Does anyone here doubt that we pick the president based on looks, age and charisma?

[ContinentalOp]

Since 1976 at least it seems to have gone that way with only a couple of minor exceptions.

Carter Vs. Ford
Reagan Vs. Carter *
Reagan Vs. Mondale
Bush Vs. Dukakis **
Clinton Vs. Bush
Clinton Vs. Dole
Bush Vs. Gore ***
Bush Vs. Kerry


* Reagan wasn't youthful but was arguably perceived as being more charismatic.

** The only obvious exception to the rule

*** Assuming that Gore won. Or if you think GWB is hot, you can just assume he won :puke:


This may seem cynical but I don't see much evidence to the contrary, except for situations where the Bush crime family is involved.

[Captain Hilts]

1. FDR over Hoover, Landon and Dewey. Ike over Stevenson. JFK over Nixon...

Style usually wins out over substance, though sometimes the style has some substance.

But charisma is everything.

Clinton was running for prime minister and Obama for president.

[melody]

2. Primates choose Alphas to lead them

Which is the primary reason why I know Bush lost the last two elections.

[elfin]

3. Yes, unfortunately the public often decides

on fear, bigotry and other prejudices -- and against their own self interest when their baser feelings are validated and lured by a less worthy candidate.

That is why I worry in a big way over the GE -- whether it was Barack or Hillary heading the ticket.

Right now -- I think the old testS of "Who would you rather have a beer with? and Is he one of US? do not bode well for the far better candidate.

We have had a nasty history lately of going with the lowest common denominator, even though the times DEMAND the Smartest One in the Room.

[ContinentalOp]

5. I disagree with you though. Or you missed my point.

On youth, looks and charisma Obama comes out far ahead of McCain. It will be a landslide victory for Obama. Clinton v. McCain would have been much closer. Obama v. Romney would have been closer.

"Who would you rather have a beer with" essentially comes down to looks and charisma. If Obama and Kerry were both in a bar, more people would gravitate to Obama even though Kerry might actually be a more interesting person to sit and have a discussion with for an hour.

[elfin]

8. I think the beer question

depends on who you would strike up a conversation with at the stools.

I hate to say it, but McCain seems more accessible as an individual, for whatever reason. Looks like them? Veteran?

I LOVE Obama, but then, I am an over-educated suburbanite.

McCain has a general appeal with people who are not learned on issues. Obama seems "smart" - which I like, but may intimidate others.

[LisaM]

4. I guess it depends on what you think is charismatic

I happened to think that both Mondale and Kerry were better looking than Reagan or Bush, but then the sight of Ronald Reagan always creeped me out so much I couldn't bear to look at him, and it was hard to get a good look at Bush when all I ever saw when I looked at him was red.......

[ContinentalOp]

12. That's why I mentioned looks, age and charisma

That doesn't mean it's always the youngest or best looking candidate but there is some intangible combination of these three elements that I think makes a candidate "likable" to the American public. And these factors aren't absolute either. For example, youth wins in a comparison between Obama and McCain but there could conceivably be another matchup where youth would be a negative.

[JerseygirlCT]

23. LOL... exactly!!! nt

[bunnies]

6. This seems like a well toned slap in the face ...

to someone. I'm just trying to figure out who.

[ContinentalOp]

7. Uh, John Mc Cain

Or do you not think he's older, uglier and less charismatic than Obama!?

[blondeatlast]

11. That's a curious reply to bunnies comment; maybe you could elborate

on how you came to that conclusion? :shrug:

You could have a point although I will argue that Dukakis and Bush I were a toss up in those departments.

[ContinentalOp]

13. Sorry,

I really don't understand what you and bunny are getting at.

[bunnies]

17. lol.

John McCain is horrifying. :scared: But I'd like to think that is has to so with *something* more than those things. I'd like to believe that Obama is where he is based on more than that. :shrug:

[ContinentalOp]

18. Oh, sorry. I see what you're saying now and didn't mean to imply that.

I definitely don't think this is the case for primaries. Maybe because primary turnout is a little lower and primary voters tend to be people who are a little more knowledgeable and involved in the process. I don't know.

I certainly didn't mean to imply anything about Obama though and I see now how it came across that way. :blush: Personally I feel that we finally have a perfect candidate who has it all AND we're lucky to be going up against such a gigantic loser.

On the one hand, thinking this way is really cynical but at least this time it works in our favor!

[jakem]

9. does that make Brad Pitt the logical successor to Obama?

[crankychatter]

10. I'd do him... and I'm a straight man

I'd reconsider for Brad

:-)

[damntexdem]

14. Based on the last two elections, I doubt that we pick the president.

But had Dubya been elected either time, it would destroy your argument.

[ContinentalOp]

15. I disagree about Bush v Kerry

It's hard to admit it but I do think that Bush beats Kerry on those factors. I never really thought Kerry would win but the election fraud was too obvious to ignore so I don't know. Gore definitely won though.

[ContinentalOp]

16. An interesting experiment...

would be to compile pictures of the candidates from a bunch of non-presidential races, and maybe even some video clips of the candidates saying generic, neutral things. Show the pictures and footage to people in another country and have them select which person they like better just based on a quick first impression. Like an election stripped of any actual issues or information. Then see if there is any correlation between who the test subjects preferred and who was actually elected.

[blues90]

19. First of all bush jr was never elected

So count this freak out. Reagan was a freak , I could give a shit how he came off , people are blinded by the fame.

But yes , over all people will vote based on looks and attitude.

This is the reason Kucinich never gets a break.

[ContinentalOp]

20. Did you read the whole OP?

I said that Gore won and that the only exceptions are cases where the Bush crime family was involved.

[anonymous171]

21. Is that why the coporate media worked so hard to emasculate Edwards?

[JerseygirlCT]

22. Well, to be fair

While I very much supported Dukakis, that was not a man of much charisma! Smarts and integrity, yes. Charisma, not so much.

So on the looks and charisma front, I think that election was a toss-up.

[AZBlue]

24. From Wag the Dog

Stanley Motss: What did television ever do to you?
Winifred Ames: It destroyed the electoral process.

[PM7nj]

25. If so... McCain has NO chance!

:)