I am not starting this thread to bash Bush. In fact, at times I think Bush’s unpopularity in some corners is one of his possible virtues. If the French really loved him, I’d really know America was in deep ****.
Just joking, I admire the French in many ways, but they don’t go out of their way to endear themselves. Anyway - back to my point.
The media leads me to believe that elsewhere in the world, Bush is uniformly abhorred. Is there anyone from outside of the United States that feels differently? Has he ever even recieved a positive opinion piece in a major newspaper?
I do know that Bush recieved a fair welcome in some eastern European countries, however I think that may have been enthusiasm over integration into the western alliance, or goodwill toward the United States; and not directed at Bush per se, I may be wrong though.
Apart from the aforementioned John Howard, Australia hates him. From my experience, he is universally despised, and should you require stats to back my view up, a recent poll has shown that 62% of Australians do not want us involved in an attack against Iraq, while 30% believe we should not be involved under any circumstance whatsoever. That’s 92%! Neither he nor his policies are popular here.
gex, there’s a big difference between “Do Australians like GWB?” and “Do Australians agree with his policy toward Iraq?” Don’t mistake the man for his policies, since I’d be pretty sure (especially after the Bali blast) that most Australians support the war on terror, if not the US extension of it to Iraq.
[hijack] This is one of the reasons I love the Dope. It’s such a valuable reality check for us to hear ordinary people from other countries telling us, straight from the shoulder, how we look from the outside. Sometimes I try to read some of the more insular, flag-waving posts here with an eye toward how they look to foreign Dopers. I wonder if it’s depressing, scary, enlightening, surreal, whatever. If nothing else perhaps they illuminate some of the domestic forces behind the dismal crew in Washington. [/hijack]
Whatever history has to say about Blair and his relationship to the US Government during the appalling crisis we’re currently living through, are any of you really fooled into thinking that his attitude depends on personal regard for George W Bush? Every time I see them on the same platform I’m reminded of that awkward politeness you plaster on when confronted by your partner’s crass, reactionary parents at a family gathering…
“Fckin’ asylum seekers? 'alf of 'em are bloody terrorists anyway."
“Well, that’s not entirely fair really is it?”
"Course it fckin’ is.”
“Erm, I just have to check something in the kitchen.”
For the record I’m not a Dubya fan myself, and although I didn’t like his dad either I’ve always wondered whether they could truly be natural father and son. I’ve always thought GWB might have been a Josef Mengele-inspired gene splice between a chimpanzee and Cliff Barnes from Dallas. It’s an enduring image if you think about it.
I can’t find a suitable cite for a link, but apparently American journalists have started referring to Tony as “the Preacher” just like ours. A poodle in a dog collar then?
Never met one yet. Personally I have a motto, ‘Never trust a man with very small eyes’. Well, it’s worked for me.
While we’re on this subject, what do you Americans think of Blair?
