People over seas really do see us as a joke, now. Three years ago my wife's friends would feel me out, mention Obama, hear me say NO, and really not get it, because they had the same fawning media coverage we had.
Now? I'd get the initial feel out and then the floodgates would break loose. My wife has a lawyer friend that's as up on things here as we are, and sees things the same way. It's fascinating listening to him compare contrast with where the Philippines is moving under a very Bush like leader, to us moving in the opposite direction. You pick up the Manila Bulletin and read story after story about corrupt politicians getting busted, thanks to a societal push to clean up their politics. Here? Well, on CBS News I learned who the sexiest woman alive, is. I did not see any stories about the monument shut downs. I actually had to watch the BBC in Hong Kong, as my only other choices were Russia Today, CCTV, and Al-Gorezeera. They're laughing at us on the BBC, literally.
Yes, they know we're turning into a banana republic. No, they're not gloating, in Asia anyway. They don't want to see us do that just as we here don't want to see it, as our banana republic actions have been jerking around their markets, also.