If I can I would like to add some perspective on the concept of Power. Any elected official is a horse that bets are placed on. Las Vegas bets on Politicians, elections and issues related to funding every day of the week. In their world the conversation is a list of numbers, hedging bets, time zones, opening and closing of markets, trends and outliers.
Yes Michael Jordan is rare air, and Tiger Woods will eventually plateau in Himalaya's Mountains with his fortunes. Never forget the Rupert Murdoch's, the Sam Waltons, Steve Jobs and the Bill Gates of the world. To be President is a seat of power that we may get to for the first time, however, it is an indicator not a marker. Deep within the bowels of government somewhere deep within the recess of the halls of power are un-named people who are a necessary ingredient to power.
The election process leads to institutional power. Within the framework as President you are on the clock, these people have seen them come and go. The office of President is not a threat. The economic lay of the land is a threat to holding on to power beyond the office of President.
Venezuela's Hugo Chavez has the vocabulary of a thug and the coordination of a clumsy big man trying to dribble a ball. But, he and Iranian President Ahmenajhaden have proposed to the oil ministers of OPEC to use the Euro as the standard currency for OPEC nations because the dollar will be weak in the forseeable future. The net effect is to pump less oil and make more money with a strong Euro, making America's affordabilty to oil cost prohibitive because the dollar is no longer the strongest currency. This is being discussed.
The iconic Ford family is fighting for it's automotive life in America, because they have squandered their lead due to poor product resulting in a crummy reputation on quality. Toyota whose slogan is "Moving Forward" has General Motors running on all cylinders in order too avoid getting eclipsed as the worlds top car manufacturer. Chrysler is not even in the game.
South Korea has a wireless city, France the size of Texas is Nuclear powered, Brazil is energy independent using sugar cane as the cellulite material to cheaply develop ethanol. They made the transition from oil back in the 70's when this country had an oil crisis during the Carter Administration. Finland, Newfoundland derive more solar and wind power as the days go by.
The United States is mired in a war that knowone can predict an end. General Electric, Virginia Electric Power and the overall manufacturing industry has to rely on China to grow the business for year on year growth, while families and small business digest a recession and this country borrows heavily from China to pay it's bills. That my friend is the real threat to the old establishment in the smoke filled room. President of the United States is a player, but not THEE player. The threat moving forward within the next few years are the sectors of the economy in manufacturing, banking, and the globalization of the workforce. The best a President can do is enhance global opportunity in local communities, demonstrate uncharacteristic Statesmanship and court competing countries to invest and request funding from the Congress.