# Leader of the Free World **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 22, 2004, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leader-of-the-free-world/276090 "2004-11-22T10:54:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leader-of-the-free-world/276090/1 "2004-11-22T10:54:18Z")
A very mild rant indeed. Dear Politicians, Media Types, and everyone else: _please_ stop using the phrase “Leader of the Free World”. It annoys me when Bush says it. It annoyed me when Kerry said it. It annoys me when the various talking heads that pervade my television and radio say it. The POTUS is the leader of the US. Not Britain. Not Canada. Certainly not France or Germany or Switzerland. In fact, there are lots and lots of other democracies around the world that President Bush is not the leader of. He may like to think he rules the world, but no. Just America. It’s glib, it’s meaningless, and it’s insulting. Just…stop it. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leader-of-the-free-world/276090/2 "2004-11-22T10:58:29Z")
Well said! If we couldn’t vote against him then he ain’t our leader. That phrase just grates on my nerves. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leader-of-the-free-world/276090/3 "2004-11-22T11:02:20Z")
For some reason my OP has started the theme from _Malcolm in the Middle_ going in my head: _You’re not the boss of me now, you’re not the boss of me now, you’re not the boss of me now, and you’re not so big…_😉 ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leader-of-the-free-world/276090/4 "2004-11-22T11:10:37Z")
Well George has something in common with Malcom’s big brother. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leader-of-the-free-world/276090/5 "2004-11-22T11:11:58Z")
Power is as power does. What I object to is the word “free”. He is simply the leader of the world — in the same sense that the biggest gorilla is the leader of the group. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leader-of-the-free-world/276090/6 "2004-11-22T11:13:23Z")
I’m sure you know that “leader” in this sense doesn’t mean “ruler” but something akin to “first amongst equals” which, like it or not, we’ve been since the end of World War II. I can see where people outside America or even those inside its borders might find it condescending and patronizing though. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leader-of-the-free-world/276090/7 "2004-11-22T11:18:30Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Power is as power does. What I object to is the word “free”. He is simply the leader of the world — in the same sense that the biggest gorilla is the leader of the group. He really isn’t. He might like to think he is but he isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leader-of-the-free-world/276090/8 "2004-11-22T11:19:40Z")
Well he might be a gorilla but some of us are capable of monkeying around without that primate. ---
**Author:** ![MrFantsyPants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@MrFantsyPants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrFantsyPants)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leader-of-the-free-world/276090/9 "2004-11-22T14:53:57Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Power is as power does. What I object to is the word “free”. He is simply the leader of the world — in the same sense that the biggest gorilla is the leader of the group. Leader implies that people follow him. That simply ain’t so, outside of the US. Can we agree on “Guy with the biggest guns”? or “Biggest turd in the bowl”? BTW, when someone uses the phrase “He has the ear of the president”, does anyone else picture GWB chasing them around the oval office, yelling “give it back, give it bak”? ---
**Author:** ![Aldebaran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Aldebaran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aldebaran)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leader-of-the-free-world/276090/10 "2004-11-22T18:08:03Z")
It is the summum of rudiness. It is the summum of arrogance. It is the summum of patronizing denegration of the rest of the world and all the leaders of this world’s nations. Yet above all it is the summum of stupidity in its obvious incorrectness. (I think it is also typcial _“USA”_ and by this I think no picture is needed for those outside the USA). Salaam. A ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leader-of-the-free-world/276090/11 "2004-11-22T18:39:21Z")
I was ready to hop on the Ugly American Bandwagon. Honest. But then I did a little [_lookie lookie_](http://news.search.yahoo.com/news/search?p=%22leader+of+the+free+world%22). Imagine my surprise, my abject horror, when I found out that other countries use this offensive phrase as well! > [@](#): > > _Jerusalem Newswire_ > > JERUSALEM - US President George W. Bush intends to use his second four-year term as leader of the free world to expend America’s “capital” on birthing a Palestinian Arab state on ancient Jewish lands. > [@](#): > > _The Prague Post_ > > A lot of Americans, not to mention Europeans, are walking around Prague dazed and confused. They did not expect U.S. President George W. Bush to be leader of the free world for another four years, or at least they thought he would not win the popular vote. > [@](#): > > _New Straits Times_ > > Fresh from an election victory, Bush flies in as the leader of the “free world” to impose his new-found legitimacy and spend his “political capital” on various issues including terrorism, security, trade and the economy. > [@](#): > > _Adelaide Confidential/Advertiser_ > > VOTERS in the U.S. have given President George W. Bush another four years in the White House, another four yours as the nominal leader of the free world. Thank you very little. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leader-of-the-free-world/276090/12 "2004-11-22T18:41:51Z")
> [@Aldebaran](#): > > It is the summum of rudiness. > It is the summum of arrogance. > It is the summum of patronizing denegration of the rest of the world and all the leaders of this world’s nations. > Yet above all it is the summum of stupidity in its obvious incorrectness. > > (I think it is also typcial _“USA”_ and by this I think no picture is needed for those outside the USA). > Salaam. A About sums it up. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leader-of-the-free-world/276090/13 "2004-11-22T18:57:18Z")
> [@Aldebaran](#): > > It is the summum of rudiness. > It is the summum of arrogance. > It is the summum of patronizing denegration of the rest of the world and all the leaders of this world’s nations. > Yet above all it is the summum of stupidity in its obvious incorrectness. > > (I think it is also typcial _“USA”_ and by this I think no picture is needed for those outside the USA). > Salaam. A Or it’s simply a hold over from the cold war era when the US was the de facto leader of NATO and the western alliance. It could even be said to hold up under scrutiny with Bush Sr’s UN backed coalition in Gulf War I as a seminal piece of “Free World” leadership. It’s a little dated but I can think of at least a dozen more irritating things. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leader-of-the-free-world/276090/14 "2004-11-22T18:58:06Z")
Isn’t the phrase a bit out of date anyway? I was under the impression that the “leader of the free world” tag arose to point out America’s _primus inter pares_ role in opposing the machinations of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact nations. We are certainly the most powerful and influential nation in the world, but I’m damned if we’re leading anyone. At the moment, I think we are serving as an object lesson in the perils of hubris. > [@](#): > > (I think it is also typcial “USA” and by this I think no picture is needed for those outside the USA). Go eat a ham sandwich, **Aldy**. ---
**Author:** ![Aldebaran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Aldebaran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aldebaran)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leader-of-the-free-world/276090/15 "2004-11-22T20:55:54Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > Go eat a ham sandwich, **Aldy**. If that is supposed to be adressed to me, I must say that this change of my membername is not as original of the former one (Debbie). Before I forget to tell you: “ham” does not necesarely mean “porc” to me, but maybe it does mean that to you. Salaam. A ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leader-of-the-free-world/276090/16 "2004-11-22T21:04:04Z")
You’ve not previously objected to **Alde** , so **Aldy** (effectively phonetically the same Mr. Linguist) seems to be fair enough. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leader-of-the-free-world/276090/17 "2004-11-22T21:06:19Z")
What was wrong with **Debbie**? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leader-of-the-free-world/276090/18 "2004-11-22T21:09:33Z")
> [@Aldebaran](#): > > Before I forget to tell you: “ham” does not necesarely mean “porc” to me, but maybe it does mean that to you. OK, I’ll bite. What does “ham” mean to you? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leader-of-the-free-world/276090/19 "2004-11-22T21:17:39Z")
Porcupine: the other white meat. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leader-of-the-free-world/276090/20 "2004-11-22T21:20:41Z")
> [@Aldebaran](#): > > It is the summum of rudiness. > It is the summum of arrogance. > It is the summum of patronizing denegration of the rest of the world and all the leaders of this world’s nations. > Yet above all it is the summum of stupidity in its obvious incorrectness. > > (I think it is also typcial _“USA”_ and by this I think no picture is needed for those outside the USA). > Salaam. A Surely you mean “typical of the mindset of certain people within the U.S.”, no? As lumping us all together and saying “they’re all the same” is just as patronizing, arrogant, and rude as, say, lumping all the middle east together and saying “they’re all the same.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leader-of-the-free-world/276090.md?page=2)