I’m German (therefore please pardon the mistakes in grammar and vocabulary) and obviously not as well and deeply educated about American politics in general and about the two candidates in special as you Americans; I cannot tell you in depth what concrete reasons there are to vote one or the other.
But what I can tell you is this: When earlier this year I faced the decision whether to spend this year’s summer holidays somewhere in the USA or elsewhere, it has been a clear and rather fast one: elsewhere.

I would *love* to visit your country or come to a sf-con (or connect both ), but you are right, Eric: world opinion has been better in former times. President Bush is … not well regarded ^^ here in “Old Europe” (proudly said – sniffy things said by some persons are compliments), and when Senator Obama visited Germany and spoke in Berlin this summer, one could catch a little glimpse of the charisma of that man even via YouTube.
He is regarded a person of intelligence and integrity, and part of why we Europeans/ Germans/ I like him so much is that he communicates seriousness and competence (and pardon me, competence is not the most striking impression we get from President Bush… ^^), but nonetheless he doesn’t seem to be an uninspiring and dry fellow but seems to have real visions.

He gives me hope for a future where America can heal the wounds it has suffered from 9/11 and open up again a little bit to the world rather than separating itself from the rest of the world and seeing everybody as a potential – or likely – threat.
This might be an illusionary hope, yes, he will not be able to undo the changes America has gone through completely, but we/ I have this hope nonetheless. Perhaps a little bit more open again. A few steps to start with.
He might be one of those little steps.

I love the American spirit, and I don’t like to see it broken by terrorists. I think Senator Obama can rekindle that spirit better than Senator McCain.
From me as a foreigner’s standpoint, this election is not only about economy or the American health system (or lack thereof) or war in Iraque, it is also about healing – the healing of Americans and people all over the world affected by American policy because it happens to be the last remaining “superpower”.

A foreigner’s two cents.

After much thought, I have come up with one solid reason: his election to the Presidency will do a lot towards repairing our image world-wide. I read through a number of foreign papers daily, and I have pals around the world, and they all agree on that point. You have to talk to foreigners face-to-face to get a real feel for just how badly world opinion of the US has tanked under Bush. This isn’t just a matter of “popularity”–tourist pounds, francs, kopeks, shekels and euros have all gone elsewhere, for example.

Now, Obama’s *policies* may be more or less popular; it depends. But the notion of 1) kicking out Bush and all that he represents and 2) installing a black man as President rates way high around the world.

I still can’t come up with any other reasons, though. The guy seems pretty good compared to McCain/Palin, yes, but he still has not said much of substance about the issues that are important to me.

Would be interested to hear what others think.

–ek

At this point it looks like you are going to get your wish. Just a reminder: When Bill Clinton ran the first time he promised a middle class tax cut, and that he would let Haitians immigrate to the US.Instead we got the biggest tax increase in the history of the world, retroactive to people who had died the year before, and he told the Coast Guard to turn the Haitians away.

Your guy is promising a small targeted tax increase. Right. But as I said, this is probably a done deal. When you see what happens, please try to remember it for the next time.

Loved the “Playing for keeps” podcast. I bought a copy on Amazon and gave it to a really gifted kid.

Best,
Old Tom

Naomi Klein wrote it, it’s available in TPB now, and it is one of the most important books of the decade, behind only of course Playing For Keeps and The Case of the Pithcer’s Pendant.

If your interested Terry Gross on NPR has a series of podcasts over the last few months giving a good nuts and bolts view of the whole melt down.

I just got back from a CON in my country and the good news is that the geeks here would vote Obama. If only we were able to have a vote in each others countries.

Also, get Naomi Wolf’s book, The End of America: A Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot or check out her documentary The End of America.