DISQUS

"Too many Americans are isolated narcissists in their thinking - they think, for example, that the rest of the world wants to be American. No it doesn’t."

This sums up what I experience when I mention my travels to Russia and Ukraine. I have been asked a bejillion times if I was mobbed by women looking for a husband so they could get out of 'there'. I also get told that I am unpatriotic for my viewpoints that don't honor King George IV Bush and his Court of Neocons. To that I tell them they are unpatriotic for being so uneducated on the issues of government. The writings of America's founding fathers say many times over that an educated public is necessary for the success of the country.

I honestly hope the US makes it through the next 5 months without a major catastrophe. But I fully expect something to happen along the lines of the dollar collapsing, Black Sea naval shooting match, etc. Bush and his cronies excel at finding ways to manipulate international politics and the media with 'wag the dog' kinds of scenarios in order to distract the public from America's own issues desperately needing attention. It has taken me awhile to realize this but they are cowards. They had an opportunity to provide real leadership but they chose vanity and power instead.

I used to work for a small aviation company whose owner was rather closed-minded individual. After learning of my then recent visit to Moscow in 2005, he proceeded to tell me how Russians were cold and godless. He said he could see it in their eyes. He then proceeded to give a speech sprinkled with religious overtures and unfounded observations on Russia that made me want to puke. It is hard to believe that people like him exist in America but they do. I've seen it first hand.

Thankfully most people I know can see the political manipulation that Bush(King George IV I like to call him) and his staff continue to carelessly exercise at the expense of the US taxpayer and ultimately the citizens of other countries- this time Russian and Georgia. The large majority of these people grew up during the cold war and are now retired. They represent what I would call good, honest, religious, and most important, wise American citizens. They are certainly a little hesitant (and curious) when it comes to the subject of Russia(I do speak to them about it) but there is one thing they agree on with certainty. The US political leaders need to quit playing politics around the world and address our own problems at home. Casting religious stones from a glass church is downright stupid.

We can only hope our next round of political leaders will exhibit the genuine wisdom needed to lead the US after the disaster of eight years with George W. Bush.

We were warned 48 years ago about the military/industrial complex by Eisenhower. During a period of the Cold War when the average person might have thought more weapons would have been a good thing. But Dwight was a wise man and realized the political influence, I daresay propaganda, that could be wielded by the military/industrial complex can produce the situation we're seeing Georgia.

Unfortunately the most ignorant and unwise president in the history of the United States, George W. Bush, is now sitting in office. You are correct. January, 2009, cannot come soon enough.