December 27, 2011--Donald Redux

Some of us were sad when Donald Trump withdrew from the Republican race for the nomination. We would no longer have him to kick around and thus a lot of fun would be missing from the campaign. For example, the blogger who has a Website devoted to discovering the mystery that surrounds The Donald's hair was getting fewer hits.

But he is in the news again. He switched his voter registration from Republican to Independent and hinted he may run as an independent. Those of us who blog couldn't be happier. So, if you are again inclined to be curious about his hair, check out www.outsidethebeltway.com/donald-trumps-hair-explained/

Here's the story about Trump changing his registration and what is in fact behind it. A hint--very little that's either political or patriotic.

This is not the first time he floated the idea that he might run an independent campaign for the presidency. Last election cycle he did the same thing, claiming that if he did he would spend $600 million of his own money on it. To show that he had the capacity to self-finance, he "revealed" he had a net worth of $7.0 million and so $600M for him would amount to small change.

I put revealed in quotes because Forbes, which keeps track of these things, says at most he is worth $2.9 billion. A tidy sum (if true) but not a gazillion. Thus, for him to spend 20 percent of this on a campaign he is certain to lose is unlikely, especially for someone who likes to hold on to his money. For example, as a member of the real estate community where members compete with each other to see who can be most philanthropic and have their names affixed to as many hospitals and universities as possible, Trump is regarded as cheap. Drive around New York City and you will see his name in faux-gold on many tasteless apartment houses and hotels, but there is hardly even a small clinic emblazoned with his logo.

But since he is all about logo and ego and branding, this latest announcement about his voter registration is calculated to keep his name and him in the news as yet another way to pump up interest in his soon to recommence TV show, "The Apprentice." It is set to begin airing on February 12th and, as in the past, he is ginning up the publicity mill to assure as many viewers as possible. Though why anyone would watch it is beyond me.

From my perspective, though, to have Trump back in the political fray is good news. Without Herman Edwards things recently have not been that much fun.