But it would be a brave man who tried to convince Mr Chirac that he should tone down his flesh-pressing, crowd-working enthusiasm.

BBC: French President Jacques Chirac

When asked, Mr Blair's aides insist that he is looking forward with equal enthusiasm to working with either Mr Bush or Mr Kerry.

ECONOMIST: Bagehot

For the president of the FCC, Jorge Gonzalez, the recipe for both success and enthusiasm has been working with young cyclists.

BBC: Giro team revives Colombia's passion for pedalling

So the government needs to temper its enthusiasm for universal child care and working mothers.

ECONOMIST: British social policy

The university said Dr Parry Jones "enjoyed working with budding scientists at all levels, demonstrated by his enthusiasm for meeting pupils during the Bangor Science Festival's Eco-science Day".

BBC: Dr Tom Parry Jones: Breathalyser inventor dies, aged 77

But when Mr Gore pledges to spend every day as president working for ordinary people against insensitive monstrosities like Aetna, they cannot help but feel a surge of foolish enthusiasm.

ECONOMIST: Al Gore, the people��s prince