I agree with Candace. What has been most disappointing is that Peggy Noonan used to be such as great thinker and writer, but in the last few years she has fallen into that insidious trap of accepting the premise of the left instead of analyzing the story without the premise. I guess the party circuit has its price.

http://online.wsj.com/article/declarations.html

Time to look at the 532 comments back to Peggy on this one….

Poor old George certainly had a amazing ability to annoy the hell out of Europeans simply by being himself. A truly unique talent in a way.

Nah, it’s a widespread talent among Americans. I lived in Europe for many years, and was periodically introduced with, “He’s an American, but one of the good ones.”

If they’d only known, huh?

They apparently hadn’t figured out that when Europe steps in the dog’s business yet again – and let’s face it, that’s as certain as the sun rising tomorrow, it’s only a matter of time – the “good Americans” will cut Europe loose in a heartbeat.

Sure, they’ll feel terrible. They’ll press for a strongly worded letter to the UN, have some candlelight vigils, a few poetry readings, possibly a drum circle or two, maybe even make a quilt. But that’s about it.

Anyone calling Washington for help will get an answering machine. (“Hi, this is Buraq, I’m out on the golf course, so leave a message. If you’re inviting me to a gala celebrity-filled event, or to give me some undeserved award, dial 0 to get my secretary. If it’s a critical matter on which I’ll have to make a tough and potentially unpopular decision, or otherwise actually do my job, call 1-800-DIALA-PRAYER.”)

The Falklands was just a preview of coming attractions. When Iran successfully tests its first nuclear weapon, which will probably be during Buraq’s term, and he reads some platitudes off a teleprompter about “peace in our time,” I’ll bet Europe will be wishing to God that cowboy Bush was back in office, and even longing to hear him say “nucular” again. But maybe the Iranians are just building a nuclear weapon for a science fair project, and don’t mean any harm. Besides, we can rely on Ahmajinedad’s good sense and psychological hygiene, right?

For my part, on this one issue I’m with the “good Americans” on this one. Cut Europe loose, and leave them to their fate. Let them get a bloody nose — or worse. They need to man up. There comes a time when you have to pull your own weight, or shuffle to the tar pits of history. And that time has come.

http://www.riehlworldview.com/carnivorous_conservative/2010/07/sherrod-we-must-stop-the-white-man-and-his-uncle-toms-.html

Most European journalists are nice middle-class white arts graduates, just with slightly fewer toupees and slightly greyer teeth than their US counterparts. So, yes, pretty much BO’s ideal audience there.

The rest of us? Most people were just relieved he wasn’t GNB, I think, and would probably be just as happy with Hilary. Poor old George certainly had a amazing ability to annoy the hell out of Europeans simply by being himself. A truly unique talent in a way. Pity you could’t extract it and put it in an aerosol really…

I don’t think Germans really consider GB part of Europe.

I don’t consider Britain part of Europe either. Years ago, IIRC, Brits would bristle (britsle?) at being lumped in as Europeans, much as Southerners don’t like being called “Yanks,” or Scots dislike being referred to as “English.”

You’d think Britain would turn more toward the Anglosphere, and specifically us, than to Europe (the current resident of the White House notwithstanding; hell, we put up with Labour PMs who were at best lukewarm on America). Despite the geographical proximity to Europe, the UK has much more in common with us, and we’re considerably more reliable than the Europeans when the chips are down (once again, the current resident of the White House notwithstanding).

Hey, I didn’t vote for him!

Fair enough, but you didn’t vote for McCain either. /g

My wife swears herself blue that the European media’s enthusiasm for Buraq does not reflect the views of the populace, but…I dunno. What do you say?

Though, being a conservative only in the fiscal sense, McCain v Obama wasn’t really a choice I’d have liked, to be fair.

Lots of company there, but the choice wasn’t between perfect and terrible, but between bad and worse. At this point I’d rather have Hillary as President. Hell, I’d rather have Carter as President.

I never thought I would ever type those words.

Yes, but most of them live in London these days…

You must not have called a consumer help line recently!