The Billion Dollar Checkers Lesson

I enjoyed the Times scoop about Trump's losses through the late '80s and early '90s.

Why does it matter? Because Trump sold himself as a successful businessman and a great deal-maker, and as someone who would bring those skills into the Oval Office.

The tax returns contribute to a very different picture. He was a rich kid playing with Daddy’s money, and losing it (and other peoples’ money too) at great speed. He was eventually bailed out when he learned that he could PLAY a successful tycoon on television — THAT was what he turned out to be good at, and THAT is the skill he brought to politics with him.

With this background, his recent efforts at negotiating with North Korea, with our two NAFTA partners, and even with the Democrats on infrastructure, make sense. This isn’t multi-dimensional chess. He’s an old man still trying to teach himself checkers.

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