[Eugene Volokh, March 4, 2008 at 1:21pm] Trackbacks
"Bugs Bunny Always Beats Daffy Duck":

A Presidential election theory from Jeff Greenfield in Slate. My question, though: If Bugs Bunny always beats Daffy in the general, then didn't Daffy have to beat some candidates (including some Bugses) in the primary? Or is Daffy always the least Daffy of the primary lot (doesn't seem likely to me)?

Asher Steinberg (mail):
He didn't say that there's always a Daffy in the general, and he'd probably also say that sometimes a Bugs is so hampered in other areas that he loses to Daffy in the primary. For instance, Huckabee is sort of a Bugs to McCain's Daffy, but Huckabee never had a real chance for all sorts of other reasons. When candidates are roughly evenly matched, though, the Bugs prevails. It's a stupid way of saying that voters like likable people more than unlikable people.
3.4.2008 1:43pm
Mike S.:
That can be refuted with one word: Nixon.
3.4.2008 1:44pm
Dilan Esper (mail) (www):
Professor Volokh, your de-spic-a-bpffffffftle.
3.4.2008 1:51pm
anomie:
Are you saying that Humphrey was a Bugs, or that McGovern was? Or are you overlooking the possibility that those were Daffy vs. Daffy elections?
3.4.2008 1:52pm
Arkady:

[D]idn't Daffy have to beat some candidates (including some Bugses) in the primary?


Uh, and I don't mean to be unkind, but if the opposing party consists entirely of Daffys...
3.4.2008 1:56pm
PersonFromPorlock:
Besides, the real choice is usually "Larry, Curly or Moe?"
3.4.2008 2:03pm
Crunchy Frog:

Huckabee is sort of a Bugs to McCain's Daffy

Huckabee is a Porky Pig at best. Or, more aptly, Foghorn Leghorn - all show, no go.
3.4.2008 2:13pm
VincentPaul (mail):
Once again, Bugs lost twice to Cecil Turtle.
3.4.2008 2:14pm
Asher Steinberg (mail):
Nixon faced Daffies in the general. However, those Daffies did beat somewhat Bugsier candidates in the primary (McGovern beat Muskie, Humphrey beat Eugene McCarthy).
3.4.2008 2:29pm
Cold Warrior:
Nixon-Humphrey is the exception that proves the rule.

For those too young to remember, Humphrey was the Happy Warrior. (Actually Happy Warrior II, since I believe Al Smith was the first to use that moniker.)

"Happy" was not typically among the Top 10 word association choices for Richard Nixon ...
3.4.2008 2:30pm
Bob from Ohio (mail):
This is just a new version of the "more likeable candidate usually wins" theory. It seems to pan out but the sample size is too small.

Nixon is the obvious exception but the Nixon of 1968 can arguably be considered more likeable than the 1968 version of Humphrey. (Not true for their entire careers of course.)
3.4.2008 2:35pm
Dave N (mail):
What about Ronald Reagan?

In 1976 was he Daffy to Gerald Ford's Bugs, or were they both Daffys who lost to Bugs Carter?

But that doesn't make sense, since in 1980, Reagan defeated Carter in the General Election. So is Ronald Reagan a Bugs or is a Daffy, or did he metamorphasize between 1976 and 1980 (and Carter too, for that matter, though in the opposite direction)?
3.4.2008 2:37pm
Vinnie (mail):
Once again, Bugs lost twice to Cecil Turtle.


Yea but Thompson bailed/was never seriously considered by the press.
3.4.2008 3:37pm
Cold Warrior:
I don't believe the Bugs/Daffy or "Upbeat Candidate Wins" theory holds true in primary elections.

1984: Mondale v. Hart

1988: Dukakis v. Hart/Pre-Bloat(ed ego) Gore/Jesse/Babbitt, etc., and Bush 41 v. Jack Kemp/Pete DuPont, etc.

1996: Dole v. Quayle/Forbes/Gramm (o.k. he doesn't count) etc.

But I think the rule holds in the general election ...
3.4.2008 4:17pm
zippypinhead:
In the Democratic primaries this year, wouldn't the better Looney Tunes analogy be Wile E. Coyote (carefully-orchestrated schemes constantly backfiring) versus the Roadrunner (clueless, lucky and untouchable)?
3.4.2008 4:28pm
Duffy Pratt (mail):
No matter what you think of the 2000 election, its clear that Gore got over a half million more popular votes than Bush. Thus, the Bugs/Daffy theory doesn't even apply to one of the examples the author gives (unless he is going to make some case about how the electoral college tends to prefer Bugs even when the people vote for Daffy).
3.4.2008 4:38pm
Thoughtful (mail):
This is a silly cartoonish analysis of real-world politics. Besides, we all know the real choice is between a Turd Sandwich and a Giant Douche...

[with acknowledgements to the writers of South Park...]
3.4.2008 4:52pm
cirby (mail):
The Bugs Bunny Rule:
Bugs always wins UNLESS he starts it, except for the Daffy Rule. (example: "Rabbit Fire")


The Daffy Duck Rule:
Daffy has such a huge karma deficit, he always started the trouble, even when he didn't. (example: "Duck Amuck")
3.4.2008 4:56pm
M. Python:
Election Official: Alan Jones ...

BBC Presenter: Sensible

Election Official: ... 9,112. Kevin Phillips Bong ...

BBC Presenter: Slightly Silly

Election Official: Nought. Tarquin Fin-tim-lin-bin-whin-bim-lim Bus Stop F'tang F'tang Olé Biscuitbarrel ...

BBC Presenter: Silly

Election Official: 12,441. (applause)

BBC Presenter: Well there you have it, the first result of the election as the Silly Party take Luton.
3.4.2008 5:02pm
Bruce:
Daffy always beats Porky Pig in the primary, through some sort of underhanded trick.
3.4.2008 6:13pm
wuzzagrunt (mail):
zippypinhead wrote:

In the Democratic primaries this year, wouldn't the better Looney Tunes analogy be Wile E. Coyote (carefully-orchestrated schemes constantly backfiring) versus the Roadrunner (clueless, lucky and untouchable)?

Clearly! Hillary (as Wile E. Coyote) is trying everything in the Acme catalog, while Obama (as Roadrunner) zoinks his tongue, beep-beeps, and disappears in a cloud of dust. Hillary gets to contemplate her error(s) as her Rocket Skates flame out, and she begins her downward trajectory to the desert floor.

I love Chuck Jones.


Duffy Pratt wrote:

No matter what you think of the 2000 election, its clear that Gore got over a half million more popular votes than Bush. Thus, the Bugs/Daffy theory doesn't even apply to one of the examples the author gives (unless he is going to make some case about how the electoral college tends to prefer Bugs even when the people vote for Daffy).

That was a classic Bugsian victory, and caused much seething and rage at Daffy Headquarters.

Did I mention I love Chuck Jones?
3.4.2008 7:25pm
Anon Y. Mous:
Rabbit season!
3.4.2008 9:05pm
LM (mail):

And it may be that McCain will be the candidate to break the losing Daffy pattern, because he'll be able to argue successfully that in a dangerous world, you need a president more in touch with the dark side of human nature. This argument might even work for Clinton if the primary battle goes on past tonight.

Nothing like a pundit willing to stick his neck out for his convictions.
3.4.2008 9:14pm