By  Kezie Ogaziechi

Americans   suddenly realized that time and season shape the face of politics in every nation no matter the perceived sophistry or level of political awareness.
Since a Donald Trump happened on Uncle Sam’s political firmament, he has, contrary to permutations, been able to hold on to the surprise and consternation of book makers.
Even when it was increasingly obvious that his positions were inconsistent with the acceptable standards of public office seekers, the polls right from the primaries till when he picked the ticket of the Republican Party continued to look up and good. In some instances, his showing rubbished the polls of some organizations that had enjoyed public acceptance as always accurate. Many massed around him and stood solidly, working towards ensuring that he  clinches the coveted seat.
Not many gave him a chance. The belief was that his was just a storm in a tea cup, at best an extension of exploits in reality show which would go with the winds given the quality of the competition during the primaries. As the primaries closed in, Trump floored opponents and churned in unbelievable numbers in delegates. The more people, especially the establishment pollsters passed him off as the biggest joke, the more he dusted opponents and trudged on till the Republican ticket was his for the taking.
That most of the big names in the Republican Party refused to endorse the Trump aspiration and ticket did not in any way diminish the fact that the Democratic Party members are literally unsettled with his drive and the growing number of people that believe that Trump is the best for America of today.
Latest polls between Trump and Hilary Clinton, the Democratic Party candidate, show that the rating is still too close to call and these are some of the reasons why many are beginning to feel that there could be more to this than sheer populism. Questions are being asked whether, the American people, known for their deep sense of inquisition, intuition and political awareness have decided to waive everything to embrace Trump even in the face of the baggages dotting his private and business life.
That Trump who has a record in broken marriages, very despicable business engagement, not passionate about anything or anybody except his business exploits and fortunes, not known to have imbibed the finest values of America, has turned out the issue in the fight for the White House confounds commonsense and reasoning.
Daily, top Republicans have had cause to openly disagree with a lot of his ideas about “How to make America great again”. He has stoked embers of hate across colours, religion and State of birth and none of these seem to affect the rating he enjoys as the man to beat in the presidential race. While many may disagree with his style, comportment and message, it seems that he understands the mood of the moment, grabbed it with both hands and is  successfully playing the mind game to effect. Trump’s strategy might sound absurd to some but how else could such a man create an impression and draw attention to himself without resorting to manipulating the political space and mood to suit himself.
For people who were used to issue-driven messages in political campaigns, they suddenly woke up to a reality that confounds the thinking of political strategists and consultants. Apparently, nobody factored that there could be a day when a candidate of Trump’s pedigree would secure such followership
Donald Trump, the reality show expert, changed the rules and made everyone to participate in the game on his own terms, style and projections.
No presidential campaign in the history of America has been reduced to such vulgar abuse and deployment of language of the gutter spine as witnessed in the present race and because a Trump is a master on this unusual turf, he occupies the space with gusto and dominance.
Little wonder, Hilary Clinton, who many have testified has the pedigree, the experience, the temperament, the courage and the discipline to lead the most powerful country on earth, looks like an amateur in this Trump-contrived political firmament.
Everyone seems taken in to on Trump game plan. The media in America has equally been enlisted by default to drive an information management agenda that deals less on policy issues and the right message by laying more emphasis on the crossfire of abuses which the billionaire property mogul finds fashionable.
Has America been short-changed in this whole macabre dance? The take which many should begin to reconcile with is that demagogues have a way around the prejudices and desires of the public.When the contest gets too tough in intellect and deep thinking, demagogues resort to playing to the gallery through grandstanding, mind games, manipulation of information, creating fear and painting imaginary scenario that would throw the public into despondency and despair.
Good at spreading lies and making false promises.Wherever such demagogues take over the political space, the cheer leaders are usually the illiterates, poorly informed and individuals that blame everyone but themselves for their failure in life. They easily enlist some disgruntled elites to spice up the crowd and trade deception like articles.

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*n Ogaziechi writes from Lagos