[fieldmarshaldj]

Brazilian g/f ? You lucky dog. She got a sister ? ;-D

"the right-wing parties in Brazil are notoriously incompetent and have little presence in the major population centers"

Sounds like our GOP.

[Clemenza]

Her sister is married and living in Texas. ;)

[Clemenza]

"the right-wing parties in Brazil are notoriously incompetent and have little presence in the major population centers" --- Sounds like our GOP. To add insult to injury, the main conservative party are called the "Democratas" (ie Democrats). They actually formed a coalition with the PSDB under the Cardoso government.

The two largest political parties in Brazil are the PT (Workers Party) and the PDSB, with the Democrats following close behind. The PT thinks of itself as a left-populist party with a strong blue collar base of support, while the PDSB are center-left, with large support from "urban professionals." Lula's shift to the center has caused an identity crisis for the PDSB, however.

The Democrats main problem is that they are seen as the heirs of the ruling ARENA party that ruled during the dictatorship. As mentioned earlier, however, the main problem is incompetance at all levels, and an inability to grow the parties base of support away from the rural regions.