In the US that might be the case, but the German system is set up in a way as to force the different parties to make deals all the time. For that you need a working relationship with the other parties and at best create enough trust, to allow laws to pass at different times. In other words a bit of manners goes a long way. That was what Merkel was great at, which made her survive as long as she did. In the US she would have been dead, as she has very little charisma.
I don’t think manners ever mattered for political success. They might even be a hindrance.
In the US that might be the case, but the German system is set up in a way as to force the different parties to make deals all the time. For that you need a working relationship with the other parties and at best create enough trust, to allow laws to pass at different times. In other words a bit of manners goes a long way. That was what Merkel was great at, which made her survive as long as she did. In the US she would have been dead, as she has very little charisma.