Well, we're between snow storms here in DC. Try convincing someone that global warming is real. Now try doing it as the city you live in continues to get slammed with snow storms, uncharacteristically. Straight from this weekend's "Winter Storm Watch" from the National Weather Service:

WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING.

* PRECIPITATION TYPE...SNOW.

* ACCUMULATIONS...THIS STORM IS LIKELY TO PRODUCE 12 OR MORE INCHES OF SNOW IN THE WATCH AREA...WITH A GOOD CHANCE FOR LOCALIZED AMOUNTS OVER 20 INCHES.

A friend and I are seriously considering renting a snowmobile. Problem: there's no damn mountains on this side of the country, so no one has them. It isn't supposed to snow like this. Tomorrow should be fun...

Here's one thing to chew on: the last time we had a major snow storm like this, Harry Reid grew a pair and we passed health care out of the Senate. Okay, so that was wishful thinking.

Moving on.

I actually didn't have much insight to deliver today, until a read this story, of a rather candid interview with Vice President Joe Biden.

Apparently a conversation about the Recovery Act morphed into a serious talk about the might of America.

""I want to tell you something, because if we cede the ground to those who suggest that -- I don't mean foreigners, I mean domestic critics -- that somehow, we are destined to fulfill (historian Paul) Kennedy's prophecy that we are going to be a great nation that has failed because we lost control of our economy and overextended, then we might as well throw it in now, for God's sake. I mean it's ridiculous."

Most of the time you can just chalk that up to "Biden being Biden." But he went on:

"Give me a break. So many people have bet on our demise that it absolutely drives me crazy. ... There's sort of an attitude that is both politically directed by our Republican friends but also believed by a fair number of people that we just can't make this transition in the 21st century.

"We will continue to be the most significant and dominant influence in the world as long as our economy is strong, growing and responsive to 21st-century needs. And they relate to education, they relate to energy and they relate to health care."

Again, immediately the response to this has to be measured, because Joe Biden said it. That said, he is the Vice President of the United States, for reasons still escaping many, but there he is nonetheless. It really does beg the question: Is American might still a motivating factor among the average American? Is it something we should be striving for? Is it even possible given advances, both in population and technology, in China, India and elsewhere?

So that was three questions. The author, E.J. Dionne, offered this analysis:

"For Republicans, American power is rooted largely in military might and showing a tough and resolute face to the world. They would rely on tax cuts as the one and only spur to economic growth.

Obama, Biden and the Democrats, on the other hand, believe that American power depends ultimately on the American economy, and that government has an essential role to play in fostering the next generation of growth.

Notice that when Obama spoke about keeping America in first place, he said not a word about the military. He referred instead to the efforts of our competitors in the public sphere of the economy, and of our past complacency.

'Washington has been telling us to wait for decades, even as the problems have grown worse," Obama said. "Meanwhile, China is not waiting to revamp its economy. Germany is not waiting. India is not waiting. These nations -- they're not standing still. These nations aren't playing for second place. They're putting more emphasis on math and science. They're rebuilding their infrastructure. They're making serious investments in clean energy because they want those jobs.'"

I am not completely sure that American dominance is all rooted in military might for Republicans. The success of Alabama football might be involved too. But in all seriousness, does government spending show the might of government or the weakness of the republic? Obviously the ideological divide there is cavernous. However, I remember that part of the speech, if only because it was when the president was talking about energy.

Yet, the questions still persist. Where is our country going right now? Someone please highlight something this country has done in the last 15-20 year to distinguish itself from the rest of the world - other than getting itself into a war.

One thing absolutely comes to mind: the internet. Obviously, that has fundamentally changed the way the world works. The federal government also spent a ton of money and passed legislation for it. And then an amazing thing happened: American businesses took it and ran with it, to record profits and success in the booming '90's.

Take a look at what the president is hoping will happen with clean energy. Set standards and businesses adapt and find ways to make money. The economy rises and American dominance is firmed up.

It may seem that I've gotten off topic here, but think about it this way. If we had done something like this 150 years ago, the Industrial Revolution if you will, it would take decades before other countries had the same technology needed to catch up. It took about 15 minutes for everyone to learn the internet and a few more years to catch up, and pass, the U.S. So, is American dominance even realistic? We play the best basketball and football. And we make the best teriyaki.

Oh, and I do believe that we have the best, most well-equipped, advanced military in the world. For now.

It begs the question, is energy different. Sure, everyone has the technology, but we have yet to figure out a way to transmit power from China. Surely we've tried. But the point is, American power has to be truly that, American. Coal is mined here. Wind, solar and whatever else we have invented, is made here. The parts aren't anymore, which has to change, but the energy is. That helps the economy and it is permanent.

Yet, you run into an issue. While energy is one driver, you know what else was for decades: cars. Manufacturing. Looking at energy, the manufacturing has already taken the one-way flight to Asia.

So, I ask again: Is American might realistic? Is it necessary?

I happen to agree with Biden, despite not being from Scranton (you can't write something about him without mentioning it. It's a contractual thing). I even happen to think that government spending, in a weird sort of way, can show the strength of a country. When it's people struggle, there is a strong government. When its people thrive, government can back off, to an extent. But the idea that the U.S. has two legs that could each hold up the country alone is reassuring to me.

The U.S. will always "overextend". It's what we do, what we've always done. But, historically we've done it with a strong base. Can we rebuild that? We better.

We are the greatest country on the planet for a reason.