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Even ultra-socialist Europe is realizing that years of liberalism and socialist economic policies kills productivity and destroys economies. Pro-business, capitalist politicians are beginning to make headway in returning Europe to a strong economy which isn’t built by false government subsidies.
Report from Yahoo News:
BRUSSELS – Conservatives raced toward victory in some of Europe’s largest economies Sunday as initial results and exit polls showed voters punishing left-leaning parties in European parliament elections in France, Germany and elsewhere.
Some right-leaning parties said the results vindicated their reluctance to spend more on company bailouts and fiscal stimulus amid the global economic crisis.
First projections by the European Union showed center-right parties would have the most seats — between 263 and 273 — in the 736-member parliament. Center-left parties were expected to get between 155 to 165 seats.
Right-leaning governments were ahead of the opposition in Germany, France, Italy and Belgium, while conservative opposition parties were leading in Britain and Spain.
Greece was a notable exception, where the governing conservatives were headed for defeat in the wake of corruption scandals and economic woes.
Germany’s Social Democrats headed to their worst showing in a nationwide election since World War II. Four months before Germany holds its own national election, the outcome boosted conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel’s hopes of ending the tense left-right “grand coalition” that has led the European Union’s most populous nation since 2005.
“We are the force that is acting level-headedly and correctly in this financial and economic crisis,” said Volker Kauder, the leader of Merkel’s party in the German parliament.
France’s Interior Ministry said partial results showed the governing conservatives in the lead, with the Socialists in a distant second and the Europe Ecologie environmentalist party a close third.
French Socialists said their defeat signaled a need to rethink left-wing policies if they are to have any hope of unseating President Nicolas Sarkozy.
This simply illustrates that more Americans need to wake up to the fact that Europe went down the road we’re on decades ago and it led to 18% unemployment, degrading of their health care system and general loss of economic liberty. They are begining to realize the failures of socialism and are now pushing back.
Unfortunately, we’re just stepping off the socialist cliff and unless it can be stopped, we will become the socialist dinosaur as Europe moves back toward a capitalist model.
More on this from Bloomberg:
June 7 (Bloomberg) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy led pro-business parties in defeating socialists in European Parliament elections, lessening the pressure for more stimulus measures to fight the deepest recession since World War II.
Amid signs the economic slump is bottoming out, the continent’s top two leaders escaped the drubbing in European Union-wide elections that was handed to U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown and socialists in smaller countries including Spain, Austria, Portugal, Hungary, Bulgaria and Slovenia.
Merkel’s Christian Democrats and allied Christian Social Union racked up 38 percent of the German vote, beating the rival Social Democrats with 20.8 percent, according to preliminary results. Sarkozy’s Union for a Popular Movement scored 28 percent, beating the Socialists with 16.8 percent.
“It’s a very successful election for Merkel,” said Jan Techau, an analyst at the Berlin-based German Council on Foreign Relations. “Maybe it’s a sign that pressure will ease regarding demands for more social spending to counter the economic crisis.”
Overall, the center-right group known as the European People’s Party remained the strongest in the Parliament, with 263 to 273 out of the total 736 seats, according to an initial projection. The Socialists won 155 to 165 seats and the Liberal Democrats 78 to 84.
“It is a very sad night for Social Democrats in Europe, we’re very disappointed, we had hoped for better results,” Martin Schulz of Germany, the socialists’ floor leader, said. “It’s a very bitter evening.”
British Voters
In Britain, voters were set to deal a rebuke to Brown, battling to hang on to power after the resignation of six cabinet ministers in a week. Brown’s Labour Party braced for a “terrible” outcome, Wales Secretary Peter Hain said on Sky News.
France’s Socialists blamed internal disarray for their defeat. “We’re not yet credible,” Socialist leader Martine Aubry said. “Our Socialist Party has suffered from internal battles and divisions.”
It’s a shame that America refuses to learn from these failures. Instead, Obama fooled people into believe that socialism guised as “hope and change” will lead to prosperity when the exact opposite is true.
However, this does give me great hope for America that if heavily socialized Europe can eventually wake up to see what it has done to their economy and competitiveness, America may realize it much sooner.
In fact, for a Europe that loved Obama so much, it appears our relations with Germany and France are worsening as our relations with Venezuela and Iran are improving. That’s an amazing set of priorities.
It seems to me that Merkel of Germany and Sarkozy of France may see President Obama as a token of the past, a socialist president with big spending proposals and government programs. Something that Europe is now heavily burdened with. It would be hard to talk politics when Europe as a whole is moving slowly away from socialism while President Obama is driving America down that dark road as we speak.
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Since when did you care about France and Germany, Nate? lol.
I don’t think we are going to lose them as allies over peace in the middle east or our administration’s policies at home. Like most things different times call for different measures. However, I love how you are making it sound like the EU is moving Right, like it would vote in Bush is they could.
I believe they are looking for balance. Much like we are.
By the way we are at 9.1% unemployment 2009 (May)
UK = 7.1% Unemployment 2009 (March)
Germany = 8.0 Unemployment 2009 (April)
France = 8.8 Unemployment 2009 (April)
So where are you getting the 18% unemployment rate from? They are actually employing their population better than we are if you are using unemployment percentages. Looks like your so called socialist nations have us beat.
Spain has hit 18%.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/h.....016364.stm
They hit 18.1% unemployment thanks to green jobs and socialist policies.
Thanks to Obama’s stimulus bill, our unemployment continues to rise at a faster pace. Europe is moving away from the watered-down Marxism, they’ll recover faster than we do if Obama continues to institute his own brand of watered-down Marxism here.
“I believe they are looking for balance. Much like we are.”
Where is the balance in nationalizing part of the auto industry, the banking industry, the mortgage industry and soon the health care industry? You’re funny sometimes, but it’s in a cute, ignorant sort of way. Balance.. If this is Obama’s “balance,” I’d hate to see his partisanship.
Balance would mean Obama “reforms” health care without letting the government take it over, etc…
“However, I love how you are making it sound like the EU is moving Right, like it would vote in Bush is they could.”
Ok so when center-right and right-wing parties take power, the EU is specifically NOT moving right. You’re trying to tell us otherwise when we’re looking at the numbers and news articles. I didn’t say they’d vote in Bush, they probably would not. They’re just punishing the failed socialists in power who have run it into the ground, much like I hope we will in 2010.
You can say it’s not happening but reality proves otherwise, as usual. Please don’t blatantly lie to us when I post stories which state otherwise.
“Since when did you care about France and Germany, Nate? lol.”
Since when have liberals NOT cared? During the Bush years, liberals screamed and whined about our relations with France and other European nations. However, now you and others conveniently don’t care. I don’t care too much either but please, at least be consistent in your whining.
JD, were they important then or are they not important now? Pleas enlighten us.
“Actual U.S. Unemployment: 15.8%”
“This morning’s news that U.S. unemployment has hit 13.7 million, pushing the rate to 8.9 percent, tells only half the story of this recession.”
“The total number of Americans who are not working full-time but ought to be is actually about 22 million, or 15.8 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.”
http://voices.washingtonp.....t_158.html
JD
“However, I love how you are making it sound like the EU is moving Right, like it would vote in Bush is they could.”
“I believe they are looking for balance.”
People voted RIGHT. You BELIVE wanting balance. Today I posted link.. I did not see BELIEVE, they WANTED CHANGE. Tired of socialism. Tired of cuts in social health care cuts, etc..
JD
As you have noted here on this site, economy is getting better. Thanks to Bush.
Very small amount of Obama’s money stimulus money has been spent. Problem is we have 2nd highest tax rate in modernized, industrialized, etc, nations of World. Add to that Bush’s cuts will not be renewed. Add Obama’s new taxes. Add social security increases and possible energy tax. Add fears of social health care unkbowns and affect.
Business would be stupid to hire more in this climate. Obama is bad for economic growth. Money will tighten for business as government uses more money.
Is why we have high unemployment.
Obama was on tv today. No questions allowed by press. Kind of becoming a habit. No talking machine I guess
John F Kennedy CUT TAXES and caused 33 % increase in governmemet real increase income from 1961 to 1967 if I remember correctly. We need tax cuts and less governemt spending.
I am sorry, Nate… I got confused since you made it sound like “EUROPE” was at 18% unemployment. I will have to take your vague statistics more specifically. You were really just talking about Spain… My bad.
Spain is one of the few countries with that high of an unemployment rate, firstly. So as usual, you use the best case scenario and the exception to try and spin your point of view as fact. If anything the EU as a whole when averaging out all of the unemployment amongst its nations is on par with the US which puts them as “equal to or better than” category.
Truth is that France, Germany, England, Australia, Canada and many others have many more social programs and as you like to constantly point out… a nation with social programs is a socialist nation.
So when comparing the Untied states to other economies, it is interesting that France with one of the highest amounts of social programs is actually employing a better percentage of it’s population than we are.
As before mentioned other nations such as Canada, England, Germany, Australia, and so on and so forth are also more socialized than the US and they are sitting better too.
Wake up Nate… This proves that there is more than one way to solve a nations problems.
Than you should be thrilled Nate!! Obama is not taking it over. It seems that the only thing the government will be running is a national health insurance agency.
You can continue to do business as usual with your blue cross, blue shield or you can buy into the national insurance.
This hardly sounds like taking over the insurance agencies, or the doctors, or the hospitals… In fact, it is making them compete.
Still, it is not nationalized health. Please do your home work and compare this frame work with Canada, lets say and see the difference. Or not. The less you listen or research the more you can deny on the grounds of lack of information.
The problem I have with you spinning your crazy is that you say they are moving right because they elected official… well, be specific. What programs has the EU changed. What has France done that is so capitalistic that is warrents you to say they are moving right.
The last time I checked they Bailed out their banks too. They are giving out their own stimulus packages. So tell me what are they changing?
The other nations have always been important to me and the reason why I am discussing it with you now. You see I have never changed my stance on this. You are the one who is coming out and using the EU as a mis-guided example only when you think it makes an argument toward your agenda.
If you don’t care than why even write this skewed article. It they aren’t important than why does it even matter? Again, I have said they are important and that is why I laughed at the idea that you suddenly care about them. Because, you don’t.
jd
If we followed John F Kennedy ideas and cut taxes, our rates would be lower and government revenues would be up. Business would prosper and unemployment down.
Can’t blame you for ignoring my comments, they run your day.
I never said I did care, read for once. You liberals always whined about it and now that Obama is at odds with Germany and France, you don’t care. Classic illustration, I am just pointing it out, but that bothers you, I know.
“Than you should be thrilled Nate!! Obama is not taking it over.”
Once again, reality escapes you. Have you not examined the leaked Kennedy health care plan? It forces you onto a government “approved” plan or you pay fines. Stop spinning it and stop lying outright, it sickens me. You’re a stooge for the Obama administration, you don’t even try to examine the facts, you just spin it.
“You can continue to do business as usual with your blue cross, blue shield or you can buy into the national insurance.”
Not true. You’re wrong here, dead wrong. If my plan isn’t deemed an acceptable plan, I cannot keep it. I pay a fine unless I am on a government approved plan. Go read the new story before you sound like an ignorant fool. Oops, too late.
Plus, you ignored the most important point which is what if I want to pay out of pocket? Answer me that, genius. We don’t have a choice, we will have to be on a plan or pay fines/taxes. Stop sugar coating, you’re dead wrong and you’re tying to make it sound like the greatest thing since sliced bread. I can’t believe you’re trying to make excuses when it is there in black and white, spelled out in the leaked Kennedy plan. This isn’t even debatable, it’s IN the legislation already, read it!
JD, speak honestly and just talk about it like it is. You support government health care but you’re too afraid to call it that and defend it. Don’t water it down or make excuses, it’s blatantly obvious.
“What programs has the EU changed.”
These elections just happened. I cannot tell you what they will change in the future. When it happens, I will tell you. I can tell you that years of socialist control is being curtailed. You can laugh it off and ignore it, that’s fine. It only serves to make my points that you’re an Obama stooge who doesn’t question him, you make propaganda for him.
“The other nations have always been important to me and the reason why I am discussing it with you now. You see I have never changed my stance on this.”
OK, so I assume you’re upset at Obama for dissing Germany and France? I’m sure you’re now outraged at the same way Bush allegedly alienated our allies, right? Please, this is so transparent you can’t hide it.
JD, once again you tried to spin this back to me as to whether or not I care, that’s not the question as I haven’t been on record for years whining about it like you have. I didn’t care then and don’t care now, I am just pointing out the continued liberal hypocrisy on the issue. Try to understand that, don’t be so closed-minded.
Nate, Nate, Nate…
You don’t know what is going to be approved. For example, your car insurance. Lets say that you don’t want to use car insurance to fix you car if it is in an accident.
So you pay for Liability only… Pay out of pocket for everything else and your premiums are lower.
However, i think you should carry health insurance that covers in case you are diagnosed with Cancer out of no where. You can pay out of pocket for other things if you want.
To be clear, i think our government needs to take a more active role in healthcare. I have seen what 50 years of insurance executives has done.
jd
“The problem I have with you spinning your crazy is that you say they are moving right because they elected official… well, be specific. What programs has the EU changed. What has France done that is so capitalistic that is warrents you to say they are moving right.”
I posted a link that has that. Try…reading.
jd
“To be clear, i think our government needs to take a more active role in healthcare. I have seen what 50 years of insurance executives has done.”
Government can’t be as bad as your non-existing example.
Hillary had budget around $100,000 to study health care. She went behind closed doors. Illegally. Spent $13,000,000
Bet those executives did a better job.
“To be clear, i think our government needs to take a more active role in healthcare.”
Thank you, just be honest in this debate.
To that I would ask you how the active role in retirement savings and health insurance for senior citizens is working out?
Social Security is going bankrupt and is basically generational theft.
Medicare is causing a shortage of doctors who will accept Medicare because the government tries to “keep costs down” by paying very little for services. Furthermore, that system too is terribly run and mismanaged.
It just amazes me how with 50+ years of failing government programs, liberals like yourself still believe that “this time” it will be better. The proof is in the failure!
Government-run health care isn’t a solution, it’s basically admitting failure and/or an inability to understand the free market.
jd
Name one Country that has great social health care. So I may study it and maybe change my mind on this.
:Obama administration’s extortive tactics”. Obama’s plans ruined by a Liberal Supreme Court Judge ??? How Ironic…
Obama meets a snag by none other than a liberal Supreme Court Judge. Perhaps it is a technicality. Perhaps it is how secured loans was thrown to the side in favor of unions.
Hopefully a Liberal Judaical Judge holds true the bases of LAW. As our Constitution is based upon. God bless liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Our freedom is not based on liberal vs conservatives. It is based on doing the correct thing according to the Law of the Land.
…..
“Breaking: SCOTUS stops Chrysler saleposted at 4:18 pm on June 8, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
The Supreme Court, “in an order signed by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, has stopped the sale of Chrysler to Fiat and the bankruptcy plan engineered by the White House. Ginsburg stopping the sale, though … that’s interesting in and of itself.”
Update: “Stayed pending further order,” Ginsburg noted. That could mean a temporary stay, but …
Chrysler has said a delay could scuttle the deal.
A federal appeals court in New York had earlier approved the sale, but gave opponents until 4 p.m. EDT Monday to try to get the Supreme Court to intervene.”
“Ginsburg issued her order just before 4 p.m., when Chrysler would have been free to complete the sale of most of its assets to Fiat.”
“She can ask the full court to decide whether to continue the stay or vacate it on her own, but if she was inclined towards the latter, she wouldn’t have issued the stay. And if Ginsburg has a problem with the government intervention here, just wait until Scalia and Thomas get a crack at it.
Update II: AFP reports on the decision:”
“The move will allow the justices to consider whether to allow a full hearing of the legal issues — a delay which Chrysler and US officials say could cause the plan to collapse.”
“A group of Indiana pension funds opposed to Chrysler’s sale to Fiat filed the emergency appeal with the Supreme Court to halt the sale.”
“The pension funds wanted a hearing on alleged violations to due process that damaged their standing in the bankruptcy. The appellate court didn’t want to allow it, but Ginsburg’s decision shows that those claims have enough merit to get heard.”
Update III:” Chrysler says they only have until June 15 to complete the sale to Fiat, and after that they’ll have to flat-out liquidate. Maybe they should have done better by their senior creditors then, huh? And guess who’s representing them? Thomas Lauria — the lawyer who blew the whistle on the Obama administration’s extortive tactics in the negotiations. You think he’s loving this today?”
…..
“President Bill Clinton chose Ruth Bader Ginsburg as his first appointment to the United States Supreme Court. Ginsburg was born Joan Ruth Bader on March 15, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York”
“While leaning towards the liberal side of the Court’s political spectrum, Ginsburg has not hesitated to vote with her conservative colleagues. Ginsburg has shown a continuing willingness to promote women’s rights from the High Court.”
http://hotair.com/archive.....sler-sale/
http://www.oyez.org/justi.....r_ginsburg
“Obama uses WH press corps as threat against Chrysler investors” May 2, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
“An attorney representing several Chrysler bondholders accused the Obama administration of intimidating his clients by issuing threats of public humiliation if they opposed their brokered deal to resolve the automaker’s debts. Speaking to WJR, Thomas Lauria said that the White House called the bondholders “vultures” for insisting on their rights as senior creditors and told them that the Obama administration would use the White House press corps to attack them in the media”
Why does Joe the Plumber and Sarah Palin come to mind ? Neither had news media try to destroy them ?
Wonder if this will be proven ?
Could Obama’s Chicago style politics be unraveling. I say, God speed…
http://hotair.com/archive.....investors/
REPUBLICAN PARTY IS DEAD_ Have I heard that here ? Billy Bob Clinton ran a deficit til our Nation brought in Newt and Republican control. After 3-5 tries,finally, Billy Bob accepted balance budget and smaller government.
Today, survey shows voters trust Republicans in Congress concerning “the top issue of the economy.”
Monday, June 08, 2009
“Voters now trust Republicans more than Democrats on six out of 10 key issues, including the top issue of the economy.”
“The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% now trust the GOP more to handle economic issues, while 39% trust Democrats more.”
“This is the first time in over two years of polling that the GOP has held the advantage on this issue. The parties were close in May, with the Democrats holding a modest 44% to 43% edge. The latest survey was taken just after General Motors announced it was going into bankruptcy as part of a deal brokered by the Obama administration that gives the government majority ownership of the failing automaker.”
“Voters not affiliated with either party now trust the GOP more to handle economic issues by a two-to-one margin.”
“Separate Rasmussen tracking shows that the economy remains the top issue among voters in terms of importance.”
“Republicans also now hold a six-point lead on the issue of government ethics and corruption, the second most important issue to all voters and the top issue among unaffiliated voters. That shows a large shift from May, when Democrats held an 11-point lead on the issue.”
“For the eighth straight month, Republicans lead on national security. The GOP now holds a 51% to 36% lead on the issue, up from a seven-point lead in May. They also lead on the war in Iraq 45% to 37%, after leading by just two points in May and trailing the Democrats in April.”
“Fewer voters see national security as a very important issue this month, but confidence that the United States and its allies are winning the War on Terror is at its highest level since February.”
“Republicans lead the Democrats on immigration for the third straight month, pulling ahead to a 35% to 29% advantage on the issue.”
“On taxes, the GOP leads the Democrats for the fifth straight month, 44% to 39%. In May and April, Republicans held six-point leads on the issue.”
“Democrats continue to hold the lead on the issues of health care, Social Security and education. While Democrats have a 10-point advantage on health care, that’s down from the 18-point lead the party had a month ago.”
“Democrats lead by six points on Social Security, down from nine points in May. The parties were tied on the issue in April.”
“On education, Democrats hold a 44% to 37% lead over Republicans.”
“The parties are tied on the issue of abortion for the second straight month, each earning 41% support from voters.”
http://www.rasmussenrepor....._on_issues
Here’s an “Open Letter to President Obama” by former Vice President of Proctor & Gamble Lou Pritchett entitled “You Scare Me”.It can be found at:
http://www.snopes.com/pol.....careme.asp
DDMao
I vote “present” on your link.
This is such a badly written blog… the fact that your logo is an outdated electorate map is fairly hilarious considering that the whole point of this site is to cry about Obama, so having an inaccurate map as your flag is amusing to say the least… though it does serve as a fairly obvious warning as to the level of intellectual honesty present in your writing … so maybe you should just leave it.
shane,
Do an ounce of research before you remove all doubt of your ignorance. That map in the logo is the 2008 President Election county map. It is not outdated, it is the map from the Presidential Election in November of 2008.
Here, I’ll help in the research department:
http://images.google.com/.....f&oq=
Anyways, your entitled to your opinion about the blog, that’s fine. I’d have to care to be offended.
I would say that you posting an inaccurate criticism of this site’s logo, which is the easiest thing in the world to research, speaks to your lack of intellectual capability in general, not the content of this site.
Well stated criticism, shane, but better luck next time in actually being correct.