Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Firing up the base
Right Wing News samples the posts -- not the comments -- at a leading Democratic blog. It isn't pretty. I especially like this one, from the Smirking Chimp (which averages more than 25,000 visits per day):
Paris: They don't like the U.S. here. It's not personal. Except for an occasional rude snot, the French are friendly to individual Americans. They're not xenophobes. They just don't like our government. Regard George Bush as an obnoxious paysan.
What's new? A lot of Americans also believe that Bush is a blundering peasant. Particularly those of us who don't spend hours each day glued to Fox News. What's changed is that France, Britain, and most of the other EU countries have moved on beyond dislike. Learned they can do without us. America's become the obnoxious cousin with the drinking problem that everyone tolerates because they're family. We continue to have our place at ceremonial occasions. Still show up in group photos. On the surface we appear to be part of the family. Only, we're not. We've become etranger. The French have grown tired of trying to figure us out. Given up and gone their own way.
The Europeans with whom American liberals discuss politics always assume "they can do without us." Until the next time.
8 Comments:
By 
skipsailing, at
Wed Oct 04, 11:56:00 AM:
Whenever I reflect on the ennui'd "sophistication" of the Europeans I am reminded of Woodrow Wilson.
Whatever his flaws as a person and a president he was an idealist. His idealism was crushed by the ennui'd sophistication of the European diplomats and leaders.
The net result of all that so called nuance was world war two. Less than Thirty years after Germany capitulated in a railway car in Paris, France capitulated in that very same railway car in Paris.
the simple fact is that us bumbkins must know something about living this life, we haven't convulsed our continent with wars every thirty years or so.
By 
, at
Wed Oct 04, 12:05:00 PM:
Wah! Wah! Wah! They don't like us ! (sob).
Believe me, this comment is just about meaningless, in any context. I work for a French company, travel to France periodically, and the French will always have a reason to condescend to Americans (and everyone else, frankly) except when they want to sell you something and want your money.
Nothing has changed in almost a hundred years, by my own simple anecdotal inferences. My Grandfather served in the Army in the Great War, and his son (my uncle) toured France with the 3rd Army in 1944, and they both developed the same attitude toward the French, which I am now slowly (I'm dumb, frankly) coming around to.
Sheesh. Give me a break.
-David
By , at
Wed Oct 04, 12:44:00 PM:
Will Europe go undefended? We studied yet another EU proposal at European defense reform. We suggest that a shrinking European population, declining European defense spending, and "political correctness" among many of Europe's politicians might result in Europe's armed forces being both drastic smaller and unreformed, the worst of all worlds.
Won't the U.S. always defend Europe? The Europeans should not count on it; current U.S. plans will shrink the U.S. Army to a token presence, compared to the Cold War level.
If disdain for the U.S. causes Europe to take more responsibility for its defense, so much the better for Europe. But it seems equally likely that Europe will end up undefended.
Westhawk
By Charlottesvillain, at
Wed Oct 04, 02:42:00 PM:
"The French have grown tired of trying to figure us out."
What!? When have the French ever tried to figure us out?
And what about trying to figure out why a people so hung up on national identity are so quick to capitulate to their enemies, be they Germans, Soviets, or muslims?
France is a wonderful historical amusment park, a place to visit to enjoy great art, bread and wine. There marks the outer boundary of her relevancy in world affairs.
By , at
Thu Oct 05, 02:12:00 PM:
Who is responsible for how europe feels about america?
Years ago, at a parade in Germany, there was a float that depicted Bill Clinton groping the breasts of the Statue of Liberty. That picture sums up what the Democratic Party has done to our country.
See picture here: http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/1200vastleft.htm
By , at
Thu Oct 05, 02:48:00 PM:
Charlottesvillain: you have a short memory.
Historically, France was among the great military powers of Europe. Only since WWII, so in the last ~60 years, has French power taken a steep decline. But then again, so has the power and prestige of all of Europe in this time. In another generation or so Europe may begin to reassert itself militarily; at that time I'm sure the French will follow suit.
After all they couldn't possibly let themselves be outdone for long by the British or the (gasp) Germans, could they?
Skip: I find it ironic that you are so ready to endorse Wilsonian idealism. Indeed it is unlikely that Wilson would have supported the many unilateral military actions we have taken recently. After WWI, he wanted to stamp out war between nations, not aggressively prosecute it! Were he president now I doubt that we would have gone to war without the UN behind us. I think that "Tiger" Clemenceau, who was one of the architects of the postwar reparations
which contributed to the conditions that allowed the Nazi party to come to power in Germany, would be a hard-liner more to your liking.
By , at
Thu Oct 05, 05:07:00 PM:
My children have a deep disdain for much of what I do when I have to play the role of adult/parent. I think of Western Europeans in the same way teenagers think Mom and Dad are stupid...
The Mom and Dad analogy has become more relevant especially since all of Europes defense and financing of defense will have to come from America if they get in trouble.
It is funny, because I dont get the same sense from Eastern Europeans who see America for what is - "The last great hope."
- Abe
By Dawnfire82, at
Fri Oct 06, 04:20:00 PM:
"Only since WWII, so in the last ~60 years, has French power taken a steep decline."
France lost Mexico, was overrun by the Prussians, and had their capital taken over by a commune all in the span of like, 15 years in the mid-19th century. They've changed governments like 8 times since the Napoleonic Wars. (they're on the 6th Republic now, right?) Their decline was a long time coming.
