mitt romney; u.s. elections Romney campaign book: England is just a small island

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

England is the 9th largest island in the world.... wouldnt call that small.

Americans in geography and foreign relationships gaffe shocker.

For such a large country that attempts to control pretty much the entire world, you guys really aren't that well educated, as a whole, if your presidential candidates are anything to go by.

And you wonder why the rest of the world doesn't like America?

nah, we dont wonder. im well aware. i try to differentiate myself from other americans, but most americans are just blissfully ignorant and brainwashed.

and youre right, our education system is awful. kids dont learn anything but cell phones and facebook.

[Ice_Blue]

England is the 9th largest island in the world.... wouldnt call that small.

nah, we dont wonder. im well aware. i try to differentiate myself from other americans, but most americans are just blissfully ignorant and brainwashed.

and youre right, our education system is awful. kids dont learn anything but cell phones and facebook.

Ah, come on. It's not really that bad.

How many countries have the equivalents of M.I.T., Cornell, UCLA, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, NASA, JPL and Johns Hopkins?

[Skin]

What an amazing story you told me there... Please do tell me more... oh wait... nah don't. I couldn't care less about your grandparents.

well I do.

Carry on with the story.

A gaffe is one thing, but a passage in a book is another. In terms of Romney?s international comprehension and competence, consider these words in his campaign tome No Apology: ?England is just a small island. Its roads and houses are small. With few exceptions, it doesn?t make things that people in the rest of the world want to buy.? England? What about Scotland and Wales?which is why the Island nation is called Great Britain. Small roads? Has he ever heard of the motorways?yes, freeways?that stretch the length and breadth of the country outside London? Small houses? This is a childish clich?. And as for exports: How about aerospace, pharmaceuticals, financial services, the creative industries and high tech? (Sir Tim Berners Lee is the inventor of the World Wide Web.) ??

How could anyone with presidential ambitions write what Romney did, or let it be ghost written for him? One explanation is that he?s clueless, the other is that he doesn?t care. Either, as Krauthammer might put it, is disqualifying. And Mitt should be relieved that No Apology apparently has no readers in Britain.

and wait, isn't this akin to that one flub in that one bio book that claimed Obama was born in Kenya... and was since removed... or a bazillion other things that need to be corrected in books that actually hit print.

Naw, couldn't be someone writing a book and not having an editor catch crap. naw.

I dislike Romney as much as many people, but seriously........

also, in 'his' opinion, the roads and houses are small, and so is the overall UK. Well, they all kinda are in perspective.

[dippednbutter]

Geez, what a bunch of whiners. A lot of you peeps smack talk Americans much worse than what Mitt said and then go on a hissy tirade to at the very least, one up him. If you were that much better you would get over yourselves.

[exotoxic]

Our houses are tiny compared to other countries and more expensive, that's what happens when you cram millions of people in to a small area.

[DocM]

Ah, come on. It's not really that bad.

How many countries have the equivalents of M.I.T., Cornell, UCLA, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, NASA, JPL and Johns Hopkins?

Silicon Valley, the NewSpace companies, Intel, MS, Apple, Mayo Clinic, Texas Heart Institute, Northrop Grumman....

[Krome]

Anyone else still have doubt about Mitt Romney? Half of the population (based on survey) favor this idiot who's message is about destroying others. Mitt Romney is the icon for many if not all of the Republican party. It's a shame where the country is turning into.

[derkim]

Well... at first I think a (graduand) statesman shouldn't gave comments like

England is just a small island. Its roads and houses are small. With few exceptions, it doesn?t make things that people in the rest of the world want to buy.

this is disrespectfuln and impolitically.

And as I said in the Apple news today... What does the USA do for the world? Exactly! Made in China!

The USA have 8-9x more depts than the completely European Union!!!

The most homelessness people in the OECD states are in the USA!

And small houses and streets are a part of the Europe and of course British/English culture. We don't need excessive absurd exaggerations. Maybe culture is some thing what the USA would like to have.

[theyarecomingforyou]

It's the same logic Europeans use when they see crime reports from NYC, Chicago, LA etc and figure that's what the other 98% of the US is like, so yes all sides are guilty.

Yeah, because here in Europe we don't have large cities with crime problems and therefore all our opinions on the US are misguided. :rolleyes: We are well aware that cities have higher rates of crime. London isn't a magical place with no crime.

As for Romney's statement, it demonstrates his ignorance both of geography and of diplomatic relations. The UK accepts its place in the world and doesn't claim to be anywhere near as influential as it used to be. But for a US presidential candidate to basically say the UK is good for nothing and isn't important shows a complete contempt for diplomacy and is highly disrespectful and ignorant. He did the same in Israel by refusing to visit the Palestinian territories and insulting the Palestinian culture. His aides were disrespectful in Poland. And he has demonstrated the same level of ignorance when it comes to his position on Iran.

The problem is not that Romney makes the occasional mistake, misstatement or ignorant comment - it's that he does this repeatedly when he is seeking to become one of the most influential politicians on the planet. Is he really the best that the Republican party has to offer? Do Americans really think he represents the best that the country has to offer and that he'll improve foreign relations? Do Americans think that this sort of diplomacy is acceptable? All this does is reinforce the stereotype of American arrogance and their contempt for the rest of the world.

[HSoft]

blah.....

.....We don't need excessive absurd exaggerations. Maybe culture is some thing what the USA would like to have.

So that's why most of the UK call all Americans yanks or yankees. Get off your high horse. Everyone is guilty of doing the same thing.

As for Romney's statement, it demonstrates his ignorance both of geography and of diplomatic relations.

As stated above, people in the UK are guilty of this too. Everybody does it in one way or another with one country or another.

[jakem1]

Meh, I'd rather live in the UK with it's small houses than live in a country where half the population think people like Romney are worth voting for.

[FlintyV]

So that's why most of the UK call all Americans yanks or yankees. Get off your high horse. Everyone is guilty of doing the same thing.

As stated above, people in the UK are guilty of this too. Everybody does it in one way or another with one country or another.

People, maybe but someone who's running for president? Is that excusable?

[Skin]

Meh, I'd rather live in the UK with it's small houses than live in a country where half the population think people like Romney are worth voting for.

as opposed to half the PMs and representatives...that got in over there. :rolleyes:

I really don't get other countries... bad mouth America and demand she act different - - - then turn around and do similar things.

[HSoft]

People, maybe but someone who's running for president? Is that excusable?

Is it any different than having a President that constantly lies?

In a perfect world, perhaps not. But given the choice of the two candidates running, this is a seriously minor issue.

[dippednbutter]

Hard to imagine so many people wear the panty.

[theyarecomingforyou]

As stated above, people in the UK are guilty of this too. Everybody does it in one way or another with one country or another.

Of course, though it's not usually high-profile politicians seeking election, it's not done with such regularlity and the difference is that when such statements are made they are usually widely criticised. For instance, there was a Conservative MP in the UK who criticised the Olympic opening ceremony for being "leftie multicultural crap" but he was widely criticised by many, including the Prime Minister and Major of London (who are both members of the same political party). Republicans should be criticising Romney publicly but they're not and it's that which is the real issue. Ignorant comments should be criticised, regardless of who said them.

[jakem1]

as opposed to half the PMs and representatives...that got in over there. :rolleyes:

This just proves my point. We only have one PM and no representatives.

The US might have it's fair share of successful companies and institutions but for every one of those there seem to be a large number of gun-toting, bible-bashing morons.

[neufuse Veteran]

This just proves my point. We only have one PM and no representatives.

The US might have it's fair share of successful companies and institutions but for every one of those there seem to be a large number of gun-toting, bible-bashing morons.

you sure PMs didn't mean parliament members? yes still a mistake but makes more sense since it was plural... not everyone here knows they are MP's not PM's

[redfish]

Unlike Michigan, where all the trees are the right size :)

Meh, I'd rather live in the UK with it's small houses than live in a country where half the population think people like Romney are worth voting for.

They don't. They think he's better than the other guy. And people who are voting for the other guy are thinking the same thing about him vs. Romney.

[HSoft]

Of course, though it's not usually high-profile politicians seeking election, it's not done with such regularlity and the difference is that when such statements are made they are usually widely criticised. For instance, there was a Conservative MP in the UK who criticised the Olympic opening ceremony for being "leftie multicultural crap" but he was widely criticised by many, including the Prime Minister and Major of London (who are both members of the same political party). Republicans should be criticising Romney publicly but they're not and it's that which is the real issue. Ignorant comments should be criticised, regardless of who said them.

Just like democrats should be critizing the President when he lies, makes a silly comment etc? I've not seen that happen on these threads.

As I said earlier, given the choice of the two candidates, this is really nit-picking stuff and there's far more important stuff to discuss on both sides.

They don't. They think he's better than the other guy. And people who are voting for the other guy are thinking the same thing about him vs. Romney.

That about sums it up, who's the very slightly better of two really bad candidates. Seems to happen a lot in American politics for some reason....

[Hardcore Til I Die]

So that's why most of the UK call all Americans yanks or yankees. Get off your high horse. Everyone is guilty of doing the same thing.

As stated above, people in the UK are guilty of this too. Everybody does it in one way or another with one country or another.

I say yanks but it's an endearment rather than an insult.

Not really any different to "Brits" "afghans" "scots" etc.

[derkim]

So that's why most of the UK call all Americans yanks or yankees. Get off your high horse. Everyone is guilty of doing the same thing.

I'm sorry, can you explain me what yanks or yankees in this case means? I'm not british, I don't know.

[Skin]

This just proves my point. We only have one PM and no representatives.

Great... So you miss the point of the wording say it proves your point. :|

Allow me to clarify rather than using internet slang and abbreviations.

You make fun of Romney... but in the meantime, look at all the Prime Ministers and members of your big 'ol gubberment building that have been absolute dolts, yet still made it in.

So yes, while you have only one PM as a time, you have had several. Also your folks certainly have representatives.

In summary... you have lousy people in your leadership too... so why cast stones at a flub when your people do it as well.

[HSoft]

I say yanks but it's an endearment rather than an insult.

Not really any different to "Brits" "afghans" "scots" etc.

It's a huge insult to a lot of Americans, even if you don't mean it to be.

I was the same before I moved over here and found differently.

[Tuishimi]

there seem to be a large number of gun-toting, bible-bashing morons.

I think you meant bible-thumping. And I am Christian and I also own weapons.