the BIG "welcome to new members" thread

[Numinous]

oww...  politics are filling my head with pain...

[CYMRO]

Ah, they were municipal (sp?) elections so officially there is not one winner, but on average the social democrat parties dealt a heavy blow to the christian-democrat party and the liberalist party (with the former being the opposition, and the latter two being the current government, this is generally interpreted as a sign that the national elections next year will have a similar result, in fact, it is speculated that now for the first time a government might be formed of social-democrat parties only, as in the past they always had to rely on coalitions with the other major ideologies to be able to govern).

The C-D's tend to be a bit rabid in their right wing outlook, do they not?
And the S-D's liberal?
If that is true, then a new European liberal shift could be good for us over here.

[CYMRO]

In relation to the post count, the triumvirate has largely fallen in that regard, when I usurped ElDo's post count position.  however, to avoid overwhelming pressure to post nonsense, i am trying wuite hard to avoid placing value on the numbers.  

Where is Eldo anywho??
Has there been a coup d'etat?
Why wasn't I informed?

[Túrin]

It's always a bad idea to inform the current government of the coup d'etat you're planning. I bet real-life uprisings have failed because of this, so don't laugh at me for stating the obvious.

On topic though, I'm not sure I follow. The CDA (as the Dutch C-D's are called) has been focusing on its right wing lately.

The S-D's are not liberalists in the Locke or Mill sense, but I think you mean "left wing" or "progressive" here when you say liberal, right? So yes, the S-D's are left wing, but as far as I know they have not been particularly focusing on their internal left wing lately.

I have also been led to believe that what we consider "conservative" or "right wing" here (such as the liberalist party) is comparable to the American Democrats party, with the Republicans being "even more" right wing.

Why do you think a left wing shift would be good for Americans?

[Kalos Mer]

The ultimate battle of the old-fashioned right versus the old-fashioned left.  I can hardly wait.

As for the the Triumvirs,  don't think for a moment that the oligarchy has fallen.  Eldo is simply lurking like a kitten with a sniper rifle, waiting to take out those who get too hubristic.

[Kalos Mer]

As for the American Republican Party, they really are nothing more than the religious-traditionalist branch of a woefully 'centered' bipartite party.

[Túrin]

I'm afraid I don't follow your prosaic speech here. Do you mean the American Democrat and Republican party are two aspects of the same thing, with the Republicans being the religious-traditionalist aspect? Or did I get you totally wrong here?

[CYMRO]

Why do you think a left wing shift would be good for Americans?

A shift left in Europe will be a harbinger of recovery for us.  
Trouble is always lurking in the background for us when Europe gets to uptight and "right".

As for the American Republican Party, they really are nothing more than the religious-traditionalist branch of a woefully 'centered' bipartite party.

No arguments here.
The Republocrat monstrosity currently incarnating in our government has Madison and Jefferson spinning in their graves.
Madison said to me just last night, "Goddamn, these modern politicians suck!  Got any dramamine?"
Poor guy...

[Kalos Mer]

I mean that there really is very little DIFFERENCE between the two parties - both are very much influenced by the corporate sphere, and with the exception of heavy influence by the religious right on the Republicans (more prominent in this decade than I remember in the past), they don't take enough difference of opinion with one another on purely ideological grounds.

prosaic?  ME?

[Kalos Mer]

What sort of recovery are you speaking of, Cym?

[Túrin]

"woefully bipartite party" Need I say more?

[Kalos Mer]

Well, I just was wondering whether he was implying that a shift to the left in THIS country would necessarily be a good thing.

Remember, the Old Oligarch is always lurking in the shadows...

Not that I would support the further strengthening of the Republicans.  They are too right-wing on a lot of social issues and not right-wing enough on the issue of the basic form of government...

[Numinous]

In relation to forum politics:  The sniper rfile, that would explain the holes in my living room window...

[CYMRO]

What sort of recovery are you speaking of, Cym?

the more liberal Europe is, the better our economy.  our big money does not seem comfortable with tight ass right wingers in control of Europe.
The money trusts liberalism, ot conservatism.  Which seems a contradiction, but it is the way the modern world seems to go...

[Elven Doritos]

Um. This thread has strayed from its purpose, mates. There are new members to be greeted!

Special shoutout to:
-daggerhart
-locanti
-Prak, the Mad
-darksyde

Welcome to the CBG!
-Elven Doritos
Master of Dungeons