Pajamas Media

115 Comments

1. Andy Maxwell:

Eight years of a Democratic Congress telling the world how awful we are, only serves to feed the negative opinions. Then to spend taxpayer money on such reports only ads insult to injury. In the South we have a saying that covers reports like this: “Its useless as tits on a boar hog”.

Jun 14, 2008 - 10:33 am 2. Sandra M:

“86 percent of “Latin American elites” rating U.S. relations negatively).”

Probably true. Do you know why? Because Latin American elites have always sent their sons and daughters to be educated in the United States. And what do they learn in American universities? Marxism, anti-americanism, a glorification of the loathesome Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. How many Europeans, Arabs, Iranians, Asians et al have come here , absorbed this poison and taken it home and for how many generations?

My grandmothers both sent their sons to be educated here. That was in the 1910’s. I know because 3 sons fought for the American Army in World War I.

In my convent boarding school in 1950 my dorm mates were Cuban (sugar) Venezuelan (oil) Colombian( land) Puerto Rican (law) Ecuadorian, etc. Their mothers had attended our high school a generation before.

We EXPORT ANTI-AMERICANISM. And still everyone in the world wants to move here and live the good life.

Guilt-ridden American elites were taken in by communists. Immigrants who remember or have been told by their parents or grandparents how bad things were in the old country are those who frequently love and appreciate America most.

Thank God for the Irish. Tim Russert is being eulogized today and he quotes his father’s line: “what a country!” Indeed.

Ayn Rand was once talking to a group of union men during the Wilkie for President campaign. One heckler, noting her thick Russian accent, shouted down: “Who are you to tell us who to vote for? You weren’t even born here.” Rand shouted back: “I CHOSE to be an American, what did you ever do?” and the crowd roared in approval.

John Kerry was going to solve the problem of anti-Americanism so obvious among the Europeans. Oops. Europeans voted out the anti-American Chirac and Schroeder and replaced them with pro-American leaders. So did Italy, and England just voted out London’s Red Mayor.

I once read that the Soviets allowed only one American TV series to be shown in Russia: Brett Butler’s GRACE UNDER about a single mother, oil refinery worker. This poor American working woman had a car (a clunker but still, only the elites in Russia had any kind of car). She lived in a house with her 3 children (in a nation where large families share small apartments) She had an old refrigerator, but a refrigerator nonetheless. Not exactly a propaganda coup for the left, but the best they could do.

Maria Shriver and two other journalists went looking for poverty in Appalachia. They found a black man living in a trailer without running water, but there in the background I could see a color TV.

When communist sympathizers Simone Signoret and Yves Montand came here, they wanted to see the downtrodden Black poor in Los Angeles. What they saw were television antennas everywhere, not their idea of poverty.

We have poverty in America, but we don’t have the kind of starvation there is in Africa, Asia, et al. And may I give the guilt-ridden, elite environmentalists something to really feel guilty about?

We are creating real hunger and starvation in Africa, Asia and Central and South America and sky high food prices for Americans (our livestock are fed corn) with our soybean and corn subsidies for ethanol. Feel guilty about that, you damned watermelons (Russian word for environmentalists: green on the outside, red on the inside).

Jun 14, 2008 - 10:48 am 3. Javelin:

Whining about one’s lack of popularity is a weak, vain worldview.

Jun 14, 2008 - 10:54 am 4. RE:

I’m perfectly content to be unpopular for the right reasons.

Europe has rendered itself as impotent. The UN is a cesspool of corruption. The US doing the right thing exposes them for what they are – weak, corrupt, and cowardly – and they resent us for it.

It would have help had the Bush Administration displayed some level on competence in communications and public relations. They were an abject failure in that department. They essentially ceded the entire debate to the inherently hostile anti-American left. But on the fundamentals they were correct. American efforts are now bearing fruit.

I still blame the Iraq War on Saddam, the UN, and Europe – in that order. None of them lived up to their words, resolutions, or treaty agreements.

They can dislike us all they like.

Jun 14, 2008 - 11:06 am 5. Mary:

Very well-written piece, Ms. Johnson.

The report’s name should be changed from “The Decline in America’s Reputation: Why?” to “The Decline in America’s Reputation: Who Cares?” As you rightly point out, we’re not in some Sally Field-style popularity contest. Doing hard things usually comes with some heat.

What irks me is all the time and (taxpayers’) money wasted on even bothering with such a thing.

Jun 14, 2008 - 11:15 am 6. ic:

Do you know whom I hated most in high school?

The girl who was always the top of the class, whose father was one of the richest people, and worst of all, she was the nicest and prettiest person one’d have ever met. It’s her fault that I hated her.

Jun 14, 2008 - 11:37 am 7. John Samford:

There is no evidence that the world does hate America. That is an canard used by those that do hate America to move their agenda along;
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23599516-7583,00.html

It is spread by Socialists in Europe and here in the States. IMHO, the main reason is that with a vibrant capitalistic democracy for comparison, Socialism looks pretty bad. So they are reacting the same way the local prom queen does when she comes face to face with a Hollywood grade beauty.
The focus becomes envy and spite. Tearing down instead of building up.
Or as Gracie said;
“When the truth is found
to be lies.
And all the joy within you dies.”

Capitalism is a celebration of hope. The base of capitalism is that anyone thru their own efforts can be sucessful. Socialism is the death of hope. No matter how hard your efforts, the government gets the lion’s share.

To a true Liberal, Socialism is a religion. So when America is successful, it shows that they are worshiping a false god. The ‘truth’ is found to be lies. The joy within dies and they lash out.
I don’t consider that rational behavior, but then again, I have never seen any evidence of rational behavior by Liberals.
So the Hate America stuff is coming from the left and those despots that actually have something to fear from America. Europe and the Middle East, mainly. The rest of the world is fine with America and even in Europe and the ME it is the self styled elites that are squealing.
The average Joe, if thy think about America at all, it’s on how to get here and grab some loot.

Anyone that needs to be loved by everyone has issues and should seek professional help. If someone that is willing to set an elementary school on fire then use automatic weapons on the children fleeing the flames hates me, I’m OK with that. Proud of it even.

Jun 14, 2008 - 11:48 am 8. Javelin:

Of course, it’s all due to someone else’s faulty perception, after all, we all know that are policies and leaders are beyond reproach. I mean, didn’t the whole world fret over the poor people in Iraq and demand their government freee them to ease their conscience

Jun 14, 2008 - 11:52 am 9. venividivici:

What a bunch of hand-wringing jerkoffs. Historically speaking, America is the most benevolent hegemon the world has ever had. Period and it’s only severe historical amnesia that allows people to say otherwise. And the “Palestinians” should be collectively lined up against a wall and shot.

Jun 14, 2008 - 12:18 pm 10. Javelin:

“Anyone that needs to be loved by everyone has issues and should seek professional help. If someone that is willing to set an elementary school on fire then use automatic weapons on the children fleeing the flames hates me, I’m OK with that. Proud of it even.”.
Talk about demonizing millions of people, it’s people with your shallow, paranoid worldview who seem to be shaping policy. You sound like an LGF type person.

Jun 14, 2008 - 12:23 pm 11. Charlie (Colorado):

I was going to make a longer comment, but I don’t need to: +1 for Mary and John both.

Jun 14, 2008 - 1:08 pm 12. vb:

Why does the world hate America? Maybe having the Dems giving Michael Moore credibility by seating him next to Jimmy Carter at the last convention has something to do with it. Maybe recent Hollywood movies has something to do with it. Maybe Brittany and Paris have something to do with it. Maybe the NYT and CNN have something to do with it. I could go on.

Jun 14, 2008 - 1:56 pm 13. venividivici:

Javelin,

Talk about demonizing millions of people

Ever hear this saying about shoes and fitting? Out of billions of people, are you saying that there aren’t millions worthy of demonizing? Or, as I like to call it, telling the truth about?

Now, do you want to present a logical argument or are feelings enough for you to reach a conclusion?

Jun 14, 2008 - 2:17 pm 14. JK:

Charlie (CO) likely ’nuff said but I’d like to go ahead and extend appreciation for Marys’ wording on her final sentence. I am certain that too much was spent on asking the disaffected in whichever countries were surveyed. I find the “findings” curious.

A few years after Viet Nam I found myself (still on active-then not) travelling in many of the areas CENTCOM now oversees and made some friends, many acquaintances. Except for those few folks (of course this is an “age thing” mainly) we still keep in touch occasionally. Anti-Americanism doesn’t seem to be a problem as far as I’m concerned although those I keep in touch with realize the US isn’t really interested in being a contestant in any popularity contests.

And as far as the US education system being to blame-some credence here of course-but if one goes in with open eyes and develops critical thinking skills, all the commie socialist nincompoops in Academia can’t make the entire student body mirror themselves.

http://www.fpri.org/footnotes/1304.200804.luxenberg.originsisraelpalestine.html

Hey Congress! Please spend my tax dollars on getting something tangible done.

Jun 14, 2008 - 2:26 pm 15. Michael T:

To all American bashers and ordinary Americans, please, please, please do not pay any attention to those who would lessen your sense of self-esteem. All those who hate America are jealous and envious of your success. As a Canadian, I can safely say I would not want anyone else as my neighbor. I am comforted by your presence next door. You are my greatest trading partner.You are the country most allied with our values and life-style. And i know if the chips were down, you’d be the first ones’ there to help. So don’t pay attention to those who lessen your self-esteem and diminish your self-respect. You have made mistakes, and at times have been a disappointment,but you have one endless capacity and that is of repair. Carry on and God Bless America.

Jun 14, 2008 - 10:08 pm 16. Tom W.:

Everybody hates America, and everybody wants to move to America.

Jun 15, 2008 - 1:58 am 17. Brad:

Memo to world: Blow us!

Jun 15, 2008 - 5:20 am 18. Bill in New York:

Does America EXPORT anti-americanism? Hell yes, we all pay for it with our taxes, and here is a very good example of your tax dollars at work allowing muslims to preach jidhadism to children inside the U.S.: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121339952713673705.html it’s the responsibility of every one of us to take action and do something to stop it.

Jun 15, 2008 - 5:26 am 19. Raj:

Its primarily ENVY that drives anti-americanism. And the sure fact that America wont be sending out death squads to punish it. The liberals need to CALM down and stop painting America as evil. This self-criticism is utterly lacking in either China, India or even Europe. Nothing amazes me , an immigrant from the nonwhite/third world, to see Europeans acting prissy and getting uppity with America. Should the Germans even be allowed to express any opinion on any war? They would have EXTINGUISHED all civilization…all non-whites, in the 1940s, but for sheer timing and America kicking the door down and civilizing them.

That being said, the boomer generation and the following gnerations have no manners,civility and “reserve” that made the older generation of Americans/their diplomats/public officials inspire AWE (Starting at the top). And just look at the top programs on TV. Why would The orthodox conservative societies RESPECT America? or be AWED? So much crudensss, crass, vulgarity being peddled, not only to local population but being EXPORTED all over the world. Ironically, all these peddlers of crudeness act prissy and “are “liberal” in their political views.

The new generation growing up with Zinn’s version of American history, are being fed ONLY with what America did wrong. Theres no comparison to how other CONTEMPORARY societies were behaving at the same time. How THEY treated their own minorities, weak and the powerless. Lacking this perspective, they are judging events of yesterday with the contemporary standards of today. That too, they are judging only America’s faults, not other socities – even as of TODAY. If the rest of the world is so guilt-free and are lands of milk and honey, then why are some chinese coming to america in boxes/crates?

And conservative extremists like Tancredo and Pat B. aren’t making things any better either. When I first saw Tancredo’s name a few years ago, I was surprised as to why a mexican would be railing against other mexicans. If I met him on the street somewhere outside of America, I wouldnt have thought of him as an “American” – plain truth. But so much for my own racism. His kind of race-baiting and FOX’s not so subtle racism aren’t going to make America look good either.

Jun 15, 2008 - 5:46 am 20. harry:

The rest of the world can go to hell should be America’s motto. You are all a bunch of pathetic impotent liars. Common sense a trait long forgotten in America needs to be resurrected. We have billions of barrels of oil sitting under our very noses yet we can’t mine a single drop. What rediculousness. Let the rest of the world spill their blood and money to supply themselves with oil. Let them send their boys to battle to protect the innocent. When we minimize our dependency on foreign oil we stop caring about every little skirmish. Then watch the rest of the world come begging for our help as they always do. Europe is totally pathetic. The keystone cops had better logistics than they. All they have is their stale foul breaths to thwart world antagonists. It all about oil folks how many times must I repeat this until I get some respect. Islamic countries control most of the world’s oil supply and our civilizations run on oil. All else emerges from this basic fact. For instance we pay billions to Saudi Arabia for oil as they fund fundamentalist clerics. We being dependent on oil must kiss Saudi ass as they kick ours. Even as we defend them from the likes of Iran. We should not be begging them to increase output. As long as we play this game they have every right to produce as much or as little oil as they want. We cannot continue to be gluttonous pigs either. We have a responsibility to ourselves and our children to be economical with Earth’s resources. We have no choice but to begin mining at home. That time has arrived like the tsunami of 2006.

Jun 15, 2008 - 6:22 am 21. Letalis Maximus, Esq.:

Yeah, nobody ever tries to immigrate to America anymore.

Jun 15, 2008 - 6:58 am 22. cjg of eroticalee:

Like it or not Americans are the most dynamic and interesting people on the planet.This Canadian agrees with Michael T you couldn’t ask for a better neighbour.

Jun 15, 2008 - 7:06 am 23. Grateful Patriot:

We are creating real hunger and starvation in Africa, Asia and Central and South America and sky high food prices for Americans (our livestock are fed corn) with our soybean and corn subsidies for ethanol. Feel guilty about that, you damned watermelons (Russian word for environmentalists: green on the outside, red on the inside).

============================================

An all-around excellent post, Sandra! I served my country honorably in more than just a few of the armpits of the world, where TRUE poverty exists. I consider myself a Ronald Reagan Republican who’s party has lost it’s moral compass, as well as it’s appreciation for unprecedented INDEPENDENCE! That leaves us with fence-sitting conservative wannabes or “watermelons” as you so aptly refer to them running this once great country. We’re all surely in for MUCH rougher times….

Jun 15, 2008 - 7:09 am 24. Vinny Vidivici:

Day in and day out, global media in the ‘free’ West and their state-controlled cousins in places like the Middle East and China present a one-sided narrative of ceasless American wickedness and villainy.

This ginned-up animus is then presented to Americans — most often by other Americans — as ‘proof’ of their country’s waywardness. What a racket. The answer to the question ‘why they hate us’ is that there is simply no competing narrative on offer — America’s insecure, spineless so-called leadership classes having abandoned the field to its critics.

Europeans lecturing on matters of global order maintenance? Please. A pair of global wars, industrialized genocide, the immiseration of nearly half the planet by communism, fascism, socialism . . . and that’s just in that last hundred years.

Finding morality in a consensus of kleptocrats, presidents-for-life and gangsters posing as statesmen? As Mark Steyn once wrote, mixing dog feces with ice cream won’t give you anything tasting like ice cream.

Anti-Americanism thrives in the absence of an alternative. It thrives as a cottage industry dominated by American hustlers like Michael Moore. It thrives because it is encouraged by institutions shaping public opinion. It thrives because there is simply no downside to exhibiting such fashionable bigotry. Admirably, it is not the America way to punish critics with anything stronger than rhetoric; its most frequent response is reflex doubt and self-flagellation.

It’s often hard to determine the value of something without comparing it to something else. The day an EU ambassador is informed by the Chinese foreign ministry that scathing editorials or street protests with papier mache puppets during an upcoming state visit will jeopardize industrial contracts worth billions of Euros and thousands of job is the day our cousins across the Atlantic will understand the difference between a benign hegemon and the America they love to hate.

Jun 15, 2008 - 7:17 am 25. Johnm:

How much did this absurd exercise in the irrelevant cost the US taxpayer?

Jun 15, 2008 - 7:48 am 26. obladioblada:

Popularity polls are important if you’re selling soft drinks or toothpaste.

Whatever mistakes he’s made, Bush is to be admired for the fortitude to make and sustain tough, unpopular decisions. Principle over polls.

Jun 15, 2008 - 8:07 am 27. silvermine:

When was the US ever liked? That’s my question. The same headlines you read today were in the papers during WWII, WWI, and so forth. Do you think Europe loved us in the 18th century?!

The dislike and jealousy has always been there. Always.

Jun 15, 2008 - 8:20 am 28. Don:

They hate us because they want to be us. They think our freedom and largess is wasted on lumpen that don’t “appreciate” what they have (and probably most true of the liberal elite, who suffer no inconvenience themselves). They argue about our imperialism (while they practice it). And they scream blood libels about our “racism” and “intolerances” while they refine theirs.

Jun 15, 2008 - 8:20 am 29. David P:

Everyone hates #1, it’s the way of the world, they all want to be us, come here, and live here.

Jun 15, 2008 - 8:23 am 30. exception:

“The Decline in America’s Reputation: Meh.”

Jun 15, 2008 - 8:29 am 31. Richard:

The world doesn’t hate America. The Left hates America.

Jun 15, 2008 - 8:29 am 32. JFP:

No one likes us, but we don’t care. It sounds like the Millwall soccer team:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=T-4ce7bfvIk

I’m being facetious. I’m not trying to compare Americans with soccer hooligans. I agree with most of the comments here, except Javelin’s.

Jun 15, 2008 - 8:34 am 33. Mark E:

The rest of the world doesn’t like us.

Fine.

Just another reason for building the fence and getting immigration under control. “They” don’t like us means that “They” aren’t welcome here.

Also — another reason to stop paying tribute (sorry, I meant ‘foreign aid’, ‘development grants’, ‘UN dues’) to foreign nations & organizations.

Jun 15, 2008 - 8:44 am 34. Kranky Old Guy:

Richard says: “The world doesn’t hate America. The Left hates America.”

Richard got it right, and if I may expound on that slightly. The Left of the World hates us, ordinary folks of the world love America. The Left says: “America is evil, America is the Great Satan, America is the cause of all the world’s problems! — WHEN CAN I GO?”

Jun 15, 2008 - 8:47 am 35. Tim:

“The Decline in America’s Congress: Liberals.”

Oh, one more thing.

Javelin,

You’re an idiot.

Cheers.

Jun 15, 2008 - 8:48 am 36. Kevin Baker:

Is there a country superior to America?

Jun 15, 2008 - 8:55 am 37. Saltherring:

The left is all about “feelings”, while the right is about logic, reason and fact. I’d rather be hated for standing firm against evil than loved for being complicit with the world’s despots, even if that means standing alone.

Jun 15, 2008 - 9:00 am 38. Don:

If we were so concerned about other people’s people opinion of us and what we should do to make them happy, we’d still be an assortment of British colonies.

Jun 15, 2008 - 9:04 am 39. Charlie (Texas):

Hate America?

Hell, you shoulda heard my lefty neighbors and colleagues in the SF Bay Area scream when I told ‘em we were moving to Texas. One after another felt free to unload with diatribes about what a vile, Bush-loving, backward state Texas is, most never having spent a day here in their opinionated little lives.

Pretty much confirmed we were making the right decision. Just goes to show you, people with a chip on their shoulder will criticize Eden.

Jun 15, 2008 - 9:06 am 40. Mary:

Awesome link, Kevin Baker — thanks.

Jun 15, 2008 - 9:10 am 41. tachyonshuggy:

Sandra M:

Grace Under Fire ran from 93-98. Soviet Russia did not exist at the time.

Jun 15, 2008 - 9:12 am 42. Bubba:

Well, the rest of the world likes me OK, except for that one guy down at the beer joint who keeps trying to knock me out. I don’t care what those “furiners” think.

Jun 15, 2008 - 9:16 am 43. Achillea:

“Popularity polls are important if you’re selling soft drinks or toothpaste.”

And America has no trouble whatsoever selling either one, which suggests this ’study’ is an exercise in BS.

Jun 15, 2008 - 9:17 am 44. Morton Doodslag:

It should be remembered that Mr. Jim Zogby is in the employ of the Saudis. Though a self professed Christian Arab, he nevertheless always tows the pro-Jihad pro-Islam line, and suffuses his political view with the typical boilerplate anti-American blather.

I have traveled the world, and while there are many wonderful places in it, and wonderful people too, the world is also filled to overflowing with bitter, evil, and incompetent societies and governments. Corruption elsewhere, almost everywhere, makes the storied American corruption the Left loves to trumpet to the world look downright saintly. Most of the rest of the world craves what we have here, and loathes us because they can’t face the truth about their own staggering failures when compared to our staggering successes. They’d rather hate us than fix their attitudes. But in the end, the entire world emulates us when the opportunity affords itself. They insult is to our face, and turn around and flatter us by imitating us in secret. Pitiful, but true.

If we were nearly as bad as all those America-loathing non-Americans would have us believe, we’d spend zero time worrying about their opinions, and 100% of our time humiliating them for their failures. Instead, we worry about their opinions, and spend vast treasures in time and money and even blood teaching them how to be better at everything.

Jun 15, 2008 - 9:34 am 45. Michael Canzano:

America hating is a product of Liberal propaganda. The truth is the haters would have to be physically hog tied and dragged in order to get them out of the country. “America is the country on the Planet closest to Heaven.”
American Christian Infidel

Jun 15, 2008 - 9:56 am 46. redherkey:

Perhaps we need to retitle “The Decline in America’s Reputation: Why?” as “The Decline in America’s Reputation: Who the fsck cares?”

I’ve never understood how most on the left are so worked up about how other people feel about them, especially when its others not equipped as moral or intellectual equivalents to judge. They’re horrified that visionaries (aka uneducated, sociopathic thugs) like Putin, Chavez, Castro think poorly of us, while disregard the judgment of the Thatchers, Sarkozys, etc. They volunteer to serve as hostages to protect Saddam’s military command and control, yet are AWOL in demanding openness for relief in Burma (in fact, they’re absolutely silent on any form of genocide, which relieves them of any moral authority).

Is this just bad upbringing in sitzpinkler-demanding pussified households, or is it the deeper pathology of the loser and wimp?

Jun 15, 2008 - 10:09 am 47. Kevin Baker:

You’re welcome, Mary. I wrote that quite a while back, and it still reads good!

Jun 15, 2008 - 10:15 am 48. Rubicon:

After years of liberal media rantings & attack oriented journalism, is it any wonder polls taken among selected persons reflect a disdain for us?
Grease the pig enough & no one can catch it! The media has greased the public here & internationally, with a hatred of the nation liberals always hated.
Haditha, Iraq is a prime example. Only two more Marines to be vindicated before we demand Democrat Murtha & his extremist liberal leftist allies apologize for their despicable attacks of good men doing the honorable thing for all of us & the Iraqi people!

Jun 15, 2008 - 10:30 am 49. jake:

The other day a Brit friend told me that we (”the Americans) had a big problem with the new, more powerful, and autocratic Russia. I responded by saying that it was less a problem for us than for his country. Suddenly the tone of the conversation changed. Much less anti-American rhetoric, much more about friendly alliances and special relationships. Americans would be wise to call out the alternatives to the present world order once in a while. (Note: Robert Kagan’s latest has a nice, concise overview of that Order).

Jun 15, 2008 - 10:32 am 50. Anu:

ANU:

HELLO AMERICA, MEANING THE U.S.!

NOBODY HATES YOU. DON’T BE FOOLED BY A MISS JOHNSON. AND SANDRA M., THE ‘KNOW IT ALL-BESSER WISSER’. YOU ARE NICE PEOPLE.DO NOT CARRY USELESS GUILT. AFTER ALL,WE ARE IN THE SAME BOAT. SOME PEOPLE JUST DON’T SEE IT.

BE HAPPY!

Jun 15, 2008 - 10:35 am 51. Nicole Tedesco:

When it comes to liberalism, I suggest that my fellow conservatives practice what they preach and look at the good effects of liberalism and not just its bad (thank you, Raj). Were it not for liberals complaining about civilian dead in the Koreas and Vietnam, would we be taking as much care today not to hurt civilians in today’s war? Would we have developed precision weapons later in our history? Would many more civilians be dead today were it not for that pressure? Though annoying as heck, liberalism saves lives in America. Why? Liberal or conservative, we Americans are constantly trying to improve ourselves and thus we respond strongly to criticism.

Whether one is an American or not history shows that complaining about America works. You complain, we respond. Besides if you can’t complain about America then who can you complain about? Can you complain about the “you can only vote ‘yes’” European Union? Does it do any good for Russians to complain about their own country? What about the unfortunate folks in North Korea? Think of Zogby polls and other complaint streams as the receiving end of the United States’ Customer Service Department, which is a necessary component of any large company and a necessary component of doing business. (How often do customers call Customer Service Departments to say how wonderful their products are versus how often they call because they have a specific problem?)

Also keep in mind that the outside world, though very much affected by the United States in myriad ways, are unable to vote for our leaders directly and have limited means of affecting our behavior. Fortunately history shows that America tends to respond well to the calls that come in to our Customer Service Department. In a way, you can say that our successes and known sensitivity to criticism produces the effects we see today in terms of those who complain about America in general. If you want to stop criticism, stop rewarding it.

Forget that. I would rather be associated with a country that is known to respond to criticism and can be counted on for “doing the right thing” — eventually, and as well as any large country can do anything right — than to be associated with a country which others have stopped criticizing because it would do them no good to do so.

Jun 15, 2008 - 10:56 am 52. Accounting Bum » Blog Archive » Popularity:

[...] Bridget Johnson: Most of us were taught way back in grammar school that doing the right thing is not always the popular thing. [...]

Jun 15, 2008 - 11:02 am 53. bour3:

I can think of no country on Earth that bases its foreign policy on what it perceives the populations of other countries think about it. Here, let me think on it some more. Hang on.

*thinks*

Nope. None. Not one. Nada. Zilch. Zip. I challenge you. Name one. Now tell me, why should I care what people say they think about us? After much contemplation on the subject, I have prepared a thoughtful response to such reports: Piss off.

Jun 15, 2008 - 11:32 am 54. Jay:

Nicole Tedesco, I agree with you in principle.

but today’s left has abandoned thier classical values (individual liberty, human rights, spread of democracy), for partisanship and the quest for power.

I have no doubt, had Al Gore won in 2000, and proclaimed that he would use force to back the UN resolutions, take action on the law of the land to promote regime change, and even during the downs of the rebuilding iraq phase proclaimed over and over “its hard work” “its hard work” ad infinitum… Gore would be lauded as the bold leader of our century, making tough decisions for progress .

The hammer and anvil of opposing view points do serve us best. However, the Dems and leftists have not been arguing principled stands honestly. Clinton administration pushed for the regime change law, then did nothing. Did the Dems not argue early on to listen to the generals, then trash Petraus? Did they not argue early on to raise the troop levels, then trash the surge? Thier guiding value is power.

Jun 15, 2008 - 11:32 am 55. Bushwhack Bob:

RE said:

>Europe has rendered itself as impotent.

Indeed. It is always difficult to maintain the courage of one’s convictions.

It becomes impossible when one has no courage, and no convictions.

Jun 15, 2008 - 11:33 am 56. Cristina:

This whole “decline in reputation” report is silly, a total waste of resources. What the “rapporteurs” (boy, does French come in handy when you need it!)seem to whine about is a failure of propaganda to win over the already anti-American elites, as well as economically and culturally impoverished populations around the world, motivated by impotent envy.
What matters is that more people come or want to come here more than anywhere in the world. Still.
That’s true reputation versus propaganda.

Nothing good will come out of such an inquiry, only more concessions to the left for the sake of a “good image,” against America’s real interests and of all those who strive to become Americans.

Jun 15, 2008 - 11:40 am 57. nirmal:

Sandra M. There is an even simpler explanation for the South American elite’s Anti-Americanism (or for that factor Anti-Americanism among elites elsewhere). It is, I think, formally referred to as the “narcissism of the elites”. Simply put, it is usually the elites of various groups that tend to have the biggest chips on their shoulder. Every slight and every perceived failings of their own group they encounter exaberates their feelings of inadequacy. After all they are elites of these groups! The wounded pride and indignity is often quite effectively salved with the help of fashionable and facile ideas like Anti-Americanism. Of course, as you correctly pointed out, the world’s most vociferous leftist elites in the media and academia, which also happens to be – no prizes for guessing here – American, reinforce their Anti-Americanism.

Jun 15, 2008 - 11:52 am 58. nirmal:

revised with some corrections:

Sandra M. There is an even simpler explanation for the South American elite’s Anti-Americanism (or for that mater Anti-Americanism among elites elsewhere). It is, I think, formally referred to as the “narcissism of the elites”. Simply put, it is usually the elites of various groups that tend to have the biggest chips on their shoulder. Every slight and every perceived failings of their own group they encounter exaberates their feelings of inadequacy. After all they are elites of these groups! The wounded pride and indignity is often quite effectively salved with the help of fashionable and facile ideas like Anti-Americanism. Of course, as you correctly pointed out, the world’s most vociferous leftist elites in the media and academia, who also happen to be – no prizes for guessing here – American, reinforce their Anti-Americanism.

Jun 15, 2008 - 11:56 am 59. tyree:

It is better to have the right enemies, than the wrong friends.

I’m glad Hugo Chavez, Osmama bin Laden, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Michael Moore hate this country. We must be doing something right.

Jun 15, 2008 - 12:00 pm 60. tehag:

I wish Americans realized how deeply unpopular we are in Europe, Arabia, and the U.N. Then:

we could withdraw from the U.N. (why fund your own hatred?)
we could withdraw from NATO (who needs allies like these?)
we could drill for oil in the U.S. (why pay islamic tyrants for oil?)

If, OTOH, these things are unpopular or impossible, I suppose we

* treat our whites as whites are treated in Zimbabwe
* treat our women as women are treated in Saudi Arabia
* treat our blacks minority as it is treated in the Sudan
* treat our Jews as Jews are treated in…well, everywhere almost but here
etc.

Popularity has its price, after all, and if we’re not willing to enforce world standards of treatment for whites, blacks, women, and jews, we’re not going to be popular.

Jun 15, 2008 - 12:04 pm 61. Nicole Tedesco:

Jay,

You are correct about the Left, as their rhetoric is “all about power.” Then again “power for the sake of power” has been the story of American politics since the Aaron Burr shot Alexander Hamilton.

On the other hand is that over the course of our two hundred some-odd year history the give and take of our power-seeking political class, combined with out professional legal class, and in further combination with our “national character” has somehow enabled us to limp along, gain strength, and do more “right” things than most other countries have been able to do in their history. In modern politics, I see no reason to doubt that this long term trend will continue. Modern American politics is no more or less rancorous than it ever has been, no more or less corrupt than it ever has been, no more or less vain than it ever has been and thus the long term still favors our somehow ambling our way into a decent future.

Given all that, every legal case must be represented by both sides of the argument. While there are those that will happily lobby for “fixing America” there are those that must continue to lobby for what should be conserved. Prosecutors versus defense attorneys. We each have our role to play given our particular experiences and proclivities. Let Liberals be liberals, and be confident that conservative voices are just as important. Be aware that all of us together, pretty or not, have made America what it is today. Debate and lobby, but keep respect in mind of the other side of the debate even if it is ugly. (Also keep in mind that political debate has been far more ugly, and outright dangerous, in our nation’s past.)

Jun 15, 2008 - 12:06 pm 62. Nicole Tedesco:

(Golly, I should have read over that last post for spelling and grammatical mistakes–sorry, folks!)

Jun 15, 2008 - 12:07 pm 63. Ed:

Synopsis: We are known by the enemies we keep. We’ve got the right enemies. If these people liked us we would be doing something wrong.

Jun 15, 2008 - 12:08 pm 64. Nicole Tedesco:

[I'll take the lead from nirmal, and provide my corrections are below. I hope this post is a little more understandable than the previous one. -NCT]

Jay,

You are correct about the Left, as their rhetoric is indeed “all about power.” Then again “power for the sake of power” has been the story of American politics since Aaron Burr shot Alexander Hamilton.

On the other hand over the course of our two hundred some-odd year history the give and take of our power-seeking political class, combined with our professional legal class, and in further combination with our national “character” has somehow enabled us to limp along, gain strength, and do more “right” things than most (notice, I said “most”) other countries have been able to do in their history. I see no reason to doubt that this long term trend will continue. Modern American politics is no more or less rancorous than it ever has been, no more or less corrupt than it ever has been, no more or less vain than it ever has been and thus the long term still favors our somehow ambling our way into a decent future.

Given all that, every legal case must be represented by both sides of the particular argument: prosecution versus defense. While there are those that will happily lobby for “fixing America” there are those that must continue to lobby for what should be conserved. We each have our role to play given our particular experiences and proclivities. Let Liberals be liberals and be confident that conservative voices are just as important. Be aware that all of us together, pretty or not, have made America what it is today. Debate and lobby, but keep respect in mind of the other side of the debate even if it is ugly. (Also keep in mind that American political debate has been far more ugly, and outright dangerous, at many times in our nation’s past.)

Jun 15, 2008 - 12:17 pm 65. Nicole Tedesco:

tehag,

Keep in mind that our purchases of “foreign oil” is also helping to pay for Iraqi reconstruction and keeps other countries like The Netherlands doing well (I would hate to see these fine folks not doing so well). Our purchases of foreign oil on the whole is a neutral blessing. The problems that exist relative to oil are particular oil producing countries, not the purchase of foreign oil by itself. Keep focused on the particular problems at hand lest your voice be diluted by generalities.

Jun 15, 2008 - 12:23 pm 66. tanstaafl:

The report, in trying to get to the bottom of anti-Americanism, cites “a growing belief in the Muslim world that the United States is using the ‘war on terror’ as a cover for its attempts to destroy Islam.”

Gee, that’s been the Islamist excuse from the getgo.

I imagine radical Islamists laughing like hell (It worked ! It worked !) with that point showing up in the waste of tree pulp, uh, voluminous subcommittee report which will proceed to gather dust on some shelf.

Not soon enough.

Idiots.

Jun 15, 2008 - 1:19 pm 67. Per Harry Hansen:

I for one love the USA for doing the right thing. However I must admit it´s far too easy to pinpoint her doing a few bad things – which I´m sure you all know about already.
Per Harry Hansen, Denmark.

Jun 15, 2008 - 1:33 pm 68. furious_a:

Nicole Tedesco:

Today’s precision weapons have absolutely NOTHING to due to the emoliative effects of liberalism (other than unwarranted self-regard, not sure what those would be) and everything to do with the American military’s focus on fighing and winning (the next) wars. Not to mention the steadfastness of Republican administrations in providing the funding.

Just look at the voting records of Democrats in Congress (the *real* democrats, like Kucinich, Kerry, and Kennedy) on appropriations for advanced weapons systems — our soldiers would still be dropping hand-grenades from fabric-covered biplanes if it were up to them.

America responds well to calls to the Int’l 9-1-1 line, is what you meant to say:

“Help! We’re about to be overrun by Hitler’s Panzers!”
“Help! There are 50 Soviet Divisions deployed along the Fulda Gap!”
“Help! The Serbs are slaughtering Bosnians and the European Rapid Reaction Force don’t have any airlift capacity!”
“Help! A tsunami has wiped out Indonesia and the refugees will starve waiting for the UN to get out of its own way!”

And so on. Like an over-indulgent parent we dig deep and expend treasure (and often, blood) extricating Euros or Muslims from their self-inflicted crises, only to be treated with the sneering ingratitude that is the over-indulgent parent’s typical lot.

I’d say “FEH!” on the ingrate lot of them, but there are some stand-up allies (The Anglosphere, Colombia. the Philippines, the former captive Warsaw Pact states, some of the former captive Soviet Republics, Singapore, Thailand, Israel, Japan, Qatar, So. Korea, Taiwan, the Kurds, and the Northern Alliance come to mind) whom it would be a shame to lose to the new Caliphate, a North Korean Nuke, or to Euro-sclerosis.

–furious

Jun 15, 2008 - 1:56 pm 69. furious_a:

Oh, and for our “Latin America Elite” friends:

“Help! We have millions of able-bodied workers we can’t employ, educate, or feed (and those remittances really help, too) — we’re sending them North to you!”

–furious

Jun 15, 2008 - 2:11 pm 70. Assistant Village Idiot:

The United Governments – I mean, United Nations – is comprised of the self-appointed elites of every country. In kleptocracies, it is the relatives of the ruling tribal gangs; under dictatorships, it is spies; in the free western democracies, it is the arts & humanities socialists. The UN has done an excellent job of perpetuating the power of those elites.

The decline/rise of American prestige parallels the rise/decline of those groups in every nation; a nearly flawless inverse relation. Outside of those groups, American popularity isn’t too shabby. If you get to know them, that is, not just read what their newspapers say about us. The success of the self-appointed elites within each nation is dependent on American failure.

You will notice on this thread that the American critics can only argue from false dichotomies – that America supporters must believe our foreign policy “is beyond reproach” and similar nonsense.

India likes us better than ever (there’s a billion people right there). That is due more to Indian awakening than to any change in American foreign policy. When people anywhere “get it,” they start to like America more.

Jun 15, 2008 - 2:25 pm 71. Nahanni:

I am past caring what “the rest of the world thinks”. They should start worrying about why more and more Americans could care less about them. Once we get to the “Popeye point” with them that will mean an end to all foreign aid, an end to footing their defense bills and ye old “don’t call us, we’ll call you”.

You are hungry? learn how to grow your own food.

“OMG the Islamofascists are committing genocide!” You will get our answering machine with the message “The United States no longer cares. Please call the UN.”

Help! A huge earthquake and tsunami has wiped out thousands of square miles and hundreds of thousands need aid! You will get our answering machine with the message “The United States no longer cares. Please call the UN.”

Jun 15, 2008 - 2:43 pm 72. Jim C.:

“The happening to our America, abroad as well as at home, these years, is indeed most strange. The democratic republic has paid her to-day the terrible and resplendent compliment of the united wish of all the nations of the world that … her future [should be] cut off, and that she should be compelled to descend to the level of kingdoms and empires ordinarily great.

We need this hot lesson of general hatred, and henceforth must never forget it. Never again will we trust the moral sense nor abstract friendliness of a single government of the old world.” –Walt Whitman, 1864

Jun 15, 2008 - 4:32 pm 73. Fen:

“Now tell me, why should I care what people say they think about us?”

And to continue down that line: assuming we “repair” our reputation so that everyone likes us? When was the last time their goodwill was banked into anything tangible?

For some reason, the Left needs to be “popular” with the rest of the world. And they’re willing to prostitute the nation’s policy to make that happen.

Jun 15, 2008 - 7:44 pm 74. becky:

Very few hate America but many envy America. We need to stop worrying about what others think about us and do what needs to be done.

Jun 16, 2008 - 4:25 am 75. ken:

Who Cares.

But if you want an explanation for Europeans, look no further than the BBC, RTE and other state broadcasters. Here’s the strategy: If you create a bogeyman in the USA, then the typical (mindless) Zeropean will look to Brussels for protection and salvation. It’s an old federalist strategy. Just look to our own late 18th and early 19th c. Washington DC propaganda urging states to surrender more and more to the central government. And there’s no bigger mouthpiece for Brussels than the BBC. It’s worked very very well.

Jun 16, 2008 - 5:18 am 76. Tom:

People started hating ‘ Americans’ back in 1776 when our forefathers wanted to start their own country. It has never changed and never will. I guess people will have to get used to us or get over it. Were still the greatest country on the planet even with all our problems…..

Jun 16, 2008 - 5:55 am 77. john:

So, The Europeans hate us. We must be doing something right. By the way. How many millions of people died from wars when Europe was in charge? The truth is that Europe in not the best role model out there fact of the mater is as a leader they really do SUCK. So who cares what they think.

Jun 16, 2008 - 6:22 am 78. AJ:

No country that represents “good” hates us. We’re hated by the worst kinds: Euro leftists and middle eastern rogue nations. We’re loved everywhere else: African, Eastern Europe, Israel, Asia, Australia, most of South America, etc.

This congress has been the worst of ALL time. Not shocking since it’s run by leftists. Yes, a waste of time. Billions want to move to America, and the left wing elite cannot acknowledge that as they count their millions and vote for an idiot like Barack Hussein Obama, who does not like America either.

Jun 16, 2008 - 6:24 am 79. tom:

“having the Dems giving Michael Moore credibility by seating him next to Jimmy Carter ”

An odd definition of credibility.

Jun 16, 2008 - 6:50 am 80. Sara:

The only view of America most people of the world have is produced by our liberal elites in television programs and news, movies and for a few, University education. The Left controls all of these information, education, movie and art industries and the Left in Europe and the US and they hate America. They present an ignorant and disgusting view of our Nation and people and if I was in Bodunk Britian or France I would hate America, too. A lot of our own people have been programed to hate themselves and our country through the distorted lens of the radical left.

If we want to improve our image we have to toss the current, amoral, artless and hateful radical regime who took over in the 1960’s and bring in some real Americans who project a realistic image to the world. America was loved around the world before the Left became the gatekepers of our Universities, media and arts. This is the change we desparately need if we are to stay free and sane as a Nation and people.

Jun 16, 2008 - 7:37 am 81. John Samford:

Since 1776 America has acted because it was in America;s interest to act. That interest is defined by the citizens thru their representatives.
Nations don’t have friends, nations have interests. If another nations shares those interests, they are allies, If another nation is antithetical to those interests, they are enemies.
There is no like nor dislike involved. Fwance and America have never ‘liked’ each other. Fwance helped us in the revolutionary war because it was a chance to screw England. The US sent Fwance enough grain in 1792 to feed them for 6 months ( 192 ships, averaging about 500 tons each). Not because we liked them or felt gratitude ( a disease of dogs, according to Uncle Joe) but because it was a chance to screw England.
Then in 1917 we started screwin’ Germany, England was more fun, but when you wait ’till last call you get what’s left.
International relations has been described as two countries screwin’ each other.
The problem most nations have with the USA is that we are always on top. Americans shouldn’t feel guilty since someone has to be on top and it might as well be us. After all, the first mass produced condom was by Goodyear, the tire dude. American.
The Germans have invented spray on condoms. I guess for those hard to fit clients. Anyway, since Germany has opened a lead in the condom gap, I guess they will get the top position in international relations.

Jun 16, 2008 - 8:19 am 82. Sandra M:

‘YOU COULD HAVE HEARD A PIN DROP’

When in England , at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of empire building by George Bush.

He answered by saying, ‘Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return.’

You could have heard a pin drop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There was a conference in France where a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a break, one of the French engineers came back into the room saying ‘Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intended to do, bomb them?’

A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: ‘Our carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day, they can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in
transporting victims and injured to and from their flight deck. We have eleven such ships; how many does France have?’

You could have heard a pin drop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S. , English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of Officers that included personnel from most of those countries.

Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English.’ He then asked, ‘Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?’

Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied n’Maybe it’s because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn’t have to speak German.’

You could have heard a pin drop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AND THIS STORY FITS RIGHT IN WITH THE ABOVE…

Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane. At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on. ‘You have been to France before, monsieur?’ the customs officer asked sarcastically. Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously. ‘Then you should know enough to have your passport ready.’

The American said, “‘The last time I was here, I didn’t have to show it.

“Impossible. Americans always have to show your passports on arrival in France !’ stated the customs officer.

The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained, “‘Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944 to help liberate this country,I couldn’t find a single Frenchmen to show a passport to.’

You could have heard a pin drop.
–

We just have to remind the world from time to time of who we are and what we’ve done.

Jun 16, 2008 - 8:31 am 83. Bobby McGill:

Religious freedom? Sounds nice, reads well, but in practice the American public is adverse to any religion other than Christianity. Is that religious freedom? Gallup polls have shown that 38% of Americans wouldn’t vote for the best qualified candidate simply because he or she is Muslim and 48% would reject an Atheist. And what about these two groups chances in the job market if they make their faith or lack thereof known?

Before anyone joins in a choral call singing the praises of America’s corner on the market of religious tolerance they should first look in the mirror and ask how tolerant are we really? This country was not founded on Christianity as was made plain by the founding fathers in their first act of diplomacy with Morocco (the first country to recognize our sovereignty) when they assured their Moroccan counterparts that we were a secular nation looking to have relations with them, not a Christian nation.

But how far we have strayed from that notion.

idlewordship.com

Jun 16, 2008 - 8:36 am 84. Bobby McGill:

Oh… and the comment about Michael Moore. I vote we change his name to Michael Moron. The guy makes some great points, but until he produces something about the good things coming forth from the U.S. he is just another biased media blow hard.

Jun 16, 2008 - 8:38 am 85. Sandra M:

tachyonshuggy said:
Sandra M:

Grace Under Fire ran from 93-98. Soviet Russia did not exist at the time.

Actually, a famous defector said it did. He claimed that the so-called fall of the Soviet Union was just disinformation to get lots of foreign aid from us. Perhaps, things didn’t work out exactly as the Soviets wanted as eventually real freedom lovers like Vaclev Havel took over in countries like Czechslovakia and Poland.

Clinton urged the Russians to forgive and forget. There was no cleansing of the Communist butchers. None of the sadists were rounded up. Putin was already on the scene and what was interesting to me was that this was the only American series allowed on Russian TV. Perhaps, Kojak, but was that in Russia?

The KGB now runs the Russian kleptocracy. So, an argument can be made that after Yeltsin, the KGB merely came out of the shadows where they’d been all along.

Jun 16, 2008 - 8:41 am 86. retro:

Oh, so the world hates the US?

***YAWN***

Pass the coffee please…

Jun 16, 2008 - 10:43 am 87. Eric:

“DO GOOD, SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES.”
SAM HOUSTON

Jun 16, 2008 - 11:25 am 88. Anu:

Anu:
Sandra M,
imagine what it would be like to live next door to Russia, to share a long border? My grandparents fought those people in -39 and 42.Somehow this country survided her independancy.
Now those still living are getting afraid.Russia is building massive military spaces close to our borders.They are using billions of dollars for new equippment.There are thousands of Russians living in this country. All kinds of stories are circulating.Officially ‘there’s nothing to worry about’. It’s been said that Russia just wants to become the worldpower it used to be… Should that calm me? Hell, no.
And sorry that I once used capitals letters, didn’t know it ment screaming!
Be well, Anu

Jun 17, 2008 - 2:19 am 89. Sandra M:

ANU:
I’m rereading RED STORM RISING (1986) by Tom Clancy about Russia’s beginning a war in Europe as a feint. They actually went into Afghanistan, because if conquered, it would have had them close to the Persian Gulf and all that oil.

RED STORM RISING was read in Reagan’s White House and the Pentagon and more importantly in the Kremlin, and suddenly the Politburo realized that a country which can’t get its vegetables to market wouldn’t be able to resupply its troops with food and bullets. That’s when they began to play nice.

If RED STORM RISING were made into a film, that might make the Russians think twice before invading any of its neighbors.

The high price of oil is enriching Russia, the fundamentalist Islamic oil states, Venezuela — all our enemies.

Newt Gringrich has an online petition DRILL HERE, DRILL NOW that may soon have a million signatures — and a few months before an election that gets politicians’ attention.

Newt also suggested that President Bush dump part of our strategic oil reserve on the market which might wipe out the speculators and force the price of oil to plummet.

Speculators can invest in oil futures on 5% margin. That means you can buy 1,000 shares for $50. Then the next day reinvest your profits, still at 5%. I’m sure several people have gotten quite rich doing this. If President Bush announced he was going to dump part of the strategic oil reserve on the market, the market would drop like a stone. Then, the politicians have to change the rules and insist on 50% margin for oil futures.

Citizens are powerful ONlY before elections. Yes, politicians love special interest money, but they have to get re-elected: That means the entire house and one-third of the Senate. When I get especially pissed-off I call my Congressperson and Senators’ local offices (numbers in the government pages of your phone book). When the high price of gas totally enrages you, call the CAPITOL SWITCHBOARD: 202-225-3121 and let them know. Politicians figure that each call means 200 other voters who haven’t called. Then, there’s Newt’s online petition: all those voters saying DRILL HERE, DRILL NOW, PAY LESS — although a friend suggested we should add a SELL HERE proviso. This is war and that makes sense to me.

Jun 17, 2008 - 4:00 am 90. Have A Drink « The Reluctant Optimist:

[...] 3. “Yes, I get it, you don’t like my country.” [...]

Jun 17, 2008 - 4:38 am 91. LaurenceB:

Wow. Just wow.

So to summarize the viewpoint of these commenters:

We care so much about the rest of the world that we will stay in Iraq indefinitely, at any cost; in fact, we may invade Iran also, just to help them too.

Meanwhile – We don’t really care about the rest of the world.

Of course, it may be that we invaded Iraq for our own benefit, not for the Iraqis. Which would mean that Bush and Company has been lying to us all this time. But isn’t it the hated “Left” that calls Bush a liar?

Some pretty wild thought patterns going on here.

Jun 17, 2008 - 6:04 am 92. SFC Cheryl McElroy US ARMY (RET):

LaurenceB:
Every country does whatever is in its own best interest; including the ones that hate us or if you will, like us when it’s convienient.

Jun 17, 2008 - 8:38 am 93. venividivici:

LaurenceB

Wow. Just wow.

Few things say “I have nothing intelligent to say” more clearly than the use of this rhetorical device.

Of course, it may be that we invaded Iraq for our own benefit, not for the Iraqis.

Ever heard of a “win-win” scenario? There’s no particular reason why it would have to be either for our benefit or for the Iraqis benefit. Both countries can benefit, at the expense of a third party, namely Saddam Hussein and his faction of Iraqis. Lately, Iraqis have been partnering with the US to benefit at the expense of the faction of Iraqis who wish to create a power vacuum into which they will inject their brand of religious extremism.

Is Iraq perfect? Hell no. In fact, we may come to learn that the entire Middle East is not worth trying to drag kicking and screaming into the 21st century. But, I would argue that even learning that lesson would bring the US some benefit, i.e. the benefit of no longer having to try to win “hearts and minds” in the Middle East, so we can just concentrate on blowing them all away, under the “more rubble, less trouble” theory. It’s hard to wage jihad on under 1,000 calories a day.

Jun 17, 2008 - 6:35 pm 94. Burchie:

No, we dont hate the good old US.We just hate that moron bush, and his despicable administration.

Jun 18, 2008 - 2:31 am 95. RE:

It’s actually comical to see Brits wagging their fingers after having made such a dysfunctional mess of their own country – or similarly with the French as they breathe a sigh of relief upon hearing news that their ‘youths’ burned only 100 cars in the previous evening, or the Swedes as their government attempts to impose Orwellian surveillance laws, or the Italians as the streets of Naples pile up with mountains of garbage.

It’s very difficult take any of them seriously. They just vilify the US to divert attention from their own miserable condition.

Jun 18, 2008 - 4:07 am 96. Augustus:

For better or worse, the US is the World’s Policeman.

One group of people will always hate policemen – criminals, and there’s no shortage of those in the world.

In the meantime, I daily thank Fate that I was lucky enough to be born the USA, and not the world.

Jun 18, 2008 - 4:33 am 97. Mabel:

Two reasons “the world” hates us:

1. Envy, pure and simple…
2. Leftist ideology that is strong in most universities and media around the world

However, those same US bashers gladly welcomed the billions in US aid we pour around the world…our money is good enough for them

And let’s not forget the millions of them that want to get into this country one way or another…

As for Bush, his job is to protect America, so whatever the world thinks of him, I couldn’t care less…he has kept us safe and charisma is well overrated!

Iraq and Iran have to do with Geopolitics…if you don’t get it by now, you never will

I wasn’t born in this country but I sure love it like my own…

Jun 18, 2008 - 8:41 am 98. deguello:

The world hates America, because US popular culture is destroying sanity,youth,and traditional values here and globally.An afghan parent once told me:”I’d rather see my daughter in a burkha, tha dressed like Brittany Spears. A nation that pushes the premature sexualization of adolescents, calls a vicious,degenerate punk like Eminem a genius Front page article in the ny times magazine by Frank Rich,Poisons the international air waves with MTV, and turns Paris Hilton into a celebrity,DESERVES to be hated.What is neede is to point out as I did, to this Afghan father, thatthe average American hates and suffers from this gatrbage as much as he does. We have to seek common ground with these folks, and resist our garbage culture.

Jun 18, 2008 - 9:32 am 99. RE:

deguello,

You are correct on this point. Leftist dominated Hollywood exports indefensible garbage. It probably does more to harm America’s image than any other single source. Pop culture is one area in which I tend to agree with the Ameirca bashers – and I do so with enthusiasm.

Jun 18, 2008 - 9:57 am 100. SFC Cheryl McElroy US ARMY (RET):

Burchie,
You want an example of despicable? Try your buddy Bubba Clinton. For eight years he used the Oval Office as a conduit for illegal, immoral, and unethical activities. He and Al Gore gave classified information regarding satelite and ballistic missile technology to Chinese arms merchants in exchange for DNC contributions. That’s TREASON. He lied under oath (perjury), he illegally obtained FBI files on political ‘enemies’ and denied their existance up until the time they were found on Hillary’s desk. The Travel Office was hired/fired under very unethical circumstances, and threatened with legal action if they talked. He ignored the numerous Islamic-based terrorist attacks against America, including the FIRST World Trade Center attack in 1993. Oh wait, he di do something….he wagged the dog in Somalia and the Balkans.

I’m guessing you’re either Canadian or Eurotrash. Whatever you are, you can take your BDS and shove it.

Jun 18, 2008 - 11:01 am 101. Mabel:

I agree pop culture is a problem…fueled by uber liberal Hollywood that just wants to make money…and sex sells anywhere in this world…but what is the alternative? A police state that tells you what to think? People here can exercise their freedom and turned off Britney and MTV and teach their children the right morals…it might be harder, but so is life…stoning women and public executions are not the solution. And last time I checked Europe, prime cheerleader of US bashing, is not exactly high on morals…their motto is no judgments ever! They complain we are too stuck on religion…that Bush is a god-loving ideologue. Let’s not confuse the issues.

Jun 18, 2008 - 11:44 am 102. Dave Surls:

“If Europe hates us, then they won’t be our allies anymore.”

Yeah, so what’s the downside?

Jun 18, 2008 - 10:37 pm 103. kate:

Okay, prove you hate us: Don’t take our aid. And when you have a disaster, don’t ask for our help. After all, we are evil

Jun 19, 2008 - 10:49 am 104. Dave Surls:

‘Americans are asking, “Why do they hate us?”‘

In the days when liberals like Woody Wilson, FDR and Jack Kennedy ran America, we were widely admired and about 600,000 Americans were killed fighting with our fans in Germany, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, etc.

Now that people like Ron Reagan or George Bush are calling the shots, we’re universally loathed, but only a few thousand Americans have been killed.

I’d rather be hated.

Jun 19, 2008 - 2:27 pm 105. 6Kings:

“Religious freedom? Sounds nice, reads well, but in practice the American public is adverse to any religion other than Christianity. Is that religious freedom? Gallup polls have shown that 38% of Americans wouldn’t vote for the best qualified candidate simply because he or she is Muslim and 48% would reject an Atheist. And what about these two groups chances in the job market if they make their faith or lack thereof known?”

As ignorant a statement about religious freedom I have ever read! Religious freedom is that you can practice your religion without being jailed or harrassed by the gov’t. It doesn’t mean there are ramifications to you believing or not believing and nobody is required to accept your beliefs as valid.

Jun 20, 2008 - 6:57 am 106. j clark:

When your out front every one is shooting at you. So we are not popular, with whom? who do we have to impress and since when did being a country become a popularity contest? I for one couldnt care less what some mincing euro-crybaby thinks of my country. I dont particularly like his!!

Jun 20, 2008 - 7:41 am 107. country cuz:

Guess what I think? Good! I’m glad! I’m sichk to death of this crap. Yeah ..that’s right. We are the biggest bad-ass bastards on the face of the earth. We’ve got nukes up the ying yang, and unlike the Chi-coms or those Russian drunks… OURS WORK!!! Who cares what those lousy countries think. You can’t even order a decent burger in any of them ..cause they don’t have any meat. We eat the best!!! Big slabs of medium rare, bloody juicy steaks are available for next to nothing next door to the nearest shopping mall. We eat more, consume more, produce more, drink more and play more than anyone! Our kids are all spoiled rotten and know what? Good for them! It beats the hell out of spending the morning scrounging for food at the local land-fill. We have a great education system, the best movies, and the best music. We’ve got Tom Petty kicking-ass at the halftime show of the Super Bowl! WE have the most Nobel winners, the best health care, and some greta writers. Americans are the friendliest, fiercest, fightingest people on the face of this sad planet. We’ve got freedom, money, beautiful women, and the Super Bowl. We’ve got 237654 channels on every TV and that includes those of us living on welfare. We love a good fight and we’re the best at it-no offense to our buddies the Israelis. We got the best equipped, trained, and dedicated military and we’re not afraid to use it. We’ve got hearts as big as mountains. Hell, if this war was about oil we could have gone in to Iraq, seized the oil fields ,and let the poor Iraqi people rot. We’ve got Wal-Mart parking lots bigger than some of those European countries. Who cares what they think.At some point they’re going to need us again and you know what? We’ll go and help them because they need help. That’s how big the USA is. We’re the most tolerant peopl. Our nation’s the best. You know how the Cuz knows that. Because I’ve spent a good portion of my life traveling/living aroound the rest of this rock called Earth. Do you know why they don’t like us? Because they’re scared of us. They’re all confused because unlike most of their sorry peed-pants governments our leaders don’t spend they days in office kissing butt. Do you know why they don’t. Because THEY”RE AMERICANS!!!

Jun 20, 2008 - 9:48 am 108. Roberto Abreu:

The name of the country is the United States of America, NOT America. America is one continent, not one country. Please, respect the other Americans.

Jul 25, 2008 - 2:12 pm 109. SFC Cheryl McElroy US ARMY (RET):

country cuz:

HOOAH! Couldn’t have said it better myself.

Jul 29, 2008 - 9:48 am 110. Roddenberry:

The two parties system is outdated in the XXIst century, and democrates and republicans spare the responsabilities in the today’s crisis. It’s time for a third party to emerge centrist or libertarian

Sep 10, 2008 - 12:20 am 111. Forest Gump:

I’d like to say one thing, America is like a box of chocolates, and most other countries are full of s**t.

Oct 1, 2008 - 12:34 pm 112. Jeff:

Oh dear God! All of you need to grow up. No-one hates Americans, most people even Americans hate what the Government is doing to their Country. But no-one can hate the American people

Oct 22, 2008 - 7:30 pm 113. James:

The fact is: Americans are superior to non-Americans, so who cares if they hate us? They hate us because we are superior to them, we are more successful and better than them.

Jan 16, 2009 - 11:09 am 114. terrance:

The world hates america mainly because of our spoil, but ya’ll know that, some Americans just don’t realize this because they’ve always had food on their plate, but Thee comandnment “thou shalt not take any likeness to anything” can easily show americans that they have it made and probably be happier with their items more if they had real value. People should have the most real value… duhh!

Mar 31, 2009 - 11:44 am 115. ms:

“The fact is: Americans are superior to non-Americans, so who cares if they hate us? They hate us because we are superior to them, we are more successful and better than them.”

perhaps they hate our arrogance

Jul 5, 2009 - 5:24 pm

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