Hail to the chief entertainer? That's politics.

Sometimes you have to wonder if the presidential candidates are running to be First Celebrity — or maybe Entertainer of the Year. Watching the campaign, you can just about imagine that come Jan. 20, Ryan Seacrest will be on the steps of the Capitol swearing in either John McCain orBarack Obama as the next American Idol. It's not that the candidates have entirely given up serious speeches, solemn debates and aggressive political attacks. It's that their dance cards also are thick with appearances and events designed to entertain us. Sometimes, the contrast is jarring. One day this week, McCain and running mate Sarah Palin were on the stump denouncing Obama as a terrorist's pal. The next day, Palin is telling reporters how much "fun" it would be to appear on Saturday Night Live with her doppeleganger, comedian Tina Fey.... [read full story]