Is it Better for a President to be Liked or Respected by the International Community?

[Publius1787]

More wisdom from Machiavelli Life Lessons From Niccolò Machiavelli

 

[TheGreatGatsby]

If the president does right by the American people, he doesn't have to worry about whether he's liked or respected abroad. The international likeability factor is often effectively a strawman that Republicans and Democrats utilize.

 

[Publius1787]

If the president does right by the American people, he doesn't have to worry about whether he's liked or respected abroad. The international likeability factor is often effectively a strawman that Republicans and Democrats utilize.

If he does right by the American people he can only be respected. Fighting for the national interest doesn't exactly make you liked in the geopolitical realm by either allies or enemies.

 

[ScienceRocks]

Respected and feared....

 

[TheGreatGatsby]

If the president does right by the American people, he doesn't have to worry about whether he's liked or respected abroad. The international likeability factor is often effectively a strawman that Republicans and Democrats utilize.

If he does right by the American people he can only be respected. Fighting for the national interest doesn't exactly make you liked in the geopolitical realm by either allies or enemies.

Well, as I said, if a president does right by the American people, it doesn't matter if he's liked by people abroad.

 

[ScienceRocks]

Getting our asses kicked by the Taliban isn't showing the world that they should respect or fear us.

 

[TheGreatGatsby]

Getting our asses kicked by the Taliban isn't showing the world that they should respect or fear us.

You really believe we're getting our asses kicked by the Taliban? For every one dead American soldier, there's probably in excess of a hundred dead enemy combatants. The question is; what are we fighting for? The government certainly hasn't gave us any compelling reasons.

 

[Clementine]

There is a reason why burglars don't invade a police station or high security buildings. Whether they respect them or just fear what would happen if they messed with them, who cares. Having a strong military and a president that isn't a wuss might make hostile countries think twice about fucking with us. I don't care if it's respect or fear. Being strong and having the ability to protect ourselves is a deterrent. No one hates war more than the military, who put their lives at risk. Yet, having these fine troops keeps the peace because the real war mongers, like the Muslim Brotherhood, know that there is hell to pay if they attack.

Used to be that way. I don't think the 9/11 attack would have happened if we had taken action after the first attack on the trade center. When enemies see presidents who retreat and want to talk rather than take action, it emboldens them.

Obama supporters went on and on before the 2008 election about how the world would love us if Obama was in office. They said that the world hated Bush and things would turn around and everything would be better. Of course, after Obama pissed off our allies and other countries, then it didn't matter a hoot what other countries thought.

It's nice when our allies like us, but our enemies can hate us all they want. They will anyway no matter how nice we are or how many weapons or money we give them. What we need are nasty countries to respect the fact that we can kick their ass if they do something stupid, like attack us.

 

[Publius1787]

Getting our asses kicked by the Taliban isn't showing the world that they should respect or fear us.

The only way we can get our assess kicked by the Taliban is if we let them. Obama is doing just that.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

It is best that our President be feared.

 

[Publius1787]

It is best that our President be feared.

An element of respect.

 

[TemplarKormac]

Is it Better for a President to be Liked or Respected by the International Community?

"Returning to the question of being feared or loved, I come to the conclusion that, men loving according to their own will and fearing according to that of the prince, a wise prince should establish himself on that which is in his own control and not in that of others; he must endeavour only to avoid hatred, as is noted."

-Nicolo Machiavelli-

If your liked by foreign countries they like you for a reason: Because they can push you around more than someone who is respected.

No. It's better for a president to be liked and respected by his own people.

 

[Publius1787]

Is it Better for a President to be Liked or Respected by the International Community?

"Returning to the question of being feared or loved, I come to the conclusion that, men loving according to their own will and fearing according to that of the prince, a wise prince should establish himself on that which is in his own control and not in that of others; he must endeavour only to avoid hatred, as is noted."

-Nicolo Machiavelli-

If your liked by foreign countries they like you for a reason: Because they can push you around more than someone who is respected.

No. It's better for a president to be liked and respected by his own people.

If your liked/respected by your own people for pursuing their interests in the foreign policy arena than you have no choice than to settle for being respected, and perhaps hated, by your allies and enemies. In any case, the average US citizen is VERY ill equipped to understand US foreign policy.

 

[TemplarKormac]

Is it Better for a President to be Liked or Respected by the International Community?



If your liked by foreign countries they like you for a reason: Because they can push you around more than someone who is respected.

No. It's better for a president to be liked and respected by his own people.

If your liked/respected by your own people for pursuing their interests in the foreign policy arena than you have no choice than to settle for being respected, and perhaps hated, by your allies and enemies. In any case, the average US citizen is VERY ill equipped to understand US foreign policy.

Even still. Respect begins at home. If the world see how respected he is among his own people, it won't matter what they think. Heck it may win them over too.

 

[Publius1787]

No. It's better for a president to be liked and respected by his own people.

If your liked/respected by your own people for pursuing their interests in the foreign policy arena than you have no choice than to settle for being respected, and perhaps hated, by your allies and enemies. In any case, the average US citizen is VERY ill equipped to understand US foreign policy.

Even still. Respect begins at home. If the world see how respected he is among his own people, it won't matter what they think. Heck it may win them over too.

Don't be so quick to take out the element of human fallibility in the exact area they are most fallible.

 

[TemplarKormac]

If your liked/respected by your own people for pursuing their interests in the foreign policy arena than you have no choice than to settle for being respected, and perhaps hated, by your allies and enemies. In any case, the average US citizen is VERY ill equipped to understand US foreign policy.

Even still. Respect begins at home. If the world see how respected he is among his own people, it won't matter what they think. Heck it may win them over too.

Don't be so quick to take out the element of human fallibility in the exact area they are most fallible.

I'm not. Being fallible can also make you stronger. Weakness contributes to strength.

 

[Publius1787]

Even still. Respect begins at home. If the world see how respected he is among his own people, it won't matter what they think. Heck it may win them over too.

Don't be so quick to take out the element of human fallibility in the exact area they are most fallible.

I'm not. Being fallible can also make you stronger. Weakness contributes to strength.

Presidents can only be presidents for 8 years. The American people know nothing about foreign policy. People rarely elect presidents on their foreign policy records. President surround themselves with foreign policy leaders and political operatives. All too often the politico's win out over sound foreign policy. The fallibility is structural.

 

[TemplarKormac]

Don't be so quick to take out the element of human fallibility in the exact area they are most fallible.

I'm not. Being fallible can also make you stronger. Weakness contributes to strength.

Presidents can only be presidents for 8 years. The American people know nothing about foreign policy. People rarely elect presidents on their foreign policy records. President surround themselves with foreign policy leaders and political operatives. All too often the politico's win out over sound foreign policy. The fallibility is structural.

The man's fallibility can translate into that structure, so can his strength. The people need to be educated, not kept in the dark about foreign policy. A man who tells the truth is naturally more respected than one who keeps secrets.

 

[Publius1787]

I'm not. Being fallible can also make you stronger. Weakness contributes to strength.

Presidents can only be presidents for 8 years. The American people know nothing about foreign policy. People rarely elect presidents on their foreign policy records. President surround themselves with foreign policy leaders and political operatives. All too often the politico's win out over sound foreign policy. The fallibility is structural.

The man's fallibility can translate into that structure, so can his strength. The people need to be educated, not kept in the dark about foreign policy. A man who tells the truth is naturally more respected than one who keeps secrets.

If it were true there would be no need for politicians to lie. And much of foreign policy is secret for a reason. That's both why the average American will never understand it and that's largely why the political side wins over sound foreign policy.

 

[TemplarKormac]

Presidents can only be presidents for 8 years. The American people know nothing about foreign policy. People rarely elect presidents on their foreign policy records. President surround themselves with foreign policy leaders and political operatives. All too often the politico's win out over sound foreign policy. The fallibility is structural.

The man's fallibility can translate into that structure, so can his strength. The people need to be educated, not kept in the dark about foreign policy. A man who tells the truth is naturally more respected than one who keeps secrets.

If it were true there would be no need for politicians to lie. And much of foreign policy is secret for a reason. That's both why the average American will never understand it and that's largely why the political side wins over sound foreign policy.

You give the common man too little credit, my friend.