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Many Europeans Rooting for Kerry
Yahoo! News ^ | July 30, 2004 | Pamela Sampson

Posted on 07/30/2004 6:00:12 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch

PARIS - Europe's deep disdain for President Bush (news - web sites) seems to be the engine behind John Kerry (news - web sites)'s growing appeal here, even though he is still an unknown quantity in Paris, London and Berlin.

Antipathy to Bush has translated into enthusiasm for the Democratic presidential nominee, whose speech Thursday at his party's convention in Boston was broadcast in much of Europe.

Daniel Thouw of Berlin, who has been observing the U.S. election campaign on Web sites and television, said he does not know where Kerry stands on many issues, but still thinks he would make a better president than Bush.

"I know, for example, that Ronald Reagan (news - web sites)'s son spoke for him, and so did Bill Clinton (news - web sites)," said the 28-year-old graphic designer. "Everyone is better than Bush."

Alfred Gusenbauer, the chairman of Austria's opposition Socialist Party, said Friday he thinks a Kerry victory "would lead America back into the international community of nations."

Gusenbauer said he considers Kerry "a very respectable presidential candidate," reflecting broad support for the senator in Austria, which scorned the United States for going to war in Iraq (news - web sites) despite the grave misgivings of many European countries, especially France and Germany.

Some analysts cautioned against viewing Kerry as a magic candidate with the power to heal the trans-Atlantic alliance.

Bruno Tertrais, a senior research fellow at the Foundation for Strategic Research in Paris, said Kerry's rhetoric — such as his convention pledge to continue the "global war on terror" — was uncomfortably similar to Bush's.

Many Europeans believe Bush has made terrorism an even greater threat by expanding the war against al-Qaida into a "global" one that included enemies like Saddam Hussein (news - web sites), Tertrais said.

"The French and the Europeans should not expect a Kerry president to change everything," said Tertrais. "I would caution about expectations on both sides."

In Britain, some commentators think Kerry has one main asset — he's not George W. Bush.

"It is not just a narrow majority of American voters who, according to current polls, want Mr. Bush to be defeated in November," The Guardian said in an editorial on the convention. "It is an overwhelming majority of the citizens of other lands, those of this country very much included."

Some note that a Kerry victory could be awkward for Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites), Bush's staunchest supporter on the war in Iraq.

All major British newspapers and TV networks gave the Democratic convention heavy coverage. And some commentators said Kerry's failings are beside the point.

"He lacks vision, he inspires nobody — and let's face it, it doesn't matter," ran the headline on an op-ed piece about Kerry in The Times.

Doris Bartel, a physical therapist from the eastern German city of Strausberg, said she was impressed by Kerry's wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry.

Heinz Kerry "seems very resolute and strong. In Germany, it's very different," Bartel said. "The wife doesn't step out into the public. It's an American mentality."

___

Associated Press writers Matt Surman and Jill Lawless contributed to this report from Berlin and London.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: kerry; oldeurope; socialistsforkerry
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President Bush should have Michael Reagan speak at the NYC convention!
1 posted on 07/30/2004 6:00:16 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
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To: SwinneySwitch

Eurotrash alert!


2 posted on 07/30/2004 6:01:10 PM PDT by Drango (Stupidity is the only infinitely renewable resource)
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To: SwinneySwitch

I could care less what France thinks. I just wish there were a way for me to let those frogs know it.


3 posted on 07/30/2004 6:02:27 PM PDT by Arpege92 (Moore is so fat that when he hauls a$$ it takes two trips - tractorman!)
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To: SwinneySwitch

Many Euros are rooting for Al-Qaeda as well.


4 posted on 07/30/2004 6:06:23 PM PDT by VisualizeSmallerGovernment (Question Liberal Authority)
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To: SwinneySwitch

Screw Those Speedo Wearing P#$$IES!!!!!!!


5 posted on 07/30/2004 6:06:56 PM PDT by cmsgop ( Bong Hits, Fraggle Rock Reruns and DU is no way to go through Life............)
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To: SwinneySwitch
"In Germany the wife doesn't step out into the public." It helps if like Mamma-T you have a billion dollars and your husband is a toyboy. Of course, it will become increasingly difficult as more and more woman in Germany are required to wear head-scarves.
6 posted on 07/30/2004 6:07:50 PM PDT by Malesherbes
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To: Drango
Of course they want his guy to be prresident.

They hate us!

7 posted on 07/30/2004 6:08:08 PM PDT by BenLurkin ("A republic, if we can revive it")
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To: SwinneySwitch
That would be fine if he speaks on something he knows something about, like his Dad.

His brother spoke on an issue that he is clueless about.

8 posted on 07/30/2004 6:09:01 PM PDT by jwalsh07
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To: SwinneySwitch

The Bush campaign should use this. Also the endorsement of sKerry by many fringe groups.


9 posted on 07/30/2004 6:09:32 PM PDT by clintonh8r (Vietnam veteran against Jean-France Kerry.)
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Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

To: Arpege92

Being one half French, may I state that I couldn't care less what they think or say, either.

But this, has me roiled....

http://www.brokennewz.com/displaystory.asp_Q_storyid_E_1040armstrong


11 posted on 07/30/2004 6:10:18 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo
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To: SwinneySwitch
Many Europeans believe Bush has made terrorism an even greater threat by expanding the war against al-Qaida into a "global" one that included enemies like Saddam Hussein (news - web sites), Tertrais said.

It should not be global? How obtuse can one get?!? I see it coming: all terrorist attacks may soon be blamed on President Bush and America.And I'm not joking. Oh how sweet it would be for the Eurowimps to get their comeuppance with a bush victory. To them Kerry is already elected.

12 posted on 07/30/2004 6:12:41 PM PDT by luvbach1 (Leftists don't acknowledge that Reagan won the cold war because they rooted for the other side.)
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To: Drango

STUPID...YOU CAN'T FIX IT.
The weak, unproductive, arrogant european idiots can go to hell and take Kerry and TEREZAHHH (Merci, Merci..that arrogant loser thinks she is the only one that can speak other languages...give me a break...she deserve Kerry as a loverboy ...excepts he likes John Edwards better if you believe in pictures.)
All of them can go to France and be appreciated there.


13 posted on 07/30/2004 6:13:41 PM PDT by UltraKonservativen (( YOU CAN'T FIX STUPID ))
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To: SwinneySwitch
"He lacks vision, he inspires nobody — and let's face it, it doesn't matter," ran the headline on an op-ed piece about Kerry in The Times.

That just about sums it up for the Euroweenies and the American Left. Damfools, all of them, who won't acknowlege that there's a crocodile who's determined to eat them....first or last.

Prairie

14 posted on 07/30/2004 6:13:56 PM PDT by prairiebreeze (John Kerry sucked face with a rodent.)
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To: SwinneySwitch

I bet Al Quada is too!

He has an uncanny ability to attract the slime of the earth.


15 posted on 07/30/2004 6:14:31 PM PDT by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God).)
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To: SwinneySwitch

The WSJ had a front page article today about one of Kerry's cousins who is keeping a low profile...'CAUSE HE'S FRENCH.


16 posted on 07/30/2004 6:14:54 PM PDT by Drango (Stupidity is the only infinitely renewable resource)
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To: SwinneySwitch

This is typical of journalists...they quote some people who align with what they are trying to push...then quote them. Maybe put in one or two opposition quotes to make it seem fair, but the overwhelming effect is to make people think that the world is against us, without any statistical or scientific evidence to back it up.

Now, in France, we all know where their opinions lie. But I wonder about the "silent majority" in Europe? Could it be anything like that in America?


17 posted on 07/30/2004 6:23:00 PM PDT by UCSC Republican (Guns don't kill people. Abortion clinics kill people.)
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo

LOL cute!


18 posted on 07/30/2004 6:30:38 PM PDT by Arpege92 (Moore is so fat that when he hauls a$$ it takes two trips - tractorman!)
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To: SwinneySwitch
European opinion is and always has been contrary to American interests. It is just when they need our assistance that they pretend to be our allies, with the exception of the British, and their support is tenuous at best.

Their opposition to Bush and America is not born out altrusim or an opposition to war. It is envy, jealousy, or covetousness. Their emnity is not because they are in principled oppositon to our policies, it is because they have become irrelevant, they are no longer the cultural epicenter of the world. Instead of blaming socialism, it is easier to blame America.

Americans must resist the temptation to capitulate the the Eurotrash just so they will like us again. If we do, we are doomed. They are using global peer pressure. The French don't like me Mommy..Boh Hoh..They say I dress funny, that my Gap cloths are out of style..We need to go shopping, so they will like me again.

19 posted on 07/30/2004 7:37:54 PM PDT by Arnold Zephel
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To: MizSterious; rebdov; Nix 2; green lantern; BeOSUser; Brad's Gramma; dreadme; Turk2; keri; ...
Europe-list

If people want on or off this list, please let me know.

20 posted on 07/31/2004 9:46:18 AM PDT by knighthawk (We will always remember We will always be proud We will always be prepared so we may always be free)
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