Le Jacquelope
Loves Spam
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2003
- Posts
- 76,445
I'd say this is a fine example of a first trimester political abortion in progress. Or maybe even a miscarriage? 
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060806...GYmx5Jn.3QA;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-
Merkel under attack from her own party
By Erik KirschbaumSun Aug 6, 9:29 AM ET
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government came under attack on Sunday from leaders in her own party as the conservatives fell to a record low in opinion polls amid public anger over rising taxes and stymied reform efforts.
The head of the leading opposition party, Free Democrat chairman Guido Westerwelle, predicted Merkel's nine-month old grand coalition would collapse well before the next election set for 2009 because of bad blood between the two ruling parties.
"The polling numbers clearly show the CDU has alienated its own voters," Joerg Schoenbohm, CDU chairman and interior minister in Brandenburg state, told Bild am Sonntag newspaper.
"The voters don't like what they're seeing. We're losing our most loyal supporters. They're terribly disappointed about the path we're on. They say this isn't the party they voted for."
His fears were echoed by the CDU state leader in Rhineland-Palatinate Christian Baldauf, who said voters were not satisfied with the grand coalition and especially annoyed about its plans to raise taxes and increase fees for health insurance.
"These are massive burdens to people and yet they see no signs of any master plan in Berlin," Baldauf said.
The CDU and their Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, have fallen to 31 percent in a weekend ARD TV poll, the lowest support since taking office in November and their weakest standing since 28 percent in the depths of ex Chancellor Helmut Kohl's campaign donations scandal in 2000.
The conservatives have now fallen 10 points since February.
Merkel, who has won praise for her foreign policy, faced widespread criticism over backtracking on promises to lower wage costs in order to promote job creation. Her reform of the health care system has also come under withering attack.
Merkel's standing has fallen rapidly since June, when the sweeping health care reform that was supposed to lead to lower health insurance fees was aborted and replaced with a small-scale compromise deal that actually leads to higher fees.
Merkel labeled the deal a breakthrough but has been belittled for that claim by some of her own party leaders. North Rhine-Westphalia state premier Juergen Ruettgers warned her not to treat voters as fools by calling it a breakthrough.
SPD parliamentary floor leader Peter Struck accused Merkel of breaking her word and conservative SPD leader Johannes Kahrs had harsh words: "The fish always starts stinking from the head first," which sparked speculation the coalition was fraying.
"We're indeed facing headwinds from the federal government right now that I hope stop soon," said Friedbert Pflueger, top CDU candidate in Berlin's September state election.
The CDU is far behind the SPD in Berlin and problems for Merkel could intensify if the CDU is routed in that state poll.
Westerwelle, whose FDP has surged in polls as the CDU and SPD have weakened, said he expected the coalition to collapse.
"It can no longer be ruled out that this coalition that is fighting itself will fall apart either next year or the year after," Westerwelle told German television on Sunday.
"The next election will come ahead of schedule in 2009."
Fritz Kuhn, parliamentary leader of the opposition Greens, told Bild am Sonntag he too sensed the coalition was in trouble.
"We have to be ready for the collapse of the grand coalition," he said. "This government is doing a lousy job in crisis managing. We never fought in public as much when we were in power as the SPD and CDU are now."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060806...GYmx5Jn.3QA;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-
Merkel under attack from her own party
By Erik KirschbaumSun Aug 6, 9:29 AM ET
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government came under attack on Sunday from leaders in her own party as the conservatives fell to a record low in opinion polls amid public anger over rising taxes and stymied reform efforts.
The head of the leading opposition party, Free Democrat chairman Guido Westerwelle, predicted Merkel's nine-month old grand coalition would collapse well before the next election set for 2009 because of bad blood between the two ruling parties.
"The polling numbers clearly show the CDU has alienated its own voters," Joerg Schoenbohm, CDU chairman and interior minister in Brandenburg state, told Bild am Sonntag newspaper.
"The voters don't like what they're seeing. We're losing our most loyal supporters. They're terribly disappointed about the path we're on. They say this isn't the party they voted for."
His fears were echoed by the CDU state leader in Rhineland-Palatinate Christian Baldauf, who said voters were not satisfied with the grand coalition and especially annoyed about its plans to raise taxes and increase fees for health insurance.
"These are massive burdens to people and yet they see no signs of any master plan in Berlin," Baldauf said.
The CDU and their Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, have fallen to 31 percent in a weekend ARD TV poll, the lowest support since taking office in November and their weakest standing since 28 percent in the depths of ex Chancellor Helmut Kohl's campaign donations scandal in 2000.
The conservatives have now fallen 10 points since February.
Merkel, who has won praise for her foreign policy, faced widespread criticism over backtracking on promises to lower wage costs in order to promote job creation. Her reform of the health care system has also come under withering attack.
Merkel's standing has fallen rapidly since June, when the sweeping health care reform that was supposed to lead to lower health insurance fees was aborted and replaced with a small-scale compromise deal that actually leads to higher fees.
Merkel labeled the deal a breakthrough but has been belittled for that claim by some of her own party leaders. North Rhine-Westphalia state premier Juergen Ruettgers warned her not to treat voters as fools by calling it a breakthrough.
SPD parliamentary floor leader Peter Struck accused Merkel of breaking her word and conservative SPD leader Johannes Kahrs had harsh words: "The fish always starts stinking from the head first," which sparked speculation the coalition was fraying.
"We're indeed facing headwinds from the federal government right now that I hope stop soon," said Friedbert Pflueger, top CDU candidate in Berlin's September state election.
The CDU is far behind the SPD in Berlin and problems for Merkel could intensify if the CDU is routed in that state poll.
Westerwelle, whose FDP has surged in polls as the CDU and SPD have weakened, said he expected the coalition to collapse.
"It can no longer be ruled out that this coalition that is fighting itself will fall apart either next year or the year after," Westerwelle told German television on Sunday.
"The next election will come ahead of schedule in 2009."
Fritz Kuhn, parliamentary leader of the opposition Greens, told Bild am Sonntag he too sensed the coalition was in trouble.
"We have to be ready for the collapse of the grand coalition," he said. "This government is doing a lousy job in crisis managing. We never fought in public as much when we were in power as the SPD and CDU are now."
