Hasta Luego, Zapatero

Weekly Standard ^ | Dec. 5, 2011 | Christopher Caldwell

[oldbrowser]

Just as incoming American presidents are given the atomic “briefcase” by their predecessors, along with the codes for launching a nuclear attack, perhaps Spanish prime ministers will henceforth receive a begging cup and a German phrasebook. It was al Qaeda that made José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero of the Socialist Workers’ party (PSOE) Spain’s prime minister; Lehman Brothers and the euro crisis have unmade him, putting his country at the financial mercy of its European neighbors. Zapatero came to power when jihadists bombed several trains in the heart of Madrid on election weekend 2004. The bombs convinced Spaniards they would be safer voting for the candidate more congenial to al Qaeda’s reading of the Iraq war.

This week prime minister-elect Mariano Rajoy, leader of the conservative Popular party, put an end to seven years of Zapaterismo. He will take power on Christmas Eve. Zapatero’s successor as PSOE standard-bearer, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, got the lowest vote total the Socialists have ever received. It was Rajoy whom Zapatero beat in 2004, to the surprise of everyone, including Zapatero himself. Once he had pulled Spain out of the Iraq war coalition, he struggled to find things to do. That meant indulging the whims of whatever interest group was complaining most loudly. The achievements of the Zapatero years are numerous and nugatory. Gay marriage. A record number of women in the cabinet. Divorce reform.

[oldbrowser]

When Spain’s economy began to lose altitude, and then went into a death spiral following the collapse of Lehman, it didn’t have enough to do with fascism or gender roles to hold Zapatero’s attention.

[y6162]

That about sums up The Zappy

[dfwgator]

Best moment during Zapatero's rule was when his home page was hacked, and his picture replaced with Mr. Bean

Separated at Birth?

[csvset]

WTH?

Chewbacca, Urkel and Mr. Bean meet the Addams Family?

[oldbrowser]

The similarities of these two are uncanny.

[Caipirabob]

That is an absolutely FRIGHTENING photo! I have never seen the female equivalent to “Uncle Fester” and Zippy has TWINS!

[denydenydeny]

NUGATORY. 1: of little or no consequence : trifling, inconsequential. 2: having no force : inoperative.

[mosesdapoet]

Cadwell’s article confuses the series of bombings in Spain. Two groups resorted to bombings. Basque separatists, and jihnadists. It was the blaming of the 1st bombings on the jihadists by the conservatives when actually it was Basque separatists and Zappy’s forces claimed the jihadists were falsely accused.

[y6162]

Zapper’s goth girls are hideous hunchback trolls.

snicker...socialists...

[Chode]

looks like the Adams Family...