It's hard to say what's worse. Watching Barak Obama ramble on seemingly in an intelligent tone with out a single word of substance uttered or the Republicans complete inability to separate politics from power, or attempt to energize their base.

The nature of the beast is world wide.  Intelligent people simply do not enter the political arena.  When Israel enters Lebanon with only a token attempt at defense, Hezbollah is declared the winner in the news media and by politicians around the world.  But war is not political when the missiles are launching, and Israel won.  They controlled the land, dominated the playing field, and broke more things and killed more of the enemy.  War is still war.

Politicians on both sides still wring hands and wonder what to do about North Korea and Iran.  The wondering phase has passed.  If you want to fix the problem an all out attack (from missiles and planes) is the only fix.  Leaders in both parties tell us that NK and Iran are simply posturing.  They are not, they are telling you exactly what they are going to do, when they feel they're ready.  Hitler was no different.  To go skipping merrily down the lane hoping for the best will not fix this problem.  This takes tough decisions, touch actions, and intelligent analysis of the past, not the future. 

The world is at an interesting cross roads.  The balance of power diplomacy is an argument for yesterday's men.  Reading the future is best left to the astrologers and day traders (if they have enough money left to pay the broadband bill this month).

The decisions now will determine the direction of the world for decades to come.  The best intelligence for determining future actions is the past. 

So the question is thus; Do the leaders of the free world have the experience, and intellectual capacity to make these decisions in the best interest of The United States and in the interest of the freedom of the people in other countries.  Does Hillary Clinton have enough life experience, and enough history of war, it's consequences and benefits over the last 1500 years to decide to engage?  Does Barak Obama who is the new hope of the Democratic party have the experience and keen intellect to drive a new party.  Listen to both of these people speak and you'll quickly find, they do not. They prattle on endlessly about focusing, and changing direction, and listening to the people, and understanding.  But they don't ever say a word.  And no one in the media ever asks.
Our friends the Republicans don't fare much better.  At the top of the oil price calamity did George Bush gather the republicans and say, "Now is the time to start drilling in Anwar?"
Does he ever come out and say vis a vis Iraq, "We could win this war in a few days, we're simply trying to avoid killing innocent civilians."

And I cannot understand why no Republican stands tall and says simply, "If we let this go on in Iran, and we leave Iraq, Israel will be overrun and thousands of innocent jews will be slaughtered.
They do not, because they cannot.

Here is what should be done:
Cut spending across the board by 3 to 5%, even social security.  They can take the small cut now or the 50% cut in ten years.

Bomb North Korea and Iran until they suit for peace.
If not, one of these nations will use their weapons on us, or a friend.

Make Peace with Russian, and add tariffs to China.  It keeps us out of their politics, but lets them know we won't send money over their to be handed to NK through the back door.  Geographically and historically it makes sense for us to be friendly with Russia.
Increase spending on missile defense, then increase it again.

Start to put the nation on a war footing.  Draft able bodied males and put them through boot camp.  Show the world that if an alliance rises up against The United States, we're up to the challenge. A show of force historically early on in a confrontation has tended to define weaknesses in your enemy and other times led cooler heads to prevail.

A few of these ideas appear at first glance to be drastic.  If they are not implemented they will at some point be considered much to mild and ineffective.  The winds of war are surely blowing.  When the first leader realizes this is no longer politics, but actual power, it will be to late to prevent it.