Bobert,

You talk about being the good guys,and public image.

I agree with the point you make which is that America needs to be the good guy if it wishes to have the respect of it's own electorate let alone other countries,

Only thing is that in the past the image was based on limited information.

Things aren't good, but to be fair, more people are enfranchised and there is less poverty generally and health is generally better etc than was the case for the first 2/3rds of the 20th century.

The problem America faces now is that in the information age it is harder to get away with a false public image.

Maybe the point is that America (dare I say it) could be the good guy if she wanted, and it wouldn't do her image any harm either ...

Then again, I also see GWB as a kind of self styled captain america anyway, so maybe the whole idea of good guy vs bad guy is a dangerous approach anyway.

Just a thought.