>>>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.
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>>It is a difference of opinion on what is best for this country. From your posts, I think you feel repairing our standing in the world's view outweighs anything else. Others disagree and feel there are more important issues and sacrificing those issues in order to repair how the world views us is not a good idea.
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>And presenting that as a "one xor the other" dilemma may be a fake, but it is presented so. It may be a tacit confession that things are irreparable to the point where not both can be done (but can stay in Iraq forever, that's not a problem), or just a game to keep some of the accomplishment untouched. Why is "can do both" not an option?

They can and should be. It is being presented that way though by both sides (not the candidates themselves) for some reason...