Great question. Certainly, all REAL Americans would choose a Republic. The tendency toward Empire seems fundamentally Unconstitutional, according to that "piece of paper" in the Nat'l Archives. Despite those who say otherwise, a nation can look out for its own self-interest without picking fights with everyone around it. Just maintain a navy to protect our shipping and commerce, an air force to protect our skies, and a reasonable plan to draft and enlarge the army should we be threatened on land.

I think of Thomas Jefferson, who despite his writings against Federal (and sp. executive) power, knew enough not to let Louisiana pass by. Another way to think of the empire or republic question is a matter of being assertive vs. aggressive.

But what to do with all the violent maniacs in the Pentagon who won't stand for this? Those who are now addicted to the cause of the American Empire, and the police state required to support it? Could a moderate man ever be president again? Look at how hard they went after Bill Clinton toward the end of his term.

Pulling back and toning down the rhetoric of slavish worship of the military would drive these people nuts.

Then again, maybe they are fattened and satiated enough from gorging on defense contracts in Iraq that they are willing to take a breather?

when she proposes to obliterate Iran

once the Democrats turn the big guns at him. There's so much about McCain that's barely even been mentioned yet. It won't take much to raise old doubts among the radical conservatives he's presently trying to woo, and his record will speak for itself when it comes to demolishing the maverick myth among independents.

Oh, and doubledave - this country has come back from worse. After yesterday I feel significantly more optimistic that we will again this time, too.

McSame "And the system of checks and balances rarely dissppoints"

Could McCain just start with the 2000 Supreme Court Judicial coup! Not an election a selection! I don't care what Supreme Court Justice Scalia says. Our nation will never just " get over it"

But McCain is a disgrace. A political disgrace to be sure, but even more sadly, an individual and personal disgrace. To my mind, this doesn't inspire anger so much as it does revulsion and disgust.

I agree. I used to respect McCain quite a bit, but the way he has sold out his very soul just to be President is truly revolting and disgusting. The torture issue probably tops that list for me. How on earth can a person who was tortured as a POW turn around to both enable and endorse torture by our own government? I just can't get past that, so every time I see McCain in the press, I can only picture a hollowed out shell that has no soul.

Along with this expansion of executive power has a been a corresponding reduction in transparency. The paternalistic attitude of the current crowd insults the intelligence of every American, especially every elementary school kid. Can you imagine any teacher worthy of the profession responding to an inquisitive child with a "you don't really need to know that" response? Obama's comment on a commission to explore de-classification issues is encouraging.

Obama will NEVER cede once ounce of the power that Bush has accumulated.

Other Presidents in the past have ceded power once in office. If they did, why are you so convinced that future presidents won't?

One would have hoped that anyone "practicing in state and federal courts for over 25 years" would have an understanding of constitutional law that has advanced beyond the most simplistic and worthless cliches. Apparently, one would be wrong.

I come for the posts, but I stay for the verbal beatdowns. Excellent work.

Given that republicans have controlled the presidency and senate for most of the past 30 years, isn't it ironic that McCain chooses to complain about a situation he and his fellow republicans are generally the cause of, and something many people have decried all along?

How is this surprising in the least?

Obama will NEVER cede once ounce of the power that Bush has accumulated. Neither would Hillary and, of course, neither would McCain. Bush has destroyed this country. It may not crumble today or tomorrow, but within 20 years, the USA of 1999 will no longer exist. This country is now a facist dictatorship. It will stay a facist dictatorship until there is either a revolution or an invasion. The worst is DEFINATELY yet to come.

That McCain's speech can so accurately and truly characterize the constitution and its construction, and then zing off in a totally craven direction (his accusation directed at the judicial branch) shows just how far he has fallen, how hollowed-out he has become--and through the above--his amazing capacity for personal weakness and cowardism. This Judicial attack is a cheap and tawdry pander to the right wing in the same way the "gas-tax holiday" is meaningless and empty pandering to a genuinely hurting general populace.

Political cowardism is one thing. All politicians have this to some degree. But McCain is a disgrace. A political disgrace to be sure, but even more sadly, an individual and personal disgrace. To my mind, this doesn't inspire anger so much as it does revulsion and disgust.

Bush's intent all along was NOT to make a radically conservative activist court. It was to NEUTER the court. Alito, Scalia, Roberts & Co. are more than happy to accommodate that.

In another part of his statement yesterday, McCain also said that he would nominate SCOTUS judges similar to Roberts, Alito and Rhenquist. It seems to me that this should be turned into yet another vulnerability for McCain. I spent a little time Googling, but couldn't find approval ratings for Rhenquist. I can't believe he was popular near the end of his time. I know that a clear majority does not favor overturning Roe v. Wade (see for example http://www.pollingreport.com/abortion.htm) and McCain's comments on SCOTUS are aimed in part at this.

I think we should make McCain's positions on balance of power, as pointed out by Glenn in the post, and on SCOTUS appointments, as described above, a huge albatross for McCain, nearly equal in magnitude to his identification with Bush policy.