I'm currently summering in Tokyo where Hillary Clinton was today met with the kind of enthusiasm reserved for rock stars and soccer heroes (no, that's not a typo; my other home's in Sydney where it's definitely summer).

As I watched the swooning of politicians, journalists, and the public alike, I was struck by a sense of nostalgia for the days when the last American politician was greeted in Japan with such unreserved zeal. And it brought a wry smile to my face to recall that it was a Clinton then as well.

Seeing how well Hillary handled herself and how energetically she was embraced by the Japanese fills me with hope that America can reclaim a positive image abroad and once more be the country others WANT to follow and emulate rather than the petulant bully it's symbolized for the last 7 years.

But what do you think?