The informative, concise letter by Dave Griffiths, highlighting many of Donald Trump’s horrid comments over the years, was depressingly revealing (“So much for American exceptionalism,” Nov. 12).

Any couple of them should severely question the “content of one’s character,” as Martin Luther King Jr. observed, and send him to the proverbial showers, not to the White House.

I think the political analysts who had been trying to figure out how Trump won, and remain puzzled, are not focusing enough on how he uses words not simply to harshly criticize others, but to strongly further his selfish causes.

He seems to have devised a speaking formula. He’s not fluent, nimble and flowery in serving the English language. Yet, he’s clever. These are the elements  he incorporates into his scheme. He uses fairly simple words, repeats many of them, and utters a disproportionate number of superlatives and words that convey potent meaning.

He’s not worthy, but he speaks with forceful verve. At the time he creates a strong visual, that of pretending to play an accordion, stuck on one note.

Most people, especially of working age, don’t have a lot of time, or interest, to listen at length to virtually anybody in their busy semi-chaotic lives. Trump plays into this by being quite brief.

Through these tactics, he creates a sense of drama, seriousness and deep concern, with which to get people’s attention, obviously enough to have voted for him.

Without having written anything, I suppose I could’ve simply said the guy is the premier snake oil salesman.

Norm Gellatly, Auburn