So, what do we like in a modern world leader?

I think particularly in America, the average American asks the impossible of the President image-wise, namely, that the President is supposed to be somehow greater than the common man, some great leader figure who can "get the job done," and yet, at the same time, has to be on the level with the common man...

I'd also go so far as to say I THINK MYSELF the Left prefers a President that is more the former of that equation--ie, a powerful, greater-than-the-common-man figure, somewhat of an elitist--whereas the Right prefers the down-home, more humbly-rooted President...

Which is a bit paradoxical, as a Leftist President, I think, tends to be, in nature, more intellectual and distances themselves from the public somewhat socially and via class, and yet at the same time are more prone to try and equalize things somewhat amongst the masses...and yet, the Right-Wing President tends to cultivate the down-home image, and yet, certainly recently, is so often tied to larger corporations that in cultivating that image of being relatable to Joe Six Pack, at the same time, the Right-Wing President seems more alright with keeping Joe where he is...


I think of FDR and JFK when I think of the quintessential Leftist President--both from elite families, extraordinarily-well educated, their families tied to politics and power even before them, and being an intellectual-if-cold/cutthroat leader; FDR and JFK certainly had a good relationship with the common man, but clearly distanced themselves from them.

And then for a Right-Wing President, one need look no further than the Bushes and Palins for the present--and yet, too, should look nevertheless to Lincoln in the past, for it's Lincoln the Right-Wing President tries to emulate--the GOP's even sometimes referred to as "The Party of Lincoln," whereas the Deomocratic Party cultivates an image of "The Party of FDR/JFK/Jefferson," high-minded, intellectual, and elitist presidents, far removed from any "log cabin" mythos.



Of these...

Of course, I prefer the Intellectual, Elitist President.