rant · moment 9 of 11

Is Trump Actually Emblematic of New York? Comparing to Bush and Cohen

from Bavarian Cream Pie · #127

Audio-only archive episode — no video to seek.

9 min

Tim argues Trump was never a serious New York business figure compared to Rockefeller or Vanderbilt, more a Vegas/Atlantic City character who broke big via reality TV, then compares Michael Cohen's amateur fixing to the more sophisticated cover-ups of the Bush family.

In this bit10 moments
  • 54:09Tim contrasts H.W. Bush's intelligence background with Trump's approach of corruption and paying people off.
  • 54:27Trump as a real estate developer in New York made people money, but his presidency threw the country into chaos.
  • 54:44Tim argues Trump never mattered in a meaningful business sense—he was more of a character.
  • 55:15Trump is emblematic of Atlantic City or Vegas, not New York, with his gaudy over-the-top style that repulsed many.
  • 55:55Trump came into his own through reality television, epitomizing the cocaine cowboy 80s era.
  • 57:09Every capitalist system needs that gross guy who owns casinos, develops condos, and has been married five times.
  • 57:57When people talk about New York business history, they reference Rockefeller, Carnegie, Vanderbilt, and hedge fund guys—not Trump in any meaningful way.
  • 59:01Russian oligarchs, gangsters, and actors warmed to Trump's brand, but not New York society or major real estate developers.
  • 1:00:59George Bush got away with lying about weapons of mass destruction and still won reelection, but Trump can't get past his wall promise.
  • 1:02:31Tim sees no path to victory for Trump unless Democrats nominate someone ridiculous.
Mentioned here

Donald TrumpGeorge W. BushColin PowellNew YorkH.W. BushRudy GiulianiMichael Milken

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