Score Keeping Political Rhetoric

Candidates running for various offices in the 2020 election cycle must validate the emotions of the voter (pathos), confirm the understanding of the voter's suffering (ethos) and provide a real solution to the voter's problems (logos). Seems reasonable, right? Why doesn't it happen? Easy, the pathos, ethos and logos are substituted for other rhetoric.

• Pathos: Demonstrate empathy, affirm and validate the feelings of voters.
• The candidate tries too hard to look "local" instead of owning his or her class status.
• The candidate has more photo ops with famous celebrities in a bid for popularity, but popularity is not the same as affinity.
• Ethos: Demonstrate context, understand the technical details of the problems.
• The candidate responds by referring to a problem as "the problem" or "your pain."
• Logos: Use critical thinking skills and logic to arrive at a solution for the problems.
• The candidate speaks in "glittering generalities" or platitudes.
• The candidate focuses on one or two specific issues that can be easily solved already.
• The candidate avoids an issue on which he or she is known to equivocate or an issue he or she voted against that is supported by most voters.

Or, the candidate simply lies.

For a complete list of Rhetorical terms, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_rhetorical_terms