So George Clooney, in London for the premiere of Leatherheads, squeezed in a visit with British prime minister Gordon Brown on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing Darfur genocide crisis and the possibility of buying peacekeeping helicopters (probably through Clooney’s Not On Our Watch organization, which he started with Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle). The freaking British prime minister!

That, plus the increasing amount of flesh-pressing the’s been doing lately (he’s known for being gracious with fans and the press) and his leadership role in trying to prevent an actors’ strike, is enough to make you think that Mr. Charisma’s thinking of pulling a Reagan. God knows there are enough people signing online petitions for him to run or who at least want him to share the Obama ticket as vice-president.

To all this Clooney has offered a coy response: “Run for office? No. I’ve slept with too many women, I’ve done too many drugs, and I’ve been to too many parties.”

As for me, I think George, who is a United Nations Messenger of Peace, is actually angling for a Nobel Peace Prize. Think about it: The Nobel is the new presidency, the new Oscar. Just ask Al Gore, who has both and probably looks back at the days when he got fat and grew a hideous beard after losing the presidency—and laughs his ass off. Being President of the United States? Not what it used to be. You’re basically a bully that everybody hates. Being a humanitarian/treehugger? It’s all goodwill and halos, baby. Not saying George isn’t genuinely concerned about people dying by the thousands, but can’t you kinda see him and Angelina and Brad rehearsing their “I’m so shocked I won this!” Peace Prize interviews on three-way?

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