The plethora of Messianic references to Barack Obama have been mounting over the past several weeks.  A couple of days ago, Rush even referred to Obama as "The Chosen One." 

Hey hold on a minute.  That one is already taken.  Everyone who follows sports at all knows that for at least the past 4 years, the moniker "The Chosen One" belongs to LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers.  For those who don't follow the NBA, the 23 year old, 5 year veteran of the NBA is one of the greatest success stories in all of sports.  The first overall selection in the NBA draft 2003, James single handedly transformed his hometown Cavaliers from a bottom tier team to an NBA powerhouse. 

The description of Obama as "The Chosen One" prompted a curious thought. 

How much better would we all feel if it were LeBron James who the Democrats nominated as their candidate?

Much to his credit - Lebron's political views are not well known.  Of course, much the same is true of Obama.  We know Barack is for "Change" and "Hope", and recently we've found that he's for "Hoping" to "Change" the air pressure in ones automobile tires.  Other than that, Obama has expressed support and opposition to every conceivable political issue.  He's pro - Isreal, anti - Isreal; for talking to Iran, against talking to Iran; immediately withdrawing from Iraq, waiting to withdraw from Iraq; opposed to oil exploration, for oil exploration; etc, etc.

We are told that Barack posesses "Judgment."  It is this "Judgment" that is so keen and finely honed that supposedly makes Obama the superior candidate.  Yet there is suprisingly little reference to examples of any such "judgment."  Obama claims to have displayed superior judgment when he opposed the Iraq war from the outset.  This is a dubious claim.  First, given the recent turn of events, it now appears likely that Iraq will become a successfully functioning legitimate State; and that our actions there may not have been so misguided as was widely assumed a year ago.  Second, Obama didn't oppose the Iraq war in any meaningful way.  He wasn't a U.S. Senator at the time the war was authorized by the Senate.  His Democrat colleagues voted overwhelmingly in favor of the use of force in Iraq.  Since that time Obama has almost never voted against his own party.  He might have done so on the Iraq issue - but it's far from clear that he would've become a "maverick" on the Iraq war issue.

Other examples of Obama's judgment are even more suspect.  He judged Tony Rezko to be a fine personal and political associate, and Rezko was convicted on numerous counts of corruption.  He judged the now famous Reverend Wright to be a fine pastor - even mentor, but somehow was unphased by the reverend sceaming "God Damn America" at the top of his lungs during a church sermon.  He judged William Ayers to be a fine American despite his history as a known terrorist bomber of American institutions.

But back to LeBron.  He also has very few political accomplishments, but has sponsered as many peices of significant legislation as has Obama.  LeBron's judgment is much more public and the results much less subjective.  LeBron, as a youngster had the judgment to chose a private Catholic High School with a great sports and academic tradition.  He had the judgment to recognize that at 18 years old, he could not reasonably refuse the more than 100 million dollars that would accompany the decision to go directly to the NBA.

LeBron also has to excercise judgment during every game.  Pass, shoot, drive, jump shot, three point attempt, are just a few of the decisions LeBron faces each game.  A teenager playing against the greatest professionals in the world, the entire world of sport and especially the fan base of Cleveland, expected this young man to have the vision and judgment to make the correct decision - every time.  The results of LeBrons decisions are not subjective, either his team scores and wins, or they don't and lose.  Perhaps the stakes aren't so high, but cities have been burned over the results of playoff games, and in some countries riots result over the outcome of sporting events.  Surely the pressure on LeBron to make a correct judgment is at least as consequetial as selecting the best tire guage.  The frequency of LeBron's judgment being correct is stunning.  During this years semi-finals against the Celtics, LeBron began using penetrating drives late in one game, when the Celtics began to collapse their defense inside, he began making outlet passes to outside shooters.  As soon as the Celtics hesitated, he slammed a "posterizing" monster dunk over the heads of three Celtic defenders.

To be sure, LeBron sometimes errors in judgment.  It is perhaps most illustrative how LeBron James deals with his mis-ques.  LeBron James sits in a chair after every game being quizzed by often hostile media about his performance and judgment.  He's not yet mentioned lack of sleep, biased questioners, hostile environments, or even bad officiating.  Without exception, LeBron James has handled success and failure with the straight answers that most often conclude that it is he, and he alone that must improve before the situation improves.  Even when other teams have employed an obvious "hard foul" strategy against LeBron James, he's taken every bit of punishment his oppenents could dish out, and then returned more.

How refreshing it would be to hear even once, from a political leader, "I'll just have to do better."

No, Mr. Obama, you may be known as the Messiah, the Lord, the most revered, as well as a host of other descriptives; but you are not "The Chosen One" - his name is LeBron.

Of course, LeBron isn't yet 35 and not qualified to be President - but 12 years is only 3 elections away - and he'd damn sure carry Ohio !