As someone living in Europe at the moment I can say that I find Mr. Massie's article not at all representative for public opinion in Germany, France, or for that matter, the UK. If anything the Europeans seem to respect pres. Obama's sincerity, honesty, caution, and intellectual grasp of the issues.

Of course the lack of progress at the Copenhagen conference was seen as a big disappointment, but I don't think Europe for one instant believes this was due to either obstruction or incompetence on part of pres. Obama. China's intransigent position on the other hand received a lot of attention, as did the price that so many third-world countries put on their cooperation.

From what I hear, Afghanistan and the Healthcare proposals currently garner much more interest than do Guantanamo or Copenhagen.

Nobody in Europe likes the Afghanistan situation, and they would all pack up and leave within a month if it weren't for the US leading the charge and long-term consequences be dammed. So far that's not happening though.

It also might not surprise you to hear that Europe by and large supports Healthcare reform. After all, its what they have here and it works well and doesn't break the bank either. People here don't understand what all the fuss is about and silently put opposition to these proposals down to sheer American bloody-mindedness.

I have tried to discern the real substance of the article amidst the use of emotionally laden verbiage and I believe the author wishes to make the point that the president cannot make far-reaching changes without the support from Congress, which isn't forthcoming due to the current political constellation.

All well and good, but where is the new insight in that? And why does that make the US or its current administration "Nincompoops"? I personally don't think the article provides any real insights and it certainly isn't representative for public opinion over here.

Seriously why don't the Americans just have a proportional representation system like we have in Europe, where the Majority rules and can actually get things done.Where as people in America in certain states don't bother voting as their votes effectively go to people they may not even vote for.

"So what a difference a single vote makes! The lamentations that followed Martha Coakley's stunning defeat in Massachusetts were heard on the far side of the Atlantic as well, as health care and cap-and-trade legislation disappeared with a 2 percent drift in the Senate tides."

It remains to be seen whether this is correct. Obama may have many failings but he is one of the sharpest lawyers of his generation and a constitutional lawyer at that. I suggest reading Audacity of Hope pp80 to 99. The filibuster is not in the constitution and it came under threat under Bush II over judicial appointments. Obama may decide it is time to introduce a bit of sanity into the system. There was a hint of a threat on the subject in his State of the Union speech. As Churchill famously observed one is enough and if you want to be President of the United States a lot than one is sometimes enough. There is not much to stop Obama relying on his “mandate” and starting to play a bit rough. The filibuster has a fairly sordid past as the weapon of choice in blocking black civil rights. It is hard to believe that Obama has forgotten this. Whatever he does he will have the advantage that he has demonstrated his willingness to compromise with his opponents so far to an almost exaggerated degree.

I agree that many Europeans are well aware of the staggering scale of the problems he has inherited and make allowances accordingly.

How cute! I totally agree, I think the US legislative should be at the mercy of the executive like it is here in France, if the judges don't like the laws the president wants to impose, I just fire the judges and hire my friends.

Vive le roi!

I blame the lack of strong unified party leadership more than anything. When FDR was in power he had a then filibuster proof 2/3 majority for much of his tenure and as a result could do whatever he wanted. Johnson in the Senate, VP, and Pres. was famous for enforcing party discipline.

If the hippy-dippy democrats wanted to get anything done they should have done all their squabbling behind closed doors (especially about healthcare since they had 12 years since Clinton-care to get their ducks in line, including the example of a very good plan from Pres. Nixon.)

I blame President Clinton for much of the current inability to get things done. He gutted Congress' center (moderate Democrats and Republicans) by pressuring them to support gun control. The result was not only a takeover of Congress by Republicans in 1994, but the replacement of educated, moderate Republicans such as Bob Dole by the fire-breathers such as Sarah Palin.

If you want the tea-party'ers to go away, stop pushing cultural change.

I live in France, Paris, actually. As an American, I have been less abused this past year thanks to President Obama. During the Bush residency, my French friends were all over me with J'accuse. French people view American politics on par with Hollywood blockbusters and, most unfortunately, by association, Americans, as its arriviste audience. The typical citoyen has about as much knowledge of congress as the average American -basically, il ne sait pas grandchose -not much. Today, the French are more tolerant and even understanding of Obama, if not American politics, despite the president's vacillation and propensity for hopscotching from one issue to the next. He is, they believe, fettered by the Past and the petulance of the American public who do not appreciate his intellect and savoir- faire. They respect his coolness-sang froid- under pressure, too. Viewed from the city of light's arrondissement, Obama is respected for what he has tried to do, what he believes is the right course. They pity him, c'est il fait, too, because he doesn't have the support at home to correct America's international policy with intelligence.

I wouldn't have written this article so hopelessly, but I agree with the author's anger.

A hoot is Texan for a good hard laugh and that's what I got here. Mighty good of y'all over there, want'in us poor, dumb hick Americans to have all the benefits of..... what the hell did you call it, proportional government? Finally got over the whole King/Fiefdoms thing did you? Good for you! Sure, our system sucks, we all know it, it's no secret. BUT it is OUR system, sure we swapped parasitic monarchs for equally parasitic politicians like Fat Teddy Kennedy, the difference is Fat Teddys kids don't automatically take over. Get it? So anyways, ya'll take care now, and don't waste too much time worryin' 'bout us poor 'ol dumb Americans, 'cause we're sure as hell not thinking about y'all. Thanks again, you Euros break me up.

I registered just to comment on this post. First off, as I hope all are aware, folks from Texas don't speak for most Americans.

Eventually you judge a man by his deeds and not by his words. As other have said, there's really no excuse for not getting legislation passed given a Democratic President and Democratic majorities in both Houses of Congress. I don't know about the EU, but here in the good old USA there's what we call "arm twisting", some call it leadership.

I call you all naive because you probably blamed Bush for everything that happened on his watch. However, like far too many Americans you make excuses for what happens on Obama's watch. Believe me, the lack of legislative progress is what Obama wants; crooks running the Treasury is what Obama wants; half hearted attemps to fix the economy is what Obama wants; Gitmo, Iraq, and Afghanistan are in the exact state that Obama wants.

I voted for him. I'll vote for him again because in a few years I'll be given the choice between the lesser of two evils, and Obama will probably be that choice.

Didn't we have a Revolution so we would not be like the Euro's? Yeah, taht is what we want, a strong central gov't to ram things down our throats! lol. Those darn Americans and those silly thoughts they have of individual freedom! Hmmm...maybe we could be more like Europe and allow the Gov't to censor the press if need be for state security like they can in the UK? Maybe we should restrict speech that is offensive like they do in almost all of the EU? Maybe we should be able to ban parties and anyone who belongs to those parties can be arrested like the do in Germany? Maybe we should not allow for the rule of self-defense like they again do in more of the EU countries? Hmm....I could go on but I think those are FEW of the example why you can keep the Euros in Europe. What is also amazing is that you see so many people looking to become citizens here who are from Europe, yet not the other way around..I wonder why that is? ;)

darn it!! lol Or maybe I should cut back on the coffee..either way, we need the edit option back!! ;)

I'm second to no one in lamenting the failings of my fellow countrymen, but this article is so full of ironies that undermine the writer's point that I can't help but wonder if the writer is secretly an American Fifth-Columnist attempting to undermine the credbility of Euro-weenies once and for all.

Let's see...

1.) He takes as his model for the Democrats Jimmy Stewart in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington". Mr. Massie decries the gridlock of Washington which is due to the Republican ability to filibuster (Demcoratic sacred cows, such as farm subsidies, are not mentioned), and takes as his great American hero Mr. Smith, whose tactic was - to filibuster? Isn't there a wee bit of inconsistency in your message there, Mr. Massie?

2.) Mr. Massie says the World's "Heart is Breaking" due to our inability to pass healthcare reform. Why the hell would Europeans, or any other non-Americans, care whether the US passes health care reform? Or are you all planning on moving here once it happens?

3.) Closing Guantanamo. Gee, I haven't heard Scotland offer to take in any Guantano prisoners lately. Maybe I shouldn't suggest that -- the last terrorist in their custody was the Pam Am bomber. He murdered 283 people -- included a dozen or so Scots -- but Scotland decided to let him go.

4.) Does Mr. Massie really thing that the post-Lisban EU model has anything to offer other countries? Really?

5.) And how is the Scottish parliament going? Getting much done are you?

You're breakin' my heart here.

I hoped against hope that the new national mood from last Fall would allow some change to seep into government and that Obama was more independent than Democrat. Apparently, I was right to be cautiously optimistic. I just love how the Democrats blame all the problems on what Bush did and what the Republicans are currently doing. It's equally rich how Republicans can be heard loud and clear claiming that Democrats represent everything that's wrong and indecent in this country. I am embarrassed to know that our system is being closely watched around the world. What no one seems to be saying is that, when it really comes down to substantive issues, there is only one ruling party in the U.S., the Republicrats. Sure, they cut each other's throats in public, but somehow they manage to get together quite well to ensure that nothing changes about the way business is done. Our economic, domestic, and foreign policies are exactly how those in true power on both sides want it.

In addition, we've been convinced that we must continue to choose horrible leaders simply because they are not as horrible as someone else. Meanwhile, we the citizens spend our effort in arguing with one another over which horribly incompetent/evil party is more incompetent/evil. The parties have actually convinced us that other factions who have differing ideologies from our own are intent on destroying the country and must be stopped no matter what. The politicians are using our genuine concerns and passions to distract us from the horrible jobs they are doing. Rather than exacerbating the polarization, we should be figuring out a way to get rid of both parties or, at the very least, a way to break the stranglehold they have over the entire government.

And genericusername, please refrain from making a mockery of yourself and the rest of us with your misplaced patriotic pride. I'm sure that the vast majority of the reasons you believe that Amuhrica is the greatest nation on Earth are outdated by at least 2 or 3 decades. What ever happened cleaning up our own mess and making our own accomplishments before we begin collectively patting ourselves on the back for what previous generations accomplished. We have zero basis to criticize other nations when we have willingly given up what used to make us a great country all in the name of nursing a bruised ego and fostering an illusion of invincibility.

Great stream-of-consciousness rant there Jinxy, but you really should read things more carefully and try not to read too much into them as you obviously have in this case, before you cut loose.
"you believe that Amuhrica is the greatest nation on Earth"
Please don't put words in my mouth. I never said this or anything even close, you pretentious douche-bag, and just for the sake of clarity Jinxy, America is not a nation, it's a continent. The United States is a nation. I apologize if my inaccurate usage confused your obviously muddled thought processes. I'll mock anything I damn well please, and though I am fair game for myself, easy targets like you offer little challenge.

The real state of affairs in this country is this: our "politics" is dominated not by any cognizable ideology, no matter who has which majority in what house. Both parties have essentially lost whatever faith they ever had in their ability to change things for the better, and so they operate on the principle, which has become acceptable to most of us, that when things get worse (and they usually do) they can place the blame on the other party. When that happens, they are in a position to get voted back into the majority, regardless of the fact that they have no idea whatever of what to do with it.

An aggregation of nincompoops, indeed.

This article shows a woeful lack of understanding of the American system of government.

Democrats not good at politics? As a student of American politics for the last 30+ years, that's kind of like saying the Yankees aren't good at baseball.

70 years? Hah! Our system's been like this for over 200 years. And why? Because it's designed to keep those in power from doing very much. The idea was that to do anything major, you have to get as many people on board as you can, the better to ensure that what's done is for the common good and not merely the good of the faction with the most power.

So, to European eyes, our system is slow, clunky, and seemingly infested with nincompoops. Oh, my heart bleeds. Efficiency is the siren's call of dictators (don't forget: the principal defense of Mussolini is that he made the trains run on time). Looking at the track record over the last 100 years of the efficient Europeans, I'll take the nincompoop Americans.

And as for Obama, yes, it turns out he can't take a sunrise, sprinkle it in dew, cover it in chocolate, and a miracle or two. Oh, if only people had been able to realize that he was nothing but a lot of pretty words and an empty suit with no actual experience.

Oh, wait: people did, and when they tried to warn everyone, they were called every dirty name in the book.