David Brooks on Obama’s governing style:

The election revolved around passionate rallies. The Obama White House revolves around a culture of debate. He leads long, analytic discussions, which bring competing arguments to the fore. He sometimes seems to preside over the arguments like a judge settling a lawsuit.

His policies are often a balance as he tries to accommodate different points of view. He doesn’t generally issue edicts. In matters foreign and domestic, he seems to spend a lot of time coaxing people along. His governing style, in short, is biased toward complexity.

That’s one of the main reasons I voted for the man — and will probably do so again.

Be sure to read the rest of Brooks’ column; it’s well worth your time. Note, in particular, his summary of the “four fictions” of presidential campaigns.