“What moved Barack Obama to seek the presidency was ‘the basic idea of empathy’ and the notion that if ‘we see somebody down and out … we care for them.’ Republican John McCain explained that he was running ‘to inspire a generation of Americans to serve a cause greater than their self-interest.’ Noble sentiments, to be sure, but in the original constitutional scheme, the president was neither Empath-in-Chief nor a national life coach. His role was to faithfully execute the laws, defend the country from attack, and check Congress with the veto power whenever it exceeded its constitutional bounds.” [editor’s note: Yep, to act as “presiding officer” over the Administrative Branch of a three-legged governmental structure; NOT to become King or Emperor of the land! - SAT] (08/28/08)