Earlier this year, Carl Icahn acquired 51% of bankrupt Atlantic City casino operator Trump Entertainment Resort's $486 million in senior, secured bank debt, setting himself up for a battle with The Donald over his reorganization plan for a company that has now been in bankruptcy three times.

Trump's plan would give him a 10% equity stake in the new company, but Icahn says it won't work. According to Icahn's comments in court papers, allowing Trump's plan to sail through would lead to a re-leveraging of the company, and would set it up for a fourth appearance in bankruptcy court.

The bankruptcy of Trump Entertainment Resorts (NASDAQ: TRMP) and legal and financial woes surrounding the Trump International Hotel & Tower are causing some to question whether Donald Trump's name as a symbol of luxury will continue to carry value.

"His brand is associated with success and making money. And every time the word bankruptcy appears next to Trump, that's not good," says Allen Adamson, managing director of Landor, a brand consultancy. "He can take a few chinks in the armor, but I think he's probably at the limit."

As I predicted, Trump Entertainment Resorts (NASDAQ: TRMP) is filing for bankruptcy in the wake of Donald Trump's firing himself from the company's board. Did Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone have anything to do with the bankruptcy filing? I sincerely doubt it. But that doesn't mean casinos aren't worried about the iPhone showing up at their blackjack tables.

How so? In Nevada, where card counting is legal but card-counting devices are not, gambling regulators are warning casinos about a card-counting program on the iPhone and iPod Touch. The program can help its users predict their odds of winning a hand at blackjack so they can adjust their bets accordingly. In Nevada, it's legal to do what the iPhone program does, as long as you can keep it all in your head. Get a little help from Apple and you could be charged with a felony.

U.S. stock markets were set to plunge at the open Tuesday morning as three issues weighed on investors' minds: The economic stimulus plan, the auto industry as well as hard-hit Eastern Europe: Before the bell: Stocks set to plunge on stimulus package, auto sector worries

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) and Chrysler LLC are expected to submit recovery plans to the government today to show how they can repay billions in loans and become viable. Of course, abysmal auto sales haven't been helping any company in the industry. Ex-Lazard banker Ron Bloom is expected to be named a key government adviser, according to The Wall Street Journal, and he is expected to be tough, demanding sacrifices by all involved, from auto workers and industry executives to shareholders and creditors. The AP reports that GM was making progress in concession talks with debtholders and the UAW. Also, GM Europe is considering shutting or selling as many as four European plants. GM shares are down 5.6% in premarket trading. GM shares declined over 12% an hour after the open.

Another day, another Donald Trump-related financial crisis.

After years of financial problems, Trump Entertainment Resorts (NASDAQ: TRMP) has filed for bankruptcy for the third time in its history. The company's last bankruptcy came in November of 2004.

The company reported assets of less than $50 million and debts of less than $500 million. Nine affiliates of the company also filed for bankruptcy, including Trump Plaza Associates, Trump Marina Associates and Trump Taj Mahal Associate. Including all affiliates, the company said it had consolidated assets of $2.1 billion and debt of $1.7 billion as of December 31st of 2008.

Trump Entertainment Resorts (NASDAQ: TRMP) has been squeaking out forbearance agreements with its lender for months to avoid bankruptcy, but that game could finally be coming to an end.

The Wall Street Journal reports (subscription required) that "Bondholders to Trump Entertainment Resorts are planning to force the real-estate mogul's Atlantic City casino group into involuntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy early in the coming week, say several people familiar with the matter."

Although he was a supporter of Senator John McCain during the election, author and reality television star Donald Trump says President Barack Obama has done well so far. "We hope Obama is going to be better," he said. "I think he is going to be better. He's off to a good start, and we have to see what happens with the stimulus."

He also had harsh words for Obama's predecessor: "I'm not a fan of George Bush," he said. "I think he has been the worst president maybe we've ever had. He's a total disaster. Frankly, when the economy cratered, that was the end, because the only thing he could say about his administration was that the economy was good. Well, it turned out that it was falsely good, not really good."

Yesterday, Peter Cohan wrote that Trump Entertainment Resorts (NASDAQ: TRMP) could be on the brink of its fourth bankruptcy filing since 1991.

Well it won't happen. At least, not until next month. In an 8-K filed with the SEC today, the company disclosed that "On January 21, 2009, the parties to the Noteholder Forbearance amended the Noteholder Forbearance to extend its term until February 4, 2009, unless certain events occur."

In other words, Trump will be back in this very situation in less than two weeks. The company failed to reach any kind of long-term restructuring.

Shareholders chose to notice that rather than the brief reprieve, and the stock has tumbled more than 10% today, to less than 25 cents per share. In 2006 it traded over $20.

Ivanka Trump -- the "executive vice president of development and acquisitions" of her daddy's company -- appeared on CNBC on Friday to talk about New York City real estate and The Trump Organization's plans. Referring to the tough financing situation, she said that "We're waiting for that to open up and then we'll be ready to pounce," she said. "We are very well positioned to take advantage of great opportunities."

She also said that the company had been conservative in its financing over the past few years -- which doesn't exactly explain why Deutsche Bank is suing her father over issues relating to a loan on a building in Chicago. Meanwhile Trump Entertainment Resorts (NASDAQ: TRMP) is missing interest payments and staring down bankruptcy. Oh, by the way, Ms. Trump is on that company's board of directors, but there was no mention of the fact that as she spoke the company's stock was trading at about 26 cents per share. When she joined the stock was trading at more than 20 times that price.

Like her father, Ms. Trump is full of optimism about The Trump Organization and how much better positioned it is than similar companies, no matter how bad the headlines seem to be.

That's her schtick: But it's disappointing that CNBC's anchors didn't hold her feet to the fire a little more.

Donald Trump hates to appear the loser, at anything. It damages his reputation as a business superman. It may prevent him from getting a fourth wife. He could lose his TV series. Success is Trump's way in the front door and always has been.

One place where Trump has stumbled is his gaming and gambling business. He is not alone. Many casino companies, including MGM Grand (NYSE: MGM), have been hurt by too much debt, over-building and the recession.

Trump Entertainment Resorts (NASDAQ: TRMP) has already missed a $53 billion debt payment. According to the FT, "The group, which operates three properties in Atlantic City, is saddled with $1.7bn of debt, of which about $1.2bn is bond debt." The paper says that one of Trump's options is to take the company private and give creditors stock in the new business. In the midst of a credit crisis they may rather do that then get pennies on a dollar in Chapter 11.

Who gets screwed? Why the common shareholders, of course. Two years ago, Trump shares were above $23. Now they trade at 21 cents.

Trump may get out of this without it costing him a dime to restructure the debt. People who bought the stock, perhaps because his name was attached to the company, will get zilch.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com

Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE: DB) has sued Donald Trump, demanding that he pay a $40 million personal guarantee that was part of a $640 million construction loan that Deutsche Bank originated in 2005. The loan came due on November 7th with an outstanding balance of $334 million.

The loan is related to the development of the The Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago. The building is expected to be finished in early 2009, and the lower floors are already open for business. According (subscription required) to The Wall Street Journal, the building will be the second largest in the United States. Last month, Trump sued Deutsche Bank for an extension on the loan, claiming that the financial meltdown had triggered the force majeure clause of the contract that normally applies to wars, riots and acts of God.

A New York State Court rejected Trump's argument, but apparently he still hasn't coughed up the money. Now he's being sued for it.

It appears that Trump is back in trouble with lenders. Last week, Trump International Resorts (NASDAQ: TRMP) disclosed that it had missed an interest payment.

Trump Entertainment Resorts (NASDAQ: TRMP) disclosed on Friday that it would delay making a $53.1 million interest payment on its senior secured notes due 2015 as it looks to restructure.

The company owns and operates the Atlantic City's Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort, Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, and the Trump Marina Hotel Casino. The Donald serves as the nonexecutive chairman of the board and his daughter Ivanka is also a director.

The company's results have suffered along with the broader tourism economy, but the Trump properties in Atlantic City have also been hurt by their dated feel and the company's lack of cash that has made necessary updates difficult.

As I wrote back in March, Donald Trump has continued to loot this sinking ship: In 2007 he was paid $2 million for serving as chairman of the board in addition the company's purchases of Donald Trump-branded water and other goodies.

The stock closed at 31 cents per share on Friday.

The focus of last week's preview was on oil and energy companies, and we saw that big oil had a good week, reporting better-than-expected results and record profits driven by high prices in the third quarter. Energy-related companies are well represented again this week and expectations in general remain high.

Early in the week, analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial anticipate that the big earnings gainers will include EOG Resources Inc. (NYSE: EOG), Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: APC), and Cimarex Energy Co. (NYSE: XEC), which are expected to post profits of $2.24 per share (up 64.7% from a year ago), $1.48 per share (up 52.7%) and $2.26 per share (up 61.1%) respectively. All three of them have offered positive surprises in recent quarters, and analysts on average recommend buying EOG and Anadarko. Other expected big earnings gainers early in the week include Forest Oil Corp. (NYSE: FST), Pioneer Natural Resources Co. (NYSE: PXD), Comstock Resources Inc. (NYSE: CRK), and MasterCard Inc. (NYSE: MA). The earnings of phosphates producer Innophos Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: IPHS) are expected to have risen 92.3% to $3.37 per share. Innophos beat estimates in the previous quarter by a whopping 210%, and analysts have been impressed with Innophos's lack of debt and pricing gains despite the slowing economy, so, on average, they recommend buying IPHS.

Also early in the week, analysts expect Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (NYSE: GT), Kaiser Aluminum Corp. (NASDAQ: KALU), and Oshkosh Corp. (NYSE: OSK) to report that their profits fell 52.9% to $0.33 per share, 45.1% to $0.67 per share, and 41.2% to $0.67 per share, respectively. These companies have tended to beat estimates in recent quarters, and the consensus recommendations of analysts are to buy them. However, PMI Group Inc. (NYSE: PMI), one of the largest private mortgage insurance providers in the U.S., is expected to take another hit as the housing slump drags on. The California-based company is expected to have widened its net loss from $1.04 per share a year ago to $2.43 per share in the most recent quarter. Its shares are down 84.5% from a year ago, and have been trading recently near their 52-week low.

Ivanka Trump -- the daughter of comedy icon Donald Trump and a director at his flailing casino company, Trump Entertainment Resorts (NASDAQ: TRMP) -- is back from a trip to Israel where she was scouting out possible investment opportunities.

In an interview with Haaretz.com, she said that it was her first trip to Israel and that she saw tremendous opportunities for investment in Israel. If you care about her opinions on the US market, she feels that "now is the time to buy" and that prices will "go right back up."

It was only a few years ago that the Israeli government established the laws to make real estate investments trusts available there. Excellence Investments' "REIT 1" became the first REIT to trade on the Tel Aviv stock exchange.

Once an Israeli REIT lists its stock on the US market as an ADR, American investors will have an easy opportunity to follow Ivanka into Israel.

Trump Entertainment Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRMP) has sold its Trump Marina Hotel to New York-based Coastal Marina for $316 million. In a self-congratulatory press release, Trump chairman "Donald J. Trump" said that the hotel "has been an important part of our company with a loyal customer base and a dedicated team."

Well then it's good news that they sold it. In the past year, shares of Trump Entertainment Resorts have gone from $16 to as low as $2.29. The stock is up more than 20% today, but it's still a tiny fraction of its former high. Who knows: maybe if they sell all the important parts of the company the stock will go back over $5. Trump Entertainment Resorts really is that bad, having reported a pre-tax loss of $249 million last year.

But good news for my fellow Donald Trump haters: Coastal Marina is planning to rename the hotel "Margaritaville." Trump Entertainment CEO Mark Juliano commented that "The execution of this transaction will provide us with additional financial flexibility to effectively master-plan the future path of our company in the midst of an overall transformation which has already been marked by many successes."

Reality check: the company has lost $252 million since inception. Whatever its "many successes" are, they have been heavily outweighed by failures.