(07-10-2017 10:12 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(07-10-2017 10:00 AM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(07-10-2017 09:32 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(07-10-2017 09:21 AM)JustAnotherAustinOwl Wrote:  The leader of the free world, Angela Merkel, hilariously rolling her eyes at Putin's mansplaining.

And a couple other reactions to Trump.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2...putin.html

On a more serious note, I don't really know how abdicating our role as leader of the free world, withdrawing and isolating ourselves is going to "make America great again." This Aussie sums it up pretty well:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/americas/94...app-iPhone

Give me some examples of "abdicating our role as leader of the free world". I think that term is more descriptive of Obama than Trump. Ole!!!

I am not a fan of withdrawing from trade agreements, but at this point it appears he is more interested in renegotiating them.

As for eye-rolling, I think this is an example of "hullabaloo".

As of June 26, confidence that the US president would do the right thing regarding world affairs (a good barometer for a being the leader of the free world, right?):

22% = confident
74% = no confidence
8% = don't know

If you look at a by country breakdown and compare Trump's rating to Obama's at the end of his term, the only countries where Trump exceeds Obama's level of confidence: Israel (+7) and Russia (+42). In some of our western allies, Trump is -75 (Germany), -61 (Canada), and -57 (UK).

http://www.pewglobal.org/2017/06/26/u-s-...eadership/

Those who think Obama was not viewed as the leader of the free world during his time as POTUS are living in an alternate reality. You can disagree with his military decisions and his handling of situations, but outside of Israel, he did not rub any of our other allies the wrong way and generally worked together with them toward common goals.

The free world has recognized that Trump is in above his head, does not have a fundamental desire to work closely with the majority of our allies, and is (at the moment at least) generally incompetent at governing. Therefore, other countries are trying to fill the void that is left. You can disagree with Obama's decisions, but he made them using judgement, thought, and routinely listened to his advisers and utilized their expertise, and that kept us at the forefront of global politics. So far, I don't think you can confidently say the same about Trump.

Oh, my. I was asking for concrete decisions and actions, not opinion polls on the future. Sorry if i was unclear.

On Obama:

"he did not rub any of our other allies the wrong way"

Especially Russia and Iran. I don't know about you, but IMO the goal of foreign policy is NOT to not rub anybody the wrong way.

"and generally worked together with them toward common goals."

I thought that was the definition of collusion?

Sorry, Lad, I was awake from 2009-2017.

bolded part = hullabaloo Saying it does not make it so. See, for example, John Cleese saying "She's a witch!!!"