I believe that President Obama has attempted to redifine the overall American geo-political narrative.

It's a sad fact that America's place in the world at large has been that of the proverbial "biggest kid in the schoolyard". Of course, much of the time that kid is feared by most other kids and gets to do pretty much whatever he/she wants...including smack other kids around. Oh...did I mention that usually this kid isn't that smart?

If you're friends with that kid, you are revered as he/she is for fear of retribution. Run afoul of that kid and you incur the wrath of the masses who follow him/her...mostly because everyone is afraid to question the bully and said bully's cult of followers. As anyone beaten into submission, the victim of aforementioned wrath eventually falls in line with the rest, high from being now positioned in the rarified atmosphere at top of the schoolyard and ecstatic not to be in fear any longer.

True to this metaphor, the U.S. as a whole has had the perspective of being "most powerful/wonderful/greatest nation in the world" for so long, that it has helped foment a sort of collective superiority complex, which defies anyone to question American actions or policies, and anyone who does question them (as reasonable people do) labelled as anti-American. We happen to have seen this mentality run amok during the last administration.

Enter "the smart kid."

Actually, I believe he happens to be the "the cool, smart, new kid." I believe President Obama seeks to change the aforementioned bullying way of doing things. Of course, to continue to define U.S. foreign policy by virtue of how much we can get other nations to fear us and our rather sizeable (if not somewhat strained at the moment) military "stick" would be par for the course. This would however do nothing to help the world understand that the U.S. is actually a lot more creative than the world gives us credit for.

The reasonable individual must see at some point in any analysis of the American position in the world that in the last 10 years or so, much needed diplomacy has taken a backseat to shows of power. We also saw a tax policy which benefitted America's wealthiest 1% and a mortage crisis which (in concert with 2 wars) increased the National Debt by $4 trillion (the largest increase under any U.S. President in history).

President Obama domestically is contending with a growing list of issues, some of which greeted him on day one:

-Allocation of stimulus funds (particularly as infrastructure and services are conerned);

-Amending of mortgage lending practices (which he would not have been able to accomplish as readily if he'd not bailed out the banks);

-Implementation of ecologically sustainable technologies and practices in government, which cuts waste and saves money;

-Revising healthcare in order that everyone is covered;

The international list is no less daunting:

-Focusing U.S. military forces on increasing Taliban activity in and along the Afghan/Pakistani border regions (which was exacerbated years ago by the power vaccum created by the previous administration's focus on a manufactured Iraqi threat and subsequent resulting military actions);

-Engaging with nations like Iran, North Korea, Pakistan and Cuba in order to seek every diplomatic option before imposing or increasing embargoes, sanctions or military options, which strengthens U.S. position amongst our current allies and creates potential allies.

In short, President Obama is seeking to actually make America the "kindler, gentler nation" that former President George H. W. Bush beamed about in his speeches, but didn't quite seem to bring into fruition. The "cool, smart, new kid" is offering the schoolyard kids an option to being bullied. He's actually talking to them. He's admitting that some will agree with him, but some won't and that's okay. He's actually offering to tutor the big kid who used to bully everyone in hopes that he may find another option than beating up on other kids just because he can.

Many will remember when the "toughest girl" in the schoolyard was vying for position during the 2008 Presidential Campaign.  As tough as she was, he stood firm.  He stated his case and wouldn't go on the attack, even as she attacked him.  Even when she got her boyfriend, the "most popular kid" in the schoolyard to try provoking him, he remained cool.  He eventually won them over too, and put her on his team.  This is what you do when building relationships.  Now they are all "bestest buddies".

Of course there are some kids who liked it better when the bully was running things, but they are finding out that the new kid isn't so easy to beat up on.