I think the next president will be McCain. The best Dem, Edwards, didn't make it. Hillary is my second choice, Obama below her and Edwards. Here in Seattle there is a cultlike devotion to Obama that I see but don't get.

I'm afraid the Dems will as usual devour themselves, leaving the Repubs laughing and picking up the votes. Remember, we got stuck with GW in 2004 because Ralph Nader ran and got all the far left types that would have voted Dem.

Obama and McCain both appeal to the fencejumpers/undecided types, that is people will cross party lines to vote for them. And I think the Clinton elections and the GW Bush elections were decided by the fence jumpers.

As for improving the US image abroad, well, yeah. Any warm body in that office other than GW would improve the US image.

My politics? Only fair to disclose in this type of post. I consider myself a law and order lefty. Example: I was glad we had the Union march against NAFTA, but cheered the TV news footage showing a guy running downhill charging a cop and getting kicked in the you know what for his troubles.