Annan and On and On

I have been able to read bits and pieces of Kofi Annan's speech today in Independence, Missouri, given at the Truman Presidential Museum and Library. I have always held Annan in moderately high regard, for I like the fact that he can be very, very diplomatic while excoriating his opponents. That's a skill I do not possess. His comments today, admonishing the U.S. to use its power wisely and encouraging us to remain true to our principles, the principles that allowed this country to become a great one, were on target.

Bush, of course, is not intelligent enough to even understand Annan's comments. How much longer do we have to suffer through this imbecile? I'm afraid it's too late, now, to regain respect for the U.S. throughout the world. Allowing Bush to steal the presidency once, then actually electing him to another 4-year term, have almost certainly informed the rest of the world about our true motives. This is wrong.

If we have any intelligent, truly intelligent, politicians in the next Congress, they should begin to think how the U.S. should work to position itself as a 2nd level world power. We've abandoned our position as leader; now, we better prepare to be near the top, or we will find outselves at the bottom. All of us should get used to the fact that we will become and increasingly irrelevant country, thanks to our policies over most of the last several generations. Or, we should kick ourselves in the butt and turn it around.

As I've said, though, I'm afraid it's too late.