....thinking that you and I, and our country and its leaders, can be and do better than they are presently doing: Then, I am an elitist.

If being an elitist means that Obama honestly believes he's being elected to "lead" and that he knows what's best for our country, then he is, in fact, an elitist.

No one knows what's best for me and my family other than me and my family. No one leads ME other than ME, or someone of MY specific choosing. Elected federal governement officials are not our leaders. They just pretend that they lead, and we pretend that they lead, and some of us pretend to follow. It's just that not all of us, myself included, are sheep-like enough to actually follow. Barack Obama will NEVER be one of my leaders, regardless of whether or not he's elected. That's just an unemotional fact...

Well, I respect your independence, but the next US president will, to some extent, determine some of the laws you have to respect, your taxes, and what they are spent on ... as long as you reside in the US. Just FYI.

Again, you are confusing leadership with the imposition of new and higher taxes. The two are mutually exclusive. Leadership isn't even in that ballpark. Obama is not a leader, nor will he ever be, regardless of the outcome of this election. In order to become a leader, others must in fact, be willing to follow. That simply does not happen in our form of democracy. Just FYI...

If being an elitist means that Obama honestly believes he's being elected to "lead" and that he knows what's best for our country, then he is, in fact, an elitist.

What makes him different from McCain, then? McCain wants to send thousands more soldiers to Iraq, some of whom will die. Don't you think that's maybe kind of high handed?

What in fact makes Obama different from any president, if he wants to lead and thinks he knows best? And if he's elected, why the fuck shouldn't he lead? If he can't lead, then we the people who elected him can't lead ourselves either.

FBH, I think you are confused. My post just explains that you should care who the next president is, regardless of whether you consider him a leader or not. I did not make any argument for McCain or, as you perceive, for Obama (unless you refer to other posts that I wrote elsewhere). In 2 months, no one will be the least bit interested whether you consider our next president a leader or not. The more interesting question is: who do you think is a leader?

..."to lead."

Actually, that is what I want from our elected officials, especially from the President: To Lead!!!

To "govern", not to rule, and yes, to make decisions whether to tax or not.

I'd like a President that doesn't just command the armed forces; and, while I cherish the freedoms of being head of my family (a role I share), I want a President that has the power, authority, and wisdom, to protect me and my family (but not tell me who I can marry, when I have to pray (or stand mute), and takes my tax dollars and gives it to charities I don't want to support.

I want a President who leads by example, but does lead. I don't want an elected official of an anarchy. But, I want one who knows the difference between "leadership" and "naked power", and being a governor and not a ruler.

I hope that the next President can do that. I believe that Sen. Obama is more capable of that than is Sen. McCain.

And: No, Sen. Obama is not an elitist.