Of the individuals that you’ve named, who is willing to send troops to Iraq? Who will send troops to fight Iran should the US take action? Who agrees with the US over Russia, China, and North Korea? These are the issues that the US genuinely needs partners (or perhaps counsel) on, and each European state falls short.

Not to overreact, but this line of thinking about our influencing the “conservative movement” in Europe is garbage. What’s taking place is that people are tired of the status quo. That may indeed be good news for now, but watch when things begin to improve again (assuming that they do improve). Inevitably you’ll get the same left-wing types back into power.

And the point about the Congressional elections is true ……if those sort of results hold the Conservatives would win a massive majority in the House of Commons.

I remember that the Tories started to gain in popularity when two things happened….Brown chickened out from calling an election and the Conservatives unveiled a promise to lower taxes (don’t remember what kind). I think the Conservative promise shows a good model!
(recent events have helped the Tories, yes….and Brown is just a doofus)

Also remember, in countries like Britain, these local elections are frequently a portent of things to come in national elections.

Not unlike the 2006 US Congressional elections were a sign of dissatisfaction with Bush and the Republicans.

Odd how that America was suppose to be “isolated” in the world under Bush….yet all these European countries are electing right wing, pro-American politicians.