I have always had a deep affection for those that understate their argument.

[grantcart]

Here the President demonstrates that he is again, the President of Understatement

"As President of the United States I have a lot of responsibilities"

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Its a simple statement but one that actually communicates a great deal. It is at heart very sincere. Its sincere about his oath and his ability to focus and stay focused on what is on his plate.

It is also useful to remember that this is the same knd of focus that candidate Obama brings as a candidate. Nothing is going to be taken for chance, he is going to do all that is required to get the message out.

And then there is a simple humility about it. Just stating the facts and keeping it simple. A kind of "Joe Friday" simplicity with a Michael Jordan basketball focus and a Tiger Woods golf intensity.

It is why articles by hackers like Wallsten that argue that the President morphs into a bristling thin skinned pol are well, ridiculous.

Romney's lie filled effort to raise a billion dollars and make the American people believe that 2 + 2 equals 22 is the ultimate effort in hubris, it shows that he doesn't have a real policy alternative just an attempt to change the perception of reality into a twisted mythology. The President remains the gold standard of humility.

Observing human activity I have found there to be one universal constant;

Hubris goes before the fall and humility goes before the victory.

[zipplewrath]

1. Don't confuse confidence with humility

He is an extremely confident man. No one has ever described him as humble. He is very intelligent, and knows it. And unlike many intelligent people who have a severe form of insecurity, he is very secure with himself. He is not thin skinned because he is very confident in himself. He has always been careful about overstatement or over reaching which is where much of the "no drama" label came from. He'd rather be understated and slightly self depricating and have margin to use for his own defense. It makes ones critics look shrill.

But he's perfectly capable of calling his critics sanctimonious as long as he thinks it will be seen as understated.

[JNelson6563]

2. Yes, he is very confident.

I do believe that many of his experiences since he became a public figure probably have humbled him though. He seems too human for it to be otherwise IMO.

Julie