Did you know that there were German elections in late September? (yes - i real read newspapers. slate provided no info on the elections of course)

Were you aware that the German socialists were soundly defeated? (yes, but they were defeated in the LAST election cycle too - so i'm not sure what point slate is making here)

there is a specter haunting europe - capitalism. German, France and Italy are rejectiong socialism. Gordon Brown is about to get is incompetent ass kicked right out of 10 downing street. Canada and Mexico have right of center governments too

soon america will stand alone among western powers as a leftist, anti-capitalist regime.

no wonder obama is cozying up to cuba, venezuela, and honduran ex dictator mel zemaya. he's lonely

Only problem with that half-assed piece of waffle is that the centre-right governments of Europe are still plenty to the left of Obama on all the issues that are called 'socialist' in America but are known as 'civilization' over in Europe.

C-Tips:

Only problem with that half-assed piece of waffle is that the centre-right governments of Europe are still plenty to the left of Obama on all the issues that are called 'socialist' in America but are known as 'civilization' over in Europe.

I think (hope) Baltimore Aureole already knows that and is just kidding around.

baltimore aureole:

soon america will stand alone among western powers as a leftist, anti-capitalist regime.

Ha ha, indeed, we can only hope!

And with Chancellor Soros at the helm (after we re-write our antiquated, sexist/racist Constitution, of course), there's no telling what we can do!

so much talent, so little result.

the 'socialists' were not defeated. LOL. the 'socialists', SDP, die Linke, split into several factions because Germany is not left enough for them. That, and some other SPD specific leadership problems are the source for the loss of votes for the SPD. Unions are the supporters of the SPD and Unions are not swinging a big bat these days in the cost saving/finnancial crisis arena.

Actually, the CDU (German version of the American Republicans) is in trouble too. And their coaliton buddy, the CSU, the Christian SOCIAL Democrats, are in real trouble. But not because they are SOCIALIST.

BA you need to stop thinking like an American, when it comes to foreign countries and people. You need to see the world through their eyes and reality. That requires a lot of learning and reading and understanding. As the Lit graduate, you're not accustomed to work, science, note taking, etc. Learning is not a trip to the candy store of the internet. And outside the US, life is quite a bit richer and more complicated then the simplicities Americans like to bandy about.

Applebaum is also guilty of seeing Europe through an American lens, or at least writing her articles in that manner; claiming Merkel 'leads' Europe because Sarkozy and Brown are lame ducks domestically, or that she will be in charge of European foreign policy(!). The EU is not the EUSA. Merkel will only ever speak for Germany and Germans. Of course Germany has a lot of clout within the EU and always has but this is due to economic reasons and the French/German nature of the whole project rather than Merkel individually. I'd be hard pressed to think of a Briton who'd agree that Merkel represents their interests, within the EU or outside, merely because Brown is a goner at the next election.

Basically, the whole article seemed to boil down to a simplistic, vaguely feminist smirk that Merkel is in better shape domestically than her significant male counterparts in Europe. Hardly surprising considering she has faced her electorate so recently.

If we were to use the author's logic, Germany can invade neighbouring States, without arising "anxiety and mumbling" of those invaded states or "jealousy or competitiveness" of other European States, as they see reassuring calmness and conviction that "women will be always right" in the femaleness of the head of the invading states. Go ahead!.

But in Europe you're considered hard right if you believe citizens have a right to private property.

Early bird:

Spoken by someone without a clue.

"Spoken by someone without a clue."

Written by someone without an apprecation of the use of exaggeration to make a point.

Cheer up.

Hellzapoppin:

baltimore aureole:

soon america will stand alone among western powers as a leftist, anti-capitalist regime.

Ha ha, indeed, we can only hope!

And with Chancellor Soros at the helm (after we re-write our antiquated, sexist/racist Constitution, of course), there's no telling what we can do!

That would be Emperor Soros infidel! Get it right!

Early Bird may not be aware of the entrenched wealth and property ownership among their quiet elite which exists as a tacit but important counter-point to the socialistic tendencies which drive European socio-economic politics.

Oh goodness! "Entrenched," "tacit" "counter-point" "socialistic tendencies" "socio-economic."

Bsharp's trying out some big words today. Hurray for our lil' buddy!

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