What's the deal with non-US right-wingers

[StandWatie]

I've never understood this. I understand "patriots" from the US feeling like the US rules the world and that's the acceptable order of things and anyone who questions it is evil. What I don't understand is why British, French, Japanese, etc.. conservatives are reacting to. Wouldn't you think they wouldn't like the US either? Are they like old school communists who worshiped their holy country the USSR? Now they just pledge alliegence to their holy freemarket imperialist state?

[Maple]

1. There are suck-ups

in every group.

Looking for favors.

And for some the US is looked on as the last bastion of being white and English speaking...and may be able to save others from those icky furriners who speak ...oh say French for example...and may even be...er...other than white.

And of course it's the last bastion of protestantism...the straight white male, head of the household...all the fire and brimstone crowd wherever they are.

[larryepke]

2. Then there are...

U.S. tax rates as compared to those of most European countries (so low as to seem unbelievable to the wealthy).

The ease with which American workers can be fired compared with more unionized European workers. Rightwing employers would like that.

The few days off Americans get compared with the number European workers get. Another popular position for those who don't work, but prefer that others do.

Believe me, if you're wealthy, America must seem like paradise!

Less so, of course, if you're NOT wealthy.

[Maple]

3. There are many wealthy people

throughout the world that are not right wing, and do not wish to be American.

[sweetheart]

4. they never been to america

They believe the propaganda. You know better as you've seen the racist facist states of corporatocracy close up... but they have not. America as portrayed in cinema, where a LA cop can afford a beachfront summer house; or where fancy cars are a dime a dozen... is certainly not the level of horror it is in fact.

I've asked many folks in britain who've confessed to me "I love america." based on what data they made this decision.... having never travelled to USA.... and they confess that television and the cinema won them over. Certainly from scotland, america is a huge source of tourism revenue, and a buyer of all things scottish. You might hate your customers, but as long as they stay away, and you don't have to discover what "liberal" gun laws and stupid drugs laws do to inner cities... its great to be a tin-pot foreign republican... but when challenged, not a single one of these "repuke-lites" actually knows what they are messing with.

Before WW2, a lotta people liked hitler and germany... history repeats itself... stupid people bully weaker people and steal their pensions... the american way.

[Maple]

5. You may have something there

Every country looks different on the outside than what it's actually like to those on the inside.

[Kellanved]

6. I can't really explain it

Remember: Chirac is a conservative - so French conservatives are another matter.

The German Right-Wingers were and are divided; their party line is Iraq ASAP, but many feel that the pope's words count more.

I can't really understand the pro-war RWers here- they broke practically every tradition German opposition foreign policy has, but argued with tradition being their main pro-war argument. That wasn't the most absurd argument; some even claimed Iraqi missiles might reach Munich etc. .
Their last candidate Stoiber was anti-EU, arguing for less European integration in favour of more sovereignty and closer German/US ties- practically following Britain. He did not demand those things while he was running, but voiced them during his time as Governor (he returned to that office after losing).

The USA is traditionally seen as the most important ally - a place lost for the moment, but not for long as I believe. Especially the richer conservative voters and donors would not have accepted an anti-war stance.
The traditionally right-wing German corporate groups (Siemens for example) are still very fond of Bush BTW.

Last-but-not-least: If the Chancellor had given in, he would have had to resign by now.


EDIT: They're far more cadre-like anyway: membership in the GOP is accepted by the European conservative-parties (and vice-versa AFAIR), they even defended Berlusconi for his Nazi - slip.


Edit2: There even are European on the Freeper board - I googled a Zeit-Article and...

[Jonte_1979]

7. The right-wingers here in Sweden are utterly marginalized

We do have conservative parties but they're really more ideologically close to the Democratic Party than the GOP.