When was the last time you saw a President looking so...Presidential?

I conceptually understand the Republican argument about Barack Obama's "Cult of Personality," but honestly, isn't that what a President is? Think of the archetypal president: calm, cool, patriotic, level-headed, charismatic, witty, engaging, and stylish. Do Americans want a true maverick? Do Americans want a cowboy? Maybe some do, but bucking the Presidential image hasn't been successful. Take a look at this picture and tell me that you wouldn't be proud to have this man step off the tarmac and represent you, an American.


There's a certain swagger or "coolness" as well as an unmatched intellectual prowess and fairness that Americans demand from public figures, whether they realize it or not. The archetypal American President is a combination of George Washington and James Bond. Bush didn't have that personality. His appeal was maintained by only a small subset of America.

But why? When Bush was elected, Americans were quoted saying that they could see themselves having a beer with him. A beer? How about a serious political discussion? Not so much. He appealed to the common man, but in a time of crisis do you want the common man leading the country? According to approval rating polls, evidently not. Perhaps, President Bush's personality said one thing to America in 2000 (cowboy), and another thing after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (incompetent boob).

Beyond personality, did you ever see President Bush or Dick Cheney (or anyone from the administration) looking this comfortable and naturally happy in a public setting?



Think of Ronald Regan. Many Republicans cite him as one of the best and most charismatic Presidents. Look at his background: Regan was an actor and a fantastic orator. His policies weren't the best that the world had seen, but in many ways he gave off the aura of a President with his innate abilities - his personality was presidential.

One last point: take a look at this chart of the physical characteristics of Presidents (and presidential candidates) from the New York Times. Could they have made the John McCain silhouette look punier and less presidential?

As icing on the cake, Obama even manages to look more like a movie-star cowboy than George Bush.