It was a future many did not want to believe was even possible. A second rate real estate billionaire with a slew of mediocre business ventures, turned bawdy reality TV star, turned political agent – openly racist, sexist and authoritarian – it couldn’t be. As he mocked his political opponents (Jeb Bush as “low energy” etc.) like a schoolyard bully, the farcical nature of the gaffes (free press coverage?) told us that he would destroy his own chances through careless and inflammatory comments and actions.