Donald Trump will endorse former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in the race for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, according to new reports. Sources close to the Gingrich campaign confirmed on Wednesday Trump would endorse the former Speaker at a press conference the real-estate mogul is scheduled to hold Thursday afternoon.

An adviser to Trump said earlier on Wednesday that Trump planned to make major announcement in Las Vegas on Thursday at 12:30pm about the presidential race...

Meanwhile, Gingrich’s grubby marital history has caught up with him after women voters propelled Mitt Romney to a crucial victory.

Mr Romney trounced his conservative rival in the Florida election, winning 46 per cent of the vote compared with Mr Gingrich’s 32 per cent.

But the margin of victory was substantially bigger among women, 52 per cent of whom voted for the multi-millionaire mormon compared to just 28 per cent for thrice-married Mr Gingrich. Commentators suggested women may have deserted Mr Gingrich thanks to a combination of his philandering past and his combative persona in television debates...

A U.S.-wide poll of Republican women for the Wall Street Journal revealed some 57 per cent of women aged 50 and older held a negative view of Mr Gingrich, 68.

Donald Trump is a reality TV personality who was the frontrunner in national Republican polls last February. That was back when his “people in Hawaii” “couldn’t believe” the stuff they were finding about the President’s birth certificate, creating a national idiom (“Where did you hear that silly rumor, Donald Trump’s people in Hawaii?”). Then Seth Meyers slew Trump’s presidential hopes, but the ghost still haunts us today, and refuses to go away. Tomorrow, in Las Vegas, Trump has promised a “major announcement,” on pertaining to the Republican race.

RELATED: Donald Trump To Fox News: I Have My ‘Ducks In A Row’ For Third Party Run

The Little Combover that Could tweeted today that he will be in Nevada to make a “major announcement,” “all media welcome” (obviously). According to The Hill:

Donald Trump’s top political adviser told ABC News he’s speaking to “high-level political operatives” to explore a third-party bid for the real estate mogul, in a sign that Trump may not quite be done with the 2012 presidential race just yet.

“I can confirm that over the past two weeks I have spoken with many high-level political operatives, campaign managers, finance directors — some of whom I have spoken to in the past. Most are new people from all over the country,” said Michael Cohen, executive vice president at the Trump Organization and special counsel to the reality TV star.

“Until the time Mr. Trump decides to either endorse a candidate or run himself, I am exploring on his behalf the possibilities of ensuring Mr. Trump appears on the ballot in all states, and to develop a team of professionals who could ensure a potential victory,” Cohen added.

Reality television star and real estate mogul Donald Trump told Bob Schieffer on "Face the Nation" that if the Republican presidential candidate he endorses does not clinch the nomination, he may consider running as a third party candidate.

[CBS Video]

[CBS Article]

"I think people dislike the Republicans and the Democrats more than they ever have," he added. "So I actually think the right Independent could win, and there was a poll about a month ago, you saw it, where I was the number one Independent choice."

Even so, the businessman, who last year publicly considered a presidential bid under the Republican party before deciding against it, said he didn't want to run unless the people demanded it.

"I love my business. I love what I'm doing. I love this whole thing of what Donald Trump does," he said. "It's not something I want to do, I'd love to see a candidate come along who's going to go up but if I don't see a person that, number one, is going to win, that's tantamount, I would certainly think about doing it after the show ends."

"It's a very sad situation what's happening to the country and I do say that and I say many other things and somehow it resonates with a lot of people and that's why they, you know, would like me to run," Trump continued. "I hope I don't have to, but I may absolutely."

Within hours of the death of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il, real estate mogul Donald Trump roiled the political situation in that Stalinist country by announcing that he would run for its presidency.

“Kim Jong-Il ruled North Korea as the egomaniacal leader of a personality cult,” Mr. Trump told reporters en route to Pyongyang. “I can offer continuity of leadership.”

"It's gonna be awesome," Trump said in a recent news conference. "It's gonna be like 'Dancing with the Stars' but without the dancing and without the stars. But we're gonna pack plenty of Christmas magic into this very, very special special."

Called "Christmas with the Candidates," the two-hour program will air on NBC, replacing the traditional Christmas Eve broadcast of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."

"I say 'bah humbug' to that old ghost story," Trump explained. "It doesn't even take place in America."

As an alternative to Dickens and conventional debating, each of the candidates will appear live from a special holiday location.

 “You know who I’m very disappointed in? Michele Bachmann. She’s come up to see me four times. Four times. She’d call me, she’d ask me for advice, she said I should be her vice presidential, you know, if she wins, she’d like to think about me for the vice presidency, all of these things. And then after all of that, she announced she’s not going to do the debate. It’s unbelievable. You know, it’s called loyalty. It’s actually called loyalty. How do you do that? I mean, it’s amazing to me."

Late on Thursday, Michele Bachmann confirmed that she would not participate in Donald Trump’s proposed GOP debate. This followed fast on the footsteps of Rick Perry, who earlier in the day “respectfully” declined the offer.

That means Trump’s “debate” is down to two participants — Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum — with the noted businessman and celebrity birther activist Trump as moderator.

...Santorum, one of the few candidates yet to have experienced a “boomlet,” leaped to Trump’s defense...

SANTORUM COMMENTS ON TRUMP/NEWSMAX DEBATE

Verona, PA - Early this week, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich both agreed to participate in the NewsMax debate this December to be moderated by Donald Trump. Many in the media, political pundits and even some Republican Presidential Candidates have mocked the very idea - while some of the candidates are still weighing options.

Santorum issued the following statement about the upcoming NewsMax Donald Trump debate:

“Many of my opponents jockeyed to be the first to fly up to New York and use Donald Trump for a photo op and no doubt try and secure an endorsement. But when Donald wants to moderate a debate - they refuse to attend. That’s what’s so wrong with politics today - hypocrisy. At this critical time in our nation’s history, just weeks before Iowan’s cast this important vote - many of the other candidates want to hide behind TV ads and mail pieces. We plan to be there front and center in person to debate Newt directly, and if it’s just the two of us, we’re fine with it.

There’s no doubt that any of us are better than Barack Obama - however, we can’t afford to put up a person who can’t clearly articulate a vision or has a glass jaw or a unprincipled past. Donald Trump knows business and knows global markets - and we all know he’ll be able to bring in a broad audience. And let’s be honest, at least Donald Trump will have more in common with the candidates than with the vast majority of past moderators.”

Perry Campaign ‘Respectfully’ Declines Trump Debate - TPM: Rick Perry has turned down the invitation to the NewsMax debate on December 27 — which will be hosted by Donald Trump, the businessman, media personality and, most controversially, prominent birther activist.

Bachmann Won’t Participate In Trump’s Debat - TPM: That leaves Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich as the sole debate participants.

Reince Priebus on Trump debate: 'Malpractice' not to think there’s problems - Politico:

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus spoke out Thursday against an upcoming GOP presidential debate to be moderated by Donald Trump, saying it would be “malpractice” for him as the leader of the party not to think the debate was problematic.

“We appreciate what Mr. Trump has done, but if you’re still talking about potentially running as an independent candidate, I think that’s a problem,” Priebus said on Fox News. “I think that would be malpractice for me as an RNC chairman to not believe that that is an issue.”

on On The Record last night (12/6/11), Greta Van Susteren asked if Trump had ever met Obama.

Trump answered, “I’ve never met him… Me or others, you would almost think, 'Hey, call up the guy (meaning himself)! You could see he’s getting a little angry with the way you’re running the country. Call up Trump!' I mean, I have a big voice. Call up Trump, invite him to the White House. Get him on your side. Get him – you know, people listen to me and people listen to others… No calls. Not that it matters. But it does matter in terms of the country.”

Let’s be clear: birther Trump was saying that a meeting between himself and the president wouldn’t matter to him but to the country.

Mr Romney joins former Utah governor Jon Huntsman and Texas Congressman Ron Paul in rejecting the invitation, although he did not use their scornful language and said he had called Mr Trump personally.

"I’m not participating, he told Fox News. "I spoke with Donald Trump earlier today and indicated that we just can’t make this debate and we'll focus the other two [debates] we’ve got and some campaigning."

Newt Gingrich, the current frontrunner in the Republican field, is so far the only candidate to confirm their attendance at the debate, which is scheduled to take place in Iowa on December 27.

...

Aides to Congresswoman Michele Bachmann said they had not decided whether to attend the debate.

He's meeting with Newt in New York, moderating a GOP debate — and, of course, hawking a book.

David A. Graham on The Donald's strange hold over the GOP field:

At the moment, his might be the most coveted endorsement in the Republican race.

No, not Herman Cain — he’s damaged goods. Not George W. Bush — also damaged goods, although for different reasons. Not elder statesmen George H.W. Bush, John McCain, or Bob Dole — too moderate, too heterodox, and too far removed from the spotlight, respectively.

It’s the Donald.

Five months after the reality TV star and real-estate icon dropped out of the Republican race — derided for his birtherism and his grasp of the issues, tenuous at best — Donald Trump is back and wielding power like never before. Late this month, he’ll host a GOP presidential debate, and he’s promised to endorse soon after that. Monday morning, he met with Newt Gingrich, an old friend and member of Trump’s exclusive golf club.

The two men had a good chat, and even hatched a plan for a youth version of Trump’s television show, The Apprentice. In line with Gingrich’s suggestion that teenagers be put to work — originally proposed as a way to save money and improve schools, the former House speaker now says it’s a way to introduce a culture of work to “urban areas” — the two men hatched a plan for “apprenti” pulled from the ranks of ambitious poor New York youths.

Trump says he’s excited. “This  would be very interesting,” he says. “It’s something we’re looking at seriously. There are a lot of very smart kids in the city.”

And he’s got more praise for Gingrich. “I’ve known him for a long time, and he’s a great guy,” Trump gushes. “He’s got a vision for the country and a lot of people are liking it. He’s done amazingly well in the polls, and quickly.”

So why not just endorse the Georgian now and get it over with? Trump says he’s waiting until after the Dec. 27 debate to decide.

Photo of Donald Trump by Gage Skidmore, Flickr.

Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich is ready to participate in what he calls, “Apprentice: The Presidency” with Donald Trump.

Donald Trump will moderate a debate hosted by conservative magazine Newsmax in Des Moines, Iowa on Dec. 27. Gingrich is the only candidate to officially announce his participation so far, both Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman declined.

“How could you turn down the Donald?” Gingrich said.

Gingrich said while he enjoys debating, for him it’s about the entertainment.

“I would want to go just for the entertainment value..."

ABC News’ Michael Falcone, Elizabeth Hartfield and Jen Wlach report:

Mark your calendar. On Dec. 27 Donald Trump moderate a debate with the GOP candidates in Des Moines, just six days before the Jan. 3 caucuses.

The debate will be produced by the conservative news website Newsmax.com and broadcast on the cable network, Ion TV. A source close to Trump confirmed to ABC News the real estate mogul’s role as a moderator of the event.

In an interview Steve Coz, editorial director of Newsmax, said he was “trying to figure out a way to make the Newsmax debate very powerful,” which is how the idea of involving Trump originated.

Billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump will play the role of moderator at a Republican debate in Des Moines, Iowa on Dec. 27, according to reports published Friday.

The debate, being staged by conservative magazine Newsmax, will be the first ever in presidential-level politics to be run by a reality TV show host, whom President Barack Obama not long ago referred to as a “carnival barker.”

“Our readers and the grass roots really love Trump,” Christopher Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax, told The New York Times. “They may not agree with him on everything, but they don’t see him as owned by the Washington establishment, the media establishment.”

Trump previously teased members of the media for months that he might enter the presidential race as a Republican or third-party candidate, but has since backed off plans and said he’s not running.

The announcement that he would not run came after President Obama embarrassed Trump at the White House Correspondents Dinner in April, shortly after the state of Hawaii released his long-form birth certificate.

In his new book, “Time to Get Tough,” Donald Trump lashes into President Barack Obama and threatens to run against him next year if the Republicans don’t nominate a strong candidate.

Beating the drum even louder, Mr. Trump details his net worth—which he puts at $7 billion—and says he’s prepared to pour a large chunk of his $270 million in liquid assets into a presidential bid. (Mr. Trump values the Trump brand alone at $3 billion.)

“He’s prepared to finance an independent run for president if he’s not satisfied with the Republican nominee,” says the real estate mogul’s right-hand man, Michael Cohen.

John Harwood - Twitter

In @cnbc intvw, Perry tells me why he kept Obama birther issue alive: "It's a good issue to keep alive. It's fun to poke at him."

Perry on Obama: It's Fun to Poke Fun at Him - CNN

Tuesday morning, hours before Perry was set to unveil his economic plan, the controversy was injected with new life, thanks to an interview Perry gave to CNBC top political reporter John Harwood.

"Look I haven't seen his, I haven't seen his grades. My grades ended up on the front page of the newspaper, so let's you know, if we're going to show stuff, let's show stuff, but look that's all a distraction, I mean I get it. I'm really not worried about the president's birth certificate. It's fun to poke at him a little bit and say 'Hey, how about let's see your grades and your birth certificate," said Perry, in his interview with Harwood.

As for Trump, his spokesman late Monday night released a statement from the real estate mogul saying "despite releasing what is alleged to be his birth certificate, serious questions remain…is it authentic? I don't know."

In a bid to bask in the reflected glow of Trump’s spotlight, [Michele] Bachmann held a tele-town hall billed as an exclusive opportunity for fans to hear a real-estate mogul turned reality-TV star — whose signature phrase is “You’re fired” — hold forth on how to create jobs. “We’re extremely excited to have Mr. Trump,” Bachmann said, during an effusive introduction in which she thanked him no fewer than four times. “He’s on the call because he’s admired, he’s respected, he’s known all over the world as a man who knows the economy.”

Never mind that the forum was news to Trump. (“I didn’t even know I was doing it until you just told me,” Trump told Fox & Friends a few hours before the conference call.) The invitation, extended by Bachmann during a breakfast meeting last week, underscores the degree to which a confab with the Donald has become an obligatory pit stop on the path to the Republican nomination. Since abandoning the successful publicity gambit of pretending to seek the presidency, Trump has gobbled pizza with Sarah Palin, talked shop at tony Jean-Georges with Rick Perry, and hosted Mitt Romney and Herman Cain on the 25th floor of Trump Tower. Neither Trump’s slim political resume nor his regrettable fling with the birther movement has dissuaded these presidential aspirants from seeking his counsel.

“He’s the godfather of politics. Everybody comes to kiss the ring,” boasts Michael Cohen, a Trump executive and confidante who has steered the mogul’s quest for political clout. “Right now in the GOP there are four recognized kingmakers. Number one, there’s Donald Trump. Number two, there’s Chris Christie. Mike Huckabee. And the fourth – is it Senator or Governor DeMint?”

Beyond the bluster, there’s a kernel of truth to this. Trump’s political platform consists mostly of gassy pronouncements about America’s declining might and the need to assert its dominance over its rivals, but it has struck a chord with a fearful electorate. “I have to give you very high marks,” Barry from Pennsylvania told Trump on the call, “because you were the first and a very profound voice to call out OPEC.”

“They suck the blood out of you every time the economy starts getting good,” Trump agreed.

While Trump’s call for tightening the screws on China may be gaining currency — the Senate passed a bill last week that would punish the Chinese for manipulating theirs — that isn’t why the Republican field is taking turns making the pilgrimage to his Fifth Avenue skyscraper. Trump has a pair of assets far more valuable than any scraps of policy wisdom he might dispense: a thick Rolodex and a significant soapbox.

The new Fox News poll suggests that Donald Trump's is one of the least valuable endorsements in politics: It makes 6% of voters more likely to support a candidate, and a full 31% less likely to do so.

Two of the loudest voices in the presidential race met today -- but in as quiet a fashion as possible.

Donald Trump and Mitt Romney huddled for about an hour in midtown. Romney slipped out a side door, however, avoiding reporters and his campaign left it to the Trump camp to characterize the conversation.

Donald Trump told CNBC Friday, he would give a Presidential run "very, very serious thought," he said "There are so many people wanting me to do it."

 He did not say what Party he would run on, but he said that any deal to raise the debt ceiling by the Aug. 2 deadline should involve cutting considerable government waste, including repealing the Obama health-care law, which he called "a disaster."

Trump said he doesn't ".. advocate default," but he did say "... you can’t be afraid default".

We're not sure what's more laughable -- the fact that the South Florida Tea Party can't keep up on its bills for a Donald Trump rally they held in Boca Raton, or the fact that they held a rally for The Donald to begin with.

The city has sent invoices for the $6,145 the Tea Party owes for barricades set up and police security, but they haven't been paid since the April rally.

   The Donald "I hope they don't expect me to pay it" -->

Even better, the Tea Party would stick Boca Raton with the bill if they don't pay it -- so those real "fiscal conservatives" would be causinggovernment spending. .......... Whoops!

In response to a fellow Republican blasting the Republican party, a Fox news analyst said he (Donald Trump) wasn't electable because of his hair.

I don't watch Fox News.  I was on the channel for less than 2 minutes today.  This is the kind of garbage that you typically find there.

This was at around 10:17AM (Eastern) this morning.  Fox News was playing a video where Donal Trump was announcing he wouldn't run for the Republican presidential nomination.  Trump blasted to the Republican party for "helping" Obama after they took control of the House, and for Republican plans to cut Medicare - which he said was wrong, and would guarantee a failure at the election.

Fox political news analyst Mary Katherine Ham then said "and the hair alone would sink him" - regarding his prospects for getting the Republican nomination had he decided to run.

In an exclusive interview with The Brody File backstage at the Faith and Freedom Coalition in Washington DC Friday night, Donald Trump told me he’s still leaving the door open for a presidential run saying, “The door would be open if the Republicans do a terrible job as they have been doing in choosing the wrong person. The door would absolutely be open.” Trump says he would have to still fulfill his 11-month contract with his NBC show, “The Apprentice” but says there would still be time to run.

Hat tip to Alan Colmes.

think of what these two really have in common, aside from shamelessness: Reality TV. Can Celebrity Apprentice: Alaska be on the agenda?

Well, it looks like someone at MSNBC decided it was alright for Ed Schultz to bring back his Psycho Talk segment after they pulled it some time back under the guise of wanting their broadcasts to be less inflammatory and that being used as an excuse to show Keith Olbermann the door

    "After considerable deliberation and reflection, I have decided not to pursue the office of the Presidency. This decision does not come easily or without regret; especially when my potential candidacy continues to be validated by ranking at the top of the Republican contenders in polls across the country."

What a lie: polls show that his support essentially collapsed over the last two weeks or so. This coincided with a series of events, including his foul-mouthed speech to Republicans in Las Vegas, the President releasing his long form birth certificate the day after Trump announced that his private investigators had discovered it was missing, and the drubbing he took at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

    "I maintain the strong conviction that if I were to run, I would be able to win the primary and ultimately, the general election."

I'm not sure if that is a lie or a symptom of a narcissistic personality disorder, but it brings to mind that famous line, "I coulda' been a contender."

    "I have spent the past several months unofficially campaigning and recognize that running for public office cannot be done half heartedly. Ultimately, however, business is my greatest passion and I am not ready to leave the private sector"

The truth at last: $$$$$$$ is what really matters to him. Plus, there is the added benefit of not having to release his tax returns as long as he stays in "the private sector."

    "I want to personally thank the millions of Americans who have joined the various Trump grassroots movements and written me letters and e-mails encouraging me to run."

Oh, please: "various Trump grassroots movements." That's even more laughable than his, "I coulda' been a contender," sentiment.

    "My gratitude for your faith and trust in me could never be expressed properly in words. So, I make you this promise: that I will continue to voice my opinions loudly and help to shape our politicians' thoughts." 

Help to shape our politicians' thoughts?!? What does he think he is, a telepath? More evidence of a narcissistic personality.

    "My ability to bring important economic and foreign policy issues to the forefront of the national dialogue is perhaps my greatest asset and one of the most valuable services I can provide to this country." 

He certainly holds himself in high esteem. Two words for your self-praise, Donald: pee you.

    "I will continue to push our President and the country’s policy makers to address the dire challenges arising from our unsustainable debt structure and increasing lack of global competitiveness.  Issues, including getting tough on China and other countries that are methodically and systematically taking advantage of the United States,..."

I am surprised he didn't drop an F-bomb here. Regardless, I think he is right that we should buy less China made "crap" -- like his line of men's wear, the Donald J. Trump Signature Collection, for example.

    "...were seldom mentioned before I brought them to the forefront of the country’s conversation. They are now being debated vigorously."

What's one more lie and some additional self-aggrandizing arrogance in a speech like this?

    "I will also continue to push for job creation, an initiative that should be this country’s top priority and something that I know a lot about."

It is interesting, then, that the top priority of his short-lived 'campaign' was promoting paranoid delusions about the President's birthplace. That really contributed to the job creation discussion.

    "I will not shy away from expressing the opinions that so many of you share yet don’t have a medium through which to articulate."

And that are channeled to him through FOX & Friends.

    "I look forward to supporting the candidate who is the most qualified to help us tackle our country’s most important issues and am hopeful that, when this person emerges, he or she will have the courage to take on the challenges of the Office and be the agent of change that this country so desperately needs."

Never mind that whole "if elected" bit.

    "Thank you and God Bless America!"

You are welcome, Donald, because as long as you stay as far away as possible from the White House, the country has a chance.

     "Donald J. Trump"

Whadda chump. He coulda' been a contender.

Carloz.

Real estate mogul and reality TV star Donald Trump has bowed out of the presidential race for 2012, but he wants everyone to know the Oval Office was his for the claiming if he wanted it.

“I maintain the strong conviction that if I were to run, I would be able to win the primary and ultimately, the general election,” Trump said in a statement.

Donald Trump: Welfare Baby

If Donald Trump's candidacy wasn't already dead in the water, this great Los Angeles Times story would seriously do his campaign some damage:

Trump has thrived with government's generosity

Donald Trump, the developer and would-be presidential candidate, portrays himself as a swashbuckling entrepreneur, shrewder and tougher than any politician, who would use his billionaire's skills to restore discipline to the federal government.

In his disdain of big government, however, Trump glances over an expensive irony: He built his empire in part through government largesse and connections.

From his first high-profile project in New York City in the 1970s to his recent campaigns to reduce taxes on property he owns around the country, Trump has displayed a consistent pattern. He courted public officials, sought their backing for government tax breaks under extraordinarily beneficial terms and fought any resistance to deals he negotiated.

He has boasted of manipulating government agencies, misleading officials in one case into believing he had an exclusive agreement to develop a property and then retroactively changing the development's accounting practices to shrink his tax bill. In New York, Trump was the first developer to receive a public subsidy for commercial projects under programs initially reserved for improving slum neighborhoods. Such incentives have now become the norm in the powerful New York real estate community.

Karen Burstein, a former auditor general of New York City, reviewed a major Trump project in the 1980s and concluded he had "cheated" the city out of nearly $2.9 million. Decades later, Burstein said she was still appalled at the way Trump operated.

One month ago, a handful of surveys showed Trump trouncing the GOP field, leading all comers by as much as a nine-point margin. But now, after a month of bruising press coverage, the latest PPP poll shows that Trump's support has quickly dried up, as he's dropped back to a tie for fifth place.

Billionaire Donald Trump will not be getting any support, moneywise or otherwise, from Billionaire David Koch if The Donald should decide to run for President.

Koch said, "Donald's political positions over the last 10 years have been highly variable and unusual. He's a wonderful guy, but I don't think he should run for office."

Noting Trump's love of press, Koch said the Celebrity Apprentice host is "getting more publicity than he ever dreamed about right now." But, he added, "at some point I think he's going to drop out of the race when he realizes that he's really not qualified to be President."

both the late-night comedy routine and dispatching bin Laden were symbolic victories for Obama and a blow to the rightwing nuts who want to destroy him. Taking out Osama bin Laden and Donald Trump in one weekend was quite a feat.

OBAMA: "But all kidding aside, obviously, we all know about your credentials and breadth of experience. (Laughter.) For example -- no, seriously, just recently, in an episode of Celebrity Apprentice -- (laughter) -- at the steakhouse, the men's cooking team cooking did not impress the judges from Omaha Steaks. And there was a lot of blame to go around. But you, Mr. Trump, recognized that the real problem was a lack of leadership. And so ultimately, you didn't blame Lil' Jon or Meat Loaf. (Laughter.) You fired Gary Busey. (Laughter.) And these are the kind of decisions that would keep me up at night. (Laughter and applause.) Well handled, sir. (Laughter.) Well handled. "

That was already a cutting and sardonic appraisal. Given the weight that Obama was carrying that night, it now appears in retrospect to be flatly devastating.

Former Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele used the White House Correspondents' Association dinner to chat with Donald Trump – and left with the impression that "in his heart he is serious" about running for president.

"Right now the Republican candidates for the nomination are not getting the traction they need to to go up against the president of the United States, an incumbent president of the United States who is a formidable campaigner, who's a heck of a fundraiser, and who has the wind of the economy and now some international success in his sails.

Trump says jokes about him by Obama, Meyers were 'inappropriate'

Real estate mogul Donald Trump called jokes made about him at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner "inappropriate in certain respects." Speaking on Fox & Friends on the Sunday morning after the dinner, Trump responded to jokes directed at him from President Obama and comedian Seth Myers.

Donald Trump: White House Correspondents' Dinner 'Inappropriate' (VIDEO)

In a twist of irony, Trump told ABC News upon arriving to the White House Correspondents' Dinner that he didn't anticipate the president would address him in his speech.

And if you haven't seen the President's or Seth Meyer's presentations, here is a link to videos of both, along with partial transcripts: Roast Trump And Grilled Fox With Birther Sauce Served Up At White House Correspondents Dinner.

Hypocrite of the Week: Donald Trump

I'm sure you've noticed that Donald Trump has been taking a lot of time out from his busy schedule of grooming that animal that lives on his head and making a fool of himself over Obama's birth certificate to bash China and declare that our purchase of so many products made there is destroying America.

Donald Trump goes F-Bomb City in Las Vegas - with video

Among his F-bombs was this, directed towards China:

"Listen you mother f***ers we're going to tax you 25 percent."

As Trump gloats, Obama calls out "carnival barkers"

President Obama didn't utter his name, but Donald Trump was on his mind as he announced the release of his long-form birth certificate. "We're not going to be able to solve our problems if we get distracted by sideshows and carnival barkers," Mr. Obama said (video at left). The "sideshow" and "carnival barker" were uttered like epithets at Trump and others who have persisted with the birther claims over the last several months.

Mr. Obama concluded his remarks by acknowledging that some Americans will still question his Honolulu birth origins: "I know that there's going to be a segment of people for which, no matter what we put out, this issue will not be put to rest. But I'm speaking to the vast majority of the American people, as well as to the press. We do not have time for this kind of silliness."

Birther Queen Not Convinced

Taitz thinks that the birth certificate should peg Obama’s race as “Negro” and not “African.” [...]

Taitz says she’s not giving up her fight. She also claims Obama isn’t a “natural born citizen” because she uses a standard that requires both parents to be American citizens — a misreading of the Constitution which if enforced would have rendered several other American Presidents ineligible.

Sarah Palin on the release of Obama's long form birth certificate

Media: Admit it. Trump forced the issue. Now, don't let the WH distract you w/the birth crt from what Bernanke says today. Stay focused, eh?

Click here to see President Obama's Long Form Birth Certificate.

Dear Mr Trump: Have you gone mad? Your behavior lately is very disturbing. It seems as though your brain has crossed a very critical line between common decency and insanity. And it's becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between you and Charlie Sheen. You're the Manic Episode Twins.

Finally, there's hard evidence for what everyone already suspected: When it comes to Donald Trump and the 2012 GOP presidential race, the man seems to have met his moment.

According to a Pew Research Center survey released Wednesday, 39 percent of Republicans named Trump when asked which potential presidential candidate they've heard the most about lately. That was more than all the other candidates put together.

And it's no accident.

A latter-day P.T. Barnum with an insatiable appetite for attention and a knack for getting it,Trump has capitalized on two defining and interrelated features of the political-media landscape in the Obama era — the symbiosis between political provocateurs and traffic-conscious news organizations and the rise of a conservative constituency that hungers for voices that will attack President Obama in sharp and unapologetic terms.