[Dallas59]

Ugh. I pity America too....that pity will remove a useless but dangerous President in 2012.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

OK, but even with the ideological infant in chief we have, and the congress that can’t shoot straight, people from around the world are still trying to get in here. Hatred for the US has always been based in envy.

[Ravi]

Fineman has it half right. Obama is an complete empty suit but Europe is no picnic either.

[IronJack]

The U.S. is depicted as a fraying empire of obesity, ignorance, debt, gridlock, stagnation, and mindless war.

Aside from the "mindless war" accusation, I tend to agree. But wasn't Obama going to rehabilitate our image abroad? Wasn't he going to restore our former glory overseas? Wasn't it George Bush who ruined America for all our loving allies in their ennui-ridden crackerbox countries? How could anyone see America as anything but a shining paragon of tolerance and progressivism, now that Obama is our "leader?"

[bereanway]

The U.S. is depicted as a fraying empire of obesity, ignorance, debt, gridlock, stagnation, and mindless war. Sure, the iPad is cool, but it is evidence of what America was, not what it will be again.”

Yeah, the iPad, that’s what I’m thinkin. That’s what America’s really all about.

Are the Euro’s really that clueless?

[Vincent Jappi]

Just get rid of that usurping Communist clique and respect will return, together with prosperity.

[La Lydia]

One of the reasons Europe pities us is that we have journalists like Howard Fineman. One of the reasons parts of the country look so shabby is that there are too many people riding in the wagon and not enough pulling it — including the millions of poverty-stricken peasants we take in each year. We no longer spend public money for the public good. Instead, Congress uses it to award special interests and voting blocs. We are becoming a kind of dysfunctional welfare state like so much of Europe. The debt and stagnation can be squarely laid at the feet of a disgustingly corrupt Congress, in particular Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. Our President is a joke.

[luvbach1]

Depressing whether or not all the attitudes are valid. But when America was riding high we were still held in low esteem by most.

[alecqss]

Fineman’s article is a severe case of wishful thinking. Then again, it's Newsweek.

[Will88]

Any jackass can go out and cobble together a handful of quotes and personal anecdotes to come to whatever conclusions they wish. This little column is more about how Fineman wants to portray the US at this particular time than it is about credible journalism or any accurate reading of reality.

[sergeantdave]

I wonder if the poodle Fineman can dance on the saloon floor when bullets are fired at his feet.

[KC_Lion]

"as a fraying empire of obesity, ignorance, debt, gridlock, stagnation, and mindless war"

Yikes they are right, we don't want to become just like them!!!

I Think it was Eisenhower how said that he thought the Europeans Liked War because they have had so many. They are last people who need to be Lecturing us on War.

Heck Research the 30 years war, 80 years war, King Phillips War, War of Spanish Secession, Seven Years War, the Wars of Napoleon and that was in a 150 year span! And those are just off the top of my head!

This era of "peace" is relatively rare in European History

[E8crossE8]

Howard Fineman has for several years been a regular guest on Keith Olbermonster's offensive propaganda program. I regard Fineman with the utmost contempt. I have no respect whatsoever for Fineman, nor do I trust his judgement in assessing anything under the sun.

[Publius6961]

Pity?

Cut U.S. visas to zero, Immigrant, Student, Tourist, Transit, Refugee, Compassionate, ALL visas.

Then sit back with a smirk and enjoy their pity...