But I think the point is that a leader has to be smart, fearless, and unswayed by public opinion to the extent that s/he is willing to make the right decisions, which will benefit the greatest number of people, at the right times, without regard for the personal consequences s/he will face.

I agree with some of that, but I will never consider the dropping of the bombs on Japan to be a right choice. It's a personal thing, I'm afraid. It never struck me as a right decision, and it never will. Intellectually, I can understand your point, of course - it was swift, it was efficient, and it got the point across. But everything inside me rebels against it and I just can't consider it the right decision.

he should do whatever he thinks is best for THE COUNTRY, not what's best for GEORGE W. BUSH in election '04. That's the difference between a statesman and a politician--and Bush is clearly the latter, which is a damn shame.

Indeed. However, there is one thing that bothers me, but it can never be resolved, because there is too much to consider. If the president does not listen to his constituents and does as he sees fit, it may not be the best decision for his country, after all. This is one of those things that bothers me a lot, and one of the reasons I will never make a good politician. *g*