Quoting hal9g:

Quote:
Quoting DarklyNoon:

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Let's hope it will be Obama, at least that is what the rest of the world and we here in Germany think.

As if we care. 

Picking up hal's line here. I'd say that expression goes both ways. What do I mean?
I mean that, in my view, DarklyNoon's sentence gets my "Overstatement of the year" award.

Most europeans don't really care who wins the elections in the US, or even know who the candidates are. Sure, they have heard of Obama and Hillary on TV, but have no idea on the most part who the others are (most people I know don't even know that Obama and Hillary are from the same party as we don't have primaries here).
And, as it isn't an election for their own country (and therefore nothing they can vote on as has nothing to do with them) the vast majority doesn't really care.

Some more politically interested people do accompany the american elections (I do), as it's an interesting process and it will decide who sits in one of the most powerful (if not the most) chairs in the world. But that's it. There are no passionate supporters of any candidate, and that's normal. It has nothing to do with us, it's your "problem".

****
Of course I (and all the others that have some interest on it) will have a favorite candidate, that I'd prefer you guys to choose. Which one? Well, the one that is closest to my political/society point of view, of course. That's fairly obvious. As is the fact that there are people in Europe whose political points of view are more in the Republican/Democrat/Communist/Whatever area.
So saying that "everybody" outside the US thinks that candidate X is the best one couldn't be farther from the truth. There is no single thinking here as there isn't there in the States.
****

What you could say is that the "supporters" of one candidate are "voicier" or noisier than the others, and that might lead to think that only one candidate has all the support. But it's not noise that wins elections, it's people's votes. And the silent ones also vote.

McCain hasn't been talked about in the media because he's not in any dispute for some time now. That, however causes that people that don't know him (Europeans, for instance - at least I assume I know almost nothing about the gentleman), keep not knowing him. So, how could I ever say that I prefer Obama to McCain, if I don't know what I'd be preferring from? I'm just not sufficiently well informed. (On the other hand, I don't need to, as I won't vote...)

My main point is the one between ***

Sorry about the mini-rant.

Skywatcher:

Not sure what I could tell you about Senator McCain. I will say that this is one of the worst election years, albeit quite fascinating to watch, in the last 50 years. I am far from pleased with any of the choices which I have to choose from, there is not a candidate that will be helpful to the American populace, we can only choose one that will do the least amount of damage and be prepared to fight for it when we disagree. I expect the next 4 years to be among the most contentious in recent history.

Skip

Quoting Skywatcher:

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Quoting hal9g:

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Quoting DarklyNoon:

Quote:
Let's hope it will be Obama, at least that is what the rest of the world and we here in Germany think.

As if we care. 

Picking up hal's line here. I'd say that expression goes both ways. What do I mean?
I mean that, in my view, DarklyNoon's sentence gets my "Overstatement of the year" award.

Not to be a jerk, but if you do not care then why are you posting?  I find it humorous that Europeans have the nerve to call American's arrogant and then tell us the way you feel we should vote to satisfy your agendas.  As for W, he was actually somewhat sane during his first presidency.  In the second election it was voting for the lesser of two weasels.  The agenda Gore was pushing would have destroyed this country's economy as well as our military.  Finally I notice Europeans, and I have visited Europe love to call American stupid.  We have invented more things than any of your countries in some cases most of Europe combined.  You call us stupid but are always willing to put your hands in OUR pockets for economic aid and the second when you are threatened, it is our children you put in harms way.  Maybe we are stupid for helping you, just so you can tell us how bad we are.  Instead of making posts criticizing us I'd prefer you just said, "Thank you." and then shut your mouth.

You aren't alone, Lord. I have never said anything regarding the leadership of the Uk (Blair or Brown), France, Italy, Germany nor any other country. Not even in jest. Do I have opinions on the UK election of PM Brown, yeah, ro when Spain collapsed and elected the man that Al Qaeda wanted because they were attacked just prior to the election, again yes I do, a very colorful opinion in this case. But, that is their problem, not ours, with thexception that the United States as always is ready to pick up the pieces if and when it becomes necessary, and I truly hope it doesn't.

Skip

Just wanted to say this.

Everyone has a right to an opinion.
Everyone has a right to disagree with that opinion

My opinion is this....

If we are talking about who is the "Best Known" candidate, then I would say Obama
If we are talking about who I would vote for, then I would say "Not a US Citizen", therefore this vote has nothing to do with me
If we are talking about who the US members of this site should vote for, then I say "Between them, and the ballot paper"

The "only" thing I would ever encourage people to do, is to VOTE, therefore you at least have some small say (even if your choice does not win)

I may be 36, I may not of been in a war, or denied the right to vote, but everyone in a democracy must remeber this - There are people who gave up their lives so that those living today can vote!

(Oh, and in a last note, the first post was funny, so.... Everybody has the right to laugh, or not.. is up to them)

Lord,

I really can't find anything in my post where you could have read anything that would even remotely justify your reaction/conclusions.
I have not stated my political preferences or given my opinion on who I'd prefer if I was a US citizen. I merely referred to some facts about the media coverage here in Europe (that I don't think was anything new to anyone anyway).

Please compare:

Quote:
Some more politically interested people do accompany the american elections (I do), as it's an interesting process and it will decide who sits in one of the most powerful (if not the most) chairs in the world. But that's it. There are no passionate supporters of any candidate, and that's normal. It has nothing to do with us, it's your "problem".

with:

Quote:
I have never said anything regarding the leadership of the Uk (Blair or Brown), France, Italy, Germany nor any other country. Not even in jest. Do I have opinions on the UK election of PM Brown, yeah, ro when Spain collapsed and elected the man that Al Qaeda wanted because they were attacked just prior to the election, again yes I do, a very colorful opinion in this case. But, that is their problem, not ours

and you'll see that Skip and I are precisely on the same page. You'll even notice by his reply to my post that he correctly read what I meant and answered me in the same tone trying to clarify me in something I recognized to be ignorant in, which I thank him.

I think you totally misinterpreted my post (or didn't read it carefully at all). Otherwise how could a post against that same kind of interference in others' politics, and that tried to clarify that no, not everybody outside the US is like that (vast majority actually isn't), give such a flaming (and totally unasked for) reply?
Please do read my text again, with a cooler head this time, and see what I'm really saying there.

Skywatcher,

Thanks for the solid and thoughtful comments. I would echo your comments -- as an American I'm not really that concerned about who the various European countries elect to lead them. As has been pointed out in a democracty people should vote their conscience.

I think the important thing is for our respective nations -- US, Canada, and the European nations (as well as others around the world) to remain friends and try to work together for those things that we can agree on. I honestly feel that despite our differences (which are significant) we really agree on a lot -- particularly those things that are trully fundamental. By this I primarily mean democracy and freedom.

Despite all the overheated rhetoric about how much America is reviled around world - we continue to work together with many countries in many respects -- whether in Afghanistan, against pirates off Somalia, or against terrorism around the world.

Also America was not particularly more "liked" when Clinton was President -- that's a bit unfair. I know my generaly positive feelings about our European allies don't change based on who the leader is at any given moment. I certainly like some of our allies leaders more than others but my entire opinion of a country doesn't change based on the change of a leader.

Brian

Quote:
the rest of my post post is directed towards the 8 or so European posts before yours.

I am European too...
First, I like Obama - but this is your country and your election...
But why should we Europeans should shout our mouth? I am interested in politics and your primaries are a theme here in Europe, too. And the US are the last leading nation in the world and your vote is also important for the global politics.

I don't like W, but i don't like the german chancellor Angela Merkel neither.  My personal opinion, but i would not criticize an American because of their political leader... That is not my business.