Affability and being sensitive to the feelings of those who seek your destruction is idiocy. Bush is master of this. His craven behavior today is yet another example of how this country is drawing a dotted line on its neck and handing its enemies a razor.
I agree with you that the center has moved more to the left over the years, but I believe that will reverse itself if we don't foolishly cut off our noses to spite our own faces by splintering into useless little factions rather than remaining a larger united whole. I think that slow process has already begun, and we are almost to the point of making real headway if we stay the course. I believe the Left realizes that too, as evidenced by the desperation of their increasingly obvious tactics, and their desire to demoralize and divide us. Some of us are admittedly more to the right than the president, and disagree with some of his decisions, but the only electable alternative is unacceptable to all of us, or should be if we are truly on the right.
I think you are misjudging the president. I doubt the folks on the "deck of cards" would consider him particularly affable or sensitive. :)