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

Friday 24th July, 07:00 AM JST

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smithinjapan at 09:14 AM JST - 25th July

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.
smithinjapan at 09:19 AM JST - 25th July

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)'.
bushlover at 09:33 AM JST - 25th July

Or " I can see (that)" or " We know (that)".
Molenir at 09:35 AM JST - 25th July

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.
smithinjapan at 01:37 PM JST - 25th July

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?
Molenir at 05:48 PM JST - 25th July

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?
smithinjapan at 08:52 PM JST - 25th July

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.
zurcronium at 08:28 AM JST - 26th July

Bush was a tool and Obama is a rainmaker. Its more than just his color its his integrity and his intellect. Bush has neither.
rogerbentham at 09:06 PM JST - 26th July

we've always had the best image in the world. always.
lostrune2 at 03:13 AM JST - 28th July

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.
bdaniel08 at 09:30 PM JST - 28th July

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 !
USARonin at 11:29 PM JST - 28th July

One Big A** Mistake America...
HikoBills at 11:18 PM JST - 29th July

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.
bdaniel08 at 08:56 AM JST - 1st August

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

???
bdaniel08 at 09:14 PM JST - 1st August

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 ?