Speaking of the SWOT analysis–or in this case, the SO analysis–it looks like America’s Big Three auto makers didn’t see the bottom falling out of the big truck/SUV market. Who saw it coming? Better question: who didn’t see it coming? The entire continents of Asia and Europe saw it. I really think we Americans are sometimes so Americo-centric that we think things will turn out how we want just because we’re Americans.

And that’s why everyone hates politicians.

Reminds me of Last Action Hero when Slater is brought into the “normal” world. The theater owner mentions all the evils of the world including earthquakes, tornadoes, murderers. He mentions politicians twice, which Slater points out. To which he response, “I know. That’s because they are the worst part of this world.”

Sounds like you’ve made Dave’s point against all the stuff coming out of the White House and right-wing talk radio. Folks that are blowing sunshine up the nation’s collective whazoo are those most likely trying to deceive you (convince you about a bad war) and take something from you (like your civil liberties).

I do agree that constant, unremitting criticism is also unlistenable. However, most of what we hear from folks like Carter, Obama, etc. is not unremitting. It is hopeful and necessary. We must listen or we will continue in our current state. If we don’t like the messenger, we can dismiss that person. But we ought not dismiss the message.

I had a co-worker that was always complimenting me on my work/code and never once gave any constructive criticism or disagreement. I promptly ignored him because I realized that none of it was honest. He later turned out to be a compulsive liar who stole a bunch of our code and created a competing product.

Balance is all I’m talking about.

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jimmycartercrisisofconfidence.htm

I think the point that Dave makes is powerful. Until the U.S. can overcome it’s self-deception, it will fail to be the powerful leader that it was fore-ordained to be. As Lincoln stated when discussing freeing the slaves: “We–even we here–hold the power, and bear the responsibility. In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free–honorable alike in what we give, and what we preserve. We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of earth.”

If conservatives truly believe that America is the “last best hope” they need to recognize, and focus on, the profound problems we have. Self-deception necessitates failure. And unless the U.S. owns up to the problems it has and the problems it causes and has caused in the world, our foreign policy will continue to fail.