Obama: Transformational – but How?

So many people have referred to Obama as "transformational." This was happening already in the Primaries. When it was mocked at times. Now I’m seeing this more and more. Powell referred to Obama as transformational. And I’ve seen this as well in some of the newspaper endorsements this week. The term is becoming associated with the essence of Obama. No longer mocked.

I’m wondering what this means to people. To you. To me. It seems to address a quality in the man. But also a quality in the man’s ability to impact others. To inspire. To draw from us our better selves.

This thread is an invitation to search your heart and soul: How is Obama a transformational figure? For you. For us. The nation. The world. How do we see this man? And how is that "experience" transformational?

(I’ve cross-posted this over at TPM. Because I think it’s a very worthwhile exercise to mull this over. And to do it as a kind of group process. In a couple of places, not just one.)