Now the fun begins for Herr Schroeder

Washington Times ^ | 9/24/02 | Wesley Pruden

[kattracks]

Yogi Berra would understand the German elections. The Germans came to a fork in the road, and took it.

The Germans want to lecture the Americans and the Jews on the perils of military adventuring, which is akin to a retired Hamburg bordello madam lecturing high-school girls on how to keep their virginity, but they also want to be "friends" of the Americans and regarded as important in the world.

[NY Cajun]

It's about time we withdraw our troops from this thankless ex-ally and stop spending money on their over-priced cars and other imports. Let them survive on their thankless anti-American hate and Euro dollars.

[ImpBill]

Ya gotta love Wes Pruden's way with words. Great post.

[SLB]

Great article. Bushe needs to tell the Germans to go pound sand. We spent billions there since rebuilding them after WWII and what do we get in return? Let the Greens take them over and see where they end up. I spent 6+ years there and was always at some isolated location where the economy depended on the Americans spending money for housing, gas and food/drink. Now let them go eat cake.

[SLB]

Bushe = Bush (I have a dentist appointment in 30 minutes and am a little nervous) Grin!

[GirlShortstop]

Bushe = Bush

LOL... With your clarification, I'm thinking that perhaps you subconsciously phonetically spelled what your words will be after your appointment. Good luck!

[Fred Mertz]

The suspicion remains that the whole episode might have been carefully orchestrated. Herta Daeubler-Gmelin, the offending justice minister, said something that a lot of Germans obviously agreed with, and in fact it was Mr. Schroeder's anti-American rants that appear to have sealed his victory.

I lived in Germany for four years, and one thing I learned about the German people is that they'll turn on you in a minute if the situation warrants.

[Malesherbes]

The third of Schroeder's four wives said he is nothing but a liar and an opportunist. One is inclined to take the views of former wives at some discount, but I think she was right.

Pruden as usual hits the target in the center, but he may be wrong on one particular, i.e. about France and Germany. The British press reports that Chirac and Schroeder despise each other and the French were openly hoping for Schroeder's defeat.

In any case, I hope Bush keeps the heat on Schroeder.

[BlueLancer]

I'll think that I'll just take my Australian wife over for another visit to Germany. She has a way of ... ahem ... making her feelings known to the local aborigines.

When we were assigned to Mannheim (82-85), she rode the streetcar from our apartment in Viernheim to the Main Post Commissary two or three times a week. One day, while I was at work, I got a call from the MP's over at Main Post to come and pick up my wife from the MP Station ... she had been "involved in a disturbance". It appears that some smelly, scruffy anti-American, anti-nuke protester had gotten in her way and jostled her, all of the while shouting general anti-GI slogans at her. Well, he picked the wrong "dependent" to harangue. She proceeded to beat the living $hit out of him, first using her purse, then her shopping cart, and, finally, his own sign. No charges were ever made against her ... I guess the guy was probably too shocked and embarrassed by incident (although he did leave a reasonable amount of blood at the streetcar stop). But I've teased her about the incident ever since then.

Maybe we should take a trip to Germany and I should let her loose upon the populace again ... (a Godzilla-remake in production).

[sam_paine]

The third of Schroeder's four wives said he is nothing but a liar and an opportunist.

1- Till death do us part. I DO.

2- Till death do us part. I DO.

3- Till death do us part. I DO.

4- Till death do us part. I DO.

Exactly! I wonder why people that divorce bother saying wedding vows again.

[aristeides]

Sounds very plausible that it was orchestrated. It'll be very interesting to see what now happens to Herta Daeubler-Gmelin. I predict a judgeship.

[j_tull]

The French, always comfortable in their familiar position of fawning at the feet of Germans,...

BWWAAHHAAHAAA

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

Have you and your lovely wife considered vacationing at Berkley?

[RichardW]

I second the motion to retire our military bases there. I can't see any rational reason to maintain them since the Cold War ended. Let the Europeans take care of their own problems.

[eureka!]

Pruden bump...

[Dutchgirl]

The sad fact is that the US is counting on German Troops to releive ours in Afganistan. US bases in Germany are vital in our plans for Iraq.

Germany is suffering from a huge influx of lifelong communists who can't rid themselves of a nanny government mind-set. I work with several Bosnians who speak longingly of the benefits they enjoyed (briefly) in Germany before coming to the US. The worst complainer is a former soviet officer.

I sincerely pity the 1/2 of that country that actually produces wealth only to have the other 1/2 live parasitically off of them.

Hey Jim, any chance of starting a Free Republic in Germany?

[dighton]

It appears that some smelly, scruffy anti-American, anti-nuke protester had gotten in her way and jostled her, all of the while shouting general anti-GI slogans at her. Well, he picked the wrong "dependent" to harangue. She proceeded to beat the living $hit out of him, first using her purse, then her shopping cart, and, finally, his own sign.

By the authority vested in me as an ex-Chicagoan, I appoint Mrs. BlueLancer an honorary officer of the Chicago PD, with all rights and privileges thereof.

[dighton]

The needed note of caution was sounded by Rocco Buttiglione, Italy’s minister for European affairs. Mr. Schroeder’s threat to put obstacles in the way of dealing with Saddam Hussein would have a “bad effect” on European security policy, he told an interviewer for Corriere della Sera, the Italian daily.

I like dis guy.

[linn37]

bump

[Polybius]

We spent billions there since rebuilding them after WWII and what do we get in return?

I'm taking a different tack on this.

The majority of the Germans who grew up in what used to be West Germany still appreciate America what America did for them during the post-war aftermath and the Cold War.

However, West Germany made the mistake of bringing in all of the East German population, a population that had lived in either America-hating Nazism or America-hating Communism since the early 1930's, directly into their society without even a "Reconstruction".

Now these millions of un-reconstructed Communists and America-haters have enough votes to barely squeak out a margin of victory for the Red-Green coalition that now rules Germany.

Before we bash our old German allies for their blunder, we should look around at the changing demographics of America now that we have abandon the policy of controlled and selective immigration to our shores. We may soon wake up one day to discover that America-haters have not only become a majority in Germany but also in America itself.

[Orual]

The needed note of caution was sounded by Rocco Buttiglione

It should come as no surprise to you that Rocco and Nunzio are close, very close.

[aculeus]

Germany is now officially supporting terrorists. Their generous ($2500 per month!) welfare payments allow one guy to spend all his days at the local (anti-American radical) mosque. Described in this under-appreciated thread.

[Charles Martel]

Hey Jim, any chance of starting a Free Republic in Germany?

FreeReich? LOL!

To quote Herr Dr. "Fronkensteen": "IT! COULD! WORK!!"