His supporters worship him as the most intelligent president ever. But, he does not engage his opponents. He speaks from a teleprompter on EVERY public occasion. He refused dinner invitations by Sarkozy and, I think, Gordon Brown. Could it be that he was advised (I don’t think he is able to come to this conclusion on his own) that he was not smart enough to hold his own around the dinner table?

He antagonizes his opponents as a device to enable him to avoid having to actually debate the merits of his positions with them. He left it to Congress to draft his signature bills (the stimulus and health care) and related time after time what was contained in HIS bills without really knowing. (“You lie!”) It was as if his wishes would automatically become part of the bills.

As he antagonizes more and more world leaders and they become less dependent on us (or just write us off), we will start to get the real skinny on this guy. He can ‘t hide forever.

Your mention of the “Bradley effect” in this regard is provocative. You could well be spot on.

take some time, if you can find it, historical analysis of those who fell out of favor with hitler.

they will show that hitler was very careful in deciding who was near him.

a particular man who was the subject, (and i am sorry i dont remember the origin, but only the clips and dialogue), was seen early.

hitler would shake his hand.. when they were walking and the crowd, he could touch hitler, or hitler would touch him. there is pych stuff you can read on it.

later out of favor, you can see the man trying to tuoch hitler, and hitler moving not letting him. and in another scene trying to stand close.

we have it all the time. ever go by a business who spent the money to have a dinner with someone? they tend to put a picture up of all their associations.

the concept is “guilt through association”

so he CAN transfer that… but only for those the charisma works… or who dont have an image of the other already…

and dont forget the 5 followers in the group who will blindy do this, and so skew others who dont wan tto go against the group.

if only i was a socipathic sadist, i could actually enjoy all this and then get a good position.