Who's Minding the Store?

Information gathering by all governments is insidious. However, I think it is very disingenuous for countries to be complaining about the U.S. spying on their leaders when they all spy on Obama and every previous president as well. This may play well in their countries, however, I think they have far more to worry about from China and Russia at this point than they do from the U.S.

However, what might be happening is the perceived (internal revolution) in the U.S. because of the government shutdown. This likely is scaring these governments and as a result they are distancing themselves from us in case something worse happens to our government in the future. So, though they want the U.S. to be their friend they are concerned that the "Tea Party" elements of the Republican party are so insane that they are a danger to their countries.

I don't think they are afraid of Obama at all, I think they are afraid of Tea Party elements that tried to hijack the nation and if Obama and the Democrats weren't strong enough they might have succeeded.

So, these countries are actually saying, "Who's minding the store?" Is it someone sane or someone insane? And if it is someone insane like the "Tea Party" we want nothing to do with you at all as a country.

The squabbles (that never seem to end) in the U.S. are scaring the world to death. It makes them wonder if the U.S. Glory days are gone? They are wondering if they are going to have to fend for themselves alone and maybe create new alliances different than NATO and others?