In your opinion, which of the following leaders is doing the best job?

           All   BRI    FRA   ITA    ESP

Zapatero   14%    2%    14%   19%    31%

Merkel     13%    7%    15%   13%    13%

Blair      7%     15%   6%    9%      3%

Chirac     5%     4%    12%   2%      2%

Bush       4%     4%    2%    10%     2%

Prodi      4%     1%    2%    13%     2%

Putin      2%     3%    1%    2%      --

Barroso    1%     1%    2%    1%      1%

None       49%    62%   46%   31%     47%

Source: Harris Interactive / Financial Times

Methodology: Online interviews with 1,019 adults in Britain, 1,033 adults in France, 1,048 adults in Germany,
1,054 adults in Italy and 1,020 adults in Spain, conducted from Sept. 7 to Sept. 18, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

Hmm... Zapatero and Merkel neck to neck, it's almost as though Europe favors some sort of social model.  

And what the hell is wrong with the Italians, 10% for Bush?  That's almost as good as his numbers in the United States.

And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg