You're right, you're correct re: ego. Absolutely.

Still, posts on such threads as these often go colloquial. Denotation vs. Connotation. Commonspeak.

We wouldn't have the same discourse (or the same government, for that matter, which is a separate issue) if everyone had to ascribe to rigid academic standards. Going Jungian or Freudian, with vigor, is one way to comment/respond. Or, we all could converse, complete and overwhelmed with misspellings and grammatical jumbles and rabid frothing seethings and sentimental journeys so sweet as to produce an instant cavity. I guess I wind up at...person, speak your piece/peace, and, amazingly, a proper place will be found.

You certainly give a person things to consider! ;)

The "tragic flaws" question...

Interesting. You posed two potentials (ego and opportunism) and I agree that, thus far, to whatever extent they exist in the man, those have been well harnessed.

But IMHO, ixnay on Ego. Wearing no blinders. I just don't see him as ego-driven. Could give examples of those I do perceive pathway-ed that way, but anyway...

Opportunism, possibly. Expedience, short-term gains, trumping long-term vision. I'm QUITE sure many anti-Obama folks would say he's ALL about opportunism, but I'd shoot back that he's not stupid politically in these ever so "bi-HA-partisan" times (snark on, now off), and if people in general really did some serious self-reflection, don't most folks answer the door when opportunity knocks? The issue there is more to the point of whether others are being knocked down in the process. Truly hurt. Beaten down. Mauled.

I'd actually have to opt for "potential fatal flaw" the fine quality of Obama that you mentioned--empathy. With an appendage to that--consensus-building. Listening too much to others so that his own voice gets drowned. Compromising too much (or perhaps trying to please too much, when it's common wisdom that ya can't please everybody). Empathy can be draining. That said from personal experience, but yeeesh, taking on the country and the world? Empathy. It takes a reservoir of internal strength and an ability to back away to stick glue adhere to the "larger" good and, well, I'll go with Kipling now...to keep one's head when all about you are losing theirs.

Idol. No. Not my thinking (nor yours). He can't do it alone, and he doesn't profess such a thing.

I'm well into the mood and mode of healing and peacemakers.

There's a good drum beat, drum beat, drum beat, that crosses many cultures and religions and heritages and beliefs. If I made any sense to anybody with that last sentence, beat the drum, please.

Agreed. Second the motion.

Talk about being on the same page...(in this case, meaning figuratively but depending on where this comment lands, maybe literally, too).

I so respect and appreciate what you wrote re: the WTC being gone from sight, and from any vantage point around and about the city and its depths and inroads and buroughs, what we SAW was what was MISSING. Simply not there. Residents lived it. I often wondered about visiting first-time tourists, with their good hearts and souls; I would think of how they were seeing the ruins, the zero ground, but couldn't see what was gone.

Huge perception shift.

Your description gave me tears--not the dismal tears of the sorrow, but the mending, healing tears of understanding and resonance.

You, adeptly, connected this to Obama's victory. You struck a deep chord in me by making that link, and I thank you for that. It *does* take awhile to sink in. A sane president. It's "poof" with a "wow" with a "pinch me" and then...ok, let's make this work.

Mutts R'Us. I can adapt to that ;)

Hooray! Loved your post.

I'm off to a multi-generational (from about age 61 down through the middle ages until ya get way down to 1 1/2) b-day celebration and we all get along just fine.

Keep smiling for particular or no particular reasons--feels good, doesn't it? Work to do, we'll do it, but if I can be "pardoned" for an oldie Jagger tune that just came to mind..."time is on my side, yes it is..."

I am so glad I was here when you posted again because I wanted to acknowledge you and hadn't yet. On this thread and even moreso to the long thread following the "generational debacle" article, you offered several thoughtful, significant and heartfelt comments. I appreciated them. Thank you.

Yeah, it was a departure, I'd agree, and I understand your take. But maybe that's allowed now, or at least here and there? Maybe we can see more of that side? I liked it. After this LONG election cycle, a laugh is sweet medicine. If I thought that's how he'd be treating the economy, the wars, taxes, healthcare, education, etc., I'd have gotten worried, but I'm banking on his usual cool demeanor to rule with matters other than puppies coming to the White House :)

Acid flashback to me = resonating with God, then dawn comes with a heaping plate of Denny's breakfast.

Kudos to you! Quite sincerely. With all ten fingers & toes intact...and now a legacy of good for you & yours & us.

(Loved how you wrote your post, drew me in, that's why I mentioned the fingers & toes...babies being born into this world...wow...we keep on keepin' on and that's why this generational absurdity is so DUMB IMHO because we're people with ten or twenty digits or not, but individuals who can make a difference and can choose to, or not.

To another, again, I'll say: well said.

Revolution. Not perhaps of the "Nicholas & Alexandra) or the U.S. founders sort. (As dire, though? I'd argue, yes.) But it is most definitely up to the principles and actions of WE the people (by the people, for the people) BEHIND the personality, the movement, the hope, the anger, the tide, the ebb tide...no letting up (whatever freakin' "generation" from which you came hence).

Well said.