Don’t belittle your opponents. When you’ve characterized those who oppose you as stupid, weak, cowardly, and so on, and you prevail, what have you gained? You’ve prevailed over an opponent that was stupid, weak, and cowardly. And if you lose you’ve inexplicably been defeated by someone who’s stupid, weak, cowardly, an so on. Does that reflect well on you?
If, on the other hand, you characterize those who oppose you as resourceful, strong, and resolute, if you prevail, your victory is that much more significant. And if you lose, you’ve understandably been defeated by a resourceful, strong, and resolute opponent.
Useful in politics as it is in war.
I doubt this observation will surprise you: this seems an Asian rather than occidental point of view. There’s an element of face in your aproach.
Sometimes one abuses the enemy because the enemy may take the denigration to heart, and feel defeated even before battle is joined. Sometimes, if one is looking for allies, one can do it in hopes of moving fence-sitters to your side. Other times it may be a useful misdirection, cause the opponent to overreact, or to expect the attack from the wrong direction.
Yours is, if I may say so, an honorable man’s approach. The approach I describe is a ruthless man’s approach.