Posted on 09/14/2005 8:06:33 AM PDT by lowbuck
It was a perfect training program. Angela Merkel's seven years in the opposition -- time spent fighting off challengers within her own party to finally emerge as the Christian Democrat (CDU) candidate for chancellor in Sunday's general elections -- gave her plenty of time to put together her campaign recipe. A pinch -- but only a pinch -- of reform talk. A handful of job market fixes. A dash of tax-code modification. Bake until Sept. 18. Serves 82 million.
But apparently, the directions weren't clear enough. Instead of a campaign about the economic future of Germany, Merkel is now furiously back-pedaling on a man she handpicked for her campaign team in an attempt to add some tax expertise and economic gravitas. Merkel's dash of tax-code has turned into an uncontrolled dollop and the batter is now ruined. The dollop's name is Paul Kirchhof.
(Excerpt) Read more at service.spiegel.de ...
der spiegel wish piece. Schroeder is meat, and he knows it.
Thanks for drawing my attention to this. It largely matches my own observations: the flat tax is a non-starter, and people are wondering why, if Merkel wasn't planning to try and implement it, the guy is on the team in the first place. I still think she'll be chancellor, but she'll be very much circumscribed by enemies in her own party and coalition partner, quite apart from the opposition. It looks like the coalition partner could well be the SPD, albeit without Schröder. Failing that, the FDP, led by Guido Westerwelle, well-known lifter of gentlemen's shirts. But the family-values CDU party is much more enlightened about that sort of thing these days...
"Schroeder is meat, and he knows it."
Yes, but it won't make much difference if Merkel becomes chancellor if she has to do so as part of a "grand coalition" between the SPD and CDU. That would be like the Democrats and Republicans teaming up to make one governing coalition. Whoever is the figurehead for the coalition would be obligated to represents the interest and views of both CDU and SPD.
Right now, the Germans need Joan of Arc as desperately as they need to get rid of Gerhard Schröder. They'd better flock to the polls and vote Angela into office. She's the closest they're going to come.
The Spiegel isn't wishing anything here, just setting out the facts. Of course everybody here knows Schröder will soon be spending more time with the family, but that doesn't mean his party will be out of power. Grand coalition, anyone?
We are talking German elections again. I have a running bet with a German freeper that Schroeder would be behind and revert back to anti-Americanism and appeal to the worst of the Germans. However, this Katrina thing might be helping Merkel. Now if I can remind myself who I made the bet with...
Oh no, I understand that Merkel may not win enough to avoid forming a grand coalition, but that was a possibility regardless of whether she had this guy in her staff or not. Der Spiegel seems to imply that Schroeder could win. I doubt it.
I didn't read that into the article. I too doubt it very much.
Even Goebbels was not as obvious when writing propaganda pieces.
Der Spiegel needs some Windex to clean up its mirror.
They have been writing about the demise of the CDU and losses etc. since Schroeders last election.
Reality is that the CDU by itself and in some states with help of the FDP has kicked tail and taken names. Otherwise there wouldn't be elections this year.
And the communists and far left parties are going to take more votes away from the SPD then the CDU (no-brainer).
Only question is if the CDU needs the FDP and if they do does the FDP get over the 5% hurdle?
A small correction: The CDU definitely needs the FDP, and the FDP will get over the 5% (they´re around 7% currently). Plus, they´re the only party having decided that they will ONLY govern in a coalition with the CDU.
But, it´s still not clear whether we will get a CDU/CSU, FDP majority or a SPD, Green, Communist majority. It´s a close race.
This is actually the first time that I made use of my right to vote in Germany. Sent in all the paperwork and participated in the Briefwahl.
If she wins by just one vote I know that my $20 sending all the paperwork back and forth were worth it!!!!
And who the heck is the Animal Lover Party?????
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.