Oh... while I'm here, who does merry old England want us to vote for in the next presidential election? Looks like we have a choice between Hillary, Obama and McCain so far. I could be wrong on the McCain vote, but the Democrats are still trying to decide between Clinton and OBama.

Just wondering what the opinions are across the pond or if they even have one. Have you even HEARD of Obama? I mean, besides the fact that, if elected, he would be the first black president of the USA.

Please NOTE: I don't necessarily want to hear from Americans on this. I want to hear what foreigners are thinking. I want to gauge what the world view is. Hold your tongue Oklahoma, New Orleans, New York, Kansas, etc.... let the opinions run freely here without interruption or input... just to see what they truly want to say. I think it's at least a good input on how effective each of these people would be and what level of respect they would walk into at this point from a world view.

my view -

McCain , looks good , has presences however looks a little bit wobble - however a vast improvement on Bush

Obama - would be interesting -again has presences , but doesn't seem to have it all together - kinda of relying on him being black and the need for change (not sure what change - just change)

Clinton - has pedigree, has presences - has policies (I am slightly bias toward Hilary) - partly due to her husband - he might of been slime with women , but he was a steady hand on world politics - understood that bullying will back fire (thats not to say he was weak in any way) - just the way he carried himself , and while Hilary was there in the background - she was an asset to him and the US - on an international front - Hilary wins easly

this is just my view

imo when you've got probably one of your best US president's (whose whole policy was about the economy, and made major progressions in the us economy making it the formidable force it was and stil is in the market) as the right hand man along with pretty much the whole of his old financial cabinet in support I think its stupid (literally) that the US arent flocking for Hilary. I may not agree with Hilary on negating free trade with columbia but this is really a minor issue.

Obama I am impressed with he seems down to earth, educated, smart and incontrol.. albeit he does have a series of dodgy deals in his past, which doesnt form good groundings 'imo' for a president. I think that the fall in the economy and faltering support for Bush has brought out the voters in serious numbers, so the coloured vote is helping obama to a large degree and yes i know he has had big wins in predominantly white towns. But as gary sed there is 'something' missing or I am unsure about with Obama.

McCain.. I have no time for really. War veteran, POW etc.. mebbe but the medals doesnt entitle him to the presidency. I can see another bush in him tbh.. A better speaker and more intelligent maybe, but down the rocky republican road is a mistake!

The US voters have gotta see past their religion, racism, sexism, prejudice's and vote for what is right for their country. You vote to much with your heart not your head.

Hilary has got my vote.

Hi Tess - how are you? Well, I hope.

We have more than enough coverage of the Presidential Race here. Half of our TV reporters are on a US jolly following the circus, although whether something so slow and turgid should be called a race is debatable.

What we'd really like is for you to elect a statesman with significant maturity but not too many years, international understanding, broad intellect and financial savvy, well good luck then......;)

We'd also like someone like that here as Prime Minister. Mmmmmmm......:rolleyes:

For me its more whom I don't want than whom I do.
I don't want another warmongering republican, I don't want another "right to lead" family member and that just leaves Obama.
What worries me is how much we don't know from this distance, as despite large news coverage it is still limited by time and producers' etc slants despite what some may say.

Brian

Personally I would hope Hilary but I don't think she will win the Democrat nomination. The way the primaries have gone it looks like McCain is benefitting from the Democrat in-fighting. I would prefer any democrat over a republican but it really isn't up to us - its America's choice.

... how much we don't know from this distance

That's a first...

That's a first...

Not from me it isn't.

Brian

That's a first...

ssshhhhh...:p

Should be an interesting election. Either the first black president or the oldest or the first woman. Which will the USA go for??

If I could vote, then I'd vote for Hilary. But there is little really between her and Obama. As long as it isn't a republican.;)

As long as it isn't a republican.;)

That's exactly the attitude our inbreed two party system wants us to buy into, dems or repubs. That way they can pool their resources and out spend everybody else... We should give a toss about the party and vote issues. You can't tell me the leaders of each party don't get together and plan it out that way...

Please NOTE: I don't necessarily want to hear from Americans on this. I want to hear what foreigners are thinking. I want to gauge what the world view is. Hold your tongue Oklahoma, New Orleans, New York, Kansas, etc.... let the opinions run freely here without interruption or input...

Nice that Ken has again misread a post - no change there.

Col

Nice that Ken has again misread a post - no change there.

Col

Col

nice that you have also misread it "I don't necessarily want to hear from Americans on this"

its a free for all ...- hey we all make mistakes could this be one on your perhaps lol....

but on Kens point - interesting view -

no system is perfect and the one you grow up with seems to be the best -
I kinda like the messy affair we have in the UK where you have extreme parties such as the Bucket party , monster raving loney party, the greens total independent parties but we also have the radial extremes as well which aren't so welcome - but are a indicator to public feelings ..


if we had a presidential type election here in the uk (rather than the leader of the party that wins the most votes)- i am pretty sure that the Brits would come up with some joker of a leader -someone who would run for the office just for fun - John Cleese perhaps or Kenny Everret (if he was still alive) and would probably win..

Col

nice that you have also misread it "I don't necessarily want to hear from Americans on this"

its a free for all ...- hey we all make mistakes could this be one on your perhaps lol....

Tess said "I want to hear what foreigners are thinking" - Obviously Ken feels Georgia is foreign enough for him to put his oar in again.

It doesn't really matter who gets in - as I said before, Obama is likely to be assassinated, Hillary is a woman who should not put the world to the perils of menopause and HRT and McCain is so old he'll have a turn at the slightest problem.

The main thing is to get Iraq sorted, stop killing US troops (4,000 dead now in Iraq) and stop buggering up the world economy. Stop the USA being so arrogant and thinking it owns the planet.
Get the USA back to a position where it is respected again and not the most hated country in the world.
Sort out the USA home issues and keep out of world affairs, when the USA learns that then we'll be getting somewhere.

Col

America has the fire power to destroy the world hundreds of times over - why are they doing it bit by bit?

Col

America has the fire power to destroy the world hundreds of times over - why are they doing it bit by bit?

Col

Sadism. Slow and painful is much better than quick.

However, I'd like to point out that I don't agree with your premise. But it is a fun debate!

I think some of the banner adds in this thread are funny:


Hillary Clinton in 2008
Show Your Support! Buy Clinton Tees, Stickers, Buttons, Yard Signs


:p:p

But it is a fun debate! Well said! Lets keep it that way and not lose our sense of humour. A bit of banter - however predictable from some - helps to bring a smile

America has the fire power to destroy the world hundreds of times over - why are they doing it bit by bit?

Col

From a purely personal point of view I prefer it bit by bit...........;)

The main thing is to get Iraq sorted, stop killing US troops (4,000 dead now in Iraq) and stop buggering up the world economy. Stop the USA being so arrogant and thinking it owns the planet.
Get the USA back to a position where it is respected again and not the most hated country in the world.
Sort out the USA home issues and keep out of world affairs, when the USA learns that then we'll be getting somewhere.

Col

Col: You're preaching to the choir (at least at my house...) :o

Col: You're preaching to the choir (at least at my house...) :o

Well for christs (and anybody elses) sake vote in someone sensible who can do it.

Col

Well for christs (and anybody elses) sake vote in someone sensible who can do it.

Col

Have no idea which PM said it but here goes:
"If you want a better Cabinet, give me better wood to build it with".

The main problem with standing for public office these days is the scrutiny you must survive in order to get elected. You could be in your 40's but somthing that you did in your teens can come back to haunt you. This is the main reason better people don't run.
I'm still waiting for one of Obama's people to bring up Whitewater. Perhaps they're keeping in reserve til the next poll.

Personally I follow the presidential race from the vantage point of generalisation and am more interested in the prospect of seeing what a new breed of president would be like.

Would a woman or a black man perhaps usher in a new perspective in the nations consiousness as a whole? The States needs a big sea-change in perception to improve its persona in the world at large.

But... If pushed? I would argue that Obama is the way to go.

Hilary Clinton as a woman may bring a totally new perspective to the post but she is still Clinton's wife and that, carries with it many different kinds of baggage. You need only look at George W's vendetta to finish his father's work in Iraq to see that a prior relationship to the post isn't conducive to a radical, clean break. No matter the intentions there will always be echos of his career being used for or against hers, by allies, opponents and the media.

Back in the 90's a heard a radio interview where the actor Will Smith, lamented that he didn't think he'd see a black president in his life time (I think he may have been asked if he would ever run for office). Lets hope he's wrong (and decides to run some day!!!).

The main thing is to get Iraq sorted, stop killing US troops (4,000 dead now in Iraq) and stop buggering up the world economy. Stop the USA being so arrogant and thinking it owns the planet.
Get the USA back to a position where it is respected again and not the most hated country in the world.
Sort out the USA home issues and keep out of world affairs, when the USA learns that then we'll be getting somewhere.

Col

Keeping with the US standard of interfering with foriegn matters, I'd like to mention the 50 - 600,000 Iraqi casualties. If yet another new generation of physically and mentally scarred "freedom-hating" (read western imperial/interventionist policy hating) people with little to no hope for the future isn't of prime concern here, there is something seriously wrong with us.

In defiance of my American instincts, and out of respect for the spirit of this thread, I will refrain from weighing in on the main topic. Go ***** *****!

Keeping with the US standard of interfering with foriegn matters, I'd like to mention the 50 - 600,000 Iraqi casualties. If yet another new generation of physically and mentally scarred "freedom-hating" (read western imperial/interventionist policy hating) people with little to no hope for the future isn't of prime concern here, there is something seriously wrong with us.

In defiance of my American instincts, and out of respect for the spirit of this thread, I will refrain from weighing in on the main topic. Go ***** *****!

So if the USA is so caring, why doesn't it sort out the atrocities in Africa, like the Sudan and Zimbabwe. Or North Korea or China?

Answer? No oil. Don't try and tell us the USA is acting in a humanitarian way in Iraq.

Go ***** *****! (whatever that means, I have no idea)

Col

Well for christs (and anybody elses) sake vote in someone sensible who can do it.

Col

I thought you were anti-religion.... :P

Seriously though, I completely agree with you Col.

I thought you were anti-religion.... :P

Seriously though, I completely agree with you Col.

The word christ in this context is a slang (swear) word, nothing to do with religion.
I could have used other stronger words but it's not in keeping with forum ettiquette.

I am anti-Chinese regeme but I still like a chinky every now and then.

Col

So if the USA is so caring, why doesn't it sort out the atrocities in Africa, like the Sudan and Zimbabwe. Or North Korea or China?

Answer? No oil. Don't try and tell us the USA is acting in a humanitarian way in Iraq.

Go ***** *****! (whatever that means, I have no idea)

Col

C'mon Col...you know the REAL asnwer.
The instant they go to one of these places, you would be all over them like a rash.
Unless you are prepared to admit the possiblity (no matter how remote) that the US could do somthing right? :D

C'mon Col...you know the REAL asnwer.
The instant they go to one of these places, you would be all over them like a rash.
:D


Blimey Statsman do you really think the US government is that afraid of Col? :eek:

Although posed tongue in cheek as it were, the actual question was:


So if the USA is so caring, why doesn't it sort out the atrocities in Africa, like the Sudan and Zimbabwe. Or North Korea or China?
Col

If the US did as Col suggested, was he prepared to admit they had done somthing right?

Although posed tongue in cheek as it were, the actual question was:

If the US did as Col suggested, was he prepared to admit they had done somthing right?

Of course! Col is magnanimous by nature and would be the first to praise a change for the better in dubious (world view) US international policies. I have no doubt he'll be writing letters of advice to the Presidential hopefuls even now in order to help them see the pitfalls that lie ahead. ;)

If the US did as Col suggested, was he prepared to admit they had done somthing right?

The USA has done many things right.

In fact, without the USA in the past, the world would be a poorer place.

Col

The USA has done many things right.

In fact, without the USA in the past, the world would be a poorer place.

Col

Blimey - are you alright Col.... has the sun got to you..
abducted by aliens and replaced with a clone ....
lol

The US is still doing many many good things for other nations such as delivering more than $2.1 billion in food aid to 78 countries last year and President Bush has ordered the release of 200 million in emergency aid.

So if the USA is so caring, why doesn't it sort out the atrocities in Africa, like the Sudan and Zimbabwe. Or North Korea or China?

Answer? No oil. Don't try and tell us the USA is acting in a humanitarian way in Iraq.

Go ***** *****! (whatever that means, I have no idea)

Col

the last bit was me weighing in on the presidential bids.

If it looked like I was implying that the US was behaving in a humanitarian way (I cannot fathom how my referencing the appallingly high rate of Iraqi casualties could be taken as such) then I apologize. It seems quite obvious that US foreign policy took aim to secure a stock of petroleum resources. It seems even more obvious that this has been an absolute failure. Perhaps even more obvious yet is that this money would have been far better spent in Alternative energy R+D.

The US is still doing many many good things for other nations such as delivering more than $2.1 billion in food aid to 78 countries last year and President Bush has ordered the release of 200 million in emergency aid.

Compare to 117 bil. military expenditures in Iraq by sept. 30; aren't we the model of compassion.

Blimey - are you alright Col.... has the sun got to you..
abducted by aliens and replaced with a clone ....
lol

I was working on the pond in the sun today.:rolleyes:

Col