Bush: The Presidential "Bad Boy"
After taking a more analytical look at the President's recent poll numbers, it dawned on me: how can so many people find him untrustworthy yet likable?
If you still remember life in high school or college (or even post-college) the answer is simple: he's a "Bad Boy."
I don't mean like P. Diddy or Biggie Smalls. I mean in the traditional sense. From a relationship point of view, they're the "Negative Challenge." Check out some of these traits (excluding their treatment of women):
The typical Bad Boy:
1. is cocky, arrogant
2. always puts himself first
3. does what he wants when he wants to do it, regardless of what anyone else
thinks
4. acts like a loose cannon
5. struts his masculine sexuality
6. isn't even remotely a "nice" guy
Does this sound like anyone you may know? Well, going back to relationships, do these guys always seem to have someone on their arm? Are they always getting numbers? "Envied by men, adored by women" and all that jazz?
Numbers 1 and 3 look definitely like characteristics your Average Joe would attribute to Bush (critics may tack on Numbers 2, 4 and 6). I think it's those characteristics, however dismissive, that attract voters to Bush. He comes off as a take-charge AlphaMale and those who've always fell in place during their life follow. He comes off as a Rebel Without a Cause, so when the going gets rough his supporters make up causes for him. And let us not forget the record vacations (Bad Boys are never around when you need them and are frequently out of touch; they only come around when they need something from you).
Compare those traits to the "dull" Al Gore or the "wishy-washy" John Kerry.
So how do the Democrats turn this to their favor? One of two ways: expose Bush's "bad boy" image (most self-proclaimed "bad boys" are frauds) or come forth with a "bad boy" of their own (in the Clinton mold?).
If you still remember life in high school or college (or even post-college) the answer is simple: he's a "Bad Boy."
I don't mean like P. Diddy or Biggie Smalls. I mean in the traditional sense. From a relationship point of view, they're the "Negative Challenge." Check out some of these traits (excluding their treatment of women):
The typical Bad Boy:
1. is cocky, arrogant
2. always puts himself first
3. does what he wants when he wants to do it, regardless of what anyone else
thinks
4. acts like a loose cannon
5. struts his masculine sexuality
6. isn't even remotely a "nice" guy
Does this sound like anyone you may know? Well, going back to relationships, do these guys always seem to have someone on their arm? Are they always getting numbers? "Envied by men, adored by women" and all that jazz?
Numbers 1 and 3 look definitely like characteristics your Average Joe would attribute to Bush (critics may tack on Numbers 2, 4 and 6). I think it's those characteristics, however dismissive, that attract voters to Bush. He comes off as a take-charge AlphaMale and those who've always fell in place during their life follow. He comes off as a Rebel Without a Cause, so when the going gets rough his supporters make up causes for him. And let us not forget the record vacations (Bad Boys are never around when you need them and are frequently out of touch; they only come around when they need something from you).
Compare those traits to the "dull" Al Gore or the "wishy-washy" John Kerry.
So how do the Democrats turn this to their favor? One of two ways: expose Bush's "bad boy" image (most self-proclaimed "bad boys" are frauds) or come forth with a "bad boy" of their own (in the Clinton mold?).
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