It's the only way I can explain how someone can vote for Reagan twice, then Clinton twice, then Bush, then Obama. One big piece of it is personality--they measure up their impression of the person. Do they trust the person. Do they think he is smart, capable, etc. The other piece has to be just the mood in the moment. How are things going in the country.
So if things are slogging along in 2012, they'll be ready to reject Obama. But Palin will make it harder for them. They will want to stay home. At least my mom-in-law will.
“Doesn’t connect” - I understand. The issue will be how many folks out there are like this, vs those who do.
I think it's probably already set in stone with Palin. She doesn't connect with these types. I see the president as a sales job among other things, and the ability to establish rapport is a key facet of that sales job. I think she probably fails to establish rapport with independents.
Reagan was, among other things, the king of rapport, imo. Part of his "great communicating" was this trait. His genial nature, his jokes, his ability with the camera, enabled him to win you over based on subjective reaction. Roger Ailes has a book called "You Are The Message." Great read on this subject. I would LOVE to hear him talk freely about his impressions of Palin, from the perspective of a communications coach.
Good observations, Huck. We all are guilty of “hearing what we want to hear” at times, and you’re right about it being in part a “cult of personality. With regard to “doesn’t connect” - well that was me and Jimmy Carter. As hard as I tried to like the guy (because I thought he had a tough job and I wanted the country to succeed as this was early in my own career/life) - I found myself being put-off thirty seconds after he opened his mouth. Not the kind of visceral hatred we see from the Left, but just, as your MIL probably feels with Palin, a sense that I just can’t related to this person.
Good discussion. As much as I personally like Palin (and I’m not predicting ANYthing...) - we do have to have candidates that can win elections, regardless of how we personally feel.
So if things are slogging along in 2012, they'll be ready to reject Obama. But Palin will make it harder for them. They will want to stay home. At least my mom-in-law will.
No disrespect intended towards your mother-in-law or people who think like she does, but anyone who knows the clear and present danger Obama is for this Republic and yet knowingly refuses to vote for Sarah Palin (if she runs)are prime examples of what is wrong with this country.
None of her records are sealed and I'm quite sure she has an American birth certificate lying about the house somewhere. She hasn't taken over the health industry, in fact she is opposed to Obamacare. She wants to control the borders and is a supported of Arizona's initiative to do that.
Anyone who by their inaction would support the Kenyan in chief rather than support a true American probably needs to stay home, IMHO
OK, then just who will capture your mom-in-law’s vote? We are running out of time here, and I don’t see anyone on the horizon other than the tiresome retreads Romney and Huckabee.
Maybe I’m missing something. As you know, Ronald Reagan had been honing his craft for years, and by the time 1980 rolled around he was beyond prepared for the presidency.
Who do we have now??
It seems a very significant number of people were fooled by Tina Fey.
Most sincere Palin critics are really criticizing a caricature of Palin portrayed by Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live.
This is the segment of the population that forms their worldview from television and popular culture, while letting reality pass by unnoticed. They never got to know Palin—it’s Tina Fey they oppose, not Palin.
True, but that side of Reagan was effectively hidden from the voters by the MSM until the 11th hour, when the whole country was able to watch him in the televised debates.
The MSM is attempting to create a false image of Sarah Palin, just as they've done to every Republican candidate before her. But this time, they're being outsmarted by someone who not only thoroughly understands their game, but who is on the offensive against them.
Sarah not only has many similar traits to Reagan, but she's also directly building rapport with the American public, by by-passing the MSM.