Comments on: SPD smashed at German ballot box http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/09/28/spd-smashed-at-german-ballot-box/ now with extra source Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:03:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Robert Hughes http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/09/28/spd-smashed-at-german-ballot-box/#comment-39001 Robert Hughes Mon, 28 Sep 2009 04:20:41 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/09/28/spd-smashed-at-german-ballot-box/#comment-39001 Robert Hughes has just realised that he, too, failed to proof-read his own short contribution. Damn! Robert Hughes has just realised that he, too, failed to proof-read his own short contribution. Damn!

]]> By: Robert Hughes http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/09/28/spd-smashed-at-german-ballot-box/#comment-39000 Robert Hughes Mon, 28 Sep 2009 04:19:10 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/09/28/spd-smashed-at-german-ballot-box/#comment-39000 An excellent and erudite article, though please proofread before submitting to Crikey please. The acronym SPD stands for the Socialist Party of Germany, not the Social Democratic Party. Hence the German SPD would become the English SPG, rather than the SDP. I know I'm being petty, yet these errors should not occur. Also, Joschka Fisher has been mis-spelt. An excellent and erudite article, though please proofread before submitting to Crikey please. The acronym SPD stands for the Socialist Party of Germany, not the Social Democratic Party. Hence the German SPD would become the English SPG, rather than the SDP. I know I’m being petty, yet these errors should not occur. Also, Joschka Fisher has been mis-spelt.

]]> By: Heathdon McGregor http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/09/28/spd-smashed-at-german-ballot-box/#comment-38986 Heathdon McGregor Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:55:05 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/09/28/spd-smashed-at-german-ballot-box/#comment-38986 Is this correct? The Left appear to be the left wing faction of the SPD broken away to form a new party when the name of their party was prostituted by right wing thinkers. Imagine that, standing for your beliefs as politicians instead of trading on the party name built on the work of others before you. I know I must have misread the article. Is this correct? The Left appear to be the left wing faction of the SPD broken away to form a new party when the name of their party was prostituted by right wing thinkers. Imagine that, standing for your beliefs as politicians instead of trading on the party name built on the work of others before you.

I know I must have misread the article.

]]> By: Malcolm Gillies` http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/09/28/spd-smashed-at-german-ballot-box/#comment-38977 Malcolm Gillies` Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:31:49 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/09/28/spd-smashed-at-german-ballot-box/#comment-38977 I'd disagree with the characterisation that "Competence, rather than media skills are [Merkel's] chief boast." From what I've seen, she's unmatched among German politicians in her ability to communicate with the public. While others on both left and right have a rhetorical style that has not evolved since the 1970s, Merkel speaks plainly and directly with a convincing sincerity. I’d disagree with the characterisation that “Competence, rather than media skills are [Merkel’s] chief boast.”

From what I’ve seen, she’s unmatched among German politicians in her ability to communicate with the public. While others on both left and right have a rhetorical style that has not evolved since the 1970s, Merkel speaks plainly and directly with a convincing sincerity.

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