"One lesson of Obamamania abroad: an American politician can still turn up the love vibe for American values in foreign minds -- something no one else seems able to do at the moment. If it takes an Obama to get back use of the vibe, to wield the power it implies, lots of Americans will push the lever for the Democrat."

I must break my silence on this.

Just because Obama is American doesn't make his values "American values." Obama is so loved in Europe because his glib nothings make his criticism of everything American so much easier. Europe can have him.

Ha ha, you heard it here first, folks!

The Democrat media are turning on Obama..."Barack Obama has long been his party's presumptive nominee. Now he's becoming its presumptuous nominee," wrote Dana Milbank, a columnist for the Washington Post"....

Gosh, the Washington Post attacking a Democrat.. must be a first.

I really think Marcus is correct about the Sheffield comparison....and Rasmussen, the most accurate pollster in America in recent years, has his lead down to a 'statistical tie' of 48% to McCain 46%

http://nzcapitalist.blogspot.com/

The US media are reporting there is somewhat of a small but growing backlash to Obama poncing about Europe last week; and his presumptiousness ...(in addition to his other rather obvious presumptiousness) ...at the American electors not coming into the equation, and of Obama acting as if he has already been elected, and his 200 person entourage.

The contrast with John McCain holding a series of 'Town Hall' meetings and travelling by bus, looking ordinary electors in the eye and asking for their support and not taking anyone for granted...seems to be starting to connect with a lot of people.

As Marcus said, hopefully we can look back on the Berlin speech being like the Sheffield Rally... (and Dukakis being asked about the rape and murder of his Wife, Jimmy Carter asking his 13 year old daughter for advice, Bob Dole falling off a stage and George H W Bush calling Clinton a bozo) ...as the moment when Obama 'blew it'.

http://nzcapitalist.blogspot.com/

Long-time allies of America like Britain, Germany, France -- and even Canada -- show a positive regard for a US President named Obama to a striking degree (approaching and surpassing 70% support against McCain).

Can America not harness the goodwill of its allies under an Obama administration? If the Senator from Illinois takes the White House, will there not come a honeymoon for US interests around the globe? Just imagine the day after the November polls if a black man becomes President-elect. Will there not be a shot of pride taken by all Americans outside the lunatic fringe?

One lesson of Obamamania abroad: an American politician can still turn up the love vibe for American values in foreign minds -- something no one else seems able to do at the moment. If it takes an Obama to get back use of the vibe, to wield the power it implies, lots of Americans will push the lever for the Democrat.

I think Objective-ish thinkers who valourize the US should scrutinize the Obama effect for utility, recognizing he is likely to stomp all over the crabby old Senator from Arizona.

WSS

as head of state? Looking backward, you'll see we've been there and done that.

I agree completely that Obama, et. al. have misjudged public response to a foreign campaign trip. It is supposed to fill in his lack of experience, and if marvelous photo-ops can do that, he succeeded. However, only the most out-of-touch nominalist would think a pretension of this kind would work!

At the same time, his long-term comfort with the explicit anti-American rhetoric of his "pastor" shows he is a consummate charlatan, completely insincere, endlessly calculating, and either devoid of values, goals, and beliefs, or, worse yet, wholly secretive about his actual goals, values, and beliefs!

As much as I detest Hilary Clinton's high-handed power-lust, she did seem to be more nearly tethered to a set of ideas. And no; that is no kind of endorsement!

--Mindy

...been a bit worried after his Berlin speech, because afterwards in France he said to reporters something like, "You should remember that I'm not here in any official Presidential capacity. I'm simply here as a US Senator."

In a way, having to make a statement like that, makes it look even worse to voters back home.

Obama is fit to be secretary general of the UN.

http://fawstin.blogspot.com/

As the hypnotic mantra of "change" is repeated endlessly, few people even raise the question of whether what few specifics we hear represent any real change, much less a change for the better. A platform of great speeches with no beef.

forget that Neil Kinnock was and is a lightweight. Much like Obama appears to me to be. He looks like a scared boy, a poor actor trying to pull off his lines.

I think he may be right. Obama's Berlin speech may be the beginning of the end for him. There must be a lesson in all this, don't start being Presidential overseas before you are President. The American voters will see this as presumptous.

By the way, "Kinnock" was the leader of the Labour party who acted as if he would easily win after Margaret Thatcher left office, but instead lost to her unpopular successor John Major.

....................................................
Obama’s Kinnock moment in Berlin
By Simon Heffer
26/07/2008

On my visits to America this year for their elections I have been impressed by the rhetorical skills of Barack Obama only slightly less than I have been impressed by his ability to talk complete flannel in his handsomely crafted speeches.

His whistlestop tour of the Middle East and Europe has only reinforced my view that he is nothing more than a charismatic charlatan who would be gravely out of his depth if elected leader of the free world.

His speech in Berlin on Thursday was atrocious in its cynicism – he didn’t even offer a German translation for his audience – and mindless in its content. America loves its rock stars and film stars, and now seems to want to have one for a head of state.

It is rather a shame that we might have to endure the consequences, too. In its posturing and complacency, Berlin could be to Mr Obama what the Sheffield rally of 1992 was to Neil Kinnock.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/07/26/no...

Obama must have enjoyed his “Ich bin ein Berliner” moment.

"You say yes, then it's no;
You say you'll stay, then you go
You're undecided now, so what are you gonna do?