Who I predict will win the presidency
Published: Tue, 11/01/16
(ooooh yeah!)
But first, a disclaimer:
I couldn't care less who wins.
Frankly, the US is so far over the cliff financially and has such a blatant disregard for human life or the rights and safety of its people (legalized murder in the form of abortion, idiotic anti-gun laws that prevent people from defending themselves, corrupt bureaucrats that routinely send innocent people to be raped or executed in prison, lopsided family courts, an abusive tax code and banking system that turns productive people into slaves of the state, a medical system designed to keep people sick, and so on)… nothing is going to stop the inevitable collapse and ensuing chaos that will result.
(Ain’t I just a ray of sunshine today?)
But, here’s my prediction anyway:
The winning candidate will be whoever has the most charisma.
And by charisma, I don't mean just physical attractiveness.
I am talking about the dictionary definition:
"A compelling attractiveness
or charm that can
inspire devotion in others"
It's not who has the best economic policy.
Not who promises the most free stuff.
And, not even who has the most money in their campaign war chest.
It's about charisma.
Here's why I say this:
Thanks to our celebrity-obsessed culture in the US, one has to but look at all the elections going back to JFK when they first started televising debates. Kennedy won over Nixon in large part because he was more charismatic than Tricky Dyck. In fact, many pundits have observed — and I agree, so that makes it all true — that Nixon would have won had it not been for a *televised* debate. (Incidentally, I also remember once in a political science class the teacher was saying how there’s no way a guy like Abraham Lincoln could win an election today simply because “he was just too damn ugly” — and I would have to agree.)
After that:
* Nixon was slightly more charismatic than LBJ.
* Carter was more charismatic than Gerald Ford.
* Reagan was more charismatic than Carter and Mondale.
* Clinton was more charismatic than both Bush I and Dole.
* Bush II was slightly more charismatic than Gore depending on which brand of kool-aid you drink (an argument can be made for the opposite — which is one reason why I believe it was such a close election). And then, Bush II was more charismatic than Kerry.
* Obama was more charismatic than McCain and Romney (and Hillary).
Which brings us to this election.
Who does elBenbo declare to be the most charismatic?
And, thus, the winner?
I would bet someone else’s kidney it’ll be Trump.
Just like Obama has his “hope & change” brand of charisma that got people fainting at his speeches… just like Bush II had his plain-talking cowboy brand of charisma… just like Reagan had his brand of wit & confidence-inspiring charisma… just like Clinton had his brand of smooth talking rapport-building charisma… Trump has a power-laden and non-needy “I don’t give a crap what anyone thinks” brand of charisma people are obviously responding to.
What about Hillary?
What about her?
The Lizard Queen is pretty good at fooling the weak-minded (like, for example, people who actually think she's being sincere when she suddenly speaks southern drawl when campaigning in the south, which is always amusing). But, to a lot of folks (even a lot of liberals) she has about as much charisma as the secks-crazed grandma in my “Vampire Apocalypse” novel.
Now, I’m not saying Hillary can’t win.
With the Clinton Machine anything is possible.
And, of course, there's also ideology (democrats voting the party line no matter how repulsive the candidate). But, unless something freaky happens to kill Trump's charisma (like they catch him in bed with a farm animal or something)… and if it’s even a somewhat close race… the most charismatic candidate will win.
And, that candidate in this election is Trump.
So there you have it.
My prediction on who will win.
Forget policy.
Forget debates.
Forget the media.
Forget partisan politics.
Forget your own emotions about the candidates, straw man arguments, and biases.
Forget all that.
Like it or lump it, the one with the most charisma has won every time in the last 50 or so years. And, I believe it shalt be no different this time around, either.
All right, now, speaking of charisma...
I'm going to be officially launching my new book:
"Persuasion Secrets
Of The World's
Most Charismatic & Influential Villains"
If you buy it during the launch (or if you already bought it earlier) send elBenbo your receipt during the launch weekend coming up (NOT now) and I will send you the 12 "lost" Ben Settle Show podcast episodes we never publicly released and that nobody has heard. That's going to be the bribe to get you to buy the book. But, not until Thursday and the deadline I'll be having. So don't waste your time or send me your receipt before then, or after the deadline (you wont miss it, I'll be sending tons of emails out that weekend) it will be ignored.
In the meantime?
You can see all my books here:
http://www.BenSettle.com/kindle
Ben Settle