Der Spiegel: Germany rediscovers love for America

[Heidi]

European Approval of Obama Surges
A new survey finds that a majority of Europeans approve of, and trust, America's new president. But the rest of the world, the Middle East in particular, has yet to surrender to Barack Obama's international charm offensive.

The election of Barack Obama as president has much improved Europe's view of America, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center in Washington that questioned 26,000 people in 24 countries between May and June this year.

The changes in opinion in the survey, http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?ReportID=264">published on Thursday, are particularly dramatic in Germany where, only six months after Obama took office, 64 percent of those surveyed had a positive impression of the United States. In the previous year, they only numbered 31 percent. In fact, the new numbers are closer to the years before George W. Bush took office.

Almost every German surveyed said they trusted Obama (93 percent). In fact, it seems that only Kenya, the country where his father was born, loves the American president more. On the issue of trust Obama even beats German Chancellor Angela Merkel: Only 75 percent of Germans surveyed found her trustworthy.

Additionally, a majority of Germans (93 percent) think that Obama will do the "right thing" when it comes to foreign policy --almost 80 percent more than in the Bush years.

More here

[madokie]

1. I've already rec'd this

Now I'm going to have to kick it back to the top.

[Heidi]

2. Mornin', madokie.

I love this article, too. There were a few times during the previous administration when I met Europeans intent on holding me personally responsible for GWB. x(

[madokie]

4. I can hope that the glares have all changed to smiles now.

It's amazing to me that we're for the most part, good honest people but we're represented by some of the most vile creatures of all time.
:hi:

[Heidi]

5. Yep, that's the thing that bothered me.

I hated "we the people" being judged absolutely stupid and generally evil based on what the world knew of Bush.

Yeah, lots more smiles now. :)

[cwydro]

3. Proud to be the 5th rec!

Good to see this.

[Heidi]

7. Mornin', island girl!

:pals:

[cwydro]

8. Howdy back atcha!

:hi:

[Botany]

6. guess have an unelected war starting idiot isn't a good idea for POTUS

:bounce:

[Heidi]

11. Not sure what that means exactly,

but I can discern from your use of the term "idiot" that your post is in reference to our former pResident. Thank you for the kick and the bounce. :hi:

[Vickers]

9. There was a noticeable change when we went there in March.

We go there once or twice a year (family visits), and during the Idiot George years, things just steadily declined.

If nothing else, Obama will make our vacations a lot more enjoyable.

:)

[Heidi]

10. I've noticed it, too.

Especially in Italy and Switzerland, but my colleagues in France, The Netherlands and Germany also have remarked to me how pleased they are that Obama is our president. Bush personified the "ugly American" that many Europeans (for good reason) loathe. Obama is a whole different story. First time in nearly 10 years I've felt proud to be an American living abroad. :hi:

[I Have A Dream]

12. This really put into words what I could never quite articulate...

"Bush personified the "ugly American" that many Europeans (for good reason) loathe."

Thank you for this.

[Wednesdays]

13. K&R

:kick:

[Heidi]

14. Kick for the no-DU-on-weekends crowd!

I don't normally kick my own threads, but I think this article is worth sharing with those who may have missed it on the weekend. :hi:

:kick:

[fascisthunter]

15. I Can Confirm this... over there he extremely popular!

[TexasObserver]

16. recommended, but forgot to say so