The first was the new conflict between Russia and the state she formerly controlled, Georgia.

The second was the news about the fall from grace of John Edwards.

For most of the first 40 years of my life, the Russians were the boogymen. They were the "Evil Empire," that we finally were able to bring down.

Our conflict was known as the "Cold War." Both sides had so many weapons, that they could never realistically attack the other. Instead we just kept building more and more weapons, but lived in an uneasy truce known as "peaceful coexistence."

In the late '80s when the Soviet Union began to disintegrate, we all thought that there would be peace for our country. After all the bad old Russians were no longer a threat.

No such luck was to be ours, however. When there were two superpowers, us and them, we sort of had some control over the rest of the world. Once there was just us left as the only superpower, we have been dealing with all the little dirty problems around the world by ourselves.

The old proverb, "be careful what you wish for," may well fit this situation. We feared the Russians so much, and wanted them gone as a threat. Then when it happened there was no one around to take their place.

Well, the Russian "Bear" is once again stirring from its long winter's sleep. Their leader, Mr. Putin, was a former KGB member. You remember the guys who James Bond fought so many battles against.

They are sitting on a mountain of oil and other resources, and can afford to rearm themselves. It is going to be interesting to see how they behave in this new century.

About the best we can hope for is that they will be a major force against the Islamic movement we have been having so much trouble with. Remember, they are ancient enemies of the Muslims. It was back in the '80s when they were doing the fighting in Afghanistan.

Makes you wonder if we did the right thing in trying to stop them back then. Success on their part would have never allowed Osama Bin Laden to stage 911 from that country for sure.

John Edwards was outed this week. He is just one more of our national leaders (from both parties) that has proved to have some skeletons in the closet.

I am not surprised. While I agreed with many of his political positions, he always bothered me a little.

His hair should have been a tip off. It always looked like it could withstand and automatic car wash, and never show any change.

Our politicians are in the end, just like us. They are human and are going to make human mistakes. It is the ability to rise above these personality issues that makes the difference. Our history is full of people like this.

One of my favorites was Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States. Grant was one of our best examples of how a flawed human being can rise to greatness.

He graduated from West Point 21st out of a class of 39. He was not thought to be headed for greatness, but was well-liked by the other military men.

He had become somewhat of a failure before the Civil War began, and was no longer even a member of the Army. He reentered the service as the war began and the rest is history.

President Lincoln had tried general after general in an attempt to find someone who could win battles against the South. Grant became that general he sought.

After posting victories at Shiloh and Vicksburg, Lincoln promoted him above over 200 other senior officers, to become the head of the army.

Many in the news media began to question this decision. Grant had a somewhat checkered history where alcohol was concerned.

Lincoln told them he had only three rules for choosing a new commander. First they decide which battles to fight. Second, they must organize their resources to fight those battles. Finally, they must "WIN!"

When the reporters pushed Lincoln about Grant's drinking problems, he simply replied, "find out what brand he likes to drink, and send a barrel to him."

What was seen as a weakness to others was of no consequence to Lincoln.

I thought of Grant today, when reading about John Edwards. I don't personally think John Edwards has the stuff of a President in him. His career in politics is surely over.

Still, I do not want to throw him or any other leader under the bus just because they have human weaknesses.

It makes no sense if you study history.

Both Alexander the Great and Caesar, were known to have hidden their problems with epileptic seizures. A human failing is not always a measurement of ability.

In the next few months, there will be countless acts of mud slinging about all our political candidates.

If one of them can help to get us out of the mess we are in, I'll send them a barrel myself!