The personality
The Democrat seems to have won the governor’s race in Kentucky despite or because of Trump’s rally there on Monday. If so, the Republican has flagrantly disobeyed Trump’s orders.
After all, the President was in Kentucky the day before Tuesday’s election. And he said this to Bevin: “If you lose, they’re going to say Trump suffered the greatest defeat in the history of the world. This was the greatest. You can’t let that happen to me!”
His modest self-effacement never ceases to amaze.
Chris Cillizza goes on to compare the charisma-levels of Bevin and Trump.
Trump is an entertainer, with a type of wit, humor and real charisma. Bevin, well, isn’t. Where Trump comes across to his supporters as a hugely successful businessman who can and will tell anyone in the country (or the world!) exactly what he thinks of them, Bevin reads more humorless scold. Trump without the personality isn’t a winner.
I’m not seeing it. I know that’s because I’m of that other political persuasion, and a snob and all the other bullshit, but even so – I think I’m not seeing it because it isn’t there. I’m not seeing “a type of wit, humor and real charisma” – what type would that be exactly? What I see is the windbag who sits next to you on the bus or stands behind you in the queue and seizes the occasion to listen to his own voice. (Yes, his, it’s more of a guy thing.) What I see is the guy who thinks he has a type of wit, humor and real charisma but doesn’t. I’ve known guys like that. I still know guys like that. I assume we all have and do? He has zero wit. He has “humor” in the form of mean jokes. He has negative charisma.
What he does have is a lot of flash and a reputation for being enormously rich. Without that he would be the guy everyone avoids at parties, end of story. As for the “who can and will tell anyone in the country (or the world!) exactly what he thinks of them” – give me a break. He’ll do that to people he perceives as weaker than he is. Now that he’s bullied his way into the presidency that is of course most people, but it’s also still bullying. It’s not telling the truth without fear or favor, it’s bullying. Let’s not confuse the two.
Humorless scold – that’s an odd term. The term “scold” is usually reserved for women. Is that a slap at this guy? He’s a weak guy with no charm or humor? In short, a woman? And the worst sort of woman (to most guys)? The type that says no?
Funny how, by his own admission, this supposedly charismatic man has no friends.
Maybe the type of wit, humor, and charisma that appeals to the witless windbags who go to his rallies, laugh at his “jokes,” and vote for him? Hell, they say Hitler had charisma — a type of charisma.
Yes, a type that definitely does not come across via old film clips.
That’s a non sequitur…what I meant was it appears just as undetectable as Trump’s.
Book idea – history of the world through putative but undetectable charisma.
Would you say that Reagan is a good example of a repellent but obviously charismatic person?
Trump has charisn’tma (he’s so dreadful he fascinates people) Bevin hasn’t even got that…
Red Tide, Reagan may be the modern epitome of that description.
Hahahahaha Blood Knight that’s excellent. Wish I’d thought of it.
Don’t celebrate just yet. The Republicans are looking for ways to get around this result, including recanvassing which is OK but futile and contesting the result to the legislature, which could mean they get to pick the winner rather than the voters.
@OB: Credit there goes to Sir Pterry and Feet of Clay
Hitler seems to have been more than charismatic enough, for his specific audience. Alice Miller speculated that he was perfectly scaled to the worst undercurrents in German culture. Trump, as hard as it is for grownups to imagine, really does match the wishes of his horrible mob.