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This truck driver has a bit more credibility when signaling “down to earth” than GWB. People like down to earth politicians because it’s less likely they’re as

by wyager 5y ago

This truck driver has a bit more credibility when signaling “down to earth” than GWB. People like down to earth politicians because it’s less likely they’re aspirational psychopaths who will sell out their selectorate.

PaulDavisThe1st 5y ago
> This truck driver has a bit more credibility when signaling “down to earth” than GWB. GWB won a national election for the presidency against a man a least twice as smart as he was. I'd say GWB had immense credibility at signalling his "I'm the guy you'd want to have a beer with" credentials. > It’s less likely they’re aspirational psychopaths Why is it less likely? "Down to earth" is just as likely to be an affectation as anything else. People like "down to earth" because * it gives the impression that the candidate is not that much smarter than the voter, and American voters hate people who seem to be smarter than they are. * it gives the impression that the candidate is "just like" the voter, even though this is incredibly unlikely to be true. American voters love the idea of leaders who are "just like us".
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- busymom0 5y ago
  Career politicians like Bush vs Gore comparison to a truck driver isn't fair. The "down to earth" doesn't just mean how someone talks. A career truck driver isn't highly likely to get into politics to seek power and money unlike career politicians.
- TMWNN 5y ago
  >GWB won a national election for the presidency against a man a least twice as smart as he was. And who would this twice-as-smart person be? Is it Gore? No; Gore's grades at Harvard were comparable to that of Bush at Yale. <https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2000/03/19/gores-grades-belie-image-of-studiousness/5da4b9e3-a017-4dd5-9bb5-bfc68f0b4eb5/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2000/03/19/g...> Is it Kerry? No; Bush (Yale '68) had a slightly higher GPA than Kerry (Yale '66). <https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/08/politics/kerry-grades-near-bushs-while-at-yale.html https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/08/politics/kerry-grades-nea...> I ask again, who is this mystery person that George W. Bush defeated for the presidency despite the handicap of 50% less brains?
Loughla 5y ago
I mean, it's just the old argument of does the power corrupt or do the corrupt seek out power. I believe it's the power itself. I do not believe politicians go into politics exclusively for what they can gain. I believe many, if not most, really believe their ideas are best and can help people. . . the graft and corruption just sort of comes in later when they realize all that is possible.
- busymom0 5y ago
  Career politicians definitely stay in to seek power and money. But a life time truck driver isn't likely going for that I think.
  - Loughla 5y ago
    Why? Don't truck drivers want money and influence as well, or are they somehow inherently different for reasons that I do not currently understand?
- BuyMyBitcoins 5y ago
  I know a lot of nurses and caregivers eventually suffer from compassion fatigue and burnout. Might it also be the case that politicians develop a similar disconnect the longer they are in office?

by wyager 5y ago

PaulDavisThe1st 5y ago

> This truck driver has a bit more credibility when signaling “down to earth” than GWB. GWB won a national election for the presidency against a man a least twice as smart as he was. I'd say GWB had immense credibility at signalling his "I'm the guy you'd want to have a beer with" credentials. > It’s less likely they’re aspirational psychopaths Why is it less likely? "Down to earth" is just as likely to be an affectation as anything else. People like "down to earth" because * it gives the impression that the candidate is not that much smarter than the voter, and American voters hate people who seem to be smarter than they are. * it gives the impression that the candidate is "just like" the voter, even though this is incredibly unlikely to be true. American voters love the idea of leaders who are "just like us".

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
busymom0 5y ago
Career politicians like Bush vs Gore comparison to a truck driver isn't fair. The "down to earth" doesn't just mean how someone talks. A career truck driver isn't highly likely to get into politics to seek power and money unlike career politicians.
TMWNN 5y ago
>GWB won a national election for the presidency against a man a least twice as smart as he was. And who would this twice-as-smart person be? Is it Gore? No; Gore's grades at Harvard were comparable to that of Bush at Yale. <https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2000/03/19/gores-grades-belie-image-of-studiousness/5da4b9e3-a017-4dd5-9bb5-bfc68f0b4eb5/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2000/03/19/g...> Is it Kerry? No; Bush (Yale '68) had a slightly higher GPA than Kerry (Yale '66). <https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/08/politics/kerry-grades-near-bushs-while-at-yale.html https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/08/politics/kerry-grades-nea...> I ask again, who is this mystery person that George W. Bush defeated for the presidency despite the handicap of 50% less brains?

Loughla 5y ago

I mean, it's just the old argument of does the power corrupt or do the corrupt seek out power. I believe it's the power itself. I do not believe politicians go into politics exclusively for what they can gain. I believe many, if not most, really believe their ideas are best and can help people. . . the graft and corruption just sort of comes in later when they realize all that is possible.

busymom0 5y ago
Career politicians definitely stay in to seek power and money. But a life time truck driver isn't likely going for that I think.
- Loughla 5y ago
  Why? Don't truck drivers want money and influence as well, or are they somehow inherently different for reasons that I do not currently understand?
BuyMyBitcoins 5y ago
I know a lot of nurses and caregivers eventually suffer from compassion fatigue and burnout. Might it also be the case that politicians develop a similar disconnect the longer they are in office?