Stepping In It With The Donald

At the start of this election cycle we had a flurry of reactions as the unlikely presidential front-runner

articulated an immigration policy deemed ill-advised and mean-spirited.  While in the salons of Europe and our coastal enclaves there wasn't a seat to be found on the fainting couch, it did have a discernible impact on the polling results.  It's just a lucky thing he's not running for President of Cambridge, either one as it so happens...

As you'll recall, there was significant sturm und drang among certain classes, but no real penalty was paid by His Trumpness.  Oh, the PGA of America mercifully euthanized its Grand Slam of Golf. but that's about as far as anyone took it.  In fact, once the initial furor died down, the R&A's Peter Dawson offered the surprisingly sensible thought that the utterances of a resort owner in a U.S. electoral contest were of no importance in their decision-making process.  

And there the matter stalled, as there was an absence of any urgency for our games governing bodies to wet their finger and raise it in the air.  But nature abhors a vacuum, and the Donald is who he is and does what he does...namely offending a constituency even more integral to global elites, namely radical Islamists.   I know, the Hispanics must be really pissed off.  Oh I'm well aware that he said something about not letting any Muslims into the country, but that's not the hanging offense.  It's linking Islamic terrorism to, you know, Islam that has heads exploding all over Western Europe...  Because we've been assured in serious tones that Islam is peace, and they wouldn't kid a kidder....

Now without spending far too much time examining time stamps it's a bit unclear between the chicken or egg... But for our purposes here, we'll start with this news from the WaPo:

On Wednesday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon dropped him as a business ambassador, revoking his membership in the GlobalScot business network. The Robert Gordon University (RGU) in Aberdeen also stripped the billionaire developer of his honorary degree for statements it said were “wholly incompatible” with the values of the university.

Wow, that's some pretty heavy artillery to employ, especially since they hadn't even asked "Pretty Please."  Our hero, who truth be told can be a tad thin-skinned, took to the pages of Scotland's Press and Journal, fired back with this:

I have done so much for Scotland, including building Trump International Golf Links, Scotland, which has received the highest accolades, and is what many believe to be one of the greatest golf courses anywhere in the world. 

Additionally, I have made a significant investment in the redevelopment of the iconic Turnberry Resort, which will have massive ballrooms, complete room refurbishments, a new golf course and a total rebuilding of the world famous Ailsa course to the highest standards and specifications of the Royal & Ancient.

If they – Nicola Sturgeon and RGU – were going to do this, they should have informed me prior to my major investment in this £200million development, which will totally revitalise that vast region of Scotland.

For all his acumen he seems unfamiliar with the time-space continuum, as he of course had invested the scratch before shooting his mouth off... but more importantly, I'd recommend that he curl up with his well-worn copy of The Art of the Deal, as they would be derelict in their duties if they stopped you from investing.  But I digress...

But why are the Scots so bent out of shape over comments related to the treatment of Muslims in the U.S.?  I mean, what has this to do with them?  Unfortunately, that answer is all too clear, as Western Europe is awash in unassimilated Muslims and seems to be, in the immortal words of Churchill, feeding the crocodile in the hopes that it will eat them last...  I don't know if last is realistic, though France and Sweden seem to be on the menu sooner...

And when I accuse the Brits of appeasement of their Muslim population, I direct your attention first to the South Yorkshire hamlet of Rotherham.  Let the magnitude of that epic scandal hit home and note that I've yet to hear a U.K. politician speak as harshly of those perpetrators as the Scottish officials speak of Trump.  I'm no fan of the man, but something is rotten in Rotherham and the rest of Europe, and there's a widespread frustration that none of our self-appointed elites can see a problem.  

In Europe, the failure of the major parties to respond to such concerns has led to the "unexpected" rise of a number of unsavory fringe parties, and in our instance to the rise of an unsavory fringe real estate developer, but the significance of his appeal is lost on far too many.  Those that have read my coverage of Trump over the years are aware that I have little use for the buffoon, but compared to Nicola Sturgeon he at least has actual accomplishments.

As I've noted previously, Trump is an imperfect messenger in these perilous times because he comes to the table with far too many hostages.  Perhaps that chapter of The Art of the Deal was the product of a ghost-writer, because he seems surprised that the left fights dirty... At the very least he needs to brush up on his Saul Alinsky...

'Cause the hits are gonna come fast ans furious... First, from an entirely predictable postal code:

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- The image and name of American presidential hopeful Donald Trump were gone Friday from parts of a golf course and housing development under construction in Dubai amid the uproar over his comments about banning Muslims from traveling to the United States. 

The disappearance of at least some Trump branding from the multi-billion-dollar development on the outskirts of Dubai comes as concerns over his comments grow in the Middle East, a region in which the businessman long has sought money-making opportunities.

Without going too deep into the long grass here, this and other projects cited in the linked piece are instances where Trump has licensed his name and image, but has not capital invested.  It's not clear that there will be any financial hit as result of his outspoken comments, though at the very least the market for future licensing opportunities might experience shrinkage.

But now things start to hit closer to home.  Last week Joel Beall had an unremarkable piece speaking of Trump pushing "golf" into a corner, though he did get off one good bon mot:

In the five months since Trump announced his presidential ambitions, the real estate magnate has made contentious remarks towards Muslims, Mexicans, Asians, African-Africans, Jews, Seventh-day Adventists, POWs, women, and the disabled. If his campaign, which has a 20-percent lead in the Republican national polls, continues its cadence, it's probable more sects will be disparaged.

The only groups that apparently haven't been insulted are the PGA Tour, PGA of America and USGA.

Joel doesn't get around to explaining how insulting every race, creed and shoe size results in a big lead in the polls...

Pete Madden raises the ante a bit:

The Tour said that after the conclusion of the 2016 WGC-Cadillac Championships at Trump National Doral, it will consider other sites for the tournament.

The Tour did not explicitly say whether it is weighing moving the event because of Trump's inflammatory remarks about barring Muslim immigrants from entering the United States. But on Friday, the Tour issued the following statement to GOLF.com: 

"We continue to stand by our earlier statement, and the statement of other golf organizations, that Mr. Trump's comments are inconsistent with our strong commitment to an inclusive and welcoming environment in the game of golf. The PGA Tour has had a 53-year commitment to the Doral community, the greater Miami area and the charities that have benefited from the tournament. Given this commitment, we are moving forward with holding the 2016 event at the Blue Monster. Immediately after the completion of the 2016 tournament, we will explore all options regarding the event's future."

And lastly this, perhaps the unkindest cut of all:

When Donald Trump bought the famous Turnberry golf club in Ayrshire last year, he

believed his name would soon be cemented alongside the legends of the game.

But his dream of handing over the trophy at The Open is in tatters, The Independent on Sunday can reveal, after golf’s governing body, headquartered in Scotland, privately decided that his reputation is now so toxic that the newly renamed Trump Turnberry can no longer host the game’s most prestigious tournament.

He of course built his Aberdeen project with an Open Championship in mind, and believed that that Open on the Ailsa was within his grasp.  And while I may deplore the intersection of sport (or commerce) and politics, this is a predictable aspect of modern life to which I can only lamely inquire, Could he not see this coming or does he not care?"

Though this bit strikes me as wishful thinking:

Although the R&A is stuffed full of establishment figures, Turnberry with Trump is now seen as a risk they will not take. Another insider said: “2020 will not happen here. Turnberry will be back. But perhaps not Trump Turnberry.”

Ironies abound as Trump took Turnberry of the hands of a Dubai-based investment group. but who exactly would take it off his hands?

I've been wrong about pretty much everything this political season, with the exception of my uncanny prediction that George Pataki would get no traction in the Republican nominating contest.  I know, I'm like Nostradamus or something...  But I have no clue how this plays out.  It remains inconceivable to me that Trump even wants to be President and that he'll sacrifice his place in the golf world so willingly, yet here we are.

But I'll close with a wild thought from our favorite linkee, the ubiquitous Geoff Shackelford.  See how you react to this:

Inevitably, chances are this will blow over and, like Ross Perot, Trump will be remembered for having impacted a presidential campaign while creating an international stir.

He has also ensured that he will need very good security for the remainder of his life. Which brings me to the point.

There is one issue related to his recent statements which supercedes previous controversial comments about Mexicans: Trump's stance on Muslim immigration potentially creates a permanent security risk at his golf facilities. Particularly when the general public is invited on those grounds for championships. 

With his comments, Trump has targeted (and maybe even incited) radicals who have a track record of retaliating with extreme, unimaginable violence. While Trump has started to demonstrate he has a taste--even a knack--for the golf course turnaround (with Doral's revitalization and exciting plans for Turnberry), it's becoming increasingly difficult to imagine fans and players feeling safe at tournaments played at those venues going forward. 

That concern, along with the reaction of officials who have to answer to sponsors if something should happen, may spell the doom of Trump facilties hosting major events.

No matter how good a PGA at Doral or an Open at Turnberry might have been, the ultimate increase in security concerns and costs may create the ultimate branding and logistical nightmare.

But if we don't go to Doral then the terrorists will have won.  All joking aside, that's quite the cosmic heckler's veto that he's proposing or suggesting...  And post-Charlie Hebdo, whos's to say that it's inconceivable, though the hashtag #jesuisbluemonster doesn't have quite the same ring to it...

I think this would die down in a nano-second if Trump got out of the race, though that may involve my own wishful thinking.  and if they want to terrorize the golf world, shouldn't they go after the LPGA first for all those un-burqua'd women...heck, they even let them drive Kia courtesy cars and they're out in public with caddies that aren't members of their families.  But all joking aside, it seems more likely to me that this provides an excuse to take events from his venues, more than a legitimate security risk.

But stay tuned, this story is far from over....