The whole system is, on face value, total BS. But, like most things American, it is essential BS.

From Dukakis in the tank, to Kerry ordering cheesesteaks, to McCain acting like a born-again Christian, to Romney going to the state fairs and pretending to have seen non-rich people (and uncut grass) before. It's nonsense.

BUT - there is a value to it. The whole thing is a big pressure cooker, designed to bring out the real person. No one can "fake it" for the entire span (W is an exception, but he had practice as a spoiled rich kid being transplanted to Texas). The real person usually comes out - qualities and flaws.

In addition, it tests the mettle of the candidate. If they can take the non-stop meet-n-greets, stupid questions, and constant distractions in stride - then it suggests that they can be level-headed in times of crises at the White House. You have to be able to keep it together.

And do not underestimate the impact that things like the bowling trip have. People like to think they matter, they like to be appreciated and heard. His performance at the lanes didn't even matter - in some cases, stinking at bowling but being able to laugh at yourself in the process may gain you just as many (if not more) supporters.

I know many of my in-laws (in the rural NW part of the state) who were die-hard GOP voters that now like Hillary - because she fought for them and they feel like they matter to her. She is a GREAT Senator by all accounts. She must be, to have swayed the people in those northern counties.

Do people know it is BS? Of course! But they appreciate that they mattered enough to have a future President jump through hoops like a circus seal for them. Name me one King or Queen of England that would do that!

It's the game. Watch seasons 4+5 of The Wire - really opens your eyes to how crappy the election process is.

As for this being a test of characted and keeping one's head / cool / integrity...can anyone say that Hillary has passed?

If these are supposed to be "Adult" conversations what are you doing here?

Taliesen: "If McCain started trying to speak in modern day slang he would lose votes - it would be seen as a lack of respect."

Did you see the clip of Mitt Romney talking to black kids and making awkward references to "bling bling"? It was on the Daily Show. Painful.

Yep.

That was John Lennon, I think. He's dead. And he was singing about people like Woody Guthrie or Joe Hill or someone that really made a difference.

Both Obama and Clinton are lawyers, upscale yuppies and not working-class heroes. They are just going through the motions for the voting cattle. You know, fool 'em until they are into the slaughterhouse.

A real working-class hero doesn't stand a chance in the Democratic party. Union money and manpower are welcome, but not union ethics or programs, not true populism. The lying about NAFTA is the litmus test. The left wing in the unions formed the Labor Party in 1996 because of NAFTA. And we won't be forgetting who was behind that ... and it wasn't just the Clintons.

There is a lot of 'makin' up' to do. And eating hotdogs won't make it.

I hardly knew ye.

This letters section is full of bloody trash.

As opposed to you, a heavy going wuss who whines and cries about how immature people who don't support your candidate are, straight after you insult everyone who doesn't support her as being naive cultists.

While I am still going through my first youth, and thus have a lot to learn, I will learn it. You are going through your second, and frankly one shudders to think how stupid you were in your first - or how you managed to survive so long in a world where people are required to gain skills over a period of time.

Probably some sort of trust fund left by parents who actually contributed something to society as opposed to just vapid nothings on an internet letters page.

Goddam bowling is a goddam setup I can't count how many goddam 121 games I goddam rolled until I decided to chuck the whole goddam thing.

In general, I agree with most of your points. Although it should be mentioned that they are mostly "gut feelings" that you (and I) think are what actually result from these encounters. There is no hard data to support those assertions.

On the other hand, I take issue with one of your statements:

"In addition, it tests the mettle of the candidate. If they can take the non-stop meet-n-greets, stupid questions, and constant distractions in stride - then it suggests that they can be level-headed in times of crises at the White House. You have to be able to keep it together."

These road trips by politicos into the "real world" (of America) are relatively easy to handle because of 2 things:

1) Most Americans have a general idea of how the rest of the country lives (as opposed to a Portuguese relating to how a Dutchman lives, for example). This makes it much easier for them to respond to questions with tact and generalities -- even if they don't really say anything relevant.

2) If a mistake is made it can be papered over with "clarifications" post-facto. It is not a situation where a mistake can cost you dearly.

The position of POTUS, on the other hand, doesn't allow you "do-overs" -- especially with regards to foreign policy actions. Once the decision was made to invade Iraq there could be no "do-over". If Israel were to launch a strike against Iran's nuclear facilities the POTUS will need to make an immediate -- and crucial -- decision: support them or stand down. There will be no "do-over".

So, you see, how a politician handles himself/herself in these situations does not indicate at all how well he/she would respond in a crisis situation for the USA.