First 100 days

Over analyzed, but true our country's image has improved. Being knowledgable is 50%, image is the remaining,like it or not, that is just the way the world works.

My fav. Obama saying, "we are big fans of persistence."

Good morning Clay, I have to admit (regardless of the fact I didn't vote for the man and that he still doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in me)you have caught the general direction of the, still, fledgling Obama administration. Your graph might have been a bit more complete, however, had you added in all the 'mindless road blocks' the conservatives have thrown in the way, in the spirit of good bi-particin politics, of course. No, I didn't vote for Obama, nor do I think every decision he has made thus far will be wholly successful, but all 'the other side' is accomplishing is making me fervently hope all of his supporters were right and I was initially wrong. Thank you for your time and attention, Woody

But "Where's the beef?"

Image won't put us back to work. Until we destroy those freedoms making us different from those owing fealty [and we are working on that], the rest of the world will hate us no matter how many charts we draw.

Buying popularity by spending a trillion dollars we don't have?

Hey!! Who inverted the chart?!

We in America often confuse fear for respect. The Bush administration inspired plenty of the former, but very little of the latter. For eight years, we had a president who strutted around the world stage like a bully on the playground. We had a foreign policy that was based more of testosterone than reason, and we achieved our goals through demands instead of appeals. This brutish behavior isolated the Unites States and pushed our country's image to historic lows. We were seen by the rest of the world as arrogant, overbearing, and self-serving.

And rightfully so.

Now we have a president who's willing to listen as well as talk; one who's more likely to shake your hand than slap you across the face; and a leader who is motivated more by cooperation than coercion. This graph isn't about Obama's popularity, Andrew, it's about our country's image. And if you look at the any poll, from anywhere in the world, you can't argue with its accuracy. The US is now, once again, seen by others as not only a country that is willing to lead, but a country that others are willing to follow.

And as for the rest of the world hating us, no matter what, rolando, well, then this chart might well be one plotting your own cynicism, because the beef, my friend might be found in the white house's unambiguous rejection of torture, its commitment to working with others to combat global warming, or its willingness to talk to countries that the Bush administration previously viewed as unworthy of that honor.

The change in our countries image worldwide since the Obama administration has taken over has been profound. We have become a model for the world again, and not just a target for its scorn. Despite everything President Obama has accomplished domestically in his first 100 days, his impact on the reputation and honor of the U.S. has been astounding.

Well put, toonfan.

The first 100 days of this administration has been remarkable. Sure, the tea baggers will complain about the increasing size of government and the staggering sums of money this administration has committed to saving our economy, but nobody can fault this president for a lack of boldness.

I'm now seeing the complaint that that Obama is taking on more than he should. What a contrast: we have a Democratic president who wants to do too much, too soon, and a Republican Party that wants to do too little, too late.

That graph should say national debt.

If it was a graph of the national debt, then it sure wouldn't have started out at zero.

Tea bagging is a homosexual stunt, OllieH. How do they enter the discussion? I am not one for on-topic posts by any means but I DO try to show the connection to the existing debate. Connection, please?

What you call "boldness" in Bo, I call "stupidity", "socialist", "destructive", "ignorance" or perhaps "blatant inexperience" at best.

You also presume much in thinking the graph's bottom left point is zero...

Once again you put words in my mouth and change the words in my post, toonfan. That seems to be a favorite tactic of yours.

I said nothing that even HINTS that America will be hated [in YOUR words] "no matter what."

Read my post again and get back to me. Perhaps you might even glom onto the idea that the hate for us goes beyond partisan pettiness right down to the core of our freedoms.

With a few notable exceptions, the world is much like my in-laws who, as a result of poor business management and even worse employee selection, were forced to live with us for six or eight months. While they were taking our food, our living space, and our money [all of which we gladly gave them since charity begins at home] they were all smiles and happy. Of course, as soon as their fortunes improved [much of it our doing] they turned on us as only those who owe you a measure of something will do.

That is exactly what Europe, the Middle East, Africa, etc does now, has done before, and will do again. Yet each time they screw up their works, we have been there for them. Says something about us, them, our charity, and their hate.

Furthermore... Let it never be forgotten that it was eight years worth of that very "testosterone" that kept the terrorists at bay and far from our mainland. If nothing else, Bush kept us safe from attack. You can kiss THAT goodbye.

Bo, on the other hand, scares the bejesus out of New York City-ites [our own citizens] with what I figure was a little "practice" test of fear management and control by directing a low-level fly-by of Manhattan by a monster commercial-appearing Boeing 747 [reportedly with tail number 000001] and two fighters. [Yes, "directed". This is his watch, not Bush's.] He was successful in that he created instant pandemoneum in the streets as people fled buildings screaming the second attack was in progress.

"Government Conspiracy theory"? Maybe. But with the number of such conspiracies popping up lately, the odds of being right are heavily stacked in my favor.

Each tick mark is a small percentage of the number of times the Obama adm. use the word "crises" or the number of times that the left side of the TFP, NBC, CNN, and MSNBC use the word "historic". The new "Forgotten Man" is named "Ben Dover".

Rolando,

What do you think of Specter leaving the Republicans?

Rolando, testosterone has not protected the USA, it is pure fiction to believe that all of the homeland secruity measures are protecting us. It is a false security, if someone seeks to harm, they will find a way. That is why diplomacy has a better chance. My grandma use to say, "do not poke a Bear." We should fight the Bear if it attacks, and we did, now end it.

In world affairs, a little estrogen is need. The beat everyone up that opposes the US has failed miserable. If everything else fails again, then let the gloves come off and the testosterone fly.

Clara- You asked rolando about Specter, he may be composing a reply. I have a comment to make on this issue. I have admired Specter for years while he was a Republican because he always tried to find a middle ground solution. As he said, the party moved far to the right and left him. With less than 30% now claiming to be Republicans, and Limbaugh trying to run part of these off, I'm hoping someone steps forward to get the party back on its feet. We really need a viable opposition party- but one that will help work all the issues now facing this country.

Your resentment of your in-laws aside, rolando- tell me, what exactly does the Middle East or Africa owe us as a nation. I can't remember us doing much to better their lot.

I suppose, like most Americans, you believe that Europe owes us for saving their butts in World war II? Maybe, more for the Marshall plan? But I still don't remember Europe (as you put it) 'turning on us'.

And yes, you're right- Bush's testosterone kept us safe from terrorists. Oh, except for the worst terrorist attack in our country's history on 9/11. He really dropped the ball on that one. I guess he was too busy strutting around the playground to notice that someone was sneaking up behind him.

The old "My Pet Goat" thing is the best you can do, toonfan? Pitiful.

You want to play that game, shall we discuss Clinton's failures in the arena that led up to 9/11? I thought not.

Still [incorrectly] reading between the lines, I see. I don't resent the in-laws or the world for anything. Their poor behavior is expected of them...which doesn't mean you turn your back in their next hour of need. And there WILL be a "next"...there always is with them.

Let's see -- Tunisia comes to mind...something about Rommel. The Marshall Plan. Turning Rhodesia into whatever it is named today and allowing homerule. Liberia. Turkey. The various -Stans. Israel. Palestine. The Saudis. The list goes on and on.

I missed your post, Clara. Excuse me.

I am glad to see RINO Specter go and only wish he had taken the MSM's choice of Republican candidates -- fellow RINO McCain -- with him.

We are better off without those who abandon their supporters. If that gives the Democrats a supermajority...well...with the way Specter voted, they had it anyway.

It is better now...this current mess becomes a totally liberal Democrat doing, for good or evil. Hard to blame us now, although they will try.

To those of you (and you know who you are) who think of the President as someone we should believe in, go to that most unbiased of all sources and read:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30486758/

toonfan

no europe has not turned on us, they have just never backed us in ANY international dealings we have had weather it was war or otherwise. and ya know when your at the top everyone who isn't hates you, which is what the rest of the world does every single day to us ...yes US ...you ,me and every other person living within the United States of America. you along with the rest of the left wing extreme can cow tow to them all you want for the next three years two hundred and fifty six days. but after living through this term with this whitehouse will make a believer out of a lot of people, weather you like it or not ...one term is all obama will have. those people will see that smoke and mirrors and empty promises only go so far. and as far as 9/11 goes ...maybe just maybe if our military had not been cut so harshly by clinton ...maybe that wouldnt have taken place. talk about dropping a ball....no wait he did that intentionally ... so i guess he just "threw the game" and strutting around? well i guess thats better than kissing the butt of every overlord and dictator in the world ..... one thing you guys will never get. no matter what we do they will always hate us and want us all dead no matter what you want to feel

rolando can't answer a question you ask him until after O'Reilly or Limbaugh tell him what to think about it.

As a "green libertarian" (government leave me alone, leave the earth alone mentality), I am quite disappointed in Obama so far. To support giving a trillion taxpayer dollars to the same financial crooks that put us on the brink of depression is an absolute joke, especially when all of that money is going to executives and investors, not to helping you or I. We might as well have placed a giant pile of cash in a football stadium and set it on fire. It'd have done about the same good. Also to BOYCOTT an international conference addressing racism is yet another joke. That's the kind of crap bush would've done. Obama's continued support for Israel no matter what atrocities they commit is another Bush-esque mistake. We will ALWAYS be a target for Islamic terrorism as long as we take that stand. "Clean coal?" Ask the folks upriver about clean coal. Conservatives whine and boo-hoo that Obama is a crazy liberal, but nothing he has done so far is anything bush wouldn't have done, except make himself look like an idiot. About the only thing good so far (and I am willing to give the man a chance; it's only been 3 months) is our image abroad. But that alone doesn't make up for that much.

aae1049 -- I agree with some of what you say -- as usual.

Testosterone is a war thing; war is the failure of diplomacy; diplomacy is an estrogen thing; war is -- or should be -- a last resort and a means to force one's will upon another.

In any will-to-win driven war, the two simply do not mix.

There are times and cultures where the only thing understood is force of arms or the threat thereof; diplomacy is seen as a duplicitous way to gain supremacy over an opponent. We have trouble accepting that posit...doesn't change it though.

In attacking Saddam Hussein, Bush made a bold statement to the world -- essentially, "Don't Tread On Me." And he put teeth in it. Regardless of anything else he did, it worked; we were safe for eight years. We will see what the estrogen-loaded future brings.

The lack or scarcity of "testosterone" in DC with an overabundance of "estrogen" will cause us problems in foreign affairs. ** [For the narrowminded: No, that does not mean "not enough men - too many women." It means "in ideas, plans, actions, etc." There are and were lots of women who commanded armies...Liz I, Thatcher, and Jean D'Arc come immediately to mind.]

cave_demon

as apposed to msnbc, cnn, abc, nbc, cbs, and every other left wing extremist news forum? radio seems to not be working out for the left so well ....then again never has ... but i guess if they have their way (fairness doctrine) we conservatives will not have that one media ...lol but we kick but at anything we set our minds to so i am sure we will come up with something

Of course radio is for conservatives. Jethro and Billy Bob can't afford a TV.

Were you asking something, cavedemon? I must have missed it while listening to Oreilly and watching limbaugh. Or do I have that backwards?

In any case, ask away. As soon as one of those two addresses the issue I will get back to you. Until then, hold your breath...

Rolando, although I don't fully agree with cave_demon's assertion that you take your marching orders from Rush Limbaugh (although I can see where he might come to that conclusion), your screed about Arlen Specter did sound like that bloated windbag. For you, or anyone else to say good riddance to the moderate faction of the GOP is suicidal. Who are you to define Republicanism. You can label Specter a "RINO' (Republican in name only) if you like, but if continue to wish good riddance to everyone in the party who doesn't goosestep to El Rushbo's beat, I have an acronym for the future of the Republican Party... it's R.I.P.