Jack and Doug, et al.

Looking back, I find much to support the idea that Mr. Bush could rise to meet the tide and times. History shows us Harry Truman, who was no great shakes intellectually, but who did OK, and Woodrow Wilson and Jimmy Carter who might be considered underachievers during their time in the big white house. There seems to be little connection between intellect and political leadership.

My real point here (and in other threads lately) is that we, and by extension our leaders, have been living as if these times didn't matter. It's like we've been on vacation from the world. Maybe now that 9/11 has brought home the realization that our world does not end at our borders, we will begin to act as responsible members of the world community.

Doug, I have great respect for you, but I consider the idea that we can and should act without respect to world citizenship as the root cause of the lack of respect (and outright hatred) for America that is evident in the rest of the world today.

I gotta go. I have work to do.
have a pleasant night, all.
Bart