Campaigns

German Greens Party co-chair Reinhard Bütikofer was impressed with the Democrat convention as "Germans look to US for Campaign Tips

One can learn a lot from the Americans,' said Bütikofer , who showed up in Boston wearing an 'Environment 2004' button. The fact that US politicians don't get bogged down in detailed discussions about the intricacies of a tax reform, for instance, is something the Greens leader favors. Instead, he said, they focus on short and sweeping messages, extolling values, goals, and visions.

Uh. yeah.

Whereas Bütikofer, who was thoroughly impressed with the Democrats, told German media John Kerry would win the elections in November and signal a change in Washington's international policies, Guido Westerwelle was less impressed with the candidate's chances.

Why does Washington's international policies bother the Greens so much? Hint: Internationalism lets THEM punch above their weight (and vote).