Week 5 #1

McCain’s Choice of Palin is Still Looked Down UponWhen Sarah Palin was announced as McCain’s running mate, the European reaction was ritacule. Europeans are used to having women in power (Margret Thatcher was elected prime minister three times). The idea of women in powerful places is not a new one for Europeans, so when Brits criticize Palin, it is not because she is a woman. CNN reporter Robin Oakley reported that
“the Irish Times warned, "just a heartbeat away from the biggest half-baked Alaskan nightmare." Britain's Financial Times said his selection of vice president raised serious questions about John McCain's judgment and added: "The Palin appointment is yet more proof of the way that abortion still dominates American politics." "
Oakley also added, “Europeans are appalled at the thought that someone who wants to be vice president of the most powerful nation on earth had so little interest in the rest of a world which is so vitally affected by the decisions of the man, or woman, in the White House.” Palin admitted to obtaining a passport in 2006. She obviously displayed no interest in the international scene until she was plucked from obscurity to be the vice president of the United States. Sarah Palin was 42 years old before she even obtained a passport to leave the country. Being a politician and not even traveling to Canada or Mexico(which you need a passport to do) seems outrageous to me.

Week#4 Item #1: British Opinion: American Prez will be decided on Demeanor

After a review of all three presidential debates and the one and only vice presidential debate, many Europeans are in the same boat at the Americans. Many unanimously believe that John McCain did not fare well in any of the debates, even during his beloved “town hall” style gathering. The one resounding word that described McCain during the town hall debate is awkward. Europeans felt that the town hall format accentuated his physical restrictions in ways that sitting behind a table or podium do not. I for one agree with this view. When I see clips of McCain during the second debate held in Nashville, I cannot help but think to myself, “He is old. He does not look well”. Europeans also described McCain as irritable in the second debate.If McCain was irritable in the second debate, he was downright cantankerous in the third of the debates. McCain resorted to throwing every insult and allegation at Barack Obama that he could think of. McCain accused Obama of associating with terrorists and using fancy rhetoric to pull the wool of the American peoples’ eyes. When watching the debate in split screen form, McCain seemed to lose his cool several times. In the currently political climate that the world is currently in, many Europeans, along with Americans, believe that someone who has good interpersonal skills and the ability to solve conflict is needed. Many Europeans are focusing on the demeanor of the candidates, which is a perfectly valid area of scrutiny. McCain really comes off as a hot-head, and when dealing with hostile countries, I think we need someone that can defuse the situation and help bring resolution, versus someone who will get angry and offend the people who want to hurt us.

Euro View on Troopergate

“The investigation found that Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska's statute in July 2008 when she dismissed the state's public safety commissioner, Walter Monegan, after he refused to sack her ex-brother-in-law, Alaska state trooper Michael Wooten. (A trooper is a state law enforcement official.)” BBC NEWS
It has been determined that John McCain’s running mate, Sarah Palin did in fact abuse her power in the “Troopergate” incident. The European opinion is that the 2008 presidential election for the United States has become so polarized that each side will see vindication in the matter. The Democrats get that satisfaction of saying “I told you so” about Sarah Palin’s experience and the Republicans can say that the entire probe is just a “partisan hatchet job” and that Palin is the victim in this situation. According to BBC’s Jonathan Beale described the reaction to the inquiry as “a clear attempt to deflect any potential criticism, Mrs Palin's allies claim the issue has been muddled by innuendo, rumour and politics.”
I completely agree the statement Mr. Beale made. One does not make two dozen phone calls pertaining to the termination of an officer for "financial reasons". (Palin claims Monegan was fired due to budget cuts) Mrs. Palin would have to be a heartless person to say that the relationship between her sister and her brother-in-law did not effect her or upset her at all.

McCain and Bush against Europe?

One thing that I have found to be very interesting is the perception of the U.S. in foreign countries. According to a poll conducted at Telegraph.co.uk, 56 percent of Russia views the US as a “force for evil” and only 33 percent of Britain sees the US as a “force for good”. The opinion of America has steadily gone down the longer G.W. Bush has been in office. Most of this animosity is due to the situation in Iraq and how America handled the situation. This does not bode well for Mr. McCain, who, despite constant denial, has many similarities to President Bush. They both share a view of Realism and an “I’m going to get you before you get me” attitude. One problem with this attitude is it causes conflict. If McCain is not willing to have peaceful interaction, there is no possible way to obtain harmony. If McCain is elected as the next president, I foresee a similar perception of America by other countries for the simple fact that Bush and McCain share the same ideals (McCain still supports the war, even with all the controversy surrounding it). I think we need to take a Liberalist approach if we want to change the ‘Bully’ persona America has, and Obama seems to be the only candidate offering it.