Just talked to a friend who spent the last 3 weeks in Europe . . .

...& she said she & her husband couldn't believe how often they overheard conversations - on buses, in restaurants, in parks, in hotel lobbies - Europeans discussing the Dimson & they hate him. THEY HATE HIM! (her emphasis, not mine.)

She said it got to where they were almost ashamed to say they were Americans & several times when people found out, they would say you have to get that moron out of the White House. She said she knew he had soiled our reputation but didn't have any idea it was so bad that the average Europen discusses it frequently in their day to day life.

are

sad isn't it?

and was going to share a cab with someone. When they found out he was from America, they declined. :-(

president" in french before we left. Used it everywhere we went in paris and had FABULOUS service.

Nous sommes desolé que notre Président soit un idiot. Nous n'avon pas voté pour lui.

Or, if you're traveling alone:

Je suis desolé que mon Président soit un idiot. Je n'ai pas voté pour lui.

President, but we did call him an idiot

Schwarzenegger has made me remember German profanity I thought I'd forgotten. Now you're telling me I need it for Bush, too? Oy.

"she knew he had soiled our reputation but didn't have any idea it was so bad that the average Europen discusses it frequently in their day to day life."

I'm afraid it is - we just can't believe that he has any chance of being President again and yet we fear that he will be. News clips showing Bush yelling at the converted just make us laugh - and afraid. Tony Blair will have much to answer for when his time comes, but at least he isn't an inarticulate idiot. People here are perfectly aware that what happens in the US in the next 2 weeks is going to affect us all, which is more than many in America seem to realise - or indeed, care.

but I found, when living and traveling overseas, that many people from other countries are well aware of issues in our nation.

Of course, America is the modern empire and thus "commands" attention.

I agree with the people you met. We have to get rid of the current administration. they're a danger to the entire world.

we have to think about the right way to deal with terrorism, and part of that means dealing with our foreign policy decisions, our economic decisions, our energy decisions.

unfortunately, I think a lot of Americans do not want to think. They simply want to lash out. This will never solve our problems or make us safe.

I hope people in this country come to realize this sooner rather than later.

in Germany, Switzerland and Spain. One of my students had a t-shirt with photos of the two bushes: daddy and son. Underneath the photos was the caption: "Dumb and Dumber".

This student received several positive reactions and was even applauded on one occasion.

There was a huge amount of anti-Bush sentiment in all the cities we visited. It was definitely anti the Chimp and not anti-American. We were personally well received by the Italians. In Rome there was a lot of anti-American graffiti, but we couldn't tell how recently it had been "posted". The anti-Bush sentiment was strong there.

If the Europeans could vote in our election, Kerry would win by a landslide.

!!!

I'm embarrassed by the way some Americans act towards Europeans. If the situation was reversed, I know I wouldn't be too forgiving of a group who elected *, and still supports him in large margins.

an engineer who was working on a project in the Netherlands.

6/28/04 10:40:36 AM Eastern Daylight Time

"I just spent 3 months watching Europeans fall over each other for a chance to suck Michael Moore's cock for his left wing propaganda spew. Now that I'm home, can I please get a 5 minute break from this fat, opportunist fuck. If I want to hear some air-head fawning over this guy, I'll call my mom."

And no, he didn't see the film :eyes:

doesn't want to hear what Moore is saying?

but he's developed a kool aid addiction. Me thinks he spends too much time reading Debka and worrying about "brown people".

:7

They returned Saturday. She said much the same thing. They hate Bush in the UK and their feelings about Blair are not much better. But they feel that Blair is Bush's puppet and they think that is ridiculous since they think Bush is "ignorant" and uninformed.

TV, newspapers... radio. You actually get news there. It feels strange when you come from America, and you're used to hearing shameless propaganda 24-7.

Another board that I frequent has international members and American members that live overseas. They've all shared this sentiment--how the Europeans despise Bush and LOVE Clinton.

On the topic of gay marriage, a few shared that it is something that just seems ludicrous to them. That news commentators seem visibly amused when they are reporting Shrubs antics around the gay marriage issue.

I never thought I would visit Europe before, but now I want to. Anywhere that adores Clinton is ok by me!

in Australia. I spend a lot of time having to explain how the voting process differs from the one in Australia, because most people here don't get the concept of voting directly for the President rather than for an entire political party.

There is much anti-Bush sentiment, and with it, anti-American sentiment. Most reasonable people will judge one by one's actions, however. As people have gotten to know me, they know that I'm not an ugly American, but it was rough when I first came here.

People in Europe and other parts of the world are concerned and very interested in this particular election because of the actions of the Bush administration. They see that America has the might and power to do things that might directly affect their country.

Just wondering...

When I was in Japan last month (I've lived there and visited many times over a period of 27 years) and this was the first time nearly everyone I had a substantive conversation with asked me whether I was a Republican or a Democrat. They seemed to relax when I said that I was a Democrat. I didn't see any anti-Americanism per se, though.

On two different occasions in two weeks, representatives of Democrats Abroad stopped me on the street to ask if I was registered to vote.

Can't tell you about the other Asian countries, though.

There is anti-Bush sentiment (and not just Europe but EVERYWHERE). Nobody in the world believe he was actually elected, and so Americans are still held blameless. That could change in 9 days forever. Anti-Bushism could then REALLY turn into Anti-Americanism.

She said she had to actually DEFEND why she was coming here, to young acquaintances, because they hate Bush so much. She had to reassure so many people that WE aren't bad, it's Bush. He is SO hated over there.. so very hated. They were heartbroken when the election was taken from Al Gore. They love Kerry.. too

and other posters are right, they hate BUSH now but if he 'wins' again, they will HATE all of us.

my writing partner was in Italy for a month and could not BELIEVE the intensity of anti-bush sentiment. (and that was before the Iraq invasion!)

week and they make so much fun of him. Just like we do! They like Americans a lot. They wonder how we ever got this man as Prez. They LOVE Clinton. Just like we do. They can't wait for Nov 2nd either. They feel certain we won't make the same mistake twice. They also think he'll try to steal it again. Just like we do!

done to our standing with the rest of the world.

I used to post to a board that had people on it that openly stated that they didn't care how we were viewed by other countries or the UN. These neo cons were very vocal in expressing that (they felt) we don't need them, blah, blah. It was sickening, and very scary talk as far as I was concerned.

One of the main ones complained constantly about DU, so I came here instead. LOL! Apparently he got banned here. Go figure. LOL!

..I think the warm feelings toward Americans are going to turn to contempt. My friends have said several times "If your Bush is elected, you should move to with us" (their exact words)
"We think people will not want to help you when your currency goes bad because of your large debt" (again their words).

It scares me.. :(

differentiate between hating Bush and hating all Americans for now, but if Bush is elected, they will not forgive us.