i'm looking forward to som actual debates and discussions to be had, rather than these photo ops and generic speeches about 'being better' and such. People applauding for trite and vague statments really irks me...and yes, that goes for both sides.
The fact that he's wildly popular abroad works in our favor insofar as it allows foreign leaders to go along with American initiatives without having to deal with domestic fallout. Many american international policies were blocked or opposed by foreign leaders in instances where cooperation was required due in large part to the massive unpopularity of GWB in their own countries. As to who is better suited to do this - the answer is pretty obvious. read the article man. An issue for me is the restoration of America's credibility abroad - but if you think I don't agree with Barack's policy positions over those of McCains - which are essentially the same disastrous policies of GWB, (100 yrs in Iraq, more tax cuts, the budget will balance itself!), that's a pretty silly asumption on your part.
who is he manipulating, if you want to tell them to go home that's your perogative, if germans want to hear him speak that's their's. apparently they liked him, so what? its a photo op, when hillary goes into a bar and takes a shot and a beer its no different. its part of campaigning.
Wow, I'd almost forgotten McCain's love of the Laffer curve. We can't have a president who doesn't know jack about economics, or at least who to listen to.
lastly, considering gwb is a lame duck, it think its uber important to see how both these guys are received since one of them will be in that position. donkey I don't think the debates start till after the convention when they're officially official and hopefully they have vp candidates
Fair enough. I just wish he'd leave other countries out of it. At this point in the election cycle he's speaking on behalf of the Obama campaign...not the US government...not the US people...not any committee. And part of that campaign is demonstrating he (or his vision) is better then his opponent's. I prefer that stuff remain in house. And like I said....I don't know whether this is common practice. Perhaps it it. It just doesn't sit well with me. Not that that matters .
I apologize for misinterpreting the writers opinion as fact. It would be pointless for me to continue this debate with you, because it is obvious your supporting Barack, which is great, and will be disingenuous to the opposing side and view. I, who am still undecided exactly which of the candidates to vote for - as I am waiting to see the VP nominees, debates, and have overall better feeling for which each of them stands - do not see McCain the way you obviously do and that is to label him like a lot of the media and the left continue to do, as the second coming of George Bush. I think that is an easy out, which I am not buying into at this point, however, he still has a lot of things I need to hear before I would support him.
Opinion? The 200,000 germans that turned out, a number of public opinion polls, and plain old common sense - the case that mccain is somehow more popular abroad cannot be credibly made.
McCain's campaign says "OBAMA HAS NEVA BEEN TO TEH IRAQ!!!", among other thing. So, Obama took it overseas, and where he has visited, the leaders have agreed with him. For example, Iraq's prime minister likes the timetable Obama set for Iraq. But McCain and friends "UH...NO! HE WAS MISQUOTED!!!" Uh...no he wasn't. He was translated by his own private translator. He's being a really bitter bear about this speech and his tour. He gets mad that Obama hasn't gone over seas in awhile, but then when he goes, he gets mad about him being gone. McCain's campain for the loss this week. Major loss.
First off, I am not a big guy on polls as the past has told us.......... Secondly, I would expect Barack to be doing better overseas, he appears to be campaigning over there - which I am not quite understanding, as he has to convince us first he would be a great choice. Lastly, it goes back to part of my original point, and that is a lot of people on the left and the press continue to call McCain, "Bush II". That type of rhetoric is not going to boost McCain's popularity over the pond, but once again I am not buying into the hype - like some people. I'll wait to hear what he has to say, listen to the speeches and debates, and make my decision based on that. I'm starting to sound like McCain's campaign manager.........so I will stop, i am not changing your mind and vice versa.
about mccain's campaign manager....... This is the new edition from mccain's series of propaganda. Never mind that Republicans supported and endorsed terrorism in latin america.
The "world" mostly dislikes the USA just because. I talked with Euros all the time and they always talk trash about how we lost WWII, and were to coward to join ealier. Mostly this comes towards USA since we are the economic and .mil top dog. Its easy to throw stones at the person on top. Hopefully China will come along sooner rather than later and take some heat off.
John McCain spent last month in Latin America, and spent the last 3 months saying that w/o going to Iraq, BO could not be president. But anyway that's beside the point - I am puzzled by your response. 1. you expect BO to be doing better overseas 2. all the polls and other evidence indicate that he is doing better overseas 3. The overseas press' love affair with Obama is unparalleled even here 4. but you think it's irrational, to claim that he is in fact doing better overseas The presidential campaign has literally been going on for over a year now, all the speeches have been made and the policies outlined - look I don't care how you decide too much but this reminds me of the people in the demoratic primary, after 17 debates and 46 primaries/caucuses saying they needed to hear more to decide between Hilary and BO to figure out where they stand . . . I'm sort of like huh?
Very simplistic thing to say. I've known and spoken to "Euros" for years and years and Bush has done a whole lot to trash America's image in Europe (and in most of the world). It's one thing to be jealous/envious of America, which most of the world is. Of course there is a natural resentment. But it's another thing to despise a country for invading another country under false pretenses, for (initially) asking them to help afterwards but giving them no stake in the results, for stupidly refusing to even talk to Iran, etc, etc, etc. The list is long.
I'm reminded of the undecideds between Kerry and Bush a few weeks before the election. Some people just want to act like they are special snowflakes. That, or they simply don't care enough to bother reading about the candidates.
Like I said, I am not going to debate with you all the points you brought up, because we can go back and forth with this all day and get no where. I just wanted to mention that I believe the reason Barak is doing better there is because the media and everyone is portraying McCain as Bush, and I don't think that is right. All I am saying is I am glad to see Barack going over to Iraq/Afghanistan to see the situation first hand, but I am not sure what that and campaigning through Europe have in common, but I digress. As far as your last remarks, let's look at the facts: 1. Neither candidate has picked a VP 2. We have not had the conventions, where the agenda is laid out. 3. We have not had debates between the two candidates These are all important steps in making sure to pick the right candidate. Now, to be fair my biggest issue with Barack, outside of experience (which I think is important), even after as you say 17 debates, 46 primaries, I am not sure where he stands on a lot of the issues, as he seems to be wavering back and forth, which concerns me. It also concerns me that he is afraid to go on the tough shows and answer the tough questions - which I believe goes back to inexperience. However, I am willing to give him a chance and will see later on this year as we get closer to the election or maybe I should re-think that and pick now - because you said so, since the other stuff is not important and a waste of time.
Nevermind Sam, I've enjoyed discussing this with you, but the honest truth is that the true answer and reasoning resides in this post..............
People around here act as if the world dislikes us because of Bush. These same people probably never lived overseas in the 60s. I recall not being able to go to school because the locals with their red arm and head bans blocked the gates and even turned over another bus (after ushering the kids off) and setting it afire. You're absolutely right CaseyH, it's tough as hell being the top dog. And it's been like that for a long time. They like us when it benefits them. And during the first half of the 20th century there were a lot of reasons to like us. Now that the cold war is over everybody is choosing themselves versus choosing between the US or Russia. Thus, the lone big dog is getting stoned. Will it ever change? Probably not. But I'm still proud to be an American.
