Politics of Success and Failure

This chapter provides explanations for Trump’s success where Wallace found only electoral failure. The author explores: vast similarities between the candidates where braggadocious and mockery are respected and enjoyed aspects of speech, but differences in their “back story” and persona before the media; skewed ideas of success versus failure; influence of money upon political campaigns. Tight controls placed upon media exposure to the candidate via rallies or other favourable backdrops, as opposed to interviews, are examined, along with an emphasis upon the aesthetic and/or physical dimensions of the candidate rather than their positions on issues.