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Renew Deal

(81,801 posts)
Mon Jan 9, 2012, 11:31 PM Jan 2012

It's Charisma, Stupid

Occam's razor says we should prefer the simpler of two explanations. I begin by reminding readers of this principle because I'm about to propose a theory that will offend both liberals and conservatives. But Occam's razor means, in effect, that if you want to disagree with it, you have a hell of a coincidence to explain.

Theory: In US presidential elections, the more charismatic candidate wins.

People who write about politics, whether on the left or the right, have a consistent bias: they take politics seriously. When one candidate beats another they look for political explanations. The country is shifting to the left, or the right. And that sort of shift can certainly be the result of a presidential election, which makes it easy to believe it was the cause.

But when I think about why I voted for Clinton over the first George Bush, it wasn't because I was shifting to the left. Clinton just seemed more dynamic. He seemed to want the job more. Bush seemed old and tired. I suspect it was the same for a lot of voters.
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http://www.paulgraham.com/charisma.html

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It's Charisma, Stupid (Original Post) Renew Deal Jan 2012 OP
Romney has the charisma of a paperweight. Atman Jan 2012 #1
I think it is a combination of charisma and likability. nevergiveup Jan 2012 #2

Atman

(31,464 posts)
1. Romney has the charisma of a paperweight.
Mon Jan 9, 2012, 11:39 PM
Jan 2012

Actually, I have a nice paperweight which I'd vote for before Willard.

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