We thought a woman would be the leader of the free world in 2017, and we were right.

[geek tragedy]

In a bitter turn of fate, however, that woman turned out to be Angela Merkel and not Hillary Clinton.

A world without the USA playing a role of leadership is such a radical change, the entire planet is still trying to process it.

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. Here's to Angela Merkel

[geek tragedy]

2. Indeed, she has to protect all of Europe from the twin threats of the USA and the new USSR nt

[greatauntoftriplets]

4. That's a formidable job.

I don't envy her.

[Blue_true]

3. Good health and fate to her. We are going to need her bigtime. nt

[greatauntoftriplets]

5. She needs it.

Energy drinks, too.

[kimbutgar]

6. I just hope the reichwingers in her country don't get her voted out

She is the last buffer against the white nationalists trying to take over the world.

[Ezior]

13. Don't worry.

The current German rightwing party of choice sits at ~10%, trending downwards. And while that party is bad, I'd say it's not quite as bad as Trump or the GOP in general. They have some actual neonazis, but most of the ~10% are probably upset with the perceived open borders refugee policy (though that is just an alternative fact) and not ACTUALLY neonazis.

The other rightwing (center right) party is the CDU/CSU ("christian democratic/social union", it's only "social" in Bavaria while it's "democratic" in other parts of Germany), and Merkel is a CDU politician.

According to current polls, there is some chance that the leftwing SPD ("social-democratic party of Germany&quot might be stronger than the CDU in the late 2017 election, in which case there'd be a new chancellor, Martin Schulz. He's very pro-EU and has already voiced his concerns about Trump. (Also, I hope he finally legalizes gay marriage. Our civil unions are great, but simply not the same.)

So I'm not too worried about Germany. I just hope that Le Pen doesn't win France, and that their new President will be Emmanuel Macron. He's a pro-EU globalist. Macron and Schulz could Make Europe Great Again (MEGA) in a rather positive way.

[kimbutgar]

14. Thank you for this explanation

Going to Italy and staying over two days in Frankfurt on the way home next month. Glad to hear Germany is not going crazy like the US.

[Hekate]

7. Thanks to TrumpBannon, the 21st century will not be the American Century after all

[butdiduvote]

8. I miss Hillary's calming and reassuring presence

I remember when that seemingly never-ending series of terrorist attacks happened throughout the world during the campaign season, I was on edge and fearing for my life everywhere I went. In the cafeteria, I looked up and saw Obama speaking about the attacks on the television and thought, "He makes me feel safe. He makes me feel like everything is going to be okay."

Hillary was supposed to take on that role. I feel tossed out to sea without a lifeboat living in the U.S. now.

[nikibatts]

9. think what it might have for them to be together on the world stage.

[Initech]

10. The republicans fucked up big time, and they're in rage mode.

[VOX]

11. Who would've cooked up a scenario where Germany is democratic...

and the U.S. is fascist? The Allies flattened Germany in WWII, yet 70-some years later, the biggest allied countries (U.S., U.K., France) are each courting nationalist movements? Russia remains somewhat consistent as an oligarchy.

[FSogol]

12. The Russians are already working to bring her down in the upcoming election. Count on it. n/t