World welcomes shift in U.S. politics

[donsu]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eln_elections_world_view


Politicians, analysts and ordinary citizens across much of the world welcomed the electoral rebuke given President Bush's Republican Party and the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Wednesday.

Against the broad mood of satisfaction, however, there were voices of concern that a power split between Democrats and Republicans in Washington might mean uncertainty in crucial areas like global trade talks.

On Iraq, some worried that Democrats could force a too-rapid retreat, leaving the country and the region in chaos. Others said they doubted the congressional turnover would have a dramatic impact on Iraq policy any time soon, largely because the Democrats have yet to define the course they want to take.

But from Paris to Pakistan, a repeated theme was hope that the Democratic takeover of the House and Senate would force Bush to adopt a more conciliatory approach to global crises, and teach a president many see as a "cowboy" a lesson in humility.

-snip-

"You can't fool everybody all the time — and I think that's what Bush and his administration are learning today."

Italian Premier Romano Prodi said Rumsfeld's surprise resignation underscored the depth of what has happened in America.

-snip-

In an extraordinary joint statement, more than 200 Socialist members of the European Parliament hailed the American election results as "the beginning of the end of a six-year nightmare for the world."

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who has consistently railed against the Bush administration, called the election "a reprisal vote."
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"the beginning of the end of a six-year nightmare for the world."

[Jim Warren]

1. One of the greatest benefits

of these election results will be a message to the people of the world, at a time of heightened political tension, that we Americans were being misrepresented by our national government.

[Mist]

2. The Guardian (UK) has a good article on the relief experienced by

many around the world at our election results:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/midterms2006/story/0,,1942821,00.html

[undeterred]

3. "the beginning of the end of a six-year nightmare for the world."

WORLD, we're sorry.