[Smokin' Joe]

Every con man walking free or in jail is an articulate speaker. Who would give their trust to a man who could not use the right words to convince his targets to trust him? Articulate speaking is no way to judge or rate the integrity of a person.

Every con game uses three ingredients against the target: Sell the dream. Push the greed button. Stress urgency.

Obama sold the dream of hope and change so desperately wanted by the American voters. He pushed the greed button by promising to take from the rich to give to the poor. And he stressed urgency by himself and his wife telling voters to vote early.

I hate to say it, but this is one of the best analyses of the phenomenon I have read anywhere.

I think we'll have to stop comparing the NYT to Pravda, we insult Pravda by doing so.

[Aquinasfan]

I hate to say it, but this is one of the best analyses of the phenomenon I have read anywhere.

It is! How did we miss the con-man angle before?

[khnyny]

Yep! Succinct and accurate analysis.