USA Finally Number One
Man it is beautiful out there today! Seventy-three degrees, clear sunshine. Here's a sunshiny news story for you.
From Reuters by way of CNBC:
It was rather awkward for Americans to claim that we were the greatest country in the world while the world rolled its eyes. And that's what we had for eight years, while smirking frat-boy George W. Bush was our face to citizens of other countries.Barack Obama has done it again. The president's starpower has made the United States the place most people want to visit and do business with, according to an annual survey that ranks nations like retail brands.
The Country Brand Index, compiled by brand consultancy FutureBrand, found the United States had unseated Australia, which held the top spot for the past three years. Australia came in third this year with Canada rising to second place.
New Zealand and France rounded up the top five country brands in this year's index that included 102 countries.
"The Obama effect has seen the United States earn the coveted top spot for the first time in the fifth annual index," FutureBrand, which is part of Interpublic Group of Companies, said in a statement. US Becomes Top Country Brand Under Obama: Survey
By the way, have you noticed how little his name is mentioned these days? I have seen a number of Republicans recently claim that they did not support him, or that they're glad he's gone, but they sure weren't talking like that we while he was in office, embarrassing all of us.
It's nice to have a guy now we can be proud of.
posted by JimK at 3:21 PM
18 Comments:
Andrea- not anon
Yes, America is no longer so hated- that is a bad thing according to teabaggers and birthers. The coverage of their hatefest(wow, 5000 people- bussed in/flown on someone else's dollar) was repulsive. I wonder how far someone has to go at one of those things before Republican house members would say I cannot attend this(think a sheet and hood or a burning cross would keep Boehner/Bachmann/Cantor away?). Of course, to give some of them credit- perhaps there are some who refuse to attend now.
I wonder how far someone has to go at one of those gay pride parades before Democrats would say I cannot attend this(think a sheet and hood or a burning cross or a Nazi bondage float would keep Franken/Murtha/Pelosi away?).
"The president's starpower has made the United States the place most people want to visit and do business with, according to an annual survey that ranks nations like retail brands. The Country Brand Index, compiled by brand consultancy FutureBrand, found the United States had unseated Australia, which held the top spot for the past three years."
Question is:
who do you trust more:
the International Olympic Committee or the Country Brand Index?
that's right, we were in second place for the Olympics til he went and had a few words with the committee
then, we were dead last
yeah, how about New Jersey voters:
he went up there to get them to come out and vote sevn or eight times and they ignored them
Jim writes,
It was rather awkward for Americans to claim that we were the greatest country in the world while the world rolled its eyes.
It is appropriate for a citizen of France to be proud of their country and think it is the best and the greatest. Likewise it is appropriate for Americans to feel and think that their country is the greatest. The question really is this: which is better, to be liked, respected or feared? I tend to think of the above as a continuum and while I am not certain where I would fall, I think it would be between respect and fear, as opposed to between like and respect.
With that said, I do not lose any sleep fretting about what the world thinks of the US. Narrow the world down to Western Europe and I care even less. The United States has sacrificed treasury and American blood to defend Europe in two World Wars and the Cold War.
And that's what we had for eight years, while smirking frat-boy George W. Bush was our face to citizens of other countries.
And now we have a freshman US Senator that falls all over himself with apologies when he travels abroad. Keep it up and last Tuesday will be a mild prelude to what will happen next November...
By the way, have you noticed how little his name is mentioned these days? I have seen a number of Republicans recently claim that they did not support him, or that they're glad he's gone, but they sure weren't talking like that we while he was in office, embarrassing all of us.
It's nice to have a guy now we can be proud of.
if the Democrats push throught the health bill, they'll be making a huge mistake
I think the Senate Dems know that:
"A CNN/Opinion Dynamics poll released Friday (it was conducted Oct. 30 - Nov. 1) has those who see Obama doing enough to cooperate with the Republicans tied at 49 percent with those who say he's not doing enough. That's a steady decline since Obama took office when 74 percent said he was doing enough and 25 percent said he wasn't. In August, the margin had dwindled to 51 percent to 46 percent.
Overall, 53 percent oppose Obama's plan for health care reform and 45 percent support it. Supporters and opponents last month were tied at 49 percent.
Twenty-six percent believe Congress should continue working on the bills now in progress and make only minor changes before passing final legislation while 33 percent say the bills need major changes. Twenty-four percent want to wait till next year and 15 percent don't want changes at all."
details are emerging about the compromises Nancy Pelosi made to get the health care bill approved by the House
an amendment was added to not only prohibit government funds from paying for abortion but also prohibiting any plan from offering abortion coverage
if the bill becomes law, abortion coverage would have to be purchased seperately regardless of whether it is government susidized or not
liberals in the House say they won't vote for the final bill unless the amendment is taken out
Blue Dogs won't vote for it unless it stays
"historic" vote?
it's win-win again for pro-family forces
A CNN/Opinion Dynamics poll released Friday (it was conducted Oct. 30 - Nov. 1) has those who see Obama doing enough to cooperate with the Republicans tied at 49 percent with those who say he's not doing enough
That same CNN/Opinion Dynamics poll also found those who see "Republicans in Congress" as doing enough to cooperate with Obama were 36 percentage points below those who see Republicans in Congress as *not* doing enough to cooperate with Obama, 31-67% (see Question 18).
So equal numbers of Americans see President Obama as doing enough to cooperate with Republicans in Congress, but by a margin greater than 2 to 1, Americans see Republicans in Congress as NOT doing enough to cooperate with President Obama.
That "Just Say No" GOP tactic does nothing to improve Americans' already low opinions of the GOP. In mid-October 2009, 36% of Americans polled had a positive opinion of the GOP while 54% had a negative opinion, and 53% of Americans polled had a positive opinion of the Democratic Party while 41% had a negative opinion.
you're so fixated on the GOP that you miss what's important, a-non-B
here's the important part:
"Overall, 53 percent oppose Obama's plan for health care reform and 45 percent support it."
this major expansion of government is supported by less than half of all Americans
Dems are looking for a way out without having to admit they failed but it's doubtful they'll find it
it only was able to pass the House by adding a pro-life amendment stronger than any Republican Congress passed
liberals say they won't approve unless the amendment's out and Blue Dogs won't say yes unless it's in
meanwhile in the Senate, Lieberman reiterated yesterday he won't be in the 60 unless the public option is taken out
it's lose-lose for Dems
Obama has the worst approval ratings of any modern President at this stage in his Presidency
he's at the top of the list
Obama: finally number one
"The coverage of their hatefest(wow, 5000 people- bussed in/flown on someone else's dollar) was repulsive"
hmmm...
are you talking about the most recent protest last Thursday or the protest in September.
The protest in september was huge, easily 400,000. some estimates had it at 2 million. the one last week - I don't know, probaly around 10 or 20K.
I drove myself andrea - and parked myself and paid for the time myself.
I ran into an attorney friend of my sister I haven't seen since college, she took the metro in (on her own nickel, leaving her twin 6 year old's with her husband). Her dad is elderly with a rare lung condition, she was concerned about the rationing in the bill. Her dad is a retired neurosurgeon.
another girl friend in landscape design came with me in sept, she also drove herself.
we ran into a nursing student from vanderbilt (where I graduated...) she also drove herself...
bussed in ? right. that's only for the acorn folks. you are sadlly mistaken.
Oh, my...a retired neurosurgeon? And he is worried about insurance? I don't think so!
So because you, the attorney, the landscape designer, and the nursing student got themselves down there to Bachmann's protest you assumed everybody else did too? How did you miss all the Americans for Prosperity buses offloading the astroturf?
bussed in ? right. that's only for the acorn folks. you are sadlly mistaken.
No more lies, Anon. It's time to teach some facts.
Let's start with this list (scroll one quarter of the way down from the top) of Americans for Prosperity buses that were arranged to bring health insurance industry supporters from parts of PA and NJ to DC on November 5, 2009 for the "House Call on Health Care" protest:
Reply by Margie on November 3, 2009 at 6:35pm
I wish I could go but I am unable to take off from work. Here is info on buses leaving from the Philadelphia/New Jersey area.
Independence Hall Tea Party Association is working with Americans For Prosperity, who is funding buses to Washington D. C. this Thursday, November 5, for the Anti- Obamacare rally called by Michelle Bachman at the Capitol.
Americans For Prosperity has buses leaving from Philadelphia and New Jersey to DC. If you wish to take a bus, please choose a contact number from the list below to register, google for directions from your home to the bus pick up locations and arrive ten minutes before scheduled departure time. Also, you may want to pack a lunch. : ) The bus costs $25.00 and is payable by check to Americans for Prosperity on Thursday.
1.Rockledge/Northeast Philadelphia Location:
Huntingdon Valley Shopping Center
Huntingdon Pike, Rockledge, PA 19006
(Stand near the Rite Aid)
Bus Departure Time: 8:00 AM
Contact: Teri Adams 267-535-3594 to register
2.Center City Location(for people who can take a train to CC and who live there):
3rd Street between Chestnut and Walnut
(outside Independence Living History Museum)
Bus Departure Time: 8:30 AM
Contact: Valentina at 267-237-4295 to register
3.South Philly Location:
Oregon Ave Diner
3rd & Oregon - 302 Oregon Ave
Bus Departure Time: 8:45 AM
Contact: Valentina at 267-237-4295 to register
4. Doylestown: Doylestown Courthouse Parking Garage (Bus will pull into the garage) East Court & S Main Street
Bus Departure Time: 7:00 AM
Contact: Anastasia at 215-534-1851 to register
5. Havertown: Manoa Shopping Center Parking Lot
1345 W. Chester Pike
Bus Departure Time: 8:30 AM
Contact: Joanne at 610-356-4542 to register
6. Reading: Gold's Gym
4201 Perkiomen Ave
Bus Departure Time: 7:30 AM
Contact: John Stahl at 610-927-7034
7. Moorestown, NJ: Moorestown Mall, Lenola side (inside corner of Lenola & 38 across from Classic Chevrolet)
Bus Departure Time: 7:00 AM
Contact: Bill Green at 609-471-3638 to register
8. Deptford, NJ: Deptford Mall by Sears (corner of Almonesson & Deptford Center Rd)
Bus Departure Time: 7:30 AM
Contact: Bill Green at 609-471-3638 to register.
Shortly following the rally end, buses will be returning.
And if ResistNet's piece isn't good enough for you, here's Americans for Prosperity's version of the same list of buses.
And here's a nice little video filmed by David Koch on 11-5-09, showing American for Prosperity employees offloading busloads of astroturf in DC.
Count the buses you see in the video and listen to a pair of AFP employees talk about how many buses they've got coming "from the states."
Nice try at spinning another lying factoid Anon, but astroturf was indeed bused into DC by Americans for Prosperity on November 5, 2009.
Ooops typo:
And here's a nice little video *filmed by* David Koch on 11-5-09
should read
And here's a nice little video *about* David Koch on 11-5-09
"bussed in ? right. that's only for the acorn folks. you are sadlly mistaken."
You are sadly racist.
Huh, "Anonymous"..."sadly racist"?
Please elaborate on that charge
Diogenes
the alternative anon seems to be engaging the lunatics in a debate about bussing here, and I'm sure alt-anon is right but, really, who cares?
what difference does it make how the people got there?
.
Post a Comment
<< Home