Effing POTUS!

Reading the solicits for political thrillers made me realise how often the American President is involved in their storylines, either as the head of a vast conspiracy or the victim of a vast conspiracy. That's when the main character comes in and sorts things out.

What's the deal?? Why do Americans so desperately need to see their leader as either a swaggering hero or a malevolent villain? Why does the President need his own mythological status, with his own Asgard (the White House), his own Praetorian Guard (the Secret Service) and his own Sleipnir (Airforce One).

In Australia, we consider ourselves lucky if our Prime Minister can say the word 'mate' and not sound insincere (which the current one doesn't!).