The US seems to be far more vulnerable economic and militarily now. The 20th century was America's, the 21st will go to the Asians and how the US handles it's loss of authority in the world will be interesting. As we lose relative strength it becomes easier for any number of pressures to tip us into farther into the morass.

The processes aren't necessarily the result of Democratic or Republican policies but more global growth and development. GWB did dramatically squander the American military and economic dominance in a quiotic chase to buy the Middle East, but it was coming anyway. Maybe not that rapidly.

A good example of what is happening is what is occurring in Space and the military. The US dominance is on the verge of eclipse by other countries and we can't afford to outdo the entire rest of the world. The same thing is happening with the military, though slower. Many countries recognize there is no need to waste money on enormous military strength, and aren't sapping their economies to feed that tapeworm. And those who are stepping up have more managed economies and lower standards of living and are better able to absorb the costs.

Another example is the global warming matter. The US is finding itself more cut off, more isolated, on this issue and the rest of the world is working around US. We aren't able to dictate to what used to be US puppets when they were more dependent upon US economically and militarily.

It will be interesting to see how Americans adapt to being more vulnerable and weaker. If the past holds true, each party will blame the other, and the conservatives will be more successful as portraying themselves as being able to return US to our past glories. Which won't be possible.

I'm not saying that America as a superpower is done. I'm saying that America as the only superpower is over, although it's a combination of countries which add up to the second one. It's only a matter of time before China, India, Brazil, Europe and Russia are able to meaningfully threaten American markets and influence.