Reply #7: In a Way, They are Correct

[On the Road]

The secret of winning an election is to stir up and channel anger among your supporters without becoming an "angry one" yourself. As a candidate for president, it demeans you and That's why the VP candidate is usually the hatchet man.

Bill Clinton was a master at attacking and going on the offensive without appearing angry. If you don't think about his words, you may not even notice he's eviscerating the opposition. Reagan was very successful at being folksy while channeling anger. Bush 43 doesn't have an angry persona either -- if he did, he might not be president today. And if Howard Dean had learned this lesson better, he might be president today. Dean's town hall speeches were perfect, but the public formed an impression of him from raw meat speeches to the base.

Democratic politicians seem to feel that there are only choices -- be nice and accommodating or be an attack dog. That attitude is one of the chief obstacles to victory in November.