As you might except from a master salesman who deals in illusion and delusion, Donald Trump’s fragrance line is called “Success.” For about $30, you can buy a bottle of this scented water with the Trump label.

Trump, up until his recent foray into presidential politics, has been very protective of his brand. His entire life has been spent associating the Trump name with luxury, style and, well, success. How else could he take an ordinary product and double or triple its normal price? With the Trump imprimatur, that’s how!

If you haven’t noticed, the Trump brand has been taking a beating lately.

People normally attracted to the Trump label are shunning or boycotting many of the huckster’s products from hotel rooms, casino trips, items from his clothing line, food products or anything else affiliated with Trump.

According to data provided by Hipmunk, an online travel reservations company, occupancy at Trump’s hotels is down almost across the board, sometimes by as much as 75% compared to this time last year.

Of course, Hipmunk is just one of a bunch of online travel booking websites, but a survey of 2,000 Americans conducted in late May by the branding company Skift found that almost 57% of Americans were less likely to stay in a Trump hotel now that the company’s namesake is on the campaign trail.

A large chunk of Donald Trump’s net worth (whatever it actually is) is attributed to his brand. In fact, Trump has evaluated his brand’s worth at $3.3 billion. As things stand, Trump may need a serious talk with his accountants.

How much lower will Trump allow his cherished brand to fall? Might not a prudent man find a graceful way to exit the race? Ah, but there’s the rub… no one would ever describe Trump as a prudent man!

A crushing defeat in November to Hillary Clinton would not only seriously wound Trump’s huge ego but also devalue his brand to chump change.

Trump might even be forced to relabel his cologne. Instead of “Eau de Toilette” he may have to go with “Toilet Water.”

The steady drip of defections is only getting worse for Donald Trump. Today, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins became the latest Republican to distance herself from her party’s presidential nominee. She will not be voting for the man who she believes hijacked her beloved party.

Like rats on the sinking Titanic, Republicans at all levels of government are running away from a man who looks more and more like a sure loser.

With many polls showing Hillary Clinton leading Trump by double digits, the question now becomes: how long before Trump finds an excuse to abandon the race?

For a man who thought entering the Republican presidential primary was a great way to promote his brand, he sure has made a mess of things!

The name that up until recently was synonymous with success, luxury and fearlessness is now better known for racism, sexism and crudeness.

A landslide loss to Clinton would only be adding insult to injury for the Trump brand. The master salesman could never abide such a defeat.

The only question is how low in the polls does Trump have to sink, and how many more prominent Republicans have to give him the heave-ho, before Trump employs his exit strategy?

My guess is that Trump will be bailing sooner rather than later. He not only has his brand to think about but also his pride (or fragile ego, as some might say).

One thing Trump cherishes above all else is being a winner, or as any con man would say, being perceived a winner. As his situation becomes more and more precarious, Trump will find a way to save face. He certainly does not want be the GOP’s next Barry Goldwater!

It will be interesting to watch the master trickster work his way out of the self-made steel box he finds himself in. Perhaps a consultation with David Copperfield may be in order?

Photo | us.fashionmag.com

As a builder, Donald Trump knows a lot about laying the proper foundation.

Just two days ago at a rally in Columbus, Ohio, before even a single vote has been cast, Trump told the crowd, “I’m afraid the election is going to be rigged, I have to be honest.”

Many political observers believe this latest gripe is Trump’s way of preparing himself for a crushing defeat or, more likely, setting up the possibly of his dropping out of the race with ego intact. I believe it’s the latter. This seems like the latest , and most plausible, Trump exit strategy.

Senior GOP officials were quick to pick up on the message. They are now exploring their options if Trump were to decide to call it a day. Time is of the essence, however. The 168 members of the RNC would have to quickly start the complicated process of picking a new candidate. It would all have to happen by early September.

The one thing Trump cares about more than anything else is protecting his brand. A humiliating loss to Hillary would be a severe blow to the Trump mystique.

Unless Trump is truly the imbecile some make him out to be (doubtful), he knows he is in over his hairpiece. He realizes he does not have the temperament, let alone the appetite, for the most difficult, thankless job of president of the United States.

The most likely scenario, beneficial to all parties, would look something like this:

Trump keeps complaining about the rigged election system, hinting more and more he won’t be victim to such corruption. His loyal supporters, no doubt, will buy this. In the meantime, Trump and senior GOP officials work out a secret deal ($$$) for his withdrawal from the race. Say, perhaps, the Koch Brothers find some spare change in their sofa cushions ($150 million?).

Republicans then pick a more middle-of-the-road general election candidate. He, or she, might not win the election but they might better protect all their down ballot races.

Trump withdraws from the race blaming everyone except his favorite aunt Ida. He goes on endless rants about the corrupt GOP and its media acolytes. A few months after Hillary is sworn into office, Trump announces the launch of his new media empire – one focused on telling “the truth” to the American people. He’ll come up with a slogan akin to Fox’s “fair and balanced.” All this courtesy of the secret ransom Trump extracted from the GOP moneymen.

If Republicans maintain their majorities in the House and Senate, they will continue to obstruct all policy proposals from a Clinton Administration and spend their time thinking of who their white knight, or maiden, will be come 2020.

No, it will not be Ted Cruz.

(Photo by Paul Morigi/WireImage)

Hillary Clinton delivered a forceful, energetic, upbeat and impassioned acceptance speech at tonight’s Democratic National Convention. But was this the same Hillary most people have come to know and hate? As I listened to her words, something seemed strangely familiar. Free college? Tax the rich? Rein in Wall Street? Universal healthcare? Raise the minimum wage to $15?

There is no doubt Bernie’s revolution paved the way for what many are calling the most progressive Democratic Party platform ever. But for the most part, party platforms are seen as meaningless fluffery — wish lists that promise all things to all people, with little thought given to what can realistically be delivered.

Yet there was Hillary Clinton espousing many of those platform principles, and more, in her acceptance speech to the nation.

Suddenly it hit me! Hillary was giving a speech Bernie had delivered throughout his campaign!

Here are just a few Hillary quotes that could have come right out of Bernie’s playbook:

But none of us can be satisfied with the status quo. Not by a long shot.

I believe America thrives when the middle class thrives.

I believe that our economy isn’t working the way it should because our democracy isn’t working the way it should. That’s why we need to appoint Supreme Court justices who will get money out of politics and expand voting rights, not restrict them. And we’ll pass a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United!

I believe American corporations that have gotten so much from our country should be just as patriotic in return. It’s wrong to take tax breaks with one hand and give out pink slips with the other. And I believe Wall Street can never, ever be allowed to wreck Main Street again.

I believe in science. I believe that climate change is real and that we can save our planet while creating millions of good-paying clean energy jobs.

I believe that when we have millions of hardworking immigrants contributing to our economy, it would be self-defeating and inhumane to kick them out. Comprehensive immigration reform will grow our economy and keep families together – and it’s the right thing to do.

I will work … to make college tuition-free for the middle class and debt-free for all! We will also liberate millions of people who already have student debt.

If you believe that companies should share profits with their workers, not pad executive bonuses, join us.

If you believe the minimum wage should be a living wage… and no one working full time should have to raise their children in poverty… join us.

If you believe that every man, woman, and child in America has the right to affordable health care…join us.

If you believe that we should say “no” to unfair trade deals… that we should stand up to China… that we should support our steelworkers and autoworkers and homegrown manufacturers…join us.

If you believe we should expand Social Security and protect a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions… join us.

And yes, if you believe that your working mother, wife, sister, or daughter deserves equal pay… join us.

Let’s make sure this economy works for everyone, not just those at the top.

For all those sad and discouraged Bernie supporters, take heart. Your efforts have had a profound influence on the Democratic Party platform and, what may very well be, the first female president of the United States.

Bernie, you and your army of revolutionaries may have lost the battle, but you won the war.

(Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Bernie, your speech at tonight’s Democratic National Convention was what many Democrats had hoped for – a strong endorsement of Hillary Clinton. Yet it was also a missed opportunity.

Yes, it was great to hear you say, “Hillary Clinton must be our next president.” It was good for party unity that you publicly declared, “I am proud to stand with her.”

But you did not personally address your most ardent supporters. You know, those “Bernie or Bust” people who have vowed to sit out the election, vote for Trump or vote Jill Stein’s Green Party.

You needed to personally address your most militant revolutionaries: the ones who now think of you as a sell-out, a fake, and a fraud.

Your diehards needed a “come-to-Jesus” moment, something like this:

“ I want to take time to personally address my most ardent supporters who rightfully are upset and discouraged by the outcome of our primary contest.

Yes, I know you are hurting. I know how hard it is accepting an outcome you didn’t want … after investing so much time, energy and sweat in our cause.

I know some of you do not have the highest regard for our party’s nominee. Many of you have vowed never to vote for her. You have said you’d rather sit out the election or vote for a third party candidate like Jill Stein or even vote for the Republican Party nominee, Donald Trump.

Doing any of those three things will do nothing … nothing but help elect Donald Trump our next president.

It is time for you to put your hurt feelings aside and think of want is best for our country. Donald Trump must not be our next president. I believe you are all smart enough to know the many reasons why.

This will be a close election. The stakes are too high to refuse to participate in the election or cast a protest vote. And on that score, I have two words for you … Ralph Nader, the Green Party candidate in the 2000 election. Those protest voters in Florida surely did not know it at the time that they were taking their state away from Al Gore and giving us eight disastrous years of George W. Bush.

The next president will appoint anywhere from one to maybe three Supreme Court justices. We cannot afford to elect a president who has stated his favorite Supreme Court justice is Clarence Thomas! People, these justices are appointed for life. Their decisions will effect generations to come.

So stand with me. Support our party. Support our party’s nominee. Support Hillary Clinton.”

Photo | businessinsider.com

Now that you’ve done something you promised never to do – endorse Hillary Clinton before the Democratic National Convention – your supporters are getting restless. So before you hit the campaign trail stumping for Hillary, there is some important business you need to attend to at home. You need to have “the talk” with the children.

Yes, I’m calling some of your supporters children.

After you embraced the “Evil One,” some of your most loyal little lambs began calling you a fraud. A fake. A sell out. You raised their hopes for a political revolution then crushed those hopes by going all establishment on them.

Many of your petulant supporters have now vowed to vote third party, vote Trump or just sit out the election. Just today the Green Party’s Jill Stein crowed that her campaign has seen a nearly 1000% increase in donations since you endorsed Hillary the other day. Yes, these are your kids!

You need to do more than tell your broken-hearted innocents they must support Hillary; do more than tell them they must keep Trump out of the White House. You have to explain to them how politics works in the adult world.

You need to tell them that a vote for a third party candidate, like Jill Stein, would be nothing more than a protest vote that will only help Trump. Maybe tell them about the recent “Brexit” vote in the UK? Remind them of the tale of Ralph Nader in the 2000 presidential election. Tell them how just a few more votes for Al Gore in Florida, instead of the Green Party’s quixotic candidate, Ralph Nader, would have changed the course of history. Explain to them the meaning of the “spoiler effect.”

For those who plan to sit out the election or vote for Donald Trump, explain to them that the next president will nominate 2-3 Supreme Court justices. Tell them Trump’s favorite Supreme Court justice is Clarence Thomas. Remind them that Supreme Court justices are appointed for life. Tell them that a conservative Court could wipe out much of the progress we’ve come to take for granted. Ask them what a woman’s right to choice means to them.

You might even have to hit them with the political truth that politics is sometimes about making distasteful, hard choices. You may have to explain the concept of compromise. Tell them while they sometimes might not get the result they want, sitting out the game is not the answer. You might want to get into the concept of “the lesser of two evils” but that may be too much for the little ones to handle. I’ve always liked this phrase: “politics makes for strange bedfellows.”

So before you hit the road drumming up support for Hillary, take care of your own by having “the talk” as soon as possible.

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