·      Swooning celebrities “pledging” some sort of allegiance to a candidate/president.

·      Children singing/chanting hymns to a candidate/president.

·      Formerly swooning celebrities asking a president, “Where is the LOVE?” during Super Bowl Halftime.

·      An otherwise normal person attributing to a candidate/president the power—publicly, to a reporter, cameras rolling!—to relieve her of everyday concerns such as paying her mortgage and filling her gas tank.

·      An otherwise normal person supplicating a candidate/president—publicly, at a town hall, cameras rolling!—to get her a house.

·      Otherwise normal people attributing to a candidate/president—publicly, to a reporter, cameras rolling!—the dispensation of cash from a “stash” to cover their earthly needs. 

Lots of reasons why these occurred—and they were news stories, YouTube posts, and/or (in the case of the swooning celebrities) promotions meant for public consumption. 

Now, these were not caused by, or the fault of, President Obama.  His candidacy and election were viewed, however, as suitable occasions for these unabashed displays of cultivated helplessness, an illness that has been incubating in this country for many decades.   

Hmm, given the above, perhaps I can enumerate one thing I do positively want, to the extent possible:  I want the legislative and political framework that has prolonged this illness taken down, not propped up.  I'll be able to enthusiastically consider voting for someone who shows me he/she is serious about this.

Welcome to Diablogue, an ongoing dialogue blog by political commentators Alice Zents and Kelly Kovar. Please check back soon for new entries.