C. Redmond,
You may have become giddy since you pummeled me in our little investment contest, and it's always nice to see a fat bastard like Kohl leave. However, I tell you now and I'll have told you so - Germany is going down the Clinton/Blair/Jospin chute just as sure as you're born. This election is about liberal cover for finance capitalism. The markets loved it. Now that statism is no longer a real threat, neither are Greens and Euro-socialists. Because of the Euro, they can't even undermine fiscal discipline. With punters and venture capitalists making good money in the bourses, why not throw the left a bone? The government makes a nice gift.
peace