U.S. now most admired nation on the planet
The United States is the most admired country globally thanks largely to the star power of President Barack Obama and his administration, according to a new poll.
It climbed from seventh place last year, ahead of France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan which completed the top five nations in the Nation Brand Index (NBI).
“What’s really remarkable is that in all my years studying national reputation, I have never seen any country experience such a dramatic change in its standing as we see for the United States for 2009,” said Simon Anholt, the founder of NBI, which measured the global image of 50 countries each year.
He believes that during the previous administration of George W. Bush the United States suffered in the world ranking with its unpopular foreign policies but since Obama was elected, and despite the recent economic turmoil, the country’s status has risen globally.
“There is no other explanation,” Anholt said in an interview, referring to the impact of Obama.
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© 2009 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
307 comments Add your comment
GEORGE AMERICAN
October 6th, 2009
2:20 pm
WELL IF HE’S SO GREAT, WHY COULDN’T HE GET THE OLYMPICS???
AMERICA WAS THE GREATEST NATION ON EARTH WHILE BUSH WAS PRESIDENT. USA#1
IT IS STILL THE GREATEST NATION ON EARTH, DESPITE THE INCOMPITENT MORON IN THE WHITEHOUSE!!!
Paul
October 6th, 2009
2:21 pm
Interesting.
Aside from the manner of engagement, the policies are pretty much what they were under President Bush.
But hey, if image works to our advantage…. thank you, President Obama!
RollerGirl
October 6th, 2009
2:25 pm
GAG ME WITH A SPOON!
When my competitors and enemies start to applaud the new boss it usually means they think he is better for their botom line and worse for ours.
It’s also quite pathetic and embaressing to have public officials running around screaming “they like us, they really really like us!”
Luckily I never gave a damn what others think about me
Yadro
October 6th, 2009
2:29 pm
It is ranked 13th on best countries to live in rankings this year. He didn’t get the Olympics because the IOC wanted to make sure he was still there to accept the loser bid certificate and see his face. The other countries admire us because of our President but they are not here to witness the corruption of his administration.
Taxpayer
October 6th, 2009
2:30 pm
Awwww. The world likes us now that we aren’t being run into the ground by a pack of war mongering family valued conservatives. Who’d ‘ve thought!
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
October 6th, 2009
2:32 pm
The United States is the most admired country globally thanks largely to the star power of President Barack Obama and his administration, according to a new poll.
So what does that mean, exactly?
That nations can press on with their plans to build nuclear weapons and destroy other countries, that they can drop the dollar as the preferred world currency, they can scheme and plot their neighbors, they can drastically increase the size of their militaries?
It says more about bookman than it does the US, that he would seek solace in such meaningless gibberish.
Joey
October 6th, 2009
2:32 pm
Most admired?
People vote for the most admired country every day with their feet (or ship or airline or car). I would guess using those votes we have been the most admired country for a few hundred years.
jt
October 6th, 2009
2:34 pm
Enter your comments here
Reuters admits to more image manipulation
News organization withdraws photograph of Israeli fighter jet, admits image was doctored, fires photographer. Reuters pledges ‘tighter editing procedure for images of the Middle East conflict’
Yaakov Lappin
Published: 08.07.06, 17:15 / Israel News
Reuters has withdrawn a second photograph and admitted that the image was doctored, following the emergence of new suspicions against images provided by the news organization. On Sunday, Reuters admitted that one of its photographers, Adnan Hajj, used software to distort an image of smoke billowing from buildings in Beirut in order to create the effect of more smoke and damage.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3287774,00.html
Popularity and 6 yuan will get you a six-pack. Not on Sunday.
SOUTHERN ATL
October 6th, 2009
2:36 pm
What a difference a couple of months can make!!!! Who would have ever thought??????
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
October 6th, 2009
2:37 pm
Hell, this is a survey on our capitalist reputation, hahahahaha
Nation branding is a field of theory and practice which aims to measure, build and manage the reputation of countries (closely related to place branding). Some approaches applied, such as an increasing importance on the symbolic value of products, have led countries to emphasise their distinctive characteristics. The branding and image of a nation-state “and the successful transference of this image to its exports – is just as important as what they actually produce and sell.”
There is increasing interest in the concept from poorer states on the grounds that an enhanced image might create more favorable conditions for foreign direct investment, tourism, trade and even political relations with other states.
“Political relations” is an afterthought.
Bosch
October 6th, 2009
2:39 pm
We’re Number One! We’re Number One! Suck on that France!
Brad Steel
October 6th, 2009
2:41 pm
So what does that mean, exactly?
It also means that those countries will be able to willy-nilly sap and impurify the precious bodily fluids of the American people with fluoridated water.
Fear for your lives!!! And your fluids!!!
USinUK
October 6th, 2009
2:42 pm
they like us … they really like us …
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
October 6th, 2009
2:44 pm
The libs finally got some good news, foreigners like Campbell Soup (TM) hahahahahaha
USinUK
October 6th, 2009
2:47 pm
Bosch –
“Suck on that France”
who actually LIKES france, that’s what I want to know? they’re pretty much universally reviled on this side of the pond (oh, yeah, we like their food and wine … )
Bosch
October 6th, 2009
2:47 pm
every mother’s son,
If you should show up here – and when your boy can top this, let me know:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBhv-wlb270
Gandalf, the Wise
October 6th, 2009
2:48 pm
Let no crisis go un-exploited…LET USE THIS NEW FOUND AFFECTION TO COVER OUR NUKIN’ IRAN AND NORTH KOREA!
AmVet
October 6th, 2009
2:50 pm
More bad PR news for the Connecticut “cowboys” (I’m still laughing about that moronic characterization earlier today) and the conned.
Another eight years of continued disastrous neo-con control and we would have been right there with Iran at number 50.
And an added benefit is that the West Wing no longer smells like sulfur!
BWA!
mike
October 6th, 2009
2:50 pm
Gee, you think having the world’s most dominant media working as slavishly to puff Obama as they were to trash Bush has anything to do with it?
As every policy of Bush’s was defined in the most negative context, so is Obama’s defined in the most positive context, even if it is the exact same policy.
If anything, this poll demonstrates that all of the silly whining about the “permanent damage to America’s reputation” was just that: silly.
Gandalf, the Wise
October 6th, 2009
2:50 pm
We didn’t get the Olympics cuz the took Michelle to the meeting. IOC took one look at her, though about the babes in thongs on the beaches of South America and it was a no brainer. Ugly lost Chicago the Olympics.
jt
October 6th, 2009
2:51 pm
Enter your comments here
They have to look after their stock-holders.
“Washington, D.C. – Thomson Reuters, the world’s leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals, has launched a new federal government initiative that will work across the entire company, developing information solutions and services tailored to the unique needs of U.S. government customers. It will draw on existing legal, scientific, tax and other specialized products in an expanded approach to serving an increasingly important, highly specialized customer base for the company.”
http://thomsonreuters.com/content/press_room/corp/corp_news/324492
mike
October 6th, 2009
2:51 pm
This blog software is atrocious.
Gandalf, the Wise
October 6th, 2009
2:51 pm
AMVET, it smells like Cigarettes, Barry is smoking in that Oval Office!
Gandalf, the Wise
October 6th, 2009
2:52 pm
Who cares what the rest of the world thinks? We are America!
AmVet
October 6th, 2009
2:55 pm
Good one, wizard.
Kools?
What a tobacco addicted numbskull…
Midori
October 6th, 2009
2:55 pm
So Bosch, Paul –
what’s the “blue plate special” today?
Bosch
October 6th, 2009
2:55 pm
USinUK,
Well, I’m kind of partial to their kisses, but that’s for another blog.
And not too many bands will ever be big enough to fill the Georgia Dome, because maybe they aren’t as awesome as this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7COntXhPcI&feature=related
Even after 30+ years.
Gandalf, the Wise
October 6th, 2009
2:56 pm
Anybody ever put chocolate in their Chili?
mike
October 6th, 2009
2:57 pm
A real comunist actually did his own analysis on this subject instead of just copying and pasting a Reuters account of a polling company’s press release:
“Likewise, a Pew survey showed that approval of America has jumped to 75 percent in France and 69 percent in Britain. But the comparable figures were 63 percent and 75 percent, respectively, in the second year of George W. Bush’s administration, and we all know where the numbers went from there. It merely may be that new American presidents tend to enjoy a honeymoon in foreign opinion.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/03/opinion/03miller.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=who%20cares&st=cse
Combine that with the fact that the poll that Jay cites shows America as #1 in 2005 (two years after the Iraq War began) and the notion that new presidents have a honeymoon period in foreign policy sure make sense. It was the case here in America for a little while too.
Jack
October 6th, 2009
2:58 pm
Idiocy in the form of a political essay is still an idiocy.
RollerGirl
October 6th, 2009
2:58 pm
JT, good reporting,..i looked for it on the AJC but i guess they couldnt find space to include it due to the 24/7 coverage of where rap stars are eating and the real atlanta housewives ‘dis-spectin’ murder at the body tap.
We now take you to Reuters Auschwitz correspondent mohammed q. hussein, in 1941..”Ther is nothing to see here!, The zionists are happy and gardening!”
Bosch
October 6th, 2009
2:59 pm
Midori,
I say chili!
Maybe I won’t get lazy tonight.
Gandalf,
Nope, but I’ve put chili powder in hot chocolate before – it’s pretty tasty.
GEORGE AMERICAN
October 6th, 2009
2:59 pm
ON THE PLANET? TRY IN THE UNIVERSE!!!
AND REAL AMERICANS COULD CARE LESS WHAT THE REST ON THE WORLD THINKS. WE DON’T CARE. THEY CAN PIZZ-OFF!!! WHO NEEDS ‘EM???
AMER-I-CAN AND REAL AMER-I-CANS ARE #### ONE !!!!
Midori
October 6th, 2009
2:59 pm
Gandalf,
remember Justin Wilson, the Cajun Chef?
I have a couple of his cookbooks, and one of his recipes for Chili does call for chocolate.
Never tried it tho.
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
October 6th, 2009
2:59 pm
Score a point for mike.
mike
October 6th, 2009
3:00 pm
The summation of the article I cited above says it all:
“Rather, history suggests that there is only one sure way for President Obama to ensure the popularity of the United States abroad: reduce the power of the United States or simply don’t exercise it — either militarily, economically or even diplomatically. The world simply distrusts the big guy on the block, and the only way to address this is to stop behaving like a superpower. A much better option, of course, would be to pay less attention to foreign opinion surveys and more to our own ideals and interests.”
stands for decibels
October 6th, 2009
3:01 pm
jt, is there some specific connection between Reuters (who reported this story) and the company that actually sponsors the National Brands Index polling you’d like to share?
Because without it, I’m not sure what your point is.
Gandalf, the Wise
October 6th, 2009
3:01 pm
Had a buddy that swore by it, and it was some tasty chili. Not my favorite, but a good hot bowl that needed at least 3 beers to put out.
Justin Wilson, OOOOOOOEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Yes I do! He was my favorite!
Gandalf, the Wise
October 6th, 2009
3:03 pm
Hot chocolate and chili powder..
have to give that a try before I nix it willy nilly…
How did you decide to put chili powder in your hot chocolate is the obvious question….
USinUK
October 6th, 2009
3:04 pm
Gandalf –
Dark chocolate in chilli is meant to be fantastic – let me know how it turns out
Midori –
I used to la-la-LOVE watching Justin “hoooo-eeee” Wilson – (the kind of wine to drink is the kind of wine you like … the best advice ever)
Bosch –
good tunes … I saw them in 82 (or 83) at the Atlanta Civic Center supporting the War tour … 85 supporting the Unforgettable Fire tour in the Omni and 92 or 93 supporting Zooropa … fantastic shows, all of them …
Say What??
October 6th, 2009
3:09 pm
Birthers, Jay, birthers. Why not mix it up a bit and write an article on them.
jt
October 6th, 2009
3:09 pm
Enter your comments
Stands for decibels
October 6th, 2009
3:01 pm
jt, is there some specific connection between Reuters (who reported this story) and the company that actually sponsors the National Brands Index polling you’d like to share?
No.
And I am not quite sure of what you are sharing either.
stands for decibels
October 6th, 2009
3:10 pm
I saw them in 82 (or 83) at the Atlanta Civic Center supporting the War tour … 85 supporting the Unforgettable Fire tour in the Omni and 92 or 93 supporting Zooropa … fantastic shows, all of them …
whereas I saw them either in late ‘80 or early ‘81 supporting what I thought was a flash-in-the-pan radio hit “I will follow” on a weeknight at a local nightclub, deemed them a one-hit-wonder, didn’t think much about for some time afterwards.
(Hey, I get a few wrong, now and again.)
Stud Muffin
October 6th, 2009
3:10 pm
Yeah, and one of the most popular girls in high school was the one who dropped her pants regularly. Sound familiar?
Bosch
October 6th, 2009
3:11 pm
Gandalf,
Can’t says as how I thought of it – I think I saw some guy put it in tempered chocolate once and I was making my daughter some one night and it was right there next to the stove, so I decided to give it a try. It was good – just a pinch.
USinUK,
“85 supporting the Unforgettable Fire tour in the Omni” well whatdayaknow………!
Tray
October 6th, 2009
3:11 pm
OMG is this really a topic, how to drool over Barack? Jay Bookman has definately shown us why the AJC is going under…with topics like these? SERIOUSLY??
USinUK
October 6th, 2009
3:11 pm
dB –
whoda thunk they’d still be going strong 30 years later, these boys from the auld sod …
stands for decibels
October 6th, 2009
3:13 pm
I am not quite sure of what you are sharing either.
It just seems a little weird to be going on about reuters like that.
Forbes seemed to think it was noteworthy…
http://www.forbes.com/2009/10/05/well-liked-countries-lifestyle-real-estate-tourism-america.html
as does the CS Monitor’s global blog:
http://features.csmonitor.com/globalnews/2009/10/06/new-poll-finds-obama-has-already-rebuilt-americas-global-brand/
Me? I figure it’s always nice to have some metric telling me “you done good,” I guess. Not much more than that.
USinUK
October 6th, 2009
3:13 pm
“Yeah, and one of the most popular girls in high school was the one who dropped her pants regularly”
hahahaha … you can tell stud couldn’t even have his way with the easy ones … the school bikes are NEVER the popular girls – girls don’t like them and the boys don’t want to be seen with them …
nice try, but EPIC fail on the analogy
Stud Muffin
October 6th, 2009
3:14 pm
USinUK
October 6th, 2009
3:13 pm
They never lacked for dates.
Bosch
October 6th, 2009
3:16 pm
Tray,
I think you mean REALLY??
Doggone/GA
October 6th, 2009
3:17 pm
“They never lacked for dates”
That doesn’t equate to popularity
Tray
October 6th, 2009
3:18 pm
And this whole story would really matter if LIFE were a giant TV show like American Idol. That is why BARACK is the AMERICAN IDOL President. He’s really a nobody (like all the contestants), he gets a popular vote, and BAM, he’s the winner. Unfortunately, (somewhat)unlike American idol, Obama has no real talent.
So, yay that we’re popular, but what does that do for us in the longrun?? NOTHING!
Bosch
October 6th, 2009
3:20 pm
Tray,
Yeah, but he’s the President, so deal with it.
USinUK
October 6th, 2009
3:21 pm
stud –
awww … so naive. that’s actually kinda sweet.
USinUK
October 6th, 2009
3:22 pm
Bosch –
easy on Tray – he obviously never gets out beyond the lower 48, so doesn’t grasp why international opinion helps Americans who actually DO live in the world …
mike
October 6th, 2009
3:23 pm
The Forbes article states:
“Anholt attributed the U.S.’ rank to global confidence in Obama. He also believes that former president George W. Bush’s incredibly unpopular foreign policy pulled the country down in terms of image.”
This is confusing, as the US was ranked number one as late as 2005, far after Gitmo, Iraq, et al.
Seems to me that Anholt is another Kool-ade drinker. No wonder Jay was so comfortable regurgitating his analysis without thinking for himself.
News Hound
October 6th, 2009
3:23 pm
Headlines for the day (I can see why we’re so admired)
Pelosi says new tax is ‘on the table’… (I’m sure that’s only for those making over $250K)
President passes out white coats for photo op… (amazing what that ACORN training can do for you)
GATES SAYS TALIBAN HAS MOMENTUM BECAUSE OF INABILITY TO PUT ENOUGH TROOPS IN… (I guess Barry forgot to stifle Gates)
PAPER: ARABS PLOT TO DROP DOLLAR (Barack HUSSEIN Obama, mmm, mmm, mmm)
International Olympic Committee President: If money was all, Chicago would have won vote… (mmm, mmm, mmm)
WIRE: Chavez, Lula, Obama Make Honduras Unstable… (nothing like the US Prez being associated with Chavez)
UN calls for new reserve currency… (sure, let’s bail out the UN. After all, we bear the financial brunt for their existence)
mmm, mmm, mmm
stands for decibels
October 6th, 2009
3:24 pm
They never lacked for dates.
But, enough about your siblings.
Gandalf, the Wise
October 6th, 2009
3:24 pm
Why doesn’t everyone just call him Barry? It’s a much prettier name. PLEASE PEOPLE.
mike
October 6th, 2009
3:26 pm
USinUK –
“easy on Tray – he obviously never gets out beyond the lower 48, so doesn’t grasp why international opinion helps Americans who actually DO live in the world …”
Yeah, I guess he is foolishly focused on the other 99.99% of Americans.
Regardless, can you be specific about how Bush only delivering the #1 spot for 5 of his eight years has held you back overseas?
AmVet
October 6th, 2009
3:26 pm
Vandy girl,
When are you gonna start your Christian Whites Only blog?
You could get the ex-Senator George Allen to make some cameos appearances.
Maybe even start a weekly column on neo-con Ebonics. (You feel me, SchizzleGirl?)
I’ve never seen a chick so hung up on Those People.
Well not in about 45 years anyway…
I love it when the now out-of-office conned try to convince people they have an inkling about diplomacy.
It’s like me trying to discuss country and western music.
Unless by diplomacy you mean this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjtfaLtLT7s
or this;
Friends forever, Saddam and Donald “Baghdad Bob” Rumsfeld
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaP7ZrmkcuU&feature=related
Say What??
October 6th, 2009
3:29 pm
Gandalf, the Wise
October 6th, 2009
3:24 pm
Barry…..Barry…..hmmm, let me see how it sounds…..
Barry Hussein Obama, mmm, mmm, mmmm
Okay, works for me.
Gandalf, the Wise
October 6th, 2009
3:30 pm
Stud Muffin! Good say!
Gandalf, the Wise
October 6th, 2009
3:30 pm
Barry H. Olabama!
USinUK
October 6th, 2009
3:32 pm
mike –
“Regardless, can you be specific about how Bush only delivering the #1 spot for 5 of his eight years has held you back overseas?”
all I can tell you is that my experience in Italy and the UK (2003-2004) were of people asking me (hopefully) if I thought Bush would be defeated in the next election, asking if I thought he was as stupid as everyone in Europe thought he was, asking if everyone in the States liked Bush, etc. God knows, his affiliation with Bush didn’t help Tony Blair at all.
Were people openly hostile to me? no, but then, it’s not like Italy and the UK are hotbeds of anti-americanism, either. I don’t know that I would have gotten the same reception had I gone to other countries.
Gandalf, the Wise
October 6th, 2009
3:32 pm
My favorite Barry was from Arizona..
Barry Goldwater!
My neighbor the ex-marine had a poster that read
“to hell with LBJ!”
and a Picture of Barry Prime
I didn’t know till I was 8 tha LBJ was the President and Barry G was a Senator!
USinUK
October 6th, 2009
3:33 pm
Gandalf … you know what happens when you start the Barry thing … don’t make me …
Harry Houdini
October 6th, 2009
3:35 pm
USinUK
October 6th, 2009
3:32 pm
EPIC FAIL.
Wyld Byll Hyltnyr
October 6th, 2009
3:45 pm
““There is no other explanation.” Oh yes there is Jay, the poll was taken by people who want to see a weak and disorganized America. President Obama has certainly delivered in that area.
stands for decibels
October 6th, 2009
3:47 pm
Wyld, I don’t often agree with you, but you posted something downstairs about the healthcare debate that made a lot of sense:
“a free society must accommodate the hmos and their sordid way of life.”
I think Obama’s taking that into consideration. Thanks!
Shawny
October 6th, 2009
3:48 pm
Greatest, huh? We’re doing almost nothing we weren’t doing a year ago and we jumped that much. Interesting. Shows you how ‘valuable’ some polls can be.
But if we are truly #1, let’s not screw it up by screwing private health insurance.
Kamchak
October 6th, 2009
3:48 pm
The first people to harvest the fruit of the cacao tree were the ancient Aztecs and Mayan cultures over 2000 years ago.
It is important to realize these early cultures did not add sugar to their chocolate. It would have tasted very bitter, like mixing cocoa powder with water. These ancient cultures often added hot chilies to their chocolate drink…
Midori
October 6th, 2009
4:09 pm
Conservatives: Bush Isn’t One of Us
It’s been shrugged off by Bushies as a juvenile kiss-and-tell book, but conservatives are fast embracing Speech-less, from former George W. Bush speechwriter Matt Latimer, as proof that the big-spending ex-prez was never one of them. “My book seems to have resonated with a number of prominent conservatives for that very reason,” Latimer tells Whispers. “Many conservatives, in fact, are telling me that they didn’t think Bush was as true a conservative as first appeared. And the small number of Bush officials criticizing my book really don’t like the fact that I expose their role in this and how they left the Republican Party in tatters. It’s finally time for conservatives to appreciate those things the administration did well, while also acknowledging disappointments so that conservatives can move forward to 2012 on principles they hope to champion.” For conservatives like Human Events Editor Jed Babbin, the goal is to promote the book to prove that “Bushism” isn’t conservatism.
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2009/10…
mike
October 6th, 2009
4:13 pm
USinUK –
“all I can tell you is that my experience in Italy and the UK (2003-2004) were of people asking me (hopefully) if I thought Bush would be defeated in the next election, asking if I thought he was as stupid as everyone in Europe thought he was, asking if everyone in the States liked Bush, etc. God knows, his affiliation with Bush didn’t help Tony Blair at all.”
I have to say,”so what”? The fact that Western Europeans hated Bush is well accepted fact.
Why is that any more important than middle America’s contempt for Chirac or Schroeder?
(I would also note that America was ranked #1 in this same poll in that time period, so you are disproving the claim that America’s rank in the poll is driven by the President in power.)
“Were people openly hostile to me? no, but then, it’s not like Italy and the UK are hotbeds of anti-americanism, either. I don’t know that I would have gotten the same reception had I gone to other countries.”
Again, I have to say “so what”? For all of the hand-wringing, America has never fallen farther than #7. If people in other countries can’t be as civil to American visitors as we are to Iranian visitors, that is a reflection on them, not us.
For the record, I spent six months living in Nice finishing my studies in the 90s and heard plenty of grumbling about America. Apparently anti-Americanism in France was not invented during the Bush years
mike
October 6th, 2009
4:18 pm
This blog software is pathetic. Held up in moderation again for no reason.
Wyld Byll Hyltnyr
October 6th, 2009
4:19 pm
I, for one, stand tall and should-to-shoulder with President Bush and Vice President Cheney, both true and great American heroes. Never have two men foregone so much personal gain to serve this great nation. We were lucky to have both; they kept us safe. Those who now seek to distances themselves from these two gentlemen may call themselves conservative, but, among true men of character and honour, such as myself, they shall never again be able to call themselves men.
Hef
October 6th, 2009
4:20 pm
The US is now the most admired country,just goes to show that being a “fool” is a worldwide epidemic. Other than apologize for the US creating world hunger to commiting evil acts towards other nations(anything under the sun),what has Pres Obama really done? I’m sorry I said that-does that count as an accomplishment?
mike
October 6th, 2009
4:21 pm
Doggone –
“That doesn’t equate to popularity”
Well, it equates to a kind of popularity. They were popular with guys who wanted to take from them what they could and talk about them behind their back. Much like the way the rest of the world has treated us since the Marshall Plan.
mike
October 6th, 2009
4:23 pm
Hef –
“What has Pres Obama really done?”
Well one thing he has done is get elected. The article I cited from the Times above notes a “honeymoon” effect for Presidents in international polls much like the one that exists in domestic polls.
Bush’s numbers were similar at the same point in his Presidency.
Pogo
October 6th, 2009
4:24 pm
Whoop-tee-do! The rest of the world fell in love with the novelty of the US having a black, media driven rock star president. That certainly makes me feel better about our position in the world. They really love him because he is a constant self-flagellator for all of the “wrongs” America has done and by doing this he alleviates them from having to take responsibility for the problems and the weakness’s in their own countries. Pentance enough already! The world has the perfect “Blame America” patsy in Obama and they love him for it, at least for the time being. I am quite sure that they are salivating over “The Great Apologizer” because they can us him to make America both weaker and less important in the world in the coming three years. What about that dollar huh? The Mid-East/Chinese/Russian buzzards are already gathering around Mr. Obama’s political carcass. They know a loser when they see one.
This is a load of crap subject Jay. Maybe I should start talking about my recipe for Jamaican Meat Pies with Fried Plantains. Food seems to be the trend here lately since the topics are so lame. You are capable of doing better than this. Here’s a novel idea; write something that you think of yourself based upon your own beliefs without referencing some poll somewhere and that doesn’t include Palin, Christians nor the Birthers. See how easy it would be to widen your horizon? Then again, for a liberal like yourself, maybe it isn’t that easy! Caught in your own trap!
AmVet
October 6th, 2009
4:28 pm
I love that parody at 4:19.
I can just imagine Maher or Stewart saying that!
Funny stuff…
josef nix
October 6th, 2009
4:29 pm
Chili with chocolate? Of course. Chocolate (not sweet) is the basic ingredient in mole sauce. Chili mole is really, really good! Try it, you’ll like it.
As to the topic–go take a look at the magazines from the early 1950s. Argentina was A list, too. If Fierce Advocate, the George Bush policy clone, is what put us on top, the world is really a very scary place to be…
Say What??
October 6th, 2009
4:30 pm
AmVet
October 6th, 2009
4:28 pm
Oh yes, those two rational intellectuals!!
Say What??
October 6th, 2009
4:32 pm
Midori
October 6th, 2009
4:09 pm
Wow, what a scoop! If you would only take the time to ask, and then LISTEN to, conservatives, it’s doubtful many would say Bush was a conservative.
AmVet
October 6th, 2009
4:35 pm
Hardly, just great paragons of parody.
Besides, intellectual thought as well as intelligence itself is clearly viewed as a very overrated value by the Republiconned.
Look at their last party leader, given every advantage and the best education money could buy and he was still a mental midget by presidential standards…
Bosch
October 6th, 2009
4:37 pm
Hef,
So Obama is a fool? Maybe. Foolish to think that things will be easy, foolish to think things will get done according to plan. But, he is the President, so we should stick with him until he does something REALLY foolish like invade a country for no reason – but he’s getting quite close with the continuation of this Afghanistan debacle.
In my opinion we should roll with the fact that the world doesn’t hate him yet – notice, I said yet – the longer we are the face of dealing with AQ that could change. Right now I think the world is perfectly complacent with letting us deal with it – which is a crock if you ask me (which Obama hasn’t done yet – I’m still waiting).
DoggoneGA
October 6th, 2009
4:38 pm
“Well, it equates to a kind of popularity”
Awww…look at that! A response from my groupie.
Bosch
October 6th, 2009
4:39 pm
Kamchak and josef,
Gandalf OBVIOUSLY doesn’t watch Food TV.
AmVet
October 6th, 2009
4:40 pm
“If you would only take the time to ask, and then LISTEN to, conservatives, it’s doubtful many would say Bush was a conservative.”
Nonsense.
Tell me one Republican of note (besides Ron Paul) that said he wasn’t before January 21, 2009.
Tell me two. Then three. You get the idea.
Hell, even now, virtually all of the conned will only avoid the subject. But to indict him is to indict themselves. And the card carrying members of the”party of personal responsibility” dare not dare go there.
I have contended for many years virtually all of those that call themselves “conservative” obviously have no idea what it even is…
stands for decibels
October 6th, 2009
4:41 pm
One thing that’s nice about the change at the top: we have a DoT secretary who understands what a “livable community” might be to rational people.
Q: When you tour the country, what are people telling you they want changed in their communities?
A: People want alternative forms of transportation; they don’t want to own two or three cars. And they want green space, biking and walking paths, but they want the amenities, too—access to shopping, restaurants, health care.
Q: It’s still a hard sell. For example, Sen. John McCain characterizes spending on a bridge for pedestrians and bikes instead of on roads as a waste of taxpayers’ money.
A: Well, there are a lot of other forward-thinking people in Congress. They care about where people are going to live, and how they will live. Look, we built the interstate system. That’s done. Now we’re trying other things so you don’t have to get in a car every time you want to go somewhere.
Q: How are we going to afford all of this during a recession?
A: Well, I don’t know that these things cost much money. It doesn’t cost an enormous amount to turn an old rail line into a walking path or to transform a riverfront into an area where people can walk.
So there’s that.
mike
October 6th, 2009
4:44 pm
Bosch –
“he is the President, so we should stick with him until he does something REALLY foolish like invade a country for no reason”
Yes, but what you are missing is that there are many on the right who view policies like cap-and-trade or the pork/stimulus package as foolish as you do the Iraq War. Likewise, there are plenty on the right who are as confident in the Iraq War decision as folks on the left are in support of cap-and-trade and the pork/stimulus package.
Pogo
October 6th, 2009
4:45 pm
A mole, if done correctly, is both time consuming and quite costly but boy is it worth it. It is the perfect sauce combining the flavors of some unlikely sweet and savory components into one heavenly accompaniment. Oh hell, I’ve started doing the food thing myself! I guess it is because food is much, much better than politics (and certainly better than the recent blog-topics) for those that appreciate well prepared food. It is something that we can all agree upon. Nevertheless, I must resist! I must resist! Got to go and feed.
mike
October 6th, 2009
4:55 pm
stands for decibels –
“we have a DoT secretary who understands what a “livable community” might be to rational people.”
Agreed. Obama should have more Republicans like him in his cabinet.
mike
October 6th, 2009
4:56 pm
USinUK –
My 4:13 response to your question made it through moderation.
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
October 6th, 2009
4:57 pm
Dey wove me, dey wove me not.
Dey wove me, dey wove me not.
Let me count duh ways.
Dey wove me, dey wove me not.
eewwwwwwwwww
mmmm, mmmm, mmmm, Barak Hussein Obama!
Kamchak
October 6th, 2009
4:58 pm
If you would only take the time to ask, and then LISTEN to, conservatives, it’s doubtful many would say Bush was a conservative.
Well let’s see what Bad Billy Kristol has to say.
Bush pushed through the tax cuts of 2001 and especially 2003 by arguing that they would produce growth. His opponents predicted dire consequences. But the President was overwhelmingly right.
Not exactly what I would call a condemnation of one of the leading neo-cons.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
October 6th, 2009
4:59 pm
Well, I’m so disgusted I think I’ll take a few days off from this blog. They didn’t like My President because he put them in their place. Now this Obama just about takes his pants off for them and they love us. Bunch of Commies.
mike
October 6th, 2009
5:02 pm
“If you would only take the time to ask, and then LISTEN to, conservatives, it’s doubtful many would say Bush was a conservative.”
Who cares. There are already liberals starting to say that Obama is not a liberal. This will always be the case. Nobody who is accepted by the extremes of the political spectrum could ever get to be President in the first place.
danjonglee
October 6th, 2009
5:04 pm
Image up…..Housing down….employment down….afganistan down….Gitmo down….Gold up….