> I find it very hard to believe that foreigners are captivated by the 
> McCain-Feingold Act.

Why so ?  Modifications in constitution, political and legal systems, and 
evolutions in American citizens' rights are important, and mean something to 
foreigners around the world. Just like the current and past issues of 
freedom, civil rights, segregation, creationism, death penalty were and are 
important, captivating if you will.

If there's a risk of a country following a way which is felt "as less 
democratic", it matters.
In the same way, it would have mattered to foreigners if LePen had won the 
French elections, knowing the risk of the country becoming a neo-fascist 
state. It *should* have anyway...
It matters even more to foreigners if the country at stake is one that who 
plays such a consequent role in the world as the USA.

>> that's one thing that will hopefully change, no ?


> No. Do the French give a flying shit about what Americans think about 
> their elections?

Well yes they do precisely.
What happened was felt as a great shame for the nation, which is somewhat 
understandable. There was a lot of media coverage on foreign reaction to the 
last presidential elections.
Just like it was interesting when American politicians mentioned the current 
hijab-in-French-schools ( Islamic veil) debate.
They do give a flying shit.

>> somehow this notion is often put forward by many "anti-Americans" 
>> terrorists to justify their acts, in this often heard idea of sepponian 
>> ignorance, non-interest, arrogance and general disdain for a world that 
>> they tend to model through their economic, military and political means.
>
> No, the terrorists put forward the fact that America exists on planet 
> Earth. That is all we need. Also, we don't hate Jews, unlike some other 
> countries I might name.

First I don't think countries hate Jews, but people. If you're talking about 
the Arabo-Muslim world, I think history shows that this hatred is pretty 
obviously linked to recent history. Jews have always lived in Arabo-Muslim 
countries, like Christians under a special system, but with respect due to 
the "people of the Book". this began to change with events in the 20th 
century.
Second I think the majority of Muslim fundamentalists want to return to a 
world clearly divided between the faithful and the infidels, *They want to 
live in clearly divided world between us and them, where they can live in 
their fantasies of original "purity" , follow the Charia'a and their own 
interpretations of the Kuran.
And lapidate women if they want to.
 Of course they want Jerusalem back, like in the good ol' days of the 
crusades, which to them implies destroying the Jewish state.
They found an good-playing enemy in America, which provides easy 
justification with its economic/ cultural power, current international 
policy and what is perceived as arrogance, disdain and non interest for a 
world they dominate/ greatly influence.
 That's why America is seen as the great Satan and not Sweden, which also 
exists on planet Earth.

b