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U.S. image abroad surges under Obama, poll shows

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The Pew report found that in 21 of the countries surveyed, an average of 71% of respondents had at least some confidence in the U.S. president’s handling of world affairs. In 2008, when Bush was in the White House, the figure in those same countries was only 17%.

Good... Good...

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The only exception was Israel, where attitudes toward the U.S. have dipped since Bush left office.

no surprise there.

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how about that? people sure didnt like that bush fella, well a few loons still did towards the end but they'll like anything they're told to

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Funny that it's in Germany and France. No where else that counts.

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Also in "Latin America, Africa and Asia...Egypt and Jordan...Indonesia, Kenya", so not only in Western Europe !

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Yep, Iran, Al Quaeda and the Taliban just love Obama.

Pick up ya game, teleprompter.

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"deep suspicions about the U.S. persist in the Muslim world"

Really?

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notably in France and Germany

No surprise. I'm sure socialists everywhere support Obama.

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The image of the United States has improved markedly in most parts of the world

It could hardly have gotten any worse

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I'm sure socialists everywhere support Obama

You may not have heard but actually France and Germany both have Conservative administrations. I guess folks like may Obama simply because he's a talented leader.

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Time for the Republicans to get angry.... let's see... how can they spin this one? Ummm... must be only in 'Socialist' Europe? or maybe it's only the Commies?

Oh wait, Helter_Skelter and bushlover have already tried that.

It's quite pathetic, what some people will do, to try and turn something positive into negative simply because they are bitter this president is loved while... ahem... some others have been hated.

Good work, Obama... again.

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bushlover: "Funny that it's in Germany and France. No where else that counts."

Ah, the usual denial and then cherry-picking. Sorry, but as a point of order it's "the most profound shifts" that occured in those two countries. In the rest of the world the reputation of the US only DRASTICALLY changed. :)

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The improvements “are being driven much more by personal confidence in Obama than by opinions about his specific policies,” Pew reported.

He sure does talk prettier than Bush. I guess that is all that counts here.

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[It's quite pathetic, what some people will do, to try and turn something positive into negative simply because they are bitter this president is loved while... ahem... some others have been hated.] --- Yeah quite pathetic were some of your salavitating posts while Bush was CofC. That was really pathetic. [the usual denial and then cherry-picking] -- bait taken. Glad ya didn't let me down S.

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Helter Skelter - "No surprise. I'm sure socialists everywhere support Obama."

Ha ha, you can't get much more delusional than that. :-)

Sailwind - "He sure does talk prettier than Bush. I guess that is all that counts here."

Sarcasm noted. Please feel free to post your actual thoughts and opinions whenever you like.

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bushlover: "Yeah quite pathetic were some of your salavitating posts while Bush was CofC."

Hahaha... that's rich given your posting history of late in particular. One click on your handle produces a bevy of outrage, hatred, bitterness, and downright sad whining as you are constantly beaten down by... well... everyone on this board, more or less. Your post above is no exception, and reeks of the usual desperation you post when you get all riled up by the facts.

And the fact, in this case, is that Obama -- your president since winning the last election in a landslide victory -- is VASTLY improving the image of Americans. Said image was utterly destroyed by your last president. Why are you so against the image of Americans improving abroad? Were you rather be even MORE hated than you were under bush simply so you can have a laugh at Obama? That's not very patriotic of you. Not surprising, either, but not very patriotic.

"bait taken. Glad ya didn't let me down S."

Pretty hard to let down someone who's at rock bottom, you'd think, but glad I could still get a rise out of you. Probably best you stop trolling and actually try to contribute to the article -- which once again is the world-wide fanfare being given to Obama.

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-- Huge majorities see global warming as a serious problem.

Nice... but I wonder when our governments are planing to tackle this issue seriously.

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U.S. image abroad surges under Obama

Maybe its just a dead cat bounce!

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Can't we all just get along?

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To come back to this article, I think it is a very good thing that the U.S. image is improving under Obama... but as said by others, it was at rock bottom under Bush, so it is something natural. "Better" is not "good". In my opinion, it shouldn't mask the fact that Obama has not totally reversed his predecessor's politics. The huge hype following the departure of Bush has pushed people to blindly acknowledge Obama's present and future actions. I guess that in 1-2 years, people will start seeing that the U.S. foreign policy hasn't changed as much as expected. I invite those who start loading their patriotic guns when reading those lines to take a closer look at the attitude of Obama towards Bagram's airbase (which is still used as a torture facility), the restoration of the controversial military commissions to prosecute terror suspects (reversing his campaign pledge), the thousands of Abu Ghraib rape and torture photos (another broken promise), and many others. Moreover, Obama still didn't get rid of some sticky "American" manners like involving himself in foreign governments' decisions (e.g. his speech about the UE membership of Turkey).

To sum up, even if there are some clear improvements and I was also happy seeing Obama win the elections, I still stick to what I said to American friends the day after his victory: "electing a better president is only the first step, the BEGINNING of the way leading to change". Now you can change... just do it by forcing your president to follow his campaign pledge!

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Can't we all just get along?

Sure, Mature adults can, but this is JT.

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"U.S. image abroad surges under Obama, poll shows"

After 8 disastrous years of bUsH, the only way left was up.

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I really think that after 8 years of bush, U.S. conservatives have become so enamoured with failure, that in their heads, pretty much every failure, breakdown, plunging indicator, poor poll rating, partner fallout and stinging criticism is actually a 'success.'

Stay with me here.

This would go some way to explain why, when something like this happens - U.S. image abroad surges under Obama - U.S. conservatives heads get all messed up, they see the indicators/polls/whatever going in "the wrong direction" (ie: UP) and their bitter, angry sides come full frontal.

Stop the bus: U.S. image abroad surges under Obama - WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE WRONG WITH THAT????????????

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And the fact, in this case, is that Obama -- your president since winning the last election in a landslide victory -- is VASTLY improving the image of Americans. Said image was utterly destroyed by your last president. Why are you so against the image of Americans improving abroad?

56 percent is hardly a landslide victory. Rather far from it in fact. The question that people on the left are asking, is what could be wrong with the US image improving abroad. The trouble is, that the image of the US improves, to the detriment of the US. What I mean is when the country does things that are popular in other countries, but not in the best interest of the US, it becomes more popular. I would much rather have a President that is loved by Americans, and hated by the entire rest of the world, then one that is moderately popular, and loved by everyone outside the US. That obviously wasn't Bush who was generally disliked by everyone before his term was complete. But Obama, with his many failures, his massive overspending, is not looking like a good President by any circumstances. He may be popular abroad, but his ratings at home are declining fast. Particularly as he tries to push his socialized medicine down the throat of the American taxpayers.

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Popular vote: 56% Electoral vote: Obama 365 McCain 162 = Tsunami Devastating Landslide

The best Republicans can do now is let crazy folks talk about his birth certificate which has been proven authenticate by several independent sources.

The improvement of the US image abroad is nothing but positive. He has already inspired Democracy in countries like Iran and the Uighur peoples in China. He has brought change directly and indirectly. What did the previous President do? He failed to capture the person who commanded the attacks on American soil. He dethroned a dictator but the place is no better now because it is still dangerous. There will probably be a civil war soon with the Kurds.

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Molenir - "56 percent is hardly a landslide victory"

It was the largest winning margin in 48-50 years.

bush in 2000 won by 0.5% (bush 47.9% Gore 48.4%), and won in 2004 by 2.4% (bush 50.7% to John Kerry's 48.3%).

In 2008, Candidate Obama picked up 52.9% of the vote to Sen. McCain's 45.7%.

That is a winning margin of 7.2% - huge.

Sorry Molenir, wrong again. :-)

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Molenir - "The trouble is, that the image of the US improves, to the detriment of the US."

ha ha, only a bush-loving U.S. conservative could come up with logic like that. :-)

In fact, not surprisingly in the slightest, the exact opposite is true: the degradation of America's image under bush was without a doubt to the detriment of the US.

Molenir - "But Obama, with his many failures, his massive overspending,"

ROFL!!

I always laugh when I hear Republicans stressing the need for fiscal discipline, considering that the GOP under George W. Bush was the most fiscally reckless party in American history.

But the GOP has - conveniently - already completely forgotten that because they know it will nuke their arguments every single time and prevent them from whining endlessly about their country's collapsing fiscal environment that they themselves, through their votes for hero George Bush, were responsible for creating.

Molenir - "That obviously wasn't Bush who was generally disliked by everyone before his term was complete."

Was that because his parting gift to the nation was a a spiralling deficit, 2 out of control wars, the country's image snivelling in the mud, and his gift to the world was the worst recession in 80 years?

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Sushi: "Sorry Molenir, wrong again. :-)"

No kidding. And not only that, he's got your 'reverse failure' messing up his brain for sure. Just check out what he says: " But Obama, with his many failures...". And in the same comment, "That obviously wasn't Bush who was generally disliked by everyone before his term was complete."

Bizarro world at its best, as proven by the, "The trouble is, that the image of the US improves, to the detriment of the US." It is humourous to watch these guys struggle to find the bad in praise for their country, and improvements in their reputation, though.

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I love it when conservatives let their fantasies get in the way of the cold hard facts. :-)

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After the orgy of failures led by bush/cheney and supported by numerous U.S. conservatives who had their butts whipped primetime last November, it's nice to see some good news emanating from the U.S. :-)

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Sushi: "After the orgy of failures led by bush/cheney and supported by numerous U.S. conservatives who had their butts whipped primetime last November, it's nice to see some good news emanating from the U.S. :-)"

Sadly, the news of said peoples' failures, and the denial by their supporters, still goes on to this day in the form of newly released documents of lies and coverups, and the few remaining supporters even going so far as to suggest Obama had a time machine and started the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that both he and Clinton somehow simultaneously started the current economic situation. :)

And it is indeed good news. I'm happy my neighbour to the south has stopped being my handicapped older cousin and can take care of itself and even actually start to lead the world again, if not too much damage was done under Obama's predecessor.

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"...if not too much damage was done under Obama's predecessor."

Err... sorry... if not too much damage was done by Obama and his magical time machine. :)

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I lean towards the right on some issues, and was I all in line for "W" the answer is no. However, he did do some good. I think what this poll really shows that not only in America, but it seems in the rest of the world if you have a good "schtick" and "good delivery" nothing really else matters.

It doesn't matter that Obama said we should be more open with countries like North Korea, all the while they tell us to pack sand with the 6 party talks and call Hillary an "old pensioner."

It doesn't matter that when a tsunami struck the largest muslim populated country in the world, it was the US military under "W" that responeded. True Saudi Arabia and the rest of he Arab world probably doesn't have th lift capacity to reach so many people with help, but just do a bit of reearch and see how much those other "Arabs muslims" helped out their brothers.

"W" was seen as an elitist and not in touch with the little fellow, but it was scores of "little fellows" that ran over our borders on his watch to find jobs and depress wages in America. So I would like to see the poll results from Mexico and central America to see if they voted to show their improved image of America.

Bottom line, if the rest of the world doesn't like America then who cares. For far too long all you heard was about the negative influence America and its ways have affected the world and I say to that if you don't like, look elsewhere or better yet, be the trendsetter yourself.

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Alphaape: "I think what this poll really shows that not only in America, but it seems in the rest of the world if you have a good "schtick" and "good delivery" nothing really else matters."

While having a 'good schtick' as you call it, is a good thing, as is the delivery, NOT having a good schtick/delivery is certainly not what landed Obama's predecessor one of the worst presidents of all time ranking, nor specifically his foreign policy ranking the single worst of all time. The man has been, and continues to be, rightly judged for his awful policies, his horrible mistakes, and his lack of leadership. Where I SLIGHTLY agree with you is that by contrast anyone who looks even remotely intelligent would be a HUGE step up from bush -- hell, even McCain would be seen as being a good leader by contrast. I also think it's too early to judge if indeed Obama's words were little more than the schtick you claim. So far he is doing his best to live up to his promises -- troops sent out of Iraq, health care, etc. He's being blocked on some issues, but we'll see if he sticks to others.

"Bottom line, if the rest of the world doesn't like America then who cares."

Says a guy posting on a Japan news site. The bottom line is, the US is, whether you like it or not, part of the world. The kid everyone hates in the school yard is still a member of the school, and his/her absence still has an affect on the others, and needless to say him/herself. I'd prefer it if the actions of the US -- especially the stupid stuff like Iraq and bad loans -- didn't have the ripple effect it does, but there you go. It's an utterly arrogant attitude that declares, "Who cares what the rest of the world thinks" and then asks NK to come to the table, or gets angry that Japan won't import beef.

""W" was seen as an elitist and not in touch with the little fellow, but it was scores of "little fellows" that ran over our borders on his watch to find jobs and depress wages in America. So I would like to see the poll results from Mexico and central America to see if they voted to show their improved image of America."

So the 'little guy' in your opinion are the illegals who sneak in from Mexico? Anyway, since you make that kind of odd analogy, let's say that with all the talk of building walls across the border and what not that went on on his watch, they probably don't much care that he's gone (I'm not saying bush suggested such things himself, but there was a major push towards such things, and having KKK-linked groups or what have you guard the border, etc.).

"It doesn't matter that when a tsunami struck the largest muslim populated country in the world, it was the US military under "W" that responeded."

He responded because they were Muslim? You seem to be giving him credit for being so open to Muslims, when he was one of the least open presidents in history towards them, based on his actions at any rate. And anyway if that's the case, is that why he didn't bother to do much by way of 'responding' to his own nationals when Katrina hit Louisiana? They not Muslim enough for him to bother with anyone but the rich first?

Anyway, your whole:

"bush may not have been loved world-wide, but what have Muslims done for each other?" line of questioning really is nothing but a lot of non-sequitor. This is about Obama improving the image of the US world-wide. It's something the US ought to be celebrating, not trying to hide by making excuses for bush, etc.

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Sorry Molenir, wrong again. :-)

lol, check your facts. Seriously, not a landslide. Neither the electoral vote, nor the popular vote was a landslide. Now if you want a landslide victory, try checking out Regeans 84 win. Reagan received 58.8% to Mondale's 40.6%, a margin of 18 points. Not only that, he won 528 out of 538 possible electoral college votes. So, wanna try telling me again how it was the biggest margin of victory in 50 years? Heh, not even half that.

Sorry Sushi, wrong again.

No kidding. And not only that, he's got your 'reverse failure' messing up his brain for sure. Just check out what he says: " But Obama, with his many failures...". And in the same comment, "That obviously wasn't Bush who was generally disliked by everyone before his term was complete."

What you don't seem to understand, is that I'm not on one side or the other. I'm not radical right like you seem to think, and I'm certainly not a leftwing nutcase like you and your friends. I'm more conservative, but generally impartial about things. Bush was a nightmare, not only for the country in general, but for conservatives particularly. By the end of his term, only a few die hard supporters remained. He made some good calls, he made some bad ones, but the bad seemed to far outweigh the good. Obama however seems to want to outdo Bush in the bad areas, while not helping in the good. Bush went on a massive spending spree, Obama is doing all he can to spend more in his first year, then Bush did in his entire 8 years in office. I have yet to see a single good thing that Obama has done. Signing the spendulus bill, that did Jack for the economy. Trying to pass socialized medicine that is going to destroy the best health care system in the world, rather then passing tort reform in order to truly reign in costs. Nope, can't see anything that he has done thats been good for the country. And having people like Hugo Chavez as his best buddy, speaks volumes for the direction he is leading the country as well.

Moderator: All readers back on topic please. The subject is Obama's image around the world.

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"And having people like Hugo Chavez as his best buddy"

Statements like this, or calling the president the "Obamination" like you did the other day sure don't seem to help your "I'm not a radical" case buddy....

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So Bush is still president?

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Statements like this, or calling the president the "Obamination" like you did the other day sure don't seem to help your "I'm not a radical" case buddy....

Until I see him start to do positive things, like reigning in spending, then to me, he is the Obamination. I didn't like Bush either, but he is worse then Bush in too many areas. He may be more popular overseas, but in reality, that doesn't matter in the slightest. What matters are his actions as President, and thus far he is simply not living up to the hype.

Moderator: Please do not use words like "Obamination." They are meaningless and lower the level of discussion.

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Sometimes weakness attracts your enemies.

aw

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U.S. image abroad surges under Obama, poll shows

Not a difficult task.

Taka

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our image never dipped, so the nagasaki folks can quit complaining. U.S.A. is #1.

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rogerbentham - "our image never dipped.."

black is white.

failure is success.

up is down.

etc.

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Like I said, with Obama doing nothing positive for the US economy, and lots negative, I fail to see how his looking good abroad helps the US in any way. So people don't hate the US quite as much today as they did yesterday. How does that put food on the table? How does that help create jobs? He needs to do more then throw money we don't have at the problem, and he isn't. He needs to stop trying to bankrupt the US in the process.

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With GW as the last president, anyone would improve America's image.

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Molenir: "and I'm certainly not a leftwing nutcase like you and your friends."

Nope, not radical one bit. Nor is:

" And having people like Hugo Chavez as his best buddy, speaks volumes for the direction he is leading the country as well."

Nor is:

"Until I see him start to do positive things, like reigning in spending, then to me, he is the Obamination."

That's fine. So, to YOU he is the 'Obamination', that makes YOUR opinion quite radical, and even childish. Trying to justify it doesn't make it less of either, especially qualified with "to me he is..." while saying you are 'impartial'.

Obama reversed bush's "midnight hour" policies on endangered species, after bush basically threw away the Endangered Species Act, allowing states to do as they please. He reversed bush's decision that documents could be kept from others by 'executive privilege'. He lifted bush's stem cell ban and is putting more into research. Anyway, that's but a few.

Debatable as to 'good' or 'bad': Obama reversed certain policies on funding for abortions. I think that's a positive step, personally, though of course many disagree. He reversed his own position on releasing pictures of detainee abuse. That's something I'm against, but if I recall a great many people thought it was the 'smart' thing to do because it 'protected the troops and the nation', or some such rubbish. Do you thing what Obama did there was good?

But onto the international front, created a good reputation for yourself overseas can do nothing but good for you at home. How can it put money on the table? Easily! by providing new or increased opportunities for trading and import/export, for starters. It can open up new markets. What's more, and I know some people will come on this site from Backwards-Land and say it's not the case, but believe it or not decreasing your enemies and improving relations can make your country SAFER! GASP!! Although I suppose if you go out of your way to make MORE enemies you can increase defense contracts and jobs on creating the weapons. Is that the kind of job creation you're referring to as being hurt by improving relations?

And again, with your remarks like 'best buddies with Hugo Chavez' you indeed prove you are every bit the radical 'nutcase' you claim others to be. There's absolutely no getting around the fact that such a claim is extreme bias leading to being flat-out incorrect.

Looks like you're wrong again on a number of fronts, Molenir. At least your last comments, where you weren't back-tracking on the 'I'm impartial' contradictions, were somewhat more decent posts and worth arguing.

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"deep suspicions about the U.S persist in the Muslim world"

But I thought Obama's apology tour fixed all that...

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sarge: "But I thought Obama's apology tour fixed all that..."

Clearly the damage your hero did was far beyond fixing with a simple apology. You ever going to answer the questions people posted to you on other threads? Just curious, as you seem to want to forget the questions exist.

Anyway, how naive even a young lad can be is still pretty shocking. Obama is here doing you another favour -- making even you more loved around the world -- and this is the thanks he gets. If bush had his way you would be hated and a target of enemies everywhere. Maybe that's what people like you need -- to be paranoid and constantly looking over their shoulders. Or is that why you came to Japan... to escape the fear of living back home?

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I wonder how many countries Obama will liberate during his term...

"Obama's doing you another favour"

What was the first one? Oh, yeah, the highest unemployment rate in 25 years!

Jordan fades back...

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sarge: "What was the first one?"

Winning the election and stopping the reign of destruction the Republicans had in play.

Next question? Still waiting for you to answer a few on other threads, my friend. Can't dodge them forever and still pretend to have credibility.

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sarge: "What was the first one?"

Anyway, glad you can admit at least Obama is doing this much for you, even though you deny the 'first one' he did, among others.

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The media is basically a propaganda machine for heir obama, he has managed to apologize to every dictator, tyrant and terrorist on America's behalf. All the communist abd theocracies ran by murderous dictators like obama too so what.

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I'm sticking to my original position that I'm one of the few Obama supporters who is really an Obama supporter.

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That doesn't mean much. The U.S image has nothing to do with policies, administrative capabilities, or socio/economic streangth. It just means that the world likes the car's new paint job and could care less about how the engine runs.

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This is about Obama improving the image of the US world-wide. It's something the US ought to be celebrating, not trying to hide by making excuses for bush, etc.

smithinjapan: even with "W" in office, he still did more for the world than Obama has. Obama likes to claim that his first 100 days would have mattered, well they didn't

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Not that this is a slam on Obama but after Bush - rightly or wrongly - there was only one way to go.

But the South American left is starting to carp that Obama isn't doing things their way. Time will tell if the upward popularity trend continues.

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Smith - Obama reversed bush's "midnight hour" policies on endangered species, after bush basically threw away the Endangered Species Act, allowing states to do as they please.

The elimination of the endangered species act. Sorry, but thats quite frankly not true. He did reverse some of Bush's environmental policies, most of it to the detriment of people. And certainly overstepping the bounds of the Federal government, but thats another issue entirely.

He reversed bush's decision that documents could be kept from others by 'executive privilege'.

Actually, this isn't true. Do a bit of research on the subject and you'll see, its another place he has reversed himself.

He lifted bush's stem cell ban and is putting more into research.

Now this is true. Not necessarily a good thing either. But this is off topic and so I don't want to get into the debate about fetal stem cells and their potential for research.

Debatable as to 'good' or 'bad': Obama reversed certain policies on funding for abortions.

It is debatable you're right, but since I'm on the opposite side of that debate, I don't see it as being a positive.

He reversed his own position on releasing pictures of detainee abuse.

After releasing a bunch of other photos previously. He doesn't have a lot of room to maneuver here, and releasing photos, and opening up top secret programs that help America don't really help.

And again, with your remarks like 'best buddies with Hugo Chavez' you indeed prove you are every bit the radical 'nutcase' you claim others to be. There's absolutely no getting around the fact that such a claim is extreme bias leading to being flat-out incorrect.

How is whats been happening proving me a nutcase? Chavez has toned down his rhetoric towards the US. This happened after Obama started pushing all these socialist policies that Chavez supports. That and after sitting in a room politely smiling and laughing while Chavez ranted about the US. A speech he should have walked out on. Its a simple fact. Ok, I'm obviously a bit biased against someone who is supported by terrorists and Supreme Dictator for life Chavez. But the substance of what I said was correct.

Now lets review what else Obama has done shall we? He has signed into law, legislation that spends more in a year then Bush did in 2. He has commited through various speeches to spending trillions of dollars more. Money the US does not have. He wants to drastically overhaul the medical system a move that will cost taxpayers trillions more, increasing the taxes on everyone but the poorest among us. He has proposed legislation that would devastate the economy at a time its already hurting because of the recession. You see where I'm coming from here? I don't see anything good the man has done. I've looked, really.

Bush at least did some things right. Even if he got just about everything wrong. You have to give him credit for the good economy he had, and after 9-11 too. Well, as much as you can ever give a President credit for the economy.

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The U.S. image globally is very important economically. U.S. image is very important strategically. World leaders have said they like working with Obama and he gets a lot done in a short amount of time. As far as I am concerned it is just another case of either sour grapes or jealousy that a liberal agenda is moving forward in spite of conservative efforts to block progress. Our economy was not the only thing at a standstill by the time Obama became president. It would appear the conservatives like to keep things at a standstill.

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The Great Satan: The good ol US of A!! And it always will be despite the lackings of his wonderboy Obama at the helm.

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What the poll really shows is that the Bush administration caused severe damage to our image overseas.

I just hope that President Obama can get us back to where we were before his second term ends.

bushlover at 09:03 AM JST - 24th July Funny that it's in Germany and France. No where else that counts.

You just explained how the Bush administration lost face for our great nation, they did not care about any other nation.

We lost most of South America to the communist and slowly have lost our grip in Asia because of that same mind set.

Altria at 09:36 AM JST - 24th July Yep, Iran, Al Quaeda and the Taliban just love Obama. Pick up ya game, teleprompter.

I do not think they like him much...Under his watch they already lost one of the Bin Laden clan.

Our President has become more of a problem for them in 8 months than Bush was in his 8 years.

sailwind at 11:08 AM JST - 24th July The improvements “are being driven much more by personal confidence in Obama than by opinions about his specific policies,” Pew reported. He sure does talk prettier than Bush. I guess that is all that counts here.

I would like to correct your post, the other difference is that President Obama has proven himself to be a talented Diplomat.

That is another thing that the far right does not understand DIPLOMACY. That was also their downfall...

Since the 1950's the world saw us as the friend of all peoples of the world. But when Bush took office that all changed. We went from the friend of the people to the friend of the large companies.

Image is every thing in the war of ideas. Under Bush our image became damaged and the communist and the fanatics took advantage of that.

Molenir at 06:30 PM JST - 24th July lol, check your facts. Seriously, not a landslide. Neither the electoral vote, nor the popular vote was a landslide.

Correct it was not a huge landslide but the people spoke and the far right lost everything that night. The people spoke and our President won a clear cut mandate from the people that night.

Our nation yelled out with a clear voice,"end the madness of the neo-con movement" and now they are all but dead.

The United States does owe the Bush administration a bit of thanks. If it were not for them and their incompetent running of our country we would never have seen the neo-cons for what they are,"useless".

For that I thank former President Bush and his administration!

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Alphaape: "smithinjapan: even with "W" in office, he still did more for the world than Obama has. Obama likes to claim that his first 100 days would have mattered, well they didn't"

In terms of damage, bush certainly did do more than Obama, yes. As for the rest, is my math off or is 2922 days not a few more than 100? Hell, in that regard maybe Obama could even do more destruction than bush when his eight years are up, but I don't think that anyone, and clearly the world doesn't think so, that that's even remotely possible.

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Molenir: "Now this is true. Not necessarily a good thing either....It is debatable you're right, but since I'm on the opposite side of that debate, I don't see it as being a positive."

In other words, what you cast as judges earlier should simply be noted as opinion, since whether they are positive moves or not is up to the person. So perhaps from now on instead of stating categorically that, "Obama has done nothing for the country", you should start it with 'I think (that)'.

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Or " I can see (that)" or " We know (that)".

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In other words, what you cast as judges earlier should simply be noted as opinion, since whether they are positive moves or not is up to the person. So perhaps from now on instead of stating categorically that, "Obama has done nothing for the country", you should start it with 'I think (that)'.

Oh come on now Smith, where do you think we're posting? What do you think we're posting? Everything thats said in this forum is essentially the opinions of the posters. Yours, mine, everyones. We intersperse facts with our opinions, to give them more validity, and support, but what it really comes down to is a matter of perspective. You and others here think that Obama is the greatest President in history. He can do no wrong! If he bombed Iran, it would be Bush's fault, for not dealing with them in the first place. I however disagree with these sentiments. I think that thus far, he hasn't done anything right. From the disastrous moves on the economy, to his mishandling of foreign affairs, I have yet to see one major item that is a positive from him. I don't feel this way because I'm a partisan political hack, I was willing to cut him some slack. Early on, I stated many times, that he is just getting started. I even credited him initially for his response to the Iranian situation, though he failed on that in the end too. The fact is, I'm looking for something to say, here, this makes him a decent president. But from my perspective, thus far, I haven't seen anything. Dems were oh so very critical of Bush when he was blowing money, and rightly so, but Obama is outdoing him by a huge margin. They criticized him for doing the bailouts, again, a sentiment I agreed with, however they turned around and did him one better.

Correct it was not a huge landslide but the people spoke and the far right lost everything that night. The people spoke and our President won a clear cut mandate from the people that night.

Heh, 52% does not a mandate make. Though turning the congress over to the Dems does make your case to a certain extent. Though considering what the Dems are pushing, its unlikely their control of congress will last beyond 2010.

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Molenir: "How is whats been happening proving me a nutcase? Chavez has toned down his rhetoric towards the US. This happened after Obama started pushing all these socialist policies that Chavez supports."

Dude, you're the one who came on here calling people 'nutcases' for supporting Obama and arguing the opinion that this is a good thing. Then you make the jump in logic that Chavez taking a less harsh tone with Obama than with bush automatically means that they are best buddies, and Obama is pushing for "all these socialist policies" that Chavez supports. Like what socialist policies?? Universal healthcare?? Oh my god! Better roll in the tanks and have Obama switch the US from a 'democracy' to a military dictatorship!!! you know, since he's implementing all these policies Chavez wants.

Get with it, bud. You really are skewed to one side and not at all impartial with off-the-wall statements like that. Of COURSE Chavez took a different stance towards Obama when he took office -- simply because bush has the worst foreign policy/relations record in US history! You can't go anywhere but up from rock-bottom, my friend, which is what this article is about.

"You and others here think that Obama is the greatest President in history."

Where did any of us say that? Is this more of your 'impartiality' shining through? I think what most of us have said is that he is a HUGE step up from bush, and that he hasn't been given enough time for rash ("impartial" haha!) judgements and accusations that you and others like you offer up. Alphaape for example compared bush's 2922 days in office with Obama's 100 + and said the latter, "Hasn't done near what "W" did". Again, true for destruction, but not nearly enough time yet to prove that or anything else for that matter. Yet here you guys are.

"I think that thus far, he hasn't done anything right."

A slight step up from simply stating "He hasn't" as a matter of fact. You're still wrong, though (and that's not just opinion haha).

"slack. Early on, I stated many times, that he is just getting started. I even credited him initially for his response to the Iranian situation, though he failed on that in the end too. The fact is, I'm looking for something to say, here, this makes him a decent president. But from my perspective, thus far, I haven't seen anything."

A step up from Alphaape, at any rate. You contradict yourself in the second half, but it's progress. And you contradict yourself again:

"They criticized him (bush) for doing the bailouts, again, a sentiment I agreed with, however they turned around and did him one better. "

So much for 'waiting to see what happens', eh?

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Dude, you're the one who came on here calling people 'nutcases' for supporting Obama and arguing the opinion that this is a good thing. Then you make the jump in logic that Chavez taking a less harsh tone with Obama than with bush automatically means that they are best buddies, and Obama is pushing for "all these socialist policies" that Chavez supports. Like what socialist policies?? Universal healthcare?? Oh my god! Better roll in the tanks and have Obama switch the US from a 'democracy' to a military dictatorship!!! you know, since he's implementing all these policies Chavez wants.

Wanna reread that post again? I didn't call you guys nutcases for supporting Obama, I was identifying myself as neither a leftwing nutcase like yourself, or a far right radical extremist. I'm on the right, but generally moderate. And I do think its bad when someone like Dictator for Life Chavez is your buddy. Much less when Hamas is in your cheering section.

Where did any of us say that? Is this more of your 'impartiality' shining through? I think what most of us have said is that he is a HUGE step up from bush, and that he hasn't been given enough time for rash ("impartial" haha!) judgements and accusations that you and others like you offer up.

You haven't said it. Its been the tone of your posts. Not one of you has had anything critical to say on Obama. Hes blowing money like theres no tomorrow, but its all Bush's fault. He trying to totally overturn the health care system in America, without addressing one of the core causes of the problems, IE tort reform. When are you guys going to start looking at him objectively. Thats my point here. To you, he must seem like the greatest President in History, else why would you be so quick to jump in and defend him?

So much for 'waiting to see what happens', eh?

How long do I have to wait? While I see him pushing socialized medicine, sorry, I'm gonna stand up and say HELL NO! Watching him try to commit the US to spending some 20 trillion dollars, and his first year isn't even done with, again, how long do I have to wait? And why the heck are you so ok with this? Agree or disagree on Abortion, or how America 'looks' to the outside. Bankrupting the US and making moves that would essentially destroy the US economy. You can't believe these are good things can you? Or do you hate America that much?

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Molenir: Geez you're almost as bad a flip-flopper as your ex-president, and nearly as see through.

" That and after sitting in a room politely smiling and laughing while Chavez ranted about the US. A speech he should have walked out on. Its a simple fact."

No, the simple fact is that any president who stood up, whimpered, and walked out would be seen as the petulant child he or she is. Obama took it like a man and endured. That you wouldn't have only proves that you aren't equipped with the skills it takes to be a leading diplomat or leader.

The guy's been president for a mere 6 + months since inauguration.

"Early on, I stated many times, that he (Obama) is just getting started."

Earlier on when? a month ago? two months? or a whopping SIX months ago? (It's like half a lifetime!)

"How long do I have to wait? While I see him pushing socialized medicine..."

I know... in those mere 100 + days in office he should have changed THE WORLD! Hell, there are some on here STILL blaming Clinton and even Carter for a whole lot of things that happened on bush's watch, including 9/11 and the economy (the latter somehow skipped bush and is now Clinton and Obama's fault).

"You and others here think that Obama is the greatest President in history. He can do no wrong!"

And when I ask where we said that:

"You haven't said it."

And dude, if any of us are 'nutcases', it's clearly you. You say you're impartial, then call people 'nutcases', make judgements about things we have never said. You then declare that Obama and Chavez are like best buddies and that Hamas is a cheering section, whereas in reality THE WHOLD WORLD feels Obama is much better suited to being president than the man about which you say, " You have to give him credit for the good economy he had, and after 9-11 too. Well, as much as you can ever give a President credit for the economy."

Yeah... that same guy that took a surplus Clinton built and threw the US economy down the toilet, to which he left Obama holding the bag (and to which the latter had to spend all sorts of cash to try and get things on track).

"When are you guys going to start looking at him (Obama) objectively."

We are... or some of us, anyway. The thing is, with more than half of your statements above YOU have proven that you are incapable of it, and of course someone as lacking in objectivity as yourself cannot POSSIBLY see objectivity when it hits you in the face. But hey, looking forward to more of your objective posts on how Obama is Chavez' best friend for not storming out of a speech like a baby.

Hang in there. :)

Moderator: Readers, you are going around in circles. Please stop the childish sniping at each other and focus your comments on the story, namely the U.S. image around the world since Obama's election. Nothing else.

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SushiSake3: Actually Obama is already on track to be the most fiscally irresponsible regime in the history of the nation. He is already catching up fast with president bush. Also the economic problems by frannie mae and freddie mac were not caused by Bush, in fact these problems had been brewing for several decades. In april of 2001 Bush was already warning about the problems of freddie mac and frannie mae then in 2003-2004 Bush pressured congress to pass legislation that put regulations on these two companies along with the banks giving out these bad loans.

The democrats for the most part were against the regulation that republicans and president bush wanted to impose in 2003-2004.

The deregulation, ironically, began in 1999 by republicans.

Moderator: Sorry, you're on the wrong thread. This one is about the U.S. image abroad. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are irrelevant to this discussion.

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I find it very interesting Moderator that you claim my rebuttal is off topic and you remove my post yet several other posts are off topic and they stay up for example Molenir posts are off topic but still up.

So how is the post that you removed part of the topic of US popularity going up? Because one of the reasons US popularity was down was because of the financial meltdown that hit the US.

Since I'm off topic I expect to see those posts taken down as well as sushisake3 post.

SushiSake3: Actually Obama is already on track to be the most fiscally irresponsible regime in the history of the nation. He is already catching up fast with president bush. Also the economic problems by frannie mae and freddie mac were not caused by Bush, in fact these problems had been brewing for several decades. In april of 2001 Bush was already warning about the problems of freddie mac and frannie mae then in 2003-2004 Bush pressured congress to pass legislation that put regulations on these two companies along with the banks giving out these bad loans.

The democrats for the most part were against the regulation that republicans and president bush wanted to impose in 2003-2004.

The deregulation, ironically, began in 1999 by republicans.

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Bush was a tool and Obama is a rainmaker. Its more than just his color its his integrity and his intellect. Bush has neither.

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we've always had the best image in the world. always.

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An improving worldwide image makes it easier for the USA to work with world governments because world governments will have a better time selling US deals to their peoples.

Lastly, let the "world" decide how much Bush or Obama has done for the world. It's the world the one being done to, after all.

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notably in France and Germany

Helter_Skelter

No surprise. I'm sure socialists everywhere support Obama.

Merkel is an edulcorate socialist but do you think really that Sarko is socialist ?

Thats a good joke !

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One Big A** Mistake America...

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27,000 people out of 6 billion. I seriously trust this poll.

Obama is changing the course of our REPUBLIC to a path of darkness and facism that has brought the rest of the world to it's knees economically and to it's knees to bow to the whims of dictators.

Bush was not much better, but at least he we willing to fight the enemy at our gate, nation Islamic Facists.

Obama has no experience running anything. He has no experience in healthcare, and he wants to run it. He has no experience earning money for a company, and yet he want to run our economy.

Anyone supporting this treasonous man has no clue of our history nor of what made us great.

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HikoBills

Obama has no experience running anything. He has no experience in healthcare, and he wants to run it. He has no experience earning money for a company, and yet he want to run our economy

Bush had experience in healthcare or earning money for a company ?

He had only experience in losing money for a company...

nation Islamic Facists.

How can a post like this one can be oversee by our Moderator ?

this treasonous man

???

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HikoBills

...our REPUBLIC to a path of darkness and facism that has brought the rest of the world to it's knees economically and to it's knees to bow to the whims of dictators.

About what Banana Republic is he speaking ?

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