It's tough being the leader of the free world...

I'll say. It's considerably tougher now than it was eight years ago.

Someone once said "If you want to know if you're a leader, turn around and see if anyone's following."

Like so many conservative mantras, "I don't give a damn what other countries think" sounds rugged and virtuous. But does anyone want to follow a leader who doesn't give a damn what they think? Would you want to work for someone who didn't give a damn what you think? Would you follow a candidate who you were sure didn't give a damn about what Americans like you thought?

America is less of a leader than it was before Bush - fewer people are willing to fol...

It's tough being the leader of the free world...

I'll say. It's considerably tougher now than it was eight years ago.

Someone once said "If you want to know if you're a leader, turn around and see if anyone's following."

Like so many conservative mantras, "I don't give a damn what other countries think" sounds rugged and virtuous. But does anyone want to follow a leader who doesn't give a damn what they think? Would you want to work for someone who didn't give a damn what you think? Would you follow a candidate who you were sure didn't give a damn about what Americans like you thought?

America is less of a leader than it was before Bush - fewer people are willing to follow our lead. As a result, we have less international clout, and are less powerful in terms of shaping international policy. Not giving a damn about those who were following us before is exactly why. Not giving a damn makes America less powerful.

You keep concentrating on France. Remember the poll was the "world", quit picking your personal quibbles.

Regardless of the reason the French were who was there in our hour of need. You also seem to forget that in 1991 the French were our 2nd largest contributor of forces in Desert Storm.....but it would be inconvenient for you to remember that.

No one ever said that anybody but Americans would be casting a ballot to say otherwise is ridiculous.

What it reflects is that it would validate the "American dream" that people can come to our shores, contribute, be successful, and that regardless of their origin, their children may one day aspire to be President of our country and leader of the ...

You keep concentrating on France. Remember the poll was the "world", quit picking your personal quibbles.

Regardless of the reason the French were who was there in our hour of need. You also seem to forget that in 1991 the French were our 2nd largest contributor of forces in Desert Storm.....but it would be inconvenient for you to remember that.

No one ever said that anybody but Americans would be casting a ballot to say otherwise is ridiculous.

What it reflects is that it would validate the "American dream" that people can come to our shores, contribute, be successful, and that regardless of their origin, their children may one day aspire to be President of our country and leader of the free world.

With the rebubbacans you reinforce the world view that America talks a good show but still this country is designed for privileged white anglo-saxon male power brokers. Some day you have to walk the walk and not just talk the talk.

This poll in no way changes the American dream or prevents an American from leading our country and doing what's best for the vast majority of Americans.

It does point out that we have a candidate who would be favorable received by the rest of the world. It is much easier to lead the rest of the world when you are liked rather than despised. George Bush's father is an example of a person who was successful in coalition building while his son W is the example of someone who squandered the world's good will and chose to go it alone. The results could not say more about which is a better option.

Once again we have a chance to have a leader who inspires the world. Yet in America we have become...

This poll in no way changes the American dream or prevents an American from leading our country and doing what's best for the vast majority of Americans.

It does point out that we have a candidate who would be favorable received by the rest of the world. It is much easier to lead the rest of the world when you are liked rather than despised. George Bush's father is an example of a person who was successful in coalition building while his son W is the example of someone who squandered the world's good will and chose to go it alone. The results could not say more about which is a better option.

Once again we have a chance to have a leader who inspires the world. Yet in America we have become very petty and we love to attack those who work hard in college and make good grades. Eggheads we call them. We deride them, we mock them. What a waste it will be to choose the screw you, my way or the highway, shoot first ask questions later unilateralist.

It is a huge plus for your country to be revered by the rest of the world. After World War II we had that kind of reverence but unilateralist rebubbacan presidents are throwing it down the tubes.

Hello BobbyRutan,
I'm a little late to this discussion, but this morning I got interested in a NYTimes magazine article titled "When Judges Make Foreign Policy". It talks about how the United States Supreme Court has made and continues to make decisions that have a great impact on domestic and foreign policy. I don't know why so many people insist on putting down any idea that we Americans should not be at all concerned about what the rest of the world thinks about us. I, personally, can't wait until Barak Obama takes the oath of office, and we as Americans head in a new direction that makes us all proud! I recently viewed Obama's speech in Germany in front of 200 thousand Germans. In this...

Hello BobbyRutan,
I'm a little late to this discussion, but this morning I got interested in a NYTimes magazine article titled "When Judges Make Foreign Policy". It talks about how the United States Supreme Court has made and continues to make decisions that have a great impact on domestic and foreign policy. I don't know why so many people insist on putting down any idea that we Americans should not be at all concerned about what the rest of the world thinks about us. I, personally, can't wait until Barak Obama takes the oath of office, and we as Americans head in a new direction that makes us all proud! I recently viewed Obama's speech in Germany in front of 200 thousand Germans. In this speech, he reviewed the bond we had during World War 2, and the importance of the Berlin Airlift in confronting the big red bear! As always, his speech was very presidential. Let's hope that he makes it to be the President. A new generation will get to see what a real President is capable of doing for this country and the world!

Here's a link to what I blogged

http://www.loyalresistance.blogspot.com/


Here's a link to Obama and his speech to the Germans

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-9ry38AhbU


schreibe

Thank you schreibe. I look forward to that day myself.

I actually spent an evening as a server at a private gathering at a household where George and Laura Bush were 2 of the 6 people making up the group (the chef and myself not included). I had the opportunity to spend the entire evening inspecting the person who would become "leader" of the free world. I can't tell you how thoroughly unimpressed I was. Laura was very gracious however. Being in the presence of greatness is something that will send shivers down your spine. I left that house that evening feeling like I had served dinner to just another individual born into fortunate circumstances who had very little appreciation for others a...

Thank you schreibe. I look forward to that day myself.

I actually spent an evening as a server at a private gathering at a household where George and Laura Bush were 2 of the 6 people making up the group (the chef and myself not included). I had the opportunity to spend the entire evening inspecting the person who would become "leader" of the free world. I can't tell you how thoroughly unimpressed I was. Laura was very gracious however. Being in the presence of greatness is something that will send shivers down your spine. I left that house that evening feeling like I had served dinner to just another individual born into fortunate circumstances who had very little appreciation for others around him and very little appreciation for the incredible luck that allowed someone so shallow and talentless to live a life of luxury.

112 days left and counting.

BobbyRutan,
Sure is interesting that you got so close to "seat of power", so to speak. Sounds like you may be living and working in the Wash. D.C. area. I recently got a great tour of D.C. compliments of my son who has been working there for several years.
As a returned "Peace Corps" volunteer, he made D.C. his home. I could see Capital, and most of the monuments from his 8th floor condo. It was the first time I've toured the area since high school....about 50 years ago. It is all still very impressive, and inspirational. For the most part, I have not lost hope that this country can regain its leading role in the world. My favorite was FDR's memorial. The "New Deal", and Roosevelt's conce...

BobbyRutan,
Sure is interesting that you got so close to "seat of power", so to speak. Sounds like you may be living and working in the Wash. D.C. area. I recently got a great tour of D.C. compliments of my son who has been working there for several years.
As a returned "Peace Corps" volunteer, he made D.C. his home. I could see Capital, and most of the monuments from his 8th floor condo. It was the first time I've toured the area since high school....about 50 years ago. It is all still very impressive, and inspirational. For the most part, I have not lost hope that this country can regain its leading role in the world. My favorite was FDR's memorial. The "New Deal", and Roosevelt's concentrated efforts to help the middle class is exactly what we need today. Many people may not realize how his programs helped save Capitalism and the Free Market System. He help save the "middle class".....and there can be no democracy without a strong and dynamic middle class. It kills me when the Repubs are so astonished when somebody mentions "classwarfare"! They need not worry anymore. There is no class war. The war is over, and we lost!
Frank

Arguing with a rightwing mind is like trying to screw a blown light bulb into a socket. No matter how many times you screw, the light will not and I repeat WILL NOT come on. One thing that amazes me though, is how the republican kingpins, use the same worn-out rhetoric and their followers or "base" (these kingpins like the word base better, it makes it sound like their flocks are sticking together on principle not fear)...swallow the droopy, exhausted crock, time and time again, without ever THINKING to themselves... "Well, Gosh darn it, I think I've heard this before and look at the shitter it got me in."

No, THINKING is out for the republican base, that is why someone like Sarah Palin,...

Arguing with a rightwing mind is like trying to screw a blown light bulb into a socket. No matter how many times you screw, the light will not and I repeat WILL NOT come on. One thing that amazes me though, is how the republican kingpins, use the same worn-out rhetoric and their followers or "base" (these kingpins like the word base better, it makes it sound like their flocks are sticking together on principle not fear)...swallow the droopy, exhausted crock, time and time again, without ever THINKING to themselves... "Well, Gosh darn it, I think I've heard this before and look at the shitter it got me in."

No, THINKING is out for the republican base, that is why someone like Sarah Palin, so lacking of knowledge about her world, can steal their hearts so readily. The rightwing politicians like best, sticking with the GUNS, GAYS, GOD, WARS, ABORTION and FEAR because it keeps their obedient admirers away from the issues they face on a daily bases of survival. The xenophobia, the advocates of this particular ideology, like to wave around is an instinctual tool to keep their assemblage afraid. Primitive people always feared the tribe they had no contact with.

Instead of trying to turn on the blown bulbs with argument and name calling, what we should do when they throw their mantra of old meaningless rhetoric, one too many times...Is not feel anger but feel pity because just imagine how dull it must be to live inside a mind that refuses to inquire, theorize or just plain ponder, life with its extraordinary mystery.

PS: I must say, paraphrasing republican into rebubbacan is right on target! Too bad, the bubbas and bubbets, of our country are proud of that name which has become a pejorative, meaning low economic status and limited education. GO FIGURE?