Donald Trump’s continued insistence that President Obama produce a U.S. birth certificate to prove his presidency constitutionally legitimate may be merely an annoyance to Obama — but that’s not why the White House is watching the real estate tycoon’s latest flirtation with a 2012 run of his own, Trump said Tuesday.

Though many continue to scoff at him as a presidential candidate, Donald Trump sounded like one in an interview airing Tuesday. He said he was “leading in every poll” among Republicans, and called himself “the last person” Obama wants to run against.

“I know many people at the White House and one in particular,” Trump told Savannah Guthrie of NBC News in a taped interview broadcast on TODAY. “The last person he wants to run against is Donald Trump. That I can tell you.”

Sounding increasingly like he might seriously seek the Republican nomination, Trump pointed to his vast (though sometimes disputed) personal wealth, his standing in the polls, and his willingness to take on China on trade and OPEC on oil prices as reasons Obama might prefer to face one of a handful of former and current governors considered the GOP’s most likely candidates at this point.

But before he can ask the Republican party for the right to represent it in 2012, the 64-year-old host and executive producer of NBC’s “The Apprentice” must first convince a large number of skeptics that he really intends to run, and consequently open his vast real estate, gaming and media interests to close scrutiny.

“What do you think you can do to really prove to people that you are serious, that you are a contender, and that you are presidential?” Guthrie asked Trump.

“I think I am presidential. I think I have a very high aptitude and I think I was at the best schools and always did good. I was a good student,” said Trump. “But there’s only one thing I can do, and that’s sometime prior to June, I can announce that I’m going to run.”

When Guthrie said that many observers continue to call his potential candidacy “inconsequential,” Trump retorted: “So inconsequential that I’m leading in every poll.”

Trump said he is already working on a financial disclosure statement that would be released within 30 days of announcement of his intention to seek the nomination.

“I’ve built a fantastic company with a fantastic worth,” Trump said.

Although he sidestepped Guthrie’s attempt to get him to put a number on his net worth, Trump mentioned a 2007 Forbes estimate of $2.7 billion, but added that “it’s much higher than that.” Whatever the number turns out to be, he insists he has more personal cash to spend on a campaign than former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

“It’ll be a very big number. I have a lot of cash, so I can do it,” Trump said.

Referring to other media interviews about his wealth compared to Romney’s, Trump said, “The question was, how do you compare? I’m much richer than he is, OK? That doesn’t make me better necessarily at all.”

The plainspoken Trump had more to say about Romney, other GOP possible contenders, and a wide range of subjects during the interview:

•On Romney: “I don’t really know him. But I like him. I sort of like him.”

•On former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty: “Very hard for me to speak badly about people [who] go around saying such nice things about me.”

•On Sarah Palin: “I really respect her … I think she’s been very unfairly treated.”

•On Rep. Michele Bachmann: “Tremendous energy, tremendous drive … I think she’s got a great voice.”

•On Obama’s birth certificate: “I hope he has it.”

•On the trade imbalance with China: “They don’t have the cards. We have the cards.”

•On the price of gasoline: “We can’t pay $108 a barrel [for] oil. It’s sapping our country.”

•On economists: “What do they know, the economists? Most of them are not very smart.”

In his lengthy interview with NBC’s Savannah Guthrie, Donald Trump appeared stumped when asked about the legal principle that served as the cornerstone for the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion. Here’s the key part of the interview:

Guthrie: “Is there a right to privacy in the Constitution?”

Trump: “I guess there is, I guess there is. And why, just out of curiosity, why do you ask that question?”

When pressed to explain how his position on the right to privacy “squares” with his anti-abortion position, Trump responded: “Well, that’s a pretty strange way of getting to pro-life. I mean, it’s a very unique way of asking about pro-life. What does that have to do with privacy? How are you equating pro-life with privacy? ”

Guthrie asked, “well, you know about the Roe v. Wade decision.” Trump responded, “yes, right, sure. Look, I am pro-life. I’ve said it. I’m very strong there.”

The exchange was reminiscent of former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s response to a similar question during the 2008 presidential campaign. In one of a series of interviews with CBS News’ Katie Couric that were widely seen as damaging to Palin’s image, the vice presidential nominee was asked: “Do you think there's an inherent right to privacy in the Constitution?” Palin responded, “I do. Yeah, I do.”

Given that the Supreme Court used the “right to privacy” reasoning as the foundation for the Roe ruling, anti-abortion activists and candidates have long insisted no such right exists.
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/.../today-today_people/

[This message has been edited by Boondawg (edited 04-19-2011).]

I watched the interview. The more he talks, the more I agree with his ideas. I do hope he runs. Hes also dead set on taxing the crap out of Chinese made goods to bring jobs and dollars back to the US. So far, I havent seen anything I disagree with him on. Obama is bashing him because hes afraid of him. I think Trump can beat him. I still havent heard anything on a possible running mate if he does run.

quote I think I am presidential. I think I have a very high aptitude and I think I was at the best schools and always did good.

[Scoff] What a buffoon! [/Scoff]

I promise I didn't look. Let me guess-------It's an MSNBC hatchet job?

quote Originally posted by Scottzilla79: [Scoff] What a buffoon! [/Scoff]

This is to be expected from a fellow Chicagoan. At least he dont have to read ev everything he says from a teleprompter, written by a professional speechwriter/ liar...... Sorry, but I dont bow to the god Obama.

quote Originally posted by maryjane: I promise I didn't look. Let me guess-------It's an MSNBC hatchet job?

You know me.....although I wouldn't call it a hatchet job.
The words are his...

quote Originally posted by Boondawg: You know me.....although I wouldn't call it a hatchet job. The words are his...

Yes, I do and no, you wouldn't.

quote Originally posted by rogergarrison: This is to be expected from a fellow Chicagoan. At least he dont have to read ev everything he says from a teleprompter, written by a professional speechwriter/ liar...... Sorry, but I dont bow to the god Obama.

LOL just because I'm not for a buffoon who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth doesn't mean I voted for Obama. And it has nothing to do with where I live either. I don't even think of Obama as a Chicagoan. He won't come back here after he's done in DC he'll go back to his real home in HI or Indonesia or wherever.

I don't think Mr. Trump is going to run. I think he wants another tv show. On Fox News.

If I turn out to be wrong, I will own up. But I don't think I am.

And it's too bad..I want to like Donald Trump, I really do. But he has not articulated very well exactly what he is about..he speaks in generalities.

quote Originally posted by Scottzilla79: [Scoff] What a buffoon! [/Scoff]

I know hahahaha. You'd think if he really did well at these good schools, he would have learned proper grammar

Ya, if you're going to be an elitist you better get it right!

Nothing too much against Trump personally. He's basically spouting populist fluff.. Gets the base enthused.
But pretty much see the early runners as stalking horses. Pawlenty, Bachmann, Trump and Romney.. just out there to get pummeled by the left until the real candidates get in the ring.

Still crossing my fingers for Chris Christie.. even if he is from Jersey

Okay I just watched it... I am no longer for him as a president at all.

Of COURSE we agree with him.. because he says things like:
"I don't want to cut Medicare"
Well then how is he going to save the economy?
"By getting jobs"

He doesn't elaborate! He doesn't have a plan! He sounds like an uneducated youngster who thinks he knows what the country should be doing, but doesn't quite understand how it works.

Okay... next:
"You have to make a deal someplace"
"Who is the deal to be made with?"
"Well the President should be leading the deals"

He doesn't have a plan he just uses the buzz words to fire people up and get them excited.

He seems to just say what will get him more followers. He's already gone back and forth on abortion.. granted those types of things CAN change, but it's unlikely.

Why aren't any PFF guys talking about the other candidates? What about Ron Paul? Romney?

------------------

I'm young, impulsive, and naïve; but I'm learning.

‎"Of all the illusions that beset mankind none is quite so curious as that tendency to suppose that we are mentally and morally superior to those who differ from us in opinion."
- Elbert Hubbard

I'm guessing everyone on here has discussed Romney and Paul to death when they ran last time. Or maybe because Romney is just so boring.

quote Originally posted by theBDub: He sounds like an uneducated youngster who thinks he knows what the country should be doing, but doesn't quite understand how it works.

Irony?

quote Originally posted by TommyRocker: Irony?

I am a youngster, but I am not uneducated by any means.

But regardless of what you think of me, I'm not running for President

FWIW, I wouldn't run for President right now (EDIT: Even if I was 35)... I am not mature or knowledgeable enough. So my comparison was fair to give

[This message has been edited by theBDub (edited 04-19-2011).]

quote Originally posted by Scottzilla79: I'm guessing everyone on here has discussed Romney and Paul to death when they ran last time. Or maybe because Romney is just so boring.

Or to distill a bit more.. Ron Paul comes off as an extremist, while his son seems more "measured" (another good pick).. Romney.. another NE blue blood lifer politician.. no appeal to middle America. Same goes for Pawlenty.. just a midwest flavor "politician" Bachmann another perceived extremist and after seeing her fall on talking points in a friendly interview with Glenn Beck.. ya.. not interested.

Dark horses who haven't shown their colors yet, Ryan Paul, Chris Christie, and possibly Bobby Jindal (but his weak counter to the first state of the union is going to hurt him)

quote Originally posted by theBDub: Okay I just watched it... I am no longer for him as a president at all. .... Why aren't any PFF guys talking about the other candidates? What about Ron Paul? Romney?

Yeah, I don't know how to feel about him...

What about Gary Johnson?

quote Originally posted by Scottzilla79: LOL just because I'm not for a buffoon who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth doesn't mean I voted for Obama. And it has nothing to do with where I live either. I don't even think of Obama as a Chicagoan. He won't come back here after he's done in DC he'll go back to his real home in HI or Indonesia or wherever.

He would be welcomed to Detroit with opened arms as a savior of sorts--especially if he supports a bailout for the city itself as was called for by one of the city council recently--------after all, 2012 is approaching, and votes can be "rented" by such means....wouldn't be the 1st time in history.

Ugh, I just got a sick feeling in my stomach because what you say is so plausible.

quote Originally posted by ryan.hess: Yeah, I don't know how to feel about him... What about Gary Johnson?

I remember reading that thread. I'm gonna bump it later tonight.

Trump? Born on 3rd base and thinks he hit a home run.........How many times bankrupt? How the hell do you bankrupt a casino? Give it a rest. If this is what is given serious consideration in GOP circles, better brace yourselves.

quote Originally posted by weaselbeak: Trump? Born on 3rd base and thinks he hit a home run.........How many times bankrupt? How the hell do you bankrupt a casino? Give it a rest. If this is what is given serious consideration in GOP circles, better brace yourselves.

Just to be fair, letting bad go bad isn't always bad business.. He let arms / divisions go bankrupt. By the time they did he held minority stock/holdings in them. He's not dumb about business. He will make a profit, but he will cut dead weight away.. So you ready for him to come in, analyze and realize SS, and Medicare are dead weight?

(They are, and need to be adjusted on a number of levels.. but is everyone ready for it..) Maybe we need for the whole system to crash to let it reset.. For the most part I keep seeing politicians placing band aids on a head shot.
**Case in point.. latest "cut" of 38 billion.. I'm gonna puke.. started at 100billion.. got whittled down to 66 billion.. final number 38bil and all done with not spending unspent money and minimal cuts in increases in spending.. All said and done.. think we "cut" about a million or two.
So we didn't get fisted but we sure got fcked.
Complete effin joke. I'll work to get RHINO Bohner defeated even if it means getting a rookie, hippie, tree hugger in his place

quote Originally posted by weaselbeak: Trump? Born on 3rd base and thinks he hit a home run.........

Can you produce a verifiable birth certificate to that effect?

quote How many times bankrupt?

If bankruptcy is a reason to oppose a politician, the current President fully supported and actively pushed for the filing of GM and Chysler's bankruptcy, the IMF and internatiol community are creaming for austerity for our federal spending, and calls for a new global currency base to replace the USD are common, as well as the ever increasing liklihood our prestigous AAA credit rating will be lowered soon. The 1st steps to soverign debt default have already taken place with S&P downgrading their outlook on US debt from stable to "negative".

quote How the hell do you bankrupt a casino?

Dunno--maybe make it too easy to win? Give away too much of the gambler's bets? Too many freebies? (sound familar?)

Would I vote for Trump?

Again--no.
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum6/HTML/081491.html

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 04-19-2011).]

quote Originally posted by weaselbeak: Trump? Born on 3rd base and thinks he hit a home run.........How many times bankrupt? How the hell do you bankrupt a casino? Give it a rest. If this is what is given serious consideration in GOP circles, better brace yourselves.

Hello, by that measure he is more than qualified to run this government as this country is effectivily bankrupt itself. And he has never gone Personally bankrupt though he has used his coporate finances as a leverage to keep his companies running to make a profit. How else can he afford all those good looking wives, lol. Bankrupting a casino is not alone to him, Vegas is strewn with empty casinos.

Obama is constanly talking in generalities such as his statements today that we cant afford this debt and have to spend within our means, err I thought he was the king of spending beyond our means!

My deepest apologies.. We must and should bow down to the wisdom of Obama.

Obviously we're no spending enough
The Rich are not paying enough
The able are not giving enough.

.. He may just have run into Thatchers comment of.. "I'ts great, until you run out of other peoples money"

Either way I'm starting to think that even my dog could run the US better than obahma.

quote Originally posted by Uaana: My deepest apologies.. We must and should bow down to the wisdom of Obama. Obviously we're no spending enough The Rich are not paying enough The able are not giving enough.

Thank you for the belated apology. It's about damn time!! Wondered when you'd finally cut 'em off, come to your senses and joined the rest of the Politically Correct world.
Now, you're simply AWESOME and everyone will like you.
Tell the truth--doesn't it just feel WONDERFUL??
"All Hail Uaana!! All Hail Uaana!!"

quote .. He may just have run into Thatchers comment of.. "I'ts great, until you run out of other peoples money"

That train left the depot long ago..

quote Originally posted by maryjane: That train left the depot long ago..

Thank you kind sir.. even if you're a prole. I shall now minister to your needs and you shall never want while I guide you and this great nation through it's darkest hours.
Please send your daughters to be my "interns" and I shall also guide them with my wisdom. (gotta love a lil Clinton)

Now if I can just bilk corporations, and city councils out of millions on "feel good" projects to build my resume' think I'll have this whole presidency thing locked up.

quote Originally posted by Uaana: Thank you kind sir.. even if you're a prole.

Well, we each have to know our place in the scheme of things.

"Toil-- onward thru the fog I shall".

quote Originally posted by theBDub: He doesn't elaborate! He doesn't have a plan! He sounds like an uneducated youngster who thinks he knows what the country should be doing, but doesn't quite understand how it works.

Oh, you mean like Obama?

Hows that "hope and change" working for ya? lol (JOKE INTENTIONS ONLY)

quote Originally posted by htexans1: Oh, you mean like Obama? Hows that "hope and change" working for ya? lol (JOKE INTENTIONS ONLY)

LOL I never even thought about voting for him. I hated him from the start. Just because I think Trump would be a bad candidate doesn't mean I'm a Democrat.

quote Originally posted by fogglethorpe: I don't think Mr. Trump is going to run. I think he wants another tv show. On Fox News. If I turn out to be wrong, I will own up. But I don't think I am. And it's too bad..I want to like Donald Trump, I really do. But he has not articulated very well exactly what he is about..he speaks in generalities.

X2.

Here's the National Post's take on "The Donald" (For those that don't know, the NP is Canada's conservative leaning national newspaper.)

http://fullcomment.national...om-has-been-reached/

quote The Donald for president. Rock bottom has been reached Full Comment’s Araminta Wordsworth brings you a daily round-up of quality punditry from across the globe. Today: It would seem like a tasteless joke, but when you’re talking about Donald Trump, you have to reconsider your definition of “tasteless”. Donald Trump is seriously considering running for the Republican presidential nomination, hitching his bandwagon to the birther movement. Polls show him tied with Mitt Romney. The man himself also believes he has a serious chance of beating Barack Obama. Is the state of U.S. politics really so dire that this relentless self-promoter is the best the GOP can offer? Or is it another example of Americans’ cringing deference to riches — the principle being the wealthier you are the more important? *snip*

quote Originally posted by Scottzilla79: LOL just because I'm not for a buffoon who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth doesn't mean I voted for Obama. And it has nothing to do with where I live either. I don't even think of Obama as a Chicagoan. He won't come back here after he's done in DC he'll go back to his real home in HI or Indonesia or wherever.

Obama was born with a silver spoon in his mouth? I KNOW Trump wasn't.

quote Originally posted by Isolde: Obama was born with a silver spoon in his mouth? I KNOW Trump wasn't.

Then you would be wrong. His father was a real estate developer dealing in the millions. Going to work for big daddy qualifies as starting out on 3rd base.


Financial problems (1989–1997)By 1989, the effects of recession left Trump unable to meet loan payments. Trump financed the construction of his third casino, the $1 billion Taj Mahal, primarily with high-interest junk bonds. Although he shored up his businesses with additional loans and postponed interest payments, by 1991 increasing debt brought Trump to business bankruptcy[15] and the brink of personal bankruptcy. Banks and bond holders had lost hundreds of millions of dollars, but opted to restructure his debt to avoid the risk of losing more money in court. The Taj Mahal re-emerged from bankruptcy on October 5, 1991, with Trump ceding 50% ownership in the casino to the original bondholders in exchange for lowered interest rates on the debt and more time to pay it off.[26]

On November 2, 1992, the Trump Plaza Hotel was forced to file a prepackaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection plan after being unable to make its debt payments. Under the plan, Trump agreed to give up a 49% stake in the luxury hotel to Citibank and five other lenders. In return Trump would receive more favorable terms on the remaining $550+ million owed to the lenders and retain his position as chief executive, though he would not be paid and would not have a role in day-to-day operations.[27]

By 1994, Trump had eliminated a large portion of his $900 million personal debt[28] and reduced significantly his nearly $3.5 billion in business debt. While he was forced to relinquish the Trump Shuttle (which he had bought in 1989), he managed to retain Trump Tower in New York City and control of his three casinos in Atlantic City. Chase Manhattan Bank, which lent Trump the money to buy the West Side yards, his biggest Manhattan parcel, forced the sale of a parcel to Asian developers. According to former members of the Trump Organization, Trump did not retain any ownership of the site's real estate - the owners merely promised to give him about 30 percent of the profits once the site was completely developed or sold. Until that time, the owners wanted to keep Trump on to do what he did best: build things. They gave him a modest construction fee and a management fee to oversee the development. The new owners also allowed him to put his name on the buildings that eventually rose on the yards because his well-known moniker allowed them to charge a premium for their condos.[29]

Trump was elected to the Gaming Hall of Fame in 1995.[30]

In 1995, he combined his casino holdings into the publicly held Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts. Wall Street drove its stock above $35 in 1996, but by 1998 it had fallen into single digits as the company remained profitless and struggled to pay just the interest on its nearly $3 billion in debt. Under such financial pressure, the properties were unable to make the improvements necessary for keeping up with their flashier competitors.

Legal Developments 2002-2005In January 2002, the Securities and Exchange Commission brought a financial-reporting case against Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts Inc., alleging that it had committed several "misleading statements in the company's third-quarter 1999 earnings release." The matter was settled with the defendant neither admitting nor denying the charge. [31].

Finally, on October 21, 2004, Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts announced a restructuring of its debt.[32] The plan called for Trump's individual ownership to be reduced from 56 percent to 27 percent, with bondholders receiving stock in exchange for surrendering part of the debt. Since then, Trump Hotels has been forced to seek voluntary bankruptcy protection to stay afloat. After the company applied for Chapter 11 Protection in November 2004, Trump relinquished his CEO position but retained a role as Chairman of the Board. In May 2005[33] the company re-emerged from bankruptcy as Trump Entertainment Resorts Holdings.[34]

So far I like what he has to say. I am quite sure something will come up that I won't agree with but that is not unusual.

Face it, we are supposed to be a more capitalist based economy so who better to run it, or get us back on track than a successful capitalist? China is not our friend and it is about dammed time we had a leader that will address this, and actually DO something..

I want a president that will put this country FIRST across the board.

I did not pay to much attention till Opra started picking on his hair. Heh. If that's all you got better use it I guess.

Yup, I voted for Ross too. Pretty much what he predicted came to pass.

quote Originally posted by theBDub: He doesn't elaborate! He doesn't have a plan! He sounds like an uneducated youngster who thinks he knows what the country should be doing ... ... He doesn't have a plan he just uses the buzz words to fire people up and get them excited.

Right on target. His reputed wealth is surpassed only by his ego and his capacity for self deception.

quote Originally posted by weaselbeak: How many times bankrupt?

To be fair, these days bankruptcy has become a common business strategy. How many airlines can you name that are not operating in bankruptcy today?

quote How the hell do you bankrupt a casino?

Essentially the same way you bankrupt any other business: High fixed overhead and capital costs, combined with not enough customers. Often you can look back and see clearly that the initial capital costs were so high that there is virtually no way the business could have succeeded. In those cases, it's hard not to conclude that bankruptcy was a covert part of the original business plan. It's been done before.

[This message has been edited by Marvin McInnis (edited 04-20-2011).]

Cult perfection would be achieved if Trump & Palin were to run together.
Both their motives could be served in a single action.
Ssssssssssuperstar.