See How Obama won for an interesting take on Obama's organisation and ego. Of course he will eventually be found to have feet of clay, like everyone else. But it is the manner of doing politics, of building society, of engaging people's hopes and dreams which can endure. notes from no w here
A couple of years as President will screw him up anyway: I don't believe it's possible to stay grounded in reality to the end of the first term, never mind the second term.
Perhaps stuff like abortion, gays, and assualt weapons in private hands will finanaly be taken off the table and cease to exist as mainstream political issues - or wedge issues used to contra-distinguish major Presidential candidates and parties. Perhaps the issue will become not regulation/deregulation, but what kind of regulation. Perhaps the notion of invading a country because you don't like it's regime will come to be seen as absurd.
We can live in hope, but we must also watch and see whether real change is intended. notes from no w here
