Unfortunately in the US the Republicans are committing suicide. 2008 will be a bloodbath politically. Of course the German Spiegel and liberal papers will all scream “Iraq” when this happens, but the real reason is that:
They are alienating the base with the boarder issue and illegal aliens, Teri Scheivo, Foley.....
But it gets better. Imagine the conservative party puts up a candidate who's: pro-abortion, anti-gun, big government, and thinks gays are “OK”........ Even McCain is not really a candidate who’s viewed favorably among conservatives and Giuliani and McCain appear to be the front runners of the party even though the base largely rejects either!
Of course in 2008 when the Republicans get their ass handed to them they will also say, “We’re being crucified because of Iraq.” Iraq will be the excuse their demise. 2008 will be ugly, but not for the reasons “Der Spiegel” will tell you.
You´re right that there are several reasons for the likely (?) defeat in 2008, but one of them surely will be Iraq. Of course, the Democrats realized that an immediate withdrawal would be a political and military disaster for the US - AND Iraq.
Here, we can only hope that we´ll get a coalition with the FDP after the next election. Merkel ranks top in the approval ratings of politicians, but it doesn´t help her/my party much. With the “new Left”-Commies advancing, the SPD is struggling between the CDU on the right side and the Commies on the left. The SPD loses voters - they reap what they sowed, when they had no problems to accept the Commies as “valid, democratic partners” in the state governments of Berlin and Mecklenburg-Pomerania.
Let´s see what Merkel can reach at the end of the week at her EU-summit. She was promoted to “Miss World” by BILD after G8, maybe she gets the “Miss Europe” title, too!?
We´ll talk later!