In Rebuke to Merkel’s Party, Social Democrats Win German Vote.

[elleng]

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party suffered a stinging defeat in elections in Germany’s most populous state on Sunday, one likely to embolden her political opponents both at home and abroad as the European debt crisis enters a critical new phase.

One week after Socialists seized the French presidency, the Social Democrats won the parliamentary election in North Rhine-Westphalia, early results and exit polls released Sunday showed. Norbert Röttgen, the lead candidate for Ms. Merkel’s Christian Democrats in the state, conceded defeat and announced that he would step down as the party head there.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/14/world/europe/in-rebuke-to-merkel-social-democrats-win-german-vote.html?_r=1&hp

[CTyankee]

1. wow, I had no idea Merkel was being sent to the lockers!

I don't know much about Germany's political parties, but I am guessing this is a win for progressivism. I wonder what the takeaway is going to be with U.S. mainstream media...probably dumbasser-y....

[elleng]

2. Was surprised to see it too, yank.

We'll see how far 'to the lockers' she goes.
It appears to be a 'win' for sanity, economy-wise, as she's a firm 'austerity' hand, which we/they can't afford. (Germany may be OK with it, not sure, but not the rest of the world.)