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Watching Obama’s trip through the Middle East and Europe has been immensely satisfying, in a very I-told-you-so sort of way. Is there another person who could have possibly done a better job representing America? The response has been absolutely amazing. Leaders of the world, citizens of the world love him, they believe him, they trust him, exactly what America needs to matter again in the minds of people abroad.

“‘So far what he is talking about is what Afghans want to hear: reduce troops in Iraq, focus on Afghanistan and focus on Pakistan,’ said Ashmat Ghani, an influential tribal leader whose home province of Logar, just south of the capital, is suffering from growing instability by insurgent groups.” (NYT: “Obama’s Visit Renews Focus on Afghanistan“)

“Obama received a warm reception from President Shimon Peres of Israel, who said his fondest wish was for a ‘great president of the United States. That is the greatest promise for us and the rest of the world.’” (IHT: “Obama meets with Israeli and Palestinian leaders“)

“After dinner at His Majesty’s palace tonight, known here as Beit Al Urdan, Senator Barack Obama was headed to catch a plane to Israel. So King Abdullah [of Jordon] got behind the wheel of his dark-gray Mercedes Benz, Mr. Obama hopped in the passenger’s seat and they headed through the streets to Jordan/Queen Alia International Airport.” (NYT The Caucus: “Obama’s High-Powered Ride to the Airport“)

“A German diplomat… said the discussions with Merkel went very successfully, saying: ‘They quickly found themselves on the same page. It was not superficial at all.’” (IHT: “Obama gets pop star reception in Berlin“)

Meanwhile, what’s McCain been doing? Photo-ops with the first Bush. Putting Iraq on the Pakistani border. (Hint, Iran is between Iraq and Pakistan.) Running increasingly pathetic attack ads blaming Obama for rising gas prices, attempting to connect him with Fidel Castro (to compliment his Obama-Ahmadinejad ad?), and accusing the media of a Obama love-affair. The day of Obama’s history-making speech in Berlin, attended by over 200,000 Germans and Americans, what was McCain doing? Lunching on bratwurst at Schmidt’s Sausage Haus und Restaurant in Columbus, Ohio.

How, um, inspiring.

To me, McCain’s strangest tack is accusing the media of “swooning” over Obama. It’s not the media that has “Obamamania,” it’s the people, both here and abroad. The media’s a business that caters to its readers, listeners, and viewers—if people actually gave more of a shit about him, if McCain represented the future of America instead of America’s disastrous recent past, then I’m sure the media would be tripping over themselves trying to get on the Straight Talk Express as opposed to O-Force One.

DOOCY: Why are you not on Barack Obama’s airplane heading to the Middle East right now?
WALLACE [FOX News Anchor]: Well, I called the Obama campaign several weeks ago and said that I’d like to go and my invitation has apparently been lost in the mail.
(FOX & Friends, as quoted by The Colbert Report and reported by Crooks and Liars: “The Colbert Report: Barack Obama Snubs Fox News“)

I’m fine with those who thoughtfully disagree with Obama’s actual policies—that’s the dialogue of a healthy democracy, exactly why this country is great. What pisses me off is the endless, idiotic ad hominem attacks on Obama and his wife by aspects of the Right. For fuck’s sake, as a mere candidate this guy is winning hearts and minds over the entire planet, he’s the very antidote to eight years of arrogant American dumbassery, and they would cut him at the knees? Disagree, sure, but recognize that Obama is demonstrating exactly how far a person can go to serve his country.

(All images from The New York Times: “Obama in Germany“)