Does the best liar usually win in politics?

[billbuckhead]

Sad but true. I saw a study on 60 minutes years ago and they did studies of groups of boys interacting together and the guy that took over the group and became leader was always the best liar. I forget how they determined this. I also remember this wasn't true for girls.

[Maple]

1. Well telling the truth

gets you nowhere with voters...in spite of what the voters claim they want to hear.

[Abe Linkman]

3. You are of course correct. But, the question in my mind is...

WHY is that? H.L. Mencken said the public always prefers nonsense to sense, and I suppose that about sums it up. But that's my view.
What's yours?

[Maple]

5. Because people don't want to

know the truth...it's upsetting usually.

They'll have to do something about the situation then.

They want to be soothed and reassured.

Everything is in good hands...someone is looking out for them.

[Cocoa]

2. generalities like that...

they're never true. :-)

[NewYorkerfromMass]

4. Did Clinton tell the truth about Flowers?

There's a good example.

[sandnsea]

6. You have to lie to get the girls?

Because if they knew what men were really like, they wouldn't have anything to do with them?

I don't know. It does seem to me that men need to be on a team that conquers. Women need to be part of a group that is supportive. I'm not sure where lying fits in there, but I've noticed men are more willing to ignore a flaw like dishonesty, while women never forget it.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

13. No wonder I'm sitting here alone.

[sandnsea]

17. lol

Ah, now I really DOUBT that!

[LuminousX]

7. And I thought I was cynical

A healthy dose of misdirection, coloring of data, deniability, and omission are essential characteristics of a leader. A GOOD leader knows how to use these and not lose trust. A POOR leader is Bush or Nixon.

[Mairead]

18. "essential characteristics of a leader"

Strange though you might find it, to many women the only essential qualities are honesty and caring. Most of us sober up and stop idolising the football hero and bon vivant the first or second time they betray our trust.

And the older we become, the less impressed we are by the 'conquering hero' image too many men seem never to outgrow their fascination with.

I think that's why people so often associate women with cats and men with dogs: personality similarities :)

[tsipple]

8. Jimmy Carter Was a Counter Example, Right?

I don't know if Jimmy Carter is the exception that proves the rule, but there's at least one exception.

[billbuckhead]

10. Remember Carter beat Ford and Raygun beat Carter

Ford got stuck cheerleading a sick economy and so looked like a bad liar.

[LuminousX]

11. Ford suffered the wrath of voters who hated Nixon

[Feanorcurufinwe]

15. Ford suffered the wrath of voters who knew what a joke he was

What was Ford's plan to fight inflation?

The 'Whip Inflation Now' button:

[JackSwift]

9. They do what works to get elected and reelected

you keep lyin' when ya oughta be truthin,
you keep playin' when ya oughta not bet,

[burr]

12. If this is true, why not just make our nation a dictatorship?

A dictator would have no reason to lie...and no reason to win votes.

No wonder so few DUers favor abolishing the Electoral College, should we really call ourselves democrats? :shrug:

[a_lil_wall_fly]

14. True...but if the Democratic party can not ...

Get GW out now, it might be very hard to stop Jeb to step-in in '08. Yes his governorship ends in '08.
That could indeed start a dictorship.

[JackSwift]

16. What evidence do you have that dictators don't lie?

My studies of history indictes that dictators lie more than any other form of government.

[burr]

20. If I'm the dictator I don't need evidence...

everything I say is truth, handed to me by the grace of GOD. Accept this...or die my subjects!!!:nopity:

[polpilot]

19. This is unfair to long term politicos Kerry, Gep, & Lieberman. Mods lock!!

Dean '04...The New Democratic Leader of The NEW Democratic Party.

[helleborient]

21. Is absolute truth the gold standard of what's good??

There are also studies that indicate most people tell "little white lies" all the time. Embellishment and storytelling are very human behaviors.

I don't really know if Woodrow Wilson, FDR, Harry Truman, JFK, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton were skillful at lying or not, but I think they were great presidents and skillful at campaigning.

Basically, rather than holding candidates to absolute truth, I try and predict for myself what it would be like with them in whatever office they are seeking. I think that's more productive because I know of very very few politicians who don't engage in truth stretching.