Many in Europe rooting for Kerry

[Kadie]

Many in Europe rooting for Kerry


By PAMELA SAMPSON, Associated Press


Last Updated: July 30, 2004, 02:11:36 PM PDT


PARIS (AP) - Europe's deep disdain for President Bush seems to be the engine behind John Kerry's growing appeal here, even though he is still an unknown quantity in Paris, London and Berlin.

Antipathy to Bush has translated into enthusiasm for the Democratic presidential nominee, whose speech Thursday at his party's convention in Boston was broadcast in much of Europe.

Daniel Thouw of Berlin, who has been observing the U.S. election campaign on Web sites and television, said he does not know where Kerry stands on many issues, but still thinks he would make a better president than Bush.

"I know, for example, that Ronald Reagan's son spoke for him, and so did Bill Clinton," said the 28-year-old graphic designer. "Everyone is better than Bush."

more... http://www.modbee.com/24hour/politics/story/1532313p-9062869c.html

[0007]

1. How are Americans being treated in Europe these days?

Do they let folks know openly how they feel about junior?

[Mokito]

3. Strangely enough

American tourists are quite "undercover" these days.

[0007]

7. What do you mean? You mean Americans aren't acting like proud

Americans anymore.

[lebkuchen]

17. I wore my "Bush World Domination Tour" T-shirt in campsites in France

and Belgium for six weeks this summer, whenever I went to the toilet for morning routines.

A British woman and her husband commented to me that their friend used to teach at a Luthern school in TX where the Bush twins had attended. Their friend had told them that the girls were not very bright, and that the level of writing they were able to produce for their age group would be at least two grade levels below what was expected in the U.K.

I hadn't realized the twins had attended a Lutheran church school.

At any rate, camping puts you in the thick of European culture and attitudes, and we had no problems whatsoever. Whenever politics came up, everyone, from the Netherlands to the UK to Germany, said they did not like Bush, though my sense was that Europeans are now more dismissive of the US than an admirer of it.

Clinton's "My Life" ("Ma Vie") is in bookstore windows all over France and Belgium, and his name was mentioned, his picture shown, in museums around Normandy. Conversely, only Laura was mentioned, one time, in one of the museums, and I saw Reagan's picture once. The Chimp didn't exist.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. Many in Europe rooting for Kerry

Cheney will be interested in finding out this very important fact.... perhaps he can read the paper rather than demand that JK cough up who is supporting him... perhaps they can trade... the incriminating energy task force records for the names of a few foreign leaders who think JK might be a pleasant change for the world at large. ABB. By the way... he blew many many people away with his speech last night... right on cue.

[physioex]

4. You know the Europeans openly despise Shrub...

There were protests in England and multiple protests during his trip at the Normandy anniversary. The same could be said for Asia as well. BTW I don't think Shrub ever went to China and India did he? And never really tried to forge an alliance with those two countries...

[central scrutinizer]

5. The democracies in Europe root for Kerry

while Bushco is cozy with monarchies and military dictatorships: Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, etc. Yup, they hate us for our freedom, all right.

[KT2000]

6. "Everyone is better than Bush!"

that's great! EBB!

[BonjourUSA]

8. That's right. We didn't feel the Kerry's speech like a good one

and we don't still know where Kerry stands on many issues. Many banalities with a ladle of demagogy, but everyone is better than Bush

[George_Bonanza]

9. I respectfully disagree

If Kerry wonked his speech with policy, no doubt the RNC would jump on him for being boring, and unable to connect with regular voters.

[doctorbombeigh]

16. Everyone is better than Bush, but

Kerry's much better as a public servant than people give him credit for. I've voted for him quite a few times, had him as my senator, seen him in different circumstances over many years, etc. Kerry's an essentially decent man, reliable, very intelligent leaning-toward-intellectual (shocking in American politics), hard-working, curious, and he knows a lot of useful old pros in Washington. He's cultivated them over the years and they like him. He used some of JFK's people on the acceptance speech.

His 20 years in the Senate may not have been "action-packed" but I'm not looking for another cowboy-president. It's not so easy being a stand-out senator from Massachusetts when Ted Kennedy casts such a huge shadow. One must, of course, defer to the senior senator. Kerry's old-school, if that means anything to you. He built his career carefully, step by step, over decades. He's a classic politician and an able one. If you want all the policy specifics, check out johnkerry.com. They don't have everything up yet, but I'm sure they will when they get it all written.

What you really need to know is, will John Kerry run American foreign policy with the arrogance, rudeness to our allies and the apalling recklessness of Mr. Bush and his friends? The answer is no, it's just not in Kerry's nature to behave that way. He'll deal with the disaster Bush has created in Iraq, but we won't see any more adventures of that kind under a Kerry administration.

[JDPriestly]

18. To Bonjour . . . Kerry's speech was subtle.

It had a lot of code words, that is words that mean a great deal in the context of our present American culture. Americans, especially Democrats, understood very well what he was talking about. The speech may have sounded vague and general to Europeans, but it was quite clear and specific to us Americans. The general reaction here is that it was a great speech. Even a lot of members of the press who support Republicans were sobered by it. We Americans want politicians to speak to our hearts as well as to our minds. Kerry did that very well.

[lolly]

10. Many in Europe?

Jeez, is there anybody in Europe who ISN'T rooting for Kerry?

On edit: Obviously, they couldn't find anybody who wasn't rooting against AWOL, or they would have featured him prominantly and given him 3/4 of the column space, in the interest of being "fair and balanced."

So, as far as I'm concerned, it's official: nobody in Europe wants AWOL!

[cliss]

11. You're right: we should change the headline to:

"Everyone in Europe wants a Kerry win"

[Dirk39]

12. It's true...

I'm 40 years old and I live in Germany. And I can't remember that ever before during an election period in the USA, our media was so evidently supporting a democratic candidate against a republican. At least in Germany, although they still play fair and balanced, it's evident that they support Kerry.

It's very plain to see.If I would have to vote in the USA, I wouldn't vote at all and I don't see any significant difference between Bush and Kerry at all, but the majority of people in Europe, if they care at all, don't seem to share my point of view.

So all you Americans, who hope that Kerry will be a better choice than Bush, don't care about me: most Europeans seem to believe in the lesser evil.

Even the Italian left did write to Nader that he should stay away from the election.

Crucify me, 'cause I wouldn't vote for Kerry, I would rather vote for Nader or I wouldn't vote at all, but most Europeans seem to support Kerry!

Hate me, love Europe, but come here, if you like,

Dirk

[squidbro]

13. Kerry as bad as Bush? I fail to see the logic

I live in the U.S. and I will be voting for Kerry.

He wasn't my first choice of a candidate and in fact, he usurped much from Dean's early antiwar rhetoric. But hey, anyone is better than Bush.

I was very disappointed in Kerry's vote to authorize war. At least he didn't lie to everyone in order to justify it. In fact, the majority of Democratic congressman voted to authorize the use of force.

Kerry will nominate better Supreme Court justices than Bush. That's an overwhelming reason to see Kerry elected. I shudder to think of who Bush would put on the bench.

Believe how you will. That's your right and privilege. However, I won't stand around watching Bush steal another election and start an Asian war with North Korea that will threaten the very existence of the earth.

[bpilgrim]

14. well said

:toast:

dirk, i still love ya though ;->

peace

[RelativelyJones]

19. No difference

Yes, yes, no difference at all. There's no difference between Stoiber and Schroeder, Bush and Kerry, all down the line. I am so exhausted by this intellectually lazy attitude that enables people to feel cleansed of the messy business of politics.

[newyawker99]

20. Hi Al Z!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Arcturus]

15. An encounter in Vienna...

My brother and I were vacationing in Vienna back in May, and as we were heading back to our hotel room, we were approached by a young woman who asked us something in German. I don't speak German, but my brother does. She was giving us a message about an Austrian charity foundation, but then she realized we were tourists, and switched to English.

"Wait, you're Americans?"

"Yes."

"Oh. In that case, forget my last message, I've got a different message for you: Don't vote Bush!"

We laughed. "We know," my brother said.