The Donald came to politics as an outsider who would not play by the Eatsablishments' rules. Good for him and the country as long as he has some rules to serve the best interests of America and not just himself. He overshot that trust placed in him. 

Trump has always played the long odds. He managed to separate personal responsibility from his failures in the past:

Donald Trump pushed back against criticism of his companies’ bankruptcy history Tuesday, repeating his argument that like other smart businessmen, he “used, brilliantly, the laws of the country” to his advantage.

The presumptive GOP nominee was responding to attacks launched by Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, who lambasted Trump’s business record and economic ideas in a cutting speech earlier the same day.

“What I’ve done is I’ve used, brilliantly, the laws of the country. And not personally, just corporate. And if you look at people like myself that are at the highest levels of business, they use – many of them have done it, many times,” Trump told “ABC World News Tonight” host David Muir.

Of course that's semantics, sophistry. He avoided personal responsibility for the his corporations but those extending the credit he avoided paying actually paid his debts. The funds extended weren't imaginary just because they came from fictional legal persons, corporate banks- the owners of those banks, actual people, funded his bad loans.

The same philosophy is in being used by The Donald but those whose trust he's abusing see through the smoke and mirrors now. Trump is losing his grip- deservedly, on the Republican Party's members. He refuses to see that, but he's got eff-all to lose in his ambition's failing. His base will worship him no matter what; the 'never Trumpers' will not change their minds; and the majority of the American electorate are seeing Trump as he truly is and his time has passed.

He loses nothing, except- is it better for him to be a two-time loser with some influence and credibility; or be three time loser throwing temper tantrums?

Not sure of DeSantis, but I prefer him to anything in either party's wings right now. Although I do think Biden's doing better than I expected. Perfect? No! But not as divisive just to be so, to stay in the headlines.

Trump World is crumbling as he is exposed as, at the very least amoral, if not immoral. That lack of character carries risk to creditors and potential customers beyond mere reputation. As he bragged, he has never filed for a personal bankruptcy but his corporations take advantage of bankruptcy law, and that's normal. Do you want the most powerful man in the world, the president of the United States, to be no better than 'normal'?

I'm all forr the American Dream ideal of rags to riches for anybody willing to risk it. But- I expect a person of positive character, a leader in our society to be personally above the average in dedication to doing the right thing. I will give Trump a sort of respect in being open in his exploitation of others, typified by his remarks on his objectification and aggression of women:

E Jean Carroll's allegation is supported by the character (or lack thereof) in that quote.

That all comes home as his creditors become more and more aware of Trump's political power....

Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago.

Photographer: Jose More/VW Pics/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

By Steven Arons

September 22, 2022 at 11:40 AM EDT

 

For more than a decade, Deutsche Bank AG was the single biggest lender to the Trump Organization. That may finally have changed in May.

The real estate company of former US President Donald Trump that month repaid two loans worth at total of $295 million to Germany’s largest lender, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday by New York Attorney General Letitia James. There’s now only one loan left, a facility worth $45 million covering the Trump Chicago building, according to the suit. 

v>

James says Trump made “false and misleading” financial statements to Deutsche Bank to get better terms on his loans, resulting in interest rate savings between $85 million and $150 million for him. Trump has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

“The bank takes its legal obligations seriously, including appropriately responding to authorized investigations and proceedings,” said a spokesman for Deutsche Bank. He declined to comment on details of the relationship with the Trump Organization.

 

Deutsche Bank built up a lucrative relationship with the firm in the years before Trump ran for president in 2016, but the exposure became a major headache when Democrats in Congress sought to subpoena documents on his dealings with the bank. Management in late 2016 became so concerned about the potential implication if the Trump Organization were to default that they discussed extending repayment dates, Bloomberg has reported.