Eat-your-peas types

From DON’T GET COCKY: The latest battleground poll tells us Democrats are over-correcting for 2020 — and they can’t beat Trump that way. by Stephen Green. The article is about some more polling news which is not of especial interest to me but Green's throwaway line at the end does capture something I have noticed.

Another Trump advantage: He always looks like he’s having fun on the campaign trail. Every single one of the Democratic contenders is a real eat-your-peas type.

I observe politics but am committed to neither party and find much of it demeaning and fraudulent. However, the Trump-era has been marked by huge crowds, and a boisterous, almost bon-vivant performance art atmosphere. He is not just one of the endless supply of cookie-cutter establishment candidates. Love or hate his style, he has a distinct and memorable style.

I have probably watched a few minutes of perhaps four clips from his campaign rallies over the past three years. Just a few minutes. Each and every one of them is energetic, positive, and entertaining. There is life in them. He clearly enjoys himself and the audience eggs him on.

I have similarly watched a few minutes clips from the Democratic debates and possibly three clips from campaign rallies. Small, negative, hectoring, angry.

The sample size of observance is too small to be meaningful but the contrast is stark. It is almost a contrast between four years of Dumbledore or four years of Dolores Umbrage and the Death Eaters.