Bush could be seen as an anomaly. He was not elected by a majority of the American people for his first turn, and even if everybody shook their head about the obvious oilgrab in the Iraq based on blatant lies, people could somehow understand that you don't change an administration amidst a war.
Obama was seen as a return of the USA that was always admired by many if not most people in Europe.
Like someone coming to their senses after a violent fit, Europe was ready to embrace an America that put effort in preserving and spreading civil rights, peace and democracy with means that did not involve letting countries descend in mayhem that bloody dictators would envy.
Then - he did not shut down Guantanamo (and he could have done it if he had acted fast and spent time to convince his party)
- he did not Veto a continuation of the Patriot Act
- he let his administration spy on the press to an unprecedented extent
- he defends spying on everybody outside or with ties to outside the country
If this is the rational, the civilized America, then we are in deep trouble.