Your prediction of public reaction to Obama's expected demands on Europe is shared by Karl-Theodor Freiherr/CSU, whom I cited above with "Sommertheater". (BTW I forgot to make clear: he is also criticising his own camp there, and deviates from the party line.)
As for the German left-wing's, rather than the SPD's reaction, what I wonder about is the position of the Left Party and its voters in general. Perhaps jandsm or Jeffersonian Democrat can tell us more about the mood in the party. Would the Left Party profile itself early on with some criticism of Obama, the eventual disillusion of SPD voters with him that you and Freiherr predict could lead to some shift of balance within the German left-wing. *Traitor*, n. A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.
what wouldn't would be some finger-wagging exceptionalist b.s. for the redneck domestic consumption, instrumentalising europe for a purely u.s. agenda.
i wish i could totally trust obama on this, we really need an american president who doesn't pretend to look down on us, (or over-venerate us for that matter!)
on. the. level. please barry. no trumpeted platitudes about how we should do anything. (or we'll tell you where to put yer war)
some tact, m'lad! be an example of a trans-nationalistic global citizen, if you really want us to warm to your cause more than we already do...
waving that tattered global hegemon flag over here will not win you any cookies.
save it for the rubes you need votes from back home, and just be your sweet self. The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it. Chinese Proverb.
That would make for a good speech. WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
i don't need him to be too humble, lol, but simply for him to accent unity and good faith in the same way he does back home.
he has a lot of savvy, i expect he'll finesse this ok. The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it. Chinese Proverb.
