its true we have gotten very much into an Us vs Them mindset. Or maybe we have always had this mindset. I can't say for certain my political awareness came about maybe in 1992 before that it was all very vague and well out of my understanding.

Still I think it will take a long time for the healing you describe to come. If it ever does. People will not put down their swords easily and people like to be in their camps.

You are right that Obama is not an ideological purist and I think he is trying to strive for the middle ground. I hope he can find it personally. i'd like to see someone try and strike a balance. Pull us in another direction but create some much needed equilibrium. Let us see then.