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PrintApril 14, 2011
Can Trump Take Us Out of Receivership?
In a recent interview with Wall Street Journal, Donald Trump was asked about his multiple corporate bankruptcies. "Trump responded that he simply used the law of the country, namely Chapter 11 to negotiate corporate debt deals." According to the article Trump filed for corporate bankruptcy in 1991, 1992, 2004, and as recently as 2009. And now he is running for President?
With his inherited business prowess, massive ego and his reality star qualities, not to mention the hair. Why not "Trump for President"?
As a long time political observer and participant in the political process I am perplexed with any of the names currently posturing for the nomination.
Romney, Pawlenty and Gingrich have started exploratory committees, while others, like Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, Michele Bachmann, Mike Huckabee, are still deciding.
Then there is Sarah Palin, U.S. Ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman, Governor Daniels, Herman Cain and the guy who won the Dog Catcher election somewhere in eastern Ohio. None of which have yet displayed a convincing message to be the next nominee.
Let's look a little closer at Trump's qualities. Not to denigrate his business abilities but he largely got his start by inheriting a fortune of real estate and business holdings from his father. He then leveraged those positions to launch a vast empire of real estate, business' and casinos. And despite Ivana getting half and going bankrupt four times. He has multiplied his father's fortune many times and built an iconic image of himself.
From his "birther" claims to his catch phrase "your fired," Trump has become larger than his ego. But he does have one thing that the other potential candidates don't. A frankness in addressing our nation's problems and presenting alternative solutions for fixing them.
We are all concerned with our rising deficits, soaring debt and vast expansion of government programs. And with the recent lack luster performance of house leadership negotiating the remaining 2011 budget. I have little faith in current leadership to get us out of this mess.
I am not saying Trump is the answer or that he has the political fortitude to look past himself. What I am conveying is that we are in troubled times and that we are not going to be able to continue to confront our problems in a conventional way. What we do need is an out of the box non-conventional leader. We need someone that looks at government differently. Someone that can not only look at our problems but find the opportunities that these situations present. We need someone that knows and can find "value" in what we have and to lead our way out of this mess. But more importantly we need someone to speak candidly and to articulate a better future for the country.
Unfortunately I don't see that candidate out there.
But if all else fails and Trump is our next president, he can use his unique qualifications and experience to negotiate our way out of receivership. And if nothing else he probably has the chutzpah to let it all ride on Red 22 at the roulette table.
