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Tolkien also referenced Denethor in a similar context.~Kuru
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Yes, Denethor is indeed similar to our modern day politicians. The quote from the Appendices is a pretty close description about "and the most improper job of any man, even saints (who at any rate were at least unwilling to take it on), is bossing other men"
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Thus pride increased in Denethor together with despair, until he saw in all the deeds of that time only a single combat between the Lord of the White Tower and the Lord of Barad-dur, and mistrusted all others who resisted Sauron, unless they served himself alone.~Appendix A: The Stewards
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He's not a politician, in the sense of an elected official. The House of Stewards is a royal line and charged with the rule of Gondor, and having all the authority of a King "until the King comes again." At the beginning, it's said the Stewards executed their duties faithfully. But as time went on, they began believing the King's line was exterminated and the "oath of office" they took to rule in place of the King "until the King comes again" became mere words to recite. Then we get to Denethor, who is compared to a politician, because in his mind, even if Aragorn's claim was true, it doesn't matter. Isildur's line is:
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"I would not bow to such a one, last of a ragged house long bereft of lordship and dignity."~The Pyre of Denethor
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The King's line no longer claim their hereditary right to rule Gondor, in Denethor's eyes. Denethor's twisting the "hereditary Monarchy" argument around to argue it's the Stewards' line that should have the hereditary right, because Isildur's line hasn't ruled Gondor for thousands of years.
On a separate, but related to the topic note. Would anyone say The Shire is an anarchy? Or at least, the closest example of an anarchy that one might find? Or is it not, because The Shire is under the protection of the High King, and in a general sense follows the King's laws? The elected Mayor has no political power. There is the hereditary titles of the Thain and Master of Buckland, but they don't hold any political power. I suppose if the High Kings had chosen to do so, they could have exercised their authority over the Shire.