Posted on 09/20/2016 7:16:46 PM PDT by poconopundit
For over a year now, the mainstream press has attacked Trump for not being "presidential". Even still, citizens are genuinely concerned that their president look the part of a president and carry themselves in a way that makes us proud.
So what exactly is meant when someone says a candidate looks or is "presidential"? And why should we care? This is the subject I'm going to explore and discuss in this vanity.
JFK, Jackie and the Royalty of Camelot
Well, to begin, I think our current notion of a "presidential" style was strongly influenced by JFK in the 1960s. It was Kennedy and his wife Jackie who first brought a royalty-like style to the White House and presidency. JFK's predecessors, Eisenhower and Truman, were rather plain guys by comparison. And so the press glorified the JFK style to the point where the Kennedy era was given the name: Camelot.
Now presidents like the Bushes, Carter and Nixon -- by and large -- did not project this Camelot presidential image. But I think Reagan, Obama, and candidate Romney have. To me the Camelot image projects a couple things: 1) a detached and diplomatic manner; and 2) lofty, well-rehearsed speeches delivered with the head held high. The clothes reinforce the Camelot image too: Obama's perfectly creased pants and Romney's prep-school blazers with that gleam in the eye.
Is There Substance Behind the Presidential Style?
Now the trouble with Camelot is that a candidate or president can measure up on the style side, but lack the substance.
Obama is a certainly a creature of style. He's a celebrity and community organizer raised the level of his incompetence. Most of us have figured out that Obama is not a man of strengthen in character or accomplishments. He's really a puppet of the invisible donors and globalists who support him.
And what does he do out on the campaign trail? He jumps onto the podium with his sunglasses on as if to say, "Look at me. I'm Mr. Cool. I'm President of the United States." Not a lot of humility in this man.
But Obama does know Camelot. He does know the look of being presidential. But since he's not a true leader, Putin and Iran can run circles around him. On the airport runway in Shanghai a couple weeks ago, the Chinese didn't even bother to roll out a stairway for Obama to get off the plane. On the same trip to Asia, the president of the Philippines called Obama's mother a whore. And what did Obama do? He just shrugged it all off.
Mitt Romney, too, wins on style, but loses on character. Remember the last debate in 2012 when Romney caved over Benghazi and more or less quit the last month of his campaign? Romney looks the part, but he's really only a moderately successful venture capitalist and lacks the backbone to push a true conservative agenda. He's too busy pleasing his globalist donors.
But Romney's mastery of the Camelot speaking style is probably why the GOPe bigwigs and donors selected him to take potshots at Trump before the Utah primary. Trouble is: the elite stylist Romney lacked the solid virtues. That's why your average Republican instantly recognized Romney's attacks as pitiful and dishonest — even if he did deliver them like JFK.
The Presidential Substance of George Washington and ReaganGeorge Washington, of course, is legendary for his leadership and presidential qualities. Ralph Waldo Emerson studied Washington and painted one of the most compelling images of our first President:
What others effect by talent or by eloquence, this man accomplishes by some magnetism. "Half his strength he put not forth." His victories are by demonstration of superiority, and not by crossing of bayonets. He conquers, because his arrival alters the face of affairs.
Reagan had a similar magnetism. And his gravity came both from his leadership style and his gravity as a man. Reagan had a long an accomplished career as a Hollywood actor, radio sportscaster, and California governor. And the toughness of his character could be easily seen during his "I paid for this microphone!" campaign. And yet, Reagan could fit the Camelot presidential style too. His oratory at critical moments was memorable such as his poetry after the Challenger space shuttle disaster:
How Trump is Changing our Notion of Presidential Style
Now Reagan's Camelot style worked for him, but that doesn't mean we should expect Trump to follow that same model.
Trump's personal experience grew out of the business world, so his style is bound to be quite different from someone who's spent most of their adult life in politics.
Perhaps Trump's son Eric said it best when he said his Dad is kind of billionaire blue collar guy. p>Sure, Trump's definitely rough around the edges and he tells us how Clinton got "schlonged" by Obama in 2008. But to Trump supporters, that kind of language doesn't turn us off: it telegraphs Trump's humanity and honesty!
When Trump steps into one his rallies, he electrifies the room. He proves he's one of us! So Trump very much has his own populist style and will never fit into the Camelot cookie cutter. Besides, a president doesn't need to be "presidential" all the time.
And yet, when it's time to get more serious, Trump's delivery of major speeches on immigration, the economy, and foreign policy proves he can communicate in a very "presidential" when the occasion calls for it.
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Daddy Trump
Breitbart's Milo Yiannopoulos calls Trump "Daddy", and he's got a point. Trump reminds me a lot of my own Dad: tough, fair, protective and nurturing.
Clearly Trump's way of communicating is more open and direct — more attuned to the way people talk in a family at home. Family members argue with each other! They get angry, curse, cry, and eventually make up. But along the way, bad habits are corrected, long repressed feelings are brought out into the open, and family peace/solidity is restored.
So America's new Dad is airing out our Nation's dirty laundry. And the dining room table conversation he started is necessary if America is to remain a free republic, an economically sustainable nation, and a family of multi-cultural patriots. |
Conclusion
In short, Trump is replacing the Camelot invented by the political elite with something that's more relaxed, natural, and business-oriented. He's also pushing communication that's more honest, more plain English, less PC and more conversational. And it's ok to mix things up: we can joke around and laugh at rallies. It doesn't have to be serious all the time like Hillary is.
After all, isn't it fun when the future President of the United States can tell us:
Welcome... to all of you... deplorrrrables... :- )
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I’m impressed... Great job there Pocono...
OUTSTANDING! Thanks, pocopundit.
HOORAY Trump!
Good writing. I believe we are seeing that rare “paradigm shift”’in which we redefine our public and political ethos. I’m struck by the utter contempt the elite 1%’hold for the rest of us. I have never seen an American campaign where one party goes so far out of way to characterize their opponents as sub human irredeemable troglodytes.
The only campaign I recall in which the opponents were viewed as subhuman and irredeemable were the Nazis’ view of Jews and gypsies. Hillary and her basket carries her contempt for all to see. I’m not seeing that behavior from Trump because he wants to broaden his elecorial appeal. Paradigms will massively shift if Trump succeeds in relating to, not humiliation them.
You are right. Trump is “Normal”.
He can talk with anyone and understand the trials of life.
Hillary is a very common product of elitism and shows it.
Unfortunately for the elitists, she has no ability to do anything.
This is ‘Grade A’ writing; with an original theme.
You really need to try to get this published in print somewhere.
Reagan80
And America is sick of machine politics and the idiots produced by that philosophy. Trump's not one of them, and would be a refreshing change of management, not to mention his extensive business savvy he brings to the table. How many of our former Presidents are billionaire businessmen? Most of our politicians couldn't manage a two-bit lemonade stand! Thanks, I'll STFU and go get another beer...I've got tomorrow off ;)
Good writeup poco...
Yes, one of the key features of Trump is that he stands for MERITOCRACY over MEDIOCRACY.
Obama and Hillary celebrate the MEDIOCRE things/people in the world. Trump encourages everyone to improve their MERIT. Be the best they can be without claiming victimhood.
Trump is an OPTIMIST. Reagan was an eternal OPTIMIST.
Hillary is a PESSIMIST.
The voters like a winner.
Obama is not an OPTIMIST - as it turned out, but with the “Yes we can” slogan, the Koolaid drinkers were duped into thinking he was an optimist.
Does the “presidential style” aka ‘Camelot’ include the d***ing of ‘bimbos’ that both Kennedy and Clinton did throughout their presidencies?
In the case of another president, what is the masculine noun of ‘bimbo’?
I think a lot of the key to Trump’s style is the authenticity it projects. Basically from the Kennedy’s up through the Obama’s you could probably say that there was a commonality of all of it in that it was the era of mass media, and so a carefully constructed TV personality that could be stage managed effectively was the ticket. But we are moving past the mass media era into another one where there’s an overriding demand that people be believable, that you can look under the hood and what you see is what you get. For better or worse it is a result of the extreme media oversaturation that characterizes our age, reality TV, YouTube videos, cellphone cameras, as Jeb found out and Hillary is finding out, you can’t just buy some ads, appear on a couple of interview shows, and show up at the debate with a certain persona, and everyone just buys it. People need to get the sense that who you are on the cell phone camera video is the same person you are in your 30 second spot. Trump’s “flaws” only reinforce the sense that he’s an authentic person, who like all of us, sometimes says the wrong thing at the wrong time.
When you compare Hillary and Trump on this measure, you can see why he’s filling arenas and she can’t fill a junior high school auditorium. Yes, the Democrat drones will always guarantee that 40-45% base for her, but they are not excited, they aren’t passionate like Trump’s people are.
~ A Vision of George Washington ~
"The Birth, the progress and the destiny of the United States" "Son of the Republic, look and learn."
The father of our country, George Washington, was a man of prayer. Many of us have read of how he went to the thicket many times to pray during the winter his army was at Valley Forge. However, little publicity has been give to the vision and prophecy he received at that time. The account of this vision was given in 1859 by an old soldier. He gave it to a writer, Wesley Bradshaw, who published it. In the vision God revealed to George Washington that three great perils would come upon the republic. He was given to know that America was going through the first peril at that time. The old soldier who told the story of the vision said the nation would soon see the account verified by the second peril descending upon the land. We give the account here as printed in the U.S. war veterans paper The National Tribune, in December 1880. The National Tribune became, "The Stars and Stripes", and this article was later reprinted in that publication. I do not know whether it is owing to the anxiety of my mind, or what, but this afternoon, as I was sitting at this table engaging in preparing a dispatch, something in the apartment seemed to disturb me. Looking up, I beheld standing opposite to me a singularly beautiful being. So astonished was I, for I had given strict orders not to be disturbed that it was some moments before I found language to inquire the cause of the visit. A second, a third, and even a fourth time did I repeat my question, but received no answer from my mysterious visitor except a slight raising of the eyes. By this time I felt strange sensations spreading through me. I would have risen but the riveted gaze of the being before me rendered volition impossible. I tried once more to speak, but my tongue became useless, as if paralyzed. A new influence, mysterious, potent, irresistible, took possession of me. All I could do was to gaze steadily, vacantly at my unknown visitor.[snip] ...
The First Peril: The Revolutionary War. [snip] ...
The Second Peril: Slave trade from Africa is used to instigate the Civil War.[snip] ...
The Third Peril: the USA is Invaded by Foreign Troops At this the dark, shadowy angel placed a trumpet to his mouth, and blew three distinct blasts; and taking water from the ocean, he sprinkled it upon Europe, Asia, and Africa.[snip] ...
"Son of the Republic, look and learn."
As the voice ceased, the shadowy angel for the last time dipped the water from the ocean and sprinkled it upon America. Instantly the dark clouds rolled back, together with the armies it had brought, leaving the inhabitants of the land victorious. Then once more I beheld the villages, towns and cities springing up where I had seem them before, while the bright angel, planting the azure standard cried with a loud voice:
"While the stars remain, and the heavens send down dew upon the earth, so long shall the Union last."
And taking from his brow the crown, which blazoned the word 'Union,' he placed it down upon the standard while the people, kneeling down said, 'Amen.' The scene instantly began to fade and dissolve, and I at last saw nothing but the rising, curling vapor, I at first beheld. This also disappeared, and I found myself once more gazing upon the mysterious visitor who, in the same voice I heard before said, "Son of the Republic, what you have seen is thus interpreted: Three great perils will come upon the Republic. The most fearful for her is the third. But the whole world united shall not prevail against her. Let every child of the Republic learn to live for his God, his land and Union."
With these words the vision vanished, and I started from my seat and felt that I had seen a vision wherein had been showed me the birth, progress, and destiny of the United States."
GEORGE WASHINGTON vision found here: http://americaslastdays.blogspot.com/p/george-washington-vision-american.html We pray for Mr. Donald J. Trump that God would indeed bequeath to him the blessings he bestowed upon George Washington.
Cheers! Well done!
Congratulations on a well written post. It is a timely one.
Trump is a winner who has been handed the torch from President Ronald Reagan. We have waited a long, long time for him. America with Trump will look forward to the future with excitement rather than fear.
Wasn’t “Camelot” coined by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. in his (1965) book, “A Thousand Days”??
Very timely article, Pocono Pundit!
Given the shallow and substanceless PC vapidity of the Shallowbama era, the country needs a politically incorrect shock, and there’s no better man for the job than Trump.
Although Trump can reach and appeal to the shallow segment of our society via his celebrity and his bling, there is so much more to him than this: He is an accomplished and wildly successful, hard-nosed businessman and negotiator. He is a fearless fighter in the PC wars. But most importantly of all, he is a patriot whose love for America is unquestioned.
Trump can reach people of different styles: the shallow, the businesspeople, the warriors, and the patriots.
To unify all these different groups, it will take a man of substance. And Trump has the goods.
Substance trumps style.
What scares me the most is all the foundations feeding the money to corrupt every institution in our nation.
***
If it wasn’t for Trump, there would likely be a bad time ahead. And not just because of corrupt politicians controlling everything, but instead because of the machine.
The machine, by which I mean food being produced, people working, plastics, textiles, cars, imports, exports, etc. They go in as raw materials and go to people.
Most politicians and their cronies don’t think about the machine; they think about money. Food is something that waiters at 5-star restaurants give you. Phones are things to hide evidence on.
But now the machine is starting to wobble. If things continue, it WILL break down, and then the politicians will see exactly what money is good for when it can’t buy anything.
Trump is the only one in the running who sees that. Just maybe we’ll be able to repair what the politicians did once he gets into office.
If not, I suspect that we’ll end up starting from the ground up again after the collapse.
THAT's IT !!
Im sure we have been around for awhile. Trump is sincerely wanting to get the corruption stopped.
That Word !! SINCERITY !!! That's the difference !!
(i believe), Washington, Reagan, and Trump have it (again, i believe) in SPADES !!!
The rest of those turkeys ? Ugh, hell no.
Thank you! Well done!
Thank you for that! I just googled “A Vision of George Washington” and have put it in my pocket.
See my new tagline.
I believe you're spot on with this analysis. The public wants the grownups back in charge.
Daddy Trump
Breitbart's Milo Yiannopoulos calls Trump "Daddy", and he's got a point. Trump reminds me a lot of my own Dad: tough, fair, protective and nurturing.
Clearly Trump's way of communicating is more open and direct — more attuned to the way people talk in a family at home. Family members argue with each other! They get angry, curse, cry, and eventually make up. But along the way, bad habits are corrected, long repressed feelings are brought out into the open, and family peace/solidity is restored.
So America's new Dad is airing out our Nation's dirty laundry. And the dining room table conversation he started is necessary if America is to remain a free republic, an economically sustainable nation, and a family of multi-cultural patriots.
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