DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Everything Else... Politics and Elections are primarily about likability

We have begun to move forward into discussions regarding viability of political candidates and their ability to win in a general election.

I thought this way a good time to point out the fact that the only important factor as to whether or not a man can be president - outside of the most important factor of working towards the interests of power - is to be likable.

Likability begins with the narrative of political ideology and indoctrination. For example, those who tend to vote Democrat find Obama to be a thoughtful and eloquent visionary, and those who tend to vote Republican find him to be smug and foolhardy. Those who tend to vote Republican find George W. Bush to be folksy and sincere, while the other side sees him as a bumbling idiot who can't speak in complete sentences.

If you were to take Barack Obama and make him a Republican candidate, delivering GOP talking points, those exact sentiments would be reversed. Same for Bush.

But once you get beyond the demagogues and ideologues, you get to the portion of the country that matters pragmatically in elections. And those folks are already conflicted on the rhetoric. They've heard thousands of variations of what the candidates are saying, and the only way for them to be gripped or inspired by the latest incarnation is likability, which these days are largely manufactured by public relations departments.

But PR can only go so far to deliver the narrative. It's hard to warrant the notion of sincerity from obviously insincere statements and actions, and the only way to achieve that is through the perception of likability.

'Would my aunt/uncle who doesn't seem to care much about politics have an affinity or distaste for this person and why?' should be a fairly definitive question when examining whether or not a given person is a viable candidate for high profile federal election.

That question is one of if not the driving factors as to which puppet of power we elect into office.

There's a reason why GOP politicians tend to be heralded as hero's to conservatives, and that reason alone is why I wish democrats could grow a pair:

They Don't lie when it comes to particular issues.

All politicians lie, but the GOP tends to be brutally honest with some issues.

And thats why lately you see more democrats as more likely to win presidency than republicans, IMO.

See, Democrats tend to be the swagged out, play the sax at convention, "I'm down with young people and singles" type of candidates.

GOP tends to be old, white, and boring guys. not a racial thing, but there's no diversity. There's a very cookie cutter way to be a GOP politician. a viable one, anyway.

In general, people don't want the truth. They want to be whispered sweet nothings in their ear. They want to be told that everything will be ok. They want a guy/woman that can bring a massive amount of energy to politics. Make it interesting.

And with the current Political correctness that our country has gone in, Demo's fit that bill to perfection.

the GOP aren't interested in being PC, and that makes them an INSTANT villains. the GOP is too graphic for most people. Too honest. They sound like cavemen initially who are scared of change.

And to me thats the problem. As much as I dislike the GOP, guys like Ted, 40, Mill, Ytown, even Anarch, and people like them don't beat around the bush with certain issues.

in general:

gay marriage: no. Abortions: no. drugs: no.

as liberals the same thing. it always turns into a beat around the bush issue. a lot of them don't take, or don't WANT to take, hard stances on issues. because they know if they did, it will kill their likability.

The GOP isn't interested in bipartisan crap. they don't want compromise. So they aren't likable.

The Democrats play the system to make people THINK they want to work together and harmony. But the reality is far opposite than truth. But the truth doesn't matter when dealing with politics; it's all about warm and fuzzies. And democrats deliver that to the people.


I wasn't gonna give my opinion on this topic seeing as though us from the "old board" clearly aren't on PDR's level of debate. So I'm sure the way i posted this reply, he's gonna think me and 40 are idiots.

but i responded because i'm interested in this thread.

Good post swish.

Never worry about what PDR thinks of you, that would only lower yourself.

Hot air has no soul. It matters not.

you know me bro. I don't worry about what people think about me.

I post what I post. Am I emotional? sure. But I feel i still bring some decent input into discussions.

It's funny, because he tries to clown us about our posting styles, yet he gets suckered into childish debates with Vers and acts like a victim. So I simply laugh at the hypocrisy and continue smoking my bowls.

Anyway, back on topic.

40, your party bro. y'all need some diversity BAD.

Swish, I end up laughing out loud at his posts to the point where my wife asks me what I'm laughing at. He is so easily lead into losing it.

That said, My party needs only one thing and so far they are successful at it, that is to win. House and Senate belong to us now. Stay tuned.

you know the house and senate isn't enough.

right now I don't see a candidate except Rand Paul that can compete with the likes Hilary.

Remember, it's all about fairy tales in the WH. they are figure heads in general.

regardless of their policies, democrats put in the first Black president of the United States. more than likely, and just being real, they are gonna put in the first Female president of the united states.

its about likability when it comes to the WH.

Democrats are seen as progressive. you guys aren't seen that way bro. and Fox news always managing to put their foots in their mouths make everything even worse.

I disagree, America has had enough of the show and lies and is looking for real leadership for a change. So far I think I could even stand Hillary because I think she has potential. I am hoping the Repubs come up with a good one tho. I think they may.

The Congress controls the money. That, in the end, was most important.

There is some truth in this thread.

There was a guy in Congress, many years ago, who was a Black man, a former QB at Oklahoma, and a Republican. His name was JC Watt. I was hoping that the Republicans would draft him either for President or VP. He had the credentials to pass muster with most Republican voters, and was an extremely articulate spokesmen for his beliefs.

Unfortunately, he was also very smart, and after a relatively short time in Congress, got out to go into business (and lobbying, unfortunately) and to make a lot of money.

He would have been the perfect candidate to turn the whole "White-Black, Republican-Democrat" thing on its head. He also would have been a man who had support, even from the right of the Party.

I hoped against hope that he would run for President, because I felt that he was a good man, and would have been a great President. Being a good man is probably why he did not run.

How cool would it have been to hear the President being sworn in like this: "Do you, Julius Caesar Watt, Promise to ......"

Anyway, I think that the GOP missed a huge opportunity there.

On an honest level, 40...ask more questions, talk less. Definitely don't stop declaring your opinion, but start working on how to defend it and express it well.


Every time I feel bad for mocking you, you do something so absurd that it makes my over the top characterizations dead-on.

My view is that people want something different. They are tired of the career politicians and the same rhetoric over and over. That's why a guy like Obama won two elections. He was young enough not to be considered a lifetime, career politician and had a believability about him.

Now I guess in some respects that would be considered likeability. But I would consider it more as seeing them as someone outside the box.

Today many see career politicians as a part of the problem that has gotten us to the point we are now. I believe that lends itself to being more likely to vote for a governor rather than a long time senator. The senator is seen as a part of the Washington crowd who helped create this mess we're in. Where as a governor is viewed as a Washington outsider.

I really like our current governor here in Tennessee. While he is somewhat a conservative, he has also created a program that will afford two years of free college and is trying to expand medicaid in our state. The only real difference is, here in our state we can afford to pay for these things.

So I do try to look for someone that has some conservatism, I also like someone who has a common sense approach to helping solve the problems of every day people. Like I said in another thread, I'm a staunch moderate.

Well.... the conservatives got one now and that's the great DR. Ben Carson[ that some here consider a side show]but I am not naïve to the real kingmakers in the process is the mainstream media no matter who would really be great for this country

Actually, I've been reading up on Carson and like a lot of what he has to say.

He's not fond of the for-profit private insurance industry, and while he advocates abolishing it, his pragmatic proposal has the government take 10-15% percent of their profits and use it to fund a branch of socialized medicine.

I agree with you that he has no chance.

I want exactly what I've always wanted, a more centered candidate.

One that wouldn't pander to those that always have their hands out.

And one that wouldn't pander to big business either.

Oh wait, those two things aren't mutually exclusive are they?

Anyway, I'd prefer someone that reports to the people rather than a party.

I know, I know.. it's a pipe dream

Oh,, For the record, I generally don't feel the need to back up my statements what I'm stating is my opinion.

I agree he has no chance but that is sad. We complain of the same ol' same ol' career politicians. Someone comes along who suggests a different tone, independent ideas and an attitude for the people and we think he has no chance. That says a great deal about our attitude as American voters....talking out of both sides of our mouths. We will probably get the same ol' same ol' and continue our political division of America.

I think it says far more about our political system. Most of us understand that money drives the political machine. We understand that both parties will never endorse such a candidate and without such funding as a party endorsement, the viability and electability of a candidate are next to zero.

We understand the system is broken.

Politics is like when you're at a carnival trying to shoot a basketball at a rim that's been dented into an oval by a hammer.

The quicker you realize that the game is rigged, the less upset you get when your shot doesn't go in.

N

Yeah?? I guess we should all just forfeit the elections.

Obama administration bribing the "voters". The administration handed out 5 1/2 million illegal immigrant work permits. Wonder if their wages will be tax free? Just another way to buy votes for 2016. Fill the country, give them handouts, drivers licenses and work permits. Wonder how these entitled folks will vote? Nanny State indeed!

immigrants can't vote.

so who is he bribing?

immigrants can't vote. YET!!

Also,the bribe goes out to other Hispanics in this country who may be related or who stand in solidarity.

I'm all for coming to this country LEGALLY! The process is difficult, but aren't most things in life worth working for? So folks don't want to wait and follow the government process and "work" for it, (no matter how difficult)? So, let's just circumvent the system and let them have their way. Oh Yeah! The American way.

The government is bribing voters for 2016.

the government has been bribing voters since voting was a thing.

so, forever.

any politician, republican or democrats, has stop short of promising unicorns and rainbows during elections.

that you somehow think this is a new concept under obama is entertaining, to say the least.

I don't have a problem with politicians buying votes with their OWN money but not with mine . Remember if we don't pay our taxes we can go to jail and all illegals that belong in jail get rewarded... very confusing isn't it guys.

It may not have started with this administration,but this illegal alien thing is taking it to a whole new level

That's more or less what we do when we willingly allow our choice for the executive office to be narrowed to a candidate of only two factions, both of whom operate primarily as arms of the entities that fund them.