>Hey Mike,
>
>>If he stops acting like McSame I will be less tempted.
>>
>>This is dead serious, not partisan at all. I actually like and admire John McCain and have said so here many times. But he is running on nothing at all other than faith that our right-skewing populace will vote him in. He has no vision. He outright promises to perpetuate bad policies like staying in Iraq and tax cuts in the face of skyrocketing deficits. Electing him would signal our tacit acceptance of the U.S.'s diminished stature in the world. I want us to be better than that. I want us to reassume the role of inspirational world leaders. We are on the same page about that.
>
>Bad policies to whom? To you and like-minded, for sure, but not to me. I don't want to cut and run in Iraq and I believe that tax cuts - judiciously applied - do help the economy, So I like that direction, Mike. And where does diminished stature come into play? What, because some other friendly countries don't agree with us that diminishes us?
>
>My squadron in the USAF had a motto: "Lead, follow, or get out of the way". In terms of geopolitics we'll lead, they can follow, or they can STFU and mind their own business. If you believe, as I do, that we're a major force for good in this world then you have to look the other way when we're being criticized and not take it too seriously. It's human nature for other countries to take shots at us.
>

You make my point. I think it has truly escaped you how much our place in the world has slipped. Bellicose attitudes like yours -- follow us or STFU -- are a big part of the reason. And you want to blame it all on "the liberals." Amazing.