From the category archives:

Politics

Why is “Liberal” such a bad word?

August 8, 2011

I don’t get what’s going on in American politics anymore (and apologies in advance for the rant, they seem to be going around recently. I don’t get the rise of the Tea Party.  I don’t understand why it’s so “weak” to be a liberal.  I don’t get that a fair number of my fellow Americans [...]

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How Germany changed me from a Republican to a Democrat

March 19, 2010

Before I moved to Germany in May 2002, I was a lifelong Republican.  I came from a family of political conservatives.  I participated in Young Republican activities in high school and college.  As soon as I turned 18, I registered as a member of the Republican Party of Virginia.  I voted for Bob Dole over [...]

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President Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize?

October 9, 2009

As I listened to the news on the way in to town this morning, I heard President Obama‘s name mentioned as a nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, and my immediate reaction was: yeah right.  I thought, he hasn’t done anything yet, maybe in eight years, if he accomplishes many of the goals he set [...]

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Got an experience with universal health care you want to share?

August 15, 2009

I’ve gotten emails and comments from readers (a few self-described as scared) wondering what it’s like living with universal health care.  To address these questions, I’ve decided to write a series on health care this week starting with a description of the system here in Germany on Tuesday and ending with a post with personal [...]

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Racist, Tasteless or Provocative?

August 11, 2009

“The only reason to vote Black. /  Time for Green.” The Green Party in the town of Kaarst has put up this poster, the color black in German politics is generally used to represent the Christian Democrat Party of Chancellor Angela Merkel. According to Spiegel International: The poster is meant to highlight the Greens’ support for [...]

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How well did you follow the presidential campaign?

November 17, 2008

Spiegel Online has a Pub Quiz on Putin, Pigs and the Presidential Campaign.  I scored 9 out of 11.  Can you make a perfect score?

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From Spiegel: Obama Created His Own Movement

November 11, 2008

Here’s an interesting article from Spiegel Online International: THE WORLD FROM BERLIN: ‘Obama Created His Own Movement‘ Barack Obama’s honeymoon has proven remarkably short. Just a day after celebrating his election as America’s 44th president, the real world began to dampen the euphoria. German commentators look at some of the hurdles facing him. For much [...]

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