Demonstrators gather after another day of protests Saturday at Sol Square in Madrid, Spain, ahead of Sunday elections.
msnbc.com news services msnbc.com news services
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MADRID — Spaniards began voting on Sunday in local and regional polls expected to deal heavy losses to the ruling Socialists, who are blamed for widespread unemployment that has off a wave of pre-election protests.
The elections are a key test of how much the party's support has crumbled due to soaring unemployment and its handling of the financial crisis, and are seen as a prelude to general elections next year.
Tens of thousands of Spaniards demonstrated in the past week in city squares around the country against austerity measures that have kept a fiscal crisis at bay but aggravated the highest jobless rate in the European Union.
More than 34 million people are eligible to vote while in the background the growing protest movement has illustrated the disillusionment felt by Spaniards toward both main parties and what they call a political system that favors economic interests over citizens.
The protesters have called on Spaniards to reject the Socialists and the center-right Popular Party, the main two political options in Spain.
"I don't like the policies of some of the parties," said Cristina, a 23-year-old student who declined to give her last name outside a Madrid polling station. She didn't want to say who she voted for but said: "You can also cast a blank ballot."
The protests are not expected to shift the outcome of the voting for 8,116 city councils and 13 out of 17 regional governments, where the center-right Popular Party is expected to make major gains.
Polls show the Socialists could lose strongholds such as the Castilla-La Mancha region, where they have controlled the regional legislature for decades, and the city of Sevilla, where they have been in power for 12 years.
Unpopular economic policies If forecasts hold true, the outcome will be a rebuke for Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, applauded abroad for his fiscal discipline during the euro zone crisis but unpopular at home as the economy stagnates.
The Socialists, in power since 2004, are also looking likely to lose the next general election, which is scheduled for March 2012, but could come earlier if big losses on Sunday spark a leadership crisis within the party.
After the euro zone debt crisis forced Greece, and later Ireland and Portugal, to take bailouts, Zapatero implemented round of measures to tackle a huge public deficit and persuade financial markets that it has the budget under control.
He is expected to maintain unpopular economic policies whatever the outcome on Sunday.
"Unless the government wants to run the risk of another episode of financial distress and the debt spreads sky rocketing again, it will have to implement another austerity package before the next elections," Fernando Fernandez, an analyst at Madrid's IE business school, said.
'We need a change' On Sunday morning hundreds of protesters were sleeping in tents and under awnings in Madrid's Puerta del Sol after an overnight demonstration that drew an estimated 30,000 people, the biggest crowd in a week of protests.
People take part in a demonstration in Madrid on Friday. Thousands of Spaniards defied a ban on a pre-election demonstration and have mounted a protest camp in the heart of the Spanish capital to express anger at political parties and the country's handling of the economic crisis.
Political rallies are forbidden in Spain on election days and the preceding 24 hours but the government has not tried to break up the demonstrations, fearing violence after a week of peaceful protest.
Until now Spaniards had been remarkably patient with the economic crisis, as joblessness has been cushioned by traditionally strong family ties and by under-the-table work. But the patience seemed to run out this week.
"We need a change and I'm not surprised people have risen up, albeit belatedly," said one of the protesters, 38-year-old Robert, who works for an advertising production company.
Robert had brought along his three-month-old daughter "so she can start learning young," he said.
The demonstrations have attracted Spaniards of all ages but the bulk have been young people who have been hit especially hard hit by the crisis. Almost half of 18-25 year-old Spaniards are out of work, more than double the European Union average. save the environment
oh oh, this is turning into the Arab-European Spring
- 9 votes
let's us not beat around the bush or orbit the obama..two of a kind..I just want to be the king of spain..
- 6 votes
I am trying to start a revolution in America not in the streets but at the voting booth. I do not want people to go into the streets and city squares to cause disturbances or disrupt community services. What I do want is for them to write my name on their ballot in their primaries and in the general election. My name is Preston Burris. I just hope it is not to late come November 2012. Write my name on a piece of paper and ask for a write in ballot at the polls.
- 1 vote
Nearly 3 years into the Obama disaster the apologists are still whining about Bush.
I have never seen such a sophomoric group in my life.
Does no liberal ever take responsibility for anything?
What a whiny bunch of little school girls.
Face it, the most embarrassing President ever is Obama, and his second in command King Harry.
I have never seen such a sophomoric group in my life.
Does no liberal ever take responsibility for anything?
What a whiny bunch of little school girls.
Face it, the most embarrassing President ever is Obama, and his second in command King Harry.
- 30 votes
And Obama is a narcissist with delusional leadership that's sinking our ship even further. All he's thinking about is four more years of socialism, class warfare and more government control.
- 26 votes
The far looney left idiots will never see reality...They worship Obama like he is a psuedo-god, instead of the hard Marxist/Socialist that he truly is.
Don't get me wrong...I don't hate Obama...I actually kind of like him as a person, along with the first lady. They both have excellent family values. The fly in the ointment is that his Socialist policies are destroying America.
How long has he been in office? And the Recession is still going on. But the far looney left and the Afro-American community refuse to see the obvious and still blame Bush (As if Bush had anything to do with the last two and half years plus).
Wake up, you self-afflicted fools, and smell the coffee...The blame for the continuing recession falls squarely on Obama, not Bush, Clinton, Bush Sr, Reagan or any other previous administration.
The recession should have been over two years ago...and would have, under other recent president (with the exception of the very incompetent idiot, Carter).
Bubba Bill Clinton would have had this mess cleaned up long ago. Do any of you leftwing loons doubt that?
Quit apologizng for a dyed in the wool, hardcore socialist loser that leads from the rear. He has ruined United States, both in finance and reputation. If we have any luck, and if the reason-challenged liberal loonies stay home on election night, Obama will be a one term president and if we are luckier, we will get a competent President who will clean up this mess and give us back our lives.
Of course, you will never convince the far left loonies. Do you know it's a fact that half of all the mentally ill don't realize that they have mental problems.....
- 18 votes
The basic ideals of socialism will never die. Appropriate the vast wealth from the tiny minority (that control all the wealth and power) and use it to meet the needs of all society.
- 8 votes
The posters that still blame Bush for everything do so because they are attempting to cover up for Obama who has proven to be utterly incompetent and pretty much a failure at everything he's attempted. He's failed at improving the economy and in fact through his maniacal spending has managed to make things substantially worse and hasn't a clue about how to remedy this dismal situation. Let's not overlook the fact that he's proving on a daily basis that he is clueless when it comes to foreign policy since he's pretty much single handedly made the middle east a more dangerous place.
This is why there are those that continue to blame Bush even after over two years. It is because they hope to mask the failures of their socialist hero. I suspect they will go on living in their fantasy bubble of denial until the bitter end because they're incapable of independent thought. All things considered, I think this may be one of those rarest of times in our country's history where we would be better off without any president than with the one we're currently saddled with.
This is why there are those that continue to blame Bush even after over two years. It is because they hope to mask the failures of their socialist hero. I suspect they will go on living in their fantasy bubble of denial until the bitter end because they're incapable of independent thought. All things considered, I think this may be one of those rarest of times in our country's history where we would be better off without any president than with the one we're currently saddled with.
- 18 votes
When the uprising does start in the US, in a meaningful way, it will come from the left. What revolution starts from the right? Hell--they own us. They divide by race, religion, gender, etc.. They pit blue collar against blue collar--with success. It will not be done with weapons, but with peaceful resistance. The time will come when people awaken and realize that our elected officials on both sides of the aisle are owned by corporate interests. PAC's and lobbyists control the outcome of elections.
We sit passively and let education and other domestic spending be slaughtered, while our defense budget represents 45% of the world's total expenditures. We think nothing when our Navy sets to sea with a carrier and a flotilla of warships cruises the world. How much fossil fuel do you think is burned by the military each year? Think and stop letting the media do it for you.
We sit passively and let education and other domestic spending be slaughtered, while our defense budget represents 45% of the world's total expenditures. We think nothing when our Navy sets to sea with a carrier and a flotilla of warships cruises the world. How much fossil fuel do you think is burned by the military each year? Think and stop letting the media do it for you.
- 11 votes
Mary Jacobs,
If this were a Game Show, I would tell you and love sonnet to buy a Clue.
You have to know what Caused the Problem in order to solve the Problem.
Cause + Effects (Symptoms) = Results.
Go Research Glass Steagall Acts, Financial WMDs, etc..
This is why love sonnet post at #2.9 is full of Sh!t by only seeing the Symptoms and not the actual Causes.
If this were a Game Show, I would tell you and love sonnet to buy a Clue.
You have to know what Caused the Problem in order to solve the Problem.
Cause + Effects (Symptoms) = Results.
Go Research Glass Steagall Acts, Financial WMDs, etc..
This is why love sonnet post at #2.9 is full of Sh!t by only seeing the Symptoms and not the actual Causes.
- 4 votes
You are all ridiculous.
No man, not even the President of the United States, can destroy a country. What can the President really do? Veto certain bills, preside over negotiations, appoint a judge now and then and declare war for 60 days or so.
Bush wasn't a terrorist and Obama is a far, far cry from a socialist. Educate yourself in world affairs and you'll be happy to note that the USA is the least-socialized of the wealthy western nations. Not saying that's a good or bad thing, it's just a fact.
No man, not even the President of the United States, can destroy a country. What can the President really do? Veto certain bills, preside over negotiations, appoint a judge now and then and declare war for 60 days or so.
Bush wasn't a terrorist and Obama is a far, far cry from a socialist. Educate yourself in world affairs and you'll be happy to note that the USA is the least-socialized of the wealthy western nations. Not saying that's a good or bad thing, it's just a fact.
- 11 votes
Spare us this Obama is a socialist crap. Adjusting for inflation, taxes are the lowest they've been in 60 yrs. Despite the republicans best effort, Obama and congress have implemented modest changes in the health care system that will afford millions a modicum of health care that might keep them from declaring bankruptcy in the event of an illness that would otherwise put them in hock indefinitely. Despite the republicans best effort, credit card reforms have been passed that prevent banks from raising credit card interest rates arbitrarily and ruining credit ratings for the weakest of violations. Republicans have filibustered virtually every bill of consequence since Obama became President, more than twice as many as the Bush Senate, thereby requiring 60 votes rather the usual majority (50 votes) required by the constitution. An unfunded war with the wrong country, as well as unregulated banking and mortgage criminality (bailed out by the taxpayers), tax cuts for the uber wealthy who can never have enough money, subsidies for oil companies who make record profits year after year, millions of jobs off-shored to countries with no child labor laws or environmental regulations, primarily by corporations owned and operated by republicans who don't give a sh*t about American jobs. This is Obama's fault and should have been fixed 2 years ago? You live in a friggin' fantasy world. The hole Bush and his cronies dug isn't about to be fixed in a couple of years, no matter how often you say it.
- 6 votes
KC-80503
What gives a Capitalist Government the right to ROB one group of citizens (through taxes) and give money from one citizen to another?
If one can not "make it" in society, get a better education, or change occupations, get motivated, learn to compete!
CLINTON, was responsible as much as GWB (repeal of Glass-Steagall) and OBAMA for the financial collapse! Do some research people!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass%E2%80%93Steagall_Act
Obamanomics are a complete failure! Borrow, entitle, bailout, grow government, print money, raise taxes and now INFLATION!
The "cost per job" created, is ridiculous under Obamanomics!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_Economic_Stabilization_Act_of_2008
What gives a Capitalist Government the right to ROB one group of citizens (through taxes) and give money from one citizen to another?
If one can not "make it" in society, get a better education, or change occupations, get motivated, learn to compete!
CLINTON, was responsible as much as GWB (repeal of Glass-Steagall) and OBAMA for the financial collapse! Do some research people!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass%E2%80%93Steagall_Act
Obamanomics are a complete failure! Borrow, entitle, bailout, grow government, print money, raise taxes and now INFLATION!
The "cost per job" created, is ridiculous under Obamanomics!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_Economic_Stabilization_Act_of_2008
- 7 votes
Like the article says - the protesters are encouraging the voters to dump both of their parties - which is exactly our dilemma, and only hope.
We also need to get the Right wing in America to stop generalizing and realize they take just as much from the government as the Left does (I personally know more righties who either work for the government or are getting government aid). Until all the extreme stereotyping comes to an end - we can't move forward. To move in a balanced logic manor - we have to have mutual agreement - with the two parties we have now - it is just a game of blame, resulting in shame. As a Moderate - I don't see either party holding an edge over the other, and I've looked damn hard. I have been following an extreme right-wingers blog page for several years - he has gotten so distracted by his hate, that his blogs are now more in tune with Timothy Mcveigh, on the verge of becoming a homegrown terrorist.
Calm down - you won't convert any of us Moderates to either side when you don't come from a place of balance and logic. We are all Americans - get over the superiority complex people.
We also need to get the Right wing in America to stop generalizing and realize they take just as much from the government as the Left does (I personally know more righties who either work for the government or are getting government aid). Until all the extreme stereotyping comes to an end - we can't move forward. To move in a balanced logic manor - we have to have mutual agreement - with the two parties we have now - it is just a game of blame, resulting in shame. As a Moderate - I don't see either party holding an edge over the other, and I've looked damn hard. I have been following an extreme right-wingers blog page for several years - he has gotten so distracted by his hate, that his blogs are now more in tune with Timothy Mcveigh, on the verge of becoming a homegrown terrorist.
Calm down - you won't convert any of us Moderates to either side when you don't come from a place of balance and logic. We are all Americans - get over the superiority complex people.
- 3 votes
KC; you are missing the bigger picture - Supply and Demand. There are plenty of people working their butts off just to try and stay above water - you can't compete for jobs that don't exist. There is no spending money floating around these days - so even if you could get a bank loan, there are no customers to buy your product. Every last cent I am willing to spend (not dipping into my saving regiment) goes to the basics - food, transportation, shelter, energy - my only luxury is my media spending, phone, Internet, and TV. Other than traveling to see my new grand daughter - there are no other luxuries or extras - so even if these people you exhort to try harder, did manage to start a business - they won't draw the customers needed to prosper....and Walmart will just undercut them if they do show growth.
All this macho talk coming from people who probably work for the government - it is easy to throw stones, when you are getting yours.
All this macho talk coming from people who probably work for the government - it is easy to throw stones, when you are getting yours.
- 3 votes
drainbramage; Good post. Anyone attempting to start a small business has hurdles that are much much higher than they have been in the past. Oh, and that thing you said about Walmart, very true.
- 1 vote
"The protesters have called on Spaniards to reject the Socialists and the center-right Popular Party, the main two political options in Spain."
Now this rings a bell.
- 2 votes
Obama is not a socialist; he's far worse. He's an anti-colonialist that is striving to "right the wrongs" of the past.
Obama hates the US, the UK, and Israel. He sees them as occupiers who have caused all the problems in the world. All beginning with the british colonization of Africa (a Kenyan father may have something to do with this). In his mind, colonization is the root of all that's wrong with the world. His solution, take from the colonizers and give to the "oppressed." The only problem is that these things happened hundreds of years ago, with some more recent in the last century, and those who colonized are no longer alive or in control. He also misses the point that the british colonization of America ended with the development of the world's beacon of freedom. How much money will it take to make the African continent productive and free? Is money going to make the land arable? Is money going to change African culture so they effectively control the spread of disease? Is having Israel going back to pre-1967 borders going to bring peace and harmony to the middle east? Is ignoring the southern border and granting amnesty to illegals going to erase Spain's original occupation from Mexico and South America? These things are done and over with; move on.
Obama hates the US, the UK, and Israel. He sees them as occupiers who have caused all the problems in the world. All beginning with the british colonization of Africa (a Kenyan father may have something to do with this). In his mind, colonization is the root of all that's wrong with the world. His solution, take from the colonizers and give to the "oppressed." The only problem is that these things happened hundreds of years ago, with some more recent in the last century, and those who colonized are no longer alive or in control. He also misses the point that the british colonization of America ended with the development of the world's beacon of freedom. How much money will it take to make the African continent productive and free? Is money going to make the land arable? Is money going to change African culture so they effectively control the spread of disease? Is having Israel going back to pre-1967 borders going to bring peace and harmony to the middle east? Is ignoring the southern border and granting amnesty to illegals going to erase Spain's original occupation from Mexico and South America? These things are done and over with; move on.
- 5 votes
AWS,
This entire argument to the effect that President Obama hates the US and is out to intentionally undermine it because he's 'not really American' due to the one African parent (you really should check your concept of legality, here, as that has no bearing on his citizenship) is pretty insulting to anyone who can't trace their ancestry back to the Mayflower. At what point are you willing to concede that someone's primary allegiance is to the future of this country? It's a rhetorical question, because you don't get to decide.
As to the entire question of the legacy of European colonialism and the accompanying occupation and oppression, whenever I see a comment along the lines of "...things are done and over with; move on", then I know I'm dealing with a myopic, arbitrary closet bigot who will steadfastly refuse to ever see any point of view other than the one he feels most beneficial to himself.
I have never (and I doubt that most of those who share my opinion have, either) advocated the payment of reparations or the wholesale transfer of large blocs of territory as a remedy for the legacy of colonialism, but at a bare minimum, many more Americans (and others) need to make a serious effort to understand that the scars of this centuries-long tragedy still haunt us to this day; that all of us are still paying the bill for the mistakes of the past; and that the status quo which you hold inviolable will certainly change, and sooner than you think. Making a thoughtful and reasoned (rather than the usual token and superficial) commitment to spend aid money in a way that helps to bring people out of poverty is the very least we can and should do, and that's as much for our own future well-being as it would be for theirs. Their is no 'switch' that I'm aware of that allows humans to simply flip it and be done with the pain of the past - it takes a lot more for healing to begin.
I have no doubt that you'll dismiss what I've stated above as liberal dithering, so I'll quote a source you may (or may not) respect (and much less because of the religious overtones than due to the transparency of its underlying logic), which says it more succinctly than I ever could: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Galatians 6:7
This entire argument to the effect that President Obama hates the US and is out to intentionally undermine it because he's 'not really American' due to the one African parent (you really should check your concept of legality, here, as that has no bearing on his citizenship) is pretty insulting to anyone who can't trace their ancestry back to the Mayflower. At what point are you willing to concede that someone's primary allegiance is to the future of this country? It's a rhetorical question, because you don't get to decide.
As to the entire question of the legacy of European colonialism and the accompanying occupation and oppression, whenever I see a comment along the lines of "...things are done and over with; move on", then I know I'm dealing with a myopic, arbitrary closet bigot who will steadfastly refuse to ever see any point of view other than the one he feels most beneficial to himself.
I have never (and I doubt that most of those who share my opinion have, either) advocated the payment of reparations or the wholesale transfer of large blocs of territory as a remedy for the legacy of colonialism, but at a bare minimum, many more Americans (and others) need to make a serious effort to understand that the scars of this centuries-long tragedy still haunt us to this day; that all of us are still paying the bill for the mistakes of the past; and that the status quo which you hold inviolable will certainly change, and sooner than you think. Making a thoughtful and reasoned (rather than the usual token and superficial) commitment to spend aid money in a way that helps to bring people out of poverty is the very least we can and should do, and that's as much for our own future well-being as it would be for theirs. Their is no 'switch' that I'm aware of that allows humans to simply flip it and be done with the pain of the past - it takes a lot more for healing to begin.
I have no doubt that you'll dismiss what I've stated above as liberal dithering, so I'll quote a source you may (or may not) respect (and much less because of the religious overtones than due to the transparency of its underlying logic), which says it more succinctly than I ever could: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Galatians 6:7
#1.29 - Sun May 22, 2011 10:07 AM EDT
cunning of the marxist
http : // canadafreepress . com/index.php/article/36393
3 speechs on israel, i meant this not that.. what I was reported to have said and what I actually said. liar politician
i am watching obomber do a 180 on israel , back stroke, damage control ,
then I was not, then ok I am, no I am not, yes, no, yes
credibility for any platform nil nine no
http : // canadafreepress . com/index.php/article/36393
3 speechs on israel, i meant this not that.. what I was reported to have said and what I actually said. liar politician
i am watching obomber do a 180 on israel , back stroke, damage control ,
then I was not, then ok I am, no I am not, yes, no, yes
credibility for any platform nil nine no
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