It appears the major parties' candidates will be Trump and Clinton. These individuals both have deficits, both have irritated large blocs of voters, albeit different blocs.
Neither person is over-committed to the truth, is particularly moral, or is what most Americans would define as an ideal president. Neither is someone most parents would like their children to grow up admiring or emulating.
It isn't even clear their policies differ much. The exceptions are in two relatively well-defined areas: foreign policy/trade and immigration. Clinton is an internationalist, Trump is for America First.
What really differentiates Trump and Clinton, beyond gender, is entertainment value - which candidate is more compelling to watch. Viewing a Clinton speech is painful; her harsh voice and aggressive, hectoring manner type-casts her as everyman's mother-in-law or ex-wife. Your instinct is to hit the "mute" button or change the channel.
On the other hand, a Trump speech has all the fascination of a slow-motion train wreck; you can't look away. You keep wondering what shibboleth he will disparage, which opponent he will skewer with cruel malice, what iconic figure he will besmirch, what uncomfortable truth he will proclaim.
Trump's style is an unlikely combination of Muhammad Ali, George Carlin and Don Rickles. His slogan could be "I'm the greatest, the status quo sucks, and if you disagree, you're a loser." Sounds like an odd combination, but it obviously works for him.
