Poll: U.S. Only Country That Prefers John McCain

[AsianDream]

Re: Poll: U.S. Only Country That Prefers John McCa

The torture thing is a big deal to quite a few Europeans I suspect. At least it is to me. Guantanamo Bay is extremely disliked over here, and the Abu Graib scandal will not be forgotten, nor the invasion of Iraq.

But for many Europeans, there has always been a preference for the Democratic candidate in US elections. Republicans just aren't well liked over here, no matter who the candidate is.

I remember they were polling on the US election over here in The Netherlands when the primary season was just getting started and Hillary was by far the one most preferred, with Obama being second and McCain getting to about 3%. I think it actually hardly matters who the republican candidate is, democrats will always be more favoured, at least in Western Europe.

Eastern Europe is a bit different, Bush apparently is quite popular in those parts of Europe

I have several European friends - and they (like you) have very strong views against torture.

I think most Americans don't understand how damaging the USA using torture is to their international reputation.

For most Europeans - I think trying to see someone that uses torture as a "Good Guy" is much the same as trying to see a child molester as good.

I don't think Republicans policies are good - but I do think McCain will take a very tough stand against torture.

 

[MrWright]

Re: Poll: U.S. Only Country That Prefers John McCa

This just confirms my belief of how stupid and dumb Americans are. HOW STUPID CAN YOU GET AMERICA? I mean even the rest of the world can get it right. According to this new survey of the Global Communities opinion of the U.S. remains poor; however, many around the world have been watching closely the U.S. presidential race and many have a more positive outlook for America and its future leadership particularly for Senator Obama's candidacy. Many around the world have opted for Senator Barack Obama over John McCain in their preference. The U.S. is the only country surveyed in this poll that has expressed to be more confident in John McCain 60% to Obama's 59% while in 12 other countries out of 23 including Britain, France, Germany, Japan, and Australia, the overwhelming majority, by a 2 to 1 margin prefer Senator Obama over John McCain. For example, the French prefer Senator Obama 84% to McCain's 33%. If the rest of the world can get it right why can't America (AMERICANS) get it right?


The poll also showed Hillary Clinton generally rated higher and more favored than John McCain, but lower than Sen. Obama.

I think Winston Churchill said it best, "You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else." And see that's the problem America the world doesn't have the time or patience to keep waiting and hoping for you to get it right. You've only got one shot at this America. This is your last chance.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/13/obama-the-preferred-candi_n_106887.html

Just a question: why do the respective percentages for Obama and McCain in the US exceed 100%?

 

[AsianDream]

Re: Poll: U.S. Only Country That Prefers John McCa

It's the same among all my mates that I have discussed this with... The torture is hard to wrap our heads around over here. It is unimaginable that the US would resort to stuff like this. Nobody is naive to think it had never happened before, but with guantanamo and abu graib it got so very degrading and inhumane, it's disgusting.

And this will greatly affect how the world deals with the US in the coming decades I believe. And the false information given before the invasion of Iraq will keep people sceptical of the things being said by the white house for a long time...

I would like to think McCain would take a tough stand against torture, but if I'm not mistaken he voted to keep waterboarding as a usuable option in interrogation, so I don't know how much chage he would be bringing in that area.

McCain has spoken out very strongly and publicly in the past against waterboarding.

But he did vote against a senate resolution that would have prevented this. In February the Intelligence Authorization Bill contained a provision from Senator Dianne Feinstein establishing one interrogation standard across the government. The bill requires the intelligence community to abide by the same standards as in the Army Field Manual and bans waterboarding.

John McCain voted against this provision - so effectively voted to allow waterboarding to continue.

Just because a form of torture leaves no marks doesn't make it not torture. In using this the USA is knowingly committing a war crime.

I agree - the use of torture is a stain on the US reputation that will take a long time to wash off.

I have several discussions with other people who favour the regime in China. Any discussion of human rights inevitably gets to the discussion of the USA using torture.

The USA used to express their concern about human rights when they talked with China - If they did it these days the Chinese (rightly) would just laugh in their face.

BTW - the US use of torture is one thing that has got some publicity in China

 

[I_want_it_free]

Re: Poll: U.S. Only Country That Prefers John McCa

Oh Europeans are so worried about torture in Guantanamo! Why do they worry about just a little corner of Cuba and not the whole country? I love how for example the Spanish who were lobbying and succeeded in getting the EU sanctions on Cuba lifted are now trying to give rights to monkeys!!! Yes, monkeys!! Apparently to the Spanish government, freedom for monkeys is more important than freedom for Cubans. The Cuban government has done nothing to merit the lifting of the sanctions. In fact they remain as oppressive as ever. What was the first thing the Cuban government did after the EU lifted the sanctions? Arrest gays during what was supposed to be the first ever gay pride parade in Cuba. YAY!! And to think that I am supposed to let the opinion of these people influence who I vote for. I love it!

 

[syntax]

Re: Poll: U.S. Only Country That Prefers John McCa

First, he didn't vote for it because the CIA was exempt.

Please provide a source or cite for this assertion. I have found no statement from the McCain campaign that "he didn't vote for it because the CIA was exempt."

In a statement, McCain said the measure goes too far in applying military standards to intelligence agencies and maintained that existing law already forbids waterboarding. "Staging a mock execution by including the misperception of drowning is a clear violation,'' he said.

http://weblogs.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/blog/2008/02/mccain_votes_against_ban_on_wa.html

 

[syntax]

Re: Poll: U.S. Only Country That Prefers John McCa

First, he didn't vote for it because the CIA was exempt.

I've lost the original source that I quoted elsewhere here but here is an article about it.

I think I was referring to an earlier vote than this one. McCain didn't ever want them to be exempt. He voted in this last bill to keep them out of the field manual not because he wanted them exempt but because he wanted them to have separate standards.

That McCain is opposed to waterboarding is well documented. Like so many things, bills get attached to other things that any given politician might be opposed to so they will vote no to keep such provisions out. This happens to Dems and Repubs and unfortunately they get it used against them.

Vote how you like and don't support McCain if you don't agree with his politics. But intellectual honesty begs that this isn't an issue where McCain has compromised per se'.

According to your cite from the NYT, McCain introduced an amendment in 2005 that would prohibit waterboarding and would require the US Military Field Manual to be applied to the Intelligence Agencies, including the CIA.

In 2008, McCain voted against legislation banning "waterboarding." Your claim is that he did so because "it did not exempt the CIA." And you claim further that he voted against the bill to "keep them out of the field manual not because he wanted them exempt but because he wanted them to have separate standards."

And you raise the issue of "intellectual honesty"? Like Obama's vote in favor of the FISA bill, this is more about "political expediency."

 

[AsianDream]

Re: Poll: U.S. Only Country That Prefers John McCa

First, he didn't vote for it because the CIA was exempt. Second, fuck China. I was so disappointed that the earthquake didnt' destroy the Olympic Stadium there.

The earthquake was a long way from Beijing - so not likely to damage buildings there.

I'm not sure fuck China is a sensible way to think about a country that has a quarter of the worlds population.

With 4% of the worlds population - the USA will probably still be a significant regional power in the future - but like the British Empire in the past - it obviously won't still be a "Superpower" for very much longer.

 

[Nishin]

Re: Poll: U.S. Only Country That Prefers John McCa

First, he didn't vote for it because the CIA was exempt. Second, fuck China. I was so disappointed that the earthquake didnt' destroy the Olympic Stadium there.

Be reassured, it may have missed the Olympic Stadium but it did kill 69,000 and cause 15 million to lose homes ... is it not comforting enough?