General Discussion

DFW

(60,019 posts)

107. Everyone thinks she'll not run again

Wed Dec 9, 2015, 12:15 AM

Dec 2015

But since way before she became Bundeskanzlerin, people have been underestimating her. She could surprise us all yet, and the other parties have no serious candidates. Ironically, the only serious successor so far would be Ursula von der Leyen, another CDU woman who scares the male dominated German political scene to the point that they engineered her to Defense in the last Cabinet shuffle. Defense Minister in Germany is usually a dead-end posting, but von der Leyen has done the job very well, and speaks quickly, off the cuff, and is sharper than any of the men prospects for the top post. It wouldn't surprise me to see Merkel succeeded by another woman from her own party. None of the other parties in German has a top-tier politician of her caliber.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

112 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Rise of far-right in France after Paris Attacks [View all] flamingdem Dec 2015 OP

The Return To Facism Has Begun In Europe cantbeserious Dec 2015 #1

It's amazing how fast things can change nt flamingdem Dec 2015 #2

Oddly enough, not in Germany or Italy Yorktown Dec 2015 #4

What do you think will happen to Frau Merkel? Nt flamingdem Dec 2015 #6

She will calmly leave in 2017. Yorktown Dec 2015 #7

She'll be gone. 840high Dec 2015 #11

Everyone thinks she'll not run again DFW Dec 2015 #107

How interesting, the next few years may well have women as the most flamingdem Dec 2015 #108

Women have done at least as well as men leading European countries DFW Dec 2015 #111

Disagree re: Italy JustAnotherGen Dec 2015 #26

It can happen anywhere, but it's not currently in the minds of Italians Yorktown Dec 2015 #28

Agree to Disagree JustAnotherGen Dec 2015 #30

Never been south of Rome, so I wouldn't know Yorktown Dec 2015 #40

Sadly there is much racist/fascist in America newfie11 Dec 2015 #46

France has had problems with the Muslim populanton since they had many colonies in Africa. Jim Beard Dec 2015 #83

Yes, the fate of the harkis is de Gaulle's shame Yorktown Dec 2015 #84

Here it comes newfie11 Dec 2015 #45

the threat of being killed by islamic radicals is going to drive survival behaviors patsimp Dec 2015 #51

Far right? Far nonsense. Yorktown Dec 2015 #3

Yesturday I served at my poll station and counted ballots. mylye2222 Dec 2015 #5

In which part of France? Yorktown Dec 2015 #9

In St-Etienne, central-eastern France. mylye2222 Dec 2015 #35

Oh, surprised. Yorktown Dec 2015 #38

Me too. mylye2222 Dec 2015 #39

I went once around St Etienne Yorktown Dec 2015 #41

Why do you think they are having so much success in your area? smirkymonkey Dec 2015 #60

less immigration than high uneployement. mylye2222 Dec 2015 #64

I've actually been to St Etienne. hifiguy Dec 2015 #65

Wow. mylye2222 Dec 2015 #90

AFAIK Focal is still there. hifiguy Dec 2015 #100

Truth is that the far right is only rising because people have hidden racist attitudes politicman Dec 2015 #8

Your comment is far, far disconnected from reality Yorktown Dec 2015 #10

Islam is not a race, no. Scootaloo Dec 2015 #14

Please see my answer #18 Yorktown Dec 2015 #19

I'm simply explaining racialized the nature of the bigotry to you Scootaloo Dec 2015 #20

Agreed, and I knew. But do not discard the legitimate ideological worry. Yorktown Dec 2015 #22

That's not really a legitimate worry Scootaloo Dec 2015 #23

No, it's very legitimate worry, as numbers can demonstrate Yorktown Dec 2015 #27

Again; A minority within a minority wants something that they can't agree on Scootaloo Dec 2015 #29

I have personally zero worry on the subject Yorktown Dec 2015 #37

That's 15% *of those who are religious* muriel_volestrangler Dec 2015 #42

Interesting link, but the numbers you posted must be wrong Yorktown Dec 2015 #48

(a) they're from your own source muriel_volestrangler Dec 2015 #49

(a) I was presenting a graph from 'Le Monde', not the whole INED databank Yorktown Dec 2015 #109

No, we can be very confident that 15% is wrong - it's only among the religious muriel_volestrangler Dec 2015 #110

I must thank you, you made me attempt a synthesis of the existing data Yorktown Dec 2015 #112

you just cant accept reality because its uncomfortable for you to admit. politicman Dec 2015 #15

You are wrong on so many counts I can't count Yorktown Dec 2015 #18

It is you that is wrong because you dont want to admit whats makes you uncomfortable politicman Dec 2015 #21

LOL. OK, you discard studies? Then just try to reason: Yorktown Dec 2015 #24

My response politicman Dec 2015 #33

We're getting nearer to middle ground Yorktown Dec 2015 #47

response politicman Dec 2015 #53

You are all over the place Yorktown Dec 2015 #54

It's you that can't understand what racism is politicman Dec 2015 #56

I quite understand what racism is , thank you. Yorktown Dec 2015 #67

...... politicman Dec 2015 #69

..-..- Yorktown Dec 2015 #70

////////////////// politicman Dec 2015 #71

@#$%^& Yorktown Dec 2015 #72

%$^&***&^%$$##$ politicman Dec 2015 #74

777***777 Yorktown Dec 2015 #75

!#%^*&^&$#$@#% politicman Dec 2015 #79

[{<+>}] Yorktown Dec 2015 #80

$^^$^$ politicman Dec 2015 #81

<*<*<++>*>*> Yorktown Dec 2015 #82

$#@#%&^& politicman Dec 2015 #85

You really place religion before evidence Yorktown Dec 2015 #86

^%(% politicman Dec 2015 #91

Mmmhhh, interesting Yorktown Dec 2015 #95

*%%*% politicman Dec 2015 #98

My MacBook has some cool icons, but they don't translate at the DU server Yorktown Dec 2015 #99

Have you a link for "the #1 reason for support to the Front National is unemployment"? muriel_volestrangler Dec 2015 #44

Easy Yorktown Dec 2015 #55

That's a failure of logic muriel_volestrangler Dec 2015 #57

We both have a point Yorktown Dec 2015 #68

When there's 3 economic issues listed, then you'd expect them to add up to more than just one muriel_volestrangler Dec 2015 #92

The reasons add up because "it's about the economy, stupid" (not you, the old Clinton quote) Yorktown Dec 2015 #94

The point is that with people allowed to pick 2, and 1 'immigration' vs. 3 'economic' muriel_volestrangler Dec 2015 #96

Oh, sorry, I misread you Yorktown Dec 2015 #97

"Marion Maréchal-Le Pen: the new wonder-girl of France's far-right" ucrdem Dec 2015 #12

French Ann Coulter flamingdem Dec 2015 #16

The Le Pens. mylye2222 Dec 2015 #36

The left needs to take the public's fear seriously Democat Dec 2015 #13

Oh come on. politicman Dec 2015 #17

Organized international terrorism is different from school shootings Democat Dec 2015 #31

thats a cop out politicman Dec 2015 #34

"When voters are scared, they will look for a strong leader to protect them." Trump supporters pampango Dec 2015 #43

We agree Democat Dec 2015 #50

The European left have nobody to blame but themselves LittleBlue Dec 2015 #25

Yes, they needed to do something after the attacks flamingdem Dec 2015 #62

Your first sentence is the most accurate assessment I have seen yet here DFW Dec 2015 #73

Could you elaborate? Just interested in getting an opinion from someone who actually lives smirkymonkey Dec 2015 #78

Sure DFW Dec 2015 #88

Thank you very much! smirkymonkey Dec 2015 #93

No one would like more to hear Germany's long-term plans than the Germans themselves DFW Dec 2015 #101

Sorry to hear that. Sounds like a recipe for a lot of social unrest and unfortunately smirkymonkey Dec 2015 #102

You have it pegged DFW Dec 2015 #103

thanks for an excellent answer, as always! :) nt steve2470 Dec 2015 #104

A three hour layover can be used for many things DFW Dec 2015 #105

I read the complaints from English-speaking Europeans LittleBlue Dec 2015 #87

Frankly, I can't figure the EP out. DFW Dec 2015 #89

Just as I feared malaise Dec 2015 #32

War always works for the oligarchs, doesn't it? PatrickforO Dec 2015 #52

Logic goes out the window when people see blood nt flamingdem Dec 2015 #63

Looks like ISIS got what it wanted. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2015 #58

Same thing will happen here if Democrats don't play this the right way davidn3600 Dec 2015 #59

I agree, we are merely fortunate that Trump plays this role now flamingdem Dec 2015 #61

As long as we don't play it the right wing way: "You have everything to fear including fear itself." pampango Dec 2015 #66

Hollande is willing to go to war with ISIS Dawson Leery Dec 2015 #76

Yes, but with these elections it appears that flamingdem Dec 2015 #77

Rachel doing a bit on Jean Marie Le Pen the father flamingdem Dec 2015 #106