EU recommends suspending Israel free trade agreement. Really!

Is Ursula von der Leyen (age 67, in office since 2019) now totally out of her mind! She is a relic of the former socialist German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

It is well past time to retire her as President of the European Commision!

The recent, but increasing harassment and discrimination by other countries of Israel continues. It is very disturbing!

"The European Commission today announced that it is recommending imposing sanctions on extreme Israeli ministers, suspending the free trade agreement between Israel and the EU and establishing a fund for the Palestinians. In doing so, the EU Commission supported last week's statement by President Ursula von der Leyen. ..."

EU recommends suspending Israel free trade agreement - Globes "The European Commission proposes trade and other sanctions against Israel, which could be approved next week."

Book Review: Angela Merkel - A Failed European Leader

The SED Chancellor very significantly contributed to turn Germany into banana republic!

That she titled her memoirs "Freedom" is is such a euphemism and Orwellian!

Maybe the greatest mistake by Helmut Kohl was to sponsor and promote this woman!

Here is my critique of Angela Merkel (in German language).

P.S. SED [Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschland] stands for the socialist party of former German Democratic Republic.

"... During her time in office, Merkel seemed to epitomize wisdom, consensus and stability, but afterwards she seemed to have embodied inertia and folly. She exacerbated Germany’s energy dependence on Russia, its economic dependence on exports to China, and she failed to implement domestic reforms. Her reckless immigration policy fueled the far-right. At the same time, she held back German defense spending. She led the Western negotiations with Putin over Ukraine, but this book shows she had no idea. ..."

Opinion: Book Review: Angela Merkel - A Failed European Leader "Merkel was a disaster and not only for Germany."

Merkel and her ghost writer Beate Baumann

The intimate, odd couple

For her book tour in the US, Merkel is joined by Obama!

How much did Obama flirt with the seven years older Merkel? 😊

Source

 

„Leitkultur“ im CDU-Grundsatzprogramm - Merz feiert nach 24 Jahren einen Sieg über Merkel

Neues aus der manchmal lächerlichen Bananenrepublik D!

Wenn solcher Kleinkram als Sieg ausgegeben wird! Zur Merkel habe ich hier gebloggt: Endlich verlässt die Kröte Merkel das Bundeskanzleramt! Eine Abrechnung!

Der Artikel scheint mal wieder den Eindruck zu bestärken was für eine Null dieser fast lebenslange Berufspolitiker Merz ist!

Man wünsche der CDU bald eine bessere Führung! Je besser, desto besser für D.! Das gilt auch für die lavierende FDP!

„Leitkultur“ im CDU-Grundsatzprogramm - Merz feiert nach 24 Jahren einen Sieg über Merkel | Cicero Online Friedrich Merz freut sich darüber, dass seine Partei ein „gemeinsames kulturelles Minimum“ in einer vielfältigen Gesellschaft einfordert. Mit dem Begriff „Leitkultur“ steuert die CDU nun sogar dahin, wo sie Merz schon vor einem Vierteljahrhundert haben wollte.

Nature Editorial: Politics will be poorer without Angela Merkel’s scientific approach. Really!

I had a good laugh when I saw this Nature editorial today! What are these Nature editors smoking!

The socialist chancellor Merkel was on of the worst German chancellors since 1948! Did she not abruptly and irrationally shut off all German nuclear power plants in the response of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident? Just to mention one of her worst decisions!

"German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a theoretical quantum chemist from the former East Germany, will stand down after federal elections on 26 September. This will mark the end of 16 years in the post and a 30-year political career.

Merkel leaves behind a powerful legacy for research and for evidence-based thinking. Over the years, her administration has strengthened and internationalized German science. Every government is imperfect when it comes to protecting peoples’ rights, promoting security and well-being, and administering justice, but Merkel brought compassion and an insistence — unusual among politicians, even in the time of COVID-19 — that decision-making benefits from evidence. All of this will make her a hard act to follow. ..."

Politics will be poorer without Angela Merkel’s scientific approach The departing German chancellor’s support for science and rigour in policymaking has proved transformative — except on climate change.

Germany’s Year Of Jihad

Thanks to communist chancellor Merkel!

Germany’s Year Of Jihad | Frontpage Mag

Jeremy Corbyn says he'll step down as Britain's Labour Party leader after resounding defeat

I truly admire British politicians for their willingness to resign in face of grave mistakes or election defeat! Unlike e.g. German chancellor Merkel who clings on to her job no matter what goes wrong or how poorly her party comes out in elections!

Jeremy Corbyn says he'll step down as Britain's Labour Party leader after resounding defeat - Jewish Telegraphic Agency: Many British Jews breathed a sigh of relief after the party suffered its worst loss since 1935.

Mindestlohn für Azubis beschlossen or socialism in Germany

The vicious spiral of government intervention as evidenced in Germany. Germany, since World War II, did not have a government mandated minimum wage until 2015 thanks to socialist Chancellor Merkel. Now, Germany passed a law that would even apply minimum wages to the famous apprentices of the German economy.

Mindestlohn für Azubis beschlossen: Auszubildende sollen künftig im ersten Lehrjahr in Deutschland mindestens 515 Euro im Monat erhalten.

Here is recommendable critique of this socialist nonsense!
AZUBI-MINDESTLOHN: Die neue Irrlehre

German Chancellor Merkel's Resignation Is Several Years Overdue

This weekend, German Chancellor Angela Merkel's party suffered another major election debacle, this time in the German state of Thuringia. Her CDU party lost almost 12 percentage points compared to the election four years ago!


The Chancellor (with affiliations to the former socialist party of the German Democratic Republic (SED, DDR)) has blundered so many times and so severely that her resignation is several years overdue! Why her party does not have the guts to tell this lady that she overstayed her welcome is very perplexing!


2019 Thuringian state election - Wikipedia

Members Of The European Union Parliament Failed Again!

Posted: 7/16/2019  Updated: 7/19/2019

As if it was not already bad enough that the EU Parliament chose the scandalous and drunkard Jean-Claude Juncker last time to become the President of the EU Commission.

If again, the strategic thinking here was that a weak candidate is good for the power brokers of the EU like Germany or France. This could be a huge miscalculation!

What a charade! There was not even a rival candidate to choose from!

Although, the outcome of the vote was close, but the MEPs of 28 member countries failed their responsibility to dismiss this political horse trading about this most important post in the EU between France and Germany. The increasingly erratic chancellor Merkel pushed this one through, but what did she gain for that. 

Von der Leyen is a mediocre German politician and protege of Merkel whose most recent career as German defense minister was anything but stellar. The MEPs should have voted no!

Some of Von der Leyen’s policy proposals for the EU are awful e.g. EU wide minimum wage, Green Deal for Europe, first carbon neutral continent by 2050 and so on.  

Sources (S):

1. Von der Leyen elected EU Commission head after MEPs vote

German Chancellor Merkel Failed To Step Down

Posted: 10/28/2017

On September 24th, 2017, the German federal elections were held and the leading conservative coalition of the two mainstay christian democratic parties, i.e. CDU/CSU, suffered their second worst election results since World War II.

In the wake of this election, a very new national conservative party (AfD) emerged and was elected with 12.6% of the votes for the first time to be represented in the German parliament. The mostly leftist mainstream media are not taking it kindly with this new party, constantly denouncing it as Nazis and right wing

Despite this crushing defeat of the so called establishment parties, chancellor Angela Merkel refused to step down! Any politician with a modicum of accountability and responsibility would have done so!

Best German Election Poster

Posted: 8/17/2017

Background: In less than 40 days, the next German general election is being held, i.e. on Sunday 9/24/2017.

Found this great German election poster on Facebook today. Crafted by a genius. Summarizes very well why it is long overdue for Merkel to retire from politics!

For non German readers: Merkel is expressing Schadenfreude about that she can do whatever she wants and the stupid Germans will reelect her again and again.

Do The Germans Have The Courage On Election Day 2017?

Posted: 8/12/2017

German general elections are taking place on Sunday, September 24.

Will the Germans have the courage to throw the bums out on that day? Merkel must go!

The American, British, and the French people have shown extraordinary determination to affect long needed changes in major Western democracies. Will the often phlegmatic, lethargic Germans have learnt the lesson that it is now their turn!

Unfortunately, Germans have few alternatives to choose from on the voting ballot. At best, they could vote for the FDP (Free Democratic Party, a pretentious little, liberty minded party) party or the AfD (Alternative for Germany, a demonized party with some good proposals) and their candidates. If both parties achieve a combined 25% to 35%, the establishment parties in Germany would be in serious trouble.

The major opposition party, the SPD (Social democratic party of Germany), who have formed a so called great coalition with the ruling CDU (Christian democratic party or Merkel’s party), were so foolish to nominate a diehard Marxist (Martin Schulz) as their top candidate.

I have written about the election program of the AfD party here.

The Incredible Arrogance Of Chancellor Merkel

Posted: 4/22/2017

Just read this article in one of Germany’s leading newspapers:

Bundesregierung will weiter für Ächtung der Todesstrafe kämpfen Nach der ersten einer Reihe von Hinrichtungen im amerikanischen Bundesstaat Arkansas kritisiert die Bundesregierung abermals die Vollstreckung der Todesstrafe. Diese sei „eine unmenschliche und grausame Form der Bestrafung (in German). Unfortunately, I could not find these letters. The above article did not provide a link.

Merkel saw it necessary to write a letter to the governor of Arkansas because of the series of executions scheduled there. In this letter, the German government appealed to the governor to commute the death sentence and that capital punishment is a cruel and inhumane punishment. Similarly, the German foreign ministry intervened as well, so did the German ambassador in Washington, DC.

Such an arrogance by Merkel to lecture the governor of Arkansas is incredible!

This woman has made so many profound mistakes since she became chancellor in 2005 it is high time for term limits in Germany. One of her last big mistakes was negotiating and signing the terrible Iran nuclear treaty with the Obama administration in July of 2015.

Merkel Challenger Martin Schulz Is A Staunch Marxist

Posted: 2/5/2017  Updated: 2/11/2017

Update Of 2/11/2017

I had overlooked this article containing an interview with the former president of the European Parliament published 3/21/2013 (emphasis added):

1. “... We can only develop a true European democracy if people fear the European Parliament. My job as President is to make sure that the European Parliament is taken seriously and feared. ..,”
   [Seriously?]
2. “.... Sure, things have gone wrong in Greece, but what makes me angry is that there are people who have to look for food in rubbish bins while at the same time super-wealthy Greeks buy expensive homes in London and Berlin.”
   [What a distorted world view! Marxist to the bone!]

Original Article With/Without Revisions

Germany has a new contender for replacing the highly overrated chancellor Angela Merkel in the upcoming general elections in  September of 2017.

However, Martin Schulz (a social democrat, or member of the SPD party) is a hardcore marxist. Further, he is basically a lifelong, mediocre career politician. He is disappointing. Years ago I read a published essay by Mr. Schulz, which left little doubt that he is a marxist (Unfortunately, I do not remember title nor publication or the date it was published).

Martin Schulz has written other curious essays as well (emphasis added):

1. Europe’s Opportunity In Hollande (5/8/2012) “... François Hollande’s victory is a fresh chance for Europe. It should spell the end of a policy oriented exclusively towards austerity, which has paralyzed our economies and divided the EU. The new French president’s commitment to a European growth policy has brought hope to citizens, and should not alarm anyone – certainly not the financial markets. … Indeed, Europe needs a master plan to avoid a tailspin of recession, growing unemployment, and weakening banking systems. … The growth pact can be properly financed by new sources of revenue, such as a financial-transaction tax and joint project bonds for infrastructure investment, or by curbing tax evasion and tax fraud and eliminating tax havens, as well as by more efficient and intelligent use of structural funds. … The EU also needs common initiatives to replace piece-meal bilateral agreements on tax evasion and tax havens, which undermine the goal of a fair society.”
   [Schultz here highly praises the recently elected new president of France, Hollande. I wonder whether he still thinks Hollande was such a great politician. Some of Schulz’s language is quite comical!]
2. European Council Meeting: Are Young People as Important as the Banks? “... a telling question put to me by a young Spanish woman last year in Madrid, which I cannot get out of my mind. That question was: ‘You managed to find EUR 700 billion to bailout the banks, so why can’t you find some money for us?’ Surely the time has come for us to acknowledge that young people are at least as systemically important as the banks. … The Youth Guarantee, which has already been approved by the 27 EU ministers for employment and social affairs, needs to be written into the law of each Member State at the earliest opportunity. Under this scheme, young people will have the guarantee of being offered a job, apprenticeship or traineeship or the opportunity to continue their education or training within four months of leaving education or becoming unemployed. Given the current situation, it is important for that guarantee to be backed up by the law. … In general, though, the best way of combating youth unemployment is to focus on growth. But how, exactly? By, for example, stimulating investment that will generate jobs for young people. And where will the money come from? From all available sources, including the financial transaction tax and action to put a stop to tax evasion and close down tax havens. If social justice is to mean anything, bankers and insurers need to play a part in securing our children’s future.”
   [Do I even need to comment on this? This candidate is a marxist moron! Like Obama, no clue about economics!]

It was reported that Schulz thinks that the Marxist historian Eric Hobsbawm was great! “When Hobsbawn died, Martin Schulz  tweeted: "Eric Hobsbawm was a man of extraordinary qualities. His books have greatly inspired and influenced my political and historical thoughts."” (Source)

(Photograph source)

Like many socialists before him, Schulz has publicly denied to be a marxist! (Source)

German Companies Produce Their Own Energy

Trigger

Just read “German Companies Take Back the Power As Electricity Costs Soar, Energy-Hungry Firms Have a Growing Incentive to Go Off the Grid” (subscription required) dated 3/3/2014.

In their nutty ways, the German government “has slapped a surcharge of about 22% on power bills for businesses and households. The levy first imposed in 2000, has nearly tripled since 2010.”

What An Irony Or Is It Insanity!

“Roughly 16% of German companies were producing their own power by the middle of last year, according to the Chamber of Commerce - up from about 10% a year earlier.”

Meanwhile it dawns on chancellor Angela Merkel to revise Germany’s energy laws.

German Finance Minister Is A Terrible Populist

Wolfgang Schäuble

I don’t know why this man has not already voluntarily chosen to retire or why chancellor Angela Merkel is still holding on to this man. Someone, who does not retire in grace long after the zenith has passed is a sorry person.

He is mildly said an embarrassment!

Profits Of 25% Are Not Acceptable!

The German finance minister is quoted as saying “Die Zeiten, in denen im Bankgewerbe eine Rendite vor Steuern von weniger als 25 Prozent als nicht erträglich angesehen wurde, sind vorbei” (source). Roughly translated: The times, when profits before taxes of of 25% or less were not acceptable, are over.

Where is this fool getting this notion from? How many banks were making anywhere near this kind of profit? For how long or when?

If any bank made any such profits over extended periods of time, then competition was lacking. Mr. Schäueble is totally inept to recognize.

Next German Economics Minister Is A Fool

Sigmar Gabriel

According to press reports (e.g. here) is going to be the next German minister of the economy (Bundeswirtschaftsminister). He is currently the chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SPD).

I previously blogged about him here. He is a typical lifelong career politician and opportunist. His intellectual competency is in doubt. He studied German language, politics, and sociology. Then, he became a civil servant as a teacher, before he started his political career. His curriculum vita is not impressive. He claims to be the representative of the little guy (e.g. proponent of high minimum wages for everyone).

The Good News

The ministry of the economy has been largely a ceremonial office/ministry for decades. E.g. the ministry of finance has much more authority. Thus, this man is hopefully prevented from doing much harm.

However, he will be sitting in every cabinet meeting wielding his influence.

Another New Federal Minister

The quality of government suffers when too many dull knifes are assembled. Merkel’s cabinet is already burdened with the dim witted Ms. Ursula von Leyen and others.

I recently blogged about Ms. Manuela Schwesig, the designated, new incoming family and women minister, here.

Conclusion

Germany has way too many lifelong career politicians. This is unhealthy and not representative.

Germany's Government Refuses To Intervene In Syria

Germany Needs To Accept More 

Responsibility In This World

The German weekly magazine “Der Spiegel” reported today (in German language; 8/30/2013) that chancellor Merkel and the foreign minister Westerwelle declared that Germany would not participate in a military action against Syria. This is an irresponsible dereliction of duty.

Merkel is an awful opportunistic politician with an eye on the upcoming general elections in September. Westerwelle looks like a wimp and probably is a wimp.

The main contender of chancellor Merkel in the general elections, Mr. Peer Steinbrück of the Social Democrats (SPD) has been quoted as saying “100 Stunden Verhandlungen sind besser als eine Minute Schießen." (100 hours of negotiations are better than one minute of gun fire). The naiveté of this man is incredible!

Not only has Germany been disarming for decades in an irresponsible manner, its government thinks that diplomacy and negotiations are the prerogative.

A Country That Was Not Long Ago Liberated From A Bloody Dictator

A country like Germany has an obligation to humanity to do more in the face of dictators such as the one ruling over Syria. The Stalinist dictatorship in Syria has been running this country for about three decades now. Mr. Assad looks like psychopath to me. His father was at least smart and cunning.

This planet has become way too small to tolerate or allow ruthless dictators to use weapons prohibited under the Geneva Protocol (Syria is a signatory) to be indiscriminately applied against their own population.

France And Germany Are Determined To Do Everything To Protect The Integrity Of The Euro Zone

Excerpt from a joint statement by the German chancellor and the French president released on 7/27/2012.

More Breaches Of European Agreements

Grandiose words indeed. Sounds heroic like fighting to the last bullet or to the last drop of blood! Does this include more breaches of European agreements and more violations of the no bailout clause? I think these European political leaders have already done enough damage.

Merkel Adieu

The good news is between September 1 and October 27, 2013 will be the next federal elections in Germany. Ms. Merkel has served as chancellor since 2005. Time for a new chancellor. Unfortunately, her presumptive challenger from the Social Democratic Party, Sigmar Gabriel, is another mediocre German politician.