Our military is deployed all over the world. We're brokering the peace process in the Middle East. To some outside the US, we're the Microsoft of countries. Despised and feared, looked up to with resentment, pitied for our character flaws but blessed with a single language and currency and huge natural resources and other geographic advantages. It's nothing different from the dances that Michael Robertson of MP3.Com and Hank Barry of Napster have to do with the music companies.
Lawyers run the show.
With so many resources and so much power, one-half a US presidency is worth a lot. The investors won't let their guy walk without a dirty nasty fight. Some say if one of them abdicates he'll be in perfect position for 2004. The money people would never bet on the guy again. Abdication is not an option Abdication would end the career of the man who conceded.