Thursday, November 26, 2009

Opinion

Michael Barone

Will Obama Get a Bounce in the Polls After His Foreign Trip?

July 23, 2008 04:41 PM ET | Michael Barone | Permanent Link | Print

Reader Comments

an article you'll find interesting

We recently published an article on Obama, written by an Obama supporter, that points out the shift away from Obama's initial purpose and message, to what the author calls "the cult of Obama."

It's a very thoughtful article, and a great read amid all the Obama "hoopla." It's an interesting point to think about as Obama is traveling the world and being treated as much more than just "another candidate."

http://www.therebuttal.com/2008/07/30/the-cult-of-obama/

Bounce came and went

Obama's trip was like getting too much sun. Once the short term tan fades you are left with long term skin damage. The trip was costly for Obama.

Obama doesn't get a bounce in my Book

After his "Meet the Press" interview with Tom Brokaw on Sunday he has shown himself to be clueless on foreign policy. He credits the Anbar Awakening with the reduction of violence in Iraq, he refuses to give the U.S. Military credit for the surge reducing violence. I will not vote for this man, he's clueless.

post war America

One thing no one is noticing or commenting on is that we are entering a post war Aemrica. Wars always change the issues and balances in politics. Old issues that were neglected suddenly come up and demand answers (illegal immigration) and the people ussually demand chage. Though old concepts of change usually go out the door. It is usually a new ball game. I would love to hear Barone's ideas on this one.

Americans Realizing Obama's True Colors

Obama's unwillingness to meet with wounded veterans in Germany (no cameras allowed) but shamelessly turning the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site, into a campaign rally (cameras allowed!) is telling.

Americans are realizing that Obama is trying to overcompensate for his perceived lack of executive/national security experience and patriotism. The fact that Obama realizes these are weak spots and is trying so hard to compensate for them is coming off to many Americans as an outright admission that he is in fact weak on national security and lacking in patriotism.

Note how after Obama criticized and slandered the U.S. in his Berlin speech as a nation of torturers he then added, perfunctorily, that he was proud to be an American. Of course when Ronald Reagan went to Germany he did not mention that he was proud to be an American. He didn't need to.

Very Strange

OK - so "we the people" paid for the Middle Eastern leg of the trip (Reed and Hagel looked like they were suffering from acid indigestion) - in truth "we the people" paid for lots of photos. And - then - Europe - very strange indeed.

Europe loves him because he plans to diminish our Military, American wealth and business climate - reducing our importance in the world. Strange and Sad!

Reality

Like it or Not, there is a segment of American society that will never vote for Obama not matter how well he does his job. People wonder where is the "bounce" because his trip is viewed as "success". I say listen to his Berlin speech again and ask Racism vs Reality? Maybe not politically correct but maybe reality.

It's not about currying favor with Europe

Middle America is still proud of what the US has accomplised in the world and it not likely to be won over by Obama's "non-compaigning/compaigning" speaches in Europe. Europe has nothing for the US to strive for and the US certainly has nothing to "apoligize" to Europe for.

Personally, I think Obama looks worse for going over there -- and I actually supported him in the NJ primary.

I think I've seen the light and it's not Obama.

I'm not keen on McCain, but Obama leaves me no other choice.

Something happening

I think the old adage of people voting their pocketbook may be asserting itself. Right now the main thing hitting the pocketbook hard is the price of gas. People see McCain and the Republicans talking about drilling and that just makes sense to them. The Dems focus on alternatives is nice but not seen as realistic.

One trip makes an expert?

"Bounce" or no "bounce", I don't understand how one quick trip with rather brief stops at all the "right" places suddenly imparts great foreign policy/military wisdon, much less makes an expert of anyone. But this same idea applies to any other area of weakness also, and any individual.

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Michael Barone is a senior writer for U.S.News & World Report and principal coauthor of The Almanac of American Politics. He has written for many publications—including the Economist and the New York Times.

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