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[Ya-ta Boy]

Late in the conversation, I asked Biden about the surprise applause line in President Obama's State of the Union speech -- "I do not accept second place for the United States of America." Will we hear more on the America-as-No.-1 theme?

What followed was a torrent, in red, white and blue.

"From me you're going to hear more," he replied emphatically. "I want to tell you something, because if we cede the ground to those who suggest that -- I don't mean foreigners, I mean domestic critics -- that somehow, we are destined to fulfill (historian Paul) Kennedy's prophecy that we are going to be a great nation that has failed because we lost control of our economy and overextended, then we might as well throw it in now, for God's sake. I mean it's ridiculous."

On he went. "Give me a break. So many people have bet on our demise that it absolutely drives me crazy. ... There's sort of an attitude that is both politically directed by our Republican friends but also believed by a fair number of people that we just can't make this transition in the 21st century...

Yet by the end of the interview, I realized he had bumped into the hidden political issue of the 2010 elections. Beneath the predictable back-and-forth between Obama and his Republican adversaries over government spending lies a substantively important difference over how the United States can maintain its global leadership.

For Republicans, American power is rooted largely in military might and showing a tough and resolute face to the world. They would rely on tax cuts as the one and only spur to economic growth.

Obama, Biden and the Democrats, on the other hand, believe that American power depends ultimately on the American economy, and that government has an essential role to play in fostering the next generation of growth.


The Hidden Issue of 2010
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/02/04/the_hidden_issue_of_2010_100167.html

Dionne is right and he's right about the two parties' approach to the situation. Just take a look at Rep. Ryan's Shadow Budget--more tax cuts and slashing Social Security for those under 55. Rather than reform the system it looks like an attempt to pit the generations against each other and ultimately kill the system altogether.

We'll completely lose the republic if all we are is a garrison state. We'll be a modern version of Frederick the Great's Prussia--an army that happens to have a country attached to it. A society with only three job options--incredibly rich investment bankers, hamburger flippers and a high tech army to keep the peasants in line when they're not killing foreigners is not really a very attractive future.

"...it's reasonable to think just about every policy dispute on the American landscape can, and probably should, be reframed to answer the question: how does this position the United States for global competition in the 21st century?"
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_02/022244.php