Bush kiss of death: Aznar, Berlusconi, Blair, Kaczynski

[VayaConDios]

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The Danish Prime Minister was re-eleced and got more personal votes than any politician in the Danish Parliament ever had. Angela Merkel voiced support of the invasion of Iraq, and was elected Chancellor of Germany when she ran against Schoder who was against the war. French President Chirac who was against the war was seen as the least popular president in France in recent history. He was later replaced by Sarkozy who has expressed a lot more positive view of the US and wants a closer relationship with the US.

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You can't be serious with this. Chirac was unpopular despite his opposition to the Iraq War. Do the French hate America and everything it stands for or not? I guess it depends on which thread we're in.

Same with Merkel - the Iraq War was heavily unpopular in Germany.

[Bedreviter]

For the politicians mentioned in the original post there was no room for explaining other reasons why they lost their elections or stepped down, it was just "Bush kiss of death". So my post is as serious as the OP.

But of course in most European elections issues like tax, education, crime, immigration, economy and such play important roles before an election. But this information seem to be unimportant to the whole "Bush kiss of death"-theory.

[boracay]

[ QUOTE ]
For the politicians mentioned in the original post there was no room for explaining other reasons why they lost their elections or stepped down, it was just "Bush kiss of death". So my post is as serious as the OP.

But of course in most European elections issues like tax, education, crime, immigration, economy and such play important roles before an election. But this information seem to be unimportant to the whole "Bush kiss of death"-theory.

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According to this poll (and my belief) you're wrong. In 18 of 21 countries polled, President Bush's re-election is seen by most as negative for world security

or America's Image in the World

Favorable opinions of the USA:
GB - 83% in 1999/2000 down to 56% in 2005/2006
Germany - 78% in 1999/2000 down to 37% in 2005/2006
France - 62% in 1999/2000 down to 39% in 2005/2006
Spain - 50% in 1999/2000 down to 23% in 2005/2006
Turkey - 62% in 1999/2000 down to 12% in 2005/2006

Note this were ratings in the US closest allies. Imagine the same polls elsewhere or in Muslim countries. Also imagine those rating in case of war against Iran.

I think it's easy to say that strong support of the current US policy is not gaining votes, but losing them.