Good news for Obama and his fans alike.
NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - The United States is the most admired country globally thanks largely to the star power of President Barack Obama and his administration, according to a new poll.
It climbed from seventh place last year, ahead of France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan which completed the top five nations in the Nation Brand Index (NBI).
"What's really remarkable is that in all my years studying national reputation, I have never seen any country experience such a dramatic change in its standing as we see for the United States for 2009," said Simon Anholt, the founder of NBI, which measured the global image of 50 countries each year.
He believes that during the previous administration of George W. Bush the United States suffered in the world ranking with its unpopular foreign policies but since Obama was elected, and despite the recent economic turmoil, the country's status has risen globally.
"There is no other explanation," Anholt said in an interview, referring to the impact of Obama.
Bad news for America.
/Hat tip to the Nuze/
"We go back to the Pew Research poll conducted in Europe in 2008. That poll showed that nearly 60% of Europeans wanted the United States to be weaker. They didn't like the US being as strong in economic and worldwide political affairs as we were.
Soooooo ... along comes Barack Obama, and at every turn he projects American weakness. He trashes the European missile defense system. He kowtows to Russia's Putin. He absolutely fails to take a strong stance on Iran and their nuclear ambitions. He disengages from Iraq and continues to show indecisiveness in Afghanistan. He shrinks at the sight of Hugo Chavez. He won't meet with the Dalai Lama because it might make the Chinese mad.
Weakness at every turn ... just exactly what the respondents to the poll said they wanted! A weaker United States!
So now our popularity in Europe is on the way up! Really tough to figure out why, isn't it?"
We're weak- they like us. Of course, the problems that will cause.... who cares- we are winning the popularity contest.
NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - The United States is the most admired country globally thanks largely to the star power of President Barack Obama and his administration, according to a new poll.
It climbed from seventh place last year, ahead of France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan which completed the top five nations in the Nation Brand Index (NBI).
"What's really remarkable is that in all my years studying national reputation, I have never seen any country experience such a dramatic change in its standing as we see for the United States for 2009," said Simon Anholt, the founder of NBI, which measured the global image of 50 countries each year.
He believes that during the previous administration of George W. Bush the United States suffered in the world ranking with its unpopular foreign policies but since Obama was elected, and despite the recent economic turmoil, the country's status has risen globally.
"There is no other explanation," Anholt said in an interview, referring to the impact of Obama.
Bad news for America.
/Hat tip to the Nuze/
"We go back to the Pew Research poll conducted in Europe in 2008. That poll showed that nearly 60% of Europeans wanted the United States to be weaker. They didn't like the US being as strong in economic and worldwide political affairs as we were.
Soooooo ... along comes Barack Obama, and at every turn he projects American weakness. He trashes the European missile defense system. He kowtows to Russia's Putin. He absolutely fails to take a strong stance on Iran and their nuclear ambitions. He disengages from Iraq and continues to show indecisiveness in Afghanistan. He shrinks at the sight of Hugo Chavez. He won't meet with the Dalai Lama because it might make the Chinese mad.
Weakness at every turn ... just exactly what the respondents to the poll said they wanted! A weaker United States!
So now our popularity in Europe is on the way up! Really tough to figure out why, isn't it?"
We're weak- they like us. Of course, the problems that will cause.... who cares- we are winning the popularity contest.

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