One reason that Walter Cronkite was the most trusted man on television for twenty years is that his voice was low toned and low key, and his personality was that of a trusted uncle. The closest thing to this since that time is actually Brit Hume. Neurotic Rather, Perky Katie, and all the other faceless newscasters didn’t have Uncle Walter’s combination of pleasant voice, calm persona, and a personality that came across the airways to make you trust in what they said.
Nixon didn’t have it. When he got on the Television, you didn’t listen to what he said, you just cringed and thought “Tricky Dicky”.
Clinton had it. You knew he was as corrupt as the day was long, but when he got up and talked, he could talk the roses into blooming in the winter.
Half of the Bush’s problems (both 41 and 43) is that they don’t have it. The father comes off as an uncaring professor, and the son as a smirking frat boy. The Bush Derangement syndrome is not because of the Iraq war, it’s that smirk…
And Gore comes across as a stuffy preacher who makes you keep checking your watch and wondering what’s for supper.
So what are the prospects for 2008?
Now, you have to remember that I live in the Philippines, so we don’t get the SU presidential debates etc. here. THANK GOD. We’re too busy rehashing the “hello garci” and the broadband scandals on our talk shows.
But what I see of Hillary Clinton comes off as a shrewish teacher, especially when she gets going. Yes, all of her positions are calculated to please, but her personality is not pleasing and her voice is not low and soft, but high and shrill…
Eight years of ladylike Condi Rice I could take. Eight years of holier than thou Hillary, even I couldn’t take.
Ditto for Rudy. Now, I love Rudi. He made it possible for me to visit NYCity and ride the subways. But eight years of a smart mouthed Italian boy like those that I grew up with? Eight years of Tony Soprano jokes? No, not likely.
Romney? A gentleman…but bland.
McCain? Alas, too reasonable for the fringe to back.
Ron Paul? Sorry. His contrarian analysis reminds me of Jimmy Carter telling us: The country is going to hell, and YOU are at fault. Well, that type of attitude got Jimmy Carter kicked out of office.
John Edwards? Too pretty.
Obama? The new JFK…charming and with charisma…and like JFK, immature and inexperienced. The Berlin wall and the Cuban missile crisis would never have occurred with a more experienced president in the 1960’s…maybe if he grows up…
So that leaves Fred Thompson. And after a months and months of shrill electional rhetoric, flip flops, campaign rhetoric, and talking heads analyzing the man, that smooth Southern voice will sound good.
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Nancy Reyes is a retired physician living in the rural Philippines. Her website is Finest Kind Clinic and Fishmarket.Â
7 users commented in " The Walter Cronkite factor in the Presidency "
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“Ron Paul? Sorry. His contrarian analysis reminds me of Jimmy Carter telling us: The country is going to hell, and YOU are at fault. Well, that type of attitude got Jimmy Carter kicked out of office.”
He has never said that. For the war, he blamed the Bush administration. For the other issues, he believes that the Party and country lost his way. But I never heard him say “It’s your fault! Vote for me!”
I’ve never heard Ron Paul blame the American people for the probliems this country faces. And btw, we’re tired of hearing smooth politicians who do nothing but lie and distort, we want a man of honor and integrity for President. Vote Ron Paul!
Nancy, Ron Paul supporters are not concerned with superficialities like how physically attractive they are or how soothing they’re voice is. They care about their country and unless you’ve been living under a rock (oh, you’re living in the Phillipines, that might explain it) it is clear that there are very many things wrong with the US.
Ron Paul never blamed the US people directly for the problems in the US. He blames the government for ignoring the Constitution and the advice of the Founding Fathers which is as relevant today as it ever was. He blames big government and big corporations for subverting Americans for their own interests. Please get educated Nancy. Here something to get you started:
Money, Banking and the Federal Reserve
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYZM58dulPE
Secret Government: Constitution in Crisis (PBS : 1987)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8536707153900925247
Gee, posted for two hours, three ron paul wackos telling me HE KNOWS THE TRUTH.
But hint: Before you claim that RP wants the advice of the “founding fathers”, try reading them…start with the Federalist Papers…and remember: America’s first overseas war was against…the Barbery pirates for attacking a US ship…
How are you able to tell that those three are wackos?
Ron Paul reminds you of Jimmy Carter’s lack of responsibility? Have you even listened to anything Ron Paul has said? Ron Paul preaches thee exact opposite of Jimmy Carter’s disingenuous comments at the failing end of his administration. Ron Paul doesn’t blame anyone, anyway. He thinks that we can govern and operate on the basis of our own envisioning of how we can live our own lives and that we can make the nation a better place through that. How is that in any way blaming America? How is that a Jimmy Carter-esque cop-out of the problems that we are facing? Ron Paul thinks that too much government is at fault for the crumbling of our society, and that is not in any way our own fault. The exact opposite. It is not like Jimmy Carter’s odd comments at all.
As for the Barbery comment … the Asians discovered the United States … did that make them less of a threat during world war 2? The Barbery first strike does not mean Middle Eastern current fault (Afghanistan is the Caucasian land, not Middle East, anyway…) just like the Asian’s discovery didn’t make them heroes during that time, either.
Nancy sez: “three ron paul wackos”
Awesome. America has hit the stage where people that believe in a Constitutional Republic are wackos.
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