Mitt Romney is about to kiss Donald Trump’s ass by appearing at a joint endorsement press conference today. TPM has a few reasons why Trump’s endorsement probably hurts more than it helps. Presumably Romney had to show up and kiss up lest Trump endorse Gingrich, but taking a racist birther’s endorsement makes it harder for Mitt to appear like a reasonable Republican once the primary is over. A livestream for those who can take it here.
Update: It’s over. After noting that Trump is one of the few human beings on earth with more money than him (I doubt it), Mitt was like a little kid with a full bladder looking for a bathroom. He was in such a hurry to leave that he forgot to acknowledge his campaign chairman and his wife, so he had to go back to the podium to give them a shout out before beating a hasty retreat.
GregB
It looks like Mitt has hired the same strategist as the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Nothing like a lootocratic circle jerk to reinforce a growing meme.
Villago Delenda Est
So, who is the squirrel that lives on top of Trump’s head endorsing?
kindness
OK, I understand The Donald might have some birther hearth throbs who care what he does, but in all honesty this is a wtf moment. I mean, really now, does anyone really care what a whore like Trump thinks? Can’t even the Fox News opioid addicts see all Trump cares about is Trump and his trashy name & fake comb over getting more TV time?
I just am continually amazed at how low the important and cultured people here in the US have sunk.
cathyx
I don’t get it. WHO CARES WHAT DONALD TRUMP THINKS?
Jim, Foolish Literalist
.
We’ll see. This buffoonery is staged as a press conference, isn’t it? If any reporter actually asks about the birtherism, I’ll eat my hat.
Dave
Once again, proof that one of President Obama’s most enduring traits is an almost-otherworldly ability to have complete idiots as his opponents in elections.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Villago Delenda Est: Ron Paul’s eyebrows, of course.
Violet
I thought he was supposed to be endorsing Newt. Isn’t that what the “sources said” last night? What happened between then and now?
trollhattan
Yeah, two born-rich dudes teaming up to take the nation’s helm seems like really good optics.
Carry on, douchemen.
dmsilev
@Violet: Romney outbid Newt?
I like the DNC’s reaction. Per TPM, they released a video noting that the main similarity between the two is that they both like firing people.
Martin
Well, if there’s anyone who can provide proof against Mitt’s own claims that he doesn’t care about the very poor, it’s a guy with a gold shitter.
SenyorDave
@Dave: And it can’t be just luck, it is a skill.
It’s like an argument I once had with a co-worker about Larry Bird. He though when Bird would routinely hit half court shots at the end of the quarter it was luck. I said when you are talking about a world-class shooter in that situation its skill, especially when it happens so often. Obam seems to consistently end up boxing his opponents in.
Cat Lady
A rich prick known for his hair endorses another rich prick known for his hair. Heckuva job goopers.
UncommonSense
Trump’s endorsement should help Romney win the support of The Blacks.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Got MSNBC with the mute button on, and I see this: “TRUMP: OTHER COUNTRIES LAUGH AT US”
Yes, they do, because after trying to impeach a president over a blowjob, electing a simpleton who turned out to be one the greatest and most lethal man-made disasters in history, narrowly escaping giving the keys to fluff-brained old halfwit and a fluff-haired lackwit, we now see a man with a fifty-fifty shot at winning the White House groveling before carnival barker buffoon of a reality TeeVee/Gamehow host.
Calouste
Gosh, Romney doesn’t have a clue, does he? Getting and endorsement is one thing, doing a joined press conference for that endorsement pretty much means that not only they like you, but you like them as well, and that everything they have said in the past can be used against you. Trump is someone he should keep at arm’s length.
Maude
@Villago Delenda Est:
#2 LOL. Thanks.
Dave
@SenyorDave: I think that is a certain part of it. The Obama team is very, very good at what they do.
That said, to draw Alan Keyes in the Senate race because Ryan got his freak flag unfurled by Seven of Nine in court, which put him in position to run for President against a cranky out-of-touch man who picked the worst VP candidate ever…sometimes you get lucky.
The Moar You Know
When does the clown get shot out of the cannon? That’s my favorite part of these things.
Yevgraf
It ain’t no mystery,
If its Politics or History,
The thing you got to know is
Everything is shoooo-ow biz….
Heil myself, heil to me..
JCT
Wow Mitt, I hope donning the kneepads for Trump is worth the 5 voters who revere him. I’m sure the independents that will decide this election are impressed.
Pics from this little dog and pony show should make for some good dem campaign materials.
Sheesh. Never underestimate Mitt’s tin ear when it comes to PANDERING.
JGabriel
CNN:
But if it’s anyone else, all cards are off the table?
What did Gingrich do to piss off the short-fingered vulgarian? Or does Trump secretly hate Mitt?
.
geg6
Hoocoodanoed? The “You’re Fired” guy is endorsing the “I Like Firing People” guy.
Jeebus, but the GOPers are idiots. Every fucking one of them. Even the supposedly “smart” ones like Mittens.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@JGabriel: Trump doesn’t want to waste his time by
having photo ops withendorsing a bitter loser, especially with a new season of his show about to startJ. Michael Neal
@JGabriel: Trump is a performance artist. I still maintain that his entire involvement in this year’s GOP primary process has been a long running joke of the fully intentional kind. His primary motivation is self-promotion, as always, but the whole thing has had an air of satire about it.
Sasha
Makes sense. Mitt can’t believably fake being a TP, so getting someone who can to endorse him helps.
jl
More public MittFail!
Good on him.
Anyone see Todd’s reporting on this, please note in comments.
GregB
Is Mitt off to take Leona Helmsely’s endorsement next?
Chuck Butcher
I had something to say I’d rather not type again…
ThatLeftTurnInABQ
@Villago Delenda Est:
Laugh while you can. In the upcoming Rommney administration, Trump will have a cabinet-level seat at the table, as the Secretary of Hair.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@GregB: Heh.Marge Schott is totally going to bring Ohio into the Willard column
Thoughtcrime
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/02/02/value_of_trumps_endorsement.html
jl
@Dave:
” Once again, proof that one of President Obama’s most enduring traits is an almost-otherworldly ability to have complete idiots as his opponents in elections. ”
Just occurred to me that idiot describes almost all of the current GOP officeholders and candidates.
So, maybe luck is a very reasonable explanation, and not so amazing after all.
Tonal Crow
@jl: The probability of a “meep-meep” event has just risen.
geg6
@Thoughtcrime:
This is what just astounds me, though. Based on what I’ve read on several sites, Mittens has spent weeks, if not months, meeting with the Donald and stroking him and doing whatever he can to get his endorsement. To what end, for fuck’s sake? The 8% who would have voted for him as GOP nominee anyway? Seriously?
Jenny
@jl: Chuck Todd actually had a funny take: “Trump must be working for the DNC”.
catclub
It is a real shame that no one will ask Mitt what income that lowest 5% corresponds to. Or how much the ‘safety net’ improves said condition.
I bet he has no idea on either of those.
Tonal Crow
@GregB:
I hear he’s been begging her for it for months, but she keeps saying, “Endorsements are for the little people”.
priscianusjr
priscianusjr
@cathyx:
Jay C
I suppose, (even should his magic underwear allow him to do so), turning around and taking a whiz on The Donald’s leg wasn’t an option….
S. cerevisiae
Axelrod must be loving this – tie Trump to Mittens like an anchor.
fasteddie9318
Trump’s claimed ~$7 billion net worth is mostly based on his own value of his “brand,” so, pretty much bullshit.
goethean
I love that squinty-eyed fake smile that mittens does when he’s trying to look like he’s having fun.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57370443-503544/trump-endorses-mitt-romney-for-president/
The Bearded Blogger
If it’s OK to tout the endorsemnt of Donald Trump or Chuck Norris, then it’s OK to tout the endorsement of Spongebob Squarepants.
The Bearded Blogger
@goethean: Oooh the condescending “what this prole is doing is embarassing, smile as hard as you can” smile, yeah…
Mnemosyne
Did Trump work the premiere date for the new season of “Celebrity Apprentice” to his speech? I’d pretty astounded if he didn’t.
Mnemosyne
@SenyorDave:
Luck favors the prepared.
oklahomo
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Breeding Callista’s hair helmet to Ron Paul’s eyebrows will produce a Trump Toupee.
Chuck Butcher
Geewhiz
Being good doesn’t preclude being lucky any more than being lucky somehow precludes being good. The offense taken at the idea that President Obama has had some good luck seems to be that it somehow dismisses his capabilities and that’s ludicrous.
When you break a rack in pool, the distribution of the balls is largely luck. What you do with that is mostly about skill though luck will still intervene and you will have to use skill again to deal with that. Even with all that luck thrown into the game, there are a few people that most sure never get on a table with and bet anything that counts.
Let’s try to get along with the fact that the President has had some luck of verying fortune and look at how he’s dealt with it.
cckids
@Mnemosyne:
No lie. I don’t see the location in any of the stories, but I would bet that the endorsement took place at Trumps hotel here in Vegas. It is quite the fail, I’m sure he wanted to get someone there.
Mnemosyne
@cckids:
Donald Trump is still the only person I’ve ever heard of who managed to go bankrupt running a casino, the only business where people voluntarily walk in and hand you massive wads of cash so they can play with pieces of paper.
It takes a special talent to do that.