Barack Obama (election coverage only-official)

[generaladm]

Originally Posted by Bucklion

That was solidarity with the citizenry, and with the people who lost their lives in particular, not the American government. We were not exactly tops on everyone's list on September 10th, and we were going to return that way soon afterward, Bush or not. Certainly the Iraq war exacerbated that process, but the so-called "solidarity" was temporary, if it actually existed.

You are correct about the solidarity with the populace. I was under the impression that the discussion involved the perception of the US as a whole, not just the government. I disagree with the rest of your assessment, however. Sure, the effects of empathy from 9/11 would have worn off in time, but I'm certain that W's handling of foreign policy had a negative effect. Pre 9/11, W had not made much of an impression on the international community. After 9/11, he had a golden opportunity to be viewed as a great leader who pulled his country thru a difficult period. Instead, he decided to spout off about "axis of evil", and make it clear that he was going to force his will in Iraq, no matter what the world, his countrymen, or his own cabinet thought. The war has had a huge effect on the entire world, and, right or wrong, W gets the blame for it. W has not had good relations with other world leaders other than Blair, and has come off as an arrogant isolationist to many. While I agree that the 9/11 solidarity would have been temporary, I think our world perception is much more negative than it was on 9/10.

[Gatorubet]

Originally Posted by Bucklion

Probably a very accurate observation.

They liked us more before Bush the Lessor, so I do not see they they will not like us more after he is gone.

[Bucklion]

Originally Posted by Gatorubet

They liked us more before Bush the Lessor, so I do not see they they will not like us more after he is gone.

Maybe...eventually...perhaps...to an extent...but him being gone and Obama taking over isn't going to be any kind of magic wand.

[Gatorubet]

Originally Posted by Bucklion

Maybe...eventually...perhaps...to an extent...but him being gone and Obama taking over isn't going to be any kind of magic wand.

We will immediately have World Peace and free I-Pod downloads for everyone?

Where the hell have you been?

[Tresselbeliever]

All of you guys are missing the point. The point isn't to make everyone like us; you don't have to like your local gas station owner to buy gas from him or to like your local bankers to make a deposit there or take out a loan. The point is to provide leadership and stability in the current civilized framework that is largely a function of the globalization of local economies. In this case, stability means a lot more to the countries in this framework (Europe, Asia, the Middle East, South America) than leadership. That means they don't want us to further promote policies of instability, such as continuing the expansion of NATO into Russia's doorsteps or the creation of a comprehensive missile defense that could set off another nuclear arms race. I hope this helps.

[Bucklion]

Originally Posted by Gatorubet

We will immediately have World Peace and free I-Pod downloads for everyone?

Where the hell have you been?

So says Chris Matthews, who can't get that damn leg tingle to stop.

[DaytonBuck]

Originally Posted by generaladm

You gotta love it when F-list bloggers profess to have insight into a public figure's "real" intentions. Later in the piece and comments, he says that Powell was lying when he said he thinks the GOP has moved further to the right. It takes a special kind of asshole to the have self-aggrandizing gall to suggest that a person they've never met is being false about their personal opinions. It's absurd to say that the future of Powell's career depended on endorsing Obama. I think it was actually riskier for him career-wise to endorse either candidate. If he had stayed out of it, he surely would have been offered an appointment by either side, and he may still. It's not like he was obligated to publicly endorse either way.

Just to show what kind of asshat Mick Wright is, here's his defense of using a derrogatory bastardization of Obama's name.




Do you really read this crap?





Thanks for the divination, Nostradamus. Could you tell us who is going to win the World Series, so we can place some bets? Need I remind you that after 9/11, the whole western world proclaimed solidarity with the US? The international opinion went from a near all-time high to a near all-time low in just a couple of years. Can you tell me with a straight face that W had nothing to do with that? Of course not everyone in the world will like the US, no matter who is POTUS, but having one that doesn't constantly give the finger to the rest of the world will only help our perception.

Take an IR class

[buckeyegrad]

Originally Posted by generaladm

Thanks for the divination, Nostradamus.

No divination needed. Just use the Allen Combs majic eyeball. It knows all!

Glenn Beck.Com - Magic Eye-Ball

['BusNative]

Originally Posted by scooter1369

Yeah. The "If we can't beat em, join em" attitude is so much better.

Who the hell is talking about joining anyone?

They aren't going to like us any more than they do now regardless of who wins.

Except that the poll of random regular people in other countries suggests that they might.

Outsiders have a very different view of our nation. They don't want us to be as prosperous as we are. They want to see the downfall of the American Empire. So, yeah, when their opinion is that they want to see Obama in charge, its for their interests, not ours.

Which outsiders, who of course speak for the rest of the world, explained this to you? If by "their interests" you mean they can rest a little more assured that they won't be randomly invaded and occupied because a unilateral "go-it-alone" president is no longer in the office, you may be on to something.

Just as I'd like to see Terry Bowden as head coach at Florida State. He's a horrible [censored]ing coach and would assure Florida State would never be a power again. That's the philosophy of people from other nations when it comes to our president.

Thankfully, America's Terry Bowded is about to exhaust his 2nd term...

They want a democrat in office. So they can get the Bill Clinton response to a terror attack. They attack our Navy and kill Sailors, Clinton lobs Tomahawks at a few tents in a desert. McCain would go after their ass. They certainly what they don't want.

They'd much prefer a Carter or Clinton reponse.

I'm sure they'd prefer anything to the Dubya response to terror. If Iraq can be invaded without having anything to do with the attacks of 9/11, I guess pretty much any country could be next. And do you have access to McCain's plan? He's said that he would do something, that he knows how to get bin Laden, but he hasn't listed one response except to oppose the withdrawal of American soldiers from Iraq which is being negotiated anyway.

Originally Posted by scooter1369

you are so right. we should just do what would make whole world happy and elect a muslim and adopt shia law. its what all the kewl country's are doing now. maybe we'll be able to fit in with the popular crowd in January.

Scooter, have you ever considered the fact that maybe people - and these were regular people that were polled - might just be tired of an asshole in charge of our country? Maybe others are looking Americans to pick someone they perceive to be willing to work with other countries in the world. Don't you think that if peopel from around the world were going to hate us anyway there would be no difference in the polling numbers between McCain and Obama?

[DaytonBuck]

Originally Posted by 'BusNative

Who the hell is talking about joining anyone?



Except that the poll of random regular people in other countries suggests that they might.



Which outsiders, who of course speak for the rest of the world, explained this to you? If by "their interests" you mean they can rest a little more assured that they won't be randomly invaded and occupied because a unilateral "go-it-alone" president is no longer in the office, you may be on to something.



Thankfully, America's Terry Bowded is about to exhaust his 2nd term...



I'm sure they'd prefer anything to the Dubya response to terror. If Iraq can be invaded without having anything to do with the attacks of 9/11, I guess pretty much any country could be next. And do you have access to McCain's plan? He's said that he would do something, that he knows how to get bin Laden, but he hasn't listed one response except to oppose the withdrawal of American soldiers from Iraq which is being negotiated anyway.



Scooter, have you ever considered the fact that maybe people - and these were regular people that were polled - might just be tired of an asshole in charge of our country? Maybe others are looking Americans to pick someone they perceive to be willing to work with other countries in the world. Don't you think that if peopel from around the world were going to hate us anyway there would be no difference in the polling numbers between McCain and Obama?

Serbia didn't like us under Bill Clinton. Why would it matter what they think?

['BusNative]

Originally Posted by DaytonBuck

Serbia didn't like us under Bill Clinton. Why would it matter what they think?

Is this a real point? This doesn't even make sense.

[DaytonBuck]

Originally Posted by 'BusNative

Is this a real point? This doesn't even make sense.

Makes perfect sense. We bombed them over Kosovo in '99 and thus Serbia has one the lowest favorable opinion rates about America in polls around the world. How is the US effected one or the other by the average Serbian not liking us?

[Gatorubet]

Originally Posted by 'BusNative

Is this a real point? This doesn't even make sense.

Don't forget about Poland!

[billmac91]

Originally Posted by Gatorubet

Don't forget about Poland!

Don't forget bout' Mark Moulder!!!

['BusNative]

Originally Posted by DaytonBuck

Makes perfect sense. We bombed them over Kosovo in '99 and thus Serbia has one the lowest favorable opinion rates about America in polls around the world. How is the US effected one or the other by the average Serbian not liking us?

Congratulations, you've found an exception to an argument that wasn't being made here. The poll being discussed was relative to one candidate in this election versus the other.

I haven't seen a recent favorability poll, do you have a link?