The kind of “likability” (if you want to call it that) required for diplomacy and for legislative policy pursuing is, in my opinion, almost completely separate from the kind of likability that can be measured by the beer test. In fact, in Bush’s case, the former seems to be contraindicated by the latter.
The former is exemplified by a legislative genius like Lyndon Johnson, who did not come off as warm and likable on television or in public. The latter is pure image and media manipulation. It has almost nothing to do with the kind of character traits that will make a president successful once in office.
The “beer-test” likability factor, and those who consciously choose to make voting judgments based on it, is nothing more than abject surrender to the basest kinds of propaganda.
I disagree. Presidents routinely go on television and/or make speeches to persuade Americans that presidential policies are correct and that Congress needs to get with the program. Pushing through legislation is not just a matter of backroom deals. It also involves persuading the electorate to pressure their legislators.
And persuasion of the public requires likeability.
(And, by the way, Lyndon Johnson was a likeable character, in a Texas good-old-boy kind of way. If not for Vietnam, I suspect he would be remembered more fondly.)
Best to think about likeability consciously now, during the primaries, because I can guarantee you that come November the general electorate will be unconsciously thinking about it.
There is a large swath of the public that votes based mostly on their “feel” for the candidates. Policy arguments are lost on these voters. And there are enough of them to swing the election one way or the other. It is these people we (as primary voters) have to keep in mind if we want to win.
Given the way recent elections have turned on razor thin margins, I’m concerned that out of the disaffected Republicans who normally vote Democratic at times like this, there will be a sliver of people who still will not vote for woman, or a black man (with a funny name to boot) because it doesn’t agree with their image of who a president should be. Of course other slivers might vote for Hillary or Obama for just the same reasons, so it might all balance itself out. God knows people need to get past this idea that presidents have to be white males, but one look at the Supreme Court tells me this isn’t the time to fight that battle.
I didn’t say he wasn’t. My point is that if all you knew about Lyndon Johnson was his television appearances, you wouldn’t think of him as likable. If he had you in front of him, reports are, he could charm the pants off you. But the kind of “likability” that got Bush where he is is based solely on the impression he gives on TV. It’s just as likely that in person, Bush is an unpleasant son of a bitch. His legislative and diplomatic track record wouldn’t contradict such a conclusion, anyway.
It’ll never be “the time.” And Hillary has a legit shot this year, while from a practical purpose the Surpreme Court (which might end up being the most overlooked issue for Democrats in 2008) won’t have even three female justices for quite some time.
I call Kucinich likeable because I’ve met him and he comes across as, well, real. You know he’s saying exactly what he thinks and keeping no secrets. Also comes across as very, very good-hearted.
(And his wife is hawt! Even more so than Fred Thompson’s!)
Just out of curiosity, what candidates do you consider more likeable than DK?
Its not disliking Dennis, I like him just fine, its a matter of image, which, regretably, is damned important! Dennis is the very charicature of the pencil-neck wimp-ass liberal. Not what he is, mind you, what he looks like.
Nixon was able to persuade the public (until Watergate, of course), and to move his legislation through Congress, without being particularly likable. It really isn’t a prerequisite.
And I’m gonna say this now, just to get it out of the way: the “beer test” was one of those one-off GOP memes that the press bought into, like they always do. Its purpose was to sell the American people on George W. Bush. Mission accomplished.
Nobody proposed that test when it was Clinton running against Dole or Bush, Sr., and you’re not going to hear much about it next year, especially if the GOP nominates Giuliani. Instead, it’ll be something like the “which one do you trust to go medieval on bin Laden’s ass” test.
I agree with spoke that likeability is a serious issue.
I disagree with spoke that primary voters are likely to, or even capable of, choosing a candidate that they don’t find personally likeable. They’re as vulnerable to public image as the rest of us, and if they really felt that Hilary was a opportunistic bitch to Obama’s optimistic sunniness, well, then she wouldn’t be doing so well.
Ok, sure, Democrats may find different traits likeable than others further to the right. But frankly, I can’t get enough into their mindsets to really give a good guess as to what those guys would like. I’ll vote for the person I think will be best the president (out of the remaining candidates when it comes around to my state, so probably not really a choice), the Republicans will do the same, then we’ll run them against each other. Let’s not try to guess what other people will “like” at this stage.
I really do think I invented the “beer test” right here on these very boards in the thread on Kerry’s candidacy. It was just something that occurred to me as a way to describe Kerry’s lack of ease with us proles. It was a thought that was original to me, not something I picked up elsewhere (not to say someone couldn’t have come up with it independently), and I don’t remember ever seeing it anywhere before that January '04 thread.
Now, as you say, it did enter the echo chamber of the internets and become a goofy meme, but dammit, I want some credit for inventing that goofy meme. (Pride of authorship and all.)
And sir, if you are positing me as a member of the vast right-wing conspiracy, I protest! I was a member of the not-so-vast left-wing anti-Kerry-in-the-primaries conspiracy. (Just for the record.)
No need - I’ve read plenty of your posts. I’m just making the point that the “beer test” meme isn’t likely to be with us this time, just the way the importance of military service (or avoiding it) suddenly receded once Clinton wasn’t running anymore. A new bullshit test will be passed from the GOP insiders to FOX and Drudge, from whence it will be picked up by the MSM.
I think the American public is more tired of bullshit memes than the press is, fortunately.