that's why they're called crushes...

“Obama’s public persona is so predictable and his image so overexposed that even the left is over him. He’s gone from fascinating and cool to a crashing bore in less than two years. . . . Obama was in essence the latest trend, equivalent to this season’s fashion or the newest cell phone, which they had to have. But trends by definition come and go.” h/t Instapundit

When Peggy Left Barry
by Maureen Dowd

Obama has been bleeding independents, who flocked to him in 2008 and were the deciding factor in several swing states.

“You know, are there, you know, things that I might have done during the course of 18 months that would, you know, at the margins have improved some of the tone in Washington?” Obama asked. “Probably.” Uncharacteristically valley girl, the usually eloquent president must have, you know, had a hard time acknowledging that.


One of the independent voters Obama will be trying to charm over the next two years is my sister, Peggy, a formerly ardent Obamican (a Republican who changed spots to vote for Obama).

Despite being a Washington native, Peggy believed that the dazzling young newcomer could change Washington.

“He hasn’t saved the economy, and now he’s admitting he’s made very little progress. You can’t for four years blame the person who used to be president. Obama tries to compromise too much, and he doesn’t look like a strong leader. I don’t watch him anymore. I’m turned off by him. I think he’s an elitist. He went down to the gulf, telling everyone to take a vacation down there, and then he goes to Martha’s Vineyard. He does what he wants but then he tells us to do other things.

“I want him in that White House acting like a president, not out on the campaign trail. Not when the country is going down the toilet.”

Just a crush, what do you mean?

Crushes are addictive - they make life exciting, and give you hope and focus. This is the thrill of the chase, except that often it's more of a loiter!

Here are just some of the symptoms:

• You love them yet you don't even know them.
• All you can think about is them and what if...
• You've planned your whole future.
• You follow them round like a puppy on your lunch break.
• You go red whenever you see them.

• You lose the power of speech and co-ordination in their presence.
• Butterflies in your stomach.
• Pounding heart.
• You stammer/stutter something like "have you got the time?" at them.
• You imagine hours of conversations with them.
• Chant their name over and over again.

How to Cope
Try not to tie yourself up in knots about this - you've set yourself up with a fantasy relationship, but that is all. The emotions feeding this fantasy can seem very real, but the advantage is you don't have to deal with the actual person.

It is fairly unlikely to turn into reality as often crushes are formed on the unobtainable. The person might be attached, a famous film star or totally unsuitable. You have to accept that this romance will never exist outside of your own head. Often, just confiding in someone you trust will help you get things in perspective.

In a while you'll get a grip on this fantasy and see it as a learning experience about some powerful emotions. If anything, it'll work in your favour when it comes to dealing with real life, realistic relationships.

Once you've defined the boundaries, a crush like this can be a positive experience. One that can set you up to deal with the emotional side of future, more realistic relationships.