Can you honestly see Obama sitting across from Putin, and Putin taking him seriously? Not having any shred of liberal white guilt, Putin is going to see Obama for exactly what he is, and seize the opportunity accordingly, and so will Chavez, and whoever else wants to. But then again, were're soon likely to be fully occupied with our southern border, and some sort of quasi war with Mexico, and less likely to want or be able to influence what happens in elsewhere. Too bad for Poland, Ukraine, all of Eastern Europe, too bad for Taiwan, too bad for the rest of Europe, too bad for the U.K. and maybe Australia, and too bad for a lot of people who counted on us and sometimes took us for granted.