Well, then that's your personal sense :-) I think I saw half a dozen names brought up, and I had no big problems with most. Most of these have been discussed in the media, too. So I don't see a lack of alternatives.

anaemic appointee designed not to upstage the delicate egos of our heads of Government

Eh, that seems more like the job description to me. Someone upstaging those delicate egos will fail at the job. His only legitimacy will come from those delicate egos.

the job will become Blair's by default.

I wouldn't bet on it. Bliar's surrogates may make a lot of media noise, but while the media is essential to influence public opinion, here the 'voters' are heads of states and governments, who are also influenced by non-public backroom deals and their own power interests. I think at this point, no one wants to lay their cards on the table.

But my more general point is that I am saddened by the dearth of any "heroes of the European Union" which inspire an identification with, or allegiance to the more general concept or ideals of the EU.

I have a more basic problem: I can't feel inspired by the current batch of elected right-wing and right-leaning center-left governments and parliamentary majorities. The EU is built atop these -- and we get the Barrosos and Pötterings and Prodis as a result. To run the EU in a way that I think is inspiring, these governments and majorities would have to be replaced.

_{*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.}