Christ America, your acting like a 6 year old child.

The deference for the “office of the presidency” only seems to apply to Republican presidents. There was certainly little respect for Clinton. Carter? Don’t make me laugh. Still, there is the memory of the ’60s (and ’70s and ’80s considering Ford and Reagan) where leaders believed that they could, even fleetingly, appear with crowds or in unsecured areas, and they, and the nation, paid an ultimate price. Certainly some of that plays a role in the sense of allowing democracy to be the method to choose and challenge your leaders rather than violence, on whatever level.

You’re right about the unquestioned respect that seems to be required for a president. Maybe it’s the American system, where the leader isn’t directly challenged as it is in a parliamentary system. Raucous debate (Bronx cheering) is common in parliament where the national leader is a regular participant but never allowed toward a president. Not getting up and applauding some thieving policy described during the State of the Union speech is considered gauche. The whole atmosphere of the State of the Union speech is regal with unquestioned deference expected.

Canada does have its quirks though. I once photographed a visiting lord-mayor of Liverpool in the Montreal city hall. I think it was the same guy that gave the Beatles the famous balcony greeting. He had asked if he could meet with the mayor, just on a completely informal, “Hi” level. He asked me what title the mayor had, as in “Your Honor” or “Your Honour.” When I told him the common deferential title was “Your Worship” he was surprised, but quickly adjusted. When in Rome… Oh, the mayor was Drapeau.

How about American send in a worn smelly sock to the White House?

After all, socks will be softer on postal charges and have a stronger aura (statement) when opened.

The Christmas-send=the-President a smelly sock campaign.??

Make some American history of our own?

They simply didn’t see anything wrong. And neither did Bush. Why, if I didn’t know better, I’d think it was all a set-up.

Disability forced me to retire early, and in that time, I have had time to think. And I realized a lot of it has to do with how we were indoctrinated in public schools in America. So many out-and-out lies were told. No wonder so many Americans don’t really use logic.