Video: CNN takes one data point, says US is “loathed”
posted at 11:13 am on December 18, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
Who knew that CNN could get so much mileage out of two shoes? After a journalist for a Cairo news agency chucked two shoes at President Bush earlier this week, CNN reporter Zain Verjee tries telling Condoleezza Rice that this proves the US is “loathed” around the world. Rice almost leaps out of her seat to reject that (h/t James of Radio Vice Online):
QUESTION: Staying in Iraq, the shoe-throwing incident, it was really a symbol in so many ways in the Arab world of utter contempt –
SECRETARY RICE: Yeah –
QUESTION: — for President Bush.
SECRETARY RICE: And it was one journalist among several who were sitting there respectfully, and I hope it isn’t allowed over time to obscure the fact that this was the President of the United States standing in Baghdad next to the democratically elected Shia Prime Minister of a multi-confessional Iraq that has just signed agreements of friendship and cooperation with the United States for the long term.
QUESTION: But the man may have been one journalist, but he was viewed throughout much of the Arab world as a real hero.
SECRETARY RICE: Oh, I –
QUESTION: My question is –
SECRETARY RICE: I have heard so many people –
QUESTION: My question to you is –
SECRETARY RICE: Yes?
QUESTION: — does it bother you that with all the diplomacy that you’ve done, President Bush’s policies, the policies that you’ve carried out –
SECRETARY RICE: Zain –
QUESTION: — that the U.S. is so loathed around the world?
SECRETARY RICE: Zain, the United States is not loathed. The policies of the United States are sometimes not liked. People don’t like that we’ve had to say hard things and do hard things about terrorism. People don’t like that we’ve spoken fiercely for the right of Israel to defend itself at the same time that we’ve advocated for a Palestinian state. But I have to go back. So many people in and around when that incident happened told me how embarrassed they were by the fact that that had happened.
I threw two shoes at my television set after seeing this clip. Does that prove that CNN is loathed around the world, or in the US? No, it doesn’t, although I’d bet dollars to donuts that the comment section in this post will make the case for CNN loathing in the US better than my footwear.
Maybe a better indicator of “loathing” measure would be the reaction of the other journalists at the press conference. Did they attack the dais after the shoes started to fly? No — they attacked the journalist who shied his slippers at Bush. Most of them, even if they don’t like Bush, castigated their colleague for his unprofessionalism.
Here’s one last question for Verjee to answer. Since she uses the reaction of a few thousand Arabs in the streets as credible proof that the world “loathes” the United States, what conclusions does she draw from the millions that screamed for blood after the publication of the Mohammad cartoons in Denmark — that all Danes should get killed? That all journalists should be fair game for attack?
Blowback
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The US of A is loathed! By all whom work at CNN, that is for sure…
Keemo on December 18, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Nah you’re right. America is loved in the Mid-East and this was just a one off incident.
angryed on December 18, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Isn’t democracy and freedom just grand?
I wonder what the corpse of Saddam would have done in response to an indecent like this when he was in power?
Sinner on December 18, 2008 at 11:19 AM
The more we are loathed, the better I feel, considering the nature of the people that don’t like us.
Vashta.Nerada on December 18, 2008 at 11:19 AM
America is not loathed around the world. I love Bill Bennetts “gate” analogy. If a country has a wall around it with only one gate, when that gate is raised, are there more people trying to get in or more people trying to get out? If American is so loathed, why are so many people trying to get in our gate – illegally if they must?
ctmom on December 18, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Loathed by CNN? Of course. And we loathe CNN right back.
MadisonConservative on December 18, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Well, it may be true in the sense that evidently in Putin’s Russia loathing the state is a death sentence and Ivan plays hard ball even out of his own borders when need be.
We leave our nitwits and by extension most foreign nitwits alone.
Condi should have been the nominee, said it the whole race but Bush and the GOP allowed the administration to be so poisoned none of the admin guys wanted it.
Good luck, Godspeed, and grace Condi.
sven10077 on December 18, 2008 at 11:22 AM
If they didn’t fear us, they wouldn’t hate us.
JammieWearingFool on December 18, 2008 at 11:22 AM
If the U.S. is loathed by tyrants and fascists, then the U.S. is doing something right.
patriette on December 18, 2008 at 11:22 AM
I say we CLOSE THE BORDERS, SEARCH EVERY SHIP CONTAINER, DRILL and NUKE our OWN power, and let the Muslim freaks fight it out for the middle east.
marklmail on December 18, 2008 at 11:22 AM
People are the same all over. Is this nut who threw the shoe any different than Code Pink?
They know how to do things so that the media will give them attention. Supporters of Iraq, supporters of the US, supporters of Bush have no cause to throw shoes at anyone, and so are not worthy of being reported by these distinguished journalists.
One journalist throws a shoe.
Every other journalist in the room is embarrassed and apologetic.
Therefore every arab in the entire world hates the US.
Its the same thing they do with hunting stories.
One hunter accidentally kills his friend.
All other hunters go out and hunt all season with no incident.
Therefore, all hunters are manaics who deserve to have their guns taken away.
The media is so predictable, its almost sad. They already ASSUME that Bush is loathed, so what is the point of even talking about the shoe? The guy could have thrown flowers at Bush, but that wouldn’t have been reported, and the media would still say Bush is loathed, only this time with less evidence.
jimmy the notable on December 18, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Don’t worry Ms. Reporterette. As soon as your boyfriend is inaugurated, we will be instantly loved throughout the world. Then we can start giving these countries who hate us more money to keep it that way.
perroviejo on December 18, 2008 at 11:23 AM
It’s hard to stomach the insult of so many people referring to themselves as “Americans”, when they are nothing but a living insult to America themselves.
LimeyGeek on December 18, 2008 at 11:23 AM
These people are just so predictable.
The libs haven’t come up with a new line of thought in three decades.
It’s always our fault.
Can we at least give them whips so they can abuse themselves to feel better?
Hawkins1701 on December 18, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Man the world must have loved Saddam then. And the world definitely loves Putin, that’s for sure. I’ve never seen anyone throw shoes at them.
Riposte on December 18, 2008 at 11:23 AM
The mere existence of the United States Marine Corps pushes the global fear and loathing of the US equation trend inexorably towards fear, so I think we’re all good.
BKennedy on December 18, 2008 at 11:23 AM
And if supporters of Bush did throw a shoe at someone, it would be called oppression and hate speech etc.
jimmy the notable on December 18, 2008 at 11:24 AM
I like the joke about Bush walking on water, and the media reporting that he can’t swim.
LimeyGeek on December 18, 2008 at 11:24 AM
I’ll give the video to ya’ll later….
Branch Rickey on December 18, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Unless you really want a hypodermic in the neck.
LimeyGeek on December 18, 2008 at 11:25 AM
I have an idea.
Let’s all start throwing a shoe at any journalist from:
CNN
MSNBC
Time
Newsweek
NYTimes
CBS
You get the picture.
faraway on December 18, 2008 at 11:26 AM
Ed should update with video of him throwing his shoe at CNN.
Karl on December 18, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Ed I like your point at the end. When a small group cheers in the street in support of someone who threw a shoe then the conclusion is that everyone hates Bush and the US. When a small group cheers in the street in support of a jihadist then the conclusion is that only a small fraction of Musslims support terrorism and we shouldn’t worry about it. I wish I could pick and choose which small group speaks for everyone and which one doesn’t.
sammypants on December 18, 2008 at 11:29 AM
I have a better idea.
Everybody go out and buy a new pair of shoes and send them to President Bush for distribution to the poor.
We’ll call it “Throwing shoes to the poor”
OK that is a stupid name, but lets take the symbolism the shoe tossing was supposed to represent, and turn it into a great showing of humanity!
redshirt on December 18, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Bush has clearly hurt the reputation of the US in the rest of the world. Look at some of the recent surveys showing the general drop in respect for the US and how the US was not invited to the Latin American Nations conference for the first time.
Does the shoe prove it? No. But there are plenty of other data points if you’re at all interested in facing reality.
For instance: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7324337.stm.
jim m on December 18, 2008 at 11:29 AM
As long as we are loathed, it tells me that we are on the right track!
BierManVA on December 18, 2008 at 11:29 AM
looks like zain verjee is one of those embarrassed by power canuckians. there was a day when canadians were respected. they rejected that to be liked and now they are just PC sissies. and CNN, nothing but a clown car in the circus
billypaintbrush on December 18, 2008 at 11:30 AM
Comments closed on CNN article.
nodaky on December 18, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Let them hate, as long as they fear.
LimeyGeek on December 18, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Under the administration of The One, America will be just a bigger version of Finland, and everyone will love us.
Cicero43 on December 18, 2008 at 11:31 AM
I want to throw a show at Matt Lauer.
Dr. Manhattan on December 18, 2008 at 11:33 AM
All of liberal journalism – all the way from Abbie Hoffman, to Cynthia McKinny, to this shoeless Iraqi psycho – is based on the theory that a single hyper-reactive imbecile, if given sufficient air time, can speak for everyone on planet earth.
It’s what the Soviets referred to as “agitprop.”
logis on December 18, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Since Glenn Beck has moved on…I never watch CNN anymore.
mindhacker on December 18, 2008 at 11:35 AM
CNN = the station who covered up Saddam Hussein’s human rights violations.
Boo hoo hoo!
Blake on December 18, 2008 at 11:36 AM
The only things that people know is what reporters tell them. Reporters, for the last 8 years, have been telling them that the US is bad.
For instance, on that graph, the influence of Israel is viewed as 19% positive, whereas the influence of Iran, a country that execute gays, and is a politically unfree place, is viewed as 20% positive.
Israel produces more nobel prize winners per capita than any nation on Earth. Yet they are viewed, by those polled, as having a more negative influence on the world than North Korea, China, Russia and Iran.
CHINA, is viewed as 50% positive, 32% negative. CHINA.
This polling business is nonsense. I wonder how many people, per country, the polling service actually polled?
And take a look at the white gap between the positive and negative…who’s got the smallest? The US. That means that more people are willing to form an opinion about us than anyone else.
jimmy the notable on December 18, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Yes, journalists around the world loath Bush. Didn’t we know that already?
Count to 10 on December 18, 2008 at 11:37 AM
regarding your small group point, do you remember the toppling of the Saddam Hussein statue? In the reports, you saw nothing but a huge crowd of cheering, celebrating, “jubilant liberated Iraqis” that filled the scene. The left couldn’t stand this. So they always retorted that scene with this: What the Corporate media didn’t told you See? When you pull the camera back, it’s not all of Iraq that are happy that we removed their dictator – it’s just a small group of people.
So this woman claims that the egyptian journalist shoe chucker is proof that all of America is loathed by all of Iraq. and (people not unlike her) were claiming that a small group doesn’t represent all.
wise_man on December 18, 2008 at 11:39 AM
Dubya has to be thinking “I’m so done with this BS.” Crawford is probably looking pretty good right now. Settle in Dub and let history take over from here. It will be kind to you and you deserve it.
PC14 on December 18, 2008 at 11:39 AM
FIFY
Kini on December 18, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Considering that the same survey showed an almost identical “positive” rating for Israel and Iran, why would anyone value the results at all? Clearly the world is made up of idiots.
strictnein on December 18, 2008 at 11:40 AM
OK, then. The following video just cropped up:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=6ef_1229517374
This shows a student in Iran openly criticizing the Iranian government, and almost sparking a riot in the process. The gauntlet has been thrown – will we now see the same breathless coverage of this very brave act that we did of the preppy who threw the shoes?
The media MUST cover this act of defiance against one of the most tyrannical regimes on the planet with the same vigor that they covered Shoe Boy, or they quite simply aren’t worthy of their self-proclaimed right to “inform” us of the goings-in in our world.
I’m not going to hold my breath.
commenter on December 18, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Every time I convince myself that I hate politicians more than journalists, someone like this at CNN opens their mouth, and I have to change camps.
Rest assured, I hate both groups plenty, but there’s no checks and balances on reporters. They say whatever they want.
jimmy the notable on December 18, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Yup. Not to mention the nonsense presumption that it is our duty to be globally liked. America doesn’t owe the world a damned thing, yet it alone has done more to improve the lives of millions of people around the globe than any other nation in the history of mankind.
And then some ignorant fuckers have the gall to tell a pollster they have a “negative opinion” of the US. Ungrateful shitkickers.
LimeyGeek on December 18, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Wise choice. Blue ain’t your color ;)
LimeyGeek on December 18, 2008 at 11:42 AM
AMEN, AMEN, and AMEN, Brother!!!!!!!!!!
BoomJunkie on December 18, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Oh, America has always been loathed by everyone who hates freedom, and we always will be.
The fact that a bomb has been replaced with a shoe shows that we are now (largely due to George Bush) loathed AND FEARED by the people who used to only loathe us. And that’s why the liberals are so pissed off.
logis on December 18, 2008 at 11:43 AM
I prefer to be feared not liked.
Blake on December 18, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Anyone want to throw shoes at Vlad Teh Rusky Impaler? What do you think would happen?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on December 18, 2008 at 11:43 AM
I wonder how many of those who gave a negative opinion were chowing down on food that the US military delivered after the Christmas Tsunami?
jimmy the notable on December 18, 2008 at 11:43 AM
The only people who care if we are loathed is the left. Because they look at governing like a popularity contest, not doing the right thing. Sheep they are all sheep. And i find it funny we are loathed by people who never came to this country, and get all there info, by left wing government run news rags. But dont worry World, you should start loving us in a couple weeks, because things are about to get all Hopey&Changey.
MDWNJ on December 18, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Who needs the public’s opinion when we got the publishers opinions. If journalists runs the selection of the American president , why not everything else?
the_nile on December 18, 2008 at 11:44 AM
I remember hearing about a report that hyped the number of murders committed by veterans, when it turned out that the number was well under what would be statistically expected for their proportion of the populace.
Count to 10 on December 18, 2008 at 11:44 AM
I don’t always agree with O’Reilly but he voiced my sentiments exactly last night when he said “As an American, I am very offended by the journalist that threw a shoe at MY President.”
This was a hugely embarrassing incident for the country of Iraq. And I’m waiting to read some print journalist who will actually interview and print the words of the offended Iraqis. Kudos to Condi for taking on the silly CNN journalist.
mngirl on December 18, 2008 at 11:45 AM
testing I tried to comment I don’t see it.
Dr Evil on December 18, 2008 at 11:46 AM
I don’t know what will be accomplished in the Middle East by being loved.
Iraq’s transformation will be the most significant positive development in the ME since the founding of Israel.
The next most postivie and significant event will be the demise of Iran’s revolutionary government.
Bush and the troops did the hard work; now it’s time for Obama and his friends to not screw it up and take the credit.
god bless GWB.
mylegsareswollen on December 18, 2008 at 11:46 AM
I can never understand why journalists aren’t asked their personal opinions. Why not say, “Gee, do YOU loath the United States? You sound like you’re using this shoe-throwing Ba’athist Sunni as a proxi for your own opinions.”
Sean68 on December 18, 2008 at 11:47 AM
When the same CNN correspondent interviews Obama I hope she cites one of innumerable anti-Obama op eds pieces and asks him if it’s difficult for him when the entire country loathes him.
Paul-Cincy on December 18, 2008 at 11:48 AM
You know what else the “Arab street” celebrated? 9/11. Funny that doesn’t get mentioned…
changer1701 on December 18, 2008 at 11:49 AM
That is based on one of my fundamental sayings about journalistic practice:
If the raw numbers don’t agree with you, go with percentages. If the percentages don’t agree with you, go with raw numbers. If neither agree, simply go with anecdotal evidence. There’s always anecdotal evidence
There’s always a way to convince people of anything. Its not even that hard.
And with regards to the veteran thing, I remember reading an article by a guy who also said that the unemployment statistics of Vietnam vets are also way lower than other people of their particular demographic.
Remember when they were reporting on the military suicides?
They claimed it was much higher than the general population.
What they didn’t say is that it was statistically the same as a similar age and gender demographic. Statistically, young males are at the highest risk for suicide.
jimmy the notable on December 18, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Stupid ho.
saiga on December 18, 2008 at 11:49 AM
As someone who lived overseas for 5 years and had only CNN as an American television news source, I too began to loathe America. Who would like the America they present to the world?
MayBee on December 18, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Ho! Ho! Ho! and Merry Christmas to you too, saiga!
He meant, she has the ho-liday spirit! Why yes she does.
wise_man on December 18, 2008 at 11:51 AM
The thing jim is that the U.S. has become the whipping boy to blame all the world’s ills and frankly I think we’ve let it. When we have American universities teaching how throughout our history we are imperialistic is no wonder the world hates us?
Would I prefer the world loved us? Absolutely.
I was reading my brother’s history book this week. (He’s in high school.) I was reading the WWII section. In the WWII it kept and talking about all the atrocities happening in Europe and then it would “and the U.S. did nothing.” So apparently people didn’t like the fact that we were isolationist during much of WWII. We should have done more. Now we have a butcher in Iraq and we depose him. Now we are being “imperialistic.” We never win! When we don’t act the world asks “Where was the United States?” and then we do act we are cruel and a world bully. Look let’s face it America is going to be a bunching bag for the world whether we like it or not (especially since we allow ourselves to be one).
terryannonline on December 18, 2008 at 11:52 AM
I had to deal with this stupid story over and over recently — I work with dyed-in-the-wool leftists who think leftism is the default position.
My answer always is: why didn’t this moron throw shoes at Saddam? The reason he threw shoes at Bush is because he could and live…why this man’s cowardice is not the focus of the story is more a testament at the MSM who hate Bush and will do anything to make sure his legacy is one of failure.
You wish MSM jerks — this honorable man will go down as one of the best presidents. Not perfect, mistake-prone, but a good and principled man. Notice his reaction to this incident — it is a picture of grace and charm. God bless you President Bush, I’m going to miss you.
Richard Romano on December 18, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Time for a post of the great Maggie…slicing and dicing a jerkoff presstitue…
Maggie
benrand on December 18, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Being a conservative teacher in the public school system has really got to suck, terryannonline.
wise_man on December 18, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Under the same circumstances (a Jordanian journalist at a press conference in Iraq) nothing would happen. Whats Putin going to do – personally kidnap the guy and bring him back to Russia?
aengus on December 18, 2008 at 11:54 AM
I thought Zain was from South Africa, but it turns out I was wrong. In looking her up, I did find one possible answer to her odd coverage of the Mumbai attacks (she said muslim youth in India are being radicalized because India is close to the US). She is from Canada, of Indian descent, and is practicing muslim.
MayBee on December 18, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Its the easiest thing in the world to deflect anger at successful things ,like the US. Then admit how much of a shithole your own country is. The left does it all the time. The evil big business, evil rich people. Its so easy to deflect, when you dont want to change your own piss poor situation.
MDWNJ on December 18, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Condi said:
Love her. There wasn’t much statesmanship in Bush’s 8 years. A few moments here and there. Maybe it wasn’t reported. Maybe Bush was too modest to get out there and really push his vision? He should have.
Paul-Cincy on December 18, 2008 at 11:57 AM
The world hate you? No of course not. Just the Muslim world hates you, but they hate everything that is not Muslim controlled.
BL@KBIRD on December 18, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Agree!
And let me say this , IF America is so “loathed” why the hell are so many people trying to get in? I agree with Rice,.Um, HELLO! President Bush was standing in Baghdad for heavens sake!
Btw, to those who enjoy America’s freedom and riches and don’t like her,..Get the (bleep) out!!!
christene on December 18, 2008 at 11:57 AM
CNN is actually making progress.
Basing a report on 1 data point is 1 more data point than they usually need to propagandize.
notagool on December 18, 2008 at 11:57 AM
What I pay attention to is WHO likes me versus WHO hates me.
The media gave ‘Joe Plumber’ an anal probe that violated state and federal law.
Now, how much background is the media giving us about this maniacal imbecile they’re telling us represents the opinion of the entire world?
logis on December 18, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Zain is a practicing Muslim? ….enough said.
BL@KBIRD on December 18, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Cool, it’s open season, I hope it rains shoes at Yobama’s inauguration!
Alden Pyle on December 18, 2008 at 12:01 PM
What it proves is that Bush was right. Saddam was the Arab Lion and Iraq is the center of that Arab world. Now he’s gone .. forever.. ain’t coming back.
And Condi makes a perfect point, Maliki, a Shia, is democratically elected, based on a constitution that allows for representation of the Iraqi people through a parliament.
That’s really got to be grating on the Sunni Arab machismo, humiliated by that American Cowboy!
I gonna miss you Condi! Thank you for your service!
Texas Gal on December 18, 2008 at 12:02 PM
OK, the US is loathed in the Left leaning world press, but, according to people I have talked to in and from foreign countries, the normal folks still love us. I can attest to that during our trip to Italy last spring, where, the people were warm, friendly and helpful to a couple of us “dumb American tourists.”
DL13 on December 18, 2008 at 12:04 PM
Politcs aside, stuff a sock in her mouth and she’d be a hot date.
Alden Pyle on December 18, 2008 at 12:06 PM
I really am so tired of hearing Americans say far left, wack job, Liberal, hate and blame America garbage like this.. Who cares what the “world” thinks of this great and proud Nation. America has since it’s inception been a boost to the “world”, our proud and honorable Military, our good works of charity, our help in times of “world” disasters, our Medical and Tech developments that have served the “world”… America is at the root and heart of all that is GOOD and DECENT in the “world”, our blood, our treasure, our sacrifices… WWI / WWII as we rescued the “world”, from floods to fammine, AIDS to Cancer, America answers the call… Always has, may not anymore… People that call America evil and / or care what the “world” thinks are totaly consumed with Liberal “guilt” for being lucky to be born in the greatest Nation God has ever given the “world”. America, love it or leave it… God continue to bless thee.
PS: To the rest of the “world”… Kiss our butts and stop calling us when you sorry crap hole Countries are in peril, oh and BTW, give us back all the fricking money we have “given” you over the years, ungrateful turds…
And to the appologists for America, I hear they need people in Iran and N.Korea to work on Nuclear Power plants.
Mark Garnett on December 18, 2008 at 12:06 PM
I may have been reading something into this, but I could have sworn I hear the reporter respond under her breath: “Mission accomplished!”
logis on December 18, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Someone please organize a shoe-in.
Put it on YouTube.
Throw shoes at effigies of MSM “journalists” and posters with the names of each network.
Please, please, please.
faraway on December 18, 2008 at 12:10 PM
Anyone remember when the reporter asking the questions in this interview got hit herself when something was thrown at her in Kenya?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1p0F3HuOk4
gumble on December 18, 2008 at 12:10 PM
Silly woman. . . They’re all gonna love us when
Omama takes the oath next month. All problems will
disappear. Birds will sing , Flowers will bloom.
I’m gonna throw-up about now. . . . . .
Texyank on December 18, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Here’s another one: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/presidentbush/2008/10/poll-europe-cri.html.
Complain or make excuses all you want, but the world’s opinion of the US dropped significantly with Bush in office.
[and if you really don't care what the world thinks, then why are you responding to Ed?]
jim m on December 18, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Oh, yeah, the BBC. We’ll get an unbiased view from them, right?
mr.blacksheep on December 18, 2008 at 12:11 PM
By who exactly, CNN and the absolutely worthless, corrupt and incompetent Democrats they shamelessly, unendlessly and unethcially shill for?
In other news, the sun rose today, birds are flying and there is water in the ocean.
NoDonkey on December 18, 2008 at 12:12 PM
After all the good America has done throughout the years, do you REALLY care what the “world” thinks, or are you just poking the Conservative love America bear in me?
Mark Garnett on December 18, 2008 at 12:13 PM
I have no fear that in about 20 years, the world will agree that President George W Bush was one of the best and greatest presidents we have ever had! He kept us and most of the world safe since 9/11!!! The msm is talking about how he is trying to re-write history just so his legacy will be a good one – I don’t believe they know him at all!!! I think he does not care about any legacy, but is going to be happy to go back to his ranch, get on a horse and fix some fence or something! I truly think he has absolutely had it with Washington and is glad to get out of there!
The stupid reporter throwing shoes just made an idiot out of himself – as pointed out several times, he could not have done that to the real tyrant that ruled his country so long without loosing his own life! We are hated because people are so jealous of us and our standard of living. Here in the US even the poor are better off than middle class people elsewhere! I am glad our president stood by his principles and values during his administration (except for the spending thing – he spent money like a drunken sailor, but when it comes to real values like moral issues, he stayed with them). Was he perfect, no – but then I would hate to see how anyone would do given all the stuff that was thrown at him (literally and otherwise). His own media was trying to “do him in” all during his administration, and now they are even “hinting” at trials for war crimes – give me a BREAK!
I was born and raised in a different country, and came here as an adult. I gave up my previous citizenship, even though all my family still lives in the old country, and embraced this one! Not because I had to or was born into it, but because it is the right thing to do! I know some of my siblings sometimes disagree with me over policies we have acted on – well, it makes for interesting discussions anyway – but in the end they all have to agree with me and say that the US has kept the world from falling off the cliff many times! So there is NOTHING to the stupid statement that the world loathes us. I think this is a big set-up by the msm to get THE ONE officially crowned Most Benign Ruler of the World….
mkosin on December 18, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Rome was loathed too.
LevStrauss on December 18, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Well it really would be pretty boring in here if no one responded. Seeing as that is the Point to discuss things.
MDWNJ on December 18, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Mark, isn’t the usual question in business and the world “so, what have you done for me lately”?
jim m on December 18, 2008 at 12:16 PM
“If they didn’t fear us, they wouldn’t hate us.”
Well they’re envious of us too, and many people hate those that they envy. So both fear and envy contribute to the hate the other countries have. They’re also pissed right now because when our economy started to collapse, they thought it was going to be the end. Then realization set in. Their economies were so closely tied to ours, not only did theirs go down, but many countries are in much worse of a predicament than us. Damn us Yankee imperialists. Will we ever become weak and lose our leadership role of the free world? Not if I can help it.
rayvet on December 18, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Look I care what the world thinks about Americans. I really do. My point is from my previous comment is that there’s no win/win with the world. If we become more isolationist (which I think is the way we are headed) the world will spend all their time asking why aren’t Americans doing anything. We will get blamed for all the mass murders occurring in the world while we didn’t act. When we are interventionists we are a big bully.
terryannonline on December 18, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Whether or not they “like” us is immaterial to our safety. North Korea like us just fine when Clinton paid them zillions to make the nukes they promised not to.
They “like” us when we’re weak, and meekly give them a significant percentage of our GDP that we work for and they don’t. If we ask anything of them for it, then they “hate” us. It’s not that hard to see how it works.
mr.blacksheep on December 18, 2008 at 12:18 PM
jimmy the notable on December 18, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Well said. I’ll second that emotion.
bridgetown on December 18, 2008 at 12:18 PM
I bet Mika’s mugger likes Mika.
faraway on December 18, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Whether or not they “like” us is immaterial to our safety
–That’s just wrong in some significant ways, Mr. Blacksheep. The US was not invited to the Latin American nation conference for the first time. So we’re apparently losing the support of the countries south of the US. As a geographical/political matter, that ought to be a huge concern to us.
jim m on December 18, 2008 at 12:22 PM
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