“Placing faith in a politician is a sucker’s bet — they’re mostly power-hungry sociopaths who will do or say anything in order to attain office. (Did somebody say ‘Hillary Clinton?’) So the cult of personality that has come to surround Barack Obama — and which even his followers are capable of recognizing and mocking — is a little unsettling. Should a mere political candidate hold that much meaning to so many people and consume so much energy and attention that could otherwise go to more sensible pursuits such as family, friends and Internet porn? Republicans are capable of their own man-on-a-white-horse fantasies of course. Many conservatives want an imperial president — McCain just isn’t the Caesar they have in mind.” (05/09/08)