Cynics Unlimited

If I determine the enemy’s disposition of forces while I have no perceptible form, I can concentrate my forces while the enemy is fragmented. The pinnacle of military deployment approaches the formless: if it is formless, then even the deepest spy cannot discern it nor the wise make plans against it.
-Sun Tzu
“The Art of War”

Barrack Obama’s campaign was about everything and nothing at the same time. He essentially became the pinnacle of what the voter wanted for America … or what was feared the most. His agenda became transparent to the point where his enemies could not even tie him to the nefarious words and deeds of his previous associates. By the same token, few could name any definitive action he would likely take once in office but this seemed secondary to the feelings he evoked in his followers. Formlessness maximized Obama’s reach among neutral voters, as they could fashion him any way they wanted.

Obama’s ground-breaking campaign will be studied for years to come, with elements being used by both parties. It turns out less really can be more in an election.

For the record, Obama seems set to govern from the center, just as predicted here at CU. House speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested he do just that:

“At a time of this economic crisis, our priority should be very clear about what we need to do,” she said. “Each side of the spectrum can hope to influence the decision. But the fact is that a new president coming in, in my view, must take the country down the middle to solve the problems, to gain the confidence, to take us more strongly in a new direction.”
-Nancy Pelosi

Also, Obama’s first appointment, Emanuel Rahm, is a master Democratic strategist but also a strong supporter of Israel and originally supported George W Bush’s Iraq war.

Obama’s old radical friends must be apoplectic. His detractors should be relieved.