The European Tea Party

Around the world, conservatives are rising up. Their leftist counterparts are sore afraid. Der Spiegel reports:

The successes of right-wing populists could indeed exacerbate the smoldering euro crisis. Tensions between the wealthy countries in the north, who are contributing most to the bailouts, and the ailing debtor nations in the periphery already threaten to destroy the monetary union. If a European version of the American Tea Party movement develops, it could very well become the kiss of death for the euro.

The German publication describes European conservatives as divisive, dangerous, selfish, racist, suspicious, xenophobic simpletons who hate women.

Why does that description sound so familiar?

X-posted

Can Obama Win Them Back?

The Telegraph gives us some insights into how Obama is perceived overseas.

• While the troop surge in Iraq that Mr Obama so vehemently opposed has succeeded beyond his imaginings, the "good war" he championed in Afghanistan is spiralling downwards and there are dark mutterings on the Left about it becoming his Vietnam.

• Mr Obama's demands for more European boots on the ground in Afghanistan have already been rejected by the French and Germans.

• The leak-proof, supremely well-organised campaign and the post-election transition that was hailed as being one of the smoothest in history are over. They have given way to an at times stumbling administration that struggles to fill the cabinet, botches its message and has all but abandoned the bipartisanship candidate Mr Obama promised.

• Far from changing the world, Mr Obama has barely looked over his shoulder at it. 

• During his first, chaotic weeks in power, Mr Obama's focus has been almost entirely domestic.

• Gordon Brown's visit to Washington earlier this month was a public relations fiasco. Minutes before his meeting with Mr Obama in the Oval Office, British officials were still negotiating details with reluctant White House aides.

• For some in Europe, the reality of a President Obama may disappoint. 

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