Irish Dislike of Bush Won't Hurt at Polls, But It Does Matter - WSJ's Murr

[question everything]

June 29, 2004

POLITICAL CAPITAL
By ALAN MURRAY

(snip)

Protests aside, Mr. Bush would do well to test the sentiments of the Irish people. They are, after all, notoriously fond of Americans. And they are notoriously fond of American presidents, from Kennedy to Reagan to Clinton. But they don't care at all for this one. I spent last week traveling around Ireland... (snip) My efforts to steer clear of politics proved futile. In the friendly glow of post-match encounters, it was only a matter of time before some Irish soccer dad or mom asked in brogue: "So what do you think of your president?" I came to understand the question as their effort to solve a riddle: How could a people they like so much have elected a leader they dislike so much?

(snip)

But Bush's economic policies have been overshadowed by his foreign policies. It isn't just the war with Iraq that bothers the Irish, although that is certainly the heart of the matter. Their dim view of this president took shape when he withdrew from the Kyoto treaty on global warming.

That unnecessary move -- the treaty could have been altered, or even scuttled, without giving the rest of the world the diplomatic equivalent of the finger -- remains one of the Bush administration's most harmful foreign-policy blunders. It scored few points for the president at home (except among oil executives), while abroad, it cemented the view of President Bush as a Texas cowboy with little concern for the rest of the world. Recent disclosures about the treatment of prisoners and detainees haven't helped either.

Does the Irish view matter? In terms of President Bush's re-election, no. Many Americans like Bush's swagger, and the Irish don't get to vote. In terms of his ability to effectively lead the world, it matters a lot. Like President Reagan before him, President Bush believes it is important for the U.S. to take strong action and not be hamstrung by the dithering of foreign allies or international institutions. Unlike President Reagan, he has failed to translate that determination and power into international respect. By the time of his re-election in 1984, President Reagan's reputation overseas was on the rise. In 2004, Bush's still is in the dumps.

(snip)

Write to Alan Murray at [e-mail]

URL for this article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB108846306715449738,00.html

[H2O Man]

1. It was also bush's arrogant behavior

during an interview with an Irish reporter. Several times, when she began a question, bush would rudely interrupt and say, "Let me finish my answer..." The interview was intended to be a discussion, where the president would have the opportunity to learn how the Irish people feel about his policies. Instead, he acted like he believes himself to be royalty, and the reporter a peasant. That attitude doesn't play well in the Irish Free State.

[cybildisobedience]

2. A fellow DUer astutely noted....

That even if you LOVE Bush and think he walks on water, you'd have to acknowledge that he's become ineffective, particularly on the international stage.
And given the seriousness of the problems we face globally, that's HUGE!!