Compared to Jimmy Carter?

I agree that Jimmy Carter wasn't one of our most effective presidents, if at all. But, as the doctor's say "First, do no harm." I think Bush has done much harm. Traveling through Europe over the past 7 years, I can see an unsettling change in the way Americans are perceived. In Barcelona last summer, every lampost had F&#k Bush scratched into it. I'm sorry and saddened. But it is my opinion that his ego, his lack of planning, his poor strategies, his inability to see the big picture has brought us to where we are today. He didn't want to be President, he wanted to be King. And now that a lot of his cronies have backed out and some away, he's finally shut up. Yes, I think he has done much harm.

Yes, I think most people will agree that Carter was not effective as president. He is a good man, however. Look at all the charity work he's done since retiring, especially with Habitat for Humanity. I do think that repairing America's image abroad will be a daunting task for our next president, whoever he or she will be. I guess that's one of the things that appeals to me about Obama. He's calm and measured, intellectually astute, and seems to be able to work across party lines for consensus. That, and the fact he would be the first black president, and has openly advertised his plan for "change" should play well internationally. I find McCain worriesome, with his obvious hardball attitude, and his well known temper tantrums.

I too have traveled through Europe and I witnessed what the US media has spread throughout the world. Listen to CNN in Europe and you'll hear constant denigration of Bush and anything the administration or the US does. We have media people (movie stars) that beat up the US on foreign soil. Sharon Stone just did that in the middle east. Michael Moore that great sage of the left has said the people in the US are stupid, that's us folks. Bush was called names and made to look stupid by the media before he was even inaugurated. There is no president in the history of this country that could have maintained a decent image internationally with the rotten campaign to destroy him and his presidency that was and continues to be carried out by the media. The media will go to any length to destroy the man even at great cost to the country. Media with an agenda can be a dangerous thing.

I spent time working in Australia in he 80's and many there had no love for Reagan, "The Cowboy".

All I can say about Europeans and the other's dislike for our country and our elected leaders is, @#&*- off. You guys loved Saddam, Putin and the jerk in Iran, so it is not hard to understand why you don't like us and our leaders. We know where your Anti-American feelings are coming from.

Right on Hancle, my feelings exactly.

Wow Hancle, can there be a more childish comment than that! Whoo, now that's one "Ugly American". And to those that have commented on the media: We, the people, think for ourselves. I'm also astonished that you can believe that our media is hell bent on making Bush look stupid. Why would they would they do that? That's one job he has managed to accomplish on his own. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Right on C :bigthumbsup:helsea.

I was born in Europe and have been there several times as an adult. Americans weren't well-liked when I was little. Yes, they were greatful to the GIs for shedding blood but resented the fact that Americans seem to think that they were the only ones who died in WWII. There was the added factor that the war was fought on their soil, not America's. This dislike has turned into hatred by many. It is partially fueled by the simple fact that many Americans go to a foreign country and are downright arrogant -- they really do yell at people for not speaking English; they want McDonald's over a five-star restaurant; they don't bother learning conversion rates, rather expecting others to know what "real" money is worth; when the dollar is strong they gloat, when the dollar is weak they whine. Cliches? Yes. The truth for enough to make people flinch when someone is American? Also yes. It doesn't help that we push our form of democracy down the throats of people who truly don't want it.

People may take our aid but that doesn't mean they don't resent needing that aid. Just a fact of human nature. It doesn't help that we frequently have a lot of strings attached to our aid (even if the cause is just such as the stopping of apartheid).

I was in England shortly after 9/11. The majority of Brits expressed sympathy or simply said nothing. There were two who told me flat out that America got what it deserved. There were a few, though, that said it was about time that terrorism hit the United States, not because America deserved it but because maybe now America would take off its blinders and help go after the bad guys.

To blame American media for people of other nations' hatred is not realistic. To state that Europeans loved Saddam, Putin and that "jerk in Iran" (which one, the Ayahtolleh or Shah Pahlavi?) is small-minded. At one time, we loved Saddam. We backed Shah Pahlavi even though he was a despot. Heck, we even gave financial aid to Idi Amin Dada.

If we want others to like us (and that is important to most Americans), we need to treat other nations and their politics and belief with some respect. We need to accept that English is not the only language in the world and that US dollar is not the only currency. Our politicians need to be willing to send aid to a country that needs it without interfering in internal politics. We need to quit being rude, arrogant bullies!

Sorry, Hancle, on this one I respectfully totally disagree with your comments other than Reagan was not well-liked in many corners of the world.

To answer the original question. No I don't think Bush is, or has been doing a good job. My point was there have been critics of America and it's leaders for many years that pre-date W's Administration. I choose however, not to accept the criticism of those that don't live here, mainly because many have had and always will have a strong dislike of anything American.

Childish answer, maybe, but it is my Country and I swore to defend it, did you?

I'm defending our country, sorry I won't defend George W. Bush.

When I was 21 I too was called to protect my country, from the threat of communism from Vietnam. I responded and served, and by the grace of God, returned mostly unscathed. Only to find out 20-30 years later that it was all a lie. Hundreds of thousands of good men and women killed and injured. For what? MONEY, POWER, and GREED. We need the free press to ask even tougher questions of our leaders. I'm personally tired of the Halburton's of the world, controlling our government.

I agree Fullrob. Many of us would do anything to protect our country, but its hard to determine what the truth is, we are fed so much bull from the government. Everything has a spin on it to promote whatever agenda they are pushing at the moment, doesn't matter which party it is. Many of us got a rude awakening during the VietNam conflict. We had always accepted what the government told us, never questioned it, then we found out otherwise. I've become very jaded as a result,and I appreciate the investigative reporting that the media does. At least there's some chance of learning the truth.

However, we're getting off topic here.

I'll give President Bush credit for sticking to what he believes is the best for the country. Doing so even tho the public polls show little support for some of his policies. It is kinda refreshing to see a politician not be swayed by public opinion.
Has he been a good president? Well, only history will prove one way or the other. All I have to do is remember Jimmy Carter and I know that Bush certainly hasn't been the worst.

Washington is doing a bad job. Vote them all out.