RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - World Opinion Of Obama Hits Bottom: Pew Research

It is one thing to be a critic. It is another to be a detractor.

A critic takes their position based on their perception of right and truth. A detractor takes their position based on their insipid prejudice or dislike. It is no surprise therefore that a critic tries to be fair and do good. A detractor tries to be unfair, and destroy, or do damage at the least.

One would expect that those who condemned and continue to condemn the Obama presicency's position on Khadafy's Libya for example, should have commended it on its position so far, on Assad's Syria. That may not happen however because detractos are blinded by their dislike. They are less likely to commend or praise as due. A critic would usually give praise when praise is due.

Everyone must decide for themselves whether or not to evaluate the Obama presidency fairly which by the way is the proper thing to do. Politics as they say is the art of the possible and interest. It should not be about dislike and unreason. Those who see the Obama presidency as not having done any good or worse still, incapable of doing any good may need reminding of the possible (some say looming) alternative to the Obama presidency. They may also need reminding that optimal choice (and preference) by the knowledgeable or wise, is usually informed by the net value addition of available alternatives.

 

oa

 

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From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Nkolika Ebele [nkolikae@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2012 7:19 PM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - World Opinion Of Obama Hits Bottom: Pew Research

Prof Bangura,

I respect you a lot and also most of your ideas but I do not understand why you think that by posting only  negative news about Obama, it will sway the feelings of many people on this list serve against him. Be more rational by also posting the ones that are positive. You now strike me as one who harbor a lot of resentment or hatred against Obama, and such is not good for you as  a human being. I hope the feeling is not deep otherwise you may be needing more prayers than Obama needs for his reelection. I  agree with you that the Libyan case was somehow mishandled, but I also believe in Karma. Qaddafi wasted a lot of innocent lives during his reign, so the natural laws just took effect. His own people spearheaded his death. Will you because of that wish all living Libyans that protested against him ill? I guess not.

Nkolika

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From: Abdul Bangura <theai@earthlink.net>
To: "USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com" <USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com>
Cc: leonenet <leonenet@lists.umbc.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2012 1:07 PM
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - World Opinion Of Obama Hits Bottom: Pew Research

AfricanConstitution.Org 13 June 2012 World opinion of Obama hits bottom: survey Continue reading the main story BBC, 13 June 2012 -- International approval of US President Barack Obama's foreign policy has dropped sharply during his term in office, a Pew Research survey suggests. Among the 21 countries surveyed, the largest drop in approval - from 57% to 27% - was seen in China, the Global Attitudes Project reveals. Most respondents in almost all countries opposed US drone strikes. Despite these numbers, confidence in Mr Obama remains high among US allies, especially in Europe. "I think where you see the real disappointment is when you deal with specific policies," said Richard Wike, associate director of the Pew Global Attitudes Project. He added that the survey showed big gaps between expectation levels and action over Mr Obama's policies on climate change and treatment of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. According to Mr Wike, confidence in Mr Obama and approval of his international policies has trended downward during the course of his presidency, but has not dropped sharply in a single year. Besides China, the largest declines in foreign policy approval by 2012 included long-term ally Japan and neighbour Mexico. Among five European countries surveyed both in 2009 and 2012, approval of Mr Obama's international policies dropped from 78% to 63%. In five Muslim countries surveyed in both years, the approval rate dropped from 34% to 15%. Russia also joined the countries with double-digit declines, from 40% of respondents approving US international policies to 22%, an 18% decrease. While Mr Obama generally has higher approval ratings than President George W Bush did at the end of his second term, their approval ratings are now matched in Pakistan and Mr Obama's remain only slightly better in Lebanon. Among the countries surveyed there was widespread opposition to US drone strikes. At least 50% of respondents in 17 countries disapproved of such strikes, with the largest percentages in the Middle East, Mexico and Greece. In recent weeks, Mr Obama has become more closely associated with the US drone programme, with a New York Times report noting he personally approves each strike, and that the US keeps a "kill list" of potential strikes against militants. In addition to changes in sentiment towards Mr Obama and his policies, the survey records a shift in the way economic power is perceived. Majorities in Germany, Britain, France and Spain now regard China as the world's leading economic power, not the US. In the UK, this percentage has doubled since 2008. Mr Wike told the BBC the US had seen a downward trend in its perceived economic power since the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent recession, despite Mr Obama receiving "reasonably good marks on global economic issues". However, American "soft power" gets higher marks, especially among young respondents. The American way of doing business is popular in the Middle East, with more than 50% in Lebanon, Tunisia, Jordan and Egypt saying they like this part of US image. Majorities or pluralities in 18 of 20 countries admire US science and technology, according to the survey. American ideas about democracy are more popular among respondents under 30 in several countries, including Tunisia and China. AfricanConstitution.Org © 2012

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