Bush's exit helps U.S. image abroad, survey shows

The International Herald Tribune ^ | June 12, 2008 | Meg Bortin

[neverdem]

PARIS: There is good news and bad news for President George W. Bush as he pursues his valedictory tour of Europe this week, according to a new worldwide study by the Pew Global Attitudes Project.

On the one hand, the image of the United States has improved slightly in many countries over the past year. On the other, the new optimism appears to be driven largely by the fact that Bush will soon be leaving office.

In addition, while the prospect of Bush's departure and the excitement of the U.S. primary contest have helped the image of the United States, a worldwide surge in concern about slumping economic conditions and a widespread view that the U.S. economy is harming local economies may tarnish it.

Survey respondents also tend to see the United States as the main offender in global warming, Pew said.

"There has been no sea change in world views of the United States," Andrew Kohut, president of the Pew Research Center, said of the results, which were issued Thursday. "Europeans are still much more negative than they were at the beginning of the decade, and highly negative views prevail in the Muslim world. But there are some indications that the world sees the possibility of change with the prospect of a new president."

The 24-nation survey, which was conducted in March and April, shows that many people who have been following the U.S. presidential race expect U.S. foreign policy to improve when Bush leaves the White House in January.

It also shows that publics worldwide have greater confidence in Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, than in his Republican rival, John McCain, "to do the right thing regarding world affairs." This feeling is strongest in Europe, Australia and Japan, as well as in Tanzania, which borders Kenya, the...

[neverdem]

Global Economic Gloom - China and India Notable Exceptions - Some Positive Signs for U.S. Image

[EyeGuy]

Yet another LeftPropaganda news MAKING “survey”.

[Rastus]

I haven’t been too happy with Bush lately, but I don’t care at all about the image the US enjoys with malcontents abroad. I’m tired of hearing it. When they announced the Captain America movie, it was, “Oh, no! How will they sell this character to people around the globe who hate America?” Hate my country? F you! And, stop consuming American products, if you hate us so much. But, since that example is about Hollywood, they are all about caving to an attitude they share. Superman Returns: “Fighting for truth, justice and all that stuff.”

[OCC]

Any PEW surveys on what the people of the United States of America think of other countries?

[elpadre]

this word “image” is interesting.

to those who know nothing of the US but that put out by our enemies - sure, they are ignorant.

But for the so called “informed” people, how could they not be impressed and thankful for the US and all we do at every level??

[steveo]

I don’t care if they don’t like me.

[FMBass]

I for one will be sad to see President Bush leave office, only because I have kinda gotten used to not being attacked by terrorists in the last seven years. I ain’t saying I agreed 100% with him on many issues, but I do commend him for punching back at those that are trying to kill us.

[oyez]

Let's see, Ronald Reagan took a chunk out of communism and left office with a negative image. George Bush takes a chunk out of terrorism and leaves office with a negative image. Negative ain’t so negative after all.

[Baladas]

Of course they hope Barack Hussein Obama becomes our Preisent, since he wants to see his “Global Tax Initiative” put in place.

[roses of sharon]

BS propaganda.

[edcoil]

23% of Americans are anti-American democrats, over 97% of the media are in this group. The world, and Americans have not heard anything positive about us in many years so what is the world to think?

BTW, I include Drudge in offering a lot of Anti-American headlines. I will agree, he is not a liberal, just part of the other side of anti-US on many issues.

[BARLF]

If they don’t like President Bush wait til they meet Presicent McCain.

[Hattie]

In other words, these countries no longer have any fear of America. They can do whatever they want, kill as many of us as they choose, and they know our next POTUS won't give a darn. And our Supreme Court will help forgive them and give them a medal.

I miss Pres Bush already.

[EagleUSA]

Well, the Mexicans could care less, since both present candidates are for AMNESTY — and our enemies are loving every minute of the Bush departure, and hoping that the Obamanation gets into the Oval Office — their Manchurian Candidate.

So how are foreign relations looking? Bad for Americans, good for our enemies and Mexicans.

[Zman516]

"...it also shows that publics worldwide have greater confidence in Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, than in his Republican rival, John McCain, "to do the right thing regarding world affairs."

Meaning, to subordinate US interests to ANY or ALL other countries interests.

[1035rep]

"Survey respondents also tend to see the United States as the main offender in global warming, Pew said."

Whatever lefties.

[1035rep]

I miss Pres Bush already.

Ditto. 

[naturalman1975]

Take up the White Man's burden-
Send forth the best ye breed-
Go bind your sons to exile
To serve your captives' need;
To wait in heavy harness,
On fluttered folk and wild-
Your new-caught, sullen peoples,
Half-devil and half-child.

Take up the White Man's burden-
In patience to abide,
To veil the threat of terror
And check the show of pride;
By open speech and simple,
An hundred times made plain
To seek another's profit,
And work another's gain.

Take up the White Man's burden-
The savage wars of peace-
Fill full the mouth of Famine
And bid the sickness cease;
And when your goal is nearest
The end for others sought,
Watch sloth and heathen Folly
Bring all your hopes to nought.

Take up the White Man's burden-
No tawdry rule of kings,
But toil of serf and sweeper-
The tale of common things.
The ports ye shall not enter,
The roads ye shall not tread,
Go mark them with your living,
And mark them with your dead.

Take up the White Man's burden-
And reap his old reward:
The blame of those ye better,
The hate of those ye guard-
The cry of hosts ye humour
(Ah, slowly!) toward the light:-
"Why brought he us from bondage,
Our loved Egyptian night?"

Take up the White Man's burden-
Ye dare not stoop to less-
Nor call too loud on Freedom
To cloke your weariness;
By all ye cry or whisper,
By all ye leave or do,
The silent, sullen peoples
Shall weigh your gods and you.

Take up the White Man's burden-
Have done with childish days-
The lightly proferred laurel,
The easy, ungrudged praise.
Comes now, to search your manhood
Through all the thankless years
Cold, edged with dear-bought wisdom,
The judgment of your peers!

[ANGGAPO]

Has anyone else noticed the expressionless faces of the teeny boppers supporting Senator Obama at his road shows? I wonder if they know what he is talking about.

[rfp1234]

according to a new worldwide study by the Pepe LePew Global Snotty Pseudointellectual Liberal Socialist Secular Holier-Than-Thou Limp-Wristed, Linguini-Spined Euro-Weenies Attitudes Project.

[Godwin1]

Why all these stories? Who cares what unworthy ankle-biting foreigners think of the USA? Envy, jealously and resentment have been characteristics of the human condition from time immemorial. What's new here? Enough already.

[littlehouse36]

The best measure of a country is how many are trying to get in... and how many are trying to get out.

All other criteria are inferior.

[CatDancer]

Thank you so much for posting that, from a lifelong lover of Rudyard Kipling. How appropriate for this day and time.

[ChiMark]

I am so excited that Russia, China, North Korea and
Venezula will like us if Obama is elected.

[Loyal Buckeye]

Any PEW surveys on what the people of the United States of America think of other countries?

From Business Week: And she [Madeline Albright] chairs the Pew Global Attitudes Project -- a new effort by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press to poll citizens in 44 countries about their attitudes toward the U.S., the war on terrorism, and other global issues.

Enough said.

[jmaroneps37]

Oh man is this great news!!! I’m sooooooo happy to hear that, even though the socialist scumbags in europe don’t like President Bush, they will like America again when he is gone.
This must be because they realize at some level that they HAVE to kiss America’s ash because they are going to need us to save them from the Islamists they have welcomed into their countries.
The joke will be on them though. Our scumbag democrats won’t send our troops to take sides in a “civil war.”
Clear your throat and crank it up Nelson Muntz:
“Ha ha!”

[John123]

expect U.S. foreign policy to improve when Bush leaves the White House in January.

I think Bush is getting a little too much credit...

[snugs]

Put another way maybe they are on his wave length course I sure ain't.

Sounds a wonderful eloquent speech until you start look at what he said at best it was nothing at worst frightening what it could be.

[JoJo Gunn]

I have to come clean. I don’t sleep at night, so caught up with worrying about what unbathed EuroTrash appeasers think of me.

[newnhdad]

three out of four dictators (LilKim, Imanuttajob, Ugo Chaavezz) agree that the US would be easier to deal with w/o Bush in office. The fourth (S. Hussein) was unavailable for comment.