Just how bad has Schroeder fcked up--is it possible they get their 1st woman leader???
Chirac looking at same fate in next election.
Quite interesting considering by listening to their liberal media reporting you'd think their entire population was against U.S. policy.Would be interesting if "The Three Amigos" Kerry-Schoroder and Chirac all met same fate.
German Candidates Break Election Tradition
Sep 17 10:31 AM US/Eastern
By DAVID RISING
Associated Press Writer
BERLIN
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and his conservative challenger both broke with long tradition against campaigning on election eve Saturday, heading to Germany's most populous state to stump for support in what has become a tight national vote.
Amid polls showing some 25 percent of voters still undecided, Schroeder and Angela Merkel were in North Rhine-Westphalia to push their competing visions.
Schroeder touched on all of his major themes in a 20-minute speech to 10,000 people in Recklinghausen, highlighting his opposition to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and the development of closer ties with France and Russia as foreign policy triumphs.
Merkel likely would move Germany back closer to the United States, its longtime security partner from the Cold War.
His voice harsh from the campaign trail, Schroeder defended his limited tax cuts and trims in long-term jobless benefits while criticizing Merkel's proposals to streamline the tax system, make it easier for small companies to fire people and loosen the rigid labor market.
He urged supporters of his left-of-center Social Democratic Party to bring out any undecided voters they know.
"Think about bringing grandma and grandpa with you _ but only if they're going to vote for the SPD," he said.
In Bonn, Merkel, leader of the Christian Democrats, pushed her plans to create jobs and accelerate economic reforms, emphasizing that the Social Democrats' rule has seen the number of jobless rise above 5 million for the first time since World War II. The unemployment rate for Europe's largest economy is now 11.4 percent.
Germany's economy grew a sluggish 1.6 percent last year after three years of almost no growth, which has been a drag on all of Europe.
Chirac looking at same fate in next election.
Quite interesting considering by listening to their liberal media reporting you'd think their entire population was against U.S. policy.Would be interesting if "The Three Amigos" Kerry-Schoroder and Chirac all met same fate.
German Candidates Break Election Tradition
Sep 17 10:31 AM US/Eastern
By DAVID RISING
Associated Press Writer
BERLIN
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and his conservative challenger both broke with long tradition against campaigning on election eve Saturday, heading to Germany's most populous state to stump for support in what has become a tight national vote.
Amid polls showing some 25 percent of voters still undecided, Schroeder and Angela Merkel were in North Rhine-Westphalia to push their competing visions.
Schroeder touched on all of his major themes in a 20-minute speech to 10,000 people in Recklinghausen, highlighting his opposition to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and the development of closer ties with France and Russia as foreign policy triumphs.
Merkel likely would move Germany back closer to the United States, its longtime security partner from the Cold War.
His voice harsh from the campaign trail, Schroeder defended his limited tax cuts and trims in long-term jobless benefits while criticizing Merkel's proposals to streamline the tax system, make it easier for small companies to fire people and loosen the rigid labor market.
He urged supporters of his left-of-center Social Democratic Party to bring out any undecided voters they know.
"Think about bringing grandma and grandpa with you _ but only if they're going to vote for the SPD," he said.
In Bonn, Merkel, leader of the Christian Democrats, pushed her plans to create jobs and accelerate economic reforms, emphasizing that the Social Democrats' rule has seen the number of jobless rise above 5 million for the first time since World War II. The unemployment rate for Europe's largest economy is now 11.4 percent.
Germany's economy grew a sluggish 1.6 percent last year after three years of almost no growth, which has been a drag on all of Europe.
