And finally…

In case you hadn’t heard, Sen. Orrin Hatch (r-UT) is a tool.

Everyone reading this blog knows that since George W. Bush ascended to his perch in the Oval office the world standing of the United States has taken a beating.

Everyone can see it, except apparently for Hatch.

Appearing on Fox “News” earlier in the week Hatch denied that America’s standing in the world had fallen under Bush and insisted that world opinion of the US is as strong as it ever was and instead labeled other countries feelings of malaise towards us as “jealousy.”

Said Hatch; “There’s a lot of jealousy of the United States, especially in Europe, and France in particular and some of the other nations as well. So naturally they’re constantly poking holes at the United States. […] Yeah there’s some irritation with the United States but mainly it’s because we’re so powerful and strong militarily and economically and otherwise.”

I’m sorry, what? It has nothing to do with jealousy you pompous ass… it’s frustration, frustration with the absurdity of a George Bush presidency… and one only needs to take a glance at a handful of polls for verification and support.

A 2007 Pew study not only found that the level of distrust of the US has greatly “intensified across the world” but that feelings of anti-Americanism have intensified since 2002.

Another poll, this one done by Readers Digest earlier this year, polled residents of 16 countries and out of those, only five reported higher percentages of people that label themselves “pro-American government” with a majority labeling themselves as “anti-American government.”

And just in case you need more, another study was done more recently that gives the best documentation of just how much damage the Bush presidency has done to world opinion of the United States… easily seen in this handy-dandy graph we borrowed from The Guardian:

We all know Hatch is trying to shill for McCain now, but trying to put a positive spin on this is like putting $150,000 worth of designer clothes on a pitbull.

It may make it look more attractive, but in the end it still has a brain the size of a peanut…

Smackdown

UK newspaper The Independent (UK) wrote a derisive editorial today reflecting on the final visit of “President” Bush and doesn’t hold any punches.

The piece metes out the truth unlike any US media outlet has had the courage to do. From the editorial;

“It is no exaggeration to say that Mr Bush has done more damage to relations between our two nations than any president in living memory. […] And whatever the future holds for transatlantic relations, there will be very few in this country who watched President Bush’s plane depart yesterday without a feeling of profound relief that the end of this disastrous presidency is finally in sight.”

Pwned!

We at TBWA have been saying for years that Bush has not only destroyed our nation’s standing in the world, but has also strained relations with some of our staunchest allies… and this editorial not only proves that January 20, 2009 will be a cleansing time for our nation, but the world as a whole.

Let the healing begin.

We’re not the only ones

Julianne Smith, Europe analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies,

“many [European leaders] are looking forward now to the next president. [… ]There seems to be a great deal of enthusiasm…on the other side of the Atlantic, that there’s going to be some revitalization of the trans-Atlantic partnership and we start with a clean slate and a new chapter.”

You’re preaching to the choir Julianne…

Circling, circling, circling...

The standing of the US continues to circle the drain.

It should come as no surprise that a new opinion poll shows that Iran is the country most people around the world would like see having less power 39% wanting to see the influence of Iran diminished.

In second place, at 37%, is the United States.

That’s right; people around the globe put a startling 2% difference between Iran and the US when it comes to wanting diminished power for that country.

Lovely…

The poll, which was commissioned by a new think tank on EU affairs named the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), surveyed 57,000 people from 52 countries in June and August and is not entirely without positives.

For instance, it shows that a scant 14% wanted Iran to have more power but 26% thought that more U.S. influence would make the world a better place.

High praise indeed…

Having said all this, no one can actually be surprised by any of this, right? Sure, seven years ago this headline would have shocked people, now? Not so much.

Let’s face facts, it was only a matter of time before the Bush(whacked) Administration’s stumbling and bumbling drunken frat/cowboy routine put the final nail in the coffin for many folks around the world.

Add to that that another new poll finds that American's not only doubt that Bush's foreign policy is working, but they are “increasingly skeptical" as to if anything can turn the situation around. Per the poll, 79% believe that the world “has become more dangerous” for the US, and 64% thinks that “the rest of the world sees the U.S. negatively.”

We’re circling the drain, and who knows who could help? Certainly not this president, and, for now, certainly not this Congress…