Schroeder's Out

[Pablo]

Wow - I vote for "he was drunk". Seems like a despotic fool. I almost feel like saying it's a German thing. Except I haven't noticed a country without such leaders......from time to time. We can always make exceptions for DPRK and their bargaining prowess.

 

[moribundman]

Schröder is the "media chancellor." He's very vein (He "doesn't" color his hair -- right!) and usually he uses the media to his advantage. Now , in the aftermath of these disastrous, or can we say "failed"? elections, there's even more posturing going on. He just overdid it. I was rolling with laughter when I saw the recent picture of him, triumphantly shaking his own hands high above his head. Not that Merkel's one-arm salute (It really looked odd in the photo!) didn't appear rather odd.

 

[outrun]

Not yet if at all.

Incumbents have a natural defenders advantage.

Besides the post-war German Republic firms itself on stability.

If this becomes a "urination contest" this draw may shake that very tenant of German polity.

If anything it will get very intersting after the Dresden votes are in

 

[moribundman]

quote:

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post-war German Republic

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The "German (Weimar) Republic" existed from 1919 to 1933, the year when it ceased to exist due to "Gleichschaltung" (euphemism for seizure of power, literally "synchronizing)) by the Nazi government.

Germany has been a federal republic since 1949.

My point is, there is a significant difference between a republic and a federal republic. Anybody who can tell me the difference in less than 30 words gets a (virtual) cookie.