Free up time for Presidents to do important work by creating "United States Master of Ceremonies."

[True Blue Door]

Or MC USA. Presidents of the United States spend too much time doing ceremonial and diplomatic functions, attending dinners, luncheons, and receiving ambassadors, etc. Some countries take care of this by having their political and ceremonial leaders separate, often by having ceremonial monarchs or else some other position. We could do it with an "MC USA." They could even be an elected position with no actual authorities - just the country's favorite entertainer.

Admittedly it could get rather buffoonish, given some of the people we would likely have elected MC in the past, but that would actually be geopolitically smart - our leaders could be as boring and intelligent as necessary, while our MC would put on the shows to distract the idiots among us and among others. Moreover, the MC position would likely be much easier to integrate racially and sexually than the Presidency, which will always resist women and minorities even after the firsts are taken care of.

[enough]

1. I get the idea, but in our current situation, I have to say that NOBODY does ceremonial functions

with more dignity, poise and grace than our current President and First Lady. I am sometimes in deep disagreement with President Obama's policies and actions, but I constantly marvel at their tireless graciousness in official situations.

That said, I'm sure both of them would be extremely happy to be relieved of most of these duties. So who should it be?

[True Blue Door]

4. MC USA would undoubtedly be entertainers.

So it would basically just be a popularity contest among singers, comedians, talk show hosts, etc. A dignified option would be Stephen Colbert, but of course it could just as easily degenerate into an American Idol contest between some goofball pop singers.

[northoftheborder]

2. In past administrations, the vice-president was assigned a lot of those kinds of duties.....

George, the 1st, was always traveling to some funeral all over the world for Reagan, can't remember if he did a lot of such in the US.....

Often, I think the Presidents probably enjoy this sort of ceremony - a break from the urgent and draining serious work that is going on without end....

[hughee99]

3. The job already exists. Joe Biden does it. n/t

[True Blue Door]

5. Veeps do it by default.

I think it could actually benefit to do it vigorously, as a specific office with a big-time entertainer.