We are so screwed

It has really, really hit bottom. From Sunday's Washington Post:

Sen. John F. Kerry indicated that as president he would play down the promotion of democracy as a leading goal in dealing with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, China and Russia, instead focusing on other objectives that he said are more central to the United States' security. ...

In many ways, Kerry laid out a foreign policy agenda that appeared less idealistic about U.S. aims than those of President Bush or even fellow Democrat Bill Clinton. Although Kerry said it is important to sell democracy and "market it" around the world, he demurred when questioned about a number of important countries that suppress human rights and freedoms.

Atrios calls this "an interesting little bit of rhetorical judo," adding "it'll be sort of amusing to see Kerry strike back at Bush by asking why the hell we're wasting our money and soldiers' lives for those damn furriners."

Ezra at Pandagon says "it's time we had a foreign-policy realist who knows his shit."

In other words, Kerry stakes out a foreign policy position that is in significant ways to the right of Bush and we're supposed to be glad? Oh jeez....

About two weeks ago, talking about John Kerry, I dissented from a friend's comment that "the Anybody But Bush crowd has lost it's way", saying "As soon as your stand is 'anybody but,' you're admitting you have no such way to lose." I can't imagine a more perfect example.

We are, yes, so screwed.