Trump? The Republican Primary Is Now Officially A Gong Show

Marketing genius is perhaps the most appropriate way to describe Donald J. Trump's newest incarnation
as the announced host -- he can hardly be called a "moderator" -- of a
post-Christmas Republican debate sponsored by Newsmax, the conservative
magazine. Why would candidates agree to join this spectacle? (Jon
Huntsman quickly declined, although he can always unleash his daughters' often-brutal Twitter feed on Trump if he raises a ruckus.)

The problem immediately faced by any candidate who might not wish to
risk being "fired" by the Donald onstage as millions watch is how to
politely decline without being "fired" in a super-heated blast of
publicity right now. As President Obama discovered earlier this year,
the press eagerly latches onto Trump at every opportunity, even when he
sounds utterly deranged.

With the possible exception of Minnesota Rep. Michelle Bachmann --
who seems to have established an actual friendship with Trump -- these
unfortunate Republicans cannot relish the prospect of an encounter with
America's towering ego. Whatever Trump's intentions, how will he be able
to resist upstaging, one-upping, contradicting, and perhaps even
humiliating each of them in turn? And which of them will want to talk
back smack to a publicity machine with his own Fox and Friends weekly
timeslot called "Mondays with Trump"?

It is hard not to feel a bit sad for the Republicans today, although
they have certainly brought this on themselves. Ed Rollins, the
legendary Reagan aide who worked for the Bachmann campaign until earlier
this year, expressed what many party stalwarts must be feeling: "Who
made Trump the kingmaker? This campaign has been enough of a circus
without making him the ringmaster."

The only sure winners in this gong show are Trump himself and his
sponsors at Newsmax, who can count on high ratings and massive media
attention. Their constituencies will not be displeased no matter how
Trump behaves. As Newsmax chief executive Christopher Ruddy told the New York Times, "Our readers and the grassroots really love Trump."

But Ruddy's remark could mean reopening a can of worms that in a
saner world would remain tightly closed. Roger Stone, the ex-Nixon
operative, former Trump consultant and full-time political schemer,
warned that while the casino magnate's role will be "interesting," there
could be dire consequences for the other participants. "Trump may
appear more appealing a candidate to those watching than those he is
moderating," he said.

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