[madinmadtown]

Or conversely, if Obama was the brilliant mind and charismatic demigod that his campaign portrayed him to be, classmates at Columbia would certainly remember his brilliance as an intellect and classmate. Most college classes at the junior and senior level are relatively small and a person of such natural extraordinary traits would have stood out. Even if people didn't remember his name, his background of Hawaii and Indonesia would have been remarkable and memorable or that he had transferred from the balmy climes of California to move to New York. His name was unusual as well....we often remember unusual names when we hear them again..and Obama would certainly have that quality.

[Newton]

exactly!!! if there was a guy in one of my classes that was soooo dazzlingly brilliant, that grave great insight and perspective, AND had an usual name and had lived in interesting places... dam straight I would remember him!! I would have been out there saying publicly...”wow, that genius from my psych class is president!!! how lucky am I to have shared the same air space with him!!!” (yes that is sarcasism ;-) )