Palin Taken Aback by Obama 'Superpower' Remark

[MikeBjerum]

I'm not tracking fq well this afternoon, but tt brought to mind something I have been thinking about as well.

This may or may not be the best source, but here is a six year picture of our giving to other countries during times of economic challenge within our own boarders:

http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/politics/us-foreign-aid.htm

[tt11758]

Actually TT you are incorrect in that statement. Further more the sentiment itself is relatively new (post WW II). This is a lengthy, but very worthwhile quote from John Quincy Adams urging us not to aid the Greeks who were rebelling against the occupying Turks. They were wise words then, and with the benefit of hind sight, wise words today given all the swamps we got dragged into supporting tin pot dictators and incompetant yahoos during the Cold War and beyond. I submit this for your consideration.
FQ13

“She has abstained from interference in the concerns of others, even when conflict has been for principles to which she clings, as to the last vital drop that visits the heart. She has seen that probably for centuries to come, all the contests of that Aceldama the European world, will be contests of inveterate power, and emerging right. Wherever the standard of freedom and Independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her prayers be. But she goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own. She will commend the general cause by the countenance of her voice, and the benignant sympathy of her example. She well knows that by once enlisting under other banners than her own, were they even the banners of foreign independence, she would involve herself beyond the power of extrication, in all the wars of interest and intrigue, of individual avarice, envy, and ambition, which assume the colors and usurp the standard of freedom. The fundamental maxims of her policy would insensibly change from liberty to force. . . . She might become the dictatress of the world. She would be no longer the ruler of her own spirit. . . . [America’s] glory is not dominion, but liberty.” [July 4, 1821, from his address as Secretary of State]

FQ, there is no question that you are an intelligent, well-educated individual.  But while you possess a great deal of knowledge of history, you are sorely lacking in a knowledge of people.  The people in this country will always step up to the plate to help those in need, no matter where that need may lie on this planet, simply because they believe that it's the right thing to do. 

You're a good guy (for the most part ), but you need to get out more and rub elbows with real people.

[twyacht]

Perhaps FQ, you should watch the opening speech in the movie Patton again.

You posted,
Here's my point. I would like to seriously consider a cost benefit analysis of us being the sole super power. What does it cost us in terms of military budgets, foriegn aid, resentment of our power,

I don't resent it, I don't think Kennedy, Truman, Eisenhower, Reagan, and GWB, "resented" our power at all.

Watch the Patton speech again,...really.

[fightingquaker13]

Here's the part of the post you missed TW. You want people to be afraid (but too afraid) of you. If you scare people too much, they will act premptively against you. Maybe not directly, but by stymining us at the UN, hurting our allies or turning a blind eye to Al Queda. Nothing direct, just trying to make our lives more difficult without ever getting blood on their hands. Russia and China are masters at this and they don't even like half the regimes they support (Iran as exhibit A. Russia hates muslim fundamentalists, but would love to see us bogged down in a war with Iran). They just do it because it will distract us. I think J.Q. Adams has it right.
"Wherever the standard of freedom and Independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her prayers be. But she goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own".
your mileage may vary
FQ13

[twyacht]

Not fear, FQ,.... Respect. "Peace through Strength", as another POTUS stated.  Now Islamic Terrorists, and tin pot dictators, do deserve fear. They should fear the wrath of an angry nation if messed with. That's all they understand anyway.

It seems BHO has managed to even take away the respect part in the eyes of the world. Obama has a problem with American Exceptionalism.

He has a problem with the very Founders you just quoted, and the Republic For Which It Stands.

He lacks any experience to lead a nation,...... His upbringing, peers, pastors, and associates are 180 degrees out of phase with Adams, and an ever growing segment of this countries population.

Adams never capitulated, and forced the world to respect a blossoming Republic, BHO has thrown all that out, and in 2012 it will be his turn to get thrown out.

[Sponsor]

[m25operator]

 "If you scare people too much, they will act premptively against you. Maybe not directly, but by stymining us at the UN, hurting our allies or turning a blind eye to Al Queda. Nothing direct, just trying to make our lives more difficult without ever getting blood on their hands."

Is this not the treatment we are getting now?  Too scared of us, who has moved premptively against the Former? Soviet Union, nobody, We allowed them and Afhganistan to fight it out amongst themselves, with us backing the uneducated goat farmers against all odds, and they went away. The afghanis did not win, as in having their enemies quaking in fear, they just got to go back to their way of life. But with a new purpose, the infidels who armed them, taught them, and supplied them with modern equipment and training. They think of us, like we would think of the pimp/drug dealer who raped our sister and then took pity on us in the hood, and helped us defeat some other drug lord. They don't like what we believe in, or stand for, and now they can have a form of retribution. These are the leaders, the farmers just want to prosper in their way, and go on. We have not heard squat out of Almar Khadaffi since we squashed his bacon in a finite way.  Fear is not the intent, the intent is being the Huge nice guy on the block who plays with kids, keeps a clean yard and home, help his neighbor at the drop of a hat, but everyone knows, if you harm his family, his neighborhood or threaten, either, it will be met swiftly and finitely, he might even pick you up after your beatdown, but you at that point will not count that as a weakness, but a blessing. The enemy should come away with no doubt, any transgression will be met with swift and final resistance.

I think Adams and the U.S. would definitely have gone to the aid of France if it had been needed, for their participation in our fight. Hard to believe in a way, France was once a Super power.

Adams statement about dominion, is true, We have never gone for dominion in any other country, other than our own. We can debate that, but an old statement, " these woods belong to those who can hold them " is true about our growing up as a country. But even in 1821, we were flourishing, but not a " Super Power ". We stayed out of WW1 & WW2 until  we were attacked. Who knows what would have happened if we had entered sooner.

Lastly, which books do you want Sarah to read?? And of those how many do you think  O'Bummer read and better, cared a lick about? It does not take a genius to run this country, just heart and caring with a cabinet to inform you honestly, not for advancement of self, but of the country. Circumstance dictates the mettle of an employee, how does she or he handle it? No matter what platform of change you were hired under, what happens when something bad happens, Bho with 911, we saw what happened with the Iran hostage crisis under Carter, and the subsequent release on the acceptance speech of Reagan, they feared the " Cowboy ".

Personally, I think if Jefferson was here now, He would back India, with force if necessary. Because they would have our back in their own way, which has become more tangible now.