Americans adore our liberal golden boy

Much has been made of July's Rolling Stone edition where a strapping Justin Trudeau adorns the cover. The headline reads: "Justin Trudeau: Why can't he be our president?"

While it's great to see Canadian leaders in the American spotlight, I'm a tad squeamish over the unreflective adoration. When the article can't even properly identify the political party Trudeau leads (not the Liberty Party), one wonders whether our American friends value appearance over substance. 

Now granted, if I were an American I'd be fawning over just about any national leader who could offer some sanity to the Oval Office, too. But are the two leaders really so different?  Bear with me here (again), but let's not forget how similar their rise to power was. As I've said before, the two leaders share more in common than one might think.  

Both are pretty green when it comes to politics. They're outsiders, or at least they've portrayed themselves as such. We all know Trudeau grew up at 24 Sussex Drive, but that was a long time ago. He's a relative newbie to the world of adult politics and he's shown it (remember the elbowing incident in Parliament?)

Then there's the charisma. No matter their politics, they both ooze charisma that would have folks lay down their lives for them... Or take up arms, which is scary. 

And finally, they're true to their character, almost to a fault. Trudeau is unfazed by having his picture taken with topless women in a Pride parade. Trump is unfazed by saying or tweeting just about anything that comes into his over-sized head. 

Future political leaders can learn something from both of them. Don't try to be someone you're not. Speak passionately about your goals, whether it's a beautiful Mexican-financed wall or taxing the wealthy. Say what you mean, even if you don't end up doing as you say. And, for goodness sake, maintain a good head of hair!

This is a recipe for political victory. Governing, on the other hand, is a different story. 

And this is where the two diverge. As much as Trudeau has been criticized after nearly two years in power, he hasn't blown the place up yet. When he's made mistakes, he's been willing to admit to them. He's shown flexibility and a willingness to learn on the job.  

Can the same be said for Trump?  Hmmmm.... let's not think too hard... After seven months as president (has it really only been half a year??), he's most assuredly the same flawed character. His thin-skinned, egocentric nature is putting at risk the country and the Republican Party. His unwillingness to understand policy and the political system has rendered him ineffective in legislating change. Some think his style is better suited to a dictatorship (he certainly admires them), but even dictators require competence; if he were president of Russia, he'd be deposed in a week.

When everything's taken into account, there really is no comparison between Trudeau and Trump. It's like comparing ice-cream to liver. While some 30% of Americans still prefer the foul egocentrism of a deranged demagogue (my apologies to people who like liver), the vast majority scream for our sweet, socialist golden boy. 

And so Trudeau may be memorialized forever in American history: The best American prime minister who never was.