Donald Trump and Kanye West are wizards.

Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert, has been blogging for several weeks about Donald Trump, neurolinguistic programming, hypnosis, and how he's manipulating the public with very careful messaging. And it's working. Granted, his current numbers when applied to the population as a whole are just over 1/8th, they're still significant.

Today, Scott posted this:

Today I will tell you how to spot a wizard, if such people actually exist. Look for these clues:

1. The wizard succeeds in a high-profile field without the benefit of as much talent as you would expect should be necessary. (This is the biggest tell.) (there was a great comment on Charles Stross' blog last week that said Trump started on third base and thinks he hit a triple)

2. People seem to have an irrational hate for the wizard that is not entirely explained by the wizard’s actions. Regular readers already know these unusual reactions are signs of cognitive dissonance. Wizards induce cognitive dissonance often, without trying.

3. Look for an inflated ego combined with an unusually strong ability to withstand withering criticism. (Wizards get a lot of criticism.) The common view is that wizards are egomaniacs. In reality, the wizard works hard to remain ego-free, and hence can handle criticism well.

4. Wizards are often more ambitious, and often more aggressive, than you think is normal.

5. One or more major PR disasters define the wizard’s history.

6. The wizard has a gift for simplification.

7. Observers detect a reality distortion field.

8. Wizards have an ability to succeed where other fail by changing the entire game as opposed to winning at the existing one.

9. Wizards use words to create images and emotions in people’s minds.

10. Wizards seek public attention.

Some excellent points. If you mine Adams' blog, you'll see a lot more detail.