Global opinions on Obama
October 18th, 2009 at 12:00 pm by David FarrarAdam Smith at The Inquiring Mind blogs on confidence in Obama in 25 different countries, and notes that despite his Cairo speech (cited as part of the rationale for the Nobel Peace Prize), he still ranks negatively in the Muslim world.
As always I am interested in the raw data. The question asked was whether they were confident Obama would do the right thing in world affairs. His net ratings (positive less negative) are:
- Kenya +89%
- Germany +88%
- France + 83%
- Canada +79%
- Nigeria +78%
- UK +76%
- Japan +76%
- South Korea +69%
- India +68%
- Brazil +56%
- US + 50%
- Spain +50%
- Indonesia +49%
- Poland +41%
- Argentina +35%
- Mexico +22%
- Russia -3%
- Lebanon -4%
- Egypt -5%
- Israel -13%
- Turkey -19%
- Jordan -27%
- Pakistan -38%
- China -39%
- Palestine -52%
So Russia, Muslim countries and China not persuaded yet.
Another question asks about overall favourability of the US, and tracks it from 1999. The data below shows the change between 2009 and 2008 (or 2007 if not polled in 2008) which presumably reflects the Obama effect.
- France +33%
- Germany +33%
- Indonesia +26%
- Spain +25%
- Mexico +22%
- UK +16%
- Argentina +16%
- Nigeria +15%
- Brazil +14%
- Canada +13%
- India +10%
- Japan +9%
- South Korea +8%
- Jordan +6%
- China +6%
- Egypt +5%
- Lebanon +4%
- US +4%
- Kenya +3%
- Palestine +2%
- Turkey +2%
- Poland -1%
- Russia -2%
- Pakistan -3%
- Israel -7%
So Obama has had US favourability rise greatly in Western Europe and South America. Asia had had a modest improvement, and Middle East countries a very small improvement only.
One thing I found interesting is that the US under Bush had a 87% favourability rating amongst Kenyans. Bush actually delivered huge aid to Africa.
The 2010 Pew data will be interesting.
Related posts:
- Ralston gets it
- Countries with trial period laws
- Pew Global Attitudes
- Do NZ Greens support a global parliament?
October 18th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
They can’t be persuaded. Their ‘approval’ will organically improve as the US falls further from the top of the global pile.
Vote:October 18th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Good to see Kenya supporting their native son.
Vote:October 18th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
My guess is that this is as good as it gets for Obama. He is rapidly deflating those early high expectations both at home and abroad with a weak performance across the boards except, possibly, on the domestic economic front where the Federal Reserve’s printing presses are still working overtime.
But what the world has to look forward to from Obama isn’t pretty, although the words may well be.
Expect to see the US attempt to, probably successfully, export it’s huge debt burden to rest of the world, especially China and Japan, by allowing the dollar to devalue, as it simultaneously discreetly encourages increased domestic inflation.
Expect to see rising unrest in the AfPak arena as more troops and more scorched earth attacks (in Pashtun Pakistan) steadily kills civilians and destroys homes and livelihoods. All in the name of eliminating an already moribund and ineffective, indeed, out of date, Al Qaeda and imposing quisling administrations (possibly the army again in Pakistan) in both of its most recent colonial outposts.
Expect to see renewed coup activity in South America as the weak reaction/tacit endorsement of the Honduras coup encourages other US-trained army officers to sweep in new regimes more inclined than the current batch of “left” democratically elected leaders to serve US interests in preference to those of their own countries.
Expect to see an underwhelming healthcare reform bill finally passed while business returns to normal on Wall Street and the wealth gap continues expand to create even more poverty in the heart of the richest nation in the world.
Expect the Middle East to continue to be firmly under the US/Israeli imperial hegemonic hammer, with another Israeli assault on Lebanon to avenge its humiliation there in 2006 – Gaza was the practice run and the IDF generals never forget.
Do not expect to see a peace agreement between Palestinians and Israel, but do expect to see another attempt by the PA to retake Gaza, probably soon after Mohammed Dahlan takes over from Abbas. Hamas will be eliminated and the local dictators will find more profit in cosying up to the US than according their people rights we take for granted.
All in all, business as usual. We’ll be fine down here. Key will put us firmly in bed with Obama. Sweet dreams.
Vote:October 18th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Oh yes mustn’t forget the wicked hegemonic Jews must we LUC?
Thanks David
Vote:I didn’t know that the Bush America had delivered large amount of aid to Africa, but then I guess they don’t necessarily get the credit for much of what they do do, do they?
Their not all that bad compared to the wicked occupying Israelis.
October 18th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Bush did get credit for it. Obama’s compliments didn’t get widely noticed either.
Vote:October 18th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
I don’t think Lord Monckton agrees with this survey on Obama as Whaleoil 4min vid shows.
http://whaleoil.gotcha.co.nz/
Has anyone here read the Copenhagen treaty?
Vote:Where do I download it from?
October 18th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
“Oh yes mustn’t forget the wicked hegemonic Jews must we LUC?”
That’s a bit of a stuck record Mike. Are you saying Jews are wicked? Or that Jews are hegemonic? Isn’t that anti-Semitic? I actually briefly and accurately, I believe, mentioned a country, Israel.
Any chance of sensible discussion? Any evidenced-based disagreement on my assessment?
Vote:October 18th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
DPF:
You forgot to mention Israel at No. 20.
Vote:October 18th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
It is also interesting to note from DPF’s “Another question” link above, that all except 2 of the 25 countries polled, comparing years 2007 & 2009 (all polled countries provided data sets for these two years) marked an improvement for the “US Favourability Rating”.
The two exceptions are:
1) Japan 2% down.
2) Israel 7% down.
The fact that Israel has dropped 7% is interesting, and perhaps is a good barometer for what may transpire in the Middle East in the short term future. Israel certainly feels they have not gained a friend in Obama – and just how much he puts the screws on them only time will tell.
Vote:October 18th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
under the US/Israeli imperial hegemonic hammer
Yawn
Any chance of sensible discussion?
Not when nonsense statements as above are used (btw, did you come up with that one by yourself?)
Any evidenced-based disagreement on my assessment?
Vote:You’re making the assertions, perhaps you should back up said assertions with your own evidence?
October 18th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Fuck people get it right, Obama is a septic, he cares about the USA first then Israel.
Vote:You did not see him leaning on those bloody red sea pedestrians to send troops to Afghanistan did you, yet Israel is supposed to be a great ally of the septics.
I’m looking forward to when president palin has her military invade Russia to save Georgia and Iran to save Israel, should be amusing
October 18th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
So Obama has had US favourability rise greatly in Western Europe
Guilt.
Expect the Middle East to continue to be firmly under the US/Israeli imperial hegemonic hammer,
Good.
Vote:October 18th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
TC
Let’s see how my predictions work out, shall we? How interesting that you ask for evidence of predictions. The evidence is in the future. The predictions are guesses. Duh.
You express boredom at the remark “under the US/Israeli imperial hegemonic hammer” and I am not sure whether you agree with it, but either support these two countries in the projection of power in that region, or whether you disagree. If it’s the former, you are in good company but it’s just a pity you can’t express yourself sufficiently to tell us why. If it’s the latter, well, as far as I’m concerned, I am just stating the obvious; as the Americans say, if it looks like a duck, it walks like a duck… etc etc.
You could at least try Hurf’s method: succinct and decisive. He also implies agreement with my at least one of points
Vote:October 19th, 2009 at 5:09 am
Indonesia is a Muslim country though.
Vote:October 19th, 2009 at 9:36 am
And I heard reference to new stoning laws introduced there. Still trying to find out the details. Anyone know?
Vote:October 19th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
swan [October 19th, 2009 at 5:09 am],
Yes, the two main anomolies are Indonesia and Israel regarding the Obama ratings.
• Indonesia, at no. 13, is the only Islamic nation that gives him a net positive rating (of +49%).
• Israel, at no. 20, is the only democratic ‘western’ nation that gives him a net negative rating (of -13%).
While I can understand Israel’s position, Indonesia is indeed a big question mark – perhaps a matter of geography and being non Arabic Muslims; but then, of course, you have Pakistan (no. 23 at -38%) which would tend to refute this. Perhaps, on reflection, it is more a matter of perceived (or real) US military intervention. Don’t forget also that Obama spent some of his formative years in Indonesia – this may have had some influence on the outcome.
Vote:October 19th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Talking about stoning, a conservative group in the US wants to re-write the bible because they think it is too liberal. One example was the bit about Jesus telling people not to cast the first stone when a crowd was going to attack an adulteress. They must think Jesus is a bleeding heart liberal or something. I guess they can stick to just the old testament.
http://conservapedia.com/Conservative_Bible_Project
As of 2009, there is no fully conservative translation of the Bible which satisfies the following ten guidelines:
1. Framework against Liberal Bias: providing a strong framework that enables a thought-for-thought translation without corruption by liberal bias
2. Not Emasculated: avoiding unisex, “gender inclusive” language, and other modern emasculation of Christianity
3. Not Dumbed Down: not dumbing down the reading level, or diluting the intellectual force and logic of Christianity; the NIV is written at only the 7th grade level[3]
4. Utilize Powerful Conservative Terms: using powerful new conservative terms to capture better the original intent;[4] Defective translations use the word “comrade” three times as often as “volunteer”; similarly, updating words that have a change in meaning, such as “word”, “peace”, and “miracle”.
5. Combat Harmful Addiction: combating addiction by using modern terms for it, such as “gamble” rather than “cast lots”;[5] using modern political terms, such as “register” rather than “enroll” for the census
6. Accept the Logic of Hell: applying logic with its full force and effect, as in not denying or downplaying the very real existence of Hell or the Devil.
7. Express Free Market Parables; explaining the numerous economic parables with their full free-market meaning
8. Exclude Later-Inserted Inauthentic Passages: excluding the interpolated passages that liberals commonly put their own spin on, such as the adulteress story
9. Credit Open-Mindedness of Disciples: crediting open-mindedness, often found in youngsters like the eyewitnesses Mark and John, the authors of two of the Gospels
10. Prefer Conciseness over Liberal Wordiness: preferring conciseness to the liberal style of high word-to-substance ratio; avoid compound negatives and unnecessary ambiguities; prefer concise, consistent use of the word “Lord” rather than “Jehovah” or “Yahweh” or “Lord God.”
Thus, a project has begun among members of Conservapedia to translate the Bible in accordance with these principles.
Vote:October 19th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Kris, I’d be keen to hear what you think about this project.
Vote:October 19th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Pete George 12:18 & 12:30 pm,
While I don’t agree with all their ten points (the above quote being an example), I think I get where they’re coming from.
Up until ~1950 the common usage Bible was the 1611 King James Version [KJV] for most/all protestant churches/believers – this represents a 440 year period. The KJV Bible is, I believe, God’s preserved word in English, and is the standard by which all later ‘versions’ compare themselves.
After 1950 we see the advent of many ‘better’, ‘more accurate’, ‘more modern’ Bible (per)versions. I believe this to be Satan’s attempt to corrupt God’s preserved word; the KJV. Many later ‘versions’ are indeed guilty of points 1-4, 6 and 10 of the Conservative Bible Project above. NB I disagree with their other points (5, 7-9)
So while I understand their motives (well, some of them), I think they are on a hiding to nothing. If they simply went back to the KJV they would address many of their concerns. Regarding liberals: they will continue to use liberal (modern) perversions, and just as they reject the KJV, they will also reject any new ‘conservative’ Bible version, if published, for the same reasons.
Hope this gives my perspective adequately.
Vote:October 19th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Yep, thanks, good answer. Doesn’t mean I’m converting or agree with everything! Just that you explain your position well and add insight for me.
I would expect that conservatives are as likely as liberals to interpret in their own way, trying to get it to fit their own beliefs, that’s what this project seems to be about. Reminds me of the Animal Farm commandments, “re-interpreting”
Vote:October 19th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Pete George 2:45 pm,
While you and I may disagree on the meaning of ‘interpretation’ regarding the Bible, I do believe if one literally ‘interprets’ God’s word [KJV] without adding additional spin then one can’t go far wrong. The newer ‘versions’ are guilty of adding spin, but primarily of removing large tracts of scripture and rewording so that the original intent is lost entirely.
For instance, in a Bible study, with various versions present, you end up debating the actual words on the page rather than what God is actually saying. Most modern churches have multiple versions and hence any meaningful Bible study is just an exercise in futility. People end up agreeing on the ‘lowest common denominator’ basis which usually just means any debate comes down to individual opinons, and not God’s ‘opinion’ – if you get my drift.
This is one of the main reasons I left my old church and now attend one where we all use the KJV.
Your animal farm analogy is actually pretty close to the truth regarding what goes on in many modern churches today.
Vote:October 19th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Your old bible studies sounds a bit like a blog where people use different websites for sourcing political arguments.
I can understand that the further you get from the original the more open to interpretation and inaccuracies. But the KJV is just a step along the way as well. Even if you believe that God inscribed his words in stone, at the very least someone has re-written that on paper or papyrus or whatever with a possible interpretation, and that has been read, interpreted and translated. And then I bet you can have arguments about what KJV is saying.
Vote:October 19th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Pete George 3:37 pm,
I really do believe that God inspired the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic scribes. Just as He did those men who ‘translated’ into the KJV. I believe it was along the lines of God literally writing ‘through’ these men.
Many/all of the modern day ‘translators’, I believe, are neither “holy men of God” nor are they “moved by the Holy Ghost”.
Vote:October 19th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Pete George (1632), October 19th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Been reading Crappum, have we, Peteypoos?
Vote: