Neutral (!!!) facts about coming German elections for your information!

You put a lot of work into this thread, Mandelus; wow (long break at work? ).
However, as we can already see, the species called clueless yank is strong and alive around here. In other words, many of our US friends are not really interested in other countries' political affairs and, unfortunately, prefer to drown in their silly stereotypes, half-truths, and propaganda news they've been fed for quite some time now. They see and read 1% of the tip of the iceberg and really think "I got it."
It usually takes only one or two sentences and you can clearly tell that these people have no idea what they're talking about; just look at the nonsense here about Germanystan and police state. face palm
Wait until election day in Germany and then try to count the comments on this forum saying "OMG, how stupid they are, they re-elected Merkel again. This is Germany's death ... blah blah." The really humorous thing is that this species seriously tries to tell people who actually live in Germany what life there is like and why it sucks; has happened to me many times.
Sadly, your work here is a little bit Perlen vor die Säue.
It's nice to see though that not all of our friends from the new world are like that.
I for one find the current campaign quite boring and slumbrous.

 

I truly wish we, was the "Unimportant States of America".

And not paying the defense bill for Germany, France, and all those parasitic Euros.
Especially Germany and their economic imperialism that places Ukrainians and Greeks in debt for generations. Let them spend on their security like good

 

Since when are YOU = USA paying the defense bill for Germany and France please? You pay 0.00 USD or do you really believe this BS what is blabbered in the USA by the chief idiot and his followers?

So time to enlighten you with FACTS:
NATO treats demands that all members spent 2% of BIP into their OWN defense as budget! Germany and many other do not fulfill this and in case of Germany it is only 1.2% ... And I do criticize this too, simply because there is a financial need in the Armed Forces of my country, B U T ...
if you think that the missing 0.8% are paid by the USA then I get a laugh attack! And I get also a laugh attack if you say that the USA is forced to make our NATO jobs due to this = spending out of this more money, because both is total nonsense! You spend nothing more and truth is that you the USA does not fulfill your NATO duties, because you like more to play the world sheriff and fight wars out of own interests as to fulfill your duties inside NATO!
What do we have again in Europe of US Army forces? 2nd Armored Cavalry in Wiesbaden, this silly tank brigade in Poland with 100 M1A1/2 tanks and the 173. Airborne Brigade in Italy and aside some engineers and military police only Military Intelligence and a bunch of staffs, commands and administrations + a large hospital! Sorry, the NATO member Belgium with a total of 11.3 million citizens has a stronger Army as what you have left in Europe!

And economic imperialism? Nice that we had good teachers in Washington and that the Ex Student is doing better as the teacher, eh? But about Greece your comment about us is simply impudent!
If you want to blame someone about Greece, then blame the Greek for it! We did not ordered them to have incompetent, corrupt parties and governments during the last 40 years to elect who wasted money ... and for sure is our financial help with our tax money no donor but packed with demands, because we don't waste money into a black hole! But then we are the evil ... sure!

 

Load of crap? Well ... same I must say about your comment! But whom do I explain that the integraton of Muslims in Germany is not perfect, but quite better done as in other countries? You want to believe this load of crap then believe the BS further!

But btw ... yes, their are sectors in our cities who have nicknames like "Little Istanbul" but so what? If this are Ghettos, what are again "Little Italy", "China Town" and the "Hispano sectors" in the US cities?

Yep ... any other lies as this?
So, because they let in the people as wanted workers in the past or because they fled from Ex Colonies into the mother land like France and because the population did everything but not to integrate them and wanted to exclude form society and the 3rd and 4th generation of them has lesser chances only because of their origin, then it is their guilt only? Sure ... ignorance!

And about integration of immigrants in the USA read this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discrimination_in_the_United_States

 

Very educational OP.

 

What is the purpose of having a head of state position that is mostly ceremonial ?

 

Well ... According to the law, in most monarchies in the world, e.g. Great Britain, the monarchs are also only ceremonial heads of state. Why do the British, Belgians, Dutch, Spaniards, etc. have a king / queen as head of state if they have no real power?

In Germany it has its good reason because of the bad experience in our 1st democracy after WW-1 and until Hitler's seizure of power.
Conventionally, the tasks and powers of the Federal President are described in comparison with those of the President of the Reich in the Republic after WW-1. The President of the Reich was elected directly by the people (The Reichs-Chancellor and the parliament were extra elections); he was endowed with extensive powers and was a kind of "replacement emperor". In parliamentary crisis situations, the President of the Reich should be in a position to influence the state's business and take over it in large parts. Reich President of Hindenburg used these possibilities in a disastrous manner toward the end of the Weimar Republic, for without him and his powers, Hitler would not have come to power despite his election. As a historical consequence, the Parliamentary Council decided to limit the political rights of the Federal President without having to renounce this post in the preparation of the new constitution after WW-2.

BTW ... another consequence of the bad experiences in this first republic is also the 5% hurdle for the parties at us, because this chaos of a bunch of unimportant parties that prevented the formation of government ... because only with abstract coalitions of many parties a government could be established, which also has a majority in Parliament ... were another reason why Hitler could raise power.

 

OK, I see why the presidents powers were reduced, but what power do they have left? What's their day to day job?

 

You could start here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Germany
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chancellor_of_Germany_(1949–)

 

Thanks. I should have done my own homework

 

The most important tasks and rights of the Federal President

I. International representation of the Federal Republic of Germany
• Representative representation as well as certification of the German and accreditation of the foreign ambassadors.
• The conclusion of the treaties under the international treaties of the Confederation takes place de facto on the grounds of implied authorization by the government.

II. Formal proposal of a candidate for the Federal Chancellor's election after a parliamentary election.

III. The appointment of persons to state organs
• The Federal President appoints and dismisses formally the Federal Chancellor, the Federal Ministers, the Federal Court and also professional commissioned officers and non-commissioned officers. The decision of dismissing a minister is of course done by the government before, the federal president can't dismiss by his own alone!

IV. Making and promulgating the laws
• formal examination right; material examination right. As everywhere else, the government set up ne laws, which must pass Parliament and the Federal Council (Senate). The Federal President has the right to examine these and also to demand changes or to say "no". In the event of a conflict, the highest Federal Supreme Court is ultimately called for final decision

V. Exercise of the pardoner 's right to pardon for imprisoned persons

VI. Political reserve powers
1) Appointment of a minority chancellor or dissolution of the Bundestag after a failed Federal Chancellor election (= new elections have to be done).
2) Dissolution of the parliament after unsuccessful vote of confidence for the chancellor in parliament on the proposal of the Federal Chancellor . The Chancellor's confidence question in Parliament came several times, and usually happens when the Chancellor in office has no longer the majority in Parliament, for example when the coalition partner changes sides or his own party is no longer in general or in an important issue him.
3) Statement of the need for legislation ... complicated issue, means in core that if Parliament and government are not able to device proper about laws, then the Federal President has the right to declare this status which will bring at least new elections.

 

LOL a wiki article that doesn't even cover Muslims in Europe.

https://www.fpri.org/2016/04/us-doesnt-muslim-problem-europe/

http://www.ibtimes.com/why-do-american-muslims-fare-better-their-french-counterparts-2189449

I have posted links containing actual polls and research you have posted nothing but garbage.

 

Really? You are focused on Links to get? Are you collection them or what is you reason?

Anyway ... here you are:

https://www.thelocal.de/20170824/integration-of-muslims-better-in-germany-than-in-rest-of-Europe

 

Here's a thread created to provide neutral info on the German election later this month, and there are blind fools who post stuff about how only the US pays for Britain's, France's and Germany's defence while others babble something about Muslims in France desparately trying to make a point they, for some utterly absurd reason, really consider on topic.
You can't make this idiocy up.

 

You are right

 

So many words to say so little.
Just consider when there is a NATO mission, it is truly an mission.
American men, material, coordination and most importantly American $.
Money supplied by the American tax payer more so than the German.
Tell me that ain't true!



So back in the Libya days the NATO tried a bombing run that was free of Americans.
The Italian pilot and the French pilot crashed into each other.
Following bombing runs were American, again.
It is time to cut the cord and let Europe militarily stand on its' own like a region of importance should be able to do.
Anyone else remember that one.

Withdraw all American military personnel, hardware, etc. from Europe.
Since placement the geopolitik and weapons technology has changed greatly to where this persistent deployment in Europe is an expensive redundancy.
America's major problem is it doesn't know when to leave. Repeatedly.

 

LOL once again.....its comparing to the rest of Europe which is pathetic. Show me one study that says Muslims integrate better in Europe than they do in the US. Your posts are so pathetic and uneducated LOL Everyone is laughing at how small you are.

 

Thanks! Sounds a lot like what I've heard the queen of England does.

 

Like the many people who laugh about your nonsense?

I gave you a link and an evidence and if you don't like, your problem. You will hate Muslims further and declare them as sub-humans further even if you got counter evidence which are clear like 1+1=2.

So I will not waste my time with your sick and wrong thoughts...

 

It isn't really true ... because you want to lead it, then you have duties for it too. Who wanted help in Afghanistan again? It was the USA who asked NATO and other allies for help and suddenly you blame us for this here? How impudent is this?
You made a criminal attack on Iraq in 2003 for what Bush should be jailed like Nazis who started WW-2 and many NATO allies and other allies followed you until they woke up that the US has betrayed them here, as did the majority of US citizens later when the lies were discovered. This cost the US much tax money, but our problem when you make such BS? No!

Wow ... a normal Air Crash which happened how many times inside USAF alone this year is so important to tell? Ridiculous...
And yes ... the US went in to help these incompetent Euros ... what a nonsense is this what you tell here!
Look on alliance which as formed by the USA, because Washington wasn't pleased that not they but France took over lead in something what was NATO! And now you twist this fact to the nonsense you wrote... I get a laugh...

And about USA, sorry to say ... but because the USA is NOTHING doing for NATO and is miss-using NATO as reserve for own military and own interests only I am the last who will not say "fu** off" and leave Europe with the ridiculous rest you have here, we don't need you anymore when you are always whining like now again with your post.
Whiners loose wars like you loose in Afghanistan and in Iraq ... or which war did the USA pleasing way won since WW-2 again? No one! So who needs losers?

 

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/851973/Angela-Merkel-tomatoes-Wolgast-rally-German-Election-2017

Some bad feelings toward Merkel. Where is she at in the polls? How are the German's on the forum feeling about the election predictions?

 

Wolgast is in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in the North East of Germany ... even if you should never generalize, this state and it's population is quite far right, as many of the former GDR were. Shortly ... Wolgast is AfD country and already last year the top candidate of "Die Linke" had the same experience as Merkel in the same village of Wolgast!

Actual poll says ...

CDU / CSU - 37%
SPD - 24%
Die Gruenen - 8%
FDP - 8%
Die Linke - 9%
AfD - 9%
All others together in sum 5%

Some other poll sources have as usual sometimes +/- 1 or 2% differences.

So Merkel will for sure win and the only question is at least, with whom she will go into coalition. In my opinion it will be again a big coalition with SPD, because with FDP alone she has currently no majority and that that the so called "Jamaica coalition" = CDU/CSU+FDP+Die Gruenen will come and then work is very unlikely.

 

I live in Germany. This is a simplified version as the Chancellor is not directly elected by the people but in parliament and whoever has the most seats there is very likely to have their candidate become the next Chancellor.
The general as well as my prediction: Merkel is very likely to win. Challenger Martin Schulz could call it a day, the race is pretty much over.
This has nothing to do with "stupid Germans" like many of your con. fellow countrymen will tell you. The political landscape in Germany is very different to the US and so is the election system. Unfortunately, there is no realistic alternative at the moment. I'd love to see her leave for good, but that's not going to happen, at least not in the next three - four years.

 

Yeah, I forgot that fast that the Chancellor is not directly elected by the people. Time will tell.

 

No you didn't you posted about how Germany isn't as bad as the rest of EUROPE. You posted absolutely nothing about comparing Europe or Germany specifically to the US when it comes to integrating Muslims.