Reagan - The Great Communicator

[Kevin]

I think good communication skill is what our current President lacks. He's a very principled man from what I've seen and heard. Just doesn't really back it up well on that podium. Who needs 3x5's when you have teleprompters?

In the age of TV Presidents, your abilty to act/communicate to an audience is one of a candidate's most important assetts when it comes to winning elections. Maybe that shouldn't be the case. It is said that Abraham Lincoln would have likely lost to Davis just because of the way he looked and talked. It's a bummer that elections aren't about ideas anymore (at least, it seems that way when it comes to the general electorate).

I think in a way, Reagan's communication ability might have been a bad thing. I think it set the bar too high for Bush I -- and with Clinton's ability to come off as intelligent and "Presidential" on television played a lot into his two victories.

When people say the economy and peace are the two biggest determinations as to whether someone would get elected again, I'd have to say that's not necessarily true. I believe if the electorate genuinely has an affinity for a candidate, they'll believe anything they're told. Even if Reagan's policies had not worked, and the economy had gone into the tank, and the Soviet Union was still building missiles, I think he could have been reelected (if it were possible) to a third term on charm alone.