Schroeder faces rout in German state polls

The Times of India ^ | Februari 02 2003 | Reuters

[knighthawk]

Europe-list

If people want on or off this list, please let me know.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[Maelstrom]

Socialism in action.

[FreedomPoster]

I have a German tennis buddy who lives here in the States, just returned from Dusseldorf.

His comment the other night re Iraq:

"I hope the Americans go to the UN for a second resolution on Iraq - and then attack while the UN is dithering and Saddam thinks he is safe."

Many Germans are with us on this. They need a FreiRepublik.de to help them overcome their lamestream media, too.

[Guillermo]

Funny.

I have a close German friend too...he's constantly apologizing for Schroeder's behavior.

[JennysCool]

Couldn't happen to a nicer Chancellor.

[Michael81Dus]

Nice to see that still many Americans have good connections to my fatherland. ;-)
And most of the FReepers having been to Germany at least have heard of my hometown Düsseldorf. That brings a smile to my face - and when I see the losers faces this evening, the smile will change to a loud laugh! Schröder and the SPD deserve a heavy setback.

But I fear that it´ll be closer than expected, although my party (CDU) will win both elections.

[A. Pole]

Many Germans are with us on this. They need a FreiRepublik.de to help them overcome their lamestream media, too.

Just remember that majority of Germans are strongly against this war. The very reason why Schroeder managed to stay in power is that he adopted (unwillingly) anti-war platform. The degree of his stringency is the measure of public pressure. Otherwise he would support US in a second.

Germans are deeply scarred by their militarism of last two World Wars and their former pride and lust for power over the world. I suspect that they project their feeling of guilt and suppressed arrogance on the America, imagining that Americans are repeating German errors from the past.

I am not sure if overcoming German inhibitions would be a good thing.

[FreedomPoster]

Good point. Not surprising to see this observation from someone with a FR handle like yours. ;-)

The Poles are a people unfortunate in occupying a piece of territory with no defensible natural borders, located smack in the middle of a major historical East-West invasion path. :-(

[Michael81Dus]

Nearly correct, but you´ve to admit that Schröder was reelected because of the floodings and the anti-war-sentiments. His reaction on the floodings in the Eastern states brought him much lost sympathy by the East Germans back!

And, the public pressure in Germany is IRRELEVANT! All that matters is his coalition with the Greens. It´s tradition in Germany that nearly all important decisions are made against a majority (Euro, Pershing II, rearmament, joining NATO, etc). Chancellors usually don´t care what the people say - but it´s a contribution to the Greens.

[DoctorMichael]

I was in Berlin {business} and them in Celle (outside of Hannover) {pleasure} at the beginning of December.

[Michael81Dus]

Hope you enjoyed your visit to Berlin. I´m fascinated of the New Berlin - a mix of modern architecture and historical buildings. Norman Foster has build a great dome on the parliament, I think we now have a nice capital.

[monocle]

I had spent some time in Dusseldorf on business as well as in Paris. My experiences could not have been more different. The Germans were pleasant and trustworthy whereas the French were rude and treacherous. The Germans were tough negotiators, but once you had an agreement you could bank on it. The French, on the other hand, were deceptive negotiators and would immediately work to undermine any agreement.

[A. Pole]

And, the public pressure in Germany is IRRELEVANT!

I am not sure if you mean that public pressure in Germany SHOULD be irrelevant? Are you saying that it is more important to make wars than to preserve German democracy? You guys send chills down my spine.

[Michael81Dus]

Sounds as if you had negotiations about the EU treaties?!
LOL I´m glad that you made positive experiences here. Maybe US/German relationship isn´t completely destroyed?
On the level of the head of states, it probably is. On lower levels (departments, federal authorities, intelligences), I got the impression that boths sides can work together pretty good.

[Michael81Dus]

LOL No, I´m sorry, I´ve probably expressed my thoughts misunderstandable. The public opinion is irrelevant for the decisions of our governments. Though, that doesn´t mean that we´re abolishing democracy, no. But our governments did never look at polls what they should do or not. In fact, it´s my opinion that we should go to war against Iraq to preserve democracy in the western world (no western world, no democracy there, you see?). There´s no contradiction for me.

[A. Pole]

In fact, it´s my opinion that we should go to war against Iraq to preserve democracy in the western world (no western world, no democracy there, you see?).

How the overthrow of secularist regime in Iraq will help Western democracy?

Probably it will please Islamists who were behind WTC bombings since BAATH is not their friend and it will give the munition for their propaganda.

[Michael81Dus]

The regime in Baghdad is developing nuclear weapons and is suspected to possess biological and chemical weapons. They´re not allowed to possess them, they´re not allowed to develop them, according to UN resolution 1441. The dictator of Iraq has once proven that he will use weapons of mass destruction against his enemies (Iran and Kurds), and the governments of several nations in Europe and North America strongly believe, that he will do so again. The next target can be LA, who knows?

Saddam Hussein is a threat to the western world. By tackling him down, the western democracies will become safier. That´s why I support the plan to invade Iraq. I pray to God that the strikes will be successful and that the number of deads on both sides will be low.

[facedown]

"I hope the Americans go to the UN for a second resolution on Iraq - and then attack while the UN is dithering and Saddam thinks he is safe."

Now there's a plan!