In retrospect was it a mistake for Obama to go to Iraq and Europe?

It seems that his recent slump in the polls begins while he is gone with McCain taking advantage of the fact and launching his negative ads. I thought at the time it would be a great thing with the crowds and all, but should of known that the media would spin it otherwise. I also realize that some people in this country for some silly reason don't seem to care what Europe thinks of us.

People want change.

predictably, and because McCain's juvenile attacks have had some effect on stupid people, most notably in the media.

that began the downtick.

Obama's team SHOULD have unleashed holy hell on McCain for using the troops as a political football and demanded an apology to the troops.

Obama failed utterly to stand up for himself and the troops.

The stupid Britney and Moses ads were just stupid. Adding fuel to the fire that began by Obama not learning to return fire when it clearly would deflate McCain's attacks.

Reaction to lying ads has to be rapid and strong.

That is why Hillary started gaining ground at the end and why McCain is ticking up.

You aren't believing the stupid Gallup poll are you?

it wasn't done for an immediate bump in the polls, it was done to alleviate a concern about him.

anything Obama does is a mistake. He's doing better than Kerry.

His trip did more to improve the international standing of America than anything we've done since 9/11. For that alone, we should thank him. I remember one immigrant black man in Germany saying that if Obama wins, it would force the world to look at the US differently. That's a very sober reminder of how very far we have fallen in the eyes of the world.

But if course, I hope he pounds McSame into the sand in November. }(

I think the Middle East part did well at showing him ready to be president - sensible discussions with leaders, and a better ability than Bush to understand others' point of view (not that that's hard - a toad has a better appreciation of other's point of view than Bush).

The European part won't have hurt him, but I'm not sure if it helped much. The kind of people who actually think being popular in Europe is a bad thing wouldn't be voting for him anyway; some people will be pleased to see his popularity, and find it a change from the surveys that show the American government to be one of the most unpopular in the world - but whether that's important enough to change anyone's vote, I'm not sure.