Protests begin but majority backs Bush visit as support for war surges

A majority of Labour voters welcome President George Bush's state visit to Britain which starts today, according to November's Guardian/ICM opinion poll.

The survey shows that public opinion in Britain is overwhelmingly pro-American with 62% of voters believing that the US is "generally speaking a force for good, not evil, in the world". It explodes the conventional political wisdom at Westminster that Mr Bush's visit will prove damaging to Tony Blair. Only 15% of British voters agree with the idea that America is the "evil empire" in the world.

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,12956,1087545,00.html

...it's America and Americans that the Brits love. In general they think quite highly of us. Bush, however, they believe to be an evil, gibbering, drooling, chimp.

American excitement gives way to anxiety and foreboding

Gary Younge in New York
Tuesday November 18, 2003
The Guardian

Since David Blaine left his box overlooking the river Thames the American media's interest in Britain has rarely strayed beyond Tony Blair's support for the war in Iraq, and the monarchy. So it is little surprise that the visit of the United States president, George Bush, is the talk of the airwaves and a subject worthy of the front pages.
But where there once would have been excitement there is only anxiety.
"This is not a prediction but a terrible foreboding," writes David Frum, Mr Bush's former speechwriter who claimed credit for the phrase "axis of evil", in the rightwing weekly The National Review.
"I fear that President Bush's imminent state visit to the United Kingdom is shaping up as one of the worst media debacles of his presidency."
More ...
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,12956,1087533,00.html

Hee hee, just trying to keep it real.
Joe

Ok, is it just me or is this poll just a little unfair?

We're not evil. That's not exactly a ringing endorsement.

Since when is it surprising that most British don't view America as evil?

And this is the country that we have some of the closest ties too, culturally and politically...

on edit: read the poll better, adjust the title.

I wonder what these number were like the day after Sept. 11.

Are you a fan?

Could be Jon himself, and we'd never be the wiser...

gues the neoCONs were right everyone loves a 'winner' :shrug:

i'll believe it when i see it ;->

peace

I wonder what has been done better over the last month to make Brits more pro-Bush.

"generally speaking a force for good, not evil, in the world".

Let's look at the words used: United States (note, not Bush)generally, speaking, good and evil.

Outside of the middle east and parts of Asia, you would probably be hard pressed to find a person that would say: "Why yes, the United States is an advocate of evil in the world. That is their goal, to make the world a more hellish place for all to live."

Why yes, the United States is an advocate of evil in the world. That is their goal, to make the world a more hellish place for all to live.

as it's gotten weaker in the U.S.

Has such a question EVER been asked in a British poll before?

Didn't they have opinion polls back then?

The fact that they're even asking questions like this means it has become a part of the common psyche.

Most British people are against *Bush*...and for Americans!

And, the British are overwhelmingly against this illegal war in Iraq! Just ask the British DU'ers for their take on this!

'Nuff said!

:evilfrown:

...the Guardian's editors may be really worried about the damage that Bush's visit could do to Blair. With a new Tory leader in place, Bush's natural allies on the Right of British politics may be getting ready for a comeback. Despite our feelings towards Blair, the US (and Britain) is better off with a Labour government, while Bush gains from a Tory one. If Blair goes, Labour could be in trouble.

Howard seems to be a non-starter -- more lackluster than his old boss, John Major. The Tories may be deluded enough to think that getting rid of IDS was the path to victory, but will British voters believe it?

Martin

If Blair goes down, Brown takes the job.

ain't pro Bush

doesn't look like they made that distinction very well

having just read in full the results of this poll, he has completely twisted the results.
Ou of 1000 people polled (???) only 45 % as opposed to 41% agree with the visit while a majority want the troops to stay in Iraq. This is NOT the same as supporting the war, just an acceptance that people perceive the UK as having a responsibilty to finish what they started.
Only 15% see the US as an 'evil empire"..what a stupid question to ask !!

Now I have to look upon the Guardian as another trashy Fleet St newspaper.

A gigantic spinning tornado was observed in the south of England today. This rare phenomenon was attributed to global warming by Labour, but the Tories insist that the public have always been pro-Bush, therefore it was simply to be expected. Details following these words from our sponsors....

How in the hell does that translate into "Majority Backs Bush"??

What a bunch of bollocks- just like the U.S. "agreeing" to international control of it's forces(details to be announced "later")-
They're just trying to talk down the protestors as much as possible.

Don't Buy It Brits!! We'll be watching, the World will be watching!!

MAKE US PROUD and give us some good telly.

Can you please provide proof of that?

And I lIVE here!!! What a screwy question...

Ay' might be bringing da Queen some extraordinary prophecies? Such as, how well the Caryle Group is doing these days.

And junior may have other hot tips?

as real as the Galloway files.
This one has the footprints of Guardian's resident blairite spinmaster
Andrew Rawnsley all over it.
It's purpose is just to torpedo the protests and their impact,
so they spin them away like "It's a huge crowd but represents only a
minority".

Anyway, in the improbable case the english support this massive cockup it will
give me great pleasure when it will inevitably comes back to bite
them hard in their collective ass.

on edit: it is no coincidence that this poll occurs
simultaneously with the release of this "revelation" http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=224584
This is a propaganda offensive to dissuade people from protesting
and thereby saving shrub's photo-op

Whenever people mention the visit then it is a fair bet that the anti-$hrubya vitriol will start flowing. Even the right-wingers I kinow have reservations about this.

From what I can have heard talking to people most of us are are pissed off at the arrogance and the paranoia of chimpy McCokespoon. People don't like Bush & Blair closing down vast swathes of central London because they are scared shitless of a few protesters, and people are also pissed off that it is the taxpayer footing the bill. If Bush wants us to back this visit then I suggest that the GOP foots the security bill themselves.

Tha most of the questions about America are general. In no way do the results of this poll conflict with the conclusions of others that show that something like 60% of your fellow countrymen regard Bush as the greatest threat to world peace today. I regard that latter proposition as a self-evident truth.

As an American dissident, I find parts of this poll reassuring. In spite of Bush's efforts to make America an evil empire, few in Britain see her as one. That would suggest that once we oust the junta, the sins of the Bushies will not be visited on all of us. That is encouraging.

interesting article, if you're not too busy with your spam:

http://www.niagarafallsreporter.com/gallagher141.html

Thanks for the link Neutrino, wonderful piece.

bull-pucky. Can't key when I'm trading Crude Oil.

15% say the US *is* a force for evil.

That leaves 23% undecided as to just how evil the U.S. actually is.

But fear not: a narrow plurality are not completely against the Bush visit.

the same group that gawks at a trainwreck. The Queen is against it
as is the Mayor, both of whom avoid sensationalism. Such a shame
that during Mr. Bush's "state visit" to Britain, he will give only
one speech--to an "invited audience" at Whitehall.

But why am I complaining? Mr. Bush's popularity has contributed
to nice profits in Precious Metals and Crude today.

Thanks, Shrub!