Lunch Time Conversation
Oct. 16th, 2004 02:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
billroperI picked Gretchen up for lunch today and we headed for Portillo's, as is our habit on Saturday. Over lunch, I tried this theory out on her; now I present it to you.
Since the watershed post-Watergate election of 1976, the American voter has picked the more likeable of the two Presidential candidates without regard to their policies. (Winner in bold.)
1976 Ford vs. Carter
1980 Reagan vs. Carter
1984 Reagan vs. Mondale
1988 Bush vs. Dukakis
1992 Bush vs. Clinton
1996 Dole vs. Clinton
2000 Bush vs. Gore
This is obviously just a theory and may well have more to do with the familiarity that voters now have with the candidates' images via television than anything else -- like, say, Watergate.
Since the watershed post-Watergate election of 1976, the American voter has picked the more likeable of the two Presidential candidates without regard to their policies. (Winner in bold.)
1976 Ford vs. Carter
1980 Reagan vs. Carter
1984 Reagan vs. Mondale
1988 Bush vs. Dukakis
1992 Bush vs. Clinton
1996 Dole vs. Clinton
2000 Bush vs. Gore
This is obviously just a theory and may well have more to do with the familiarity that voters now have with the candidates' images via television than anything else -- like, say, Watergate.
No, it's your television. :-)
Date: 2004-10-17 12:16 am (UTC)1960: Nixon vs. Kennedy
1964: Goldwater(?) vs. LB Johnson
1968: Nixon vs. Humphrey
1972: Nixon vs. McGovern
I certainly don't remember watching the '64 or '68 debates, and am hazy on the '72 debate. But I've heard enough about the effect TV had on the '60 debate.
But then again, hasn't the presidential election *become* a popularity contest? It's not "Vote for the candidate that you think is best qualified to lead the country", but "Vote for the candidate who looks more presidential". What a sad way to choose a leader.
A leader has to have a strong chin.
--Lt. Cmdr. Susan Ivanova, BABYLON 5