> What makes [Obama] unusual, if not earth-shaking, as far as successful politicians go, is that he seems to be a truly great human being.
Obama's being a great human being can't possibly have the effects that you're predicting. That's not to say that he's bad. (Although the evidence for "great" is lacking.) Jesus H. Christ on a pogostick couldn't do those things.
That leaves us with a choice between "fanboy", "confused", and "troll".[1]
Which of them is a reason to upvoting your comments?
Me - I'm going with fanboy because I like to think the best of others.
[1] Your extended comments about casual sex confirm that those are the likely possibilities. In other news, nothing that you cited as "80s and later" actually started or even changed then. Digital watches are cool, but people haven't changed.
Obama's being a great human being can't possibly have the effects that you're predicting.
I think an inspirational leader like Kennedy or Obama can inspire people greatly to better themselves, and this inspiration has all sorts of ripple effects. A mustard seed, if you will. Finally we have a president whom, if I had kids, I would consider to be a decent role model for them to aspire to be like.
> I think an inspirational leader like Kennedy or Obama can inspire people greatly to better themselves, and this inspiration has all sorts of ripple effects.
I'm willing to believe that you do think that. One of my points is that it doesn't actually happen. (Another is that your "since 1980s" claims are completely wrong.) Self-delusion is one of the most important human impulses and I'm not suggesting that you should change yours.
You do know that the 100th monkey story was just that, a story, right? That thing about Tinkerbelle also doesn't happen.
I'd say heads of state affect people. Look at how divisive people in America are because so many don't like Bush. Think that kind of tension doesn't affect people's aspirations and motivation?
Obama's being a great human being can't possibly have the effects that you're predicting. That's not to say that he's bad. (Although the evidence for "great" is lacking.) Jesus H. Christ on a pogostick couldn't do those things.
That leaves us with a choice between "fanboy", "confused", and "troll".[1]
Which of them is a reason to upvoting your comments?
Me - I'm going with fanboy because I like to think the best of others.
[1] Your extended comments about casual sex confirm that those are the likely possibilities. In other news, nothing that you cited as "80s and later" actually started or even changed then. Digital watches are cool, but people haven't changed.