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Samantha
Joined: 20 Jul 2006
Location: Jinan-dong Hwaseong
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 Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 2:50 am Post subject: The World is watching the US election. |
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080201/ap_on_el_pr/campaign_watching_world
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World captivated by US presidential race By WILLIAM J. KOLE, Associated Press Writer
6 minutes ago
Germans are gaga over Barack Obama. He's got Japan pretty jazzed, too, along with Hillary Rodham Clinton. Russia's leaders, not so much: They prefer a Republican � as long as it's not Kremlin critic John McCain.
And Mexico's president? He doesn't have much use for any of them.
America's extraordinary presidential campaign has captivated politicians and ordinary people around the globe. With so much at stake in the race for the White House, the world is watching with an intensity that hasn't been seen since the Clinton era began in 1992.
After eight years of President Bush, the latest mantra in U.S. politics � "transformational change" � is resonating across the rest of a planet desperate for a fresh start.
"They feel there's a real chance to work with the U.S.," said Julianne Smith, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. "America's image in the world is really on the line."
Non-Americans, she said, are looking for someone who can "restore faith in the United States."
Obama, perhaps not surprisingly, is generating most of the buzz abroad.
"Der schwarze Kennedy," some German admirers are calling him: "The black JFK."
"He is young, charming and sexy!" the mass-circulation newspaper Bild gushed. "Obama is now the ideal projection screen for hopes and expectations in Europe" and the U.S. alike, said Christian Hacke, a professor at the University of Bonn.
"I like him. I like his ideas, his attitude, his appearance. I prefer him to Hillary Clinton, who is more artificial," said Eva Berto, a Rome doctor who thinks Obama would bring a new approach to the crisis in Iraq and the nuclear standoff with Iran.
Japanese media are closely tracking both Obama and the woman they refer to simply as "Hillary," and focusing on the possibility that either could make history.
"The idea since the country's founding � 'You can't become president if you're not a white man' � has already been destroyed," the Mainichi newspaper said in an editorial.
But in Europe, where some see Obama as untested, support for Clinton is widespread, and nostalgia for her husband's charisma runs deep. When scandals rocked the Clinton White House, most Europeans responded with a Gallic shrug.
"Nobody in Europe ever took Bill Clinton's problems in office seriously," said Patrick Dunleavy, a political scientist at the London School of Economics. "Nobody could ever understand why Americans were so upset. Bill Clinton was always a fantastic presence in Europe."
The Republican presidential hopefuls, by contrast, are not highly regarded in Europe: Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee are seen as too religious, and the 71-year-old McCain as too old.
To Britons, history's most popular postwar presidents were Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton because of their perceived levelheadedness and intelligence, said Dunleavy. The most despised? President Bush and Ronald Reagan "because they were seen as erratic and unpredictable," he said.
Yet Democrats don't rule the entire world of public opinion.
Saad al-Hadithi, a political analyst in Baghdad, contends the Republican candidates are more committed to Iraq and have a better approach.
"They show more support to the political progress and to combating terrorist groups in Iraq," he said. "The Democrats, especially Hillary Clinton, are calling for the withdrawal of U.S. forces, but they are not offering an alternative. Such a withdrawal while the Iraqi security forces are still weak will lead to disastrous results."
Russia's leaders also consider Republicans more pragmatic, said Nkolai Petrov, an analyst with the Carnegie Moscow Center.
But the Kremlin, Petrov said, would likely have "serious concerns" if McCain wins the Republican nomination because of the Arizona senator's harsh and persistent criticism of Vladimir Putin's autocratic government.
Others in Russia are drawn to the lively U.S. campaign if only because it's such a sharp contrast to Moscow's tightly choreographed March 2 presidential election � a contest that Putin's favored successor, Dmitry Medvedev, is seen as certain to win.
Africans naturally gravitate toward Obama, whose father was from Kenya.
Israelis, though, seem to prefer Hillary Clinton � even though Obama has voiced support for key Israeli demands in peace talks with the Palestinians � because of her experience and the backing Bill Clinton gave to the Jewish state during his two terms as president.
Amid the raging debate over immigration, Mexicans arguably have more at stake in the U.S. election than any other nation. But President Felipe Calderon doesn't think very highly of any of the candidates.
"The only theme," he declared in December, "is to compete to see who can be the most swaggering, macho and anti-Mexican."
In the post-Bush era, the bottom line is blunt and simple, Dunleavy said.
"People all around the world are pretty worried," he said. "They want a president who will restore a kind of U.S. legitimacy in the world."
___
Associated Press writers Matt Moore in Berlin, Sameer N. Yacoub in Baghdad, Steve Gutterman in Moscow, Bernd Bergmann in Rome, Natacha Rios in Paris and Karel Janicek in Prague contributed to this report. |
I read this and some of the comments people made about the different candidates made me crack up laughing. I can understand how/why so many people outside of the States are following the election. I know for quite a few of my friends, co-workers and students in the States, they didn't think that it was that big of a deal to anyone that wasn't an American. Being outside the States during an election year has made a difference in the way I look at since I see how it's written up/talked about in non-US based media. I have a US History/Gov't teacher in California that asks me for articles from here, so she can use them in class to show a different viewpoint/discussion style. Foreign media talk about things very differently than the US media. Some of her students didn't realize that and were shocked/surprised when she brought in articles from the Korea Herald/Times.
Last edited by Samantha on Fri Feb 01, 2008 3:03 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Milwaukiedave
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Location: Goseong
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 2:58 am Post subject: |
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I think there is quite a curious following here in Korea. Most of the people I work with (both Korean and foreigners) know how I feel about the candidates. There are quite a few Americans in my department, but I'm the only one who is actively involved in the election. I've talked to Koreans about what's going on regularly, including my students, and they are very interested in the outcome.
Next term, there is a good chance I'll teach a class about American politics(if enough students sign up). |
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stevemcgarrett
Joined: 24 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 3:30 am Post subject: |
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Samantha:
Thanks for the post; it's always interesting to get international reaction to American elections. My comments forthwith:
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| And Mexico's president? He doesn't have much use for any of them. |
That's odd, but I have the same sentiment about Mexican presidential elections, especially since the U.S. is always a convenient scapegoat for corrupt Mexican politicos who can't be bothered to provide for their own citizens near the border or make more than token progress in economic parity among the classes.
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| Non-Americans, she said, are looking for someone who can "restore faith in the United States." |
Code Phrase Translation: "looking for a President who will wring his/her wrists fretting about what the rest of the world thinks of us and who will be restore Miss America as the primo call girl who's always there to do their dirty work, but only at their bidding."
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| Der schwarze Kennedy," some German admirers are calling him: "The black JFK." "He is young, charming and sexy!" the mass-circulation newspaper Bild gushed. |
Aside from the paternalistic comparison to JFK, it would seem that Germans want a New Age Warren Beatty. Sorry, but no more "Ich bin ein Berliner" for you."
And this revealing observation:
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| But in Europe, where some see Obama as untested, support for Clinton is widespread, and nostalgia for her husband's charisma runs deep. When scandals rocked the Clinton White House, most Europeans responded with a Gallic shrug. |
Ah, yes, Bill has so much style and flourish! Europeans seem to care more about charisma than what is genuine. At least Bush didn't pretend to be something he's not.
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| "Nobody could ever understand why Americans were so upset. |
Uh, just a question here but isn't it Hillary that's running this time? And the reason they're so bewildered about the Lewinsky matter is that their moral compass is spinning out of control. They've long since lost any real sense of the dignity associated with the Office and the religious values underpinning it. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 4:35 am Post subject: |
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It is interesting what foreigners think about the US election. Admit it or not (and many foreigners HATE to admit it) the US represents leadership in many areas, not just war not/war.
When I was a sophomore in high school, I had to do a report on Woodrow Wilson. I was stunned when I came across information reporting how peasants in French and Italian villages pasted his picture to their walls. He (and America) represented ideals above the usual political offerings of a paved road here and a sewer there.
Yeah, the Europeans, some of the Canadians and the chronically anti-Americans of whatever nationality cringe, whine and throw tantrums because it is us and not them who do it, but we do represent the symbol of the best that humans can aspire to.
I think it is an extra burden on Americans. Do we have the maturity to move beyond the tribalism of race and ethnicity of the past? (The Europeans have not yet shown that they can, but I'm sure the average person wants to.) Do we have the maturity to move beyond the gender discrimination and class discrimination of the past? (They want to, but need to see someone do it to show that it is possible.) Do we have the gumption to strike out into a better tomorrow?
Bush, in his idiocy, thought world leadership meant getting some friendly countries together to go kill some 'little brown people'. He has shown all down the line that he failed to understand the American Dream, which was only partly about a white house with a white picket fence and 2 point whatever number of kids. It has always included figuring out a better way for people of diverse ideas to live together without toooooo much stress. |
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Nowhere Man
Joined: 08 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 4:57 am Post subject: ... |
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| Quote: |
| Yeah, the Europeans, some of the Canadians and the chronically anti-Americans of whatever nationality cringe, whine and throw tantrums because it is us and not them who do it, but we do represent the symbol of the best that humans can aspire to. |
... |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 5:05 am Post subject: |
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| I meant 'some' of us. Others of us are just the generic Luddites that everyone has living just around the corner. |
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Samantha
Joined: 20 Jul 2006
Location: Jinan-dong Hwaseong
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 5:11 am Post subject: |
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| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
| Bush, in his idiocy, thought world leadership meant getting some friendly countries together to go kill some 'little brown people'. |
I know off topic to the post but you like/listen to Carlin don't you? |
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Nowhere Man
Joined: 08 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 5:23 am Post subject: ... |
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| Quote: |
| Others of us are just the generic Luddites that everyone has living just around the corner. |
And it's predominantly these Luddites who aggrandize America at the expense of the global community. Perhaps they should spend more time 'representing the symbol'. |
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Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee
Joined: 25 May 2003
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 6:27 am Post subject: |
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| Jeff Rense and Iamthewitness supporters seek the overthrow of the US government |
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igotthisguitar
Joined: 08 Apr 2003
Location: South Korea (Permanent Vacation)
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 6:27 am Post subject: |
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| Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee wrote: |
| Jeff Rense and Iamthewitness supporters seek the overthrow of the US government |
How much are you paid to type that crap? |
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Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee
Joined: 25 May 2003
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 6:28 am Post subject: |
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| Jeff Rense and Iamthewintness = enemy propaganda |
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igotthisguitar
Joined: 08 Apr 2003
Location: South Korea (Permanent Vacation)
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 6:30 am Post subject: |
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| Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee wrote: |
| Jeff Rense and Iamthewintness = enemy propaganda |
How much do they pay you? |
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Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee
Joined: 25 May 2003
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 6:32 am Post subject: |
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No, I am not a fan of Iamthewitness.
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| igotthisguitar wrote: |
| Beeyee wrote: |
| Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee wrote: |
| everyone go to Iamthewitness |
Why? |
He exposes many of Joo's buddies for what they really are  |
http://www.iamthewitness.com/ |
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igotthisguitar
Joined: 08 Apr 2003
Location: South Korea (Permanent Vacation)
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 6:34 am Post subject: |
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CIA / NSA ...
How much are you paid?
Isn't it time for your coffee break? |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 6:38 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I know off topic to the post but you like/listen to Carlin don't you? |
Urm....I used to think Carlin gave excellent weather reports when he did his Hippy Dippy Weatherman thing on the Smothers Brothers Show about 40 years ago. Why? |
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