Polls: Europe negative on Bush re-election

Boston Globe ^ | 12/13/04 | Will Lester

[kattracks]

WASHINGTON -- President Bush's re-election was viewed negatively by a majority of people in several European countries -- including those in Britain, America's strongest ally in the war in Iraq, Associated Press polling found. The president was not the only one viewed unfavorably. Americans generally were seen in an unfavorable light by many in France, Germany and Spain, countries not supportive of U.S. Iraq policies.

[snip]

As reflected by his re-election, a majority in the United States viewed Bush favorably. Just over half in this country said they were hopeful and were not disappointed after Bush's re-election.

At least seven in 10 in France, Germany and Spain said they have an unfavorable view of President Bush. Just over half of the French and Germans said they have an unfavorable view of Americans in general, and about half of Spaniards felt that way.

Especially inclined to have an unfavorable opinion of Bush in those countries were people between ages 18 and 24. A majority of all respondents in France, Germany and Spain said they were disappointed that Bush won a second four-year term, defeating Democrat John Kerry.

[snip]

Just over half of the people in France, Germany and Spain had an unfavorable view of Americans, but a solid majority in Australia (69 percent), Britain (60 percent), Canada (80 percent) and Italy (56 percent) expressed a favorable opinion.

[snip]

In Australia, seven in 10 surveyed had a favorable view of Americans; four in 10 had a positive impression of Bush. He got favorable reviews from more Australians than from those in any other country polled aside from the United States.

Randall Pearce, general manager of Ipsos Mackay Public Affairs, said Prime Minister John Howard's public backing of Bush appeared to help the president. A majority of Howard's supporters had a favorable view of Bush.

[fire_eye]

Europe... Europe... Name rings a bell somehow?

[Darkwolf377]

America's can't hear the Eurowhining through their own yawns of boredom...

[Oreo Kookey]

At least seven in 10 in France, Germany and Spain said they have an unfavorable view of President Bush.

And I should give a rip why? I think I'm a borderline isolationist. At least there are valid reasons for it. I'm sure there are a few reason against it but nothing terribly important.

[Kaslin]

Some Europeans do get it however

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1300147/posts

[Route101]

Two words...F*#& 'em.......

[agere_contra]

but a solid majority in Australia (69 percent), Britain (60 percent), Canada (80 percent) and Italy (56 percent) expressed a favorable opinion.

That's great news! This means that Bush is (per capita) more popular in those countries than he is in the US!

[muir_redwoods]

MmmmKay, quick show of hands, Who cares?

[kb2614]

You know, Europe, that continent across the Atlantic. It used to matter, now it's just careening into oblivion.

;-)

[rogermellie]

if you - and by this i mean most of those on FR - really don't care what europeans (or anyone else for that matter) think, why didn't you scroll down past this article?

purely by looking at the article, and then by posting on it, you illustrate that actually do care what they think - even by shouting about how much you don't care.

never has a nation been so obsessed with everyone else in the world knowing that they don't care what anyone thinks. everytime one of these articles appears on FR, hundreds of freepers jump on it to scream about how much they don't care - but if they genuinely weren't interested, they wouldn't have looked, and certainly wouldn't have posted.

[Bonaparte]

"Europe negative on Bush re-election"

What will be the next screaming headline? "Skidrow Wino Knocks Fed's Interest Hike"?

[John Lenin]

Talk to someone who cares what other people think of them. I have never run my life around what other people think about me, I'm outspoken, if I cared what other people thought I probably wouldn't be posting on FR in fear that it would be traced back to me.

[searchandrecovery]

There's only one fair way to deal with this problem - everyone in the world, every person over 18, should be allowed to vote in U.S. elections. Maybe not a full vote. And they'd need to present some form of I.D. verification (like an electric bill with their name and address).

Of course, U.S. citizens would also be allowed to participate in foreign elections as well. Hey, someone appoint me to the U.N..

[rogermellie]

but if the 'news' didn't interest you, why did you post?

there are an enormous number of threads on this site that appear to have no relevance to my life, so i don't look at them, and certainly don't post on them.

if, as you claim, this article is of no interst to you, why didn't you ingore it in the same way that i ignore articles on gardening, or local politics in missouri, or that its a particularly cold day in new york or baseball results?

if the subject doesn't interest you, why are you reading about it?

[John Lenin]

I posted because this is more proof that media organizations are trying to make an issue out of something 90% of Americans could really care less about as it has no effect on their lives. The truth is the EU should be more worried about what Americans think about them because when the time comes to bail them out from Mohammedism we might just say, 'hell no'.

[weegee]

"The new Osama has more up front hollowbody storage capacity than the leading competitor's budget priced car-bomb."

[weegee]

AP conducted the poll and that itself is very telling.

[weegee]

The truth is the EU should be more worried about what Americans think about them because when the time comes to bail them out from Mohammedism we might just say, 'hell no'.

We would do so at our own peril. Let's push for Europe to destroy their nuclear stockpile first.

[weegee]

"Skidrow Wino Upset By New Lower Alcohol Content Jack Daniels" more like it. All politics is local...

[John Lenin]

The MSM is so transparent even the dummies will be figuring out what they are up to.

[John Lenin]

Personally I don't think it's worth an American life to prtoect them anymore, I'd rather just take the nuke sites out ourselves if we though they might get taken over before they were used.