Europe Eyes Kerry as Hope for Better Ties with U.S.

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=584&ncid=584&e=2&u=/nm/20040215/pl_nm/campaign_kerry_europe_dc

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Being more popular in Europe than George W. Bush is scarcely the hardest task facing his presidential challengers but John Kerry (news - web sites) is off to a particularly good start among Europeans anxious to repair trans-Atlantic ties.



Don't expect the "cheese-eating surrender monkeys" so loudly derided by Bush's Republican allies over the Iraq (news - web sites) war to endorse the Democratic frontrunner in public -- French, German and other EU leaders know they may well face four more years trying to get along with a Bush who can seem indifferent to their concerns.


But the French-speaking Kerry, scion of a diplomatic family with a wife raised in Portuguese Africa and a well-connected clan of French cousins, has already struck a chord in Europe by criticizing Bush's "erratic unilateralism."


"If Kerry wins, the more he conquers America's indifference toward Europe and the more he expects of us, the better it will be for transatlantic relations," former German President Richard von Weizsaecker said in the Welt am Sonntag newspaper Sunday.

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[dArKeR]

1. "Moral Americans Eye Kerry as Hope for Better Life"

[mobuto]

2. The Brits

The British newspapers, especially the Guardian, have been dumping on Kerry in the most shallow manner possible. I don't understand it, but I can't say it really bothers me - Staines isn't a major Democratic constituency anyway.

[RogueTrooper]

3. Except when The Observer's Will Hutton

endorsed Kerry the day before Democrats' Abroad's UK caucus.

[GreyV]

4. Kerry....

Kerry's standing on foreign policy is confusing and troubling, to say the least. In fact he refuses to address any foreign policy problems, and choses to ignore most of the issues completely. Instead he spends most of his time debating the economy. Economy whose entire condition is in fact based ON foreign policy.

[JoFerret]

5. Imagine

the world wide sigh of relief and celebratory cheer when Bush is defeated in November. Only US voters can do it but the whole world benefits. The good will alone will give the new president a six month or longer honeymoon period in which to start the work of repair, renewal and restoration.

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

6. Regardless of who the nominee is

it must be nice to know that you've got a coupla billion people rooting for you!

[GreyV]

7. Well, they are making a big mistake.

Well, Europeans and the rest of the "billions" are making a big mistake. Most people worldwide equate their Democratic party to our, while in reality there is no comparison. Kerry with his current set of opinions would in reality pass as a right-wing representative in most European nations, or South American ones for that matter. Or at best as a moderate conservative, but he would most definitely not be seen as a democrat. I myself will do as much as I can to educate as many non-Americans about the real Kerry.


I think they are just in a hurry to see Bush out of the White House, as most of us are.

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

8. Getting rid of Bush is what I meant

I don't quite agree with you on Kerry, but certainly what's left-of-centre over there is conservative over here on all manner of issues.

But unless the Democrats nominate Cheney, the best part of the world will be behind their candidate just to get the monkey out of office.

[Paschall]

10. You're underestimating the rest of the world

"Most people worldwide equate their Democratic party to our, while in reality there is no comparison."

Few countries have any party with the word "Democratic" in the name. Except perhaps a handful of Christian Democratic Parties; and everyone knows they are to the right of the political spectrum.

Europeans are fully aware there is no real multi-party system in the United States, and fully aware that the Democratic party lies to the right of the largest leftist parties in Europe, which are all mostly Socialist or aligned with the Socialists. And in general Europeans are much more aware of US politics than the other way around.

Please spare your breath and don't insult us Europeans by trying to "educate us."

[JoFerret]

9. Hang in there Europe

as with the military, the middle east, the economy, the environment and Iraq - hope is on the way.

[Paschall]

11. Hearing Kerry respond to the French press in French was a blast

But brought back memories of Shrub's remark:

Mr. Bush was responding to Mr. Gregory‘s question about anti-American demonstrations in Germany, Russia and France during the president‘s visits to these nations since Wednesday.

"I wonder why it is you think there are such strong sentiments in Europe against you and against this administration?" the reporter said. "Why, particularly, there‘s a view that you and your administration are trying to impose America‘s will on the rest of the world, particularly when it comes to the Middle East and where the war on terrorism goes next?"

Turning to Mr. Chirac, he added in French: "And, Mr. President, would you maybe comment on that?"

"Very good," Mr. Bush said sardonically. "The guy memorizes four words, and he plays like he‘s intercontinental."

"I can go on," Mr. Gregory offered.

"I‘m impressed — que bueno," said Mr. Bush, using the Spanish phrase for "how wonderful." He deadpanned: "Now I‘m literate in two languages."

What a turd!

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