Average ordinary Americans: Wait, is it a detriment to attend a prestigious university? I’m all for smaller, most specialized colleges, but to look down on fellow American citizens for no reason other than that they attended the Harvards and Yales of the country? Is that where this country is now?

Hunters, Outdoorsmen (and women), and True Conservationists: I’m not quite sure how $150,000 in campaign clothing for her and her family at high-end stores equates to “conservationism.”

Gun Owners: Not a fan as a matter of personal belief, but I can live with this.

Mothers: One area of her life for which I do give unceasing credit and respect. She’s done a marvelous job.

Men: Interesting point.

Women: She is indeed a self-made woman, but I come back to my first point: is this somehow saying that it’s unfavorable to actually get an education? Palin attended how many different universities before finally receiving her undergraduate degree? Is persistence in pursuing one’s higher education not something women should be taught?

Pro-lifers: Agreed.

Parents of Special Needs children: Agreed.

Americans with loved-ones in the military and fighting in the War on Terror: Agreed…except for the superficial nit-picking point that it’s “terrorism”, rather than “terror”.

Another bit about her that worries me. From the moment she entered the political spotlight, her uncompromising nature has been harped upon relentlessly. I’m all for believing what you believe and believing it with your entire heart, mind, and soul, but I also need to know that you can admit to being wrong from time to time, and switch gears accordingly. Bush couldn’t do it, and given that I disagree with Palin on many more fronts than I did Bush, this quality about her is the capstone for my litany of worries regarding Palin.

Magsol…why don’t you tell it to the families of those who’ve died so your unappreciative little self can say such ignorant crap? Or why don’t you go visit the gravesites of those dead “bullies” so you can get a little perspective?

That was not, nor will ever be, my point. I am eternally grateful to those – family members and dear friends of mine included – who have dedicated their lives to serving this country, and if I am ever called to active duty I do so gladly. My wording, however, was awful and for that I apologize. My question was purely theoretical: is a country’s overall strength measured by that of its military?

@GBS:

Over the time I’ve followed this blog, you have consistently been the voice of reason, and I have learned something from you about the conservative perspective.

But if there was ever a comment that could eclipse all others, yours would be it. Congratulations: in one fell swoop you fulfilled the conservative stereotype of being the very thing you claim to fight against, and rather than take the situation as an opportunity to engage in open and honest discourse, you belittled and denigrated your opposition.

I was truly curious as to where my “facts” went awry. Unless I’m grossly unobservant, I really didn’t think my post was phrased in such a way as to lead a reader to believe I’m trying to “dazzle” them. But if you’re going to take the opening solely as an opportunity to “school” me, then forget it.

“Really? We’re going to focus on a bow?”

Yes, we are not just talking about one bow….but, two bows now from the great Obama, all powerful, “smart diplomat”.

The bows on Obama’s part do not appear to have been mistakes in and of themselves. He intended to bow to either apologize or show America’s deference because we are such a “big, bad, bully country” in his eyes.

Obama has now bowed to the Japanese Emperor and the King of Saudi Arabia….if those were both mistakes, then I suppose the 48% of us who KNEW a year ago that Obama was unfit to be President have been proven correct. He keeps repeating his neophyte mistakes.

Of course the same folks who were ready to put Palin in office would go to such ridiculous lengths to banter over something SO trivial as a mis-step during a greeting

And about Palin….
Funny how the same folks who voted in a neophyte, anti-American Marxist will now go to such ridiculous lengths to bash Palin, who actually HAD a self-made career and experience before running for a high federal office….
She didn’t ride in on the coat tails of affirmative action, Soros’ money, and the Chicago thug machine like Obama.

It is customary in Japan to bow in greeting. Not simply to leaders but also as a show of respect for your ELDERS…

It is not customary for world leaders to bow to one another. It is a sign of weakness and deference. Bowing is common in Japan between citizens and business people….but not for World leaders.
Besides Obama didn’t even get it right….his form of bowing didn’t show respect, but weakness…and the Emperors lack of a reciprocal bow was quite likely meant as an insult to Obama…
So much for that “smart” diplomacy.

It has become acceptable to NOT bow, however, it is respectful to actually do so.

I guess now that Obama has broken complete Presidential protocol, World Leader protocol, and Japanese protocol….the Left has to now say that Presidential bowing is “respectful”…..any excuse for the man-child Obama.

” I’m sure those who are willing to beat this subject to death have forgotten how disgusted Ms. Merkel of Germany was when Bush practically fondled her at a summit”.

Yes, Bush made a mistake. His was not some intentional mistep created from ego or a need to knock America down a notch or two….big difference from Obama.

Oh….and you have also included your obligatory “blame Bush” meme….
you’ve obviously been well-schooled in the Obama technique of dodging responsiblity.
Way to go.

I’ve got to hand it to you…

In a single post, you displayed profound ignorance of US / world history, macroeconomics, the military, and how leaders of nations deal with each other. Well done!

This one was especially amusing…

“You’d be hard-pressed to name a civilization over the course of humanity’s entire history that hasn’t somehow contributed positively to where humanity stands now.”

I bet I could find a few examples, but I’ve got better things to do than school you on such things. Perhaps you should attempt to actually know something before trying to dazzle us again.

Oh yeah…about the bowing…

Check out this video…

“Why does being the “most powerful nation on earth” necessarily imply that we need not recognize other countries as we want them to recognize us? “

We do recognize other countries as we would like them to recognize us. But an overt gesture such as Obama’s bow is not necessary….nor was it even reciprocated…even in Japan, where bowing is common.

“Why does it equate to being the self-righteous bully who reminds everyone else on the playground just how awesome he/she is every chance he/she gets?”

The disdain for Obama’s bowing to leaders in other countries is not because he didn’t show our “awesomeness”. It is because bowing, according to common manners and history, is known to show subservience to those with whom you bow, particularly when done by heads of state.
Do you like knowing that our leader places his own country below the others? I don’t.

In addition, I don’t believe any American Presidents have particularly bragged on the awesomeness of America (Obama clearly apologizes for his country..like no other President in history)….it is clear this is a country like no other….our large numbers of immigrants to this country can vouch for that….

“Why is humility necessarily derogatory in this situation?”
The 90 degree bow is not seen as humility, but as subservience.

“Everyone hates the self-righteous individual who reminds you how wonderful they are.”

But to your point, wouldn’t a hand shake from Obama and a head nod have sent the same message as a 90 degree bow? That’s what other leaders have done….I haven’t seen one picture of another leader bowing to the Emperor in that manner. Does that make all of the other countries self-righteous?

“Everyone particularly hates these individuals when their hypocrisy is literally as easy to observe from their actions as it is to listen to them rationalize these actions as more accolades to their curriculum vitae.”

You’ve just hit the nail on the head why MOST Americans now do not approve of their President.

“And what exactly makes us the most powerful nation on earth? Not the dollar.”

Yes, and you can thank Obama’s debt load for that.

“not Expanding industry and commerce”.

Yes, and Obama’s government takeover of American industry, healthcare system, and A Cap and Trade enerby nightmare will surely help that problem. /sarc off.

“Military strength? This is the equivalent of the big dumb bully at school who has no redeeming qualities other than being capable of beating one to a pulp at his/her whim.”

Magsol…why don’t you tell it to the families of those who’ve died so your unappreciative little self can say such ignorant crap? Or why don’t you go visit the gravesites of those dead “bullies” so you can get a little perspective?

“You’d be hard-pressed to name a civilization over the course of humanity’s entire history that hasn’t somehow contributed positively to where humanity stands now”

America as a powerful nation and force for good doesn’t negate the progress of others throughout history….nobody is claiming it does.
But it WOULD be impossible to name a country on earth TODAY (& the past century) that is as free (at least until Obama finishes us off), as welcoming, as charitable, and as willing to fight for the freedom of others as the United States of America….impossible.

“but I still do appreciate his willingness to display a humble front to the world’s leaders we alienated and antagonized over the last decade”

Bowing to monarchs is not humble, but is well-known to show deference. BIG difference.
The leaders Obama is humble to are those like Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, Saudi Arabia. And it has gotten him no where.
Conversely, Obama has shown himself to be disrespectful and arrogant to our allies such as the United Kingdom, France, Honduras, Germany, and others.

Frankly, I miss the last decade of relations where our friends were our friends and those who wanted to see us dead or less free were our enemies.
Obama has turned that all on its head…or is well in the process of doing so.

This is a principle conservatives everywhere are a fan of, and one with which I don’t think I can ever concur.

Why does being the “most powerful nation on earth” necessarily imply that we need not recognize other countries as we want them to recognize us? Why does it equate to being the self-righteous bully who reminds everyone else on the playground just how awesome he/she is every chance he/she gets? Why is humility necessarily derogatory in this situation?

Everyone hates the self-righteous individual who reminds you how wonderful they are. Everyone particularly hates these individuals when their hypocrisy is literally as easy to observe from their actions as it is to listen to them rationalize these actions as more accolades to their curriculum vitae.

And what exactly makes us the most powerful nation on earth? Not population; China holds that honor. Not worth of the dollar; Britain’s pound and even the Euro are both more valuable. Expanding industry and commerce? Ireland, China, and Japan are kicking our asses on that stage. Military strength? This is the equivalent of the big dumb bully at school who has no redeeming qualities other than being capable of beating one to a pulp at his/her whim. And in the nuclear age, our previous metrics of measuring military strength don’t really matter anymore; a few well-placed ICBMs would radically upset the global balance of power.

Yes, the US has certainly been a “force of good” during its brief 233 years of existence. But so has just about every other civilization to ever exist, in its own way. You’d be hard-pressed to name a civilization over the course of humanity’s entire history that hasn’t somehow contributed positively to where humanity stands now. The liberties we purport and enjoy in the US weren’t invented by our founding fathers; those ideas had been around for hundreds and hundreds of years and existed in some form – Rome, Greece, and Britain in particular.

I agree there is a fine line between humility and self-degradation, but just the same there is a fine line between pride and self-righteousness. It is annoying to me that President Obama hasn’t seemed as interested in the goings-on within our nation’s borders as without, but I still do appreciate his willingness to display a humble front to the world’s leaders we alienated and antagonized over the last decade. It’s less direct, but by re-establishing favorable diplomatic relations with the rest of the world, he is still catering to our interests here at home. After all, in today’s global economy, we’re all in this together.