One reason Trump may win in November
a.k.a. Why Nice Guys — and Presidential candidates — finish last or at least second
The phrase, “Nice guys finish last,” has been attributed to Brooklyn Dodgers Manager, Leo Durocher.
Although the world and especially America is sorely in need of niceness and perhaps even more, kindness — which we thankfully see in stories of sacrifice in first responders, healthcare providers and all others putting themselves at risk to help other — and despite polls to the contrary, there are many who believe Trump, the “less than nice” candidate will defeat Biden, the “more than nice” (in spite of past dents to that quality and maybe even his integrity) candidate.
Truth, science and facts appear to matter more to Biden, whereas gut, instincts and untruths appear to drive Trump. Biden is more believable, less divisive, more inclusive and yet… there is an unsettling feeling among many who want those qualities in a leader that believe Trump will still win in November.
What lies beneath?
There are many explanations you and I have heard. I would like to add an additional one that may additionally explain the nice guys finishing last phenomenon.
Every time President Trump appears to be more sensible and rational or is saying prepared and telepromptered, if not heartfelt, remarks expressing compassion, hope may not spring eternal that he is at long last becoming presidential, but it does temporarily flip a collective positive switch in many people (if not the skeptical and cynical left leaning news media).
That positive switch is that when Presidential Trump has a lapse in his nearly unending, self-aggrandizing and self-serving, insatiably hungry ego, and flirts with being presidential, we experience a break in our nearly unending fear, anger and resentment towards him.
That break in fear, anger and resentment towards him overflows with temporary relief. Furthermore, the more intense our feelings of fear, anger and resentment towards him, the more that relief can verge on feeling ecstatic, as we momentarily think, “Is it possible? Do we finally have the leader we need and want? Do we finally have someone who makes us feel collectively confident, trusting and proud? And do we finally have someone that could also restore the world’s view of American leadership to be someone towards whom they can also feel those ways?”
What it comes down to is that people will root more for a reformed jerk or a-hole more than someone who has been nice and kind all along.
That is because niceness, kindness plus decency are so rare and special (and sadly non-existent) coming from a narcissist — and as I explained, the relief from fear and loathing is so powerful — that it totally overrides the appreciation of niceness and kindness from someone who has been that way all along.
