It has been a remarkable month. Donald Trump - "Citizen Vain" - has taken the country by storm. Voters disgusted with both Democrats and Republicans have found their bombastic, iconoclast mouthpiece. Other Republican presidential hopefuls have gone from condemning Trump to paraphrasing him.
He is controlling the tone, tenor and tempo of the campaign in showman-like fashion.
Both "anti-inside-the-Beltway" presidential hopefuls are on fire. Trump drew 30,000 supporters at one rally in Alabama, and socialist Bernie Sanders got 25,000 to join him at a campaign appearance in Portland, Ore. To be fair, in Portland, you can get 20,000 people to join you if you just start a drum circle or begin playing Hacky Sack in a park.
Room temperature-IQ Joe Biden is likely to join the race, as Queen Hillary is reeling from her lying and all the scandals. Our Chiclet-toothed veep, who reminds me of a lookout for a massage parlor, senses a Hillary indictment and wants to take advantage. This parade of characters - Biden, Clinton, Sanders and Trump - is like a government bailout for political humorists.
Hillary could be so close to going to prison that Bill Clinton has already started working on excuses for why he can't make conjugal visits.
Several catchy campaign slogans have boosted the candidates' popularity. Bernie Sanders' slogan is "Feel the Bern." Trump's could be "Trump: There Will Be Hell Toupee," or "Stump for Trump." Hillary's should be "It's My Turn, Dammit." Or, better, "Vote Hillary - Technically, Not Indicted Yet."
Politicians who get a lot of press often develop delusions of competence, but it's really only novelty. Trump is formulating his policies on the run. My sense is that he did not write any policy statements before he ran because he didn't think anyone would take him seriously.
Trump has not thought through all the issues. His immigration plan would have not allowed his own grandfather to immigrate from Germany. But worry not. A charismatic German politician with bad hair who can draw enthusiastic crowds has historically turned out well. Oh, wait.
Against all conventional political wisdom, Trump somehow soldiers on - and the country is loving it. My theory is that, aside from voters' universal hatred of the political class, Trump is not afraid to be Trump. The other politicians cater to various special interest groups and lobbyists in formulating their focus-group-tested opinions. Trump just reacts. It's refreshing, but politicians and the media don't know what to make of it.
We have been told for eight years that Americans should be ashamed and should lead from behind, that our best days are behind us and that we are bad. Obama kowtows to Putin and wears mommy jeans and a Dukakis-style helmet while pedaling his bike on Martha's Vineyard. He tells us we are in decline; that we should be ashamed if we succeed, make money and think America should control immigration. Trump takes the other side. If you think unchecked immigration cannot change a nation, ask an American Indian.
Trump resonates with young folks in much the same way as do rappers, who basically brag throughout their songs about how much money they have and all the women they sleep with. His braggadocio is unapologetic, and it works because Americans are tired of being conditioned by liberal Democrats to be PC wimps.
On the other side of the spectrum, some country music songs agree with Trump. Note the lyrics of a popular song: "I ain't rich, but I damn sure want to be. I know everybody says money can't buy happiness - but it could buy me a boat. it could buy me a truck to pull it. It could buy me a Yeti 110 iced down with some Silver Bullets."
Trump's nonpolitician way of exposing the dysfunction of America's government is working. This is what our country is all about. He is a third-generation, successful American who is now trying his hand at politics. Trump is a great American who can bring to Washington what our Founding Fathers brought in their day: powdered wigs.
Ron Hart is an op-ed humorist, author and TV/radio commentator. Email him at Ron@RonaldHart.com.