The world breathes a collective sigh of relief in Obama's wake

[babylonsister]

The world breathes a collective sigh of relief in Obama's wake
by Alan Bisbort | April 9, 2009


Poor George W., sitting in his huge instant mega-mansion in Dallas like Gatsby gazing forlornly across the waters at Daisy Buchanan's East Egg dock. No green light will beckon him. Nobody, including Daisy, wants anything to do with him.

As George W. gazes across the pond at events in Europe, surely even he can see how the rest of the world is going ga-ga over his successor, a truly presidential man who possesses all the gifts he so patently lacks: he's articulate, respectful, conciliatory, mature and calm. And, to rub salt in his psychic wounds, every ounce of the praise being heaped upon Obama by world leaders comes with a hidden jab at George W. Take French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who ended last Friday's press conference by saying, "It feels really good to be able to work with a U.S. president who wants to change the world and who understands that the world does not boil down to simply American frontiers and borders. And that is a hell of a good piece of news for 2009."

In some ways — at least judging from his weeklong excursion into the heart of "Old Europe" — Obama's approach should warm the hearts of conservatives, though they'll never admit it. That is, Obama has been all but begging out of making the United States the sole shaker and mover on the world stage. At times, he even sounds like an isolationist, suggesting that other nations get their acts together and we'll try to get ours together too. For example, at a joint appearance with German Chancellor Angela Merkel the same day, a German reporter asked Obama about his "grand designs" for NATO. "I don't come bearing grand designs," Obama said. "I'm here to listen, to share ideas and to jointly, as one of many NATO allies, help shape our vision for the future."

It hadn't dawned on me, until this trip, how relieved the rest of the world is that George W. is safely inside his mansion. Perhaps because Bush was so widely despised in the U.S. during the last two years of his mis-administration we forget how wide was the enmity felt toward him elsewhere. Not only did he act like he could dictate policy to other nations, he projected the arrogance of a man who has never known a moment of humility or doubt. Like all narcissists, Bush was never wrong; he could only be wronged.

Imagine now how much more productive will be international conferences without the presence of this cock of the walk sucking all the oxygen out of the room. It will take some time to live down those creepy backrubs of Chancellor Merkel, infantile wisecracks to Tony Blair, malapropisms and lack of knowledge of world history.

more...

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/21198

[theoldman]

1. This is why so many Republicans are so pissed off.

Many of them are smart enough to realize that their hero cannot compare to Obama. Many of them of course are too stupid to realize the difference. The bottom of the barrel are those who still think that Bush is smarter than Obama.

[Laelth]

2. I sigh with the world.

Now, we have a lot of clean-up to do.

:dem:

-Laelth

[calimary]

6. Yeah, we sure do. But I suspect that all of America went up in the estimation of the rest of

the world. Because we collectively showed that we finally had enough horse sense to come in out of a hurricane. May make it easier for people in other countries, who undoubtedly wondered what the fuck we were thinking for two election cycles (I know, I know ... not US but enough of the knuckledragger contingent who got him close enough to steal it twice), to forgive our poor gullible misguided country. At least the majority in this nation FINALLY did the correct thing and chose the best man for the job.

[uponit7771]

3. K&R

[Kaleko]

4. The contrast between Bush and Obama

is so startling, it'll take a while for everyone to lose that well-earned mistrust of all things American. A mixture of fear, loathing and disdain has replaced the image of the 'good John Wayne cowboy' American with a heart of gold. It's been decades of steady erosion with a few sharp jolts during the last two stolen elections.

Nobody, and I mean NOT A SINGLE SOUL, I've met in my travels in Europe, the middle east and Asia, has ever expressed admiration for W. the Terrible. I believe W. is THE most hated man in the world.

[mwb970]

10. bush was a hell of a way to kick off the 21st century!

Fortunately, the only way we can go from here is up.

[BobTheSubgenius]

5. My father had a great expression for the kind of person being described as * was in this article.

"Not always right, but never in doubt."

Another one I quite liked is also *kinda* on point.

"Doesn't matter what it is you're talking about. His is bigger, better or he's got two of them."

[salguine]

7. But I think there's a problem in that Bush is, as the article states,

"sitting in his huge instant mega-mansion in Dallas". He should be sitting in a holding cell awaiting trial. And it pains me greatly that nobody's moving on this. The longer we wait, the greater grows the inclination to just let it slide.

[SunsetDreams]

8. K&R Thank you sister :)

[tanyev]

9. I doubt that George is paying any attention.

Or if he is, he certainly doesn't give a rat's ass.