Politics is a nasty beast to get into discussions with, particularly because many insist on categorizing people as either Democrats, Republicans, right-wingers, left-wingers, social conservatives, . . . Honestly, it’s amazing any discussions are had at all given how many prefer instead to hang out in their respective cliques where the like-minded can graze together, patting each other on the back for being right and turning their noses up at those who beg to differ. It’s the high school social setting scene all over again.

You do bring up another interesting dilemma for Obama – his portrayal, if not the manner in which he presents himself in certain social settings, as a quasi-celebrity/media star. One thing everyone can agree on is that in the States, people love their ’stars’. However, the problem with America’s love affair with celebrities is that after a certain point, there’s this obsessive need to watch these very people that were held in such high regard crash and burn. Obama as it is has enough pressure to deliver the goods on getting America ‘back on track’. Having this celebrity veneer added to his persona is definitely not going to help him several months from now when we enter the rougher waters ahead. So, yeah, I wouldn’t want this job either, though apparently there are some pretty nifty fringe benefits like top-tier medical coverage and a generous pension plan. That and you get your own plane.

Thanks for adding to the conversation.