Europeans Eager For New U.S. President

A New Poll From the Pew Research Center Shows That The Majority Of Europeans Believe A New President Will Be Better Than Bush

(CBS)  As President Bush visits U.S. allies in Europe for the last time during his presidency, a new poll shows that a majority of Britons, French and Germans can't wait for a fresh face in the White House. CBS News White House Correspondent Bill Plante reports.

At a Sunday afternoon tea with the Queen at Windsor Castle, President Bush, who's enjoying the final leg of his European farewell tour, says he'll have good news for his successor.

"I will be pleased to report to him that the relationship between the United States and Europe is the broadest and most vibrant it has ever been," Bush said.

But much of Europe thinks of Bush as a cowboy who has ridden roughshod over the wishes of his allies. And they're glad he's on his way out.

"Goodbye," says one Berlin woman as she waves goodbye. "It was not fun, and I am looking forward to the change."

Here in London, there's still angry opposition to the Iraq war - and particularly to the presence of 4,200 British troops in the south of Iraq.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who suffers from approval ratings as low as the president's, reportedly hoped to bring all his troops home by the end of the year. But Bush's position is that there should be no set timetable.

"If there's success we're going to pull troops out and I have absolutely no problem with how Gordon Brown is managing the Iraqi effort," Bush said.

The appearance that Washington sets the agenda in Iraq and elsewhere reinforces the European view that President Bush does what he wishes without regard to the views of its allies.

And according to a Pew Research Center poll out this week Europeans - a majority of the Britons, French, and Germans, believe a new president means a better U.S. foreign policy.

And for most Britons, French and Germans, Barack Obama's personal story and opposition to the war make him a heavy favorite over Joan McCain when it comes to their confidence in his handling of foreign policy.

But there's also a dose of weary European realism.

"The problems are still there to be resolved, so I think he will have a hard time when he is president anyway, you know?" said Rome resident Domenico Cavallaro.

[keithle1]

"Better Than Bush"? IMPOSSIBLE! Dubya is the greatest President we have ever had. I have THOROUGHLY enjoyed the last eight years. Why does he have to go???

[ghostdog8]

If the Europeans love Obama so much, we should send him to them. I am sure they would find an excuse to send him right back. Maybe President McCain can make him an ambassador to France and he can live on the left bank and drink lattes with his cronies.

[leftyintexas]

The Europeans are not nearly as eager for a new U.S. President as we Americans are! What a DISASTEOUS EIGHT YEARS our country has gone through! When asked if you are better off now than you were eight years ago, the answer is a thunderous NO!!!!! Only 217 days left until Obama is sworn in!!! Yeah!!!!

[dobbershome]

It makes sense that Browns approval ratings our about the same as our presidents.

[neo267-2009]

Europe is a joke and irrelevent - just like the US will be with a Democratic President.

[me4prezz]

The opening paragraph should read:

As an apology to the world at large for having been so stupid as to elect this man, not once, but twice to an office for which he has no ability to perform, Americans are giving Mr.Bush to the UN as an early Christmas present to face public condemnation, world court on war crimes, and to a public display of public hanging, then draw and quartering, and finally putting pieces of him in the 4 corners of the Earth in remembrance of what happens to traitors of the Constitution of the United States of America and of freedom not just for policitians and rich folk, but for everyone.

[me4prezz]

AMERICANS eager for new president!

[usbrit-2009]

To h.ell with what the Europeans want!

Posted by ozilot

Remember the headlines in the European papers after the cretin got elected the 2nd time "How could 59,459,765 Americans be so stupid!?!" We should have listened then. There has never been a US President so reviled in Europe. The idiot is obviously too far gone for help.

[deacon20081]

I think the day Bush leaves office there shouild be a WORLD PEACE DAY!!!!

[avigil2]

The subtitle should have read, "Americans Eager For New US President, too!"