'Oh...and I didn't realize it was mandatory for an American President to have a passport before becoming President.'

If it isn't yet then it bloody well should be!! In this day and age when the concept of the global village has never been truer and more apt, the US President who should be the local example of order and leadership, is often instead the village idiot precisely because he is as insular as many of his conservative electorate. Does the job require a man (or woman!) with worldly experience? Absolutely! Should an American President-elect have seen the world a little to do the job of being THE WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL STATESMAN effectively? Definitely. Of course! Without question! The idea that the CEO of USA Inc, who also happens to be commander-in-chief of the worlds most powerful military.. and at once, is America's first diplomat.. 'doesn't need to have a passport before becoming president' is like saying women shouldn't need to like kids or even want them to physically produce them. Sound silly? Of course! Just as ridiculus as the notion that Bush didn't need a little international exposure to do the job well. Snap assessment - how well is he doing on the international scene compared to his well travelled predecessor?? I rest my case.

By the way, the states that makeup the American union are each independently able to (and do!) canvas and invite foreign (international) investment. Goveners of states actually do travel extensively, all in pursuance of furthering local objectives and initiatives such as knowledge and technology transfer, encouraging inward and external investment to secure local jobs, securing international contracts etc.

In short sir, while well articulated, I think your eloquence was wasted on a really bad and weak argument.