Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06VIENNA3277
2006-11-08 13:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:
AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: November 08, 2006
how-toVZCZCXYZ0017 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHVI #3277/01 3121346 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 081346Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5478 RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/WHITEHOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS VIENNA 003277
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/AGS, INR/EU, AND EUR/PPD FOR YVETTE SAINT-ANDRE
OSD FOR COMMANDER CHAFFEE
WHITEHOUSE FOR NSC/WEUROPE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO AU OPRC
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: November 08, 2006
US MIDTERM ELECTION SPECIAL
"Neue Kronenzeitung":
Mass circulation tabloid "Neue Kronenzeitung" focuses on Californian
Representative Nancy Pelosi's chances of assuming the third-highest
office in the US Government: that of Speaker of the House of
Representatives. It reports on an apparent electoral shift toward
women, but also toward African Americans, who could also assume key
positions in the Senate and the House of Representatives, and
possibly one governorship (Deval Patrick in Massachusetts). Also, in
the House of Representatives, African-Americans John Conyers could
become chairman of the important Justice Committee that could
initiate impeachment procedures against President Bush, the paper
suggests.
"Kleine Zeitung"
Mass circulation tabloid "Kleine Zeitung" refers to the low voter
participation in the US midterm congressional and gubernatorial
elections, saying that only about 40 percent of eligible voters
actually went to the polls, less than in the presidential elections
(about 55 percent). The paper says it is difficult to establish
exactly how many US citizens really voted because of administrative
problems: Disappearing ballot boxes and ballots, malfunctioning
voting machines, and human error by election helpers. Currently
there are legal procedures pending against local election
authorities who have issued lists with more names on them than there
are eligible voters residing in the respective district.
"ORF" -Political Change in the US
Austrian radio in its morning news reports the Bush Administration
and the Republicans received the expected "slap in the face" from
the mid-term elections. The question now is how strong the slap is.
The Democrats won the House of Representatives, taking at least 221
of the 435 seats. In the Senate where 33 of the 100 seats were up
for election the outcome is not final. The radio reports that voter
turnout was very high and that there were problems again with the
electronic voting machines. ORF calls it a serious defeat for
President Bush.
"Kurier"
Mass circulation daily "Kurier" sees George W. Bush in the twilight:
The era of power concentration for the Republicans is apparently
over, "Kurier" believes. Republican domination has actually harmed
the system of checks and balances designed to prevent excessive
concentration of power by one party, the paper says, adding that, in
recent years, a conservative Congress merely endorsed the
President's policies instead of exerting an oversight function:
Except for Senator McCain, who fought successfully against the use
of torture, Republican representatives supported everything from
Bush's Iraq policy to the largest budget deficit in US history.
Kurier also notes that, in the 90s, President Bill Clinton
successfully worked together with a conservative Congress - this
might work again, this time with roles reversed. The less optimistic
scenario, however, is the possibility of a deadlock until the next
presidential elections in 2008, writes "Kurier".
"Der Standard"
Independent daily "Der Standard" also reports on problems with the
new electronic voting machines, with many citizens unable to cast
their votes in an election where, according to the election helpers,
"every vote counts." The daily also mentions the so-called "ballot
initiatives" in 37 states, which played an important role in the
campaigns, many of which used these referenda to bring voters to the
polls. Issues included gay marriage, abortion, stem cell research,
cannabis and, in Arizona, an "election lottery" where voters can win
up to a million dollars for participating in the elections, with the
goal of increasing voter participation.
"Die Presse"
Centrist daily "Die Presse" sees the Republicans at a low point
politically - despite the latest unemployment figures which,
according to the Department of Labor, are the lowest in the last
four years: 4.4 percent. However, the President's party did not
really profit from this economic boost: Even the voters who are at
all interested in economic issues were hard to motivate, says "Die
Presse": They feel they are not profiting from the economic
upswing. While it is true that there are plenty of jobs, it is
likewise true that the majority of them are badly paid and offer no
social security benefits, says the paper, and costs are exploding
for medical insurance, heating, insurance policies, and particularly
for interest on mortgages. The latter is especially relevant,
because many US citizens have several mortgages and the interest on
those is a big burden on individual household budgets, notes "Die
Presse". In addition, the daily points out that US citizens on
average earn less today than in 2000; while productivity rose by 17
percent and the gross domestic product by 12, average wages
increased by just 3 percent.
"Salzburger Nachrichten"
Independent daily "Salzburger Nachrichten" profiles Democratic
Representative Nancy Pelosi, the future Speaker of the House of
Representatives. Decried as an "extreme left-winger" by President
Bush and numerous Republican candidates, the longtime Congresswoman
is considered "tough." Outspoken in her attacks on the President and
the Republican Party, she also advocates intra-party discipline, the
paper writes: Under her leadership, the Democrats voted more
cohesively than they have in the past 50 years and helped defeat
Bush's plan for pension reform. The daily characterizes Pelosi as
pragmatic, wanting to lead the Democrats in the House from the
center, and aiming at working with the administration to withdraw US
troops from Iraq.
"Wiener Zeitung"
Semi-official daily "Wiener Zeitung"says the Iraq war was the main
problem- pointing out that Democrats also lack an obvious solution.
Very few of them favor an immediate withdrawal, because this would
harm America's image in the world further and plunge Iraq even
deeper into chaos.
"ORF"
ORF correspondent Eugen Freund analyzes the election results as far
as known, saying Bush will have an even more difficult time
governing with his popularity down, and facing a congressional
majority that opposes him. More longtime Republican representatives
than ever before were ousted - because many voters believed that
the fight against terror and the war in Iraq were not going in the
right direction, Freund said. Bush "bungled it," Freund commented,
which played into the hands of the Democrats, even if they also lack
a plan on how to improve the situation. Looking into the future, the
election result in the House will nourish Democratic hopes of
capturing the White House in 2008, said Freund. In the Senate,
Freund predicted that the Virginia results, where the race is so
close, will be contested no matter who wins.
Phillips
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/AGS, INR/EU, AND EUR/PPD FOR YVETTE SAINT-ANDRE
OSD FOR COMMANDER CHAFFEE
WHITEHOUSE FOR NSC/WEUROPE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO AU OPRC
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: November 08, 2006
US MIDTERM ELECTION SPECIAL
"Neue Kronenzeitung":
Mass circulation tabloid "Neue Kronenzeitung" focuses on Californian
Representative Nancy Pelosi's chances of assuming the third-highest
office in the US Government: that of Speaker of the House of
Representatives. It reports on an apparent electoral shift toward
women, but also toward African Americans, who could also assume key
positions in the Senate and the House of Representatives, and
possibly one governorship (Deval Patrick in Massachusetts). Also, in
the House of Representatives, African-Americans John Conyers could
become chairman of the important Justice Committee that could
initiate impeachment procedures against President Bush, the paper
suggests.
"Kleine Zeitung"
Mass circulation tabloid "Kleine Zeitung" refers to the low voter
participation in the US midterm congressional and gubernatorial
elections, saying that only about 40 percent of eligible voters
actually went to the polls, less than in the presidential elections
(about 55 percent). The paper says it is difficult to establish
exactly how many US citizens really voted because of administrative
problems: Disappearing ballot boxes and ballots, malfunctioning
voting machines, and human error by election helpers. Currently
there are legal procedures pending against local election
authorities who have issued lists with more names on them than there
are eligible voters residing in the respective district.
"ORF" -Political Change in the US
Austrian radio in its morning news reports the Bush Administration
and the Republicans received the expected "slap in the face" from
the mid-term elections. The question now is how strong the slap is.
The Democrats won the House of Representatives, taking at least 221
of the 435 seats. In the Senate where 33 of the 100 seats were up
for election the outcome is not final. The radio reports that voter
turnout was very high and that there were problems again with the
electronic voting machines. ORF calls it a serious defeat for
President Bush.
"Kurier"
Mass circulation daily "Kurier" sees George W. Bush in the twilight:
The era of power concentration for the Republicans is apparently
over, "Kurier" believes. Republican domination has actually harmed
the system of checks and balances designed to prevent excessive
concentration of power by one party, the paper says, adding that, in
recent years, a conservative Congress merely endorsed the
President's policies instead of exerting an oversight function:
Except for Senator McCain, who fought successfully against the use
of torture, Republican representatives supported everything from
Bush's Iraq policy to the largest budget deficit in US history.
Kurier also notes that, in the 90s, President Bill Clinton
successfully worked together with a conservative Congress - this
might work again, this time with roles reversed. The less optimistic
scenario, however, is the possibility of a deadlock until the next
presidential elections in 2008, writes "Kurier".
"Der Standard"
Independent daily "Der Standard" also reports on problems with the
new electronic voting machines, with many citizens unable to cast
their votes in an election where, according to the election helpers,
"every vote counts." The daily also mentions the so-called "ballot
initiatives" in 37 states, which played an important role in the
campaigns, many of which used these referenda to bring voters to the
polls. Issues included gay marriage, abortion, stem cell research,
cannabis and, in Arizona, an "election lottery" where voters can win
up to a million dollars for participating in the elections, with the
goal of increasing voter participation.
"Die Presse"
Centrist daily "Die Presse" sees the Republicans at a low point
politically - despite the latest unemployment figures which,
according to the Department of Labor, are the lowest in the last
four years: 4.4 percent. However, the President's party did not
really profit from this economic boost: Even the voters who are at
all interested in economic issues were hard to motivate, says "Die
Presse": They feel they are not profiting from the economic
upswing. While it is true that there are plenty of jobs, it is
likewise true that the majority of them are badly paid and offer no
social security benefits, says the paper, and costs are exploding
for medical insurance, heating, insurance policies, and particularly
for interest on mortgages. The latter is especially relevant,
because many US citizens have several mortgages and the interest on
those is a big burden on individual household budgets, notes "Die
Presse". In addition, the daily points out that US citizens on
average earn less today than in 2000; while productivity rose by 17
percent and the gross domestic product by 12, average wages
increased by just 3 percent.
"Salzburger Nachrichten"
Independent daily "Salzburger Nachrichten" profiles Democratic
Representative Nancy Pelosi, the future Speaker of the House of
Representatives. Decried as an "extreme left-winger" by President
Bush and numerous Republican candidates, the longtime Congresswoman
is considered "tough." Outspoken in her attacks on the President and
the Republican Party, she also advocates intra-party discipline, the
paper writes: Under her leadership, the Democrats voted more
cohesively than they have in the past 50 years and helped defeat
Bush's plan for pension reform. The daily characterizes Pelosi as
pragmatic, wanting to lead the Democrats in the House from the
center, and aiming at working with the administration to withdraw US
troops from Iraq.
"Wiener Zeitung"
Semi-official daily "Wiener Zeitung"says the Iraq war was the main
problem- pointing out that Democrats also lack an obvious solution.
Very few of them favor an immediate withdrawal, because this would
harm America's image in the world further and plunge Iraq even
deeper into chaos.
"ORF"
ORF correspondent Eugen Freund analyzes the election results as far
as known, saying Bush will have an even more difficult time
governing with his popularity down, and facing a congressional
majority that opposes him. More longtime Republican representatives
than ever before were ousted - because many voters believed that
the fight against terror and the war in Iraq were not going in the
right direction, Freund said. Bush "bungled it," Freund commented,
which played into the hands of the Democrats, even if they also lack
a plan on how to improve the situation. Looking into the future, the
election result in the House will nourish Democratic hopes of
capturing the White House in 2008, said Freund. In the Senate,
Freund predicted that the Virginia results, where the race is so
close, will be contested no matter who wins.
Phillips