Funny exepts from the Wikileaks Embassy Docs:


(SBU) Chancellor Angela Merkel nominated Baden-
Wuerttemberg (BW) Minister President Guenther Oettinger as EU
Energy Commissioner primarily to remove an unloved lame duck
from an important CDU bastion. The move was not the promotion
of a valued colleague as Merkel's allies sought to portray it.
Rather, Oettinger's increasing loss of party support in BW
compelled Merkel to push Oettinger out to protect her support
base there. Oettinger is noted for a lackluster public
speaking style, and some commentators have asserted that
Merkel, who has often stood out at EU meetings, wanted to
appoint a German Commissioner who would not outshine her.

2. (SBU) Germany has a time-honored tradition of sending
unwanted politicians to the EU Commission, although departing
SPD EU Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen proved his
worth during his tenure. Oettinger has criticized Merkel for
her policy stances (on federal support to Opel and on generous
subsidies to the former eastern states, for instance) and her
purported lack of leadership while antagonizing other
influential CDU leaders. In addition to being a poor public
speaker, he has a tendency to put his foot in his mouth.

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Its much more interesting than reasing normal Newspaper comments,
as its related to people who are really into the matter.


Btw: Germany took up 7 Guantanamo Inmates,
and ist still paying huge amounts of developing Aid to China
(as if China would be a developing country...)
And there are still US nuclear weapons stationed in Germany..