Europeans take dim view of Bush re-election

[Jon8503]

Germans, French also have negative opinion of Americans, poll findsThe Associated Press. President Bush’s re-election was viewed negatively by a majority of people in several European countries — including those in Britain, America’s strongest ally in the war in Iraq, Associated Press polling found.

The president was not the only one viewed unfavorably. Americans generally were seen in an unfavorable light by many in France, Germany and Spain, countries not supportive of U.S. Iraq policies.

Bush pledged soon after his re-election victory Nov. 2 that he would work to “deepen our trans-Atlantic ties with the nations of Europe.” He plans a trip to Europe in February. The president, and Americans generally, have plenty of work to do to win over Europeans, according to international AP-Ipsos polls.

Polling in the United States as well as Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Spain was done for the AP by Ipsos, an international polling company.

Negativity extends to Americans in general
As reflected by his re-election, a majority in the United States viewed Bush favorably. Just over half in this country said they were hopeful and were not disappointed after Bush’s re-election.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6705821/

[KansDem]

1. I know a few Americans who aren't too hep about it either...

But then, you already knew that!

[demosincebirth]

2. When I go to Europe, I'm wearing a "I didn't vote for bush" badge

[Jon8503]

3. Yeah there is a guidebook out that tells you how to put some

canadian stickers on your luggage, tapes & books on helping you to get a little canadian dialect to help you out.

[demosincebirth]

14. How sad that we have to disguise our country of birth.

Never in our history have we had to do this.

[Downtown Hound]

4. Well, I don't view the Americans that voted for him positively either

and I'm an American. This country has a long way to go before it's whole again.

[blackangrydem]

5. I don't look to Europe for approval.

[RafterMan]

6. Thank you

I am sick of the grovelling before Europe. I was against Bush because he was bad for America, not because the Europeans were displeased.

[depakid]

7. Probably a good idea not to travel to Europe then

just stay in North America, because when people travel abroad with that attitude, it reflects poorly on those of us who actually do care what people in other countries think.

[RafterMan]

8. Nonsense

I've been to dozens of other countries and I've never had to bring a sense of shame. You can accept others' opinion without needing to seek their approval.

[blackangrydem]

11. That attitude seems to disappear when American currency is used.

[Cheswick2.0]

13. What, you think they're hot for american currency?

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

19. Eh? The value of the dollar has never been lower.

Try booking a hotel reservation or a tour in Europe right now the way the dollar has plummeted. These days at least, the Europeans don't really seem to care one whit about the US currency. The Euro is now the bill to beat, and in fact many countries outside the EU are now switching increasingly from dollars to Euros in their reserves, Russia for one. The only reason our deficit hasn't provoked a Depression thus far is that China and Japan still generously feed our addiction by buying up our T-bills. If they switch to the Euro in their own reserves-- which'll happen if the US dollar continues to decline-- we're hosed.

[ashiebr]

48. I see you don't travel much!! N/T

[Senator Lamb]

9. exactly

Bush's policies suck but I dont look to Europe for approval.

[Jon8503]

15. I really don't see us as graveling before Europe. I see Europe as

someone we live with here on earth and it does matter what they think and the attitudes of other countries in this world does matter. My world is much larger than just here. Also, with us being the biggest polluters and consumers on earth they have a right to be concerned.

[cire4]

16. Thank you,,,,you absolutely nailed it.

That sums it up right there as to why we shouldn't ignore Europe.

[Undercover Owl]

21. precisely.

One of my biggest complaints about the Bush Admin is that they are hell-bent to destroy the environment. They seem to enjoy wreaking havoc on the environment. Everyone on earth suffers that.

(Some right-wing asshat lurker is probably reading this, muttering, must be a tree-hugging hippy...I KNOW global warming is a hoax!)

Well, pollution does affect the health of everyone, eventually.

Also, the Bush Admin is currently pissing on health programs in poorer countries. Right wingers think Bush's health policies are great because birth control/STD-preventing-condoms are discouraged, and abstinence is encouraged. Oh, yes, abstinence is the greatest birth control method! It has worked for centuries!
Try to argue that logic. ;P

[RafterMan]

22. So if Europeans had supported Bush

you would have considered changing your vote to meet their wishes?

Didn't think so.

[cire4]

23. Nobody is basing their vote on what Europeans think

but this whole "Fuck them...Who cares what they think" attitude is the same rationale that the Republicans use when you bring up international opposition to the war. It is important to understand that we are part of a global community and simply ignoring the opinions of other countries is very dangerous, as has been shown in the past couple years. No longer is America the moral leader in the world. Now, as the poll has shown, people in other countries not only show disdain for this country, but they are also taking it out on Americans as well. And this is not due solely to the war, but to the sheer lack of respect that America shows towards the rest of the world

[RafterMan]

28. And this whole

"bring up international opposition" to the war rather than focus on why it wasn't good for Americans really carried the debate, didn't it.

[cire4]

41. It's not supposed to carry the debate

It's something that you as an individual, as a citizen of this world should be cocerned about. International contempt of America is not a good thing for this country.

[Undercover Owl]

24. what you just said...

WTF?
You should think before posting, please.

[Jon8503]

25. What you just said made no sense and you are not even reading

what others are saying or it does not matter to you. Nobody here I believe based their vote on what Europe wanted or what they were saying.

What we are saying is that you do take consideration of what others think. In this case we are talking about Europe. It really is a very simple thing. It is no different than you taking into consideration your neighbors beliefs, how they want to live, etc. Don't you do that or just say the hell with them, I will live the way I want to live. The world is no different. Europe deserves consideration and like it or not, to be able to exist, you have to coexist with other countries. I am amazed at the Canadian bashing going on because they don't agree with us. This will all come back to bite us big time.

[RafterMan]

27. No you aren't

You're taking what others think into account because they already agree with you.

How noble.

[Jon8503]

43. Taking others into acct because they agree with me. Not hardly,

just another one of your no sense replies which actually is only because you are unable to make an intelligent or legitimate argument about the fact of taking others into consideration.

[tngledwebb]

31. You grovel?

We the USA, grovels before Europe?
How, when, where?

[RafterMan]

32. We, DU

[tngledwebb]

35. DU grovels to Europeans?

How when where etc? You mean we DU'ers show some respect for the rest of the worlds's opinions, or social and cultural values, or just dig countries with left liberal democratic governments? Sorry, don't get your point at all.

[RafterMan]

38. DUers respect others' opinions and social and cultural values

when those others are Europeans who have the same opinions and social and cultural values as themselves. And heartily congratulate themselves for their outreach, I see.

The story is different when those others are in Alabama, and their opinions and social and cultural values are different. Then they're scum.

Oh, we're fat and ignorant, what will the Europeans think? Oh dear, oh dear...

[tngledwebb]

40. I get your point, I think, but disagree.

That's not what I see. Du'ers are not immune to prejudice, they're human after all, and it behooves us not to pre-judge folks as Southerners, Republicans, Fundamentalists, even Freepers. But for the most part that kind of talk is rare, in my experience.

[ailsagirl]

45. Of course not-- but the Europeans are displeased because...

well, look at what's running our country!! And don't forget, anything that happens here inevitably filters down to them.

I think it is important that they approve of our leader since so much depends of alliances with other countries, but that's not to say we need to vet our candidates before the world court, either.

But THIS guy-- I don't think anyone likes him. Except for the Saudi Royal Family, perhaps.

[Cheswick2.0]

12. you can't really blame them, though can you?

They think we are idiots for re-electing the Chimp. I have to agree.

[Skittles]

20. who the f*** is looking for approval?

how about having a president that is actually qualified to do the job? He embarrasses us relentlessly. I GIVE A SH** WHAT EUROPE AND THE REST OF THE WORLD THINKS.

[tngledwebb]

29. Take a trip to the UK,

France, Italy, Germany, Spain, well anywhere else, China, Africa. Get some perspective. The rest of the world can tell us a lot of what is wrong with this country, as well as what is right.

[Forkboy]

42. Good thing

I doubt you'd get it.

[Bouncy Ball]

10. And I don't blame them

one little teeny tiny bit.

[sonicx]

17. Australia gives Bush 40% approval...

yet they reelect Howard. Seriously, Is he really all that better than Bush? :eyes:

[Cha]

18. That's really strange..

IMO, howard is an embarrassment to Australia..just like bush is here.

If I went to Europe I would wear a Kerry pin and go as an American.

This is a worldly thing and they get the real news over there so they realize what dip shit bush really is.

bush doesn't just affect America..he has the capacity to wreck the world, too. Maybe, Europe will get stronger with a weaker America, though.

[Jon8503]

44. Right On Zidzi, it really is true that they are more informed of what

really is going on in the world than we are here except for those that
take the time or know how to search out the news instead of just relying on their hometown paper.

[Karenina]

26. Many of us ex-pats

are HORRIFIED at what be comin' 'cross from the homies. BUMMER. :cry:

[dbfl33040]

30. big deal!

Maybe they should worry more about what we think of them???????

[LynnTheDem]

46. Why? They're not the ones waging illegal wars of aggression

We're the ones doing what the Nuremburg Tribunal called "the supreme crime".

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[StopTheMorans]

34. who are "these people"? what is your proposed solution?

do you respond to any questions that anyone asks you :shrug:

[Name removed]

36. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[StopTheMorans]

37. see my post that you just replied to; it contains two questions

[vitoria]

39. LTE in Akron Beacon Journal - Bush/Hitler similarity

Something about a man in uniform

When President Bush stood before thousands of Marines last Tuesday at Camp Pendleton (where the uniform of the day was camouflage fatigues), he sported a newly tailored field jacket with epaulets, the presidential seal on his right chest and an embroidered identification tag in the left breast pocket position -- one that read, ``George W. Bush, Commander in Chief.''

None of our previous U.S. presidents -- including former generals George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Zachary Taylor, Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight D. Eisenhower -- ever affected a military uniform while in office.

Such posturing is in the tradition, however, of Fidel Castro, Yasser Arafat, Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler, Idi Amin and, yes, Saddam Hussein.

One would think our president would be embarrassed to wear such a get-up -- especially considering his own military record.

Jack Gieck

Akron


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[zann725]

47. If Arnebeck & Conyers succeed, Europeans can "brighten" their view

n/t