The Grade level of the speeches and the Power of Persuasion
Trump is a master persuader - (again - how do we counter this?) - here's a list from Scott Adams:
1. Understand that people are mostly irrational
Says Adams, "People are not wired to be rational. Our brains simply evolved to keep us alive. Brains did not evolve to give us truth. Brains merely give us movies in our minds that keeps us sane and motivated. But none of it is rational or true, except maybe sometimes by coincidence."
2. Appeal to emotions
"The evidence," says Adams, "is that Trump completely ignores reality and rational thinking in favor of emotional appeal. Sure, much of what Trump says makes sense to his supporters, but I assure you that is coincidence. Trump says whatever gets him the result he wants. He understands humans as 90-percent irrational and acts accordingly."
3. When you appeal to emotions, facts don't matter
According to Adams, "Trump knows psychology. He knows facts don't matter. He knows people are irrational. While his opponents are losing sleep trying to memorize the names of foreign leaders-in case someone asks-Trump knows that is a waste of time. No one ever voted for a president based on his or her ability to name heads of state. People vote based on emotion. Period."
4. When facts don't matter, you can never be wrong
"If you understand persuasion," Adams says, "Trump is pitch-perfect most of the time. He ignores unnecessary rational thought and objective data and incessantly hammers on what matters (emotions)."
5. Warp reality until you achieve your goal
"The Master Persuader will warp reality," says Adams, "until he gets what he wants. He's halfway done."
6. Master identity politics
Adams says, "And identity is always the strongest level of persuasion. The only way to beat it is with dirty tricks or a stronger identity play. Trump is well on his way to owning the identities of American, Alpha Males, and Women Who Like Alpha Males. Clinton is well on her way to owning the identities of angry women, beta males, immigrants, and disenfranchised minorities. If this were poker, which hand looks stronger to you for a national election?"
More on the power of persuasion: https://qz.com/965004/rhetoric-scholars-pinpoint-why-trumps-inarticulate-speaking-style-is-so-persuasive/
He"s just here to win, not to educate, enlighten or lead. We don't know what his underlying reasons are, and in truth, do you think he really does? He just wamts everyone to listen to his garble and to come out singing his praises. Period.
Is he knowingly using techniques to brainwash his followers? Does he need these speeches to maintain momentum in his base? Or perpetuate the lies and insults which over-shine the facts?
The rhetoric is scary and very dangerous. At the very least - Republicans need to start denouncing the language and the lies. (One or two that are not retiring.)
jamie said:
I don't know how he can be countered successfully - no one has a bigger bully pulpit.
It is said that a movement does not necessarily need a hero but it does need a villain. That is why Trump continues to attack Hillary Clinton and the news media.
Who is a better villain to organize against than Trump himself? Perhaps the opposition or "resistance" should stop worrying about alienating Trump supporters and go all out in attacking him.
So - Trump will come out and say "All of the people attacking me are losers" and this will be the narrative.
I think the Mueller investigation may be the only hope we have.
Trump to me is very similar to L Ron Hubbard and now David Miscavige. Nothing could take these guys down. They sue and demean anyone who threatens them. Loyal one day - enemy the next. Extolling fear for those who don't fall in line and promising the answer to life if they do.
But @LOST, I constantly hear warnings from strategists that we shouldn't just run an anti Trump campaign, that we need to focus on a positive message. My instincts have been to point out his glaring flaws, but I am not sure it's working with his followers. I thought by now most women would have run from him but polls say he has 90% of his followers.
We need the right candidate. Chris Matthews often uses that quote, Republicans fall in line, Democrats fall in love.
What style will work against Trump? Chris Matthews discussed an assortment of candidates and when he showed a clip of Biden he pointed out how angry Joe seemed. Later when he played Elizabeth Warren I found myself feeling upbeat and hopeful.
Last night Trump goofed on Warren suggesting tossing her a DNA kit in a debate. I considered that to be an experiment, testing his base. He's preparing for new competition and it's telling that he picked her.
I can't picture Cory Booker going after him with the anger exhibited by Joe Biden. But I can picture Cory giving a quick passionate response.
Which style will work? I wouldn't be surprised if Trump refused to debate anyone. He skipped a debate last time.
How do you sell a progressive program on the basis of fear and hate? I think campaigning on the issues is a good idea: where's the better healthcare, the infrastructure spending, the return of good manufacturing jobs. Also, I think that Trump is going to get caught short really soon. Kim Jong Un already gave him a wedgie. Putin will do the same. And this trade war with China is going to benefit anybody.
I see the infrastructure as a good one, since DJT has neglected it. How do you out message him on the manufacturing issue? Won't people feel if he couldn't fix it how can we?
The electorate doesn't care about infrastructure over building a wall to keep out rapists and murderers.
When it comes to manufacturing - dozens of examples can be cherry picked to suit your side.
Trumps preys on FEAR - how can you counter that? Obama won it with Hope. Trump won it as the anti-Obama.
His repetition of the lie that he inherited a mess with Obama's policies has sunk in to his followers. So any campaign of Hope - will be equated to the Obama nightmare that he inherited.
I think showing the impact of the Tax cuts will be key and a constant barrage of questions to the Republicans in regards to debt will be key.
And we need to prop up the Health Care act and hold the other side to account on what their plan is - cheaper/better?
We need to ask Trump what his plans are for the policies he has dismantled. He's mainly talk and has done very little actual policy.
Trump has a strong base of support. I don't know if this represents 30% or 35% or 40%, but these voters can be turned. Trump could rape their children and they would still support him.
However, if the other 60% turn on Trump, that is enough to stop him or slow him down. If the Democrats can turn the House and at least hold their ground in the Senate, that will make a huge difference.
Whoever the candidate, they must be a media mastermind as well. How can u twist events to your own party’s benefit as well as he has done? He’s nothing but a N.Y. fast talking slickster but he cornered the angry white man ( and woman ) market and they will follow him off a cliff if necessary.
cramer said:
Hope for a recesssion - one that only hits Trump voters.
China is working on that as we speak.
I may be wrong but most of you seem to think that the electorate is like those of us who post on MOL and therefore the appeal should be on issues and a rational discussion of same.
Sure candidates should discuss real, not fake, issues, such as global warming, the income gap, and relations with our allies.
But what is wrong with appealing to emotion if that appeal is honest? What's wrong with telling Hispanics that Trump and his people are coming for them and that his re-election puts them in danger. What's wrong with appealing to Muslim Americans on that basis? It's true!!
LOST said:
I may be wrong but most of you seem to think that the electorate is like those of us who post on MOL and therefore the appeal should be on issues and a rational discussion of same.
Sure candidates should discuss real, not fake, issues, such as global warming, the income gap, and relations with our allies.
But what is wrong with appealing to emotion if that appeal is honest? What's wrong with telling Hispanics that Trump and his people are coming for them and that his re-election puts them in danger. What's wrong with appealing to Muslim Americans on that basis? It's true!!
Agreed.
tjohn said:
cramer said:China is working on that as we speak.
Hope for a recesssion - one that only hits Trump voters.
Here's an interview with an Iowa soybean farmer. Although he says that soybean farmers want trade, not aid, at about 4:00 of the video he says that Sonny Perdue, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, is putting together an aid package that will be ready around Labor Day, if necessary. (Just in time for the harvest and mid-term elections.)
Should Democrats fight dirty?
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/07/04/democrats-majority-rules-norms-trump-2020-218947
LOST said:
What's wrong with telling Hispanics that Trump and his people are coming for them and that his re-election puts them in danger.
Trump is touting the Latino the all time low unemployment number - this may be enough for them to be OK with him.
If we say Trump is coming for you - he'll say - no I'm not - only the bad hombres. Then he brings out families who had someone killed by an immigrant.
We see the cruelty in separating families - but even his base is probably ok with this. And you have Sessions quoting the bible for it's justification.
tjohn said:
Trump has a strong base of support. I don't know if this represents 30% or 35% or 40%, but these voters can be turned. Trump could rape their children and they would still support him.
However, if the other 60% turn on Trump, that is enough to stop him or slow him down. If the Democrats can turn the House and at least hold their ground in the Senate, that will make a huge difference.
I assume you meant "can't be turned"?
jamie,
Trump will say what he says no matter what. I think Latinos know that Trump is not their friend. "bad hombres" is itself a racist term.
His "base" will support him no matter what. The DEMS have to pull out their base.
drummerboy said:
tjohn said:I assume you meant "can't be turned"?
Trump has a strong base of support. I don't know if this represents 30% or 35% or 40%, but these voters can be turned. Trump could rape their children and they would still support him.
However, if the other 60% turn on Trump, that is enough to stop him or slow him down. If the Democrats can turn the House and at least hold their ground in the Senate, that will make a huge difference.
You are correct.
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Among the saddest of all of the elements with the current administration is the dumbing down of the Office via the inane "rally" speeches.
I was curious to see if there were reports pertaining to the grade level of the vocabulary he uses. This one is from awhile back - rates it at the fourth grade level:
http://www.newsweek.com/trump-fire-and-fury-smart-genius-obama-774169
He is rated at the lowest level of the last 15 presidents.
I think the 4th grade level is a bit generous.
Does he care? no - he believes himself to be a genius (He know the best words)
What does this say about his followers?I'm speechless.
I don't know how he can be countered successfully - no one has a bigger bully pulpit.