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You may want to point out that Gerhard Schroeder is using the Bush-Cheney 2000 playbook in Germany. He knows the fracture point in that coalition is between the CDU and the CSU and he’s playing a Rovian game all the way. He got on national TV at the same table as Merkel and said to her face that he was the only one who could form a government. Even the hosts were shocked. To say that his type of talk makes conservative Bavarians squirm is an understatement. Look for Stoiber to chuck Merkel soon, especially if the SPD wins in Dresden’s election. Irony of ironies.

Interesting observation.