EU parliamentarian: Who are we to dictate to the Greek and Italian people?
posted at 9:01 pm on November 21, 2011 by Allahpundit
Via the Corner, it’s Nigel Farage of the UK Independence Party catching Hannan-esque viral video lightning in a bottle by telling off the EUrocracy to its face. Your companion reading for this clip is Niall Ferguson’s op-ed in the Journal over the weekend imagining the “United States of Europe” circa 2021, after Britain has quit the Union and Germany has all but purchased the southern half of the continent. How sustainable is that scenario, though? As German hegemony over its satellites states deepens, so will resentment within those states at the loss of democratic sovereignty. What happens when, after years of backstopping the PIIGS economically and receiving nothing but resentment in return, Germany suffers a fiscal or economic crisis of its own and Germans’ resentment at having to bankroll Europe finally explodes? Greek or Italian hypernationalism is bad; German hypernationalism is a problem for the Pentagon. Is President Rubio ready?
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Never fear Allah!
Since, due to laziness and abortion of native Germans, today 51% of all German births today are born to ethnic Turks (most of whom are fundamentalists, like the ones that shut down the Wagner operas last year). So, in 30 years, “Germany” will simply be a part a brave new European caliphate anyway, so interest rates will be merely dictated by the Koran!
Goodbye Europe and good riddance! I for one welcome our new Islamist overlords
picklesgap on November 21, 2011 at 9:08 PM
whoops. “german births” is actually “berlin births”. so maybe it will take 50 years.
but still…
READ MARK STEYN
picklesgap on November 21, 2011 at 9:09 PM
Once a nation begins to cede sovereignty to supranational organizations, the process becomes exceedingly difficult to stop. We Americans would do well to bear that in mind.
Indeed, the total Federal dominance over state and local governments in areas that are far outside its Constitutional limits is our own version of this malady. We need to return the Federal government to its proper role and recall that we live in a union of sovereign states, not one vast, unitary polity.
Inkblots on November 21, 2011 at 9:12 PM
President Rubio will have Chuck Norris as Sec. of State…!
Seven Percent Solution on November 21, 2011 at 9:12 PM
That video was awesomely awesome…
d1carter on November 21, 2011 at 9:14 PM
Psh, since when has German hyper-nationalism stemming from financial insolvency ever been a problem for the rest of the world?
Good Solid B-Plus on November 21, 2011 at 9:15 PM
end of days stuff people. enjoy the next couple years, assuming Western Civ even lasts that long. we’re all doomed. thanks alot baby boomers.
sbvft contributor on November 21, 2011 at 9:16 PM
Is President Rubio ready?
You must be joking.
Sorry but he has NO stage presence. NONE.
He is as milquetoast as they come.
He’s the GOP’s Michael Dukakis. Great at getting the trains to run on time….but that’s about it.
PappyD61 on November 21, 2011 at 9:17 PM
Nigel Farage is the man. Check him out on YouTube, you won’t be disappointed with his other stuff. He regularly tears Hermann Van Rompuy a new one – verbally.
Red Cloud on November 21, 2011 at 9:19 PM
The world is always balanced on a knife edge. The only difference these days is that we’re able to see it more clearly. There’s no call for apocalyptic thinking.
Inkblots on November 21, 2011 at 9:19 PM
:-D
SouthernGent on November 21, 2011 at 9:20 PM
I’m curious, what are Marco Rubio’s actual accomplishments? What proverbial trains has he made run on time? I honestly don’t see where the enthusiasm for him I see in some quarters is rooted.
Inkblots on November 21, 2011 at 9:21 PM
here’s what i don’t get, on a serious note:
why does germany feel to need to play TARP-angel? why do they ‘have’ to bail out the piigs at all.
don’t tell me some sort of “the world will end!!11!1!” scenario;
as far as germany is concerned, a failing greece would affect job creation in berlin for how long exactly? a month?
is this some sort of love-your-neighbor voluntary bailout? or is it required by the EU? or do germans actually believe in some sanctified EU?
i just don’t get it. it would be as if Americans voluntarily took hits to our economy to ensure that Costa Ricans could continued to retire at 45.
fill me in!
picklesgap on November 21, 2011 at 9:21 PM
Germany is leveraging market forces against the Greek people.
It’s the Greeks fault for electing socialists. If they want sovereignty, they can go ahead and vote for that, but I don’t blame Germany for doing what it’s doing.
Spathi on November 21, 2011 at 9:24 PM
Ha! Did you cut an paste that from a Romney thread and replace his name with Rubio? Cause I’ve heard the exact same silly talking points about the Mittster.
Buy Danish on November 21, 2011 at 9:25 PM
The establishment of the Euro was biblical prophesy.
Key West Reader on November 21, 2011 at 9:27 PM
What kind of democracy is it that allows the PIIGS to dictate to others their demand to be bailed out while continuing to spend irresponsibly?
At least here the shysters representing the freeloaders have wormed their way into power. Although I’m none to happy that they are exchanging my tax dollars of today for enslavement of me in the future.
AnotherOpinion on November 21, 2011 at 9:29 PM
Snort. Yup, they get their knickers in a right twist.
katy the mean old lady on November 21, 2011 at 9:30 PM
And Nigel Farage just became the frontrunner in the Republican primary.
JSchuler on November 21, 2011 at 9:31 PM
I watched some of the other videos of this guy…Seems there was one up on HA a while ago…can’t remember the specifics ….
I like the cut of his jib,,,newsletter….etc….
BigWyo on November 21, 2011 at 9:32 PM
That was big steaming pile of AWESOME!!!
JohnGalt23 on November 21, 2011 at 9:34 PM
The EU and its grand goal of “ever closer union” has been the cornerstone of German foreign policy for over 50 years. The cultural and institutional pressure on German politicians and, to a much lesser extent, German voters to save the common currency is enormous.
Allowing the euro to fail would constitute a step backward from ever closer union, and so is completely unthinkable. The feeling among the European elite is that if the suppression of sovereignty on the road to a United States of Europe is allowed to be reversed, the result will be a resurgence of nationalism which will inevitably lead to war.
There is also a great affection among older Germans for the EU in itself. Under the aegis of the European Coal & Steel Community, the EEC, and finally the EU, they saw their country arise from shame, devastation and partition to become the “German miracle”, the strongest economy in Europe and a nation at the heart of its institution.
Even the younger generation is cowed from refusing to bail out their neighbors by the shameful history of German nationalism. Patriotism is a cardinal sin in German; displaying the flag outside the context of soccer games is considered to be in extremely poor taste. Sir Humphrey said it better than I ever could: “The Common Market: We [the UK] went into it to screw the French by splitting them off from the Germans. The French went in to protect their inefficient farmers from commercial competition. The Germans went in to purge themselves of genocide and apply for readmission to the human race.”
Inkblots on November 21, 2011 at 9:34 PM
NIGEL FARAGE would DESTROY any of the other GOP candidates.
This man (Daniel Hannan – a close second) has been warning about this financial crises for the past 2-3 years.
He is unafraid and like someone said earlier…he is CONSTANTLY ripping, and rightfully so, these Eurocrats who are bringing down Europe.
My have is when he earlier this year ripped Von Rompuy and called Belgium a “non-country”…bwaaaahahahahaha
LordMaximus on November 21, 2011 at 9:35 PM
Kinda like our big bloated federal government and our King Obama in relation to the confiscation of the sovereignty of our states as put forth in our 10th amendment.
Opposite Day on November 21, 2011 at 9:37 PM
+1
We could do far worse.
sharrukin on November 21, 2011 at 9:37 PM
Well that does it. What’s the Republican Party supposed to do now?
JohnGalt23 on November 21, 2011 at 9:37 PM
Please Allah – concentrate on the USA which, as a Brit, I always assume you know something about….once you wander off the reservation and start speculating about other countries it just gets….well, sorta embarrassing…..
callingallcomets on November 21, 2011 at 9:38 PM
If only…
tickleddragon on November 21, 2011 at 9:38 PM
That’s easy, nominate Ron Paul. ;)
Inkblots on November 21, 2011 at 9:39 PM
And your point would be what??
“If if’s and buts were candy and nuts even retards like you wouldn’t go hungry at Christmas..”
BigWyo on November 21, 2011 at 9:39 PM
Hmmmmmmm………..what happened the last time the Germans got really pissed off?
As for Farage……”He who PAYS the piper, calls the tune.”
GarandFan on November 21, 2011 at 9:42 PM
Here you go.
Ted Torgerson on November 21, 2011 at 9:47 PM
Is Germany going to be able to bankroll Europe? I caught this today at Zerohedge:
journeyintothewhirlwind on November 21, 2011 at 9:48 PM
This guy was on Cavuto today.
Cindy Munford on November 21, 2011 at 9:48 PM
Nigel understands the enemies of civilization.
Marco still gives them the benefit of the doubt.
AshleyTKing on November 21, 2011 at 9:55 PM
I’m guess Mika Brezenskiski would consider this disgusting hate speech (and violent rhetoric).
Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples’ liberty teeth.–
George Washington
PappyD61 on November 21, 2011 at 9:58 PM
I agree. Especially when reading about all of the crap that is happening all around the world.
Mirimichi on November 21, 2011 at 10:01 PM
A Eurostatist technocracy with the Germans in charge is not my cup of tea.
A Germany with the D-Mark back would be much more fabulous.
AshleyTKing on November 21, 2011 at 10:04 PM
I’ve been following Nigel for quite a while, even having posting a couple of his vids in the Green Room. Ballsy, courageous dude, especially coming from the UK, which I have often written off as a lost cause. The UK Independence Party, for those who don’t know, might as well be considered the UK Tea Party, or UK Libertarian Party. They have been pushing for a referendum on staying in the EU for years, and nearly got one recently, until all three major UK parties told the citizens of Britain to basically go f**k themselves. Nigel and his merry band are not going quietly, though.
My personal favorite performance that he’s given. He tears into unelected figureheads and elitists like you wouldn’t believe. Honestly, I don’t know anyone in our own Congress who has a pair as big as this dude.
You can subscribe to UKIP’s channel if you want to browse through his various speeches.
MadisonConservative on November 21, 2011 at 10:12 PM
I wish you Brits that lament Americans commenting on Nigel and the EU would provide more substantial counters than empty whining about how we “don’t understand”. I can’t speak for Allah, but I’ve actually done quite a lot of homework about EU matters over the last couple of years.
MadisonConservative on November 21, 2011 at 10:13 PM
Yeah, funny how the second amendment written by those founders only applies to the right for states to have national guard troops.
/left wing moonbat
AZfederalist on November 21, 2011 at 10:22 PM
A real man exists in Europe, miracle, miracle.
Schadenfreude on November 21, 2011 at 10:52 PM
So what is he getting wrong in this post? Specifics, please. Enlighten us!
YehuditTX on November 21, 2011 at 11:10 PM
Nigel Farage is a complete honey-badger. Dude was in a plane crash, and walked away like nothing happened!
Greek Fire on November 21, 2011 at 11:11 PM
You don’t really think the Germany of the ’30s is the Germany of today? Today Germans are a bunch of spoiled, overpayed, underworked, metrosexual, uber-liberal pansies who shudder at the mere idea of holding a water pistol. In Berlin today, all the riding crops and high boots are in the gay discotheques.
Just as the Japanese today are nothing like the Japanese of the ’30s, the fallout of WW II took the man out of the ger-man.
keep the change on November 22, 2011 at 12:34 AM
As an European I tend to agree.
Allah, who considers being called “RINO” a compliment and who constantly sticks up for the GOP establishment, is now drooling over Farage?? LOL
If Farage were to be tranplanted into the American political landscape, he would be Allah’s hate object. Meanwhile, the insufferable CINO David Cameron (a near perfect UK version of Romney) is the polar opposite of Nigel Farage.
Norwegian on November 22, 2011 at 12:38 AM
All it takes is a charismatic leader with delusions of emperor.
Steve Eggleston on November 22, 2011 at 1:17 AM
There are nuclear weapons these days, but overall you are right.
thuja on November 22, 2011 at 6:34 AM
I believe you mean to say that Secretary of State Chuck Norris will have Marco Rubio as his President.
Kafir on November 22, 2011 at 7:22 AM
I love this clip, but I guess what Aged P is referring to is that Farage is a bit of a laughingstock (American in the UK here).
The UKIP is a lot like the Libertarian Party in the US — fundamentally, philosophically, lots and lots of people agree with them, but in practice, as a functional political party, they’re a bit of a joke.
When I get my maroon passport, I’m damn well voting for them, though.
S. Weasel on November 22, 2011 at 7:24 AM
That’s actually a good point: Today’s Germany isn’t NEARLY as liberal as the Weimar Republic was. But it’s heading in that direction. And once it gets there, the snap back into totalitarianism will be just as rapid as it was before.
The line between militantly pacifist and just plain militant is razor thin. The thing you have to understand about Germany is not that they’re one way or the other; it’s that whichever way they go, they go all out. And the direction they’re leaning can change in the blink of an eye.
logis on November 22, 2011 at 3:00 PM