Media Criticism, Political Commentary, Social Commentary

Likability

6 Comments

Some thoughts.

I think that there’s some Bradley effect going on. People say that they like him, so they’re not thought to be racist. There’s a lot of pressure from the media for us to think that he’s likable, and that there’s something wrong with us if we don’t like him.

The last time I recall finding him admirable or likable in any way was at the 2004 convention speech. Since then, he’s always come off as an (unjustifiably) arrogant prick to me. He’s a proud man, with much to be humble about.

6 thoughts on “Likability”

  1. I found Reagan likable, once I — raised in a Democrat family — was willing to consider the possibility of voting for him after the 1980 New Hampshire primary. I think GW Bush is likable. I think Clinton is affable, but I can’t really say whether I would like him.

    Mondale maybe — he’s old-school enough, like Tip O’Neill whom I might also have considered likable if I’d met him in person.

    Carter, Dukakis, Gore and Kerry definitely not. Obama no, Herman Cain yes (and having met Cain I can say the latter with certainty).

    When I lived in Fairbanks I became acquainted with a lot of local pols, liberal and conservative. I got along passably well with some on both sides, and found others insufferable. More of the insufferables were liberals, it’s true…

    1. Mondale nearly killed Apollo. And, O’Neill was a typical pushy and insufferable NE jerk who smelled funny (related to me by a person who sat next to him once on a plane). No, these are (were) not very nice people at all.

      1. A gentleman I used to work with (he passed away almost 2 years ago) related the following story.

        His aunt lived near Boston and he and his family visited her for a week or so every year. The basement was set up as sort of a home saloon and smelled of whiskey etc.

        One Sunday while staying at the aunts house the family attended Mass together. As the service started they suddenly noticed familiar odor and one of the children said “It smells like aunt so and so’s basement.” About this time my friend turned around to notice that Tip O’Neill had came in and sat down on the pew behind him.

  2. I was thinking the same thing this morning. While he may not be a “bad” person per se based on what I have seen to date I doubt if I would “like” him as an individual.

  3. I don’t personally need to “like” a president. I’d vote for the Grumpy Old Men if I thought they’d respect my liberty.

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