Posted on 05/22/2005 9:20:54 PM PDT by quidnunc
The polls for entire Germany are even better than for NRW. In Germany, the SPD would get 28%, the CDU 46% if elections were held today. 8% would vote for the Free Democrats and the Greens each.
Ping
Hey Mr. Schroeder, can you hear me now?
Go off into the dustbin of history to be pilloried you butthead.
Maybe there is hope? :)
Now the CDU/CSU/FDP need to take over nationally.
Schroeder won in 2002 with cheap shots but had no substance.
It was horrible to see a Stoiber and Merkel (Both highly intelligent people) to be drug through the mud the way they were, all awhile the SPD/Greens talked about the evil CDU and their mud-slinging. Do you remember all the comments about Merkel’s appearance? The comments about her crawling in the USA’s ass? Someone even posted a pick of a float (Fasching) where this was represented. Still now, as the SPD/Greens sink into the ground they are screaming “Vote for us, the CDU wants American like Social conditions”. Look at Muntefehring and his comments at the end.
HOWEVER, the fact that people in Germany are turning their back to this rhetoric and voted them out speaks volumes!
The fact that this coalition SPD/Greens is imploding even at the national level (New elections national are possible) demonstrates that there is a silent mass out there that disagrees with the current course.
It’s refreshing to see this. This is no bad end, but rather a chance for a new beginning. I truly believe (No over exaggeration) that had the red/green coalition stayed in power for a few more years Germany would have been lost. They would have economically done so much damage that even with a new government Germany would have stayed on its rear. You can dig a hole you can’t climb out of anymore, if that makes sense?
But don’t be too happy! The CDU/CSU/FDP are inheriting a mess. Atomkraft nein danke, Genetechnik neindanke, Any company doing Zink work has left (Environmental rules), closing bases, car manufacturers are exporting production (Mercedes to Mississippi, BMW to S. Carolina even Japan, VW-Spain and Check Republic, Opel to Poland….), etc. Germany has LOST influence and a lot of its business in the Persian Gulf over the last years and present currency exchange rates long term are detrimental to the Export market. Economically Germany is not just “cyclically” in trouble but has serious economic “structural” issues. One thing is for sure; trends are hard to change, and changing the glide slope Germany is on today will be no easy task. The new government will have to make some VERY hard decisions.
It is funny to hear the SPD/Greens cry, "We just inherited these problems from the CDU/CSU years ago!" As if. Even in your state they are claiming it's the policies of the national government from years past. Thereby they push the blame on Kohl. Of course they can't just say it's the national government :) These guys are pathetic. Vermin.
What's that German politicians name who's in a wheelchair and was shot by a terrorist? Imagine you're him and you have to sit on a table with Fischer, another SPD guy who was a RAF lawyer etc. I don't think I could do it.
If people give you to much $hit here, just remind them, we had Clinton for 8 years!
I wish you luck.
Red6
DEUTSCHLAND KOMMT WIEDER!
In NRW, the party succeeded with the slogan "NRW´s coming back!" - and in case you haven´t heard: THERE WILL BE NEW ELECTIONS HELD IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR! The Chancellor wants to lose the confidence vote in parliament to give the President the chance to dissolve the parliament.
The polls are great for us, and the reason Müntefering did it (Schröder was offered no chance but to agree to that step) is, to keep the SPD united after losing their most important state to us.
President Köhler (CDU) declared: Vorfahrt für Arbeit! (Green lights for work!) Every policy that creates jobs is social. We´re heading into that direction - and the people know it.
Mr. Wolfgang Schäuble will probably become president of the parliament ("Mr. Speaker").
I answer to the people: Kohl was voted out of office in 1998 for a huge number of unemployed - and now the Red-Greens deserve the same fate for seven years of standstill.
Yeah, the governments will make hard decisions in NRW and in Berlin. But: we are having two till three years a good majority in Bundestag and Bundesrat both; so we´ll have enough time to make the important decisions.
Regards!
First, congratulations on this overwhelming CDU win.
As I have said before, I don't trust a desperate Schroeder. He has a few surprises up his sleve, count on it.
"Desperate people will do desperate things".
Of course, there is another problem. Schroeder has all but abandoned his party for personal claim to power. It is not at all clear that he will lose the non-confidence vote.
If the party members don't go along, he can come back and say that he just won the internal vote and has a mandate to continue until next year when regular elections will be held.
He and Muenteferring will use that "Positive outcome" to campaign for the entire year in order to win again.
Considering that Schroeder immediately called for new elections in the fall, I would not be so quick to make that claim!!
A lot of people wondered when Munterfering & Co. started beating the anti-capitalism drums. Now the statements make sense! Schroeder KNEW they would lose NRW and began the SPD re-election campaign (and set the tone for the election) even before the call for new elections was made.
The SPD is going to blame every current wrong on capitalism (= USA) and a great majority will believe them.
All of the earlier statements regarding the transatalntic alliance (needs to be rethought), opening to Russia & China, and mich more - all show that the SPD has long planned this announcement and have placed themselves in a situation where the opposition (CDU/CSU & FDP) will have a difficult time convincing the voters that they even HAVE a plan - let alone a good one.
Wolfgang Schäuble. BUT, IIRC he was stabbed by a crazed woman at some type of party meeting or some such.
Memory is a bit old on that, but that should be about right.
Hang in there, Michael! We're pullin' for you...
Do you guys know if the German Ping list is still alive and well???
Haven't gotten anything from longjack in quite some time.
I agree with you on those points.
There was not enough time for the party officials to even debate over their course of action. It was pre-planned.
Look for a lot of underhanded crap from Schroeder (Chiraq light) and Muenteferring.
Longjack hasn't posted in 2 weeks. Vacation?
What economic policies will the CDU under Merkel enact?
What will she do about making employment more flexible?, which I think is hurting Germany's economy as much as the high tax rate is.
Stop it.
First, thanks for the congrats.
Second, you´re right that desperate people will do desperate things - but, the people are fed up with "Red-Green".
Third, the Chancellor will lose the confidence vote. The executive committee of the SPD has supported this step, they´re surely losing this vote and new elections will be held until Sept. 18th.
She is going to make us more flexible. We will reduce bureaucracy (especially the "equalizing laws"). The stocks went up today due to the hope for a better government. We´re happy that we have a majority in the "Senate", so we can rule in both chambers of parliament.
Thanks. :-) We´ll make it. Promise. Seven years are over, finally. GERMANY IS COMING BACK!
Since I don't trust Schroeder at all, I will applaud the election when it happens.
Even though he is an unethical and vicious person, I will not call him stupid.
Calm down. :-) Just announced: In a personal election Merkel would get 44% and Schröder 45% - this is the best result for the women from the East ever. My party´s going to make it, 16-18% difference between black-yellow and red-green are a huge advantage for us. See you on Sept. 18th!!
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