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I dealt with Trump frequently for about a six-month span a few years ago. Observations:
- The guy is very, very smart, and inhales media information like a stoned frat boy at a Chinese buffet. He reads everything and anything.
- Pays great attention to details. When he got involved in an issue I had followed for more than a year, he already was up to speed on it from day one of our talks. He also personally called the mayor of a tiny town the morning after his election. Trying to gain favor? Absolutely. But smart.
- What you see on The Apprentice is what you get in real life. He doesn't seem to have an "off" switch.
- We got along well, but I know someone who was asked about me by Trump. "Good guy?" Trump asked. Yes, the other guy said, very good at his job. "But he doesn't write what I want him to write," Trump said. No, he doesn't, the other guy said with a chuckle. Two of us did a long interview with him at Trump Tower one time, and at the end he asked if we'd like to get our picture taken with him. lol! Dude, I do this for a living, ok?
- While the specific issue was white-hot, he was calling all the time. Very enjoyable conversations, too. Seems like he's not thrilled with reporters who aren't awed or intimidated by him, but he has grudging respect. "Call me anytime, and I mean that," he'd say. But once his involvement in this issue died, it wasn't too long before he no longer returned my infrequent calls. No big surprise there.
Not sure what to make of the "birther" thing. It's so silly (the guy's birth was noted in two Hawaii newspapers, was that a Kenyan man and a Kansas white woman hedging their bets in case their mixed-race kid became President in 50 years? lol) that I haven't paid much attention, but seemed like at first he was noting some "short form, long form" issue. Doesn't really matter in terms of "proof," but if it's true that the long form hasn't been released, I could possibly imagine some issue existing that doesn't go the underlying question but is politically awkward in some circles.
For instance, if a longer form listed religion and it said "Muslim." Well, the father was Muslim (yes?), so that would be no great shock, and it's not like Barack had a vote on the matter (!), so who cares. But that would be talk-show fodder for a while, I suppose, in some circles.
My guess would be that Trump (he greatly prefers "Mr. Trump") liked the initial attention (surprise), then overplayed his hand. His style is such that if he was driving on a country road and veered onto a dirt road, he'll never just do a U-turn and go back. He'd sooner drive through the nastiest terrain and figure out a way to find the main road further down the line.
Fascinating guy to deal with, I'll say that.
- The guy is very, very smart, and inhales media information like a stoned frat boy at a Chinese buffet. He reads everything and anything.
- Pays great attention to details. When he got involved in an issue I had followed for more than a year, he already was up to speed on it from day one of our talks. He also personally called the mayor of a tiny town the morning after his election. Trying to gain favor? Absolutely. But smart.
- What you see on The Apprentice is what you get in real life. He doesn't seem to have an "off" switch.
- We got along well, but I know someone who was asked about me by Trump. "Good guy?" Trump asked. Yes, the other guy said, very good at his job. "But he doesn't write what I want him to write," Trump said. No, he doesn't, the other guy said with a chuckle. Two of us did a long interview with him at Trump Tower one time, and at the end he asked if we'd like to get our picture taken with him. lol! Dude, I do this for a living, ok?
- While the specific issue was white-hot, he was calling all the time. Very enjoyable conversations, too. Seems like he's not thrilled with reporters who aren't awed or intimidated by him, but he has grudging respect. "Call me anytime, and I mean that," he'd say. But once his involvement in this issue died, it wasn't too long before he no longer returned my infrequent calls. No big surprise there.
Not sure what to make of the "birther" thing. It's so silly (the guy's birth was noted in two Hawaii newspapers, was that a Kenyan man and a Kansas white woman hedging their bets in case their mixed-race kid became President in 50 years? lol) that I haven't paid much attention, but seemed like at first he was noting some "short form, long form" issue. Doesn't really matter in terms of "proof," but if it's true that the long form hasn't been released, I could possibly imagine some issue existing that doesn't go the underlying question but is politically awkward in some circles.
For instance, if a longer form listed religion and it said "Muslim." Well, the father was Muslim (yes?), so that would be no great shock, and it's not like Barack had a vote on the matter (!), so who cares. But that would be talk-show fodder for a while, I suppose, in some circles.
My guess would be that Trump (he greatly prefers "Mr. Trump") liked the initial attention (surprise), then overplayed his hand. His style is such that if he was driving on a country road and veered onto a dirt road, he'll never just do a U-turn and go back. He'd sooner drive through the nastiest terrain and figure out a way to find the main road further down the line.
Fascinating guy to deal with, I'll say that.
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