I think you're on to something. I can't see him quitting of his own accord, because that would make him a loser. And the presidency would be no fun at all. But if he can claim the election was stolen from him, yeah, that's the best of all worlds for him.

Actually, I don't doubt for a second the sincerity of his ambition. That's what makes the GOP's strategy so short sighted: it's not like they can actually get rid of him. He'll be back again next cycle, either as a Republican or an Independent. Don is a lot like herpes in that regard. He'll crop up at the most inopportune time to remind you of your collective sins.

But they are trying to get rid of him. That's not an excuse on his part, that's a clear fact. Ultimately it points to the value of having gatekeepers for the parties. When they do their job, they prevent president Comacho from ascending to the throne. But after BushII, it's hard to see the difference ( and can you deny Ted Cruz is just as problematic as Trump? )

I think Trump legitimately would love to be President since it fills his weird, sociopathic "lust for glory" personality or whatever, but once in office, I honestly don't think he would do much of anything. He would just let policy be dictated by the GOP whims of the week and service a very niche right-wing interesting rather than be anything particularly formidable. I'm not saying his presidency would be harmless or anything, not remotely (hence, why I think people being retarded infants and refusing to vote for Clinton if she is the only thing standing between him and the White House is regressive leftism at it's most vile), but I think he would largely be distanced from the whole thing. He might possibly even pick a VP candidate that is marginally more qualified and just kind of let them be in charge.

If Trump actually was elected president, which I just can't imagine happening, he should know most of all that it would not be good for his reputation. Everyone who likes Trump for being a no-nonsense Washington outsider will turn against Trump when he becomes a do-nothing Washington insider who breaks every one of his insane campaign promises.

I think Trump probably knows this. The best strategy for his name/brand/business is to be remain the protest candidate forever, so that his dumb followers can forever fantasize about what a glorious leader he would have been if those evil political elites didn't rob the presidency from him.

Didn't he run against dubya? He's been at this for too long not to want it, in my opinion. Although I'd be curious to see an analysis of his personal campaign costs (including time spent) versus the increase in book sales, TV ratings, interview payouts, I don't know what else. Regardless of whether he's elected, I wonder how much he's lost or gained from campaigning.

It's going to sound like bullshit, but I am 100% serious:

Trump is a close, long term business associate and friend of a good friend of a friend of mine from work, and I have it on excellent authority that he held no illusions of this being anything other than a marketing stunt when he started. When he announced his campaign, he left a voicemail for said friend of a friend of a friend that said "I will only be available by phone one or two days a week for a while. I'm running for President. We're about to blow our brand THROUGH THE ROOF. I'll see you in three months."


While I'm throwing out implausible personal anecdotes, I should also mention that

In '98 or '99 I met a geologist who, while working for the USGS in central America in the early 80s, personally watched a couple of grunts load CASES OF COCAINE onto CIA director George Bush's personal military transport helicopter.

For 6 years I worked with a man whose father was the top ranking CIA officer in Bolivia at the time of Che Guevara's capture, and was the one who received the order for his execution.

The son of the Chinese ambassador to the US ca. 2006 tried to convince me that I should spend two months on LSD in complete isolation in one room.

I once personally and deliberately confused James Brown from a distance of less than two feet.


And that's about it.

Eat your heart out infinite zest

Oh yeah, for a little while I played in a band with someone who knew Prince Charles but she quit because our practice space made her clothes smell bad.

Three words. Pay Per View.

Maybe in countries where this election is a source of abject terror.

Like America.

I think I've watched it 50 times.