Europe on Obama
A recent post here may require a modicum of revision. Or, may not.
In €Signs of the End of Obama's Reign?€ I posited the view that the disintegration of the president's support among two prime constituencies could foreshadow his defeat in November.
Based on international opinion, my observation may have been somewhat premature, presuming Americans should give a damn about what envious and crumbling nations think about us.
It's incontrovertible that President Barack Hussein Obama has lost significant support among black and Jewish communities but he still maintains a (now-qualified) backing of many foreigners.
Most of the world still seems enamored of America's first semi-black commander in chief, although a distinct patina of disillusionment now clouds his reputation and legacy.
In Germany especially but also in many other countries, Obama has lost the giddy popularity that helped fill stadiums and the airwaves in 2008 with visions of hope, change, and animosity toward Bush43 dancing in European heads.
However, a recent Pew survey of 26,000 people in 21 countries found that approval of Obama's policies had fallen markedly, that €Overall confidence in Obama and attitudes toward the US have slipped modestly... [and] some of the greatest slippage has occurred in Germany.€
Der Spiegel reports that Germans mostly object to Obama's €unilateralism; his use of force, particularly drone strikes; his inaction with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian situation and his lack of effort in curbing climate change.€
Yet, inexplicably despite those misgivings, 87% of Germans €still have overwhelming confidence in Obama's overall international leadership... And nine out of 10 Germans want to see Obama re-elected.€
That's the equivalent of believing the guy is a failure but we like him so re-elect him, anyway.
On the flip side, barely half of Germans favorably regard the US, down from 64% since 2009, with Teutonic elders in the forefront of the disapproving. In addition, most Germans and other nationalities perceive China, not America, as the planet's pre-eminent €economic power.€
Only bankrupt Greece has a lower opinion of us. (http://tinyurl.com/d2se4op)
So, what conclusions should we draw from all that news and all those percentages?
First of all, Obamians should not be too discouraged because €Obama Girl,€ the hottie referenced in my previous article, the girl who made suggestive videos in support of then-Senator Obama four years ago, won't even say she will vote for him this time. Amber Lee Ettinger has been supplanted by an even more enthused Obama supporter, €Obama Boy,€ Justin Brown.
The gay, African-American Brown sings about his crush on the president and gushes over his €soul mate€ in a video that may not be the equal of Ms. Ettinger's but which will surely solidify whatever solidification Obama needed among homosexual voters. (http://tinyurl.com/7aoc2up)
Neither Jay Carney nor Michelle Obama has made any comments on the president's new soul mate which, admittedly, has nothing to do with Europe but can be considered a sidebar on the coming election.
Secondly, what Germans or the other rabble of Europe think about America's leader is totally irrelevant. Europeans have engaged in endless wars over the centuries, conflicts which have killed millions and destroyed many of their cities, as well as much of their fortitude, confidence, and evidently their capacity for rational thought.
At great expense to our national treasure and treasured lives, the United States has had to bail out Europe's sorry asses twice. It's understandable they cringe at international strife and unilateralism. Instead, they have turned over their destinies to the less-than-tender mercies of the inept United Nations, a proven impotent savior, to protect them.
With recent evidence that unemployment is worsening and the overall economy slowing, Obama's chances of re-election are still dubious.
The best advice for Europeans disenchanted with the president's policies is to hope for an October Surprise, such as his rumored scheme to legalize marijuana in the United States to get fellow potheads to the polls and sway the vote in his favor. A second term would afford Obama the €flexibility€ he discussed with the Russians and allow him to better cater to European interests and further undermine American interests.
In €Signs of the End of Obama's Reign?€ I posited the view that the disintegration of the president's support among two prime constituencies could foreshadow his defeat in November.
Based on international opinion, my observation may have been somewhat premature, presuming Americans should give a damn about what envious and crumbling nations think about us.
It's incontrovertible that President Barack Hussein Obama has lost significant support among black and Jewish communities but he still maintains a (now-qualified) backing of many foreigners.
Most of the world still seems enamored of America's first semi-black commander in chief, although a distinct patina of disillusionment now clouds his reputation and legacy.
In Germany especially but also in many other countries, Obama has lost the giddy popularity that helped fill stadiums and the airwaves in 2008 with visions of hope, change, and animosity toward Bush43 dancing in European heads.
However, a recent Pew survey of 26,000 people in 21 countries found that approval of Obama's policies had fallen markedly, that €Overall confidence in Obama and attitudes toward the US have slipped modestly... [and] some of the greatest slippage has occurred in Germany.€
Der Spiegel reports that Germans mostly object to Obama's €unilateralism; his use of force, particularly drone strikes; his inaction with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian situation and his lack of effort in curbing climate change.€
Yet, inexplicably despite those misgivings, 87% of Germans €still have overwhelming confidence in Obama's overall international leadership... And nine out of 10 Germans want to see Obama re-elected.€
That's the equivalent of believing the guy is a failure but we like him so re-elect him, anyway.
On the flip side, barely half of Germans favorably regard the US, down from 64% since 2009, with Teutonic elders in the forefront of the disapproving. In addition, most Germans and other nationalities perceive China, not America, as the planet's pre-eminent €economic power.€
Only bankrupt Greece has a lower opinion of us. (http://tinyurl.com/d2se4op)
So, what conclusions should we draw from all that news and all those percentages?
First of all, Obamians should not be too discouraged because €Obama Girl,€ the hottie referenced in my previous article, the girl who made suggestive videos in support of then-Senator Obama four years ago, won't even say she will vote for him this time. Amber Lee Ettinger has been supplanted by an even more enthused Obama supporter, €Obama Boy,€ Justin Brown.
The gay, African-American Brown sings about his crush on the president and gushes over his €soul mate€ in a video that may not be the equal of Ms. Ettinger's but which will surely solidify whatever solidification Obama needed among homosexual voters. (http://tinyurl.com/7aoc2up)
Neither Jay Carney nor Michelle Obama has made any comments on the president's new soul mate which, admittedly, has nothing to do with Europe but can be considered a sidebar on the coming election.
Secondly, what Germans or the other rabble of Europe think about America's leader is totally irrelevant. Europeans have engaged in endless wars over the centuries, conflicts which have killed millions and destroyed many of their cities, as well as much of their fortitude, confidence, and evidently their capacity for rational thought.
At great expense to our national treasure and treasured lives, the United States has had to bail out Europe's sorry asses twice. It's understandable they cringe at international strife and unilateralism. Instead, they have turned over their destinies to the less-than-tender mercies of the inept United Nations, a proven impotent savior, to protect them.
With recent evidence that unemployment is worsening and the overall economy slowing, Obama's chances of re-election are still dubious.
The best advice for Europeans disenchanted with the president's policies is to hope for an October Surprise, such as his rumored scheme to legalize marijuana in the United States to get fellow potheads to the polls and sway the vote in his favor. A second term would afford Obama the €flexibility€ he discussed with the Russians and allow him to better cater to European interests and further undermine American interests.
Source...