So what if people overseas like Obama?

[Wetzelbill]

Those are our friends and allies, people we work with and need to help us in various capacities while dealing in world affairs. Lots of U.S. presidents like JFK and Bill Clinton were well-liked around the world. It's an asset, not a hindrance.

After almost 8 years of Bush making an ass out of himself at every meeting and summit with other world leaders, it's a good thing to have somebody who will be liked and respected as a statesman. I don't think we have to worry about Obama groping Angela Merkel, or trying to explain to world leaders that China is a big country when everybody effing knows that, or trying to walk out a locked door like a moron while avoiding questions.

And I'm pretty sure that we don't have to worry about Obama singing "Bomb Iran" or cracking tasteless jokes like a sophomoric stooge in front of the whole world either.

In fact, I'd say it's a pretty good deal that somebody with the intellect, class and dignity of Obama is going to represent our country on the world stage. And if people overseas like him, well good.

[Cant trust em]

1. If you wanted to work with someone on something, wouldn't it be better if they liked you personally?

Seems to make a lot of sense.

[Wetzelbill]

8. you would think so

But somehow the conventional wisdom is that people liking you isn't presidential, but acting like a moron and being widely reviled in the world is a good thing.

[Cant trust em]

18. The first thing I do when I enter a meeting...

call my counterpart an asshole. Works every time.

I can barely understand why Iran won't work with us after we labeled them part of an Axis of Evil. Boggles my mind.

[TwilightGardener]

2. It's a sign that pundits believe the American people are mostly mentally defective and

would adopt a primitive, knee-jerk attitude against any show of approval of our leaders whatsoever by Europeans. I haven't seen evidence of this yet--the talking heads are still operating off the old "Mock The Effete Frenchman John Kerry" manual.

[Wetzelbill]

4. yeah! no kidding

What is up with that anyway? That people in Missouri are going to hate Obama because he drew a big crowd in Europe? Why be so fickle? All these Beltway a-holes think they know so much and that the rest of us are all so stupid. Makes me sick.

[TwilightGardener]

9. Yeah, that Missouri comment came from McCain's campaign. I hope

the people of Missouri realize just how fucking bass-ackwards and unsophisticated the GOP thinks they are.

[Wetzelbill]

10. I know, I like how they pick one state like that

as an example of the sort of people who wouldn't want nuttin' to do with Obama and those dang Yuropeens. It's ridiculous. And plus even if it did somehow make Obama elitist or whatever, what the hell is McCain. He married into wealth, has ten houses, and earlier on in life he skated through everything because his daddy and grandaddy were Admirals. Like he's salt-of-the-earth.

[TwilightGardener]

11. Reminds me of Jeff Foxworthy's routine about the Olympics coming to Georgia:

"Welcome, all y'all dang furriners from other nations!" By the way, Mrs. McCain apparently said in an interview that the only way to get around AZ is by plane. That will come as a shock to all those millions of Arizonans who drive. But it's absolutely not elitist. No sir.

[Wetzelbill]

12. well, I fly around Tucson all the time

I'm going to take my plane to Blockbuster tomorrow. So I can see her point on that one. :eyes:

[TwilightGardener]

15. Yes, my in-laws who used to live in Tucson complained all the time

about the lack of runways in the city. That's why they left.

[Wetzelbill]

16. the only problem now isn't that there aren't any runways

It's that probably too many people fly. The skies get all congested. I have taken to actually riding the bus with all the little people from time to time.

[tigereye]

13. that's the rep way - make a positive into a negative...

and negative into a positive, ala Orwell.

they are the ultimate cynics and it makes me sick.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

3. Well...for what it's worth, I think you would've been great too.

[Wetzelbill]

5. I am considering an independent bid

we'll see. I think they should let me, Nader and Barr have our own debates. I'll be drunk, but still, it'll be fun.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

6. Hey, maybe you'll pull an upset at the convention.

[Wetzelbill]

7. I have considered that possibility too

I think I still have a pretty good shot, really.

[AZBlue]

14. Are some saying this is a bad thing? Morans.

[Wetzelbill]

17. unfortunately it's the theme of the day

Evidently, not being a reviled jackass around the world is a bad thing for the conventional wisdom Beltway crowd. Even Maureen Dowd get into the fray about it. It's the habitual fear of anything different, Obama seems exotic, so, holy shit, if the Europeans like him, he might just be.... uh, different? I don't know, it's stupid, but you know that already. :)

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

19. Or smacking his lips and eating like a dog right next to Tony Blair's face

That lunch where Bush made loud mouth noises just inches from Tony Blair like a wild animal chewing its food was a big embarrassment to Americans.

[Wetzelbill]

21. yeah and he was talking tough about Hezbollah

That was a whole couple days of three stooges behavior. He lectured Putin and Blair and somebody else about how China was a big country, he groped Merkel, he got in a bike wreck, and he couldn't get out of the locked door. I think that was all at the same time. But yeah, he looked like he was chewing his cud, munching on a biscuit, it was embarassing.

[grantcart]

20. Building friends and having people like us

well where is the upside in this?


can't see the gun manufacturers getting behind this at all.