According to the survey, U.S. favorability in other countries was the following:
- For the United Kingdom: 53 percent in 2008, 69 percent in 2009.
- For Germany: 33 percent in 2008, 64 percent in 2009.
- For France: 42 percent in 2008, 75 percent in 2009.
Also, according to the poll, here are the popularity percentages for Presidents Bush and Obama in other countries:
- Britain: 16 percent for Bush, 86 percent for Obama.
- France: 15 percent for Bush, 91 percent for Obama.
- Germany: 14 percent for Bush, 93 percent for Obama.
- Turkey: 2 percent for Bush, 33 percent for Obama.
- Russia: 22 percent for Bush, 37 percent for Obama.
- China: 30 percent for Bush, 62 percent for Obama.
- Japan: 25 percent for Bush, 85 percent for Obama.
- Brazil: 17 percent for Bush, 76 percent for Obama.
- Mexico: 16 percent for Bush, 55 percent for Obama.
- Argentina: 7 percent for Bush, 61 percent for Obama.
The only country, mentioned on the program, that gave a sliver of the edge to Bush over Obama was Israel, with 57 percent for Bush and 56 percent for Obama.
Even in the United States, the popularity poll noted 37 percent for Bush and 74 percent for Obama. Obama's popularity has dropped in the latest U.S. polls, but that is probably because he recently annoyed his progressive base on the left with talk of allowing the public option in health care reform to be eliminated. He needs to make sure the public option is part of the health care reform and then the progressives will happily herald an increase in his poll numbers.
Of course, I can completely understand the Pew survey numbers concerning worldwide attitudes about Bush and Obama. George Bush was a disaster in all kinds of ways. As I have said often, I think George W. Bush was the worst president so far in my lifetime and, remember, I was around when the awful administrations of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan were leading the country.
At last we have a U.S. President who is worthy of respect.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder the French like Obama better than they liked Bush. Can you imagine Obama chuckling along with people who talk about "Freedom Fries"? The French intellectual tradition was totally foreign to Bush, and he'd rather poke fun than try to understand something complicated.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree that Bush is by far the worst president, and I've seen one or two more than you have! Describing him as a buffoon is insulting to good buffoons everywhere, but it's the only word that suits him well. And I note with sadness that people who can't have their needs satisfied or get their way immediately are complaining that Obama hasn't "done enough." Do they not understand that clearing the wreckage of the Bush years alone will take more than just a few months?
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