Praying for Presidential Positions and the Church

When we were praying for the Presidential elections, I felt we should always start our prayers with repentance for how this nation treated President Bush. Whenever I expressed this feeling to people, intercessors looked at me like I was from the moon.
I still feel this way, that when we pray about the health care bill, the economy, gay marriage bills, abortion; that we must repent first for the great sins of this nation and for the sins of complacency of the church. then we can petition God for favor. Isn't II Chronicles 7:14 a verse of repentance, isn't that why God will hear from heaven, forgive and heal? God listens to the contrite heart, His ear is always turned toward the humble, repentant heart.
When we pray for our church, perhaps we should first repent for the carnality, the lack of prayer; the power struggle among the administrators, pray for our sins; pray for the people's sins.
Stand in the gap, ask for forgiveness for the lack of power, glory , grace and guidance. And then let us ask for His direction and his plans for the Church.