People across the globe seemingly fell in love with President Barack Obama during his presidential campaign of 2008 and shortly afterward. But now that love affair is over. In addition, there's little evidence that his popularity overseas did anything to boost relations with our allies ---- or our enemies, Politico reports."For conservatives, it's a 'Told you so' moment, proving -- as they believed all along -- the notion that Obama could remake America's image through the power of his personality was a fantasy," the news service states.
| Whereas for progressives, it's a moment to put their fingers in their ears and sing loudly... |
Actually, Obama's election did improve our standing temporarily, she says. "And that disappeared as the result of his policies."
Mitchell Reiss, a foreign policy adviser to 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, says Obama has conducted foreign affairs with a scatter-shot approach.
"Essentially, American foreign policy was personalized," Reiss, a State Department official in the George W. Bush administration, told Politico. "I think what we're finding now is that you actually need policy in order to promote American interests and values around the world. . . . You can't simply rely on your own estimation of your own magical personality."
| Nations have enduring interests regardless of who is in charge. The Russian Bear has been interested in a route to the Indian Ocean for a few centuries. That the head cheese is called Czar, Comrade, General Secretary or President doesn't change that. The Mad Mullahs™ want to black our eyes regardless of who is in charge. And so on. You'd think the smart folks here would know this. |