We need to go slowly in turning things around, i.e., crawl before walking, walk before running, etc. Abrupt changes will not set well with any constituency, left or right. On top of this is a reluctance, if not fear, of trusting politicians and ivory tower commentators, particularly those who are, in effect, substantially insulated from the day-to-day workings of normal lives. We need to really look back upon our founding and Founders who understood the limitations of government and the risks of it spinning out of control at the expense of individual liberty and vital national strength. in essence, we need to go back to the basics of human nature and responsible governance in a capitalistic system.

IMHO, it is not our support for Israel per se that is the central issue; I think that is a given. The issue is the extent to which the Neocons hold so much influence over our foreign policy in the MIddle East. U.S. foreign policy must be as even-handed as is reasonably and realistically possible with the bottom line objective being peaceful relations among all parties. I think it is clear that our heavy military engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan have been largely unproductive, if not counterproductive, i.e., not cost effective in terms of blood and treasure. You would have thought we would have learned something from Viet Nam!

Since the beginning of time, it has been a contest of good vs. evil. And, times have not changed.

Interesting point, but a biased and well armed press is hard to overcome once it starts the ball rolling, i.e., it "snowballs". For all of Nixon's personal faults, history will likely be kinder to him when he is viewed in a larger context during that very difficult period when he was in office. That said, the real "Nixon haters" will always remain.

Since ingratiating itself in the JFK "Camelot era", the liberal media has lost its way by engaging in bias reporting and crass hypocrisy. It magnifies GOP (conservative) transgressions and minimizes those of the DEMs ("liberals"). It is no wonder that our society has become so polarized. One does not have to take a position on Watergate to see what has happened to our Fourth Estate. It is really unfortunate and we all should be concerned!

The "black community" needs a wake-up call--BIG TIME! It needs to distance itself from those who twist facts to manipulate others for serve their own agenda. I believe, or would like to believe, that MLK would have provided a much more sober tone to this sad situation.

Loyal Dem: Where do the "rich" begin and end in your definition, anyway? And, who are those in your implied sense of "entitlement" and where does the money come to support them? In your happy and utopian construct, everyone will ultimately be among the spoils because there will be nothing left to mete out. Class warfare has never worked to build up a society and it never will. Those who beat those drums are either misguided or are in the business of manipulating others for their own gain. Wise up!

Your point is well taken. We do need to get back to our founding principles and the hard won lessons of history, but we must not engage in divisive racial, ethnic, and other destructive political behavior that only serves narrow self-serving interests.

TexasChris: Good point. We need to create BOTH material wealth and the wealth that comes from the application of sound moral principles that builds up our national identity, character, and strength.

Think Pat's conclusion is wrong. The GOP simply needs to keep its focus on those factors that have made America great....and this can be done by broadening its appeal to the broad middle class without regard to race, ethnicity, and other culturally divisive tactics that the Dems so delightfully... and hypocritically... engage in.