Remember when Obama was going to “restore” America’s respect around th world?”
The Democracy Corps-Third Way survey released Monday finds that by a 10-point margin — 51 percent to 41 percent — Americans think the standing of the U.S. dropped during the first 13 months of Mr. Obama’s presidency.
Democracy Corps and Third Way lean just a tad to the left, which makes this next bit absolutley hilarious:
“This is surprising, given the global acclaim and Nobel peace prize that flowed to the new president after he took office,” said pollsters for the liberal-leaning organizations.
It was surprising – the the same way it shocked us that Milli Vanilli wasn’t all that talented.
But the numbers apparently were bad enough that even DN/3W couldn’t whitewash ’em:
On the national security front, a massive gap has emerged, with 50 percent of likely voters saying Republicans would likely do a better job than Democrats, a 14-point swing since May. Thirty-three percent favored Democrats.
“The erosion since May is especially strong among women, and among independents, who now favor Republicans on this question by a 56 to 20 percent margin,” the pollsters said in their findings.
A dedicated lefty might respond “yeah, but that’s just polling Americans”. True – which is something the poll has in common with Presidential elections.
More importantly, though? The whole “America lost respect during the Bush years” meme also pretty much polled only Americans. Most foreigners who answer public opinion polls hate America, while a significant subset simultaneously hope to immigrate…
2012 Campaign slogans: “Your GOP: Farting in France’s general direction is cool again”; “Hugo who?” “Hey Kim Jong Il, STFU Shankapotomus”
There’s a shock. Obama and his merry band of Bolsheviks scare the shit out of women and independents. Chris Matthews still has a thrill going down his leg.
I’m sure this news isn’t a shock to this Administration; they already think American’s are stupid and need the government to figure things out and then tell us what’s best for us on the environment, global warming, healthcare…no doubt they’re working on that whole election by votes as opposed to acclamation thingy as well. Look for Hugo Chavez to take a part-time gig as Democracy Czar.
All I know is, I sure do feel safer than I did in 2008 when that cowboy Bush was in office.
You can stop laughing now.
I wouldn’t be too excited about those numbers.
I’m female and an independent, and I’m squarely in the 41% who think that we are better regarded internationally – and safer. It seems to be the prevailing opinion of the other women independents I know as well.
Dog Gone,
That’s what we call “Pauline Kael Syndrome“.
DG, those are two conflicting things. The US cannot be safer and be held in higher regard. Our enemies (yes, I include Eurowienes in that) want us to be weak. Example…..the day after 9/11, we were loved. That is because the world loved seeing America getting it’s balls kicked. An America up in flames and defenseless is the America the world loves. When we got up and kicked some Islamofacist butt, then we were back to hated again.
Bingo! Spot on, Mitch.
Kael… lol
Chuck’s right on.
Respectfully, no Chuck, those are not conflicting things.
We have a president now who doesn’t engage us in avoidable wars without adequate cause, weakening our military. We are scheduled to be out of Iraq by August, a few months from now. That makes us safer.
We are looking at the abandonment of drumming qualified gay personnel out of the military, many of whom possess critical skills, especially language skills, but also for example experienced combat fighter pilots and combat experienced west pointers. That makes us safer.
Just two examples.
I think you misunderstand both the reactions and the reason for them in other countries, particularly among our allies.
Good luck with both of those, Doggie. Little hint: they aren’t going to happen. Hey, Gitmo was closed last January! NOT.
DG, Obama isn’t engaged? I’m surprised to hear you say that.
…. …. …. ….
“drumming qualified gay personnel out of the military”
I call 2-855-7448 on DogNAGit.
Only such an idiot would think it is OK for military personnel to wear a KKK outfit to work of fake terrorist bombs…
Sorry, that is not behavior becoming of a soldier.
Please DG, stop it with the DU/DKos/Soros talking points.
I can spot that Liberal Fascism a mile away.
Kermit, that’s an interesting observation.
It coincides neatly with an email I received just today from my congressman about the efforts to close Gitmo. Is it closed yet? No. Is there still effort taking place to do so. Yes.
Obstruction is making progress slow, but not preventing it entirely.
Obstruction? Democrats have solid majorities in both houses of Congress and the Presidency. Don’t make me laugh. Obstruction. How about the dog ate my homework? You should be able to relate to that.
“Obstruction”
It’s terrible when the American people get in the way of their superiors.
Democracy is just so inefficient.
DG, so you’re one of those people who like words rather than actions. To each their own. I never really understood that. I am curious, at what point in history has war been avoided because one side was weak, yet respected by most other countries? Also, are you making the claim that the Republicans are obstructing Gitmo? How so? Do you feel there is no valid concern in releasing the people there? Or moving them to civilian prisons?
It is sometimes an unfortunate thing when the minority slows down the majority. It is more anti-democracy than democracy.
Buzz, libs like DG prefer style over substance.
DG, where did you read the word ‘democracy’ in the constitution?
Obama said Club Gitmo would be closed by now. He obviously failed on that one.
How about Obama’s plan to try KSM in New York city, how’s that working out? Not that it really matters, Obama already claimed guilt before a trial could even start.
Justice was blind but that was before the Obama administration, eh dog.
I hope, Dog Gone, you define “sometimes” using an objective standard rather than an ideological standard.
It is sometimes an unfortunate thing when the minority slows down the majority. It is more anti-democracy than democracy.
I’m sorry, but that’s nonsense.
One of the keys to the American republican system, and to all successful representative government systems, is precisely that they do slow down the majority. Government should NOT be able to govern with casual impunity; change should be difficult.
Anti-democracy? As opposed to totalitarian rule. Got it. What part of “minority” do you not understand?
Is it closed yet? No. Is there still effort taking place to do so. Yes.
Is your congressman issuing baked wind? Beyond doubt.
If Obama wanted Guantanamo closed, he could have it done in a matter of weeks, if not days. If it were a priority, he could quite easily back a Navy transport up to the dock, march the prisoners on board, and transfer them to any number of downgraded military bases in the United States – we’re crawling with ’em. Obama, and the Dems, are waffling because they realized that Bush and Rove were right.
Obstruction is making progress slow, but not preventing it entirely.
Replace “Obstruction” with “Obama’s need to change his policy without further endangering his own base, ideally while finding a plausible way to blame the GOP”, and replace “not preventing” with “the American people aren’t buying”.
Has anyone ever won the Nobel Peace Prize two years running? The Nobel people could help us with our international image by awarding Obama another Peace Prize.
In this country democracy and the Constitution are opposed. One of the features of the Constitution is that it thwarts the will of the majority. If there would always be solid majorities who would vote for free speech or to protect property rights we would have no need for a constitution.
Federalist #10 is instructive, and as bonus it uses an example of commercial versus agricultural interests that foreshadows the Civil War.
From Rasmussen http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/august_2009/75_worried_that_gitmo_closing_will_set_dangerous_terrorists_free
“Only 32% of voters now favor closing the prison camp, down six points from May and down 12 points since the President announced his decision in January.
Fifty-five percent (55%) now oppose closing the prison, with 13% not sure. ”
Where’s your effing majority?
A clear majority of Americans supported the invasion of Iraq in 2003. This included a majority of Democrat senators and a significant number of Democrat congressmen. Three years later a clear majority of Americans and likely their congressmen opposed the Iraq War by a ratio of nearly 2:1.
This, among other reasons, is why we do not have a pure democracy.
DG you should stop citing talking points that are so inaccurate.
The draw down of American troops in Iraq has NOTHING to do with Obama and his policies. The plan was written and agreed to by the Iraqi goverment long before Obama was elected. Even after our troops are pulled out there will still be 40-50,000 troops there. And additional tens of thousands of contractors and civilian goverment workers assisting the building of the great Iraqi nation.
The Don’t ask, don’t tell policy is a legacy of the Clinton administration and is a part of the UCMJ which can only be modified by Congress. Until Lieberman introduced his bill to repeal the law, nothing could be done by either the military directly or by executive order of the president. To claim some evil intent by G.W. bush to keep the policy is to blatently ignore the facts.
“DG you should stop citing talking points that are so inaccurate.”
Dave, you are not the first to give that advice.
Maybe DG will actually take that advice this time.
or
Maybe DG enjoys being taken to task so often.