Poll: World Wants Obama

[bush_cheney2004]

And now for the obligatory poll of the "world's" preference for President of the United States from the BBC The winner of this poll should remember what happened to world favs Kerry and Gore:

US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama may be struggling to nudge ahead of his Republican rival in polls at home, but people across the world want him in the White House, a BBC poll said.

All 22 countries covered in the poll would prefer to see Senator Obama elected US president ahead of Republican John McCain.

I wonder why they never poll Americans about who should be president or prime minister of.......

...oh, I know, because frankly My Dear.....

[M.Dancer]

And now for the obligatory poll of the "world's" preference for President of the United States from the BBC The winner of this poll should remember what happened to world favs Kerry and Gore:

US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama may be struggling to nudge ahead of his Republican rival in polls at home, but people across the world want him in the White House, a BBC poll said.

All 22 countries covered in the poll would prefer to see Senator Obama elected US president ahead of Republican John McCain.

I wonder why they never poll Americans about who should be president or prime minister of.......

...oh, I know, because frankly My Dear.....

If they polled the UN ....

[moderateamericain]

Ill sum this up right now. The rest of the world can stuff it. Americans will decide who the next president is. You want an election start your own. This is our country and we will run it how we see fit through the delegates we elect. Your opinions on the matter be damned. When the English people were writing letters to Americans trying to tell us how to vote I considered it an attack on our democracy. The freedom to vote and be free from pressure is a founding principle of democracy. BACK THE FUCK OFF WORLD. We will make our own choices. And live with whatever the consquences are.

Edited September 9, 2008 by moderateamericain

[Guest American Woman]

When the English people were writing letters to Americans trying to tell us how to vote I considered it an attack on our democracy.

Edited to ask, what English people were writing to Americans trying to tell them how to vote? And which Americans?

If this was/is happening, I do consider it an invasion on our election.

Edited September 9, 2008 by American Woman

[guyser]

I find you are normally a person of reason.

Ill sum this up right now. The rest of the world can stuff it. Americans will decide who the next president is.

Absolutely correct. No more no less...'cept for the stuff it part.

You want an election start your own. This is our country and we will run it how we see fit through the delegates we elect. Your opinions on the matter be damned.

Again , well sort of true. True in that you will run it as seen fit. Sort of in that there is no lack of opinion inside America as to what idiots are doing in their own respective countries. Africa comes to mind, the Middle East comes to mind, Britain comes to mind, Canada comes to mind, Australia comes to mind.....

When the English people were writing letters to Americans trying to tell us how to vote I considered it an attack on our democracy. The freedom to vote and be free from pressure is a founding principle of democracy. BACK THE FUCK OFF WORLD. We will make our own choices. And live with whatever the consquences are.

Well I can understand being PO'd, the fact that people put pen to paper to try and influence a vote is not an attack on democracy. Nobody tried to curtail the freedom to vote , well not outside Florida anyway.

As for BTFO, we are all guilty of expressing our wishes.You included. At the end of the day, or vote, you will have picked who has the most electoral votes and will put that person in the WH.

[Guest American Woman]

Well I can understand being PO'd, the fact that people put pen to paper to try and influence a vote is not an attack on democracy. Nobody tried to curtail the freedom to vote , well not outside Florida anyway.

It's not an attack on democracy, but it's interference in our election. Doesn't Canada have a law against that?

[guyser]

but it's interference in our election. Doesn't Canada have a law against that?

No not at all.It is not interference in any form . Most of the letters were in the op-ed sections.

[bush_cheney2004]

Edited to ask, what English people were writing to Americans trying to tell them how to vote? And which Americans?

If this was/is happening, I do consider it an invasion on our election.

Krikey...that is a big change from your original post that ended.....America F_CK Yea!

[Drea]

Ill sum this up right now. The rest of the world can stuff it. Americans will decide who the next president is. You want an election start your own. This is our country and we will run it how we see fit through the delegates we elect. Your opinions on the matter be damned. When the English people were writing letters to Americans trying to tell us how to vote I considered it an attack on our democracy. The freedom to vote and be free from pressure is a founding principle of democracy. BACK THE FUCK OFF WORLD. We will make our own choices. And live with whatever the consquences are.

BACK THE FUCK OFF USA -- if you don't want people in other countries telling you what to do, then get the out of them already.

Not only do YOU have to live with your choice -- the rest of the people on earth do too:

America's Empire of Bases

It's not easy to assess the size or exact value of our empire of bases. Official records on these subjects are misleading, although instructive. According to the Defense Department's annual "Base Structure Report" for fiscal year 2003, which itemizes foreign and domestic U.S. military real estate, the Pentagon currently owns or rents 702 overseas bases in about 130 countries

Frrom Wiki: List of United States military bases

737 U.S. Military Bases = Global Empire

Number of US military bases overseas is staggering

The rest of the world has every right to be involved in your so-called election.

So tough shit. Suck it up. If you want to have your fingers in everybody's pie, expect the owner of the pie to be, at the very least, aware of you and at the most, talking about your "popularity contest/beauty pageant".

[Guest American Woman]

The rest of the world has every right to be involved in your so-called election.

The world has a right to its opinion, but it has no right to be involved. I believe Canada has a law against foreign interference in your elections. Seems to me that pretty much sums up your nation's view on the world's "right" to be involved, and the world has no more right to be involved in our elections than they do yours.

[jefferiah]

"The World Wants Obama" is another pretty good reason to not vote for him, IMO. I mean I am sure the world wanted Jimmy Carter too. The Germans like Obama. They probably liked Chamberlain too.

People from other places in the world, when choosing an American candidate they like, probably do not always base their choice on America's interest. They don't contemplate Obama's tax plan when they won't be paying those taxes, and they dont say to themselves "hey I really want to know what's best for my American brothers and sisters." Alot of the world does not like America (and thats not Bush's fault either). They didn't like America ever. And in choosing a candidate for your president they want the weakest one possible.

[Guest American Woman]

"The World Wants Obama" is another pretty good reason to not vote for him, IMO. I mean I am sure the world wanted Jimmy Carter too. The Germans like Obama. They probably liked Chamberlain too.

People from other places in the world, when choosing an American candidate they like, probably do not always base their choice on America's interest. They don't contemplate Obama's tax plan when they won't be paying those taxes, and they dont say to themselves "hey I really want to know what's best for my American brothers and sisters." Alot of the world does not like America (and thats not Bush's fault either). They didn't like America ever. And in choosing a candidate for your president they want the weakest one possible.

I find your opinion, an opinion from "other places in the world" about how little attention we should pay to what people from "other places in the world" think, interesting-- especially because it applies to you, too.

Edited September 9, 2008 by American Woman

[guyser]

The world has a right to its opinion,

Why would you respond? Our resident small minded anti usa troll woke from her nap only a handful of minutes ago.

You have to wait for the medicated soother to work its mellow magic. NOt to mention of course being changed.

I hope someone is warming up her bottle.

[Guest American Woman]

Why would you respond? Our resident small minded anti usa troll woke from her nap only a handful of minutes ago.

You have to wait for the medicated soother to work its mellow magic. NOt to mention of course being changed.

I hope someone is warming up her bottle.

Just a reflex, I guess.

I just find it ludicrous that the world should have a right to be involved in our election. I should have stopped and considered the source .....

[jefferiah]

I find your opinion, an opinion from "other places in the world" about how little attention we should pay to what people from "other places in the world" think, interesting-- especially because it applies to you, too.

But at least I'm giving a reason. And my reason is not based on what I think is best for Canada. The world at large just votes on this poll, but doesn't have to say why, so you don't even know the merits of their argument. Maybe you dismiss mine. That is fine. I may be wrong. But I am trying to help.

But just as an example, I would say that when a guy like Hugo Chavez makes statements to the effect that he finds it alot harder to negotiate with Bush and that he prefers Clinton, that should not be taken as a compliment for Bill and an insult to George. That means George is doing a better job.

Edited September 9, 2008 by jefferiah

[August1991]

Edited to ask, what English people were writing to Americans trying to tell them how to vote? And which Americans?

If this was/is happening, I do consider it an invasion on our election.

Last week G2 launched Operation Clark County to help readers have a say in the American election by writing to undecided voters in the crucial state of Ohio. In the first three days, more than 11,000 people requested addresses. Here is some of the reaction to the project that we received from the UST

Dear wonderful, loving friends from abroad,

We Ohioans are an ornery sort and don't take meddling well, even if it comes from people we admire and with their sincere goodwill. We are a fairly closed community overall. In my town of Springfield, I feel that there are some that consider people from the nearby cities of Columbus or Dayton, as "foreigners"- let alone someone from outside our country.

Springfield, Ohio

Have you not noticed that Americans don't give two shits what Europeans think of us? Each email someone gets from some arrogant Brit telling us why to NOT vote for George Bush is going to backfire, you stupid, yellow-toothed pansies ... I don't give a rat's ass if our election is going to have an effect on your worthless little life. I really don't. If you want to have a meaningful election in your crappy little island full of shitty food and yellow teeth, then maybe you should try not to sell your sovereignty out to Brussels and Berlin, dipshit. Oh, yeah - and brush your goddamned teeth, you filthy animals.

Wading River, NY

The Guardian, Monday October 18 2004

Fat lot of good this effort of The Guardian accomplished. Bush Jnr won Ohio in 20004.

-----

It's illegal for foreigners to contribute to a US presidential campaign but I think foreigners are also protected by the First Amendment. If I want to take out a full page ad in teh NYT describing John McCain as a senile old "pansy", who is going to stop me?

Edited September 9, 2008 by August1991

[Drea]

Why would you respond? Our resident small minded anti usa troll woke from her nap only a handful of minutes ago.

You have to wait for the medicated soother to work its mellow magic. NOt to mention of course being changed.

I hope someone is warming up her bottle.

Guyser is all angry now. *snickers quietly whilst at work*

The USA beauty pageant has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with looks. Who cares what the issues are -- Obama is the messiah, a muslim, an "elitist" -- but man is he HOT! Palin is a hockey mom pitbull -- but man is she HOT!

You people are so silly. Hollywood has gone to your heads and all you care about is appearance. Your election is a complete farce (so is ours but that's a different thread LOL). But it keeps you all busy for a few months. Instead of thinking how your going afford your hip replacement or how you are going to pay your mortgage or eat for the next two weeks... you get all wrapped up in "celebrity" worship.

Have fun and don't get too angry when the rest of the world voices its opinion -- after all, its only an opinion and cannot hurt you...

BOoga BoOga! LOL

[Guest American Woman]

It's illegal for foreigners to contribute to a US presidential campaign but I think foreigners are also protected by the First Amendment. If I want to take out a full page ad in teh NYT describing John McCain as a senile old "pansy", who is going to stop me?

I'm saying I don't think you should have that right. That's my opinion. Did I say anyone would stop you? Maybe they would, I don't know. But here's the Canadian law I was referring to:

Section 331. Non-interference by Foreigners. No person who does not reside in Canada shall, during an election period, in any way induce electors to vote or refrain from voting or vote or refrain from voting for a particular candidate unless the person is

(a) a Canadian citizen; or ( a permanent resident within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

So my point is, and remains, that any Canadian who thinks they and/or the rest of the world have a "right" to interfere in our election, should take a look at your own laws because you and the rest of the world should have no more right to interfere in our election than yours.

But I'm guessing there must be some restrictions. I don't think someone from, say Saudi Arabia, would be able to take out a full page ad in the NYT saying McCain is a Infidel. I don't think anyone from the U.S. would be able to either, and I doubt if your "McCain is a senile old pansy" would be accepted either.

Edited September 9, 2008 by American Woman

[August1991]

I'm saying I don't think you should have that right. That's my opinion. Did I say anyone would stop you? Maybe they would, I don't know. But here's the Canadian law I was referring to:

Section 331. Non-interference by Foreigners. No person who does not reside in Canada shall, during an election period, in any way induce electors to vote or refrain from voting or vote or refrain from voting for a particular candidate unless the person is

(a) a Canadian citizen; or ( a permanent resident within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Canada's federal electoral laws - as Stephen Harper has shown - are vaguely medieval/Soviet. (In fact, our federal electoral law is derived from Quebec's referendum law wriiten by the PQ and inspired by the civil code.) Various restrictions apply not only to foreigners but also to Canadians and furthermore, we have a central agency that supposedly polices all this.

In the US, things are different. I find the US electoral law in spirit if not always in fact more democratic. In the US, pretty much anything goes. The US is an open society that encourages the famous "free market in ideas" whatever their source.

Nobody stopped teh Guardian from organizing a letter writing campaign.

[Moonlight Graham]

Ill sum this up right now. The rest of the world can stuff it. Americans will decide who the next president is. You want an election start your own. This is our country and we will run it how we see fit through the delegates we elect. Your opinions on the matter be damned. When the English people were writing letters to Americans trying to tell us how to vote I considered it an attack on our democracy. The freedom to vote and be free from pressure is a founding principle of democracy. BACK THE FUCK OFF WORLD. We will make our own choices. And live with whatever the consquences are.

I get your point. Of course Americans, and Americans alone, should determine who the next President it. But just remember when you vote that your decision will greatly influence the lives of billions of the other people on this earth, thousands if not millions of whom will live or die based on the decisions of one man.

Maybe you don't care about the world's opinions, but the world certainly has every right & cause to care about who sits in the White House. So goes America, so goes the world.

[Moonlight Graham]

I wonder why they never poll Americans about who should be president or prime minister of.......

...oh, I know, because frankly My Dear.....

See my answer above.

Of course you don't care, because whomever is leader of another country doesn't affect you all that much (comparitively). If you lived in ANY other country in the world you'd be singing a different tune. Empathy is you friend. Give it a good hug & take it out for a cup of coffee.

[Guest American Woman]

Canada's federal electoral laws - as Stephen Harper has shown - are vaguely medieval/Soviet. (In fact, our federal electoral law is derived from Quebec's referendum law wriiten by the PQ and inspired by the civil code.) Various restrictions apply not only to foreigners but also to Canadians and furthermore, we have a central agency that supposedly polices all this.

In the US, things are different. I find the US electoral law in spirit if not always in fact more democratic. In the US, pretty much anything goes. The US is an open society that encourages the famous "free market in ideas" whatever their source.

Nobody stopped teh Guardian from organizing a letter writing campaign.

I guess no one could stop the Guardian from doing what it wanted to do in England, but I do think there should be restrictions within one's own nation. It would have to be a law, though, like it was illegal for that Canadian (his name escapes me) to mail pot seeds to the U.S. from Canada.

Here's the thing: What if the Social Conservatives in the U.S., which would constitute a lot more people and therefore more money than any political faction in Canada, decided to make a mass effort within Canada to have whichever PM would be tough on legalization of marijuana elected, or the one that would be anti-choice, taking out ads, putting up billboards, etc. in an effort to get that candidate elected.

Do you think people from the U.S. should have that right?

[M.Dancer]

Do you think people from the U.S. should have that right?

They have that right already. It's covered in your consitution.

[guyser]

But just remember when you vote that your decision will greatly influence the lives of billions of the other people on this earth, thousands if not millions of whom will live or die based on the decisions of one man.

Please, like they care. That is not how it works. Put the reverse to the test. Do you really think any Canuck (if we were that powerful) would stop the pencil from making an X and say, Hmm...wonder what the guy in Rotorua thinks I should do?

[guyser]

Here's the thing: What if the Social Conservatives in the U.S., which would constitute a lot more people and therefore more money than any political faction in Canada, decided to make a mass effort within Canada to have whichever PM would be tough on legalization of marijuana elected, or the one that would be anti-choice, taking out ads, putting up billboards, etc. in an effort to get that candidate elected.

Naw, they just threaten that the borders will squeeze tighter and the economy will suffer, ya know, the legal stuff.