Date: February 4th, 2020 7:49 PM
Author: fishy startled office
I was blown away the first time I actually saw him speak, and immediately poasted on XO at the time and gave my initial reactions. No idea where the thread is but I think it was some televised townhall.
I also think many on XO who dismiss him have only read about him and haven’t actually heard him speak.
Here are some reasons:
1. He’s an incredibly smooth and polished public speaker - think Obama but without needing a teleprompter. Usually it’s kind of obvious these people are spouting lines, but I didn’t think this about him. He seems to exude a quality that makes you want to believe him.
2. On a related note, he knows how to speak with incredible gravitas + (false) sincerity. He can look the average voter in the eye and convince them he truly cares about them and their concerns (he doesn’t). He also can use his gravitas to pass all sorts of bullshit as the Truth, which you’d believe unless you knew better.
3. He doesn’t seem gay at all. If he was some prancing faggot, it would immediately turn people off. But he comes across as completely straight. Yes, this illusion is shattered when you see him kissing his “husband,” but if a voter tunes into the debates, you only see #1, 2, and 3.
4. He's incredibly intelligent. If you listen to him speak, this is evident. Intellectually, he can run circles around Trump in his present old age. This isn’t massively huge, but still a nice asset to have.
5. Very limited record, meaning it’s hard to dig up past contradictions that could puncture a hole in #1-3.
6. He has absolutely no principles and will take any position at all perceived to gain or maintain power. While this is true for most politicians, the above reasons make him especially dangerous because he’ll be able to effectively seize on any opportunity to attack Trump that presents itself.
7. Seems 40 years younger than everyone else, allowing him to position himself in many good ways. No “low energy” attacks here.
8. Not as compelling, but Trump’s lone attack on him so far (Mad magazine posterboy) is probably the least damaging nickname/attack that Trump has ever made against a political opponent, in my opinion.
These are some of the reasons but I’m sure I can think of others
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4438215&forum_id=2#39542955)