Obama, the World's President ... Mark Steyn

NRO The Corner ^ | 10 Sep 2008 | Mark Steyn

[Rummyfan]

Re: Obama, the World's President [Mark Steyn]

Kathryn, having decided to elect him President and Community Organizer-in-Chief, the World will not be happy if those hopelessly parochial Yank knuckledraggers decline to endorse the World's decision as to who should govern them and their ghastly backwater. Already, there are awful mutterings from The Guardian:

The World's Verdict Will Be Harsh If The US Rejects The Man It Yearns For

You mean economic sanctions? Expulsion from the Olympics? Moving the Oscars to Belgium? Jonathan Freedland isn't spelling it out but he's not happy:

But what of the rest of the world? This is the reaction I fear most. For Obama has stirred an excitement around the globe unmatched by any American politician in living memory. Polling in Germany, France, Britain and Russia shows that Obama would win by whopping majorities, with the pattern repeated in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. If November 4 were a global ballot, Obama would win it handsomely...

If Americans choose McCain, they will be turning their back on the rest of the world, choosing to show us four more years of the Bush-Cheney finger. And I predict a deeply unpleasant shift... Suddenly Europeans and others will conclude that their dispute is with not only one ruling clique, but Americans themselves. For it will have been the American people, not the politicians, who will have passed up a once-in-a-generation chance for a fresh start - a fresh start the world is yearning for...

For America to make a decision as grave as this one - while the planet boils and with the US fighting two wars - on the trivial basis that a hockey mom is likable and seems down to earth, would be to convey a lack of seriousness, a fleeing from reality, that does indeed suggest a nation in, to quote Weisberg, "historical decline".

British reports on the presidential campaign are weirdly reminiscent of coverage of pre-independence elections in ramshackle parts of Africa where the Colonial Office has picked out the chap it wants for Prime Minister six months earlier only to discover at the last minute that the wretched natives are too dim to go along with it. If you think Iraq isn't ready for democracy, it's apparently years ahead of America.

As for the planet boiling, wait till November 5th.

[Steve0113]

placemark

[Forward the Light Brigade]

Worry Not—Globalism, like world Communism, will fall to the ever present forces of nationalism. Man is still a tribal animal and when pinched will go back to patriotism and love of tribe.

[driftless2]

Translating the “world’s verdict” comment: If you stupid Americans persist in your desire to resist world-wide Marxist economic theories and total governmnent domination of everything including the right to burp unless we say you can, we’ll hold our breath until we turn blue.

[FatherLuke]

If Obama wins, what seems very unlikely now, Mark will not be able to make comments about leaders of the country like he made about president Bush - this is completely illegal under a socialist government. I know it for sure ... because I lived in socialist Poland for over 28 years.

[Rummyfan]

As a Chargers fan, I wish Tom Brady a long and happy retirement, too. People who want the Patsies to win would likely want him back, asap.

Well, I'm no big Pats fan but have admired and respected Brady for his play. Having the Number Two pick overall in my fantasy league I also chose him as my QB this year! I'll go with Cassel for the time being and see how he does...