Europeans on the US elections [the world should be given the right to vote]

[CactusCarlos]

http://www.sperocite.com/mbarticle.asp?id=14212&s=1

Europeans on the US elections
By Soeren Kern (posted 19 hours, 4 minutes ago)

The outcome of the US presidential election will affect the lives of millions of people around the world. So it's probably not surprising that many Europeans are resentful that only Americans will have a say in it. European media is saturated with election coverage that is heavily biased in favor of the Democrats. And, as in past elections, European elites are demanding the right to help choose the next occupant of the White House. What follows is a brief survey of what some Europeans are saying about the American way of democracy.

An editorial in the Brussels-based, center-right De Standaard articulates a view shared by many Europeans: "American presidential elections are not 'home affairs'. American decisions have repercussions all over the globe…. Hence, the world should be given the right to vote."

This view is echoed by the London-based, conservative-leaning Daily Telegraph. A column titled 'If Only We Could Vote for the Next US President' argues that "Many Britons will feel it would be rather nice to have a vote, too. Well, maybe not a whole vote: I would settle for one worth 50 per cent of those cast by American citizens. After all, since we are a strategic colony of the US, it would be nice to have even a marginal say in how the empire chooses to dispose our goodwill and our blood and treasure."

What European elites really seem to want is the right to "help" Americans choose the "correct" candidate. And if newspaper headlines are any indication, that person is, overwhelmingly, Illinois Senator Barack Obama. Indeed, across the continent, European elites are infatuated with Obama, who is now a cult figure.

In Germany, the center-right Berliner Morgenpost proclaims that Obama is 'The New Kennedy' while the centrist tabloid Bild says that 'This Black American Has Become the New Kennedy!' The left-wing Der Spiegel asserts that: "Obama is the candidate of the idealists…. Obama also happens to be the candidate of choice for the foreign press…. Many in Europe would like nothing more than a 'European' America."

In the Netherlands, the left-leaning De Volkskrant reports that the US primaries are giving the Dutch "goose bumps…. Obama has the authenticity that the Dutch electorate craves."

In France, the center-left Libération says the new leader of the French Socialist Party should be someone with Obama's profile: "The French Left seeks a charismatic leader, age 46, of mixed race, to deliver a message of hope and unity. At a time when American Democrats are discovering their new hero, it would be a good time for the Socialist Party and their friends to find a Barack Obama to end their internal quarrels."

Meanwhile, in an online poll at the center-left Le Nouvel Observateur, Obama has an overwhelming 60 percent of the 2,680 votes cast, double Clinton's 30 percent. The late President Kennedy is lagging behind, with only 4 percent of the votes.

In Britain, the centrist Times of London confirms that the Tories are suffering an identity crisis by reporting that "Tories and Labour both hope for a sprinkling of Barack Obama's stardust. Ripples of excitement from the campaign of the presidential contender have crossed the Atlantic, and British politicians are agog."

After months of glorifying Obama, European media have tried to portray his losses to New York Senator Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire and Nevada as part of an elaborate conspiracy to keep a black man from becoming the 44th president of the United States. After Clinton won the New Hampshire primary, for example, the Milan-based, center-right Il Giornale reported that Obama was the victim of vote-rigging.

In Germany, the Financial Times Deutschland opines that "there is something narcissistic at the heart of the idea that Clinton was breaking down at the thought that America might be recklessly throwing away the chance to be governed by her. Chronic egocentrism, narcissism, self-pity—these are exactly the qualities that to this day make Bill Clinton so hated by his enemies."

The state-sponsored Deutsche Welle argues that although Clinton's victory in New Hampshire is being put down to her display of 'genuine' emotion, it is actually a further example of "US politics descending into self-parody."

France, meanwhile, dispatched its ambassador to keep an eye on campaign events in New Hampshire. "There's a lot of interest in France in this election…. The administration in Paris wants regular reports," says France's ambassador to the United States.

In an essay titled 'The End of the Obama Revolution', Der Spiegel laments that: "All of those people who've been dreaming of America's first black president now have to slowly wake up. It'll happen one day, hopefully, but not in this election."

The Times of London says that: "For all his talk of changing America's face to the world and rebuilding old alliances, Mr Obama has been notably reluctant to engage, particularly with Europe. As British and European leaders ponder the meaning and consequences of Mr Obama's sudden rise, perhaps they should be asking instead how much they really matter to him." Good point.

Indeed, another Times of London story frets that: "Obama has made only one brief official visit to London—and none elsewhere in Western Europe…."

In an 800-word rant titled 'American Primary System Fails to Impress Europeans', Deutsche Welle implies that if Germans cannot help Americans vote Obama into office, then the US political system itself must be flawed. DW asserts that American democracy is "atavistic. It's outdated. It doesn't really reflect democracy in a modern sense." The story goes on to say that America would be better off if it adopted a parliamentary system, just like the one in (surprise, surprise) Germany.

Some Europeans are beginning to wake up to the reality that a Democrat in the White House might not be in their best interests.

The Hamburg-based, conservative-leaning Die Welt offers the most forthright analysis of the implications for Europe of a Clinton victory. "For Germany, it greatly matters who finally wins the presidential race. The Clintons are not naive admirers of Germany and/or Europe. As heirs to an unpopular war in Iraq, the Clintons, after returning to the White House, would demand military coalition troop support from Europe. Indeed, as early as 2004, Gerhard Schroeder was warned that the worst possible outcome of his anti-Iraq war stance would have been a John Kerry victory. Because then the German chancellor would have had a friendly, but pushy partner in the White House who would have quickly put an end to Berlin's anti-American politicking by asking for assistance in Baghdad."

According to the London-based Economist, "Nor is European enthusiasm for either candidate likely to survive the election of Mrs Clinton, Mr Obama, or whoever else becomes president. The person who gets voters' nod will rule as an American, promoting American interests around the world—and no doubt disappointing many watchers from abroad. For Europeans to imagine anything else would be naive indeed."

In Spain, El Diario Exterior argues that an Obama victory could be especially counter-productive for the European Left, because it will show that America is not the racist state that European elites say it is: "The [European] Left, which likes to attribute to the United States an imperialist foreign policy and discrimination against blacks and Hispanics, is not as happy about the rise of Obama as one would expect. On sending the message that they are ready to elect an African American, a part of American society is exhibiting an attitude much less prejudiced than is commonly attributed to this country." The article goes on to remind readers that Europe's multicultural Socialist utopia has failed to beget its own Obama.

After seeing American democracy in high gear, European publics are fretting about the relative lack of democracy at home. As the Paris-based International Herald Tribune points out in a column titled 'Don't Look for Democracy in the EU Presidency', "unlike America's presidential primary elections, the start of Europe's presidential selection process foretells very little to do with revivifying democracy." It continues: "The choice of the European president is true to the EU's historical character. Rather than a popular vote, the selection process will belong to the council of chiefs of state and government…."

Finally, London's leftwing Guardian concedes that America is doing something right for a change. In a rare case of introspection and self-criticism, the paper admonishes Britons that "reflecting on the wide-open campaign of 2008, it's obvious that British critics—and European critics generally—are guilty of smug superiority and ignorance in writing off the strengths of the American system.… Instead of dismissing American democracy in our snooty way, we need to ask what we can learn." Now that's a thought!

[Atomic Lib Smasher]

The EuroPeons (no, it's not misspelled... it's intentional) have been wanting to "vote in our elections" or meddle in some way since Bush was president. **** 'em, let them enjoy 8 dollars a gallon of gas and waiting eons for medical treatment. They just wish the same for us here is why they want to have influence.

[Lord Undies]

Just what we need!  A USA watered down by the substandard Europeans.  The United States of America got to be the great country it is by NOT being Europe.  What in the flying duck would make them think it would be a good idea to include them in our elections or invite their influence now?     

Europeans let their continent go to socialist sh*t and now they want a say in our country? 

Why did we bother saving their asses back in the 1940's?  And after the United States is just like Europe, who is going to save their asses in the 2020's? 

[CactusCarlos]

Why did we bother saving their asses back in the 1940's? 

For the same reason that if there were at attack on Berkeley, California the Marines would be the first to defend it - because we're Americans and that's what we do.

[Flame]

Here's my response to that:

 

[Chris_]

These euro-trash folks would probably be just as happy, if not more so, if we just handed total control of the U.S. to teh UN.   

[ih8hippies]

I'm at a loss for words...

[Chris_]

An editorial in the Brussels-based, center-right De Standaard articulates a view shared by many Europeans: "American presidential elections are not 'home affairs'. American decisions have repercussions all over the globe…. Hence, the world should be given the right to vote."

The EU also has some minimal ripples worldwide.  I demand reciprocity for all EU elections with an American vote worth 10X an EU vote (to properly reflecy our importance).

This view is echoed by the London-based, conservative-leaning Daily Telegraph. A column titled 'If Only We Could Vote for the Next US President' argues that "Many Britons will feel it would be rather nice to have a vote, too. Well, maybe not a whole vote: I would settle for one worth 50 per cent of those cast by American citizens. After all, since we are a strategic colony of the US, it would be nice to have even a marginal say in how the empire chooses to dispose our goodwill and our blood and treasure."

You are no longer strategic although you are a wholly ownsed subsidiary of USA.  And you'll all be bowing to mecca 5 times a day in a few years so who gives a **** what you limeys think.

What European elites really seem to want is the right to "help" Americans choose the "correct" candidate. And if newspaper headlines are any indication, that person is, overwhelmingly, Illinois Senator Barack Obama. Indeed, across the continent, European elites are infatuated with Obama, who is now a cult figure.

The cult of personality.  The EU has the depth of a puddle.

In Germany, the center-right Berliner Morgenpost proclaims that Obama is 'The New Kennedy' while the centrist tabloid Bild says that 'This Black American Has Become the New Kennedy!' The left-wing Der Spiegel asserts that: "Obama is the candidate of the idealists…. Obama also happens to be the candidate of choice for the foreign press…. Many in Europe would like nothing more than a 'European' America."

Since we have an American Europe, they want reciprocity?  Hussen Obama is as much like that drug-besotted philanderer as a Tonka Truck to the Space Shuttle. As much as I dispise him, JFK did a lot of REAL things before becoming president.  He served a long time in the Navy, wrote a Pulitzer-winning book on Government and many other very real things.  Obama has been able to somehow stay black for his short tenure in politics.

In the Netherlands, the left-leaning De Volkskrant reports that the US primaries are giving the Dutch "goose bumps…. Obama has the authenticity that the Dutch electorate craves."

Racists, one and all.  They want Hussein because he is a negro so they can tout their uber-unbias.

In France, the center-left Libération says the new leader of the French Socialist Party should be someone with Obama's profile: "The French Left seeks a charismatic leader, age 46, of mixed race, to deliver a message of hope and unity. At a time when American Democrats are discovering their new hero, it would be a good time for the Socialist Party and their friends to find a Barack Obama to end their internal quarrels."

Translation: Hessien is our kind of Socialist!

Etc. etc. etc. etc. Blah Blah Blah Blah.  Oh, God I can't go on

It ends on the only sane note:

Finally, London's leftwing Guardian concedes that America is doing something right for a change. In a rare case of introspection and self-criticism, the paper admonishes Britons that "reflecting on the wide-open campaign of 2008, it's obvious that British critics—and European critics generally—are guilty of smug superiority and ignorance in writing off the strengths of the American system.… Instead of dismissing American democracy in our snooty way, we need to ask what we can learn." Now that's a thought!

[NHSparky]

There ya go, and while you're at it, we can vote in YOUR elections.  Maybe then you'll have some politicians with a ****ing set.

Oh, who am I kiddin--look who WE elect!

[jtyangel]

That is a good point about reciprocity. While they may think they'd make our country more liberal, it can not be denied that the power of our vote could make their countries more conservative. They'd better tread very carefully with these ideas of theres.

I also find it also humorous that Europeans are the first to cry 'imperialism' at the US, but make similar suggestions by proxy in regards to our country. What a load of hypocrites. I can't help but imagine that DU would approve of such imperialism in this case though.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

And if we wanted to influence their elections (read: sovereignty) to our ends it would be called imperialism.

[DumbAss Tanker]

The Europeans seem to be good at generating remarkably stupid ideas:  Divine right of kings, Communism, Socialism, Fascism (either in Original Italian seasoning, or the newer Bavarian Blend), Theocracy, and so forth.  Must be something in the water.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Must be something in the water.

Actually their water wasn't fit to drink until recently...that's why they're always liquored-up on beer and wine.

'Splains a lot.