I have a theory. It’s not a perfect theory. I’ve had a few pints of beer in London, and I’m sleepy but feeling professorial. Er hem…
Three P’s win the Presidency, and in this specific rank order…
(1) Personality. The bigger personality tends to win.
(2) Persuasion. The more persuasive speaker tends to win.
(3) Policy. Takes a backseat to Personality and Persuasion.
Let’s take a look at the last 15 Presidential elections. I believe at least 13 and potentially 14 out of the last 15 elections were won by the bigger personality and artful persuasion (Personality & Persuasion).
2012 Obama > Romney (2 P’s to Obama)
2008 Obama > McCain (2 P’s to Obama)
2004 Bush > Kerry (Edge to Bush. Who is Kerry again?)
2000 Bush > Gore (Tie P’s. Closest vote ever.)
1996 Clinton > Dole (2 P’s to Clinton)
1992 Clinton > Bush (2 P’s to Clinton)
1988 Bush > Dukakis (Dukakis middle name was Stanley)
1984 Reagan > Mondale (2 P’s to Reagan)
1980 Reagan > Carter (2 P’s to Reagan)
1976 Carter > Ford (2 P’s to Carter. Ford never elected.)
1972 Nixon > McGovern (2 P’s to Nixon)
1968 Nixon > Humphrey (2 P’s to Nixon)
1964 Johnson > Goldwater (2 P’s to Johnson I think.)
1960 Kennedy > Nixon (2 P’s and a TOO SEXY to Kennedy.)
2016 Trump > Clinton
I don’t want to kindle frustration by awarding P’s to anyone for 2016. In 2020, when David Blaine takes the Presidency, I’ll award the 2016 P’s and it won’t frustrate anyone. We’ll all be mesmerized as he makes the podium disappear and turns the microphone into a bunny.
As an aside…
Why the heck do people in the UK hate the letter Z? They call it Zed and literally change Z to S in every word. Anti-Zedites.
Love,
Jeremy