Why can't Obama be seen as someone who is doing what is right for the country instead of this Left, Center, Right nonsense? He will be President of all Americans, so many of you on the Left better be prepared for more "disappointments."

Thanks for sharing, Des. This is the trend that gives me hope that eventually we can dispense with ideology in favor of common sense, no matter what labels one chooses to describe the changes. As anew08 says, Obama being known as the American president is much more important this year than maintaining our battle stations for another four or eight years.

Funny, I talked to my dad the day before Thanksgiving. I usually don't talk politics because he used to be a FOX "news" junkie and a life-long republican.

He asked me what I was doing on election night. I said 'Why do you ask?' (I was knocking on doors).

He said I was DJing the celebration party at Obama headquarters in Lake County IN.

I fell off my chair. We then proceeded to have the first conversation in my life in which my father and I agreed on the state of our country. The leadership in place. The necessity of citizen participation in govt... etc.

Miracles do happen!

We talked about Obama at my brother's house on Thanksgiving, about half of us concerned he was shapping up into Clinton revisited and the rest hopeful he could strengthen his political control and pursue whatever policies without much compromise.

I come from a long line of Republican businessmen, ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN0oDnoc3-c ) and saw a similar shift in my Dads' endorsement of 'all things Republican' after the 2004 election. While he too voted for McCain, his support was tepid at best and not because McCain wasn't conservative enough for him. My feeling is that BHO is going to help unite all but the single issue voters and R ideologues in facing the challenges we face as a nation and a world. Too bad we didn't have someone so inclined in power during the last 4 years. The "veer to the right" will hopefully frame some of the debate in meaningful discussion rather than the usual polarized blather.

As an aside, it's interesting to see how many of us here came from Republican households. I know my Dad has always wondered how he came to father three Democratic children.

...just delirious Rush fans...

It is possible to be a liberal and a delirious Rush fan at the same time.

;-)

Des, I too was surprised yesterday when someone who was so pro Hillary that he turned against Obama and voted for mcCain (he's a guy in his 70's), with no prompting whatsoever told me he's delighted with our president (as if he was already inaugurated!).

Things like this are cause for hope. And I can see ways that, through providing lots of opportunities for Americans to volunteer or serve in some way, that barriers may fall in the process. I definitely sense a difference with greater harmony between the races. And I hope we ultimately see that same harmony erasing the "marriage" line in the sand.

My own Goldwater/Nixon/Reagan Republican dad went rogue when George Bush ran in 2000. Pre Obama, his favorite Dem was Howard Dean. This fall, he enjoyed sporting his "Republican For Obama" ballcap on the links @ the tony countryclub he belongs to.

(The Republicans he knows are former HP colleagues and the party elites hooked into Stanford/ George Shultz circles)

Even more radical, citing his lifelong Republican bonfides, he wrote a letter to DiFI urging her to do whatever to overturn Prop 8 on my lesbian cousin's behalf.

I wonder about the conversations he's having with his GOP pals, now.

"by the time Obama leaves the White House, all future presidents will be judged based on their ability to rise above the politics of the two parties"

Unadulterated baloney, what on earth would make anyone think Obama's post-electoral conduct in any way suggests the slightest inclination to rise above the politics of the 2 parties? Give us a single example showing he intends to accomodate conservative concerns.