If we are so great how come we have an idiot like Obama getting the Democrat nomination? And how come we have an idiot like Condi Rice for Secretary of State?
The same way we got a Carter, Clinton, etc, etc as President. We are great in spite of what happens in DC, not because of it. That is the key to our greatness. Unlike other countries, whose greatness is tied up in their halls of power, our greatness comes from our citizens who get up every day, got to work, and make this country great.