A Mini Version of Why "The Donald" Wouldn't Run for President

So Donald Trump has decided not to run for President, for people that looked past the media speculation and hype this should not be a surprise. I commented to a couple of friends a while ago that he wouldn't, and nothing convinced me since that I was wrong. For all his past success in business, Donald Trump has become more celebrity than anything else. Regardless of what he said publically this is why he didn't run:

Why would he not run? Many Americans would like him to, (probably many more wouldn't but that's another story), for all his bravado Trump is still a smart man. He knows that from where he is he can enjoy his celebrity status with little serious scrutiny from the press. People will still want to hear his opinions on politics and politicians and he can still give them to a national audience without having to subject himself to being dragged through the mud of a long political campaign. Having to explain every off the cuff comment he made years ago or youthful indiscretion being dredged up and coming out to haunt him again.

He also knows very well he'd be the subject of attack ads by opponents that not only question his suitability to be President but also mock him for his public persona. Those are just some of the issues he'd have to deal with in a run for office that would - given his past and present - make him say "thanks, but no thanks".

For the sake of brevity, here are a few more reason's why those that follow politics seriously, knew there was no way Donald Trump was going to run for President:

• Politics is the art of the possible, Donald Trump is a man used to getting his way and likely not used to being questioned by those around him, or under him. He'd have to compromise like he's never had to before
• As much as he's a high profile figure now, he does not have to deal with the hard core experienced journalists of the Washington Press Corps, they would eat him alive. He will be held to account like he never was in he boardroom, he could not just walk out or clear the room, and that would not sit easy with him
• His past would be under a microscope in a way it never would be as a celebrity. Every secretary he boinked after hours on his couch would come out of the woodwork, every employee that sued him for wrongful dismissal would suddenly have a second hearing in the press. He would be forced to defend himself at every turn taking attention away from whatever message his campaign would be trying to get across - again, something he's not used to in his current role.
• Political campaigning is not like a TV promo tour. Trump would have to forego the stretch limos and spend his time on long train rides, visiting small Midwest towns, flipping pancakes at breakfast rallies, kiss messy babies, sit down for coffee with farmers and factory workers and try look comfortable doing it.
• In short it's much easier to criticize from the sidelines and get some easy media coverage than it is to get down and dirty in the trenches for a long and exhausting run for the White House. A race from which his reputation and integrity may never recover from.

So sorry Apprentice fans, The Donald was never going to run for President of the United States, although I bet he enjoyed the speculation that he was