The key to bringing people together for a noble purpose lies in inspiring them to see a world beyond their own self interest. Barack Obama has a message which can achieve this goal. But his approach is a radical departure from the neoconservative philosophy which originated with Leo Strauss and his handful of followers. To them the American people were essentially self absorbed beings who needed to be herded into new behaviors by those who knew better. They believed that the only way to inspire people to work together for a common purpose was to unite them against a common enemy.
According to the neoconservative philosophy if there is no enemy which is threatening enough then it served a higher purpose to invent one and exaggerate dangers to bring people together and lift them above their selfish approach to life. In simple language you could say this is an approach which uses fear to manipulate people into agreeing to actions dictated by a few people who "know best".
Although Barack Obama does not mention the neoconservative philosophy by name, when he talks about the politics of the past he means neoconservative politics. Obama's approach proves the neoconservatives wrong. Obama has proved that people can come together for a higher purpose by simply being inspired by high ideals and that they don't need to be scared to death to act in the interest of the greater good. You could say Obama is the Un-neoconservative.
Those of us who support Obama sense this. We believe that the politics of fear only leads to bad policy because it is based on a basic disrespect for the American people. Those who use the politics of fear lose the ability to communicate realistic dangers because they are too busy exaggerating dangers for their own personal advancement. That's why I trust the Un-neoconservative to see the world realistically and to govern well.
There is certain type of personality (with an authoritarian bent) which absolutely must have an enemy, a threat. Once the Cold War ended, these personalities were suddenly without their threat, they were at loose ends, which must have been a horrifying feeling, and so they cast about for another ready-made enemy. You are right, they manufactured one: Democrats and the Clintons, and the "liberals" whose laid-back culture of toleration and inclusion confounded and insensed them. Therefore, when the radical Wahabi jihadists or terrorists came along on 9/11 the neo-cons were overjoyed: now they had a replacement enemy! Hallelujah! (Thank you, Lord)!
Of course these personalities know what Obama is doing: he is an alpha male who does not suffer from the neo-con personality disorder, who is taking away their beloved enemy. I remind everyone of the video clip of James McCain on the platform for a victory speech with Senator Warner, Tom Davis, and Jeannemarie behind him. He mentioned the themes of the Republican '08 campaign (as has President Bush), no taxes, more wars, the threat threat threat of terrorists, and then he said something very significnt about the Democratics and the November election:
"We cannot afford to let them win."
Talk about telegraphing their punch: it is, they believe, their God-imposed, self-righteous crusade to maintain their power, which imposes upon them the patriotic obligation as a holy necessity to do absolutely anything to hold their power. Anything. Democrats must not be allowed to get their hands on the dirty secrets of the Bush regime and the neocons, and any means are justified by that end.
I am convinced that for years the Powers That Be have expected the '08 election to be between Hillary Clinton and John McCain, the Establishment has hungered for this contest and intends to have it no other way, determined that this election will lock in their power for at least two generations if not forever.