"Across Europe, the left loses political clout; German election highlights surge of conservatives" by William J. Kole, Associated Press | October 4, 2009
VIENNA - Pity Europe’s Socialists. It’s getting lonely on the left.
Just when you might think capitalism’s global crisis would breathe new life into the left, it’s looking increasingly divided and tired.
It comes with the IMPOTENCE and DISCREDITED IDEOLOGY!!!
The reelection of Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany a week ago is highlighting a conservative surge in her country and Europe’s other powerhouse economies - Britain, France, and Italy - where the center-right is either firmly in power or about to get there.
What happened?
THIS: Germany's Rigged Vote
Much of the answer lies in the nature of modern European politics, where even the most ardent conservatives can still embrace social welfare policies that would seem leftist to Americans.
That REALLY MAKES YOU WONDER about how "liberal" AmeriKa is, huh?
How in the world did we get SO MANY DEMOCRAPS in office lately, unless it was an ANTI-INCUMBENT feeling because ONCE IN OFFICE we DESPISE LIBERAL PROGRAMS!
I never thought that about America when I was a lefty, but I realize it now: America is AT ITS ROOTS a CONSERVATIVE country (but not the fascista conservatism that passes for it now). That's why I was ALWAYS SO FRUSTRATED talking to people back in the 1990s!
And in recent years, European center-right parties have mastered a certain political alchemy in co-opting some of the left’s best ideas.
Yes, the BILL CLINTON STRATEGY!
The best Republican president AmeriKa ever had -- as if those letters meant something. It's freedom or fascism now, lefties! What side are you on?
The result is that what would be hot-button issues in the United States - abortion, gun control, gay rights, or state-guaranteed health care - have long ceased to rile voters in Europe....
Yeah, T'ANKS, MSM, for your DIVISIVENESS in that regard!
Btw, THEY HAVE SINGLE-PAYER and THEY LIKE IT!
*************
The right has also profited by pounding hard on immigration and crime - popular in times of economic uncertainty - while sending out reassuring messages about preserving Europe’s generous welfare systems....
But SOMEHOW that BACKFIRES in America, huh?
NOT in MY EXPERIENCE!!!
The left can take some comfort from having been reelected in Portugal last month, and it’s expected to win today’s election in Greece. Socialists are also in power in Spain, a major European economy.
Related: Europe's Rednecks
The Greek elections will be covered in the next post.
But conservatives have deposed the left in Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, and Switzerland. And in smaller countries where the center-left clings to power - Austria, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Norway - its hold seems shaky at best.
That sounds like an ANTI-INCUMBENCY MOOD to me!
Its most dramatic humiliation was its trouncing in Germany. The Social Democrats were swept from government after 11 years - falling victim to Merkel’s studied pragmatism and a campaign that made vague promises of modest tax relief while taking care not to do anything that might scare voters.
Again, AM I RIGHT, or am I right?
Merkel “succeeded perfectly in shrouding in fog what she wants,’’ said Stefan Reinecke, a commentator for the left-leaning Tageszeitung daily. The left, by contrast, had never really recovered from the labor reforms and welfare state cuts that former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder pushed through in 2003 in his own experiment with triangulation.
Bill Clinton again.
The worst Socialist President the Germans ever had (and a liar, too!)?
Against the war, huh?
In France, the once-powerful Socialist Party is in crisis for lack of a personality to rally around.
The party had its heyday under the 14-year presidency of François Mitterrand. But since losing to Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007 presidential elections, the Socialists have been unable to agree on a program or a cohesive solution to the financial crisis. Sarkozy has further undermined support for the Socialists by leaning left himself, talking of a more “moral’’ capitalism and leading a global push for tighter international regulations and limits on bankers’ bonuses.
Related: French Revolution Failed
Same thing on the war, too, notice that?
Italy’s left also is badly fractured and fairly feeble in its opposition to conservative Premier Silvio Berlusconi, a conservative.
Related: Italy Intimidated Out Afghanistan
Italy’s top court considers immunity law
Yeah, if they can't keep power over that scum-bucket, they sure are weak.
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