is one, of a punk

1. Of poor quality; worthless.
2. Weak in spirits or health.

As Ann Richards said of w, he was born on third base and thinks he hit a triple.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. I'm getting weary of Trump being taken seriously.

His track record is well known.

He's announced his "intention" to run for president three times now. The last time, he teased that he'd have Oprah Winfrey as his running mate.

He's announced that he would bail out the New York Mets by purchasing their debt and become a majority owner.

Back in the Eighties, Trump wanted to buy a race horse to compete in the Kentucky Derby. He didn't put a dime toward the sale but insisted that the colt be run incessantly for training. The owner believed the sale would go through esp. as Trump made him change the name of the colt to DJ Trump. Long story short, the colt came down with "sniffles", was advised not to run, Trump insisted that the colt be pushed to its limit. It didn't go well. The colt got an infection, had to have an amputation of its fetlocks. Of course, when that happened, Trump "walked away" from the deal.

Also in the Eighties, Trump also tried to muscle into the airline industry and the NFL. Both efforts never developed.

It's like he's ADD. He keeps announcing he's King Midas, he has the golden touch no matter what, and the media doesn't care what happens after that. Trump is the story, not the reality.

Part of the problem is the media covering Trump. Part of the problem is the public for being interested. I suppose I can be just as guilty of the my own condemnation as here I am, writing about Trump.