Everybody in Europe's super hyped up about Barack Oabama and Hillary Clinton. Which proves the short sighted reflexes of Europeans when it comes to America. First they're always rooting for Democrats no matter what, because the Democrats' domestic policy fit European mentality of solidarity and sharing. Mostly missing the point that it's foreign policy that matters to us. Neither Carter's maneuvering with the Sovjets nor Clinton's Balkan bullying have been particularily good for Europe.
Secondly they still see America through the eyes of Europe of the 50s and 60s, when the US was the global torchbearer of societal change. Somehow Europeans missed the massive backlash that's been going on since 1968. So Clinton and Obama are definitely European dream candidates, symbolizing progress and change. No matter that John Edwards might be the only electable Democrat, because he's Southern and the only Democrats coming to power since 68 have been Southerners. Partly because Southern liberalism is steeped in faith, not in leftist thinking.
Well and then there's the fact, mostly missed in Europe, that these are primaries. Nobody's winning anything yet. And the most likely Republican candidate - he's good. Really good (see video). He's reviving the silent majority. Right on!
1/9/08
New Hampshire and beyond
6 comments:
Hi,
Interesting blog and I appreciate the fact that you comment on how Europeans think about US politics. Back to your statements. I agree with the first and the last one. Europe hypes the primaries far too much and a primary is more or less and internal affair within a political party.
I don't agree with your statement that Europeans are unaware of what is going on in the US. At least 2 -3 times a week in national television and expert on US sociaty, defense or politics is interviewed. All national and commercial networks do have US long time residence reporters. This means at least 4 reporter only for the networks. The main / quality newspapers are on the same level. So my statement is the we are well informed and know quite well what is going on in the US.
Let me ask you a question, do you know who is the prime minister of Italy?
Have a nice day,
Oculus
Prodi. The man who kicked Berlusconi's ass rather gentlemanly. But the point I wanted to make wasn't that Europeans don't know what's going on in the US.Quite the contrary. As you point out they know more about the US than their neighboring countries. But they have a European angle that's far removed from American realities.
Happy New Year, ak.
Shouldn't we all wait until Rudy starts winning primaries (i.e. Florida)?
Hi AK,
Thanks for your reaction. Check your profile and found you live in Germany.
Might give some more inut to your statement that the European angle is far removed from the American reality. Can you give examples, I'm getting kind of curious.
And how about the reserved statement that the American angle is far removed from the European or other part of the world reality.....
As living in Germany you are able to compare at least to some extend the US and EU reality...
Have a nice day and looking forward to your answers, Oculus
oculus,
check http://medienkritik.typepad.com/ how America is perceived in German media
Well, the Medienkritik blog is part of this exotic neocon outpost in the German blogosphere. They're a spiteful bunch not to be taken too seriously.
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