North Korea just stuck it’s thumb in the eyes of the US by re-assembling it’s nukes, disregarding the terrorism blacklist, testing missile engines and George Bush’s response - nothing.

Russia kicked sand in America’s face and marched into the sovereign country of Georgia and NATO’s response - nada.

US tried to clean up Al-Qaeda that Pakistan seemed unable to do and Pakistan’s response - get the heck out of our land and don’t let the front door of the Marriott hit your ass on the way out…  What is it with these people?  Aren’t we fighting the same bad guys?

On the US home front: Wall Street greed and greedy home owners all consorted to conjure up the worst set of toxic debt ever and US government’s response - bail out the schmucks, reward their promiscuity and save their golden parachutes.

How will the US pay for this bailout?  By printing more money and selling more US government bonds.  Who will buy them?  You guessed it - most likely foreign investors.  What affect will this have on US foreign policy?  Unknown, but I’m sure the US will have to take all this into account before starting any new wars.  The picture of an America tip-toeing around the world seems sad…

Let’s face it, the US is turning into a land of irrelevance.

I caught the CNN interview of 5 former secretaries of state and their recommendations for the next president.  The diminished standing, power and influence of the US was palpable.  The strong, silent confidence of America seemed hard to find -many of the recommendations seemingly centered around “collaboration” and “co-operation” with other nations.

With credibility in the world diminished from the War in Iraq, the US is now having to reap what it sowed.

Obama or McCain - it doesn’t matter which one - you have some serious diminishment to deal with…