The President is called Mr. President by his staff. Forget his family---that is a different issue and take.

The President is called Mr. President by the public and by those invited into his presence---diplomats, plain ole folks, etc;

It is a sign of respect and also of the prominence of the office. Think about this. GWB did not like the informality of the Clinton Whte House---now that was a joke. He wore a suit and thought that made him presidential.

One has to draw a line and in our democracy it is a proper use of the title---not Your Majesty---just Mr. President. Would any of you have called JFK, FDR, HST, anything else? Sorry, I listed Dems--- Bush the elder, Reagan, etc; I left out GWB since, in all honesty, he made a joke of the office and he is the one that should be sharing abeer with folks while his VP sits in a cellar plotting many deeds.

By the way; not to offend the Brits here--what really does the Queen do in these times other than cost a lot of money to support her and her family whilst not having any power in any case?

With all due respect---and I had the pleasure of not meeting her but having her bid us wee ones farewell during the Blitz at Victoria Station for the evacuation. A wonderful memory of a stoic little girl.

Bill Hahn