309 Comments

1. Phil Bertz:

Is this article a joke?

Oct 21, 2009 - 1:36 am 2. Dave:

Okay, I’ll give him some credit, so far as he deserves it. But that will not be much because it cannot be much.

The data, polls etc that showed “they” hated us because of Bush and now love us because of Obama
are the foam. They are NOT the beer.

What people actually think of America is formulated by factors that go way beyond who inhabits the White House and what the latest military/foreign policy moves are. It goes to what we are as a people and what we stand for as a people.

The shifts in opinion cited are ephemeral and are useful only as indicators of what may occur
in the way of foreign political developments.
Even there, the probability weightings are so fluid as to require extensive independent corroboration before being accepted.

I do appreciate the column and it is a good reminder for us not to let our emotions run amok.

Oct 21, 2009 - 1:52 am 3. Ytzik:

This article is a joke.
What’s next? Give Obama credit for winning a Nobel Prize? Because that “prize” and the polls showing how much the world loves America have the same origin and are completely meaningless.
Leading a country is not about how much other countries love you.

Oct 21, 2009 - 2:11 am 4. Terry, Eilat - Israel:

This isn’t a popularity contest – foreign policy is about achieving goals in our national interest. Obama has achieved NOTHING. The dictatorships, tyrannies, & totalitarian states do not care about Obama’s ”popularity” – they laugh at him, they spit in his face, they openly defy him, & they pursue their goals against American interests with no fear of consequences of American retaliation.

Oct 21, 2009 - 2:12 am 5. Lynn:

Yes – just goes to show – all the world loves a good conman!

Oct 21, 2009 - 2:29 am 6. RE:

I almost sprayed my coffee all over the computer screen reading this. I found it appalling.

Statements like ‘He personifies the American dream and the credibility of American values’ are outrageously naive. Obama is conducting a direct assault on America’s founding principles, for crying out loud!

‘Misery loves company’, sheer ignorance, or malice are the only explanations I can accept for the ‘rest of the world’ liking America better because of Obama.

And just who is this ‘rest of the world’ anyways? The United Nations? The International Press Corps?

If you like being a well-liked serf Mr. Mauro, go for it – but don’t try to sell me on your foolishness.

Oct 21, 2009 - 2:43 am 7. Gary S.:

Good article. I realize you’re not cheerleading Obama, just reporting on the world’s opinion.

We have to consider, though, what they mean by the world having a “favorable” opinion of the U.S. Yes, there are those out there who love the freedom we provide. But the change in administration has brought less freedom, not more.

I suggest that the world admires us more because we have lowered our defenses and weakened our economy. In other words, now they’ve got friends in low places.

Oct 21, 2009 - 3:05 am 8. Scott:

Seventh to First, you say? Awesome!! We’re number one! We’re number one! We’re number one! We’re number one! We’re number one! We’re number one! We’re number one! We’re number one!

Sans caffeine that’s about all I can muster on the sarcasm front this morning. But seriously, what a ridiculous article. I especially threw up in my mouth in the set-up where you basically sabotaged your own argument by declaring this to be the byproduct of a promise you made to yourself. Yawn. So are you paid to write what you actually think or to be a cutesy side-show act?

Oct 21, 2009 - 3:13 am 9. dave morris:

No wonder the world has changed its opinion of America. Obama has ended torture as an official policy of the U.S. government. He has ended the policy of refusing to participate in multilateral organizations. He has reversed the U.S. policy of ignoring climate change. He has committed the U.S. to wind down the “war of choice” in Iraq and has renounced the notion of pre-emptive war altogether. He has called for multilateral reductions in nuclear weapons stockpiles. I could go on, but I think you get the picture. Under Obama, America is no longer giving the finger to the rest of the world. If you’ve missed that, you’re living on some other planet.

Oct 21, 2009 - 3:16 am 10. tom:

This article reminds me of the work of Thomas P.M. Barnett, a political scientist and entrepreneur who writes about national security in his articles and blogs.

He wrote “Great Powers: The World after Bush” this year and I highly recommend everyone read it. He did an 8 part radio interview with the radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt (a link to that interview is on Barnett’s website).

Barnett’s website is http://www.thomaspmbarnett.com.

I wish it were people like him and Victor Davis Hanson who were pundits on the airwaves instead of the hacks that passes for erudition of important issues in these interesting times we live in.

Oct 21, 2009 - 3:22 am 11. Pedrosito:

You were up drinking all night with your liberal girl friend right?
Who cares what Europeons think! Obama is ruining our country and you are fixed on opinon polls from europe, wonderful.

Oct 21, 2009 - 3:27 am 12. vivo:

The American people elected Obama because they wanted a change in the negative policies of the past. The world recognizes the pacifist attitude of this administration and is grateful for the respite.

It’s only been 9 months and the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter. More and more articles and voices like this one will be forthcoming from all corners of the country.

Positive thinking trumps negative thinking.

Oct 21, 2009 - 3:31 am 13. Numerian:

Your comment “…the most critical factor in appealing to the world’s audience is Western values. If the world sees the U.S. as contradicting these values, then our reputation will fall” is right, but wrong. The most critical factor in appealing to “the world’s audience” is how the U.S., it’s leaders and policies, are PRESENTED to that audience. If the elite media overseas (or here for that matter) constantly pound out a message that the U.S. is a dangerous, corrupt nation led by evil people, interpreting anything and everything we do in a negative light, then guess what? After a while more and more people will start to believe that message.

Anti-Americanism in Europe has been taught for so long (since the 1980’s at least) that it is no longer even perceived as “anti-Americanism”; it is the unquestioned, mainstream “common sense” that “everyone knows” and accepts.

Oct 21, 2009 - 3:40 am 14. Terry Gain:

I THOUGHT THIS WAS A POOR ATTEMPT AT SATIRE

Europe hated the United States as it gave blood and treasure to liberate Iraq from a genocidal, mass murdering, terrorist-supporting, U.N. Resolution-defying maniac because it felt guilty that they were unprepared to lift a hand to help.
They admire Obama because he makes them feel less unworthy. And with good reason.

Not even the prospect of genocide was enough to convince Obama to stop advocating that Iraq be abandoned to al Qaeda and Iran.

Obama not only stood by as the democracy protest in Iran was brutally put down but he referred to it as a robust debate. He did so because he did not want to offend Iran. He is so pathologically narcissistic he thinks he can talk Iran out of its nuclear weapons program.

Obama has abandoned Eastern Europe and he is now abandoning Afghanistan.

Obama is about to impose cap and trade as we clearly enter our fourth straight year of Global Cooling and he is otherwise destroying the American economy with his deficit spending.

And if anyone, such as Beck points out that he has surrounded himself with commies and radicals he takes after them like the thug he is.

Growing up poor in Hawaii while attending private schools as the grandson of a bank executive? Ryann Mauro has achieved the impossible: making Jazz Shaw and Rick Moran seem intelligent by comparison.

Oct 21, 2009 - 4:04 am 15. Scott:

“No wonder the world has changed its opinion of America. Obama has ended torture as an official policy of the U.S. government. He has ended the policy of refusing to participate in multilateral organizations. He has reversed the U.S. policy of ignoring climate change. He has committed the U.S. to wind down the “war of choice” in Iraq and has renounced the notion of pre-emptive war altogether. He has called for multilateral reductions in nuclear weapons stockpiles. I could go on, but I think you get the picture. Under Obama, America is no longer giving the finger to the rest of the world. If you’ve missed that, you’re living on some other planet.”

It says something rather horrible about the world if we ranked a lofty seventh with all that going against us, wouldn’t you say?

Then again, Obama is giving the finger to people everywhere who live under a jackboot. Not that lefties mind. Your human rights posturing was never anything more than a hollow, protective instinct towards violent leftist insurrectionists and a visceral contempt for America.

Oct 21, 2009 - 4:16 am 16. All Rise:

“Behold there is an ass for every chair and I give you my glorious self and Ryan Mauro as living proof.”

Attribution: Obama midst smashing America and it’s citizens while parting the seas and blessing the rest of the world.

Oct 21, 2009 - 4:21 am 17. Barefoot Doctor:

Pakistan is losing to the Taliban.

Oct 21, 2009 - 4:33 am 18. Glass:

I guess if your goal is to be liked he is doing a good job, and in the case of the despots around the world particularly so. They see a window of opportunity, a chink in the armor, a weakness to be exploited, they love him. These despots are hustling him the same way he hustled the American people.

Oct 21, 2009 - 4:36 am 19. TennesseeVolunteer:

You, sir, have obviously not learned the lesson of life that you always match up people’s words with their actions. If they do not match, you are being lied to.
In this case, the actions of your subject do not match his words. How long do you think it will take the people of the world to figure that out?

Oct 21, 2009 - 4:36 am 20. John - TMF:

People with muddy boots greatly appreciate a good doormat…

Give me a break. Europeans are committing suicide… Their populations rapidly being supplanted by foreigners – mostly Muslims – who share in none of the cultural or spiritual values of… wait, European culture is mostly edifice and artifice now… It’s spirituality is externally dim, and ultimately narcissistic. Its governments are largely bankrupt, and they are fundamentally defenseless.

Humm… I would imagine I know why they love The One…

As for the rest of the world. The Chinese have bought most of our economy, and will end up holding an empty sack as the wealth evaporates with the derivatives on which it was based. I rather think that eventually we won’t be so popular with them.

We are in deep doo-doo… I suppose folks like this appreciate being loved by those who preceded us into the cess pool.

Nah, being loved by an idiotic fool is hardly a compliment.

r/The Mighty Fahvaag

Oct 21, 2009 - 4:42 am 21. Tolbert:

If improving world opinion of us means convincing our enemies that we are weak, then yes I suppose he has been successful in that regard.

Oct 21, 2009 - 4:51 am 22. Ben:

Or maybe it’s simply because 90% of the press around the world kisses Obama’s ass in print every day, so people are giving him way more credit than he deserves.

Let be me clear, this bump in our favorability around the world is not a result of anything Obama did. It’s a result of two things:
1. The actions of the American people by electing a black man
2. The ridiculosly favorable press that he gets. If every newspaper is telling you that now that the Americans have elected Obama, everyone in the world will see peace and prosperity, then of course they will like the U.S.

What’s going to be scary is how our rep falls when the blinders come off and they realize Obama is just another politician with an agenda that probably doesn’t help anyone but himself in the long run.

Oct 21, 2009 - 4:53 am 23. SmokeVanThorn:

It is not a good thing if improving the “image” of the US is achieved by weakening the nation. Praise from the likes of dave morris and vivo show how high the cost of “improvement” really is.

Is Ryan Mauro the pen name of Sally Field?

Oct 21, 2009 - 4:55 am 24. praxical:

I appreciate the rule the author set himself in not suffering from Obama Derangement Syndrome. I think this article is a good reminder in remembering to be fair and objective, even when it’s not appetizing. Kudos.

I plan to engage in the same kind of exercise myself tonight, and see what I can come up with in Obama’s favor. Like some commenters above, I don’t think that an opinion poll is the best place to start in evaluating anyone’s worth, much less a whole country’s worth. I don’t imagine it will be easy to do this exercise – not by a long, long shot – but I think it will be good for me, so I keep thinking in all three dimensions about our dear exec in chief. It’ll make for all the more stinging blogposts and letters to the editor (and to Congress), don’t you think?

Thanks for the reality check.

Oct 21, 2009 - 4:55 am 25. The Skipper:

Are you kidding? Who in the world is the NBI? This has to be a joke, right? Tell me one positive thing this President has done for the American people? Given more of our folks a chance to experience food stamp and visit a food pantry? Those are about the only things I can think of.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:00 am 26. RE:

Piggy-backing off Victor Davis Hanson’s ‘Cutural Dropout’ article yesterday, a more substantive way to improve America’s image overseas might be to ban export of everything Hollywood. Of course we can’t do that, but America most certainly is not the freak show that Hollywood projects to the world.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:01 am 27. Fatty Bolger:

Yes, they like us better, because Obama has made us much weaker. Will we actually gain anything of value with this newfound popularity? No, quite the opposite. We’re already seeing this in our dealings with Iran, Russia, and others. They are now LESS likely to cooperate with us than they were before, during the hated Bush administration. In fact, I have little doubt that the Obama administration is a laughingstock among the Russian leadership. But hey, everybody loves a clown! Yay for us!

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:02 am 28. jwilco:

Dave (definitely not Morris), has got it just about exactly right. That the world’s opinion of America has changed so quickly should tell you something about the depth of their collective sentiment. The analysis here is incredibly naive and amounts to little more than a knee-jerk reaction to the agreeably unctious actions of the left during the Bush years. It is one thing to give the office of the presidency the respect it duly deserves, yet when the policies of the person occupying that office are as injurious to America’s longterm domestic and geopolitical interests as the current occupant’s are, withholding criticism on account of “the world’s” suddenly rosy perception of the man is really quite silly, not to mention naive.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:02 am 29. Lowtech:

Well sure The World loves him. After Obama’s America Sucks World Tour they know he hates America as much as they do. If you’re an America hating Worlder what’s not to love about that?

The World wants to see a weakened and supine America. Obama is the tool they think can do it.

After all, how many US presidents have bowed to the Saudi king?

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:04 am 30. Carl:

IS HE KIDDING?

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:08 am 31. JB:

I’ve been all over the world and frankly don’t know where this idea that the world hates us comes from or that they think we are a racist nation. The thousands of people still trying to get to this country who are not white is amazing if this was the case. In fact most are still trying to get here because they believe it is the land of freedom still. This never changed only the political messages changed.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:09 am 32. KRB:

Is our national policy meant to win popularity contests? I lived and loved living overseas, but I hate to see us adopt a make-nice policy, which can hardly do us any good in the end.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:09 am 33. Blacque Jacques Shellacque:

Who gives a rat’s ass whether we’re admired or not? I’d prefer that our enemies be afraid of us and what we might do to them.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:18 am 34. Reality Check:

What a charming fantasy!

Obama “grew up poor” attending an exclusive prep school, paid for by a grandmother who was a banker.

Buh bye.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:19 am 35. Sonoranian:

Stockholm syndrome.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:20 am 36. John Steele:

9. dave morris:

Let me guess, you think that a ‘humble, thoughtful, participatory America’ has made the world a safer, better place? Tell it to the North Koreans, the Iranians, the Russians — tell it to anyone who actually understands how the world REALLY works.

Kumbaya and unicorns are just so much childish leftwing rubbish. There are actual evil people in the world and Obama being more humble is not going to make them go away.

Not to mention the damage he has wrought on the people he is SUPPOSED to be working for. Oh, wait, he doesn’t work for us, he is our savior.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:23 am 37. American Elephant:

You are kidding right? All this poll shows is how uniformly leftist and propagandistic the world media has become.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:26 am 38. Max Power:

Ryan …are you stoned ?

the only place america’s standing may be preceived as better is africa ..because they are unaware of the destructive consequences of the obama administration.

as far as the american dream …obama is the absolute opposite. the author of this piece is very narrow minded or a complete idiot. I am going with the complete idiot view.

regards

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:27 am 39. genghis:

Excellent, really excellent. The World loves us. How very special. Chavez loves us, but is trading oil for uranium ore with Iran. Iran loves us, as it puts the finishing touches on its nukes. The Russians love us as they reassert their quest for empire and we abandon Eastern Europe (again). Certainly the Chinese love us, but of course, they own us. The North Koreans love us, for our reliable impotence. Western Europe loves us as we diminish ourselves so as not to humiliate their own hard won irrelevance. Hamas, Hezballah, & Assad love us as they sharpen their knives in anticipation of a feast over the body of Israel (who used to love us, as did the former members of he Soviet Union that is now reconstituting). The Taliban love us. How could they not love the dithering and timidity of Obama as Hamlet? Castro loves us. Patience pays off. At least five obscure Norwegians love us. How very, very special. In just a few short months The One has most assuredly burnished our image abroad, extended the hand of friendship and understanding to murderous enemies of freedom and democracy, while simultaneously abandoning many of our friends who cherish freedom and democracy. Oh, yes, one last thing. Our children and grandchildren will surely appreciate our bright new image even as they toil to pay off the incredible debt amassed by the Supreme Leader while the dollar collapses to worthlessness, our national wealth is redistributed to the Third World as eco-reparations, the lights dim for want of affordable energy, they start enjoying the fruits of power rationing, and they discover the untold joys of a national health care system. Yes, it is good to be loved.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:29 am 40. bandit:

You add Obama’s personal likeability, ability to inspire, and eloquent rhetoric

And you still get zero.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:31 am 41. SGT Ted:

I’m not convinced that any of our elected officials should try to mollify anti-American bigotry in Europe. Lets not forget these same countries were neck deep in corrupt violations of their precious “international law” helping to re-arm Saddam Hussein and enabling Irans nuclear ambitions.

Pacifists don’t have a good track record in stopping dictators so I’m not sure why anyone would want to praise them. Pacifists have never accomplished anything in this world and never will, and they’ve certainly never created what they purport to love: Peace.

They believe violence never solves anything when, in fact, the judicious use of violence solves many of the large problems.

South Korea is free because men — real men, not pacifists — sacrificed to stop the North Koreans from enslaving it. Ditto for Nazi and Japanese aggression during the Second World War. Violence ended black slavery on this continent.

All of those achievements were won by men with guns, not the wimps on the sidelines praying and feeling smug about occupying the moral high ground.

Lets us also be reminded that this country was founded to NOT be Europe. I really don’t care if Europes elitist bigots like or don’t like our nation. They have no moral high ground from which to preach to us about anything.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:33 am 42. wolfwalker:

How about some specifics on this poll? Who was polled? In what countries? What were the exact questions, and how did the answers break out?

My own belief is that America’s image in the world goes up or down according to two factors:

1) inversely with how assertive the US is in international issues — ie, the more we stand up for ourselves the less they like it; and

2) directly with how much domestic trouble the US is facing, especially economic trouble — ie, the more Americans are suffering, the more they like it.

In other words, they like watching us get beat up, because they think we deserve it. Barry Lackwit is certainly giving them plenty of that. Of course he’s going to be popular overseas.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:37 am 43. SGT Ted:

Obama has seriously proposed giving the Taliban a role in Afghanistans government. I don’t see how anyone who supports human rights, much less womans rights, could support Obama after he said this.

But then again, the left doesn’t really support human rights at all do they? Not by their historical track record illustrated by the mounds of dead people who were broken to make that omelette.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:38 am 44. seanmahair:

The rest of the world loves him because he has made the US weaker not stronger. We are no longer a threat to despots and dictators and many feel they can freely go about the world beating women for wearing bras, telling the world freedom can go to hell, setting off bombs in market places killing innocent civilians, launching long and short range missiles just to make sure they can hit their targets once the warheads have been manufactured.

This president is a joke, a bad one to our friends (of which we now have few) and a great one to our enemies (of which we have many, no matter what they say to the contrary).

If he did something that didn’t make me think he hated not just America but her people as well I would be happy to applaud him, but he just can’t. He hates this country and its people. He and his ilk are not citizens and patriots of this country, they are citizens of the world. They seek the “new world order”. They seek to make us just like Europe. Unfortunately for them most of our ancestors left Europe for exactly the reasons they want to adopt and we have long memories.

I have always felt that if the majority of the rouge nations of the world hated us, we must be doing something right. Then again I believe right is right and wrong is wrong which makes me a hater, bigoted, racist, homophobe, traitor.

I can live with that.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:38 am 45. carla:

I wonder if Roman Polanski shares the love?

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:43 am 46. John "birther" Samford:

Why does it matter? Nations don’t have “friends”.
Nations have interests. If two nations have interests that coincide, those nations might be allies. If 2 nations have opposing interests, They might be antagonists. If those competing interests lead to military violence, they are enemies.
Like or dislike have nothing to do with it.
The world IS NOT a democracy.

“Ultima ratio regum.” (The final argument of kings) *
*
_Inscription on French cannons, on order of Louis XIV

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:43 am 47. John:

Well, 10 out of 10 for decency and spirit, but really, this article is silly. Most countries aren’t democracies, and most democracies are afraid of saying anything imagined to be unfashionable: how can anyone effectively poll the world for its feelings? A much better gauge of a country’s popularity would be net immigration into it. You can put a number on that. But if anecdotal evidence is OK, I’ve got plenty to show the U.S. is and has always been way ahead of “the competition,” if there even is any. Can’t count the number of Indians I met in India who asked about coming to the U.S. A Belarussian I once met wrote to ask me the same thing. I’ve had Turks ask me to take them to the U.S., for obvious reasons: who the heck wants to live in a Moslem country? Brazil is totally, helplessly fascinated with the U.S. I did once meet a Cape Verdean, though, who declined to put his name in a U.S. visa lottery: he just couldn’t bear the idea of leaving Cape Verde. I respected him for that.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:46 am 48. Cecilius:

Yes, of course Obama has accomplished exactly what he set out to do in raising America’s standing around the world. The debate is not whether acknowledging this constitutes “cheerleading” for Obama but (1) what is the admiration of other countries worth to us; and (2) what does it cost us. When I voted against Obama I had virtually no doubt that America would become more popular with most other nations; I still voted against him because (1) this brings us virtually no benefit; and (2) can only be achieved through a dramatic showing of weakness. For once, instead of listening to the Left continuously demand that we be liked around the world (meaning, to them, Western Europe), I’d like to hear a coherent explanation of why we should care.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:46 am 49. howiem:

It looks like the trolls are now writing the articles for PJM. If popularity means the perception of America being led by the nose into bankruptcy by a Marxist liar; if popularity means becoming a joke for being dumb enough to elect this fraud; then indeed the writer is correct. Good post Terry. What some of the comments here fail to realize is that Obama’s words in any given instance have no meaning because he changes what he says according to his audience. While people claim that they like America better, their words are meaningless. Has Iran stopped its nuclear program? No. Has North Korea stopped its nuclear program? No. Are both stalling for time to get improved versions of the bomb? Yes, no doubts at all. Has the Obama administration shown any signs that it will stop throwing away our money? No. Instead they want to throw away more! Is there any sign of real job creation? No. A lower rate of job losses is just means more and more unemployment. Is hiding the deathcare bill process and provisions an example of the promised transparency? No. Think of it this way. If Obama can tell us what is in a bill before it is written, and when there are a number of versions of the bill in process, if you believe him, then you are admitting that he knows in advance what the final bill will contain – what he and his cronies want, not what the people want.
As for popularity, is there anyone who can eat, drink and care for his family by being popular? Is popularity an engine of economic growth?
Instead of listening to the words, watch what he does. Watch how your income will start dwindling as taxes increase. We haven’t even begun to see the proverbial tip of the tax iceberg.
If there is anything Obama has done, it is having pulled off the biggest con in history, one that makes a Madoff look like an amateur (and I am not referring to the Certificate of Live Birth).

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:47 am 50. JFM:

I don’t doubt Obama has improved America’s image. But improving it between the likes of Ahmedinajad’s, Kim Jong Il’s, Improving it between those ho throw acid to women and stone homosexuals, improving it between the corrupt, between those afflicted with syndrom of Stockholm, between those ho had never forgiven America for D-Day, between those who allow themselves to be duped, or between those who wear T-shirts with the image of Guevara should be considered not an accomplishment but a shame.

Remember: Chamberlain was popular both in and outside the UK, Churchil was considered a deranged warmongerer.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:51 am 51. pelaut:

The sychophantic press has changed our image. WOW!
How and why it happened should disgust you and keep you from appreciating it at all. It can turn around in a heartbeat.
How naive can you be?

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:51 am 52. Old Soldier:

Gee I’m glad everyone likes us know. All that niceness has really turned Vlad Putin around. The Iranians, North Koreans, Taliban – all blown away by our niceness. I feel so much safer.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:51 am 53. Huey:

Or…perhaps…the “rest of the world” sees the direction Obama is taking us and AGREES with that direction.

A weaker U.S. is a better loved U.S.
An apologetic, shame-filled U.S. is a better loved U.S.
A country in economic decline is more loved than one who is economically dominant.

Etc. Etc.

Sure. The rest of the world “loves” us. We’re becoming just another unexceptional country…one of the boys, as it were….

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:53 am 54. Irwin Chusid:

The entire premise of this article is based on … one survey? Meanwhile, the author notes:

“Withdrawing from Iraq, planning to close Guantanamo Bay, direct negotiations with rogue states, and other changes certainly help a good deal”

1 = Didn’t do, shouldn’t do
2 = By “planning,” you mean talking but not actually doing; and why is closing Gitmo necessary?
3 = Appeasing rogue states isn’t negotiation. And how is he conducting policy with our allies? Disrespectfulness seems to be the pattern.
4 = “other changes”? Easy way to turn a list of three into four.

Author also says:

“but the more decisive factor is the image of Obama as a person and his ‘packaging’ of his ideas that have improved America’s standing”

What ideas has he “packaged”? Who created his “image”? Of what use is a President’s “image” in dealing with the nation’s enemies? Has al Qaeda decided to lay down arms because of Obama’s awesome image?

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:54 am 55. DaveinPhoenix:

I agree. Now the rest of the world just feels sorry for us.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:56 am 56. EconRob:

Yeah, and I have a “favorable” opinion of Big-10 college football. Every time they face an SEC team in the BCS Championship game lately we kick their butts. Yeah, I love the Big-10! Wusses.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:58 am 57. Darkmage:

I think this article demonstrates how great America can be when the people of the world are not being fed a steady diet of “Bush Bad”. Obama has not changed most of the policies that caused so much angst from the Bush administration. We still hold people without trial in Gitmo. We still practice extraordinary rendition. We still bomb the Taliban from drones. We still strip search old ladies at airports.

The difference now is that the media isn’t yelling these things at the people 24/7.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:59 am 58. macko:

Other countries didn’t like us because they could not compete. Well they can now and they way the president is acting they feel they can walk right over us.

You can’t spend all your time trying to please everybody else.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:59 am 59. Banjo:

I wonder how many people in the countries where the polling took place live in democratic polities. Even in Europe a bureaucratic supranational body is stealing their freedoms one by one. The British political elite still has not allowed a vote on whether the UK should allow itself to be submerged into the European Union. The European public sees nothing wrong with being led by the nose and welcome a similar development in this country. In any event, if we wanted the love of the world or an enhanced brand consciousness we’d nominate people like Oprah and Madonna to run the country.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:00 am 60. Johnny Simpson:

Some valid points made, though I disagree with most of it. Of course, if you break those US popularity numbers down to individual countries like Honduras, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Britain, Iran’s Green movement and now Germany, which Obama has snubbed for the 20th anniversary of the fall of Berlin, I’m sure they rack up quite differently.

All that said, Ronald Reagan was one of the least popular leaders around the world during his presidency. I suppose if he were a lot nicer to the Soviets, we’d still have an Iron Curtain and hundreds of millions in the Eastern bloc still enslaved under Stalinist Communism.

In that case, I’ll take a strong but unpopular US president over a weak one that makes the cover of Tiger Beat every week.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:01 am 61. deek:

They only like us for our chains.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:01 am 62. carla:

Yes, VIVO. there is light at the end of the tunnel. We are loved. And more good news; the Enchanted One has OK’d the medicinal use of marijuana. I do not know whether or not this will cover your condition, terminal dimitude, but it’s worth a try.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:04 am 63. James B:

Independent from President Obama’s political slant, he DOES show the promise that someone can come from nothing and make something of themself. Bill Clinton did the same thing, again independent of his politics. This is why we only dropped to 7th, because people can differentiate between a disagreeable foreign policy and a society that provides the greatest opportunity for people to come from nothing and make something of themselves.

With that said, “popularity” costs other countries/people nothing. George Clooney might be a really popular guy but you don’t know what that’s worth until he shows up one night knocking on your door with a dead hooker in the passenger seat. Until this increase in “popularity” buys this President a significant foreign policy win (denuclearized Korean peninsula, Iranian compliance, peace in Israel, Pakistan dealing with the Taliban, a promise that the Martians won’t invade in 2030), it’s worthless.

Show us some significant foreign policy successes bought with that popularity and you might have a leg to stand on.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:05 am 64. MathMom:

Easy girls are also popular. When it comes time to get married, though, that history has to be overcome.

Wait until something happens, as it most certainly will. President Bush had the ability to make up his mind, whether you liked the result or not. President Obama reflexively goes to “Let’s all just try to get along!”. Remember when Russia invaded Georgia before the election? McCain knew the history of the place, and immediately condemned it and explained why we should push back hard. Obama called for “restraint”. This is akin to me walking up to you and breaking your knee with a baseball bat, and Obama telling you and me to calm down. I feel fine! I’ve just broken your knee and gotten away with it! But you? Why on Earth should you calm down? I’ve put you on crutches!

This is the real world, not a daycare center. Our enemies are planning a big punch in the nose. We’ll be popular around the world when we get that, too. If it’s radioactive, Obama’s poor ability to decide what to do will be an even greater problem.

Maybe he can give a really eloquent speech to the mushroom cloud!!!

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:05 am 65. Thomas_L......:

Image? Yikes! The man’s foreign policy makes Carter look butch. Image? Imagine an Iranian nuke exploding 300 miles over Kansas City! I mean, it could seriously ruin your day. Now there’s an image problem. Skittle pooping unicorns! Try positive thinking that away.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:06 am 66. Porkov:

Too bad they aren’t loving us because our African-American President is someone like Condoleezza Rice or J.C. Watts or Colin Powell or Ken Blackwell.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:07 am 67. Kelly:

Yes, by all means give credit when it’s due. We have an apologist in the white house, no wonder the world loves America. Finally, an America that will grovel and ask for forgiveness from our betters in Europe.

This admiration Obama has supposedly inspired is as empty as he is and equally as worthless. It won’t last, Obama at some point will have to make a hard decision and they’ll go back to hating us all over again.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:07 am 68. Jack:

Obama should take Hillary, Pelosi, Reid and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs to Afghanistan and offer a formal surrender to the Taliban and start withdrawing the troops. No doubt the euros will love us then.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:09 am 69. Jack Olson:

“He personifies the American dream…” I suppose that’s true, as long as the American dream is to spend your entire career in government without ever doing anything productive. He personifies American values? Maybe, if those values consist of selling out allies like Poland and the Czech Republic or going around the world blaming the United States for the world’s problems. This would explain the rise in public admiration for Obama overseas while public approval of his policies in the USA have dramatically fallen. We are finding out sooner than the foreigners have that President Obama is a glib narcissist, because his default on his promises to us is happening sooner than his default on his promises to them.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:10 am 70. hM:

So he’s “improved” our standing in the world. Big deal. Overall, I’d have to say that in the grand scheme of things, what the world thinks of the US is about as important as which breakfast cereal I choose to eat. Sure, it’s nice to be liked, but when the people you’re trying to gain favor with will like you only when you are doing things that are destructive to yourself you have problems. It’s not unlike being in high school and trying to curry favor with the druggies. Sure, they may like you, but at what cost to you?

So yes, let’s give credit where credit is due: Obama has increased our standing in the world. But to those of us who are more interested in being safe and free, that’s like trying to put a cherry on top of a steaming pile of dog turd and calling it fudge sundae.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:10 am 71. drjohn:

I think Ryan is confusing Obama with “Not Bush.”

And this is all about perception since nothing much in the world has changed. We’re still in Iraq, Gitmo is not closed and Iran told Obama to stuff it.

If the World Apology Tour is what improves our appearance, no thanks.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:11 am 72. gus3:

“With friends like this, who needs enemies?”

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:12 am 73. Bilgeman:

Mr. Mauro:
“As an African-American, he debunks the stereotype heard far too often around the world that America is a racist country.”

Yeah, I’d heard that. Too bad that that memo has yet to be circulated among the Alleged Hawaiian’s political supporters. Accusing Americans of racism for not supporting the half African-American President they elected seems to be their first,(as opposed to their last), argument nowadays.

“And as an African-American who grew up poor, he is a walking rebuttal to the allegations that in our country not everyone can make it and those who are disadvantaged are left to dangle in a net of unachievable dreams.”

Are we talking about the same Barack Obama who attended private schools in Indonesia and Hawaii?

The one whose mother had a PhD in anthropology and whose grandmother was a bank vice-president?

Or is that a totally different Barack Obama?

““What’s really remarkable is that in all my years studying national reputation, I have never seen any country experience such a dramatic change in its standing as we see for the United States for 2009,” said Simon Anholt, the founder of the NBI. He says the only factor he can identify as causing this is the election of President Obama.”

Seeing as how the vast majority of Obama’s foreign policies are but continuations of Bush’s, I’d refine Mr. Ahnolt’s reason to a simple one of worldwide “Bush Fatigue”, which IMO, REALLY means: “Endless media stories oozing BDS fatigue”.

“President Obama’s achievement as shown by this poll can be applauded by his critics and supporters alike. We are all Americans and we all benefit from such change.”

The sounds of golf-clapping will be simply deafening.

Look, the opinions of people so fickle while they may be of some quantifiable value, are really, in the big scheme of things a very, very small beer.
And there lies a real danger in giving too much credit to it, since “protecting our prestige” might lead to some very harmful policy choices.

So Obama showed up, is a pleasant enough looking chap, and reads teleprompter nicely.

Big effin’ deal.

As the line from “Dangerous Liaisons” went:

“One does not applaud the tenor for clearing his throat.”

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:12 am 74. Ohioguy:

I was one of those conservatives that was willing to give O a chance, being ecouraged by what I was hearing during the transition. I agree with Mr. Mauro’s premise that we should not be blinded by parrtisan rage and acknolwedge accomplishment when we see it, even if that accomplishment is made by someone we oppose.

However, I question whether ranking number one in this poll is an actual accomplishment. The president being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize was a perfect example of image and talk being substituted for action.

The only meaningful measuring stick of our standing in the world is other countries’ willingness to stand with us and provide genuine support (not the gum flapping kind, but the kind that costs lives and treasure), especially when it is hard. I am not seeing that, and in fact am seeing exactly the opposite. Currently our enemies are emboldened and our allies are wondering whether they can rely on us when the going gets tough (see Poland-Czech sell-out/Russians put a thumb in our eye, Sarkozy schooling Obama on Iran, Obama refusing to meet Dali Lama, etc.).

I am convinced that these poll results only reflect the fact that there are elements in the world that want a weaker America. Unfortunately for all of us, I think they are about to find out what that world will look like and it is not going to be pretty.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:14 am 75. james:

I’m so glad that Sudan, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Burma, North Korea, Russia, Cuba and Iran have come around. We must be doing something right. Here’s a clue for the clueless: If people who hate and resent you start to think better of you, reach for your revolver.
Are we clear?

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:15 am 76. Pedrosito:

Where is David Thompsom?

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:19 am 77. Fred Beloit:

#9 dave morris
“… I think you get the picture. Under Obama, America is no longer giving the finger to the rest of the world. If you’ve missed that, you’re living on some other planet.”

Coming as I do from the planet Mongo, I would like to mention that China is fearful of never collecting on loans it has made to the U.S. because of Obama’s funny habit of outspending all the princes of Arabia put together with taxpayer money. Russia stared at Obama and Obama caved in like a cheap suitcase, as Bob Grant used to say. Now Russia is engaging in unanswered saber rattling, or rather missile rattling. Iran’s cute little leader actually taunts and ridicules the POTUS with impunity, as does Chavez. The people of Honduras don’t seem to understand why Obama hates their little country and wants to install a dictator there.

Image is purchased from advertising companies. Reputation is something else again. It must be earned by correct and vigorous (“robust” is now the misused word one supposes) action over a significant period of time. We shall see..

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:21 am 78. victor t:

Ryan offered an unbiased, logical assessment of the facts.

It’s nice to see conservatives can occasionally behave like gentlemen.

My reaction is that I don’t care what the world thinks as they should take the log out of their eye first, not to mention the out and out hypocrisy and stupidity. I realize what I just said contributes to the world’s opinion of Americans, but I don’t give a f*ck. As far as I’m concerned, *they* should care what *I* think of them. But have you seen such a poll? A poll that asks “what do Americans think of other countries?”?

And for all our increased stature … who is considering a major influx of troops into Afghanistan besides the U.S.? Obama asked for help and help isn’t coming. Maybe try the Bush approach; can’t do any worse.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:22 am 79. Pedrosito:

Is Ryan Mauro a former Barney Frank lover?

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:22 am 80. Now and Then:

I understand. You folks don’t know what it’s like to be popular. You’re not used to being respected. It’s OK. There’s still plenty of room for self-loathing and raging baseless victimhood. You’ll be fine.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:23 am 81. Chuck_1776:

Everybody loves the naive sucker who willingly accepts blame for everyone else’s misfortunes (cf. World Apology Tour), is easily outmaneuvered in “negotiations” (cf. Eastern Europe, missile defense, and Russia; North Korea and China; China, Russia, and sanctions on Iran; Cuba, Venezuela, China, and oil exploration; etc), who removes his country from pre-eminence by deliberately destroying its economy and currency, leaving room “at the top” for others, and who seems intent on emasculating a military whose prowess has long held bad guys in check simply by their reputation. What’s not to like — especially if you’re a bad guy?

You pat the sucker on the head, give him a lollipop, and rob him blind. But when — not if — America is needed once again to protect the world against some threat, will her hollowed-out corpse be able?

I think of Kipling’s “Tommy” applied to an entire country…

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:24 am 82. homegirl:

If being liked is our goal then, yeah…give Obama credit. I personally could care less who likes our country. I want a strong American economy, backed by strong manufacturing and trade policies that promote American workers. I want a safe country protected by a strong and well funded military, that doesn’t have to fight terroism on our soil. Do I understand how perceptions of America around the world can help international policy? sure…but when I don’t agree with the policies that the president is promoting, then it’s of no use for us to be liked by the world.
I’ve got no problem giving credit where credit is do. Congratulations to us for winning the world popularity contest and to Obama who made it all possible, for whatever that’s worth.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:30 am 83. Diggs:

Who doesn’t love an underdog? Who doesn’t understand that Obama’s entire presidency will be a four-year-long effort to make America the world’s underdog?
Apparently the Eurotrash does.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:33 am 84. Dantes:

This is a very strange article to be written by someone who professes to be a ‘director of intelligence.’

America’s image around the world seems to vary inversely with the strength of the president in office. Under Reagan, we were constantly reminded from many of our ‘friends’ around the world that he was a reckless warmonger. Everyone loved Bill Clinton, even as he was asleep at the switch as al quaeda plotted the NYC attack.

Obama has been publically humiliated by friends and enemies alike…no, strike that, because to Obama many of our friends, like Israel, aren’t, and many enemies, like Chavez and Castro, are.

Obama and by extension, America, has been publically humiliated by Sarkozy, Putin, Medvedev, Ahmendinijad, and admired by Castro and Chavez. He disses the Israeli’s and kisses the hands of Saudis. Eastern Europe has been thrown to the wolves.

So, I guess with all that in mind, America’s image in the world is better…those who want us weak, have seen their wishes come true.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:39 am 85. Gracie:

Of course Europe would applaud Obama, they see our demise as their gain!! Look at the dollar!” We have had a much better way of life than the majority of Europe. We are NOW on our way to their level of life.
China and Putin are “crazy” about our leader too, infact I imagine it’s a real love fest.

A weak president in the US is a boon to the rest of the world.
It’s like having a new principle at school that lets everyone smoke pot in the halls..cause we don’t want to hurt their feelings by saying no…then they start to grow pot plants in the cafeteria, the hallways…

Yeah, and the light at the end of the tunnel is a freakin train!!
chooo choooooooooo

I would rather be feared than attacked.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:40 am 86. mac:

If the man who wrote this article truly believes what he wrote, he is so damned stupid that for his own safety he shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near matches, sharp objects or household chemicals.

Never heard of the NBI, but for this reader the MBI (Mauro Brand Index) stands at rock bottom and headed deeper. Please, PJM, don’t ever again waste your bandwidth publishing this useful idiot. He causes loss of brain cells in people who are unfortunate enough to read his rancid tripe.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:45 am 87. Right:

If the Ryan thinks a lying marxsit scumbag community organiser is a good thing. Then I don’t have anything good to say about him either.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:47 am 88. gracie:

Ryan, were you in Never Never Land when you wrote this?

Of course Europe would applaud Obama, they see our demise as their gain!! Look at the dollar!” We have had a much better way of life than the majority of Europe. We are NOW on our way to their level of life. China and Putin are “crazy” about our leader too, infact I imagine it’s a real love fest….
A weak president in the US is a boon to the rest of the world.
It’s like having a new principle at school that lets everyone smoke pot in the halls..cause we don’t want to hurt their feelings by saying no…

Yeah, and the light at the end of the tunnel is a freakin train!!

I would rather be feared than attacked.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:49 am 89. Tom Armstrong:

The Lilliputians liked Gulliver just fine once they had him tied up, or down as the case may be…

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:50 am 90. Mike G:

I’m not surprised; and there’s nothing wrong with this. The whole point of a good cop-bad cop routine is that after the bad cop scares the crap out of you, you cooperate with the friendly good cop.

It’d be nice to think that the good cop understands the role he’s playing, though…

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:54 am 91. Charlie:

Mr Mauro, I hate seeing a writer like you at an organizaton I tend to trust.

1. The fact of a black president, Mr Obama’s personality and the Obama admin’s policies are three separate things. You conflate them, fail to keep them from bleeding over into each other.

2. There’s no poll, list, index published that does not have an agenda and a methodology behind it. Yet you do not enlighten us what GFK/Anholt are actually measuring. Indeed, checking out your link to them and their internal ones, it was not possible to find.

3. My sons overseas tell me that, yes, lefty college-aged kids are swooning over Obama and that is seeping over to more esteem for America. And it’s not hard to imagine that hardcore bueaucrats the world over are rejoicing. There are audiences out there I really would prefer to have not liking us. You fail to differentiate which segments are coming round to the new kumbaya.

My takeaway from your inept piece: we’ve gone from being the bad cop to opening the jail doors, and the early reviews from unknown corners are positive. I say woe is us. And woe is Pajamas Media if they keep employing you.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:54 am 92. George Dixon:

Those who like us now like us for all the wrong reasons….and those who like us for Obama are worth spit.

Birds of a feather….or …eagles fly alone…….I’ll take the last one.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:54 am 93. Jim Rockford:

Obama’s doing his best to turn the United States into a third-world banana republic but some poll has us #1. “You like me, you really like me!” Yeah, I bet the thugs running Iran, Russia, China, North Korea, Venzuala, Cuba, et all, love us all right.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:54 am 94. tim maguire:

I would gamble that a similar portion of the world’s population opposes our policies in general, just as they did under President Bush…the more decisive factor is the image of Obama as a person and his “packaging” of his ideas that have improved America’s standing.

So what you’re saying is that yet again Obama gets credit for something he didn’t do. You are congratulating him for the things people project onto him. (And, by the way, Obama didn’t demonstrate that anyone can make it in America, the American people did. THAT would be giving credit where credit is due.)

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:55 am 95. Chris:

So, basically this index is another version of the Nobel. It’s not a response to any policy or acheivement, per se. Our status improves because President Obama shows up and votes “present.”

I will add – in my own churlish post-script – that this says much more about “the rest of the world” than it does about the President.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:57 am 96. Bilwick:

The Euroweenies and Third World socialists like him because he’s essentially one of their own. No great achievement there. If “Il Dufe” were pro-liberty, running a truly free country, and the rest of the world still liked him, that would be an achievement.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:58 am 97. wuzzagrunt:

The people who have always wanted to see the US destroyed are now happy to see the POTUS doing the job for them.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:59 am 98. Sebastian Shaw:

You have got to be kidding. All President Obama does is bash America & tell the world how terrible the United States of America is to the world. If this is helping improve our image by Obama getting on his knees, then I don’t want to be part of Obama’s distorted hate America first world.

We have a ego-maniac narcissist in the White House who is only looking for his own interests & Saul Alinsky’s Communist model in his mad attempt to “reshape” America in his cracked image. He is violating the Constitution in doing so. And trying to squash we Americans in the process. He’s a fool & a half.

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:00 am 99. Wellington:

You are so right, Mr. Mauro! Thanks for watching these things for us. The world now likes the United States better than Germany, France, the UK, Canada, Japan, and Italy.

Oh my goodness, Canada dropped from 4th to 7th! President Obama trounced the Canadians! This is global game changer.

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:02 am 100. tommyd:

Here are some more points to give obama credit for.

I’ll let the video speak for itself…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UErR7i2onW0&feature=player_embedded

short and to the point.

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:03 am 101. t.ferg:

Ok, let’s play along and say people around the world like us more now than they did last year. Ok, fine. But at the expense of what? Our security? The security of our allies? Our sovereignty? Our economy?

No thanks, that’s not a worthwhile trade. Not now. Not ever. We should never trade our strength, security, and prosperity for a fleeting moment of popularity. And I promise you, it will be fleeting. As the bloom wears off the rose, people will revert back to their old entrenched views of the United States, the only difference will be that they can now take advantage of us any way they want, any day of the week, and twice on Sundays.

It is foolish to think that our international popularity trumps all else. I guess that’s the thinking you get when you elect a guy who never accomplished anything other than being popular.

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:05 am 102. goy:

And… here we see that emphasis on false, unwarranted self-esteem has now risen from the arena of childrearing and primary education – where it’s systematically destroying the psyche of America’s youth – to the level of the nation as a whole.

Socialism’s long march through America’s institutions is now indeed complete.

Obama’s (notably not America’s) nouveaux popularité is the very definition of the triumph of style over substance, just as his election was.

Much of America has been patting itself on the back for (finally?) electing a black man – clearly, any black man – President while at the same time those same lemmings willfully ignore the destruction that his inexperience, autocratic ‘leadership’ and corporatist/fascist/collectivist policies are visiting on their way of life.

This is to be congratulated because the rest of the world approves? I don’t think so.

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:05 am 103. Patrick Sarsfield:

The only two ideas he’s expressed for which I think I can give reserved potential approval (I put it that way because I’ve had a hard time finding specific details on either):

1) year round schooling (provided it follows the “three weeks on, one week off” model and is the same 180 days we have now). As a teacher, I know how detrimental is the three months off when it comes to advancing education from one year to the next

2) with the administration’s recent marajuana decision, it seems to me that the door is now open for somewhat stronger arguments in other cases when it comes to state vs federal laws, with preference given to the state law.

That being said, there may be something I discover down the road that makes me retract tacit approval for either or both of those points.

In any event, the potential positives from either of those ideas pale in comparison to the republic-ending potential of the rest of his outlook/policies/practices/aims.

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:07 am 104. Now and Then:

51. pelaut:
“The sychophantic press has changed our image. WOW!”

Wow is right. And it works both ways – changing it for the better and changing it for the worse.

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:10 am 105. Mark M.:

Oh yes, trashing the country and 200 years of individualist accomplishment for the sop of collective idiocy and the destruction of wealth and honor is so worth some stupid rigged ranking by The Usual Socialists. Sure, we were a terrible place back when Bush was in charge: That must be why millions continued to try get into this country every year Bush was president.

How ’bout we get our country back and in exchange we’ll gladly take our place of honor as DEAD LAST in the list of servile nations that collectivist busy-bodies love? Let’s “make a few [glass] deserts” in the Islamic world just to let them know we’re back and feeling our old selves again. We’ll call it “Asymmetric Warfare, Roman Variant”.

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:11 am 106. Mark Buehner:

This is outstanding! So how many more NATO troops are on the way to Afghanistan? How many more trainers are going to Iraq? When do the sanctions go into effect on Iran’s nuclear program? Hello? Where’s everybody going?

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:12 am 107. Stevemmn:

This article is ridiculous. Obama personifies the American dream even as he is trying to wreck it. If being popular in the world means going around apologizing for every imagined ill and equating our actions, which are among the most noble of any nation in history with those of tyrants then I would rather be unpopular. Face it, most nations don’t like us out of jealousy.

People around the world rejoiced when Obama was elected like 3 year old kids let loose in a candy store. By Mauro’s twisted reasoning we should like Obama simply because he is popular abroad. Well the fact that Obama is liked personally has not translated into one single accomplishment, when it comes to getting things done other nations are just as intransigent now as they were under Bush.

I will be happy to give Obama credit just as soon as he does something worth giving him credit for. It hasn’t happened yet.

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:21 am 108. Pat:

Are you kidding me?? He is taking us down a path where we will never be able to get back to our freedoms again. I detest him.

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:21 am 109. Jason S:

I would say you have to give credit to the Democrats for successfully tarnishing our image while Bush was in office. Let’s be honest, once the shock of 9/11 wore off and the dems realized that the world was united behind their political opponent, together with the malleable media they began a relentless assault on Bush, and by extension the causes he supported, whether in the country’s best interests or not. “WMD’s” and “Gitmo” became media buzzwords repeated ad nauseum in press conferences and talking points memos in a concerted effort to tarnish our image under republican leadership. By doing so they weakened America but paved the way for democratic victories in 2006 and 2008, which is all that really matters to them.

The party in power is nothing more than an expert marketing and branding company that successfully ruined our image under opposition leadership and is successfully building it back up under their own. Being liked sure gives me warm fuzzies inside, but does it really make us safer? If improving our image means allowing Russia to regain her sphere of influence, watching North Korea’s nuclear fireworks display, and allowing Iran to grow their nuclear capabilities, I would say the opposite is true.

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:25 am 110. JED:

Ladies and gentlemen:
If you follow the link provided under “ranks” of the National Brands Index, you will find that it is an online poll into 20 different countries. I am guessing that they are surveying students who know everthing and pay no taxes. This seems as phoney as interviewing foreign journalists. These world opinion polls can hardly be statistically accurate, and may only give credibility to those who pay to manufactor them.

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:26 am 111. Odysseus:

“He personifies the American dream and the credibility of American values”

Ahhhhh . . . yes. But, does Obama believe in either “the American Dream” or in “the credibility of American values”?

Savor the irony.

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:27 am 112. steve walsh:

Okay, premise accepted, the US is better liked today than yesterday, but being liked is not an end in itself. To what end will we use our new found likability? Or is that just too crass a question for the current Administration to consider?

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:30 am 113. Dave M.:

Is being a symbol an achievement? Isn’t what he symbolizes the real achievement? Isn’t Obama just the recipient of the fruit of that achievement?

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:35 am 114. MG:

Vivo: It is the power of positive DRINKING that cures negative thinking.

Selling the birthright of American exceptionalism for a bowl of “popularity” is a very BAD trade.

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:36 am 115. Chris:

As an American who works in Europe for a US corporation my feelings are that when the euro wimps like an American president they turn out to be losers. Witness Carter,Clinton and now Obama.

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:39 am 116. Vadept:

Alright, I’ll give him the fact that he is genuinely likable, and the fact that he does signify the truth of the American dream. Yes, some African immigrant’s son can really become president (No, his father never immigrated, but if he had, it would have made no difference).

But how much of this is the left-wing world press hold American voters hostage? If we vote right, they print mean stories about us, and world opinion sinks. If we vote left, they print glowing stories about us, and world opinion rises.

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:40 am 117. Middleman:

Seems as though the Pajamanistas can’t give credit where credit is due. Go figure.

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:40 am 118. Paul from Hamburg:

Unfortunately, we can’t say that the president has done nothing. There is this:

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/10/column-just-say-no-to-blasphemy-laws-.html

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:42 am 119. J.D.:

Russia LIKES us more…. Missile shield plans dropped for nothing in return. Whats not to like there?

Iran LIKES us more…. Toothless threats and Sabre-less saber-rattling. Outstanding!

Eurotrash leftards LIKE us more. They see an expansion of government and cradle to grave entitlements coming our way, validating their wrongheaded maneuvers. Oh Hells yea!!!

In fact, any one with an interest that goes against the USA is LOTS HAPPIER with us today. The list grows daily. PARTY!!PARTY!!

Forgive me if I don’t get out my red, white and blue pom-poms and do a cheer out in the street..

I would really love to know what you were thinking when you penned this article. Is it that you have super-glued on your Obama tinted glasses, and filter every article through them, trying desperately to pacify an angry population that even those tented glasses won’t hide? Or is it that you are just incredibly naive, and think that this could in any way be thought of as a good thing?

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:50 am 120. JWnTX:

The way I read it is while certainly they like him personally, the world is far more impressed by the American people and our system of government, allowing someone to start with little and still rise to the Presidency. While it’s certainly getting less and less common, we’re still freer to leave our parent’s socioeconomic stratum than in any other country on the face of the earth. At least until now. If these elitists have their way, we’ll all be peasants ruled by dilettantes.

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:52 am 121. Frank:

The world likes us now (according to some poll?) because we now have a President who has ‘admitted’ that the US has been a bully and that we will now take our place in line with everyone else. FINE. Let’s stop writing support checks to every other country, then let’s see how much they like us. The US is unique and we should be celebrating and promoting American Exceptionalism. Instead the administration is telling everyone “we will now be just like you..” Gee, don’t Chavez, Castro, Ahmadinejad and Osama Bin Laden also like Obama?

Oct 21, 2009 - 8:01 am 122. Mari:

Certainly it’s a good thing to avoid Obama derangement syndrome. Let’s be honest about things-for all those lefties saying Obama is pulling us out of Iraq, keep in mind that we were already turning things over to the Iraqis, and we already had a withdrawal plan, thanks to Bush. Obama just kept doing to same thing.
In terms of being loved around the world, it’s true that politicians, media and other entertainers have an overwhelming need to be loved and adored. Regular Americans realize that life if not a popularity contest, and the world is not high school. It is more important to do what’s right than do what everyone thinks you should.

Oct 21, 2009 - 8:04 am 123. rvastar:

All of this concern about “The World’s” opinion of us is a carefully crafted tactic of the Western Left…its sole purpose being to hamstring and neuter the US. In actuality, the Left could care less about “The World”, except as pertains to being able to use it as a bludgeon against non-Leftist Westerners. Sort of in the way the Left miraculously stopped caring about Iraq as soon McCain conceded defeat last November.

A Republican opposes abortion? “Zealot!”
China forces abortions on our fellow “world” citizens? “Cultural differences.”

A conservative thinks it’s better for the welfare of young children if the mother stays home with them? “Neanderthal!”
Taliban thugs throw acid into the faces of young female “world” citizens for going to school? “Who are we to impose our values?”

John Bolton gets a recess appointment as UN Ambassador? “Warmongers!”
Sudan gets a seat on the UN Human Rights Commission at a time when it’s government was busy slaughtering and gang-raping our fellow “world” citizens all over Darfur? “(crickets)”

But hey, at least Sudanese UN Ambassador Elfatih Mohammed Ahmed Erw showed himself to be in tune with “The World’s” concerns about the US. After all, upon assuming his seat on the Human Rights Commission, he quickly noted how “concerned” he was about the human rights abuses at Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib.

Oct 21, 2009 - 8:08 am 124. Moho:

I can remember the disgust I felt between 2001 and 2008 when so many critics of President Bush couldn’t bring themselves to applaud anything he did, instead only grinding their teeth as they mentioned his name. If boxed into a corner and forced into commending something, such as the overthrow of the Taliban, it would not be said without hateful prefaces and postscripts about how evil, dumb, incompetent, radical, etc. he is.

LOL…he overthrew the Taliban? Then why are we still in Afghanistan seven years later. You fool…its the Taliban that run the country, and they do so with the help of Pakistan. We gave Pakistan billions of dollars during the Bush administration so that they would fight terrorism, instead they used it to run their nuclear weapons program and aid the Taliban. The Taliban are stronger after six years of Bush intervention there.

I have no doubt that your opinion of the positive things that Obama has done is equally cockeyed.

Oct 21, 2009 - 8:09 am 125. johnt:

One portion of this thing called “the World”, loves him so much they laughed Chicago out of Olympic consideration. It might have helped if The O and Mrs O hadn’t spent so much time talking about themselves, around which they think The World revolves.
A larger portion of the The World refused to take any of the Gitmo prisoners off our apparently, and to a point, bloodstained hands when The O made the offer. This is strange because for years we were told, it was beaten into our heads, that we were shamed & had lost all respect from The World because of Gitmo. Thank God for Bermuda and the Papuan Islands, which it seems are not part of The World.

Neither it appears is Russia, studiously ignoring our new, dazzling image, or at least Putin is. But the list is long and the effort boring so I’ll stop. I do wonder if The World was polled, and if so how long it took, Gallup, Rasmussen ?

Is it possible that The World is really the NY Times, where such intellectual stalwarts reign ?

Oct 21, 2009 - 8:10 am 126. XiaoMei:

I’m stunned that people are stunned at this. We’re talking the rest of the world here. Since the days of Vietnam, when did they ever have a realistic view of American society and American leadership?

Oct 21, 2009 - 8:15 am 127. Mister Tan:

While I could give him credit for making us popular among some segment of foreigners, the larger question is whether that’s of any real value, to which I say NO. It’s the difference between doing what’s right and what makes one popular. Oftentimes, these two don’t go hand in hand. Unfortunately, even those who were on the Obama bandwagon last fall are getting a clearer picture of which is a higher priority for this president.

Oct 21, 2009 - 8:16 am 128. PD Quig:

The rest of the world is envious of America’s economic and military power predicated in egalitarianism, liberty. and self-reliance. They would like to see America humbled. They are undoubtedly pleased that America now has a president who feels the same way. What’s so hard to understand here?

Oct 21, 2009 - 8:20 am 129. swisslady:

Regarding Europeans not liking the US.
Why do Americans worry so much about being liked in the World?
You are a Superpower and need to be respected not loved.
You saved us in WWI and WWII from a fate worse than death, i.g. becoming German!I will always be grateful to you.
Don’t kid yourself, the Europeans never really liked you. Perhaps a short while after WWI and WWII.
They are jealous of the US, no country is more in the forefront with technology, inovation, movies, etc., they would like to have your clout and influence.
And when they pretended “to like you” it was always in a paternalistic smug way.
Why do you think the young people from all over would love to come to the US.
The US is still the greatest country in the world with all its faults. There is nothing like it anywhere.

Oct 21, 2009 - 8:21 am 130. lol:

And you know what else?? He’s BLACK!! Let’s get him!

Oct 21, 2009 - 8:22 am 131. Julian Gammon:

This article is a pile of crap. Do we choose the Nobel prize for Obama, and some touchy-feely inchoate “image” or do we care about:
1. Doing something concrete about preventing Iran form getting Nuclear Weapons.
2. Supporting Israel.
3. Defeating Taliban/Al Qaeda in Afghanistan (asnd elsewhere).

Has the MSM infiltrated Pajamas ? The authior is either very naive or an agent of the MSM.

Oct 21, 2009 - 8:22 am 132. Delia:

You make-a-movie?

Not this time, Pal.

Oct 21, 2009 - 8:25 am 133. MikeD:

What a steaming pile of crap! I don’t want a pansy foreign image based on pliant apology, I want America respected. Out of stark naked fear if nothing else.

Oct 21, 2009 - 8:42 am 134. MJ:

Who in the world ever heard of this index. RYAN MAURO may be a plant.
NATIONS BRAND, INDEED. Which country believes that Obama has raised the stature of this country. We are now admired. Do i really have to answer that. Certainly not by RUSSIA, CHINA, CZECH, POLAND, IRAN. Whoever the country is that doesn’t trust us any longer, the other ones take us for suckers. Good luck Ryan, i hope you get better.

Oct 21, 2009 - 8:48 am 135. tanstaafl:

…the president actually has improved America’s image in the world.

Vlad certainly appreciates him.

America as apologetic wimp and pussycat suits ole Putin’s plans to restore Soviet empire just fine. Crapping on our agreements with Poland and the Czechs delighted Vlad, of course.

The Chinese are delighted to step in as NWH, new world hegemon. As soon as they call in our monstrous financial indebtedness to them, they can sink us even further. They feel a bit freer, I would think, to make moves to re-absorb Taiwan, which the former US said it would not allow to happen, forcibly. Barack, hey, I can see him sayin’…it ain’t our business.

You claim that “the world” viewed America as a “racist” country prior to Barack Obama ?

I don’t think so.

…but the more decisive factor is the image of Obama as a person and his “packaging” of his ideas that have improved America’s standing.

Great. “The French” like us better than under the Bush Devil. The French President, however, seems to think the current American President is something of a naive dope.

Oh well.

If “the world” likes us better according to some poll, it may well be that many who participated in that poll prefer an America thats willing to cut itself down to size, militarily, verbally, economically, whatever.

Oct 21, 2009 - 8:52 am 136. Eddie:

Well, I think this finally puts an answer to the question: “Does world public opinion matter?”

If it can substantially shift over a brief one-man PR campaign, then it seems its real value is rather low. Should we ever need it high, it looks like a few months of a good solid marketing campaign will do the trick.

To give credit where credit is due: Thank you President Obama for definitively demonstrating the worthlessness of world public opinion.

Oct 21, 2009 - 9:00 am 137. Banned by Huffpo:

ed. note:

This article originally appeared in “The Onion” on October 14, 2009.

Reprinted with permission.

Oct 21, 2009 - 9:03 am 138. Paul A'Barge:

What a crock of crap.

Ryan Mauro? Ryan Mauro is 19 years old.

“He is currently signed to the William Morris Agency and his life rights were purchased by the Bunim-Murray production company for a feature film“.

His life rights? WTF?

Mauro is nothing other than an Obama sycophant buying into an international effort to marginalize America.

Mr Mauro, with all due respect, if we have to choose between an America distrusted by whining ninnies such as the Norwegians and the national security that goes with it versus the fawning love for Barack Obama (substitute: America?) and the coterie of Mao-spouting hyper-liberal America-haters who surround Obama, guess which one the rest of us choose.

Or Mr Mauro, ask yourself this: Whose respect for America counts? The internationals or the US President. Because while you may convince yourself that Obama has swung the international weenies into no longer hating America, guess who actually does hate America (i.e. America values)? Yes, that’s right Mr Mauro … Barack Obama.

Good grief.

Oct 21, 2009 - 9:04 am 139. pmm:

“The most critical factor in appealing to the world’s audience” is probably whether they think we’re working for their interests, versus our own.

Oct 21, 2009 - 9:15 am 140. homero:

138. Paul A’Barge:

agreed.

obama is a lying narcissist and Ryan Mauro is an enabler.

What’s your payback Ryan ?

Oct 21, 2009 - 9:19 am 141. Exactly!:

Oh, come on! We all know that Axelrod paid this shill as part of the Obama rehab tour and campaign.

They are scared silly about the 2010 elections.

More of this type of BS to come….

Oct 21, 2009 - 9:21 am 142. MarkD:

Then have him resign and head the U.N. I want a president Americans can respect, one who looks out for our interests.

If I cared about image, I’d buy People magazine.

Oct 21, 2009 - 9:22 am 143. Bob Miller:

When we become everybody’s patsy, everybody will love us—mainly for our ability to give things away to them. However, if Obama’s economic machinations take away our financial resources, they will love us less, despite our groveling.

Oct 21, 2009 - 9:26 am 144. Gregg:

So, the world supposedly likes the USA better – all because of Obama. Our values are wonderful and Obama is the epitome of our values. I suppose we will be better liked when the values and policies of Obama (which are not our values at all)propels us to 3rd world status. Perhaps we should not much care what the world thinks of the USA. In fact it should probably scare the living daylights out of us.

Oct 21, 2009 - 9:32 am 145. ak138:

Mr. Mauro, have you ever listened to anti-Americanism? Really listened to it? Those people aren’t our friends. The fact that they love Obama should be a pulsating red warning sign to every thinking American.

Oct 21, 2009 - 9:44 am 146. Fat Man:

Oderint dum metuant

Let them hate us, as long as they fear us.

Oct 21, 2009 - 9:46 am 147. Thomas_L......:

Be positive? Alright. I’m positive Mr. Obama’s “foreign policy” will lead to Carter- like disaster, or worse, and all the O-riders in the world on their skittle pooping unicorns won’t change that outcome. Alas.

Oct 21, 2009 - 9:47 am 148. Fat Man:

“And here comes in the question whether it is better to be loved rather than feared, or feared rather than loved. It might perhaps be answered that we should wish to be both; but since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved. For of men it may generally be affirmed, that they are thankless, fickle, false, cowardly, greedy, devoted to you while you are able to confer benefits upon them, and ready, as I said before, while danger is distant, to shed their blood, and sacrifice their property, their lives, and their children for you; but in the hour of need they turn against you. The Prince, therefore, who without otherwise securing himself builds wholly on their professions is undone. For the friendships which we buy with a price, and do not gain by greatness and nobility of character, though they be fairly earned are not made good, but fail us when we have occasion to use them.”

Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527). The Prince.
XVII. Of Cruelty and Clemency, and Whether It Is Better To Be Loved or Feared
http://www.bartleby.com/36/1/17.html

Oct 21, 2009 - 9:50 am 149. Faramir:

OK, you’re right: Obama has made the U.S. more popular in the world – in the most superficial, short-lived, cynical way possible.

Oct 21, 2009 - 9:50 am 150. Larry:

If other countries like us better because they see as as wimpier or more left-leaning, that is not an improvement in our image. It’s like a school teacher that gives out easy As or doesn’t impose classroom discipline. He may be liked, but that’s not a good thing.

Oct 21, 2009 - 9:56 am 151. furious:

“The world” likes the USA better because Pres. Obama has given the world every indication he will move the US to playing down at their level. At least the Eurosocialists and the Third World Kleptocrats have the decency to resent American Exceptionalism, our Commander-in-Chief won’t even acknowledge it.

Sort of like the “cool parents” who let the kids’ friends smoke pot in the basement under supervision. S*ck as parents, but are they way-cool with kids or what? and I’m sure the schoolyard bully has a much better opinion of the weaker kids who simply hand over their lunch money w/out complaint, vs. those who fight back

Oct 21, 2009 - 9:57 am 152. wondering:

How awful. Most of the world is not a very nice place.
We must be doing something wrong to get approval from that crowd.

Oct 21, 2009 - 10:04 am 153. K. Napier:

Obama did not grow up poor. His grandmother was an executive at a bank. He attended an elite private school in Hawaii.

Oct 21, 2009 - 10:04 am 154. ReConUSMC:

When you enemy says he like you now and those in europe we protected for 60 years like us better .
One should never turn ones back since there is surely to be a sword to his back and that countries back .
To quote – The Art of War

Oct 21, 2009 - 10:06 am 155. paul_unalaska:

This article has a ‘Punk’d'-like feel via op-ed to it.

It resembles a 700 Club piece with different players for ‘heroes’ smudged in.

Iran ranked 50th..!?

If there is such a ranking, Iran shouldn’t be in the top 500!

What planet is this?

Oct 21, 2009 - 10:12 am 156. Sherab Zangpo:

Sing, baby, sing

Barack Hussein Obama mmmhhh mmmhhh mmmhhh

Thank you for the opportunity of NOT commenting

Oct 21, 2009 - 10:13 am 157. Sherab Zangpo:

And since they like us more…
will they send troops to defeat the talebans ?
will they pay the UN bills that we cover at 22 % ?
will they stop playing the currencies markets to destroy the dollar ?
will they cripple the iranian economy to stop terrorists from having a bomb ?
will they get the Gitmo terrorists ?
will they stop asking for help when they are in troubles …and insulting us when we help ?

mmmhhh, I can hear a deep silence

I thought so

Thank you for the opportunity to comment

Oct 21, 2009 - 10:26 am 158. Andrew Lale:

So: you can be popular with your detractors by behaving against your own interests. Really? Who’d have thought. Give that man a Nobel Peace Prize. Oh yeah…

Oct 21, 2009 - 10:32 am 159. jharp:

Exactly!:

Oh, come on! We all know that Axelrod paid this shill as part of the Obama rehab tour and campaign.

They are scared silly about the 2010 elections.
________________________________________________________

Mark my words. You are again going to have your asses handed to you.

And I can’t wait.

Democratic Party favorability

Fav Unfav

All 41 51

South 21 72
NE 62 26
Midwest 44 48
West 44 50

Republican Party favorability

Fav Unfav

All 21 67

South 48 37
NE 6 87
Midwest 10 78
West 12 75

Generic Congressional Ballot

Dem GOP

All 35 29

South 21 47
NE 51 8
Midwest 37 26
West 36 28

That six-point spread looks tight until you look at the geographic breakdowns.

Looks like you’ll do well in the South. Where you already hold most of the seats.

Oct 21, 2009 - 10:37 am 160. deguello:

A nice example of collaborationist lickspittling. You MAURON!I thought the”new tone” that did so much to earn respect for the idiot Bush,and the terminally clueless republican party,had ended with its catastrophic defeat. Guess not! BTW,Quisling,how much is Soros paying you?

Oct 21, 2009 - 10:44 am 161. wayne:

There are only 2 times when the world will ever love us – for about 15 minutes after we wade in rivers of our own blood to rescue them from from some horrific evil, and they will extol our historic virtues a generation or two AFTER we conspired to help our enemies obliterate us.

And at the top of that historic memory of dead America will be the name of its chief engineer – Barrack Hussein Obama.

Oct 21, 2009 - 10:47 am 162. Max:

Shame on PAJAMASMEDIA for printing this nonsense. The image American now projects is one of incompetence and weakness–exactly what the world want’s to see in us–thus Obama’s “popularity.”
Counterfactual claims like Mauro’s aren’t challenging, merely embarrassing.

Oct 21, 2009 - 10:48 am 163. Dr. Bukk:

I’m not even going to read this. I only want to relate that while in Paris a nice young man asked if I was American. When I replied “yes” he spat in my face. I was an attractive teenage girl and it was 1966. Other countries have ALWAYS HATED US!

Doesn’t anybody understand the concept of biting the hand that feeds you? Bush should have the Nobel Peace Prize and every rational person knows it.

Oct 21, 2009 - 11:00 am 164. progressoverpeace:

The rest of the world cheers our weakness and self-destruction. Yay! Why does anyone print this fool’s nonsense?

Any American who cares one iota about what the rest of the world thinks of us is a moron. If you care that much about the feelings of the rest of the world, then go live there. You do no good staying here.

Oct 21, 2009 - 11:02 am 165. Annie:

129, Swiss lady

thanks for commenting!!

Europe only “really” loves us when we’re saving their asses, or they need a green card. Right now it’s a special kinda “love”..they think we’re failing and they love it, hence the new love of America.

I want the kind of respect that fear of America striking back brings.

Unfortunately I think Obama is trying to make America mundane and weak. Our country has not fought over the years to be “common” in this world.

Also, Obama grew up with money, private schools, false pride.

Actually I think Ryan is kidding us with article.

Oct 21, 2009 - 11:04 am 166. Rachel:

What is the point of image if your population is unemployed and THEY don’t have faith in you anymore. Why is everyone so obsessed with America being liked while they would never even attempt a shank-eye to China and Russia? Because China and Russia don’t care what the world thinks and they show it. It intimidates Europeans because they don’t try to play nice. It’s about time we stop trying to play nice too. Will Europe help us with our problems?

Oct 21, 2009 - 11:06 am 167. whyyeseyec:

Huh? Are you high? He`s improved our imagine among despots and UN hacks. Other than that he is a disaster on feet.

Is the author preaching to his choir?

Oct 21, 2009 - 11:14 am 168. Dave K.:

So much impotent hatred, so many comments.

Oct 21, 2009 - 11:14 am 169. Gloria:

Mr. Mauro has done something very devious and wrong in his column here today. He talks about America’s “policies” and “values” to a readership that is concerned with such things at this Pajamas site. BUT, the popularity and liking that he talks about has been measured with respect to a survey about “Exports, Governance, Culture, People, Tourism and Immigration/Investment.” (quote here is from the website he links to in his article).

In other words, he has taken information about how people in other countries views American exports, culture, tourism and things of a commercial nature and extended the findings to suggest that Obama’s politics are somehow implicated to this increase in popularity of the U.S.

The site Mr. Mauro links us to also states: “GfK Group offers the fundamental knowledge that industry, retailers, services companies and the media need to make market decisions.”

In short, if I want to know if people in other countries like the PRODUCTS that American COMPANIES sell, then I turn to the GfK poll. How anybody can connect the likeability of American commercial products, like tour packages, hair spray or refrigerators, to the likeability of Obama is beyond me.

Oct 21, 2009 - 11:21 am 170. SAL:

I am so tired of the obampa everything is wonderful in our country. He has spent SO MUCH of our money that the only thing buy is food & gas. On top of that, I have to pay more & more for my medical on going problems. He even wanted to throw away the 10 dollar bill.
And this is a President??????????

Oct 21, 2009 - 11:21 am 171. Pete:

I personally don’t care what Europeans (or the rest of the world for that matter) think about America or Americans … never have. I didn’t care when they were Bush bashing .. and I don’t care now when they are Obama loving.

Europeans are a very selfish lot … they claim to be benevolent . .but actually just sit back and expect others to do all the heavy lifting. If they suddenly are liking the U.S., that probably means they see we will be doing even more heavy lifting for them.

I want a President who will work for America’s best interest not Europe’s.

Oct 21, 2009 - 11:23 am 172. d:

It shows America is finally waking up. When the main stream media wakes up BO won’t have a chance for a second term.

Oct 21, 2009 - 11:26 am 173. Sherab Zangpo:

And the funniest thing about the trolls and about this whole muslimarxist administration ?
After giving us EIGHT years of permanent civil war and of hate against America and against Bush, NOW they say that WE are full of hatred.

Hey trolls, we have learned to debate from you, and now you are going to get EVERYTHING back.

DISSENT IS PATRIOTIC !

Thank you for the opportunity to comment

PS Hey trolls, do you remember Moore: “There is no terrorist threat”. Remember it well, think about it a lot…

Oct 21, 2009 - 11:27 am 174. Marc L:

It is a good thing Obama has improved our popularity with the world, because that is what is really going to solve the problems. I am sure Obama will be able to convince Russia to stop aiding Iran obtain nuclear weapons. And I am sure that popularity will convince the Iranians not to continue building nuclear reactors. That popularity will also help convince Hugo Chavez not to allow Russia to use Venezuela as a military installation. I mean, after all, our popularity just goes to show that every other nation in the world cares more about us than they do themselves.

Oct 21, 2009 - 11:30 am 175. Sherab Zangpo:

FROM
FOXNEWS.COM
(but the title is mine)
WHY DON’T THEY LOVE US ?

A pharmacy college graduate student charged with plotting to kill U.S. soldiers in Iraq and shoppers in American malls got rebellious in court Wednesday, refusing to stand for the judge and at one point throwing his chair.

FBI officials said Tarek Mehanna, 27, of Sudbury, Mass., worked with others from 2001 to May of 2008 in a conspiracy to “kill, kidnap, main or injure” people in foreign countries, and to kill prominent U.S. politicians. Terror plots to attack U.S. shopping malls and U.S. military in Iraq were also in the works, officials said.

Mehanna initially refused to stand for the judge before the terror charge against him was read at the brief hearing Wednesday. He finally did stand — tossing his chair loudly to the floor — only after his father urged him to do so.

Click here for Video.

The complaint further alleges that the co-conspirators attempted to radicalize others and inspire each other by, among other things, watching and distributing jihadi videos.

The charges accuse the suspects of talking about their desire to participate in Islamist holy war and of their desire to die on the battlefield.

The case comes less than a month after an Afghan-born man, Najibullah Zazi, was accused of plotting a bomb attack against the United States.

Federal prosecutors say Mehanna and his conspirators planned the logistics of a mall attack — including the possibility of attacking emergency responders. However, authorities say the plot was not carried out because they could not get automatic weapons.

“Mehanna and the co-conspirators had multiple conversations about obtaining automatic weapons and randomly shooting people in a shopping mall, and that the conversations went so far as to discuss the logistics of a mall attack, including coordination, weapons needed and the possibility of attacking emergency responders,” the Justice Department said.

Oct 21, 2009 - 11:34 am 176. Tara:

I am actually surprised that CNN would comment on Obama’s sliding poll numbers, given their love affair with him. They better watch out or the White House will start saying they are not a worthy news organization as well.

The only thing Obama has done successfully is trash America. He has placated to the European views and basically trashed everything that America has stood for. Bush at least stood up to people, Obama just sides with them by demeaning the U.S.

Oct 21, 2009 - 11:44 am 177. Delia:

I think we’ve been officially punk’d.

Oct 21, 2009 - 11:53 am 178. Inrptrn:

To gain the world all you have to do is scarifice your own country. Good job Obama!!! WE ARE NUMBER ONE!! AMERICA RULEZZZ!

Oct 21, 2009 - 11:55 am 179. trojan2:

Bet the author thinks Obama was the only virgin in Chicago too.

Oct 21, 2009 - 11:56 am 180. JohnRJ08:

Few people make the connection between a president who is well-thought of and admired and a successful pursuit of national interests. Nations may not be people, but they are ruled by people and relationships. The fact that the United States stood between England and an invasion by Nazi Germany in 1940 had as much to do with FDR’s relationship with Winston Churchill as anything else. When there is trust, there is less bluster and false bravado which can lead to the kinds of dishonesty that breeds mistrust and, ultimately, conflict. The fact that President Obama is liked is enormous plus for the United States after 8 years of an administration that eschewed diplomacy and deliberative decision-making. But, of course, most conservatives refuse to give Obama credit for this because of a purely political agenda.

My only complaint about President Obama at this point is that he is standing back too much on the important issues. He needs to act on effective regulation of the banking system immediately. These exorbitant bonuses on Wall Street cannot stand, nor can the continued tight credit despite all the bail-out money these institutions have received. Obama needs to get out in front of that, just as he has to make a stand on health care reform with regard to the public option.

With regard to Afghanistan, I’m glad he’s taking his time. Any additional troops wouldn’t get there for weeks anyway. It’s not like they ship out the day the decision is made. Obama is asking questions about this war that never even occurred to the Bush administration. Bush did not eliminate the Taliban. He threw them out of Kabul and Kandahar, but they have always been and will always be in Afghanistan. The question is, do you spill American blood, knowing that you can’t kill them all? That’s what he’s pondering right now. The term “win” simply does not apply to a war in Afghanistan. Temporary stabilization, but not long term peace.

Oct 21, 2009 - 12:00 pm 181. Poor Citizen:

As I have said for some time now. This President has changed alot of the worlds opinion of the USA…, from demon to once again, a force for good with almost immediate effect. Obama has done well.

However, as we know President Bush faced the same goodwill after 9/11 and we all know now, he blew it.

Will this President build on his good will? I hope so…but the jury is still out.

Oct 21, 2009 - 12:05 pm 182. Joliemaman:

Was this piece of brilliant journalism handed to you by David Plouffe, the man in charge of feeding the subservient press in the O administration ???

Oct 21, 2009 - 12:11 pm 183. Fred:

America has been hated for as long as America has existed. I don’t have a problem with that because we have been hated by the right people.

America has been hated by pirates, slavers, Nazis, Fascists, communists, thugs, dictators, socialists and generally the scum of the Earth. Now you are telling me the scum of the Earth sort of likes us again?

Oct 21, 2009 - 12:18 pm 184. Ratatosk:

Just like the Dems under Bush…

America home of the Pathetic, Land of the Whiners.

Ick.

Oct 21, 2009 - 12:33 pm 185. Valerie:

So, the American voters select a black president, and the president is nominated for the Nobel peace prize less than two weeks later, and opinion of the US hits an all-time high.

Who rightly deserves the credit for either outcome?

Oct 21, 2009 - 12:33 pm 186. OptimusPrimed:

Of course we are more liked now. Accelerating the slide to mediocrity generally makes this country less of a threat, which in turn allows others to love us, as we become another irrelevant European type nation. Congrats!

Oct 21, 2009 - 12:35 pm 187. Jeremy:

The only ‘credit’ I’ll give this president is for trying to manipulate elections from the top down. From Gov Paterson, to Sen Spector. I’ll also give him ‘credit’ for dragging his feet on routing that Taliban while soldiers die. If you want to go get em, then go get them now! If you want to get out, then get out now! What good does dragging our feet do. Last I saw we were fighting terrorism in the name of America. Not fighting for a corrupt Afghan government. Either way this conservative will support it. But the decision needs to be made NOW! Since when has indecision EVER paid off while our brave soldiers are fighting a war?!

Oct 21, 2009 - 12:36 pm 188. Alana:

Sorry, I couldn’t get past, “as an African-American who grew up poor”.

Oct 21, 2009 - 12:51 pm 189. jvon:

This piece is intellectually dishonest.

The reason that Bush resulted in such damage to the US’s reputation internationally was because of people like Obama, who cited actions of his as being evidence that the US was a racist, war-mongering nation.

Now that Obama is in charge, that criticism has stopped — NOT because the US has fundamentally changed its foreign policy (it hasn’t), but because the hard leftists who were disparaging the reputation of the US have stopped what they were doing.

Obama doesn’t deserve praise for that. If anything it’s further evidence that he’s a slimeball that does not have the best interests of our country at stake.

Oct 21, 2009 - 1:02 pm 190. Adam Feser:

The comments on this post prove that we will get the equivalent and opposite of Bush Derangement Syndrome. It was a valiant effort to try and bring reason to the opposition, but it is and was always doomed to fail. There will be no credit, ever, for anything from the opposition. The commenters can’t even realize that a black man raised poor rising to be the President of the United States of America is the embodiment of the American dream (which isn’t a policy statement, just a statement).

Also, how do people not realize a solid standing is hugely important in international relations? Having respect means more countries will be willing to follow us. That is just obvious.

A well-written article.

Oct 21, 2009 - 1:07 pm 191. David W. Lincoln:

Are you out of your mind, Mauro? Kennedy benefited
from having a skilled p.r. team conjure Camelot out
of wishful thinking and smoke & mirrors.

As someone who cheered, “http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110002994,” and seeing the deformed souls inside the Beltway with their paws on the levers of power repudiate that document, you reaching for straws to provide cover for the current occupant of the Oval Office who prides himself in rewriting the English language in order to make himself look good, does not speak to you having all oars in the water.

Oct 21, 2009 - 1:08 pm 192. Ed Butt:

Don’t be taken in by Obama’s apparent popularity. A lot of third world nations think he’s a soft touch who will give them whatever they ask for.
And more powerful nations see him as Blair lite, a weak leaders more concerned with his own image and popularity than his nation’s interests. These nations believe that whenever Obama is challenged he will simply cave in.

Oct 21, 2009 - 1:43 pm 193. Jena:

It’s a dangerous world out there, not a popularity contest.
It’s not that important that they LIKE us.
The important thing is that they RESPECT us.

The current president has diminished worldwide respect for the USA.

Oct 21, 2009 - 1:54 pm 194. George Bruce:

The World’s opinion, like the World’s temperature, can be devilishly hard to measure.

Oct 21, 2009 - 1:56 pm 195. George S.:

183. Fred:

agreed !

obama is a liar and the author of this piece is an idiot with a pen (or should I say word processor on a computer)

Oct 21, 2009 - 2:07 pm 196. Slveryder:

I’m quite sure the world is very happy with Obama now that he has proved he is no threat to dictators or murderers.

China loves him now that he’s snubbed the Dalai Lama and thrown dissidents sitting in Gulags under the bus.
Putin loves him now that he’s reneged on his promise to continue offering the missile shield to Poland & the Czech Republic and offered a “reset” wiping away the campaign of opposition suppression and murder of reporters, and his wonderful actions in Georgia and the ongoing problems he’s causing in Crimea.
Kim Jong Il feels so much better now that Obama has offered to destroy the American nuclear arsenal because we were TOTALLY going to attack him the next time we have a bad day.
Ahmedinijad loves America now that Obama has ignored the blood running in the streets of Tehran as the people fight for freedom in favor acknowledging an illegitimate president and making a fool out of US foreign policy in a quixotic quest for dearmament (nukes? we ain’t got no stinkin’ nukes!)
Zelaya loves the US for ignoring facts and denouncing a clearly legal government action in favor of a communist attempted coupe. (Ditto Chavez & Ortega)
Let’s noy forget Castro, Gadhafi, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Taliban, and al Qaeda. Theu just LOVE the US now! Only, they still want to kill us? How’s that work again?

Frankly, I liked it better at #7

Oct 21, 2009 - 2:21 pm 197. tom swift:

So America’s rep has blipped up a few spots because Neville Chamberlain Lite is now president.

This does not strike me as A Good Thing. If we see a general fog of increased approval in Europe or Asia, it probably means we’re doing something which will bite us in the national ass sooner rather than later.

Oct 21, 2009 - 2:23 pm 198. Annie:

Soon…France, England etc will be over run with Islamic extremists. Sharia will be common place. Obama will try to follow, so that America fits in.

189…”The commenters can’t even realize that a black man raised poor rising to be the President of the United States of America is the embodiment of the American dream (which isn’t a policy statement, just a statement).”

…who are you talking about? We know this is not a description of Obama. He wasn’t even raised here, much less raised “poor”. If you believe this you know “nothing” of your president. Typical of Obama voters.

Oct 21, 2009 - 2:28 pm 199. Well...:

“Lets us also be reminded that this country was founded to NOT be Europe. I really don’t care if Europes elitist bigots like or don’t like our nation. They have no moral high ground from which to preach to us about anything.”

Yes, let’s focus on that for a bit. And let’s ignore the fact that the Europe that exists today hasn’t the slightest thing in common with the Europe that our founding fathers opposed, anymore than the South today has anything in common with the slave-based society of the 1800s. “Europe” in the mind of the American conservative is a poorly defined abstraction that essentially means “thing I don’t like cause it ain’t America.” How the continent actually works is something the average Republican couldn’t begin to guess at, but why bother? It ain’t America. How could it be anything other than shyte?

Oct 21, 2009 - 2:33 pm 200. Sebastian Shaw:

Silveryder (#195), you said it all & said it well. President Obama has turned himself into the rug where one wipes his dirty shoes before entering the rest of the house.

Oct 21, 2009 - 2:45 pm 201. Max Power:

I don’t think the standing of the USA in the world has improved.

it does depend on who you ask.

since the author of this piece is a o-BUM-a smypathizer he is probably surrounded by like minded fools.

Oct 21, 2009 - 2:46 pm 202. Cheryl:

PRESIDENT Obama is a great leader and has done wonderful things for this country.
There is a right wing conspiracy in this country.
They have set out to ruin our president with any scurrilous slander they can.
I know that this kindergarten behavior will be remembered come election time.
I NEVER want another republican in office again.
As far as I am concerned they (Bush and Dick) ruined our country, The people who voted for them hold just as much blame.
Obama will do great things and that is what they fear most.

Oct 21, 2009 - 2:54 pm 203. kcs:

Most of the world wants a weaker, poorer, less influential America. Our President happens to share those objectives, so America has become “popular”.

I find no comfort in any of that.

Oct 21, 2009 - 3:05 pm 204. Mr. Independant:

Ryan Mauro,
Well done. I have to admit I was expecting a very partisan article when I saw the title; it’s times like these when it’s really nice to be surprised. On the article itself I was pleased to read that you give credit where credit is due. I hope in future articles you will likewise do the same when criticizing President Obama. Being a real independent (not just a DEM or REB pretending to be one) is hard work. But for those of us who really want to make this country a better place, we know it’s the only way to do it.

Oct 21, 2009 - 3:08 pm 205. Inrptrn:

Everyone loves a fool. (fool = America under Obama)
Love to our face, and a knife to our back.

Oct 21, 2009 - 3:12 pm 206. michigander:

I have traveled to over 30 foreign countries and have never been treated anything but nice,other people are in awe of the freedom we have had and the democracy we have had in this country .I fear that is all about to change with the power grab this WH has engineered to take over the every day lives of Americans. Apparently this author has not been paying attention or is he a stooge of the “holyman ” ? NAFTA was the start of all our job shortages,when I was young a person could get a good paying job in a factory and lead a middle class life with out going to college ,Thankyou Mr Clinton and Mr Gingrich,now OB will finish us peons off . I worry for our country now as I did when NAFTA was passed.

Oct 21, 2009 - 3:16 pm 207. Jeffrey:

This is a repeat of almost every comment but I’ll say it anyway.
This article is total baloney. It’s only true if you your best friends are evil dictators and thugs.
What really is different now is the main stream media isn’t pouring out vitriol world wide right now, although if the media were real Americans they should be up in arms as our freedoms and liberty have never been in greater danger. But they are not. The media and their demigod Obama are citizens of another darker world in which they hold all of the power, wealth, control all speech and treat humanity as cattle to be used and disposed of.
So the author of the above article is looking out of his back side on this one for sure.
Ryan: just tell us which nation you would look up to right now or ever for that matter as a shining example for us all? Which nation isn’t being dictated to, taxed to death, oppressed or slaughtered by their wonderful governments?
Right now we are in the battle of the ages and I don’t think it’s very important to want to look good to the hater’s liars and thieves of this world. How stupid is that?
To those who think the Obama opposition is just seeking quid pro quo for the treatment of Bush; like the left did for Clinton the difference for those on the right is they are seeking to expose the truth and are doing a good job of it so far. The left sought and still does to obfuscate the truth while creating and speaking lies all the while believing the end justify the means.

Oct 21, 2009 - 3:18 pm 208. Elliot:

Unfortunately, our new found popularity, and the charm of our new prez doesn’t appear to be softening our enemies in the least.

In fact, they are now thumbing their noses at us at a far brisker pace.

Oct 21, 2009 - 3:25 pm 209. Dwight:

“This pride-filled childishness, intellectual unfairness, and overall resistance to acknowledge any success propelled me to promise myself that I’d never adopt the same attitude, would remain as independent as possible so as not to be seduced by the partisan rage, and would take pride in supporting my president whenever I felt comfortable doing so. In keeping with that, I have cleaned out my inbox to prepare for the hate mail as I praise President Obama for achieving one of his main objectives.”

That about covers it.

Oct 21, 2009 - 3:26 pm 210. George S.:

206. Dwight

it is generally the left that sends hate mail.

the right doesn’t care if you are an idiot.

Oct 21, 2009 - 3:42 pm 211. CJ:

What Ryan Muaro doesn’t get and the rest of the idiots that claim that now the USA is respected is that it is NOT!

what has happened is that the world now knows they can push the USA around, they can bully the USA, the world can do whatever it wants and they know that Obama is a panzy, a push over, a weakling.

so, yes, Obama is liked, the USA is now liked, why? because the world now knows the USA is weak that the rest of the world can bully and push around. We have a weak leader, an indicive leader who doesn’t see good or bad. Europe, Latin American love, applaud when they hear Obama saying “mea culpa, the USA has done so many wrongs! Everything is wrong because of the USA!”

Yes, this is the reason why the world now “respects” the USA, why they now like the USA.

So, I have no problem giving Obama credit where credit is do.

Oct 21, 2009 - 3:50 pm 212. Keith:

Quite admirable. However (and you knew there would be a “however”) I don’t think the Left will ever realize the stupidity and danger involved in the hatred–complete with cartoonish conspiracy theories–they level against Republicans unless they get a taste of their own medicine . . . in spades!

Roast Obama’s behind over the coals until the Left is ready for a truce. Without a BIG taste of their own medicine, they’ll never get it.

Oct 21, 2009 - 4:04 pm 213. CJ:

As I always say…

What is the point of being liked, loved, respected, if these do not get the world to coporate with Iran, N. Korea, Afghanistan, eh?

Is this what the Left, Ryan Mauro claim to be like and respect for America?

Yes, give Obama credit where credit is due. Despite his charm, despite the ability to read a teleprompter, despite Europeans loving an American President that screams from every corner of the world, “Mea Culpa, the USA is bad, it is all our fault” the rest of the world that supposedly respects and likes America now is unwilling to coporate with the USA on Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, the war on terror, etc.

So, once again do tell us all how Obama has “brought” back respect for the USA?

My mother tells a great story. Back when Jimmy Carter was elected it was the same type of crap that the Liberals spewed out, “now that Carter has been elected, the world will respect us”. My mom, a Venezuelan citizen, was living in Venezuela at the time. Jimmy Carter went to visit Caracas, where he was supposed to be loved and respected. As the President’s caravan moved through out Caracas, the Caraquenos threw eggs, tomatos and other things at Carter. hahahaha!!!

now the Europeans, Latin Americans, Russians, etc claim to love the USA again, but only in words, their actions are no different from what we saw during the Bush years.

Oct 21, 2009 - 4:04 pm 214. Donna V.:

Ryan Mauro? Ryan Mauro is 19 years old.

Well, that explains it. Being “popular” is very important to teenagers.

Ryan, most of us are more than a couple of years out of high school and don’t worry overmuch about whether the world “likes” us or not. The “world” has been known to be wrong about a few things (exhibit A: the history of anti-semitism).

Bambi is like the class slut, “popular,” but not respected.

Well, like Ryan, I had similiarly naive and silly ideas when I was 19 too. I grew out of them, thank God. I hope he will too, once he gains some real life experience.

Oct 21, 2009 - 4:07 pm 215. cj:

by the way…the author of this article, like the rest of the Left wingers and some Right wingers, assume that respect and like by the rest of the world is important. That having others say, “you are doing the right thing” is important.

This obssesion with being liked by the rest of the world reminds me of the immature, stupid behavior in high school where children are desperate to be liked by all the rest of the kids. So, instead of doing what is truly Right and Moral, you end up doing what others believe is cool and good.

DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND MORAL!!!! NOT WHAT IS POPULAR OR WHAT WILL HAVE YOU BE LIKED AND LOVED BY OTHERS!!!!<—— This concept is lost on Liberals, fools like the author of this article and a few Right wingers.

They prefer to be loved, liked and be popular instead of doing what is Right and Moral. Sad, quite sad!!!!

Oct 21, 2009 - 4:13 pm 216. RebeccaH:

Obama’s election to the presidency did, in fact, undermine one of the world’s best-loved weapons against America: that we are a racist country. We have only confirmed what the ordinary people of the world already knew, that America is the land of hope, where anyone can make a better life, regardless of race, color, creed, religious affiliation, or even political outlook. If there is some esoteric poll claiming that the world’s attitude toward us has changed, it’s only among the rest of the world’s so-called intelligentsia and political classes, who had their own reasons for maintaining an anti-American outlook. The masses have their own opinion, and when they stop trying to come here, I’ll believe they haven’t always looked to us as the beacon of hope.

Obama’s election was merely icing on the cake. And since then, he’s done his best to sour that.

Oct 21, 2009 - 4:17 pm 217. sule:

Even a broken clock is correct twice a day.

I’m so impressed.

Oct 21, 2009 - 4:23 pm 218. Elliot:

“Obama’s election to the presidency did, in fact, undermine one of the world’s best-loved weapons against America: that we are a racist country.”

Sadly not true. Take a look at some of the forums in the UK and Europe. I also think race relations in the US have digressed considerably. Many people voted for Barak Obama hoping just what you have stated here. If they realise how much worse things have gotten I would guess they are now experiencing buyer’s remorse.

Oct 21, 2009 - 4:48 pm 219. Cristina:

Mr Mauro
Hate mail? Don’t flatter yourself. Calling you “naive” and “simplistic” should not amount to what you expected to read about your article.
Let me explain.
1. Anyone who builds an argument around a poll about “nation brands”, as if this were a contest between the Ralph Lauren brand and the Chanel brand, is profoundly naive, politically and analitically. This is no hate on my part. As you choose to admire Obama for raising US’s image in some silly poll, so I choose to dis/un-admire you for your conclusions. That’s the best euphemism I can find to avoid the label of “hate mail.” Not that I care, but just for the sake of protocol.
2. You never question the motives, the methods of the poll takers, the sampled nations, as well as what it really means that the US is admired again internationally thanks to Obama. If Russians or Saudis or Iranians or Cubans were sampled, wouldn’t you suspect a satisfaction that America under Obama is losing power and sovereignty, a satisfaction based on sheer envy of America, an envy more powerful than anything in the modern political world? That which you can’t be or attain must be destroyed. I know what I speak of. The U.S. is implied, alluded to, challenged covertly or overtly in every major or minor political discussion in the world. We are/were the thorn in the steady march towards universal despotism. Obama promises the world to make us less free in order to soothe the world’s envy of us, by which I mean our liberties and freedoms, our magnificent Constitution, our civil society, our opportunities.
3.Obama is not African-American; he’s of mixed race, half-black, from an African/Kenyan father, and half-white, from a white mother. You are perpetuating a lie with your article.
4. Are you serious about Obama growing up poor?? Private school in Hawaii?

Whatever “hate mail” you get is just deserves for a stupid, deceptive article.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:05 pm 220. NC Mountain Girl:

The author is almost as puerile as our president.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:13 pm 221. business credit:

What is the point of being liked, loved, respected, if these do not get the world to coporate with Iran, N. Korea, Afghanistan

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:16 pm 222. Sallie:

Ryan, you need street creds…in time you will grow.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:16 pm 223. donttreadonme:

…so, anyway, I have the nicest, most secure house in the neighborhood. I also have the highest income, the best standard of living, and my kids have it made. Needless to say, my neighbors are pretty cold to me, if not downright hostile. Granted, I fully fund our neighborhood crimewatch program; and I pay for the snowplow in the winter when we get a big dump of snow. Still, I hear the talk behind my back..and it ain’t flattering. Well, I decided to change things, I pulled my kids from private school and enrolled them in the semi-decent public school nearby; I decided to scale down my job and now make only a fraction of what I made before; finally, I let my beautiful landscaping die away and be replaced by good ole’ grass and dirt. I notice my neighbors come around more – heck, they invite me to ALL the gatherings in the ‘hood! I feel like one of the boys – and its great…I worry though, since I can’t swing the crimewatch and snowplow fund like I used to; but, hey, we’re all on-the-level so I suspect it will go over OK when they get the bill….

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:18 pm 224. Jack:

Well this proves the Obama administration is doing a great job of scaring the hell out of journalists by threatening them with Fox News-like castigation.

I didn’t expect it to happen the next day.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:34 pm 225. ricpic:

I didn’t know The American Dream was enslaving others.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:47 pm 226. Alan Grey:

Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.

Oct 21, 2009 - 5:53 pm 227. Whiterock:

I used to not like a girl once, she wouldn’t do the things I wanted her to do. Then she changed and everything was EASY with her. I liked her alot better then.

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:06 pm 228. Now and Then:

BT, there’s a new theme emerging to take its rightful place to the Right Wing Scat alert . . . it’s the Right Wing Slut Alert . . . seen i mentioned twice in 24 hours. Nice combo, conservatives. What’s next, tea bagging?

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:15 pm 229. gracie:

What kind of a man have we elected?
He , Obama, called in “real news people” today and met in private with them…all liberals.
Behind closed doors, they got cuff links and pens…all behind closed doors, all liberals. What the hell is going on in our country???
Where is the outrage and sticking up for the conservatives???

Is this how Hitler started? It probably is!!!!

Oct 21, 2009 - 6:24 pm 230. fred:

Obama is a Communist. He’s not just a socialist or even a Marxist. He is our mortal enemy.

He is a Communist. A would be tyrant that will steal your country and your freedom.

I wish that our military would arrest him for not defending or protecting our Constitution.

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:08 pm 231. James:

Who cares? What does it matter what the rest of the world thinks about America?

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:17 pm 232. robtr:

That is the most BS I have read in an column in quite some time. The rest of the world claims to likes us more now for one reason. George Bush is not President anymore. Bush believed in American Exceptulism and he practiced it. The rest of the world didn’t like it but we were one hell of alot better of for him doing it than we are now.

I will give Obama credit for part of it. He went on a world wide apology tour and the world decided America is a puppy now. Who doesn’t like puppies?

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:25 pm 233. RickS:

I travel overseas quite a bit and it’s true that most people, particularly in Europe, really seem to think 0bama is a great guy and that Americans must be so proud of him. Of course I try to disabuse them of that notion by pointing out what a dim-witted talentless hack he is and how I’m actually embarrassed to have such a stuffed suit whose only qualification is to look pretty whilst reading a teleprompter as my president. They are invariably surprised by this attitude and a little put off having to defend 0bama to an American. I couldn’t care less though. I actually liked when we weren’t liked abroad, because at least we were respected. With 0bama’s endless apology tour and pathetic dithering about sending more troops to Afghanistan, all he has done is make us all look like a bunch of pansies (like him).

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:25 pm 234. chris:

After 9/11 80% of kuwait thought we deserved it and were glad we got hit after we invaded 80 % still hated us I bet if asked right now 80% would still be the number

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:33 pm 235. momo33:

YEA! They all love us because we look WEAK!
ALL of the Terrorist nations are Laughing their asses off that we were so stupid as to elect a Whiner Baby in Chief that is afraid to make a decision and is still trying to kiss their asses. Our Dictator Wannabe wants to be their friend and is busy throwing our Allys under the bus.
OF COURSE THEY LOVE US NOW.

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:39 pm 236. momo33:

fred:

the word is TREASON!!
Obama is trying to bring down America and is against our Constitution .

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:44 pm 237. ObamaPussy4Life:

Credit where credit is due, Obama has made black people look like
A bunch of pussies and whining, crying little bitches..

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:45 pm 238. HAHAHAHA:

YES WE CAN YES WE CAN!Obama and all the DC insiders have improved Americas image.Improved it to make your country look like weak puppies crying to borrow cash.Then by apologizing for saving the world from the likes of the Maos,Stalins,Saddams,Hitlers.If it wasnt for America the world would be run by dictators with death camps.This guys improved nothing but our laughter at you for electing him.At least Bush was tough.Good thing he did not listen to that balding clown Cheney all the time though.That guy does give the world the creeps.

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:49 pm 239. Bill K.:

To write that we have a better image now is, well it’s just stupid and naive. The world sees Obama and America asweak and unable to act. Nations with bad intentions are on the move around the world. Obama’s word means nothing. He makes empty statements because as a community organizer, he could do that and it didn’t matter. Now when he says one thing and changes his mind a day later, it has HUGE consequences.

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:50 pm 240. stuiec:

“What is the point of being liked, loved, respected, if these do not get the world to coporate with Iran, N. Korea, Afghanistan”

Precisely. Everyone loved Marshal Will Kane, but when it came time to help him face down the Miller Gang, everyone ran and hid.

The issue is not that Obama has made consumers admire Brand America once more. The issue is that Candidate Obama promised that as President, his restoration of the world’s admiration of America would translate into the world’s willingness to spend its blood and treasure to help America tackle the dire challenges that threaten both us and the rest of the world. But as we can see, no one is stepping up: Japan is withdrawing its logistics ships, France has declared it won’t send a single additional soldier to the fight in Afghanistan, and other NATO allies have announced their intention to pull their forces out of Afghanistan.

Machiavelli said that if a leader cannot be both feared and loved, he should choose to be feared rather than loved. Obama has it backward, and that’s not anything deserving of credit.

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:56 pm 241. Phl Byler:

This is one of the most ill-conceived articles ever published on Pajamas Media.

Oct 21, 2009 - 7:57 pm 242. Richard:

Seriously?

There’s a study that came out in the past couple years. It showed that the people that are the most popular are also the same people who find it easiest to lie.

People who admire and love this country move to it. Its no surprise that leaves behind the people who don’t like it.

Oct 21, 2009 - 8:12 pm 243. SukieTawdry:

Gee, maybe next year we can snag Miss Congeniality. Keeping my fingers crossed…

And where did you get the idea that Barack Obama “grew up poor” and “disadvantaged?”
Good grief. Furthermore, are we now pretending that “articulate and bright and clean and nice-looking” African-American men don’t have opportunity strewn in their paths these days in America?

…and eloquent rhetoric that sounds principled and tough when necessary…

Unfortunately, sounds is the operative word here. He knows how to sound principled and tough, he just has no experience being principled and tough. There’s a world of difference even if the “world” apparently can’t see it (for now at least). Are you blind to it as well?

Oct 21, 2009 - 8:12 pm 244. Laura:

Yes, as long as we look weak the rest of the world loves us.

Oct 21, 2009 - 8:23 pm 245. Bosch Fawstin:

Trolls are supposed to write in the comments section, not write the piece.

Oct 21, 2009 - 8:30 pm 246. myth buster:

230. If not a communist, then a fascist- bad news either way.

Honestly, a good leader would tell every continental European country west of Poland- you all suck, you complain too much, and you can’t do one decent thing for yourselves. You all are a bunch of backstabbing slime balls, and we’ve put up with your nonsense way too long. It’s over. We are going to close down all the military bases in Western Europe, and move them to Poland and Georgia. NATO is hereby dissolved, although we extend an invitation to continue a military alliance with Canada and Great Britain. We also hereby extend a formal offer of military alliance to Poland, Georgia, the Ukraine, the Czech Republic, the Republic of Slovakia, Greece, Israel and Japan.

Oct 21, 2009 - 8:44 pm 247. John:

I seriously hope you don’t get hate mail. People should respect your right to hold your own opinion. And people should realize that you are trying to do a noble thing.

I however cannot think of one thing that Obama has done that I can praise. But you won’t find my teeth grit–you’ll just see me stare off into space as I rack my brain trying to think of somewhere he’s been competent in anything.

I can’t believe that I almost fell for the “historical moment” of it, and changed my vote for Obama at least for an afternoon.

Oct 21, 2009 - 9:00 pm 248. q:

You can stop fawning now, over the man living in the WH.
Also who cares what the world thinks about us, it’s a problem when they start to like our policies.

Oct 21, 2009 - 9:00 pm 249. rc:

Right! Your Hopey-Changey is pathetic…the world doesn’t love us more…they simply love Obama more (since he’s already announced how little he loves his own country to anybody who will listen) and respect the US much less…and soon, given that arrogant idiot’s treatment of our Democratic allies, nobody will like him in the end either. We’re toast.

Oct 21, 2009 - 9:05 pm 250. AAR:

I credit any improvement in attitude toward America primarily to the fact that the Democrats, their radical Left-Wing Liberal base (especially their blogs), and the Liberal media are no longer trashing and spreading their hatred for President Bush, America, and our military… non-stop, 24/7, 365 days a year.

The Liberal media and the radical Left Wing of the Democratic party spent 8 years saying every vicious, hateful, and anti-American thing possible about President Bush, our military, and America in general. For 8 years, that’s all people around the world have heard. Democrats, even members of Congress, and their Left-Wing Liberal base equated President Bush to Hitler, Stalin, and Pol Pot; accused (in the minds of the world) our military of the same type of “torture” and butchery as Saddam Hussein and his sons; accused our troops of deliberately murdering civilians in Iraq (which we don’t hear when Obama “accidentally” kills scores of civilians in Afghanistan); released the most embarrassing photos possibly and milked them for weeks (even by Democrats in Congress); equated GITMO with a gulag; etc., etc., etc. After 8 years of the Left-Wing Liberal’s 24/7 hate mongering, it was inevitable that America’s image would be affected, both here and around the world.

Now that the Democrats are in power, and the Liberal media is in Obama’s pocket, the world is no longer “treated” to incessant anti-American propaganda from the Left. Obama and Congress even blocked the release of more photos, knowing they would do nothing but incite hatred for America around the world. Now, Democrats, their Left-Wing base, and the press have done a 180 and have only good things to say about Obama and America, covering up or ignoring negative stories.

Now that the Liberal Left has stopped spewing their incessant hatred around the world, it’s inevitable America’s image would improve!

AAR

Oct 21, 2009 - 9:24 pm 251. SukieTawdry:

190. Adam Feser: Also, how do people not realize a solid standing is hugely important in international relations? Having respect means more countries will be willing to follow us. That is just obvious.

No, what’s obvious is that thus far, Obama hasn’t gotten one thing that’s he’s asked for from all those countries that now respect and are willing to follow us. Zip. More troops for Afghanistan? Nope, sorry. Follow my lead on recession recovery? Not a chance (lucky for them). Sanctions for Iran? Surely you jest. He pulls missile defense out of eastern Europe and the Russians say “thanks, sucker.” He goes before the UN and talks about how the nuclear powers are going to disarm and the French president (the French president) calls him hopelessly naive. He can’t muster even a respectable vote from the international Olympics committee, but five deluded Norwegians made a mockery of themselves, the prize they bestow and ultimately Obama himself by according him an honor he has not earned and does not deserve (but readily accepts). He consistently sides with dictators and despots (and would-be dictators and despots) against the rights of those living under their boot. Are you aware that up to the last day of George Bush’s tenure, Israeli and Palestinian officials were meeting quietly and behind the scenes ironing out the million details that will enable future negotiations? And that all that stopped on the first day of Obama’s tenure and when finally, some eight months later, the process got kick-started again, much more than just time had been lost? What the hell is there to admire about any of that? And surely you can’t think the people who deal at Obama’s level give a rat’s patootie if their citizens “admire” the US.

Please stop referring to Obama’s youth as “poor” and “disadvantaged”. It was quite the antithesis. As much as you guys want to put him in that log cabin studying his law book by candlelight across the table from Abe Lincoln, it ain’t gonna happen. Obama’s people were educated and reasonably affluent. And he was accorded many opportunities along the way.

Oct 21, 2009 - 9:26 pm 252. SukieTawdry:

9. dave morris: No wonder the world has changed its opinion of America. Obama has ended torture as an official policy of the U.S. government. He has ended the policy of refusing to participate in multilateral organizations. He has reversed the U.S. policy of ignoring climate change. He has committed the U.S. to wind down the “war of choice” in Iraq and has renounced the notion of pre-emptive war altogether. He has called for multilateral reductions in nuclear weapons stockpiles. I could go on, but I think you get the picture. Under Obama, America is no longer giving the finger to the rest of the world. If you’ve missed that, you’re living on some other planet.

Oh, for pity’s sake. Torture never was an “official policy of the U.S. government.” And enhanced interrogation techniques had been discontinued long before Obama arrived. Aside from abominations like the ICC, the Kyoto Protocol (neither of which had a prayer of being ratified) and the UN Human Rights Council, in which “multilateral organization” did George Bush refuse to participate? The Bush administration did not ignore “climate change” (just the ridiculous Protocol). In fact for my money, his administration gave it too much credence (although I give them credit for refusing to regulate CO2 emissions). The war in Iraq had already been wound down and Obama is keeping to the schedule agreed to by the Iraqi’s and the Bush administration. And he didn’t “renounce” the “notion” of preemptive war “altogether.” Even he’s not that big a fool. His calls for reductions in nuclear stockpiles met with general derision. Won’t be happening. You are right, though, that Obama isn’t giving the rest of the world the finger (and neither did George Bush, you silly twit). No, he’s too busy giving America the finger. I’m sure you could go on, but please don’t.

Oct 21, 2009 - 10:01 pm 253. Bill:

From their website: The NBI is based on a global survey in which people from across 20 major developed and developing countries are asked to rate each nation in six categories: Exports, Governance, Culture, People, Tourism and Immigration/Investment. The NBI ranking is based on the average of these six scores.

So seriously, they ask people in 20 countries (developed or developing) and expect that to be some kind of litmus test the world over?

That poll is joke.

Oct 21, 2009 - 10:07 pm 254. Anonymous:

While I respect the rights of other countries to do as they please, nor would I ever diminish the eastern hemisphers accomplishments, as anfrican american if find it very hard to give a rats behind about what the rest of the world thinks about us. When you ancestors are the victums of Europeans, Africans, and the Middle east buying and selling people like chattle. You don’t care what they think. You see them for the jealous hypocrits that they are and move on with your life. Europeans sudden respect for peace on eart stems more fromp their impotence, than from ture love of those different from them and true respect. THe only country that has the right to look at the US with disdain is Iraq. The rest of them can take their love of Obama and shove it. We have exported our cutlure to other egions uf the world with much less exploitation th

Oct 21, 2009 - 10:14 pm 255. 2Tru2Tru:

Cuba and Venezuela love us

Oct 21, 2009 - 10:14 pm 256. Ray Robison:

Give Ryan a break, he is right. I am no fan of Obama and consider it likely that he is a hard core leftist in sheep’s clothing. However, his personal story is inspiring. In fact it has inspired me to go to law school. If this tool is qualified to be president just by teaching some law school classes and editing a college paper, I gotta get in on this law degree thing.

Oct 21, 2009 - 10:30 pm 257. Mike:

WND Exclusive FROM WND’S JERUSALEM BUREAU
Mideast leaders believe they can ‘blackmail, cheat’ U.S.
May harden positions following Obama’s overtures to foes
Posted: October 21, 2009
11:55 pm Eastern

By Aaron Klein
© 2009 WorldNetDaily

President Obama

TEL AVIV – Amid recent White House overtures to Syria and Iran, some Mideast leaders are considering hardening their positions against the U.S., believing they may extract more concessions from a conciliatory Obama administration.

“Instead of being pro-American and receiving little, maybe we should change our model to blackmailing and cheating you. This way we will bring more American support,” a Palestinian Authority official told WND yesterday.

The official was offering his analysis of the current U.S. position in the Middle East. He spoke on condition his name be withheld. The official claimed some in the PA were considering adopting a stronger position “so we can have what Syria received without offering much in return.”

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=113629

Oct 21, 2009 - 10:46 pm 258. Class Clown:

That only goes to show that people all over the world are getting into the act of American-style media-saturated celebrity worship. God help us as the entire world devolves into an addled fan club for political pop stars.

Popular is not the same as being respected. Obama certainly is popular.

Oct 21, 2009 - 10:51 pm 259. rachel peeps:

Ryan,

I agree. Obama has changed the image of America. But not for the better. For the worse.

In fact, the Generals in Russia are conducting daily meetings, trying to determine Obama’s reaction to a nuclear attack on Israel. Or a dirty bomb set off at 7th Ave. and 34th street in New York City.

When Reagan was President, they determined these kinds of attacks would result in a vaporized Moscow.

With Obama, the strategy Generals in Russia, are starting to believe Obama would do nothing, but give a threatening speech.
In fact, I agree with them. Obama would take no action.

The world is no longer afraid of the United States. And people who want our families killed by terrorists or
a gambling Iran or Russia should hope we get through the next three plus years unscathed.

Separately, you attempted to link Obama and the American Dream. Ridiculous.

The American Dream is based on the belief that children can grow up to have the material things
their parents had. And more.

Obama believes in a strange, Alinskiesque neo-com (with an “m”) redistribution of wealth.

Ryan, I prefer to give you the benefit of the doubt and say you are extremely naive. At the same time,
I have to aver that your article is pure nonsense.

You may be a good writer, but you’re definitely not a good thinker.

Oct 22, 2009 - 12:08 am 260. susan:

people like vivo who are obsessed with what others think of him are simply paranoid and in desperate need of a psychologist.

Don’t project your low or non existent self esteem onto others, YOU have the problem, YOU must cure it.

Ask any psychologist about it and he will tell you exactly that, the people in desperate need of others’ approval (like the obama voters) have serious problems with themselves.

Oct 22, 2009 - 12:44 am 261. rfpzzzz:

If this guy makes you feel good about the US , you are either not paying attention or you fundamentally hate the fabric of our country.

Oct 22, 2009 - 1:07 am 262. mudskipper:

Ahmadinejad, Mugabe, Chavez & Castro, to name four moral degenerates, would all receive a better reception in the majority of countries across the globe. In comparison to The Messiah or any democratically elected European leader. The 57 members of the Organisation of The Islamic Conference would certainly favour the former.

So is popularity or an “improved image” really worthy of celebration? In reality it’s just confirmation that you’ve lost your moral bearings.

Oct 22, 2009 - 1:33 am 263. distraught:

–
when you fold in poker, other players generally like it.
–
But its not a feat… unless obama does it I guess.

BTW: This Afghanistan indecesion… you would think all those CZARS, would allow him to handle more quicker.

Someday should ask what the czars are for.

Oct 22, 2009 - 2:08 am 264. distraught:

–
when you fold in Poker, your opponents generally like it.
–

Its not a feat, unless your values are reversed, or you have a particular name starting with o.

Oct 22, 2009 - 2:41 am 265. JR:

Yeah, this article was necessary because it suddenly occurred to the author that Obama didn’t have enough praise. LOL I don’t care if someone in another country likes Obama if he’s still ineffective at pulling anything positive off. Afghanistan stinks on ice, the economy is in the toilet. We’re at double digit unemployment, our debt and deficit are epic, and our freedoms are dying daily being crushed under the wheels of his personal agenda, but WAIT! A couple of tinpot dictators like us!! whoo hoo!

That’s not a president, a leader, a national mindset, that’s a freaking bumpersticker.

Oct 22, 2009 - 3:33 am 266. Phil:

I think there is no doubt that in Obama’s short term in office so far he has done an awful lot for America’s image on the world stage – without actually sticking to too many of his pre-election promises. I think he will continue to do good for the US image, particularly in the east, and hopefully stick to his word and make some of the changes he has proposed.

Oct 22, 2009 - 3:40 am 267. moyeti:

Joy, the ingnorant masses around the world are taking heart that we have a leader that will take us down. Take another poll in 2 years, ask who they believe is the most powerful nation in the world.

Oct 22, 2009 - 3:43 am 268. Jerome:

Imbeciles. I can’t think of a more meaningless notion to measure than the collective perceptions of a group of ignoramuses. By the only meaningful measure, the U.S. has been the single most popular place on earth nearly since its creation — that being “where do I want to go to live?”

Oct 22, 2009 - 3:48 am 269. Marc Malone:

We ARE more popular… because the world knows that Obama has abandoned Israel. The hate for America was nothing more than the hate for Jews and our support for them. All we have to do is let them kill all the Jews and everyone will just love us to pieces.

It’s not more complicated than this. It’s not about weakness, or apologies, or anything else. It’s Jew-hatred. Nothing else matters. 90% of U.N. Resolutions are anti-Israel. They have 6,000,000 reasons to hate Jews: 6,000,000 Jews.

Oct 22, 2009 - 3:50 am 270. Jerome:

You add Obama’s personal likeability, ability to inspire, and eloquent rhetoric

And you still get zero.

Oct 21, 2009 – 5:31 am
____________________________________

Heh.

He needn’t have worried his empty head about hate mail. This piece is too funny to inspire passion. I wouldn’t waste the 45 seconds required to find his email address.

Oct 22, 2009 - 3:52 am 271. elfman2:

We were 3rd place last year. What’s the big deal? So we moved up two spots. Okay now what?

Oct 22, 2009 - 3:56 am 272. elfman2:

Okay, we were 7th place place last year – ahead of the “obnoxious rouge states” of Austria, Switzerland and Sweden. What’s the big deal?

Oct 22, 2009 - 4:04 am 273. archer52:

Sounds like the author has realized that he better get on the side of the bread where the butter is spread. Is he bucking for a consulting job or some CNN time?

It isn’t fair to write and article based on a premise not examined or verified. First, what is the organization which published the rankings? Second, how did they obtain the data? Third, who did they interview to get their conclusions. If the company is a shill for Soros, the data was compiled from phone interviews with people in less than democratic countries with a a controlled media it could be argued that ranking number one is a bad thing! It would be like asking Putin and the mullahs of Iran if the decision to remove a missile defense from Poland was a good idea and the leading with headline “World leaders agree President Obama is number one good guy!”

Duh. I think I’ll hold my water on this one for a while. Bush rubbed a lot of people the wrong way because it made them make a decision- are you with us, or with the bad guys. In today’s world actually standing for something and then doing something about it is troublesome for many, especially the Europeans.

Hey, good luck on that stint with MSNBC and CNN. I’ll let you go because I’m sure Chris M. is trying to get you on the other line.

Oct 22, 2009 - 4:39 am 274. Robert:

Lots of commentators before me have said it far better than me but I am going to chime in anyway. It doesn’t matter if the populations of other countries like America more nor does it matter if the press in other countries like America more. It hasn’t translated to more support from those countries Governments at all. In fact our real Allies are probably concerned that this Nation in the interest of getting along will not support them in a time of crisis.

Being most popular guy on the World Stage is completely useless if there is no respect behind it. Without respect all the flowery speeches or fierce demands will be nothing more than empty words in the wind as enemies continue on with their plans chuckling behind the smiles that hide scornful derision.

A Leader who leads with strength will of course generate ill will but will get things accomplished. Is our President accomplishing anything besides being admired by the World ?

Oct 22, 2009 - 4:56 am 275. Willie1:

Who cares what they think, and why has somebody justified studying our popularity rating for years?

Oct 22, 2009 - 5:14 am 276. Hawker:

Maybe the writer hasn’t noticed that Obama always does the opposite of what he promises. Also never in your wildest dreams is he continuing GWB’s policies

Oct 22, 2009 - 5:20 am 277. Walt:

Is this article a joke? Typical, senseless liberal garbage. So a few countries like us a little better – who cares? Not me!

Oct 22, 2009 - 5:38 am 278. Now and Then:

259. rachel peeps:

“In fact, the Generals in Russia are conducting daily meetings, trying to determine Obama’s reaction to a nuclear attack on Israel. Or a dirty bomb set off at 7th Ave. and 34th street in New York City.”

No, no, no, you got it all wrong. I was in that meeting and the discussion wasn’t t all about a nuclear strike. It was about how to sow dissent and ignorance through right wing media outlets. They call it the Fox News Five Year Plan. Your post is proof of their evil intentions. Don’t be a pawn for the Rooskies.

Oct 22, 2009 - 5:46 am 279. tommyd:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UErR7i2onW0&feature=player_embedded

nuff said…

Oct 22, 2009 - 5:51 am 280. JonNY:

Isn’t it entirely possible that our rating went up simply because bush is out of office. I’d bet that our rating would have gone up no matter who we elected. The media was very effective at villifying bush / America…. Any change would have been an improvement in the eyes of the world after that rhetoric. This guy has done nothing to perpetuate our ideals or principles. Simply put, he has strong socialistic ideas and socialist countries love that. No socialism for me thaks!

Oct 22, 2009 - 6:19 am 281. vivo:

When people around the world read this thread, the image of the USA takes a deep, fast nosedive.

Who cares, you say. Good luck when you travel.

Oct 22, 2009 - 6:41 am 282. Eric:

Why do Americans care SO much about the World’s opinion??? Its pathetic. America is the most noble, honorable, ethical country in the world. Why do we continue to strive for acceptance from lesser nations?

Oct 22, 2009 - 7:13 am 283. Now and Then:

USA loses Oypmic bid . . . YEY!
Obama wins Nobel Prize – BOO!
America respected in the world – BOO!

Wow, that Griff Jenkins is more powerful than I thought.

Oct 22, 2009 - 7:14 am 284. jeffrey nydick:

Simply put, the author of this article is a fool. Of what importance whatsoever is The Nation Brands Index? Who cares what the Europeon Left thinks of the style of our president? They also awarded The Dithering Obambi a Nobel Peace Prize. This article is nothing short of Daily Beast material.

Oct 22, 2009 - 7:25 am 285. Real Deal:

What is this guy smoking?

The only reason the world loves Obama is they see him as single-handedly ending America’s time as the sole remaining “super power”. They also see him ceding US sovereignty to unelected international councils and they love it. In fact Obama is basically a foreign policy joke, he’s either botched things badly or been brushed off by other nations.

Oct 22, 2009 - 7:34 am 286. Bard:

Ryan Mauro – you’re a flipping idiot.

Oct 22, 2009 - 7:47 am 287. Paul A'Barge:

Mauro is a fraud. Why?

Do you know the criteria in the survey used that put the USA up to number 1?

From the article:
The NBI is based on a global survey in which people from across 20 major developed and developing countries are asked to rate each nation in six categories: Exports, Governance, Culture, People, Tourism and Immigration/Investment. The NBI ranking is based on the average of these six scores.

Do you see Barack Obama in any of these criteria? Do you see Barack Obama’s policies and international apology-for-America tours in any of these specific criteria?

No? I don’t either.

I repeat: Ryan Mauro is a fraud.

Oct 22, 2009 - 8:01 am 288. Marcy:

It sounds nice to be more popular, and I can’t see how it can do too much harm. But I knew many Europeans who were in their twenties before WWII, and they said that the general attitude in Europe toward the US was one of contempt and disdain. They thought we were stupid, unsophisticated and backward. And millions of Americans still had to die saving European butt. What am I saying? I don’t know, but I think this popularity issue is worth looking into more deeply.

Oct 22, 2009 - 8:08 am 289. Fortunate Son:

Most points have already been covered, but one point that hasn’t been truly highlighted yet is: simple human nature. Most of the world is simply jealous of the United States. Most would come here it they could.

Like it or not, right or wrong, for the last 64 years, we have been the center of the world. Every other country has either been irrelevant, or an enemy.

Even today, let’s break it down. First let’s start with the standard of living of, say, the “middle class” of most nations around the world. 99% of Africa, 90% of South America, 90% of the Middle East and 90 % of Asia are still sh*t holes. That pretty much leaves Europe. Their standard of living is much closer to the U.S., but they still lack. In Europe, most middle class families have one tiny car, live in a tiny house and still can’t afford to bath on a regular basis.

Now let’s talk about stature. Only the U.S. has been able produce both “Guns and Butter,” to use economic terminology. Our values and political system have produced great wealth for its people as well as maintain an unprecedented ability to protect itself and its friends. Russia may have had a powerful military, but trying to keep up with us broke them and their country was, and still is, turd world sh#t hole in every other aspect. China may be up and coming, but that country is still turd world as well. They have only prospered because they essentially have slave labor. Once their exploited masses wake up, they will have their difficulties.

Europe lives by our leave and has no military to speak of because they can’t afford one. European males might as well be eunuchs. Talk about an inferiority complex. Of course they are not going to like us. Africa and the East, well let’s face facts, they are still savages and it appears they always will be.

Yes world is very jealous of us, but they have high hopes that the big zero will turn us into another turd world sh&t hole or toothless welfare state so we can fit in with the rest of the world.

Oct 22, 2009 - 8:40 am 290. Real Deal:

@ Marcy:

People seem to forget that America is a land of “outcasts”, our ancestors are made up of people who either fled or were driven from Europe for their religious beliefs. Then you have the poor immigrants who came to America for a better life, people who were from peasant stock and considered the bottom rung of European society. Then these outcasts an peasants not only rivaled European powers and had the gall to enact the Monroe Doctrine, but also saved Europe from its own folly twice.

Envy and jealousy will keep most Europeans from ever liking America as a whole.

Oct 22, 2009 - 8:49 am 291. S. Denny:

This is a bit like learning that fans of the Dallas Cowboys are generally in favor of the job Dan Snyder is doing running the Washington Redskins.

Oct 22, 2009 - 8:52 am 292. octogalore:

Vivo is deluded re “good luck when you travel.” Are you seriously suggesting that our hosts at our travel destinations are going to play spot the conservative, and treat us accordingly? Um, no. There’s an international language that dictates how travelers are treated, and if Dear Leader doesn’t remove it all prior to next vacation, I think we can count on the usual good treatment.

As liberals are known to be tighter with the wallet, however, perhaps others’ experience is different. Or, possibly that’s just the liberal response to charitable giving, rather than entertainment expenditure.

Oct 22, 2009 - 9:53 am 293. Sunshine Connie:

Everyone tolerates and eggs on a buffoon who is putting themselves down while giving away buckets o’money. Do not confuse that for respect.

Oct 22, 2009 - 10:20 am 294. octogalore:

I am a partner in a small business and we have several competitors in our state. One of them, A, is very aggressive and has a high deal volume and success rate. They are viewed as tough negotiators whenever we are faced with doing a deal split with them, and are hard to go up against in a beauty contest. The other, B, doesn’t have the same work ethic and is a pushover in negotiations.

We have decided that we don’t like A, but that we greatly like B and their temperament and personality. B is quite popular with us.

The partners and employees of B, however, are not doing so well.

Oct 22, 2009 - 11:21 am 295. Ryan Waxx:

Mauro claims that the world is opposed to our policies and our goals. Fair enough. But then he doesn’t make the critical connection: Obama is popular to the extent that he’s repudiated and/or condemned those policies and those goals. Which is great for popularity, but poison for getting anything done.

So long as he’s content to achieve nothing except winning popularity contests, that’s a fine and wonderful thing. But as the old Wendy’s commercials ask… “Where’s the Beef?”

Oct 22, 2009 - 1:05 pm 296. Will:

Go play in the steet Ryan !!

Oct 22, 2009 - 5:36 pm 297. vivo:

282. Eric:

“Why do we continue to strive for acceptance from lesser nations?”

‘Lesser’ by what standard?

292. octogalore:

“Are you seriously suggesting that our hosts at our travel destinations are going to play spot the conservative, and treat us accordingly? Um, no.”

Not instantly. There can be unspoken actions and unreleased information, all depending on their level of education and business interest.

Oct 22, 2009 - 7:20 pm 298. michelle from ny:

Vivo, you’re (“Not instantly. There can be bla bla, bla) last two sentences are the dumbest, most inane things ever appearing on PJM. You make Mauro sound like a friggin genius. If I were you, I’d crawl under a bush and cry like a baby. Your lack of intelligence is truly astounding. It’s like you fell from the stupid tree and hit every branch coming down. Not even the witless protection program will take you now. Just when I think you can’t say anything more ignorant, you totally redeem yourself.
You need to go to confession and confess you’re a fool.

Oct 22, 2009 - 11:54 pm 299. Robin888:

A real knee-slapper! By far the most ridiculous statement, and thats really saying something, is that Obama “personifies…the credibility of American values.” Hilarious!

Oct 23, 2009 - 6:42 am 300. deguello:

HEY MAURON,GINGRICH’s on the phone(another moron);he wants you to manage Sciffossa’s campaign!

Oct 23, 2009 - 10:59 am 301. Citizen Jones:

I am flabbergasted at this. Is this for real or a joke? When EVER has the United States desired the good feelings of the world at large when it takes an action? If you have principles, you act according to them and to Heck with what others think. If they share your principles, then good enough. If they don’t too bad: that’s why it’s a principle, d’oh! And this mealy-mouth of a President who, when faced with a crisis about something he has said, always backtracks, makes excuses and changes his tune! He has done this time and time again. The phrase “thrown under the bus” has hit a high with this man. Unfortunately he’s both the President and the punch line of a joke.

He has no backbone and the world sees it. No wonder they like him: he makes the US a non-player. (I wish a man like Colin Powell or Thomas Sowell or Clarence Thomas would have been the first black President. These are men who are Americans with principles, even if I don’t agree with everything they’ve said or done.)

This is like the family reunion where you get to see the one relative that everybody agrees with and pats on the back and then ignores. Welcome to the Age of Obama, where the US is irrelevant and everyone can see it: we’re being patted on the back daily, and then ignored! Thanks a bunch, Mr. President. And thanks to you Ryan, for not seeing the Sequoias because the trees are in your way! Geez Louise, this would be laughable except it’s too tragic.

Oct 23, 2009 - 11:14 am 302. Ted:

Ted Bundy redux.

Oct 23, 2009 - 3:15 pm 303. deguello:

#286 BARD “RYAN MAURO, YOUR’RE A FLIPPING IDIOT”.TRUE ENOUGH, BARD, BUT HE’S ALSO A “MAURON”.

Oct 23, 2009 - 3:52 pm 304. xiphos:

Either this article is a joke, or the author started smoking his underwear just prior to putting this piece together

Oct 23, 2009 - 7:02 pm 305. small goverment:

It’s better to be respected and not liked than liked and not respected.

Especialy traveling !

Oct 23, 2009 - 11:13 pm 306. tommyd:

7 lies in under 2 minutes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UErR7i2onW0&feature=player_embedded

This guy is a total fraud.

Oct 24, 2009 - 5:49 pm 307. vivo:

298. michelle from ny:

You didn’t say anything. New Yorkers think they ARE the world because they are surrounded by 103 nationalities. They live like rats. Now I know what Letterman means with his rat jokes. The world doesn’t love you, they love your money. Now, who’s the fool?

Oct 25, 2009 - 2:04 am 308. tommyd:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UErR7i2onW0&feature=player_embedded

Oct 25, 2009 - 3:08 am 309. philly_nj:

If the White House was a Golden Delicious apple.
There is only one thing worse than finding a worm in our apple….
…after one bite finding a half a worm in your apple
.

Oct 25, 2009 - 5:25 am