[Nuclear1]

http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2009/10/06/u-s-now-most-admired-nation-on-the-planet/

The United States is the most admired country globally thanks largely to the star power of President Barack Obama and his administration, according to a new poll.

It climbed from seventh place last year, ahead of France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan which completed the top five nations in the Nation Brand Index (NBI).

“What’s really remarkable is that in all my years studying national reputation, I have never seen any country experience such a dramatic change in its standing as we see for the United States for 2009,” said Simon Anholt, the founder of NBI, which measured the global image of 50 countries each year.

He believes that during the previous administration of George W. Bush the United States suffered in the world ranking with its unpopular foreign policies but since Obama was elected, and despite the recent economic turmoil, the country’s status has risen globally.

“There is no other explanation,” Anholt said in an interview, referring to the impact of Obama.

[Mongoose]

It was more fun when we were hated.

[swashmebuckle]

“There is no other explanation,” Anholt said in an interview, referring to the impact of Obama.

Oh?  There is NO other explanation?  I suppose this Anholt guy has never heard of a little movie called Anaconda 3: Offspring starring David Hasselhoff?  No, of course, our dramatic ascent in international renown following the film's Nov 20, 2008 direct-to-DVD release must be purely coincidental!  It's all thanks to Obama, right?  The 'Hoff factor couldn't possibly edge countries like GERMANY bwahaha Pass the Kool-Aid Simon!!!

[General Battuta]

As much as I'm usually suspicious of 'no other factor!' explanations, I really do think it's probably Obama.

He's far more loved overseas than he is here.

[Nuclear1]

It's partly Obama being Obama, and partly Obama not being Bush.  The fact that the country is back on a diplomatic path and a member of the international community is doing pretty well for our image abroad. 

[Narvi]

I wonder what life would be like if McCain had been elected.

Probably more silliness.

[swashmebuckle]

As much as I'm usually suspicious of 'no other factor!' explanations, I really do think it's probably Obama.

He's far more loved overseas than he is here.

Dude, I'm talking about THE David Hasselhoff, not David Hasselhoff the optometrist, David Hasselhoff the Austrian kid, etc.

In an Anaconda movie.

[General Battuta]

He was in Red Alert 3. That was great.

[High Max]

^_^

[Colonol Dekker]

Who were the survey subjects?
 
I only asked because I would have thought Japan would have beaten Germany. If not for the nerdlove just tech output. . I know I admire Japan more than germany, no offense. . They recovered so well after . . . . Well, you know.

[Kosh]

Who were the survey subjects?
 
I only asked because I would have thought Japan would have beaten Germany. If not for the nerdlove just tech output. . I know I admire Japan more than germany, no offense. . They recovered so well after . . . . Well, you know.

Maybe because Germany actually invented new stuff instead of just copying and improving someone elses stuff.

[Blue Lion]

I also got the impression that Japanese society kind of rubbed other people the wrong way

(yes there is a joke in there)

[Flipside]

I don't think it's so much admiration as relief to be honest, at least under Obama the US doesn't feel like such a loose cannon, and there's no longer that 'straining at the leash to bomb someone' feeling from the Whitehouse.

[High Max]

^_^

[General Battuta]

You have a really, really skewed view of what Japan is actually like.

[MR_T3D]

Who were the survey subjects?
 
I only asked because I would have thought Japan would have beaten Germany. If not for the nerdlove just tech output. . I know I admire Japan more than germany, no offense. . They recovered so well after . . . . Well, you know.

what?  the war?
Its jsut that obama to the outside seems like an embodiment of everything that could go right in the states, and with his election it seemed like the US might become a great place. but don't worry, congress is demonstrating that he isn't everything in states' government, and unfortunately, it seems like the rest of the world doesn't quite see as well as those of us on the continent.
I wouldn't say i admire the states that much ATM, but if education, health care, standard of living, and religion's place in the government were fixed, then i would.

[High Max]

^_^

[Blue Lion]

You had a woman?

[General Battuta]

You have a really, really skewed view of what Japan is actually like.

Well I did have a woman from there who is a native there who speaks pretty good English, and I also read about it quite a bit, including statistics. So I'm more likely to know more about that particular country than you, no offense.

Yeah, no.

You had a woman?

Seriously.

[iamzack]

Japan and white people who spooge over everything the Japanese do/make seriously damage my calm.

Anyway, there's not a lot to admire about the US, generally. We are, after all, a country started by terrorists. The ideals, I suppose are admirable. But what America likes to think of itself as/as doing is generally pretty far removed from what the US actually is/does.

I think admiration is the wrong word entirely. Relief is more like it.

We don't even do the bare minimum of potentially admiration-worthy things, like guaranteeing quality health care for everyone, or not murdering tens of thousands of innocent people for monetary gain.