The Netherlands veers to the far, far right

[cali]

Dutch anti-Islam leader Wilders is major winner in polls


By Reed Stevenson and Aaron Gray-Block
AMSTERDAM/THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Dutch anti-Islamist leader Geert Wilders scored major gains in local authority polls on Thursday, making him a serious challenger for power in a June national election, preliminary results showed.

In the first test of public opinion since the collapse of Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende's coalition government last month, Wilders's Freedom Party (PVV) led in the city of Almere and was second in The Hague.

The results came on top of an opinion poll showing that the PVV, which campaigns against Muslim immigration as its main platform, would win the most seats -- 27 in the 150-member Dutch parliament -- in the June 9 election.

That would make it tough for Balkenende's Christian Democrats, projected to win one seat less, to forge a strong coalition without Wilders. Months of talks between parties, and the resulting policy vacuum, could threaten a fragile economic recovery and cast doubt on the scope of planned budget cuts.

<snip>

http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/news/international/Dutch_anti-Islam_leader_Wilders_is_major_winner_in_polls.html?cid=8409474

The popularity of Wilders, who compares Islam to fascism and the Koran to Adolf Hitler's book "Mein Kampf," has dented the image of the Netherlands as a country that has often portrayed itself in the past as a bastion of tolerance.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[friendly_iconoclast]

14. I would blame Mohammed Bouyeri for Wilders' breakthrough

Wilders used Theo Van Gogh's assasination as an excuse to "wave the bloody shirt".

[TomCADem]

15. Wait, you alerted because I did not say that Rahm Emanuel is the devil...

Amazing. On a Democratic board, if you don't attack a member of a Democratic administration, you get alerted.

Heck, basically accusing President Obama of being corrupt, but I say something that is a little less scathing, and I get alerted on. Shoot, it sometimes seems like a Freeper would find less hostility on this Board with their hate against the Democrats.

"It's only the left that FIGHTS racists and right-wingers."

Well, are you the left? Because I don't see you bashing any racists or right-wingers. I see you attacking someone who did not tow your line, and blame everything that is wrong in our country on a member of a DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT'S ADMINISTRATION.

So, by your little alert, are you saying that you don't consider youself left.

My take is that if I get kicked off this board for supporting Democrats, and attacking Republicans, and calling out those who on this board were openly calling for Scott Brown to win to send a message (what message, who knows?), then obviously, the right has become the new left.

I supported the Democrats before the election, and I still do now. I voted for President Obama, and would vote for him again. If you don't like that, and it causes you to alert me because of that support, then I am sure the folks on Free Republic would concur.

So, sorry. I part ways with folks who are so left, that the cheer on Republicans to send a message to the Democrats.

Now, lets be clear. Am I fan of Rahm Emanuel? Not really. But I don't share the obsession that many on this board do.

[Ken Burch]

18. I alerted because your post was abusive, and bashed the entire left for no reason

And did so in a thread not dealing with domestic U.S. politics.

Why the hell are you attacking people on the left HERE in response to what the far right did THERE?

You were out of line.

[Ken Burch]

2. Disgusting

One can only hope the progressive majority of Dutch voters can stand together and defeat this lunatic.

The Netherlands is too good a country to lower itself to racism and fascism.

[Chulanowa]

7. One can hope

More likely they'll go the way of Switzerland and join the far-right "foes" in freaking the fuck out over the scary scary Muslims.

After all, with the dearth of Jews and Rom in the area these days, someone's gotta supply a target.

[LeftishBrit]

22. They may; they will need to get their act together

The French managed to unite in 2002 to marginalize and defeat LePen after he had made similarly scary inroads.

On the other hand, the far right always becomes more of a threat in bad economic times.

I was there only a few months ago, and agree that it's too good a country in many ways to lower itself to racism and fascism - but these are diseases that have threatened many good countries.

[HeresyLives]

4. One city is not the country.

He's a Dutch Sarah Palin.

[Name removed]

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[Ken Burch]

6. Fine. We'll flame

You are based on nothing but hatred. Muslims are just another group of human beings, no better or worse than anybody else.

And if it weren't for the secularists and liberals, "Christian Europe" would be just as blood-drenched as it was until 1945.

Don't believe me? Look at what "Christian" Serbia and Croatia did to "Muslim"(actually secular and multicultural) Bosnia.

Hope you enjoy your pizza, Your Ladyship.

[Flaneur]

8. Nice. Religous bigotry rears its ugly head. Right here on DU.

[physioex]

9. Not going to flame.....

And I am an agnostic. But Xtianity and Judaism are just as loony. It's simply not accurate to suggest that Islam is the most violent.

P.S. I am very fond of Dutch culture and their openness. And I agree the mass migration of Muslims might have stretched this.

[Name removed]

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[physioex]

13. Can we all get along...

And agree to hate all organized religions equally.

[Chulanowa]

16. I can't agree to hating anything

But folks like Ladyhawk sure do test that maxim.

[cali]

19. crude and ugly way to make your point

particularly with your history here.

[Chulanowa]

21. Yes, that was the intent

No need to apply finesse to people who deserve a sack of hammers, after all.

On edit: I'm not fond of any... Oh, wait. No no, on edit, I'm not sure where you're going with my "history" there. Would that be my history of slapping bigoted fuckwads across their fool heads?

[Ken Burch]

20. If you had any idea what the Cherokee did to North Carolina

You'd understand why the country cheered when Andrew Jackson sent them on a death march to Oklahoma.

Good for Old Hickory to wake the fuck up before it was too late.

On edit: I'm not fond of anyone in North AMerica, but currently...

Flame, etc.

:puke:

[cali]

12. Sorry, Wilders is a flat out bigot hater

and yes, I have a fair idea of the complications and problems around the issue of Muslim immigration to Europe.

[ddeclue]

11. Dutch Teabaggers?

:crazy:

[friendly_iconoclast]

17. More like a Dutch George Wallace nt

[RainDog]

23. this is a sorry turn for the Netherlands. I hope the voters decide against hate

While all European nations have histories of imperialism and abuse of native populations, the Netherlands was able to remain somewhat rational during the religious wars in England, during England's upheaval as Republicanism came to the U.S. and France...

people from England sought and received asylum from religious/politica prosecution in the Netherlands for more than a hundred years. Their printing presses allowed for freedom of the press in the English language that was prohibited in England.

Netherlanders know their history and their better natures.

I hope they remember it at the ballot box.