Jen

Well, this sight was recommended by someone over at Frommers. I think I'll just stick to Frommer's and Rick Steves. If I wanted political chatter, I'd go over to foxnews.com. But since it is on the table let me add my two cents. First do a search on the web for The Milwaukee Journal newspaper. That and other papers will fill you into how many votes Al Gore DIDN'T receive. There were people in Wisconsin, I am very ashamed to say that were not only bribed (with small tokens, but bribed nonetheless) to vote Gore, but at many polls people were voting six and seven times, especially at the colleges, a liberal bastion indeed. To say no one double voted Bush, well, we'll never know. But we do know that the votes that were only 250k more by Gore (with the biased media ticking the number up by what stats I don't know). Of those, why don't we take a wild guess as to how many were illegal. In Chicago the old mantra was 'vote early and vote often' and was a directive from the Dem-voting union bosses. The socialist way of doing things with a 'by any means necessary' justification in order to win is as ugly as your backwards, uninformed posturing of progressives battling Bush is. It amazes me how people will get on an anonymous message board that was supposed to be about TRAVEL ADVICE and spout pablum in subjects they haven't a clue as to where problems begin and how they can be resolved. World peace, energy, whatever, there is never a consensus as to the solution, just ranting, protesters smashing windows at McD's, and worthless bumper stickers on CARS. You know, the evil contraptions that pollute our precious Earth. Hypocrites and charlatans, one and all. I love to travel and I'm proud to do it as an American, and I go representing my country humbly. However I will not apologize to the rest of the world for the US being number one and looking out for number one. I pity those of you out there that are so spineless as to dump on our president to the rest of the world, regardless of how you feel about his entry into the office. You misrepresent the rest of us who not only DID vote for him, legally and only once, but you do a disservice tou you country as a whole. When you so willingly bash your own country to any yokel willing to listen to your spiel, you are not sending a message of diversity, that we in the US have a free flow of ideas and views; rather you are sending a strong message of devisiveness amongst your fellow citizenry to the rest of the world, a message that the 'rogue nations' love to hear loud and clear. So if you don't want Star Wars, perhaps you might shut you mouth in areas that you are ill-informed so it doesn't give the rest of the world a reason to pick a battle with us.

Tyler

Check out this story which was in today's well respected London newspaper, The Guardian: <BR> <BR>http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Ar...201254,00.html <BR> <BR>It's called "Bush flies into a firestorm in Europe" and it's all about how European's a extremely angry about Bush's policies. Part of it says; <BR>" The White House is scrambling to prevent President Bush's first official visit to Europe becoming a debacle, at a time when profound differences over the environment and defence have combined to produce the prickliest US-European relationship for a generation. <BR> <BR>George Bush is due to fly on Tuesday to Spain, where he will be met with protests by trade unions, environmentalists and human rights activists, and then on to Brussels to defend his missile defence scheme in front of 18 Nato allies deeply sceptical over plans to develop what they see as a dangerous "son of star wars". But Mr Bush's most challenging test of statesmanship to date, will come on Thursday when he flies to Gothenburg in Sweden, where an EU summit will be virtually united in its criticism of his unilateral abandonment of the Kyoto treaty on global warming." <BR>The London paper says "the dominant mood will be hostile and suspicious. Even Mr Bush's first meeting with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, in Slovenia next weekend, poses less of a challenge. <BR> <BR>"There is a rare level of toxicity," Dan Plesch, an analyst at the British American Security Information Council. "These are the most severe transatlantic disagreements since Suez." The London Guardian also states <BR>"Europeans are alarmed over yesterday's news that the White House is examining a fast-track missile defence option which would have the first interceptor missiles deployed by 2004." <BR> <BR> <BR>

It's all

Sandi, you disappoint me. Why would you get bitter and personal just because I disagreed with your post? Besides, you've got me all wrong. I'm one of the good guys. I would never throw money around, fail to say 'please,' demand dinner at 6 OR kill a fly with a hammer.

wondering

I wonder why Europeans are so angry with the US about Kyoto when their own countries are dragging their feet on ratifying it. As usual, it's easier to blame the US than confront their own leaders with their own national issues. After living and travelling abroad for a few years it still astounds me. People in cafes will complain about US military, while they then trot off to their mandatory service. Complain about US environmental policies and then toss their cigarette butt into the street. I have found it amusing and rather lazy, to be honest.

walter

er,that would be a Virginia tobacco butt no doubt.

noneedtowonder

Yeah, wondering, you're right. No need to wonder about this, though: Why is Bush getting blamed for Kyoto when it was dead before he took office? The Senate rejected it 95-0 in 1997. But the media phonies and Europeans want to make it Bush's fault for not resucitating a DOA, fatally flawed treaty that nobody here wants anyway, to stick Bush with the failure of someone else (Al Gore).

How It Is

Bush Jr. wants to change the Republican Party Emblem from an elephant to a condom, because it stands for inflation, protects a bunch of pricks, halts production, and gives a false sense of security while one is being screwed. <BR> <BR>

bent

THAT IS JUST ABOUT THE FUNNIEST THING I HAVE EVER HEARD!!! <BR>I am saving it forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mike

WOW! What a forum! Liza, just be yourself, and have a wonderful time in Europe. Europeans are not that much different than Americans in most countries, especially in talking politics. As you can see by this forum, people are very angry by just browsing the internet. <BR> <BR>Your asked a simple question. There are great friendly people in this country no matter where you travel, as well as the rude ones. You will find the same in Europe. Use common sense. Be polite and considerate of local practices just as you would going to someone's dinner in your neighborhood. <BR> <BR>The rule of thumb also applies in Europe. Don't talk politics or religion and you will have a great time. <BR> <BR>Bon Voyage

very

Great.. what do you suggest she say when they ask direct questions, I tried to buy a newspaper and was closely questioned by the seller. try having a drink and they realize you are American and you will be asked "what the hell is your country doing" . <BR>Much better to read and understand the concerns of other countries than to go around saying"WE ARE NO 1". We really aren't , look at health care, education, social serviceds, quality of life...we fall WAY behind.

Ian

I was just reading a CNN transcript that said in part:" Despite losing the popular vote to Vice President Al Gore, George W. Bush won the presidency following a contentious five weeks of court battles on December 12, when the U.S.Supreme Court, by a 5-4 vote, ruled that Florida's attempts to recount by <BR>hand ballots that had been ignored on a machine count were unconstitutional. <BR>Although, the court said that the state could remedy the problems, it <BR>allotted no time for such action before the midnight, December 12 deadline <BR>for the state to choose its electors." <BR>In a nutshell that states what happened in that USA "democracy" and it comes from a quite right-of-center source like CNN.

JO

A Skeptical Europe Awaits Bush <BR> <BR>BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - President Bush visits Europe this week to meet America's closest friends. What he'll find is more doubt, skepticism and disagreement about the United States than at any time in years. Whether Washington is pressing for a ballistic missile defense system, or abandoning plans for emissions controls, or pushing genetically modified foods, there's plenty of sharp opposition. Many Europeans see the United States today as a nation totally absorbed with its own interests and ready to go it alone in the world if its allies don't bend to its will.