Brilliant NYTimes OP-ed on Obama

[DrPresident]

There has never been a moment when, at least in public, he seems gripped by inner turmoil. It’s not willpower or self-discipline he shows as much as an organized unconscious. Through some deep, bottom-up process, he has developed strategies for equanimity, and now he’s become a homeostasis machine.

When Bob Schieffer asked him tough questions during the debate Wednesday night, he would step back and describe the broader situation. When John McCain would hit him with some critique — even about fetuses being left to die on a table — he would smile in amusement at the political game they were playing. At every challenging moment, his instinct was to self-remove and establish an observer’s perspective.


Read the rest here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/opinion/17brooks.html?ei=5070

[ErinBerin84]

1. and the kicker is, David BROOKS wrote that.

[Wetzelbill]

2. yup, he can be very good

He'll write something like this and then next week he'll write something so foolish you'll wonder if it's the same person.

[elleng]

4. "maybe a little dull"

so his need to be AGAINST remains.

[DebbieCDC]

3. Did Brooks suddenly find enlightenment?

I guess there's hope for almost anyone if he can see the light.

[BrklynLiberal]

5. My guess: a brain transplant.

[JDPriestly]

13. Brooks recognizes Obama's potential, but also recognizes,

based on the disappointing experiences he has had in the past, that the potential may not be realized. That is always a possibility, but I do think that in Obama's case, it is only a very remote possibility. Brooks doesn't want to have to eat his words four years from now when he is backing some other candidate. I have not fear. I believe that 4 years form now, Brooks will be a bigger Obama fan than he is now.

Brooks' analysis of Obama's spirit is correct. Obama is genuine. What you see is what you get.

[Wetzelbill]

6. he's often like this

He goes in and out of making any sense at all so frequently it's hard to keep track. Sometimes he's very good and other times he'll do something like say Paul Wolfowitz is redeemed and it makes you wonder what the hell kind of crack he is on.

[morillon]

7. That's a fascinating article.

And even more so, considering the source. Classic, old-style conservatives value self-control and reason, and I think Obama has made a serious impression here.

[ColbertWatcher]

8. It's a good start, but Brooks has his own anti-climax.

Despite saying

"Though he is young, it is easy to imagine him at the cabinet table, leading a subtle discussion of some long-term problem."

David Brooks suddenly mines his own ass (or someone else's perhaps?) for a contradiction against his own argument,

"It could be that Obama will be an observer, not a leader."

One minute, Brooks describes Obama as lacking the personality shortfalls of previous presidents and possessing an ability to lead, but in the next minute, he concludes that his own argument falls short somehow and deciding that he is incorrect; Obama cannot be a leader. Thus dismissing all his own observations and without any explanation for why he suddenly--and mid-essay--has made this determination.

Brooks remains a tool.

[Beregond2]

9. I see no contradiction.

He is talking about Obama's penchant for detachment, and how that could be useful in a discussion, or it could indicate a tendency to observe rather than lead. I think Obama has already shown great leadership, so I think that latter worry is unnecessary, but I get where he is coming from with it.

[ColbertWatcher]

11. You may be able to see where he was going with it, but he didn't WRITE it. n/t

[bertman]

10. Damn!! For a while there I thought David had made the leap, but he came through in the end.

As usual.

But he did have some exceptionally interesting and complimentary things to say about our candidate.

[flygal]

12. I just read this and it summed up my feelings on him

I was not an Obama supporter *cough edwards cough* but after this last debate and seeing his speech at the Smith banquet I'm sold - and excited! I think people were wise to see his potential and sorry I didn't see it earlier.

The mccain supporters are looking for personality - they get it fed to them all day on Fox news. Palin is nothing but personality. They don't know how to absorb the information from Obama because it's not presented to them with graphics and dramatic background music.

[JDPriestly]

14. I agree with you, flygal.

Just wait, when people get into the voting booth, one thing will be on their minds -- the feeling of security that they have when they watch Obama. They will vote that. Obama's kindness, his thoughtfulness, his strength, his intelligence and his lack of arrogance. Obama puts people at ease without becoming a best buddy. That is what we want in a president.

[machI]

15. Kick