Since we seem to be relying on 7-year old stories of 20-year old rumors these days, or the equivalent of The Onion for news on Obama, I thought I'd post an authentic reality check: The Prez feels ripped off, explaining the crappy job he's done since 2000.
NPT, you need to check this out http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=791820 This cat has been talking about the empty, personal and obsessive talk during the political season. Plus, he's a pretty darn good writer.
To be frank, the President pay, the most powerful man on Earth was quite measly but then he is suppose to serve the nation, not to serve his own pocket. If we are all looking at how much we earn, I wonder who is willing to sacrifice for the country when the need arise. Don't ask what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.
We've never liked the idea of outright kingship, though we've never really been comfortable with a true "man of the people" in the Prez, either. Something in human nature looks, I think, for a bit of the trappings of monarchy in its people - our better nature notwithstanding. I touched on it before, in your thread, actually: http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?p=5920608