The Trump Card

In my opinion, here’s the thing that everyone is missing about Donald Trump and his “run” for president.  

He’s metaphorically building an enormous, garish mansion that is completely at odds with zoning, neighborhood standards and city codes, and then, once it’s completed, he will walk away and never even occupy said monstrosity. And he’s doing it for one reason and one reason only: BECAUSE HE CAN.       

Allow me to explain.

He’s not stupid.  He’s not smart enough to be president, but he’s not stupid.  He knows he can’t win. He also knows that he cannot damage his reputation or his brand by being crude, tasteless and over-the-top.  His brand IS crude, tasteless and over-the-top.

He’s running for president BECAUSE HE CAN*.

*The Donald loves all-caps, as illustrated by his financial disclosure form that bellowed his net worth at” TEN BILLION DOLLARS!”

He’s rich and famous and he can do whatever he wants. And that is the only reason he is running: BECAUSE HE CAN.

And that is what separates Trump from almost every one of us.  He seems to do everything in life simply BECAUSE HE CAN.

I CAN run naked down the street, empty my bank account to buy a used helicopter, assault a mounted police officer, burn down a 7-11, eat 27 pizzas at once and throw an aquarium filled with exotic fish off the roof of the tallest building in town. I won’t of course, because after doing these crazy things the consequences of my actions would come crashing down upon me. I know this, and therefore I don’t.

But Trump is uniquely unburdened by consequences. And this wonderful condition allows him to do something as crazy as run for president, verbally attack an entire nation, and accuse a war hero of cowardice despite his own lack of military participation. And keep going.  He’s just getting starting on the crazy train toward irrelevancy for executive office.

Will he show up drunk during a debate?
Flip off Charlie Rose during an interview?
Implore Vladimir Putin to “kiss his Irish ass!”

Who knows? 

Look, if Jeb Bush doesn’t get the nomination he trashes the family win-streak.  If Scott Walker fails, he hits the ceiling on his political career. If Rubio flames out, he faces the real possibility that a Latino can’t win with Republicans. They are all driven by fear that they will lose.

But when Trump inevitably exits the race and declares victory for having moved the party more toward his way of thinking, he will gleefully move on to the next thing.

He fears no consequence because there is none.  He can’t lose because he has no objective.

He’s a super-rich loud mouth today and he will be a super-rich loud mouth tomorrow.

His ridiculous mega-mansion of a faux presidential campaign will stand as a monument to a man with no vision, no scruples and no burden.  

And of course, The Onion validates everything I'm saying.