>>Speaking of trophies -- OK, OK, that was a reach of a segue -- did the U.S. get hosed in the World Cup seedings or did the U.S. get hosed? Our team, although not a serious threat to win it IMO, is seeded #8 in the world in the FIFA rankings. Not only were they passed over in the seedings of the top 8, they were placed in the "group of death" preliminary round with two other highly ranked teams. Call me a conspiracy theorist but I suspect Bush, Cheney, and Rummy have as much to do with this as team strength. We have never been more disliked or distrusted around the world. Until we change our ways other countries are going to stick it to us every chance they get.
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>I don't know much about FIFA rankings but to blame our seeding on world opinion of the US is a bit of a stretch. If I recall, last year we did OK in the World Cup, and our team this year is supposedly even better.

The men's team last played in the World Cup in 2002 and did pretty well, our best showing ever. My point was that we did not draw a top 8 seeding, as the FIFA ranking would have indicated, and were dumped into a bracket where we are highly likely to be slaughtered. I take it entirely as an Up Yours.

We really are not that far apart in our views. I have lived my entire life thinking this is the greatest country there is, and to an extent I still believe that. But there is no denying the U.S. is despised as never before. And I absolutely blame this administration. Belligerent, bullying, ignorant, selfish. We are far less right now than the country we ought to be.