Obama and Clinton are buying into a bottomed-out market vis-à-vis America’s position in the world. It is as if they will be buying stock after the market has crashed, and just at the point when a number of factors are already set in motion for a recovery. For President George W. Bush did not just damage America’s position in the world, he has also, over the past two years, quietly repositioned himself as a realist in foreign policy, and that, coupled with a bold new strategy in Iraq, known as the “surge,” has poised America for a diplomatic rebound, which the next administration will get the credit for carrying out.

I have to say I find that reasoning persuasive, although it is absolute heresy to the left. I wish Obama could have kept Condoleezza Rice on as Secretary of State. In retrospect, I think I think I have more respect for her than anyone else in the Bush Administration. As for having Hillary in that role. Well, hrm, ok, maybe, we'll see...

Obama's Foreign Policy: Buying in at the Bottom - The Atlantic (November 25, 2008)