Electing a President in the Post-American World.

[chieftain]

The past 2 weeks have demonstrated conclusively that the days of American dominance are gone, probably forever.
China's more than impressive opening ceremony at the Olympics signaled in no uncertain terms her emergence as a major force in global politics. The brilliance of the show underscored that this new position of power and influence rested not only on her market potentialities but also on her culture and history.
Russia's reaction to Georgia was a clear sign that it would emphatically resist America's expansionist efforts into what it considers its legitimate sphere of influence.
Meanwhile W, pinned down in Iraq, slinking away from his legacy with last-ditch peace efforts in the Middle-East and displaying his intrinsic doofusness to every corner of the world where TV signals reach by holding the flag backwards, could only sputter empty rhetoric as Moscow sent tanks to crush the independence of the Georgian people that had been promised the US would stand by their side.
So how will the electorate respond to this painfully obvious eclipse of American power. And will the candidates find the courage to tell the truth about our reduced circumstances.It is inevitable that Ace McCain will continue to cling to the themes of American exceptionalism. His jingoistic campaign is destined to continue in cheap patriotic exhortations and empty macho chest thumping.
Obama will have to approach this matter with great care and circumspection. I, for one, felt that there was value in Barack being off the stage last week as McCain strutted in his faux presidency. I have great faith in Obama and I believe that he will be able to resist the forces of confrontational foreign policy once he takes office. But he must not appear to be weak or naive as he discusses the challenges that this very dangerous world poses. One of the things that drew me to his candidacy is his ability to explain complex issues in understandable ways. He will need this talent through all 8 years of his presidency because change is coming whether we are ready for it or not.

[MarjorieG]

1. Well said. I wish the media would help us by explaining these changes.

Also wish they'd discuss McCain and Co's culpability in those promises to Georgia. Maybe even in the timing of their move against Russia.

[chieftain]

2. I watched clips of W's speech in Georgia where he promised

the US would stand shoulder to shoulder with them. He was sooo puffed up with his phony brave statements and his vacant rhetoric about freedom. And when the were down and after egging these people on, he turned his back on them just like Ike did on the Hungarians and his daddy did on the Kurds.
The media aided and abetted the selection of this totally unqualified boy to the WH. They had better not follow up their utterly disgraceful performances of '04 and '08 by giving Old Man McCain a free ride.

[Beregond2]

3. Let's not overstate the importance

of China's spectacular opening ceremonies. Oppresive states are always good at spectacle and propaganda. The USSR staged such a scene not long before it's fall, for example.

By any reasonable measure, China is a failed state: human rights, standard of living, ecology, foreign policy. Her "culture and history" has been one of consistent tyranny. The US could still destroy the Chinese economy with a few decisions; we could miss a few payments on our loans, for example, or stop buying their third-rate products. They are only a "major force" because we allow them to be.