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| Europe |
| Merkel campaign faltering, MSM hopes |
| 2005-09-14 |
| Since Schroeder was one of the Axis of Weasels, I hope this article is OK? German opposition challenger Angela Merkel huddled with her closest advisors in a bid to get her election campaign back on track against a resurgent Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. He's surging just like J. Forbes Kerry. After holding a clear advantage for much of the election campaign, Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats have seen their lead slashed in half by Schroeder's Social Democrats with just four days to go until Sunday's voting. In a campaign dominated by the economy and tax, Schroeder has apparently succeeded in scaring undecided voters away from the Christian Democrats by homing in on controversial proposals for a 25 percent flat tax rate made by Merkel's shadow finance minister Paul Kirchhof. Aaaah! Lower taxes! Run awaaaaaaaay! I like being a serf, turning over half My produce to the feudal lord. The Emnid poll for N24 television also predicted that Merkel's chosen coalition would score the same 48.5 percent as an alliance of Schroeder's Social Democrats, their current partners the Greens and the Left Party, an amalgamation of former communists and disgruntled Social Democrats. I wouldn't be sure about that "former" part. |
| Posted by:Jackal |
| #11 Very cute :-) Here's at least my favorite wallpaper |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2005-09-14 19:21 |
| #10 Drat. Well, the party is well after the election anyways. I thought 'twould be fun to talk politix between beers. Oh well. Me and my date will have fun anyway. Danke schoen! |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2005-09-14 19:17 |
| #9 Seafarious Funny, they haven't done stickers like that. Germans aren't that much into bumper stickers anymore. And I'm here in Bavaria where people wouldn't be caught dead with a Merkel sticker. It's Stoiber all the way (but no stickers, either, just pamphlets and billboards |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2005-09-14 19:05 |
| #8 The German MSM is full of it. It will be close but Schroeder's Social Democrats are going to be out of power. Of the German MSM think US MSM with brass balls and no problem with outright lies. It's going to be a Black, Yellow government not a Black, Red or Red, Red, Green one. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet O´ Doom 2005-09-14 18:52 |
| #7 TGA - I hope she does. I really don't want to see Germany go down the socialist toilet to oblivion. Fingers crossed.... |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2005-09-14 18:48 |
| #6 TGA, I just found out I'm going to the Bundeswehr USA Oktoberfest again. Can you get me a "Merkel for Chancellor" button/sticker/whatever Germans use for campaign material? Much obliged... |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2005-09-14 18:47 |
| #5 She'll make it. The SPD has tried to turn the page with the most stupid lies that are falling apart now. The CDU has made a few very unnecessary mistakes in the last 2 weeks. But I still hold on to my prediction. CDU/CSU and FDP will secure about 51% of the votes. |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2005-09-14 17:12 |
| #4 Is Germany still buying nuclear generated electricity from France, since the greens won't allow nuke plants to be built and shut fossil fuel plants under the "Pollution" cry? Sounds like Germany's doomed to power blackouts and death this winter. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2005-09-14 14:38 |
| #3 Schroder may win. In a society where "social justice" (i.e. socialism) rates as a priority for 2/3 of the population, it would be surprising if he did not. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2005-09-14 13:16 |
| #2 This should be interesting. Previous polls for state elections have underestimated opposition support, and it was Schroeder's party's last trouncing that generated this election. This is fundamentally a fear of the future election. Staying with Schroeder is a clear path downhill; Merkel a movement out of the comfort zone. Not dissimilar to the U.S. election of 1980 except that Reagan's optimism and confidence made that one a rout. |
| Posted by: DoDo 2005-09-14 11:50 |
| #1 Much cross messages, as typical at this juncture. UK Telegraph today shows Herr Schroeder sitting in a new innovative car, the message being that he is riding a new innovative car during the German car industry collapse, with plans to reduce tens of thousands of workers in near term (probably after election). |
| Posted by: Captain America 2005-09-14 11:01 |
