Question for non-Americans. After the U.S. elections yesterday, how do you feel about the shift in power?

Question

Or do you care or have any feelings about it at all? I am curious because I watched a public television show that expressed a lot of opinions from Europeans about our country and so many said they didn't hate Americans, but they did detest Bush. Also they were asking how could we have re-elected him in 2004. Just wondering about the feelings over there toward this election. It's a huge change for us but does it make any of you feel differently about us right now?

Thanks Puffy lol. I appreciate the lack of hysterics, I really wasn't expecting any :).

I so appreciate all of your answers. I do, as an American, have concerns with our world image and especially where our traditionally strongest allies reside, Europe (and Australia). Some of you really opened my eyes to some things I have not thought about. Most of you gave very intelligent and well thought out answers, which was very gratifying. Thanks again to everyone, it was hard to pick best answer!

Answer 1

Hi, I have absolutely nothing against the Americans. I have been over there on holiday a few times and have worked a while in Kansas City, Missouri. Of course as a Brit (living in Switzerland presently), I did notice that life in America is much more anonym, probably because of the vast size of your country and the sheer magnitude of your population.
The only reservation I have with Americans are their eating habits (fast food etc), and their lack of geographical knowledge..outside of the USA. (Who is perfect anyway?)
I do not detest Bush as a person, I do not really know him, but I have not agreed with all of his policies and decisions. Then again, the whole world is corrupt anyway. I think we have to be patient for the truth to be illuminated. Maybe one day we will find out the full truth with regard to Irak and other armed conflicts, in which the US Forces are and have been involved.

I evaluate the change as a positive step for USA and for the world, but cannot make any prognosis, as we, normal citizens do not have access to all the information!.
I was very suprised that Bush was re-elected in 2004 and not surprised at all, that the long-yearned for change of leadership is happening now.

Good luck, and a good question. It shows that you think globally and are interested in outsiders' opinions!

Answer 2

!. I'm English and I feel some relief that George Bush's power has been diminished but I would be happier still if he was out of the White House altogether.
2. All the Americans I've met have been warm, open and friendly people. When you act in very large numbers though, you can get quite carried away by rhetoric. Electing Bush - both times - is such a case. He is a dreadful man.
3. I've got my fingers crossed! If America can now find a way to repair the damage which we have done in Iraq, (because Blair followed Bush into this), I'll cheer until my throat's sore.
4. So, yes, it's changed things. Please, please, when you next elect a president, elect a government which values goodness over conquest. And I hope we manage to do the same, because Britain under Blair is pretty bad too.
5. And finally, all my good wishes to you personally and also to you as a nation.
Jon C

Answer 3

Apparently,the democrates did good?! I would really like to get to know a bit more about American politics,having been of late trying to disentangle the mess that is British politics,so i consider myself a novice in such matters really.It is fascinating though,this political malarky-seems like money for old rope to be honest-politicians get paid exorbitant amounts of money/perks,and it doesn't matter if they pass or fail at what they do-the pay/perks are still there! Our British channel 4 news said last night that your midterm election was "seismic" for the world in which we live in today,so i wait with baited breath the far reaching outcome of all this,and will continue to learn more about both American and British politics,so that i may have a more informed opinion on the subject.

Answer 4

I don´t really care to be honest, it doesn´t matter who is actually in government or president. What a daft system by the way, now you´ve got a president who can´t do anything because he has no power in government.

The ones behind the scenes with a lot of financial power and influence pull the strings and make decisions. If they want to, for example invade Iran in order to get rid of some old weapons and give contracts for new, and also make work for US company building Iran, they´ll get it done whether the Rebuplicans or Democrats are in charge.

You Americans all go and vote and fall for the illusion that you actually have a say. Sad.

Answer 5

I think President Bush was the best choice in 2004, he is not perfect but I hate to think what the democrats would have done.

Clinton is only remembered for his sexual notoriety over his 8 years and got by because of his personal charisma. It is difficult to think of any political triumph or achievement he is responsible for.

Mrs Clinton is no better so the rest of the world must hope that she never gets into high office.

Other than politics I love America and the people have always made me feel welcome on my 20+ visits over the last 17 years.

Answer 6

I am happy that the Neo-cons doesn't have the same kind of free rein anymore as they have had the last 5 years. Much, not all, of US policy the last years has been disastrous for americas image, (For example the "Either you are with us or against us" policy).
However I am also a little bit worried, there is a risk that the US will become more isolationist and protectionist and that is the last thing we need.
The world needs a strongly and internationaly commited America, whether the world likes it or not.

Answer 7

Yes, you are quite right. Many ordinary people in the United Kingdom want to be friends with the United States but have serious issues with how Bush has treated our country, let alone those in the Middle East.. We have a lot in common with you culturally, and many British people have relations in the United States, but recent US actions are against much of what ordinary British people believe right.

However, we shall wait and see about the shift of power. The cost of United States elections is such that all your politicians, Democratic as well as Republican, are influenced by powerful interests such as large private companies. This has implications for many people in other countries as well as in the United States.

One particular issue that surprises us about the United States is the way you conduct your elections. Registration systems in the United States are much less inclusive than those in Europe. Technology such as voting machines must not be introduced without adequate safeguards against fraud, including a full hard copy record of votes. This is an area where you are at least a bad example to the United Kingdom, where the register is less accurate than in the past and where lax arrangements for postal voting increase the danger of rigged elections. People abroad will be looking to see what the Democrats do to protect democracy in your country: unless they do this how can they protect democracy for their allies?

Power has shifted not only between parties within the United States but internationally. Your country, I fear, is unlikely ever to fully regain the pre-eminence it has lost through Bush's misjudgments in the Middle East and as a result of the huge increase in Chinese influence, not only in terms of economic power, during his Presidency. The United States to some extent must learn from the mistakes of the United Kingdom a century ago, when we tried to hold onto imperial power rather than invest in the economic development of commonwealth countries. Bush in particular has relied on sheer power, but a Democratic United States administration would need in its own interests to build more open, equal and consultative links with its allies. That is a difficult shift of attitude to achieve.

Perhaps I can give just one very specific example. Bush used the "War on Terror" and Blair's sycophancy to push through a grotesquesly unequal extradition treaty between the United States and the United Kingdom. Basically, the United States can get more or less anybody out of the United Kingdom after a quick token hearing before a court, but it is very much more difficult for the British courts to get people from the United States accused of crimes here. This has antagonised not just the usual people who grumble about US bases etc. but the London financial establishment because the US is using the agreement for business cases. In my view, the damage to your country's repuation here is far more than the dubious administrative short cuts this treaty enables, in addition to the principles involved. What will the Democrats do to introduce extradition arrangements that give our two countries equal rights and responsibilities?

Answer 8

Nothing will change! different people and same policies!
Your country's policy has always been the same, stealing oil, controlling strategic parts of the world, creating wars and instability in different regions so no other country be better, supporting the terrorist state -Israel- while its killing civilians and stealing their lands....the list is so long

I have seen Democrats and republicans controlling your country and it has always been the same. I used to be a great fan of your country, praising your freedom, democracy, dreaming that one day my country could be the same...one day I woke up and realised that the mask has fallen and there is no difference between Bush and Saddam, no difference between what Mubarak is doing regarding human rights and what Bush did in Guantanamo and Abu Ghreib....It is all the same!

Answer 9

As an Iraqi national i hope Bush's thirst for our blood is curbed. We hope you leave our country alone to solve our own problems. Your presence is creating this sectarian violence. With all that is happening in Iraq, most people are only seeing one sided news from the media, the living conditions after "your liberation" are deplorable, Medical facilities non-exist ant, Food is as precious as gold and surviving from one day to the next is an art. We can only hope for better things to come.

Answer 10

Yes totally relived
it is simply amazing how you elected Bush, he is a moron. He lied about Iraq his stories keep changing and instead of kicking him out of power he gets more support.
Bush handled New Orleans worse than a third world country like Pakistan handled their earthquake emergency, yet the American people just accept it. We had our newspaper people drive into NO to save our nationals, yet with all the power all the resources Bush could do nothing. you have more helicopters belonging to the government than most other countries have aircraft, yet they were no where to be seen, you have a coast guard with hundred of vessels and helicopters, where were they? Bush is in charge ultimatly, why didnt he pick up the phone make two calls to say can i send in the military. If he culdnt find these people how many soldiers would volenteer their time to take military earth moving equipment to help. the us military engineers were there already, they could have driven earth movers, boats anything to resuce people and at the end of the day, who would impeach gerorge w if he said yerp i broke the law i deployed troops without permission to save peoples lives. After the great san francisco quake ever tent america owned was send and a third of the army with in a week in those primative times, congress met a 4 am that night to approve measures to help San Franscico. Yet the American people cant still connect the dots the war on "big government" means that when you need a bureaucracy as you did in NO the cupboard is bare. In most democracies public servants are professional, to head your emergency services you picked a guy in charge of horse association, insane!!!!! and yet no protest against Bush, it is baffling. Under Bush creationism has sprouted up again, every where else in developed world it was settled 100 years ago and yet im america there is a retreat from rationality. If this is America’s policy domestically, how will America react internationally if it takes such insanity seriously.
Iraq was an anti extremist Islamic country and the American invasion has helped the terrorists and bin laden, and yet Americans dont get it. they seem to forget Bushes the previous story each time he changes it. it is like America's critical reasoning has stopped working. France didn't want to join an unjust and illegal war and the fury directed at them was bizarre, if France declared a war that the USA didnt believe in, would the USA go "OK we think this is wrong but we will declare war any way". The "freedom fry", Jesus how old are your legislators 8?
America may be the worlds most powerful country but under the previous presidents you took part in the world community under Bush it back to the bad old days where you over threw democratic regimes for dictatorships. It’s like being in a life boat with a 500lb gorilla who decides to start rocking the boat. We cant do anything about it, but we dont like it. Iraq has shown you are the world's most powerful nation but you cant do anything you like. you have gotten your self into another Vietnam and cant get out, and no one feels sorry for you. It was stupid decision made for stupid reasons, it does prove an unjust war does have it consequences.
It is a toss up between who does the world hate more Bin Laden or Bush.
how many decades will it take the usa to recover from one mans foolishness