Europe is about to give Barack Obama one of the grandest of stages for statesmanship.

[DogPoundPup]

In this city where John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton all made famous speeches, Obama will find himself stepping into perhaps another iconic moment Thursday as his superstar charisma meets German adoration live in shadows of the Reichstag and the Brandenburg Gate. He then travels to Paris and London where he can expect to be greeted with similar adulation.

It's not only Obama's youth, eloquence and energy that have stolen hearts across the Atlantic. For Europeans, there have always been two Americas: one of cynicism, big business and bullying aggression, another of freedom, fairness and nothing-is-impossible dynamism.

If President Bush has been seen as the embodiment of that first America, Obama has raised expectations of a chance for the nation to redeem itself in the role that — at various times through history — Europe has loved, respected and relied upon.

"Americans need a change — and what's good for America is good for the whole world," said Maike Smerling, a physician who was born and raised in the former East Germany
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-07-22-obamamania-europe_N.htm

[opihimoimoi]

1. K&R McLivid must be going bonkers with rage/envy......a poor loser I have to suspect.

[AndyTiedye]

5. Ya Think?

[TlalocW]

7. I really hope this is what drives McCain over the edge

That have been hints during the campaign about his snarky, asshole personality that the media have glossed over, but hopefully, he'll have a big enough tantrum, drop a few F-bombs, etc.

TlalocW

[Eurobabe]

2. He'll be meeting some American adoration live too

I'll be there. :D :patriot:

[Imagevision]

3. I'm sure europeans are delighted to see/hear a more sensible future US. President...

[EFerrari]

4. This is a lot like the way JFK was written about at about this stage.

It's nice to see, after all this time.

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

6. If this trip finishes as well as it has started

Obama has quietly drawn the fifth jack.