The political pundits are all arguing over the cause Americas loss of respect in the world's eyes. Is it our hawkish executive office? Is it religious tension stirred up by extremists?

No. It's the crap we export. This is the way Irish people see America in the grocery stores over here:

Rolling Rock: the Pinto of Beers

Rolling Rock beer and Fetzer wine.

Think of it in micro-terms: America is New York and Ireland is New Jersey... all the garbage alcohol gets shipped here.