In Davos, Part III (Merkel's speech)

Thanks for joining me, for Part III of this journal. Part I appeared on Wednesday, and can be found here. Part II — published yesterday — is found here.

Where were we? I think I was talking about Angela Merkel, the new chancellor of Germany. She gives a major address, and it is a surprising (to me) and splendid address: I wish I could link to it, but apparently there is no transcript. Not to worry: I will give you a strong taste of it, from my notes.

First, let me say that I myself have not sufficiently reflected on the fact that there is a woman chancellor in Germany. A female chancellor! The occupant of Bismarck's chair is a woman! This seems to me more extraordinary than that there was a woman leader in England, or India, or Israel, or Indonesia. (Okay, Indonesia is a little unexpected.)

I desire to confirm this — the extraordinariness of a woman chancellor — with an astute German analyst here, and do: She says that it is amazing, and adds that only Merkel could have pulled it off. She was the only woman in the country who could have been elected — so says my source.

As Merkel sits in the Congress Center, waiting to speak, she could not look more unassuming. A bit drab, very ordinary — a bit of a hausfrau. But when she opens her mouth, she reveals a formidable intellect, and a good deal of heart.

I think that John Kerry was attending this conference. Perhaps he heard Merkel's speech, and unable to take it, left the conference early and headed back to Washington to run head-first into a concrete wall (figuratively speaking) by engaging in a Johnny-Kerry-come-lately attempt to filibuster the nomination of Judge Alito.

"Merkel has the intelligence and drive to change Germany and therefore the whole atmosphere in Europe. Sadly, she carries a heavy impediment in the form of a coalition which depends on the acquiescence of the SPD (Socialists.)"

You summed it up perfectly (unfortunately). I would even go so far as to say that also within her own party Merkel's vision of freedom isn't always shared. There are very few leading CDU politicians that are on par with Merkel, both in terms of intelligence and vision. Friedrich Merz is one of these, and of course, President Koehler. During the election campaign Merkel has even been labeled the "FDP candidate" by members of her own party.

However, as one says in German "Der Ton macht die Musik" (the tone sets the mood): It's good to see her representing Germany rather than Putin's sauna buddy Schroeder. Also, socialism and the spirit of the '68 movement very much tries to convince people that politics can make you feel good, and a larger part of Schroeders posturing (Iraq etc.) was intended to keep up that impression. But as every good conservative/libertarian/classical liberal knows, the state can only do so much. And Merkel is very good at telling people in a realistic fashion what politics can do and when they have to get active themselves.

The change of style from Schroeder couldn't be more total. And the fact, that Merkel is hugely popular right now has also a lot to do that people were simply fed up with Schroeder's lies and charades.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.