katablog.com on July 13, 2009 at 8:52 AM

Can I practice alchemy and fund it with lead?

Steve Z on July 13, 2009 at 11:34 AM

Dont’ the polls show her party is doing well at the moment?

He’s in over his head, as usual.

Actually, Obama is more of a Sham than Merkel !

Steve Z on July 13, 2009 at 11:35 AM

Yep, definitely the bigger tool.

Nah, they’re using German voting machines. You know those Germans make good stuff.

Daggett on July 13, 2009 at 10:37 AM

Like the Sham-Wows? Actually, Obama is more of a Sham than Merkel !

It’s more than just an overheard statement. The German press reports Obama is functioning as Merkel’s election campaign aide, showering her with compliments and making it clear who he wants to see in charge.

Phoenician on July 13, 2009 at 8:55 AM

Obama wouldn’t WANT to see Merkel in charge because she’s a conservative. Maybe Obama wants Merkel to become complacent, and risk losing to a Socialist.

Obama also shows here that he doesn’t understand German elections. Germany has a parliamentary democracy, where the Kanzler (Chancellor, the equivalent of a Prime Minister) is elected by the Bundestag (Parliament), not directly by the people. In the last German election, Merkel’s party did not have a majority, but a slightly larger plurality than Gerhard Schroeder’s Socialists, and there was a lot of negotiation (horse-trading) with minor parties with small delegations in Parliament to achieve a majority coalition that would accept Merkel as Chancellor.

If Merkel wants to be re-elected as Chancellor, she needs to campaign not for herself, but for legislative candidates of her party, as well as those of other parties within her governing coalition. Merkel is by no means a shoo-in, unless her party has become much more popular across Germany than it was during the last election. Since Obama’s greatest gift is tooting his own horn, he fails to understand that a Chancellor/Prime Minister in a parliamentary democracy needs to campaign on party policy, not personality.

/Lefty_Bait>

maverick muse on July 13, 2009 at 9:53 AM

I was sarcastic as to the idea that Obama is trying to ruin Merkel’s chances. If that wasn’t you, I apologize. As per the articles you brought, Merkel is running far ahead of her opponent and will very probably win.

Merkel is a European conservative. Her party is part of the conservative bloc in the EUP. Her main opponent is a socialist.

Where do you think all those Die-bold voting machines ended up? ;-0

highhopes on July 13, 2009 at 8:20 AM

Nah, they’re using German voting machines. You know those Germans make good stuff.

Good link to the Obama-Merkel mutual address comments.

Merkel is not a conservative, as she is intent on creating a level playing field for the entire world, blaming crises on competition and free market.

You have made very important steps here in the United States as regards financial market regulation. We and the European Union are also working on that. And in the summer of this year we can then sort of take stock and see where these regulations meet, and try to create a level playing field for the rest of the world. It makes it possible to lose competition, but that avoids a future crisis of this magnitude.

We are very grateful that we are also able, together with the United States, to work on principles as to how matters are to be taken into the future after this crisis. But we now have to emerge, obviously, from this crisis and recovery of our economies is a great pre-condition for further progress.

Or maybe pull his lip over his head and swallow.

Did you read today’s Spiegel as referenced:
maverick muse on July 13, 2009 at 9:25 AM
maverick muse on July 13, 2009 at 9:47 AM

There must be a miscommunication on who’s granting Obama credit, unless that’s sarcasm.

Obama’s sudden enthusiasm for Merkel is a major setback for Steinmeier, who has made big efforts to woo the US President who is so popular in Germany. Unlike Merkel, Steinmeier was all for letting Obama speak in front of Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate last July while he was campaigning for the presidency. In the end, Obama held his speech a few hundred meters away at the Victory Column.

Steinmeier even published an open letter to Obama in SPIEGEL, praised Obama’s efforts for nuclear disarmament and adopted the “Yes, We Can” slogan of the US Democrats.

Despite Obama’s off-the-cuff comment, Steinmeier and his people still think the world of the US President.

Obama is a tool. Whose tool? That is another question altogether.

Obama gives real amateurs a bad name.

maverick muse on July 13, 2009 at 9:39 AM

I think you’re giving him too much credit. I’ll tell the Germans I just love their very popular chancellor and that would make her lose.

American presidents do not comment on the politics of Canada, Britain, Germany, etc., except to congratulate the winner. Anyone with any experience would know this.
Ted Torgerson on July 13, 2009 at 9:33 AM

And IF they do, it’s AFTER the election, not before, DOH!!