Umm, no, all nations are unique. Look up the meaning of the word “unique.”

More to the point, America's founding and its political system may exhibit unique characteristics that the world has not seen before, as the writer rightly points out in the first few paragraphs, but then, so did the Roman Empire during its time, and pretty much any world power of its age (different characteristics, equally unique).

The problem comes with the value judgment — this idea that the intrinsic goodness of the American people is somehow on a higher plane than the rest of the world (don't make me laugh, or barf), and that our system is superior. That's what liberals object to, and rightly, I'd say.

Sure, I believe that our political system is the best in the world — at the moment. But it will be supplanted by something else. All things change. And besides, I was raised here, as I'm sure the writer was. Our viewpoints are, um, yeah, just a little influenced by that!

American exceptionalism is both illusory and inherently arrogant. All empires fall, many because of hubris. This one will too.

And no, I wouldn't classify myself as a radical leftie or anything — just someone with some humility who has a sense of history and perspective.

I hold that this strain is the one most problematic to the New Left, as you term them, because of the contention that the inherent theocratic premise has not only undermined the strain of exceptionalism which you have highlighted, but has been used to justify various atrocities against various groups coming down to the present day. Manifest Destiny was and continues to be the practical application of the theocratic strain of American Exceptionalism. For example, we see it in history in the “liberation” of the Philippines, and in the present day exportation of “freedom” to Iraq.

I believe both liberals and conservatives are guilty of conflating these two distinct strands of American Exceptionalism to the extent that conservatives tend to embrace both, while liberals reject both, sometimes out of political expediency and sometimes out of ignorance. I think we owe it to ourselves as a country to come to terms with what truly makes this country exceptional, while at the same time recognizing our internal battle has been, in part, a fight between the idea of God as the source of governmental power (Justice Antonin Scalia) and the idea of the people as the source of governmental power (Decl. of Independence): both ideas having their source in the respective notions of exceptionalism.

Obama realized, as Bromund does not, that when you need others, it's best not to scream in their face “I'm Special! I'm Special! Give me respect! I demand it!” Bromund apparently never saw those Southpark episode where Cartman does his “Bow to mah ottarateh!” thing. (autority)

The main reason why America is now so rich as it is now, is oil. America has had a unique access to oil for a large part of the 20th century, and it has had the infrastructure in place to profit from that extremely cheap source of energy. That access is gone. and so is the American hegemony.

America is in some sort of way unique, no doubt. So are Iceland, Haiti, the Netherlands (which is of course the FIRST nation that formed a Republic by opposing a colonial power, Spain.)

America is most certainly not the Greatest Democracy, in the world. With exceptions (most notable, Lincoln and Obama) America has been ruled by an oligarchic system, which said that rich people ruled.
That's not Democracy, thats a mix of oligarchy and plutocracy. Money talks, and certain groups have more access to money than others.
Iceland, with its very high GINI-coefficient, is far more egalitarian and thus, democratic (when we say demos, the people, ALL people, not those who Palin call REAL Americans). And India is a Great Democracy, in the sense that they manage to have had democratic elections since Independence despite having soo much less money to enforce it, than the West and America alike.

In fact, what abhorred Europe, and the intellectuals in other parts of the world, was the DEPARTURE from democracy that the USA practiced under Bush. There was decidedly less free speech in 2001 – 2006. Some people wearing T-shirts with anti-Bush slogans were barred from public places. Then there's the spying, the lying and the treason against Plame, and of course the torture. Bush started the practice of locking people up without due process. It's hard for Obama to resist that kind of power. No, he ain't a saint … except of course, in repub mockery.

These days, “American Exceptionalism” is another way of saying, “Americans are more worth than others, therefor we deserve special rights”. No doubt this stance will vehemently be denied by the somewhat less uninformed part of the rightwing, because they understand it will make them look bad. But their core constituents, let's call them Palin-Repubs, will equally vehemently embrace this concept of de facto Ubermenschdom. After all, aren't they …. AMERICANS?

Obama has understood this all very well, as does the leftwing. And of course he has something to gain, by not pounding on this. His (and America's) gain will be a slightly less peed off Europe, and less offended world. This might result in more troops in Afghanistan, more money from Japan and other goodies.

This petulance and childish tantrum throwing of the right, on issues which don't really matter, is precisely what has made the rightwing lose ground, and lose elections.

“American Exceptionalism” must be earned, on a continual basis. If the rightwing keeps insisting on 'respect' from others for America because of their past achievements, it will start resembling those early 20th-century mafiosi, who want “Respect” because of what they are, instead of what they achieve.

Obama has understood this all very well, as does the American leftwing. And OF COURSE he has something to gain by not pounding on this. Are you completely off your rocker!? His (and America's) gain will be a slightly less peed off Europe, and a less offended world. This might result in more troops in Afghanistan, more money from Japan and other goodies. The Obama win has meant a return to sanity and the world community by America.

The main reason why America is now so rich as it is now, is oil. America has had a unique access to oil for the largest part of the 20th century, and it has had the infrastructure in place to profit from that extremely cheap source of energy. As well as a lack of socio-historic obstacles. However, the access is gone and with it the American hegemony. America is left with still the biggest nuclear arsenal, and the most advanced conventional army. It's still the biggest economy. Through Hollywood, it's still the biggest cultural factor. But these three all depend on oil.

America is in some sort of way unique, no doubt. So is Iceland, Haiti, the Netherlands (which is of course the FIRST nation that formed a Republic by opposing a colonial power, Spain.) France, and the island of Vanatu

America is most certainly not the Greatest Democracy in the world. It's neither particulary democratic, nor 'great'. With exceptions (most notable, Lincoln and Obama) America has been ruled by an oligarchic system, which said that rich people were most likely to rule.
That's not Democracy, thats a mix of oligarchy and plutocracy. Money talks, and certain groups (mostly whites) STILL have more access to money than others (ethnic minorities). This is for example reflected in American business culture which is VERY hierarchical. (and no, the fact that US businesses are financially so successful is nothing to boast about, since this also speeds up the pollution of the world.)
Iceland, with its very high GINI-coefficient, is far more egalitarian and democratic. So are a number of other European countries. And for example, India is a Great Democracy, in the sense that they manage to have had democratic elections since Independence despite having soo much less money to enforce it, than the West and America alike.

In fact, what abhorred Europe, and the intellectuals in other parts of the world, was the DEPARTURE from democracy that the USA practiced under Bush. There was decidedly less free speech in 2001 – 2006. Some people wearing T-shirts with anti-Bush slogans were barred from public places. Then there was the spying on it's own citizens, the lying and the treason against Plame, and of course the torture. Bush started the practice of locking people up without due process. It's hard for Obama to resist that kind of power. No, he ain't a saint … except of course, in repub mockery. In many ways, the bush-cheny regime was like a bad scifi b-movie.

Insistence on “American Exceptionalism” is nothing but petulance and childish tantrum throwing of the right, on an issue which doesn't really matter. And this is precisely what has made the rightwing lose ground, and elections. To paraphrase Danny Glover in Manderlay: How dumb do you think that really Americans are? (Granted, what with the recent whining about Sotomayor and Obama's night out on Broadway, apparently VERY dumb.)

“American Exceptionalism” must be earned. If the rightwing keeps insisting on 'respect' from others for America because of their past achievements, it will enhance their resemblance to those early 20th-century mafiosi, who want “Respect” because of what they are, instead of what they achieve. This will not do.