Am I the only DUer addicted to Apprentice?

[serryjw]

So whom is going to win on Thurday?

[Duer 157099]

1. Kelly, of course n/t

[serryjw]

4. agreed........

[Ruffhowse]

2. Ugh, I despise that show. A celebration of greed, conspicuous

consumption and materialism. A ridiculous premise, too. As if winning at selling ice cream on the streets of New York qualifies you to run part of a large company.

[serryjw]

7. Have to disagree

Nothing wrong with wealth. Trump gives an enormous amount of money to charity and lends his name to others. As for the process, it is far more enlightening evaluation of strengths and weaknesses for a young person for 16 weeks than a series of interviews that their are on their best behavior and really tells you nothing about them.

[Ruffhowse]

10. Selling ice cream on the streets of New York tells me nothing about

someone as well. Also, I object to the symbol of Donald Trump that greed is good, and only the wealthy matter. The way he parades his wealth around is obscene. He is not a person I would want my children to emulate in any way. So what that he donates money to charity. He obviously keeps the vast vast majority to live like a king. I personally find that kind of conspicuous consumption disgusting, but that's just me.

[serryjw]

11. Well We will have to disagree

99% of America would be given a few million from their father and would blow it on conspicuous consumption. Trump parlayed it into a Billion empire and at the same time EMPLOYEES thousands.......OH, BTW, he raised 3 great kids!I have a lot more problem with Paris Hilton if I has a teen age daughter than I do with Trump.It's all about marketing, he a showman.nothing wrong with that.....BTW, I hear the same hatred about Gates.Why do dems hate wealth so much?

[Ruffhowse]

16. I think Gates is disliked more because he's seen as a ruthless

businessman who takes no prisoners in ensuring the monopoly of Microsoft products. He donates a lot to charity as much as Trump, but when you are a multibillionaire, you can throw it out a window all day long and at the end of the day, you're still a multibillionaire. I personally have less problem with Gates because he doesn't flaunt his wealth and power like Trump. I dislike people with big egos who need the aura of celebrity to justify their existence regardless of how rich they are. The message Trump exudes is obvious---I'm richer than you, you suck, I'm great, so get out of my way. How can you like or respect someone like that?. As far as wealth in general goes, I just feel enough is enough in a world that so many have so little. If I was to somehow come into a huge pile of money, I would continue to work, but my work would be to help lift up others through charitable foundation work.

[dazeconf]

18. peopole hate gates because he made his money

by stealing ideas from others, such as Apple, Xerox, and Netscape. Also, people hate him because he cornered the market on operating systems while Apple was very poorly managed in the 80's, meaning that people were forced to use windows despite the fact that it was inferior to Mac OS and Unix. Now he's used his ubiquitous operating system to make browser that is also inferior to its competitors bar far the top one used (switch to Mozilla Firefox). As a programmer, I hate Bill Gates for how he got his money, not simply because he has money.

[girl gone mad]

23. You took the words out of my mouth.

Gates earned his money through questionable ethics.

Did people hate Howard Hughes (before he went crazy)? I mean, Hughes at least had the kind of brilliance and drive that would somehow justify extreme wealth. I know he could be a bad guy, but I still think he deserved fortune because some of his inventions were so revolutionary and because he wasn't afraid to take risks.

Bill Gates never really did anything special. he won the OS jackpot by being in the right place at the right time and being an okay salesman (selling IBM on his OS). I actually like Bill Gates. I think he's probably an okay guy. But, I can see why he's despised.

[2Design]

14. Sounds like jealousy to me :):):)

[Ruffhowse]

19. Nope, I would dislike Trump just as much if he wasn't ultra-rich.

It's amazing even here at DU there are so many who have bought into the cult of celebrity and wealth. That's sad.

[serryjw]

20. We have a ton of Hollywood dems.....

that have the same wealth & celebrity. I have respect for Trump that he builds quality even if I think its ugly!
Not everyonew can be John Robbins and give up everything. Its not what you make but rather what you do with it. Trump's kids could be living off the trust funds. They are not. They are all well educated and you NEVER hear a bad word about them.

[Ruffhowse]

21. Did you see the tour of Trump's penthouse on the first Apprentice? Talk

about gaudy conspicuous consumption. Anything that could be plated gold, was. Ultra expensive antiques everywhere (which really looked out of place in a modern high-rise penthouse apartment-Trump definitely needs a new decorator). And then in struts trophy wife number 2 (after Marla Maples), a super model, of course. Everything this guy does oozes excess in a disgusting fashion. In a world where half the children barely get enough to eat and live on dirt floors, I just can't ethically justify this. It's wrong, wrong, wrong. Distribution of wealth and income in this world is so screwed up. To not be critical of this is to become an enabler of the status quo.

[serryjw]

22. The man because of his success....

employees thousands of people. I don't see you have a problem with a sports figure making 10's of million for hitting a stupid ball. How does he contribute to society.

Sounds to me like you just have problem with his taste? Agrred, it terrible...but he has a constitutional right to have awful taste!

[Ruffhowse]

24. I feel the same way about overpaid prima donna athletes, musicians and

movie stars. I only envy their wealth because of all the good I could do with it if I had it. The huge disparity in income distribution in this country and throughout the world is obscene and unsustainable. It only guarantees war and violent revolution will continue. Call me a socialist if you want, you're probably right.

[serryjw]

25. If you are angry at someone.......

be angry at OUR leadership for voting for all this shit.

[puddycat]

45. Exactly. It celebrates everything that is wrong with Uber-Captialism

[Name removed]

46. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[AwakeAtLast]

3. Gotta go with Kelly

I don't think Mellania will let Trump hire a female this close to their "marriage".

[Darth_Kitten]

33. LOL

especially a bottle blond. ;)

[imenja]

37. Why? He works with Carolyn?

He doubtless comes into contact with woman all day long. If she were that jealous, there relationship wouldn't have lasted. (God, I'm writing about his like I actually care.)

[Hand]

5. I hope so!

:puke: to the Donald and all wot sails in him. :puke:, sez I.

[Kokonoe]

6. I think Kelly.

It would be nice if it was Jenn though.

[imenja]

38. Jen doesn't deserve it

I'll be shocked if it's her, but anything is possible. If I were doing the hiring, I'd pick Kelly in a heart beat. I thought Pamela was a strong candidate. I don't think he should have fired her.

[autorank]

8. I'm a DUer whose wife and daughter are addicted to it.

My wife just told me that it was time for a woman to win. Who knows. I did watch it once when I heard Trump say * should be fired and things are always better for business when Democrats are in the WH. Good reasoning.

[Warpy]

9. The only way I'd watch it is if

the promos indicated the repo men were going to come clean all the furniture, computers, drapes, carpets, and pictures off the walls from that office to pay Trump's debts from his bankrupt casino.

That might be interesting to watch. Seeing a bunch of soulless young people boast about how ruthless and manipulative they are is just plain sickening.

[serryjw]

12. Great idea.....

he can close all his casino's and lay off thousand of working clas dems.:shrug:

[2Design]

13. Good show to understand the politics of corporate business -

and yes it can be that petty and cut throat - only you don't get to see or hear what others have said or done to you as this bunch does

the only reality show that depicts more of reality than many want to admit - it is cut throat - and corporate life is selling your soul to feed your family -

[Misunderestimator]

30. You might get to understand the politics, but not the operations or ....

or finances or budget or mission of the corporation. Certainly wouldn't qualify you as one of the CEO's of one of his companies. I would like to assume that they vet these candidates as seriously as they would if they were hiring straight out, and that all of them are employable and qualified. But after seeing the show a few times, it's apparent that that is NOT how the contestants are chosen.

That said... it's an ok show, but it's up against something else I watch (though I can't remember what it is right now :)).

[Longhorn]

36. The apprenticeship begins once the winner is chosen.

Trump is no fool -- whoever wins will be closely supervised and given a chance to learn the ropes.

I, too, wonder about some of these contestants -- some of them were clearly chosen for other reasons than their business credentials, though I do think it is interesting when a Harvard business school grad is pitted against the owner of a bridal shop! :D

[The empressof all]

15. Although I prefer Kelly- I think Jen will win

In the end, I think Trump will go with Jen because he will like her ability to fight to the death. That woman has a mean streak that Trump will identify with. I wouldn't want to argue with her.

[Darth_Kitten]

34. Jen is pretty useless though.....

she's a "latcher" and a leech. On her own, she's pretty useless. :)

But I guess anything can happen on the finale and she could get hired. ick. :(

[imenja]

39. she's pretty and reasonably articulate

beyond that, I agree she's useless. I think her looks are a big part of the reason she is still around. Remember the Levi's challenge, when the CEO was so impressed with her? That was ridiculous.

[flygal]

17. I told my husband he could learn a lot watching this show

It's should be called "How NOT to be a business person". I love it and even have some respect for Trump after he said he was voting for Kerry.

[Piperay]

26. I hope Kelly wins but

I think it will be Jen. x(

[salin]

27. I missed last thursday (work crisis) - who is in and who is out?

any update is welcome.

[Kokonoe]

35. here is a link to the website

http://apprentice.tv.yahoo.com/

[Deja Q]

28. Yes. The show is a total farce and a true work of fiction.

Even the 'office' is a SET.

I'm not going to mention the lizard who hosts the show.

[soothsayer]

29. Love it! But i don't like kelly or jen, or bill frankly

jeez it would be tough to work for the Donald

[Kahuna]

31. I'm addicted too. I've gotta go with Kelly. Although the outcome..

depends on the results of their current tasks. It's not looking good for either. Whomever is able to overcome their obstacles will deserve to win.

[Darth_Kitten]

32. I have a feeling something different is going to happen......

on the finale.

:evilgrin: Just, what though?? :shrug: hmmm.... :)

[imenja]

42. maybe he'll fire both of them?

[imenja]

40. Why does Trump tolerate the arguing between the women?

It's like he sees something admirable in it. I understand that having someone with drive who is willing to fight for themselves and the company is an asset, but all that bickering is a waste of everyone's time. I would have fired them for that alone. I'm not a successful businessman, but I can't believe that flies in the corporate world.

[Longhorn]

41. I think that's why Jen shouldn't get it!

The way she starts screaming in the board room and I think the others fight back because if they don't, Trump thinks they don't do a good job of defending themselves. But it's actually pretty embarrassing and no, I don't think that would ever fly in the a corporate boardroom.

[soleft]

43. If Jen pulls off a legal manuever to get Chris Webber to appear

She will win.

[Longhorn]

44. But what manuever does Kelly pull stop the rain?

Maybe change it to something indoors?

[skippysmom]

47. Kelly is definitely a better candidate

but I think in the end it will be Jennifer, as I have a feeling the powers that be want a woman to win.

[MISSDem]

48. I don't watch television

so have no idea what you are talking about.

[dryan]

49. Love this show....

I started watching it about a third of the way through the first run through. My mother was desperately ill and I needed something to help me take my mind off things when she was in the hospital. It's a game people!!!! Some of the tasks are inane but they also show skills (or lack of same) that are needed in every day life.

Although Donald Trump is a billionaire he gives millions to all kinds of charity. He also said on Don Imus several months ago that he was voting for Kerry because he is against the war in Iraq.