GER-Infratest dimap/ARD: Germany's 140 EV solidly in the Obama column

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

Nice picture they used for Romney.

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

Doesn't surprise me. I'd be more interested in the 7% of Germans that support Romney. Who is that? I doubt anyone I know here is against Obama. NPD voters and xenophobics?

The two people I know who support the NPD are the same two [German] people I know who support Romney.

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

I think part of the reason Europeans tend to favor the Democrats over the Republicans is the Republicans' constant demonizing of "failed European socialism" or whatever.

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

So you think it comes down exclusively to Obama as a person? Other Democrats would not be leading by similar margins simply because the Republican Party is far outside the European political mainstream?

His insane majority in Italy is because of his personality, yes. Other Democrats would lead, for sure, but not by as wide of a margin but that's not the point. The point is that his lead in Italy isn't based on handwringing. Try telling someone with a straight face that that isn't the reason why Obama is doing so well in Germany.

Yay, sources!

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/german-american-relations-after-the-poll-next-president-will-demand-more-from-europe-a-533449.html

Obama would have only led Clinton by 4 in the Democratic primary. I don't exactly call that an overwhelming personality cult.

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

So you think it comes down exclusively to Obama as a person? Other Democrats would not be leading by similar margins simply because the Republican Party is far outside the European political mainstream?

His insane majority in Italy is because of his personality, yes. Other Democrats would lead, for sure, but not by as wide of a margin but that's not the point. The point is that his lead in Italy isn't based on handwringing. Try telling someone with a straight face that that isn't the reason why Obama is doing so well in Germany.

Yay, sources!

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/german-american-relations-after-the-poll-next-president-will-demand-more-from-europe-a-533449.html

Obama would have only led Clinton by 6 in the Democratic primary. I don't exactly call that an overwhelming personality cult.

Well, first of all, your math is off. 43-39 = 4, not 6.

Reading, not math.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Doesn't that just reinforce the message of the poll?

You know, maybe I'm just dumb, but I honestly don't understand what Keystone Phil is trying to say here. I even looked up the term "handwringing" in a dictionary, but it didn't help. Can someone help me comprehend what he's getting at??

I think the point is that Germans are worried about a Romney win... Which would be a perfectly good reason to vote for Obama.

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

I think the point is that Germans are worried about a Romney win... Which would be a perfectly good reason to vote for Obama.

...no.

And you guys don't know what handwringing means? Come on. Knock it off.

I've seriously never heard that term before.

You know, maybe I'm just dumb, but I honestly don't understand what Keystone Phil is trying to say here. I even looked up the term "handwringing" in a dictionary, but it didn't help. Can someone help me comprehend what he's getting at??

He's getting at supposed "guilt" as the reason for supporting the black man. Phil is convinced this dominates Germans' everyday lives in every way.

Maybe it doesn't dominate but you know as well as I do that it has its place.

No.
No, it doesn't. I hate to use the "I live here" card, but I think I would have a better gauge on that than you.

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

I hate to use the "I live here" card, but I think I would have a better gauge on that than you.

Yeah. Hey, did you ever ask a racist if he or she is racist?

...
That has nothing to do with it. I didn't go around asking people why they support Obama. From normal political conversations that never even mentioned the topic directly, I can say that -- shocker -- politically aware Germans support Obama because of his policies.

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

I hate to use the "I live here" card, but I think I would have a better gauge on that than you.

Yeah. Hey, did you ever ask a racist if he or she is racist?

...
That has nothing to do with it. I didn't go around asking people why they support Obama. From normal political conversations that never even mentioned the topic directly, I can say that -- shocker -- politically aware Germans support Obama because of his policies.

...and that has nothing to do with my point that you, as a German, have as much authority saying Germans aren't hand wringers as racists do when they say they aren't racist.

Um, okay...?

"Italians are all mafiosos."
You can't deny it because you're Italian yourself.

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

File this under "who give a damn".   Europe is a destroyed continent.  Why do we care a damn what they think

...and sentiments like this are a large part of why the result is as it is.