"Yet to see us frequently stub our fingers on the international business or political stage is deeply troubling. We can do better. We should do better."
I think that we can agree that she is not talking about billybob's administration. She is speaking in the present tense.
"I agree with your examples of American popularity, but in my experience talking to foreigners and following the news and reading commentators I trust, America's image has suffered in much of the world, largely due to the Eurotrash elite, the non-Euro elite, the global news media, and perhaps most importantly, envy, reinforced by specific incidents of boorishness or some such when folks overseas get to meet an American firsthand. I think of the business rule of thumb, where a positive experience will be retold ~3 times and a negative ~30 times."
If you read the American msm you'd get the same view although you know it's not true. I've also talked to many soldiers, aid workers and missionaries. These views are not widespread. If you read the quotes from the speech she is not saying that they are the views of the foreign elite but the world.
I was referring to the foreign elites and media as opinion-makers for the masses -- I did not make that clear.
But from opinion polls & my experience I think those views ARE widespread. Not universal or uniform, but widespread.
I remain encouraged that in the speech Ms. Nooyi goes out of her way to proudly proclaim her patriotic love for the US. There was no need for her to do that if she didn't believe it -- I'm sure she didn't think her speech would become national news! or even be reprinted. That should not be discounted just 'cause she gets her news from CNN.