The other day I saw my president, Barack Obama, on the news. He was at the podium, jacket off, white shirt sleeves rolled up, talking to the audience.

I wanted to give him a hug.

Why did I get the urge to give him a hug?

I couldn’t figure it out so I went to the doctor.

At the Doctor

After a thorough examination with extensive testing, the doctor entered the waiting room, brows drawn, to give me the results.

“You have a hole in your heart,” the doctor told me.

I was shocked.

“Your heart was fine last year,” she continued. “Have you been doing anything differently since last year?”

“Well,” I admitted. “I’ve been following the Republican primaries quite closely.”

The doctor looked at me as if I’d said I started smoking three packs a day.

“You mean,” she said, “that you’ve been listening to people who call you lazy, want to build a wall between themselves and others, pee on enemy combatants, want the homeless to pay taxes, make money when you go bankrupt, gamble your property value like a crap shoot and think getting a job is as simple as buying a jar of peanut butter at the grocery store?”

“Yes,” I admitted.

“No wonder you need a hug. You burned a hole in your heart with that kind of behavior.”

I hung my head low, an admitted political junkie.

“Hopefully,” she went on, “you haven’t stopped using contraceptives.”

“Don’t worry,” I answered. “Until my man makes $21 million a year and buys me a NASCAR racing team and two Cadillacs, I’m staying on the pill.”

Barack Obama

I’m not one to worship politicians – I don’t believe anyone can change us but ourselves. So I was surprised at my sense of comfort in seeing Obama on the screen.

How is Obama different than the Republican candidates?

In the news, the Republican primaries have been reported as having an “enthusiasm deficit.” None of the candidates except Ron Paul generate a rock-star like following. When one of the candidates does have a moment of rock-star energy, the energy seems to be for a specific locale rather than a critical mass of followers.

In other words, the Republican candidates lack Charisma – capital C charisma that works as well in South Carolina as it does in Michigan.

Obama has this thing called charisma and this girl felt it the other day. He wasn’t blaming me for the bad economy, which, by the way, is not my fault.

What is Charisma?

Wikipedia says the word “charisma” comes from Greek and means “favor freely given” or “gift of grace.” Charisma, Wikipedia goes on, is “compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others.”

What signs are known for charisma?

I attach charisma to the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius). While there are lots of charming signs, such as Libra and Pisces, charisma inspires other to act on your behalf or defend you strongly while forgiving your weaknesses. Fixed signs have a certain force of personality that suggests people born under fixed signs have more energy in some way.

The fixed signs, in case you’re not a regular OHA reader, make good leaders of all sorts – religious, political and cult.

Of the four fixed signs, I think two are most charismatic – Leo and Scorpio.

Leo is the fixed fire sign and Scorpio is the fixed water sign.

Scorpio, unlike Leo, inspires both strong hatred and strong love, ala Hillary Clinton. Scorpio is known for intensity, an intensity that appeals to some and is repellent to others.

Leo is more a sign you can disagree with but still share a beer with after work. Leos are fun, open-hearted and joyful. Leos inspire the “hate the sin, love the sinner,” type of feelings in others.

Leo is ruled by the sun. The sun shines, always. When there is no sun in the sky, it is because there are clouds in the way. Clouds, as you know, are water.

Obama is the sun. The Republican candidates are fire (Ron Paul), earth (Rick Santorum), air (Newt Gingrich) and water (Mitt Romney).

Ron Paul, a Leo, is the only Republican candidate that inspires a fierce personal loyalty. Paul’s supporters truly believe he can change the world.

There are no Republicans in Unemployment Lines

It may not be just Liberal Me who wants to run into Obama’s arms, have him give me a big hug and have him assure me that it’s not my fault if I apply for a job and don’t get hired.

The Republican candidates need to cough up a charismatic garnish to go with the cold platter of conservatism if they want to tackle the sun (Leo).

Whether it’s fair or not, it seems that charisma is a job requirement for a high public office. I’m not sure charisma is a quality that can be developed. Watching Mitt Romney, for example, trying to relate to the Michigan voter by saying the trees in Michigan are the right height, is embarrassing.

There’s a saying that there are no atheists in foxholes. I also believe there are no Republicans in unemployment lines. Charisma is needed if in tough times one is going to promote tough solutions.