The Stuff Cowboys are Made of

I recently wrote my exploratory essay on the effect of frontier idealism on American politics. What does that mean? Well, whether you realize it or not, most of the politicians we see on TV embody, or at least attempt to embody, the traits supposedly pioneered (pun not intended) by the American Frontiersman.
Actually though, these traits were creations of the 20th century-long after the frontier had closed. The typical cowboy, according to author Richard Slotkin, is a rugged individualist who carries around a huge gun (think about it) and prefers the "shoot first, ask questions later" mentality. The most important asset of his to protect is his pride. He'll never give up until the enemy suffers. It fascinates me how this celluloid portrayal of "American-ness" is so prevalent today in American politics.
One example of this is how President Bush refuses pull troops out of Iraq. A removal of military presence would mean a "surrender" and would therefore be detrimental to his "cowboy" image. John Wayne says in one of his films, The Searchers, "I don't like surrenders." John Wayne was just an actor though; he portrayed a fictional character. Similarly, Bush simply refuses to look at the realistic side of the issue. He just looks at it through his cinematic lens.