Obama dull? Hardly Mr. Brooks.

Mr. Brooks,

Your fear that Obama may turn out to be "an observer" rather than a "leader" is unfounded. Evidence suggests Obama will be anything but a passive president. Criticized early on by people like you on the right for his soaring rhetoric, Obama was forced to dial down his passionate pleas to the electorate in order to mitigate baseless attacks that tried to pigeonhole him as an empty lofty dreamer. Yet, once the election is over Obama will be free to reengage the voters on an emotional level, to reengage the issues on a personal level, to speak once again in the language of a purposeful poet with a heartfelt vision for the future.

If anything, Obama post election will be free to shed the yolk of blandness his strategists rationalized he needed to project net votes from the heartland. He will be free, once again, to be 'himself'.

Far from a remote and 'dull' figure, in office, one should anticipate that with his passion unfettered by cold electoral calculations, he will yet again bring an engagement and driven approach to the issues. I believe there is little danger he will manifest decision-making paralysis - if anything his administration will one of activist compassionate pragmatism borne of a purpose not witnessed in decades.

Far from a 'celebrity', Obama is, in every sense of the word, a national politician. And at this juncture in American history that is exactly what is needed. Blind ideologues like Bush, and me-firster's like Clinton have had their chance. The country is ready to embrace a true politician.