I'm having trouble figuring out why 200,000 Germans showed up in Berlin to hear Obama. Am I the only one who finds this unusual? Normally crowds of 200,000 are for rock stars or the Pope ... but Obama .. in Germany?!? Am I missing something?

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I find the whole trip (besides visits to the troops) a little unusual.

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Well "I" certainly don't get the fascination.

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rofl I didn't think you would.

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I don't know why anyone in a foreign country would be fascinated by any of our presidential candidates.

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"Anybody who believes the pen is mightier than the sword hasn't been inside a maximum security prison." ~ Lisa Scottoline

I don't even understand why people in our country are so fascinated by him.

Last time I heard he was running for President of the United States, not Germany, France or England. Kinda weird.

I am Totally Not An Obama Fan Here ,

But My Dh Seems to be fascinated with him.

He was Watching this Berlin thing and I Asked the Same thing , " Why on earth do these people care about him so Much?"

DH said something about what Americans do has An affect on everything in the world , thats Why These Germans also Like barack "

Blah blah blah ...
Still seems Weird to Me. I Have no Clue.

Well, I'll put my neck out here.

I think it's because he isn't the same stale, old, white bread politician going for President. He's different, new, a change. If I agreed with his political stance on most things, I'd think he was pretty awesome.

The US hasn't been doing that hot of a job with our current and past leaders in the world view, I think. Being intelligent, fiscally responsible, good at decisions, and strong on stands is all important, but we don't live in an isolationist time, and how countries interact via their leaders is pretty important too. The whole Clinton brouhaha was pathetic and made the White House look like a brothel, and GWB's speaking mistakes sure doesn't make him look like a person to take seriously. Some of his "cowboy" actions have really turned other counties against us, or at least made them choose not to act with us.

Obama looks different that the normal old white guys we usually elect, speaks exceptionally well I've heard, and though one can say his talk of "Change" has no base, it is definately "ear-candy".

I think his travels to other countries is a pretty smart thing - like I said, we aren't isolationists (as much as I would like LOL!) The US has pissed off a LOT of people, a lot of countries. His trips might be sending the message of "Hey, I'm coming to your side, let's talk like equals and work things for the better, together." Extending the olive branch. If that is so, I would be pleased *if* he got elected, to see things come about like other countries bringing jobs HERE to our workforce, seeing the US sign and abide by the Kyoto agreement, and in general work with other countries when it comes to Iraq and other "terrorist" areas.

Other countries have elected women, and I believe other minorities (I can't back that up with what I remember though). In 200+ years, we haven't. That's not to say white men aren't doing an alright job, but there have got to be some good minority leaders out there. Is Obama one? I'm not totally sure.

I still don't know who I'm voting for, probably Libertarian or something, just to cast in the way I feel. I'm just trying to put a post out of *why* Obama is interesting to others. I most likely will not vote for him.

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I understand what you are saying booker81, but I think it's a little presumptuous of him to be traveling overseas while he should be campaigning in the US. This trip seems to me should be something he should do after the election, if he were to win.

For the record, I have not decided on who I am voting for either.

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