RSS Feed MenuBono, the lead singer from U2, is back. Writing in the op-ed section of the New York Times, the rock musician argues that the Obama administration is leading a (much needed) “rebranding” of the United States. The basis for this renewal? A 36 word quote from Obama’s U.N. speech last month and Obama’s recent Nobel Peace Prize.
Bono writes that, “The president said that he considered the [Nobel] peace prize a call to action. And in the fight against extreme poverty, it’s action, not intentions, that counts.” And,
The Nobel Peace Prize is the rest of the world saying, ‘Don’t blow it.’… In the same week that Mr. Obama won the Nobel, the United States was ranked as the most admired country in the world, leapfrogging from seventh to the top of the Nation Brands Index survey — the biggest jump any country has ever made… But an America that’s tired of being the world’s policeman, and is too pinched to be the world’s philanthropist, could still be the world’s partner.
Bono’s fixation with rebranding is not entirely misplaced. What is misplaced is the identification of the whole United States with one particular vision from one particular man. The American public remains as deeply divided as it was under the Bush administration. Obama has fallen victim to his own successful narrative and has become gridlocked in a stymied political culture where the politics of “change” simply has not changed.
Bono, stick to music, not ideological and international hype.
balconesfault // Oct 19, 2009 at 11:39 am
Obama has fallen victim to his own successful narrative and has become gridlocked in a stymied political culture where the politics of “change” simply has not changed.
That has to be one of the most tortured sentences I’ve ever read.
Raider1 // Oct 19, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Shut up and sing Bono.
ottovbvs // Oct 19, 2009 at 1:11 pm
……The American public deeply divided…….Obama’s Pollster average is 54.5% which is where he was when elected…….In his last days in office Bush’s appro was in the 20’s……..Republican ID is at levels not seen since FDR was president…….there has been a worldwide tectonic shift in the world view of the USA……the ones who have fallen “victim” are the Republicans……victim to total self delusion and denial of which this is a pretty fair sample…..Bono is obviously one of many highly visible people who admire the president……….you’ll just have to get used to it Mr Walker.
Raider1 // Oct 19, 2009 at 2:11 pm
…….there has been a worldwide tectonic shift in the world view of the USA……
Yep. And it is having such great results for our national interests (our REAL national interest). Russia saying “nyet” on sanctions. Iran saying go “f** yourself” on WMD. Great Otto. So more people like the USA than before. Problem is the USA-haters (the ones who can do damage too) could care less who is president.
the ones who have fallen “victim” are the Republicans……
-It is one election cycle and Americans ARE deeply divided (I see you cherry picked the most optimistic poll) because many of us feel that the general direction of this country into a more “Europe-like” state (which is why they like us now, because Obama wants us to be more like them) is dangerous and debilitating. Not a positive step.
victim to total self delusion and denial of which this is a pretty fair sample…..
-Oh yeah. YOu mean like such self-delusions that are the cornerstone of Obama’s Carteresque foreign policy aims. Coddle our enemies and dis our friends? Gee, how is that “engagement” working with Iran? Russia? North Korea? Or NATO for that matter. As one author on one of these posts wrote a while back (I forget who) Obama is ADORED AND IGNORED.
Bono is obviously one of many highly visible people who admire the president……….
AND? Maybe he can sit across the table from Putin?
you’ll just have to get used to it Mr Walker
-Don’t worry Mr. Walker. 2010 is coming. Enough Americans see that being weak is not a virtue in a very very dangerous world. One Otto obvioulsy has never seen.
ottovbvs // Oct 19, 2009 at 4:44 pm
raider1 // Oct 19, 2009 at 2:11 pm
“It is one election cycle and Americans ARE deeply divided (I see you cherry picked the most optimistic poll) ”
……..Er….. no…..I gave you the Pollster averages which encompasses all the polls including the dubious stuff from Rasmussen and Zogby that zealots like you love
…….I’m afraid all your other stuff is just standard right wing boilerplate opinionating……you might want to check pollster approvals for congressional Republicans and Democrats…….Dems are ahead by about 5 points…….not that it means much today except that to be ahead in an off season hardly suggests any waves building against them…….
carr1on // Oct 20, 2009 at 1:34 pm
At a U2 concert last week Bono gave props to Bush for the AIDS funding in Africa and the lives saved. I thought that was cool. Probably one of the only good things Bush did do…
sinz54 // Oct 21, 2009 at 9:47 am
ottovbvs: there has been a worldwide tectonic shift in the world view of the USA
Yep.
The world likes America more–but it respects America less.
In a Hobbesian world of nations doing their own thing without regard for the rest of the world, it’s better to be respected than to be liked.
Finally, I’m not sure how much the Iranian dissenters like us after Obama blew them off. I’m not sure how much the Tibetans like us after Obama blew off the Dalai Lama.
Obama is doing what he always did–currying the favor of Europeans. But Europe’s role in the world is vastly overrrated. They have an inflated opinion of themselves, still thinking that they are the cultural and economic center of gravity of the world. That’s a delusion.
The real centers of gravity in the world today are the Far East and the Muslim world. And they see America as weak and contemptible.