TSD or Chuck for short
I can't reply to your whole post this evening. The "To the Right of Attilla" part made me laugh because I had a friend who always said I was too "the Right of the Israelis and slightly to the left of Attila." He died and I miss him.
Your post rocked. It made me think about what I am espousing and that doesn't happen too often.
I dislike Sowell even though I read what he writes. Leonard Pitts, Jr is more my speed. Alan Keyes is a pompous ass, but then I got to see him in the 2000 debates.
If you had an hour or so or I had 10 or so pages for writing I could explain why I am an Obama supporter. The funny part is that I worked for John McCain in 2000 and was sorely vexed by the dirty politics of SC and NY.
I've gotten older and smarter and had friends who worked with and for McCain who have talked to me about him. If my choice is Hillary or McCain I am voting for McCain. So if I get a choice between Clinton or McCain I am voting McCain but if I get a choice between Obama and McCain...right now I say I'm voting for Obama but it might be tough for me to do ---past history and all things considered.
One other thing, I read George Schultz's book. He wasn't all that great. Colin Powell kind of bites too. Personal opinion there and I voted for Reagan twice.