Donald Trump stirs things up like Muhammad Ali

Well, Donald Trump has stirred things up, hasn’t he? He has soared in several polls. He has sucked the oxygen from the political room. He has captured the attention of a lot of people. And a lot of media types. For good and for bad.

What is The Donald’s appeal? He is a Muhammad Ali-type character. 

When Cassius Clay (Ali’s original name) arrived on the scene, few people could name more than one or two heavyweight boxers. Few would recognize any on the street. Few could identify the voice of one.

In a short while, we all knew about Cassius Clay. What he looked like. What he sounded like.

Of course, we all know The Donald. And, most of us would walk past a John Kasich or Scott Walker or Rick Santorum without noticing. 

 Cassius caught people’s attention with his mouth. Donald Trump, take a bow. People wanted to watch Clay interviewed because he did not look like other boxers. He was slim and handsome. And said more than duh, his opponents. He boasted he was the greatest. He ranted things outrageous. He spouted poetry.

People watch Trump for similar reasons. He surely does not look like other politicians. His hair is memorable in capital letters. He body-slams political opponents, the media, and world leaders with his remarks. His opponents speak, duh, paragraphs about issues. With, duh, convoluted sentences. And, duh, five-dollar words. 

Trump, meanwhile, spits out straight, crisp opinions. He says: This guy’s a dope, that guy’s an idiot, that idea is idiotic.

Like Ali, Trump draws lightning. So many boxers brought out the yawns in people. So many politicians do the same. Ali said “Hey! Wake up. You’re gonna love me or hate me.” And people did. 

Trump does the same. He already has people saying, “I love the guy.” Or, “I can’t stand him.” What do the same people say about Jindal? Or Perry? Or Pataki? Even Jeb? 

You can start an argument in a heartbeat by lobbing Trump’s name into a conversation. Try that with the names of other Republican candidates. Yawn.

Like Ali, Trump hits the nerve of issues. He strips away the fat and muscle and zing, he gets your dander up. With one remark. 

As with Ali, a lot of opponents don’t want to step into the ring with Trump. They know that if they punch him he’ll lash back with vicious thumps to the ribs. Columnist 

Peggy Noonan calls him a squid. “Poke him and you get ink all over you.”

Will Trump go the distance? Hard to say. These are early, early rounds.

His critics predict he is headed for a fall. They certainly have history on their side. The story of elections in America is littered with renegade candidates who briefly captivated voters’ attention then faded. Shooting stars.

Meanwhile, The Donald refreshes. He provides a huge target. That is refreshing to those who hate him or love him. He speaks in plain terms. Trump sounds like a guy down the bar from you. Yes, that can be bad or good. But it is refreshing to many to hear a politician speak this way.

Wait, he is not a politician. That is part of his appeal. Millions hate politicians. When pollsters ask us about politicians, we retch. 

Maybe Trump’s enemies will catch him in lies. For the moment, I suspect most people feel he tells the truth. Even if they don’t like that truth. Meanwhile, over half of the folks polled feel Hillary Clinton lies. And she is a favorite — over a slew of other politicians who voters say lie.                 

Tom Morgan writes about political, financial, and other subjects from his home near Oneonta, in addition to his radio shows. Contact him at tomasinmorgan@yahoo.com or visit: http://www.tomasinmorgan.com