Nancy Reagan and Angela Merkel : Political Success and Failure

Nancy Reagan died Sunday at her home in Los Angeles. She was 94. As First Lady, she was a defining figure of the 1980s. During the eight years when her husband, Ronald Reagan, one of the most popular Presidents in modern history, was leader of the free world, Nancy Reagan had profound behind-the-scenes influence on the course of modern history. They were a unique couple, and their legendary devotion helped define Ronald Reagan’s presidency. ~~~~~ On the same day we lost Nancy Reagan, another woman made news in Europe by meddling in US election politics. German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel called US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump a "threat to peace and prosperity," while Chancellor Angela Merkel said it has always been a pleasure to work with Democrat Hillary Clinton. Gabriel, German vice chancellor and leader of the Social Democrats, told Welt am Sonntag newspaper in an interview published Sunday : "Whether Donald Trump, Marine le Pen or Geert Wilders -- all these right-wing populists -- are not only a threat to peace and social cohesion, but also to economic development." Gabriel said Trump is promising voters "a way back into a fairytale world" in which economic activity only happens within national borders but that history has shown such isolated economies had no future : "We have to make the effort to explain how we want to shape globalization in a fair way." Perhaps Gabriel should consider the EU 10% unemployment rate and projected 0.3% growth rate for 2016 before he explains anything to the US, which has a 4.9% unemployment rate and 2.2% growth rate. Trump has described Merkel's policy towards refugees as "insane" and predicted it would cause rioting in Germany. Well, there are riots, including a thousand suspect fires at refugee centers and shelters in Germany. Trump has also said he could work with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has shaken Europe since Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea two years ago. Merkel criticized Trump for saying this about Putin while she is trying to do exactly the same thing in order to end Russian encroachment into eastern EU countries. Despite her criticisms, Merkel told Bild am Sonntag she doesn't know Trump personally. But, she faces tough elections next year and a new anti-immigrant party, the Alternative for Germany (AfD), has emerged as a threat to Merkel's conservatives, demanding that Germany shut its border to migrants and repel them with force, if necessary. Attacking Trump may help her win socialist votes. ~~~~~ On Sunday, Merkel also urged the EU to help Greece in the migrant crisis. Concerning her unilateral open border policy that has created the worst ever crisis in the EU, and especially Greece, she defends her 2015 decision to allow migrants in without limits, saying she has no "Plan B." She insists Germany can handle the influx and has a humanitarian duty toward war refugees. But her stance has been strongly criticised by EU countries and also some politicians in her ruling conservative CDU-CSU bloc. The Dutch government said there are 30 war crimes suspects among migrants who claimed asylum in the Netherlands in 2015 - 10 from Syria and 20 from Eritrea, Nigeria, Sudan and Georgia. In Slovakia, Robert Fico, a leftist whose anti-immigration and socially conservative views are in line with neighboring Poland and Hungary, took 28.3% of the presidential vote, far ahead of others, and will try to form a government. ~~~~~ Dear readers, it is impossible not to compare Angela Merkel and Nancy Reagan today. Merkel is presiding over a collapse of the EU. Mrs. Reagan convinced senior advisors that her husband should publicly apologize for the secret arms sales to Iran, a scandal that shook his presidency. She defeated White House advisors in achieving the improved relations with the Soviet Union that led to its collapse. Her "Just Say No" campaign had a long-term impact on drug use. She raised millions of dollars for Alzheimer's research. We will miss Nancy Reagan. She was a great lady and with her death, the glorious Reagan era ends. Let us rebuild it.