America to world: We're not full-on crazy anymore

Obama waves to Europe last summer; Europe waves back

As I was saying:

...For many Americans, including this one, the Berlin speech was a moment that perhaps more than any other captured the most promising and immediate benefit of a prospective Obama presidency: It would in and of itself tell the rest of the world that America 1) deeply regrets the Bush regime, 2) is ready to rejoin the community of civilized nations and 3) isn't batshit crazy anymore.

And watching the Euro-citizenry waving the Stars and Stripes was a reminder that for all its mean extremism, particularly in recent years, the United States on the whole is actually a very cool thing and most of the rest of the world would really like to like us again. It seemed as if they were even willing to let the U.S. resume its historical legacy as a nation -- the nation -- that the world could look to for help and guidance in jointly meeting the emerging threats and challenges of the still mostly new century. Under the change reflected by the very event of Obama's election, America would be signaling to the rest of the world that it was once again, to borrow a phrase, "ready to lead."

Comments

[John Farley]

Gleaner, Obama's speech in Berlin was delivered in English, without German translation. Many in the audience were Americans or other English-speakers. Germans who can't understand English were at a real disadvantage to put it mildly, and I suspect there weren't a lot in the crowd.

[TritonPSH]

Don't kid yourself, Farley. Not just Americans but countless individuals all over the world are feeling as if, a terrible terrible nightmare ended tonight. I've been kinda cynical (because Obama hasn't talked about the specifics that progressives want, like immediate removal of all troops from Iraq & Afghanistan, and Universal Health Care with insurance companies being given the total boot from our country's health care system) and for all we know the dire straights this nation is in may yet overwhelm ANY new president. But my god, the old-fashioned feeling of inspiration that Obama engenders, versus the creepy nagging awfulness that comes over a person daily when you consider ANYthing Bush & Cheney have done. It's pretty marvelous. And I think even a lot of sour Republicans are going to get with the program.

[Dick Head]

i haven't seen so many happy blacks since OJ got off. maybe now they will stop committing so many crimes, but won't be holding my breath, or unlocking my doors that is for sure

[Drew]

Yay for Dina! Good bye Porter!

So if Heck, Porter, and Beers all go down tonight, who's going to challenge Harry? He really got his way tonight with this one.

[TritonPSH]

Ever get the feeling Republican racists ENJOY their own miserable lives? Anyway, here's the morning headlines du monde ..
http://www.americablog.com/2008/11/world-reacts.html

John F;

Having lived in Germany, it is my understanding that English is taught in public schools since the 70's.

[KidFromVegas]

Interesting fun fact.... In the rural counties (non-Clark/Washoe)...
2004 Bush won by 37% (41,266 votes)
2008 McCain won by 19% (24,934 votes)

Also, in Elko
2004 Bush 78% & Kerry 20%
2008 McCain 68% & Obama 28%

[The Penguin]

John: As I recall, Ronald Reagan delivered his famous "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" speech in English. also, while I have never been to Germany, I have had the pleasure of visiting Denmark -- and found that seemingly, more residents per thousand there speak English than do in the United States.

[Libra Dude]

Dick Head - get over it...you could learn a lot from Barack if you pull your head out of your ass. Stop sterotyping and remember no one has a magic wand.

[Democracy in the Democratic Party!!!!]

Drew: Reid will be challenged by anyone, like me, who doesn't want all of Harry's sons and daughters in elective office in NV at the same time. Buckley (or Horsford) in 2010, and someone not named Reid to challenge Ensign!!!

Oh, you meant for the US Senate. Sorry, just got that. :)

[Michael Green]

First, don't rule out Oscar. And I think if he ran--much can change--he would bury the others.

Gleaner, if you think we're NOT still full-out crazy, don't miss today's R-J editorials. Goebbels would be proud.

[Patrick]

I can't wait for Obama to cut red tape, slash government spending, open up free markets, deregulate, and return education powers back to the states.

He was campaigning on change right? Cause that is the only change he can do. Anything else and he's a Republican. I didn't vote for no Republican to be President!

Big government = Republican failure

[Patrick]

Mike, do you mean Oscar Goodman, the may of Las Vegas who gives $900,000 in taxdollars to his church friend so he can build himself an office building?

[Nancy]

My Dear Penguin and Gleaner: WE DID IT - We not only can - WE DID. Now you have my permission to play with Patrick and is misguided little friends all you want! I'm way too tired and way too happy to give him any time or energy today - but I know you two manly men are up to the task! God bless and YES WE DID!

[NotNedDay]

>>Gleaner, if you think we're NOT still full-out crazy, don't miss today's R-J editorials. Goebbels would be proud.

As to the RJ op-ed piece - one of the most spiteful, malevolent things I've read in quie a while. They say "No one wishes the new president-elect ill...", yet the rest of the rant barely contains their anger...amazing vitrol usually spewed by those sporting shaved heads and wearing white hoods.

[David]

John F., I've known quite a few Germans in the course of my professional life and their English is on average quite good, often superb. Americans who speak fluent German are much harder to find.

[Patrick]

Nancy, you aren't to tired to read are you?

NotTed, suggesting the libertarian editors of the RJ are Nazis is pretty stupid.

Libertarians are the exact opposite of Nazis. Nazis liked nationalizing corporations, seizing corporate profits, outlawing landlord rents, creating minimum wages, welfare programs, social security, healthcare for the poor and elderly, work place saftey laws, public works projects, anti smoking campaigns, and animal rights.

I don't think the RJ or any libertarian is into the above.

The editorial wasn't spiteful, it said Obama won because Republicans acted like Democrats and Obama won't offer much change. I think you read what you want to see.

[Patrick]

You know, NotTed, Obama supports part of the Nazi Party platform.

He was even seen in Germany given a speech to a large crowd giving the Sig Heil salute...I think Gleaner even has a picture of it.

[Libra Dude]

Patrick - It's amazing how stupid you are and how vociferously display it. Your hero, G.W. Bush is the grandson of a Nazi...just google Prescott Bush and Nazi.
Now, as far as Germans speaking English it just shows their superior education to ours. English is required in most European schools. Why don't you just crawl under your rock you knuckle dragging idiot. I think you just may be stupider than W.

It is a Holiday today....rejoice and post not bitterness!

[Patrick]

Libra dude,

Thanks for the name calling, you've shown an inability to express ideas like a rational human being. You must be a postmodernist.

Don't get me started on American politicians who had ties or supported or praised Nazis and Fascists...it was very popular thing to do in the 1930s among leftist Americans.

As far as Bush JR being a Nazi today, fine he is a corporatist just like Obama.

I suggest you stop the name calling before I end up demonstrating how incredibly unintelligent you really are.

[Patrick]

American education also sucks because we run a govenrment monopoly on education.

Socialist England and Sweden for example have a more market friendly socialist system that likens itself to VOUCHERS that the AMerican right proposes.

PWND again.

[Patrick]

Libradude,

1) Your name calling shows you don't have a strong ability to reason or do logic. Please try again.

2) I dont like Bush, he's a big government Republican.

3) If Bush is a Nazi so is Obama, he's a corporatist too.

4) Don't get me started on Americans with ties to Nazis or who praised Nazis. It was a very popular party among Americans in the 1930s. Fascism was in style for American leftists of the day.

5) I said nothing about speaking german or english that was someone else.

6) YEs, our system of education sucks. We spend more money per student than any other OECD country and rank in the middle.

7) We have a full blown nationlized education system. Even many socialist European countries like England and Sweden don't go as far as we do. England has universal open enrollment and Sweden has vouchers (a socialis program to begin with).

[Nancy]

I agree with the nameless one! Today is a holiday - rejoice and ignore trolls - plenty of time for negative nonsense tomorrow. Hee - REJOICING!!!

[KICKBOXERMOMMA]

We kicked ass.Yes We Did. I predicted in June we would have a landslide in Nevada I did not dare dream that it would extend to the nation at large. With this mandate we will see a new day dawning for the U.S. The work has only just begun. More will be demanded of us in the future and it absolutely feels incredible emerging from under the yoke of G.W. Bush, war criminal.