- Location
- Toronto, ON, CA
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Callan's Graphics and Things
- Thread starter Callan
- Start date
- Location
- Toronto, ON, CA
1936-1959: George VI (Windsor)
1959-2009: Elizabeth II (Windsor)
2009-: Anne II (Windsor)
1959-2009: Elizabeth II (Windsor)
2009-: Anne II (Windsor)
- Location
- Toronto, ON, CA
Reichskanzlers under the reign of Kaiser Wilhelm V, 1980-2022:
1977-1983: Adam von Hassell (Union of the Right)
1983-1983: Max Klein (Union of the Right)
1983-1990: Martin von Tirpitz (Independent)
1990-1994: Anna Liebknecht (SPD)
1994-2002: Albert Puttkamer (Independent)
2002-2009: Ralph Jacoby (Union of Democrats and Progressives)
2009-: Arnold Lasker (Zentrum)
1977-1983: Adam von Hassell (Union of the Right)
1983-1983: Max Klein (Union of the Right)
1983-1990: Martin von Tirpitz (Independent)
1990-1994: Anna Liebknecht (SPD)
1994-2002: Albert Puttkamer (Independent)
2002-2009: Ralph Jacoby (Union of Democrats and Progressives)
2009-: Arnold Lasker (Zentrum)
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- Location
- Toronto, ON, CA
Beata Beatrix
Camille Paglia on Judge Dredd
- Location
- Portland, OR
- Pronouns
- she/her/hers
Wow I hate this, thanks!
- Location
- Toronto, ON, CA
The Kaiserabwesenheit (literally Kaiser's Absence), refers to the period of political turmoil and instability in Germany between 2012 and 2022 due Kaiser Wilhem V making increasingly fewer public appearances amid rumours of declining health, and the simultaneous rise in prominence and influence of his heir and successor Alfred.
Following the death of Empress Consort Elisabeth-Marie in 2014, Wilhelm V went into a period of "seclusion", making few public appearances beyond regular constitutional obligations such as the state opening of the Reichstag, the formal re-appointment of the Lasker Cabinet following the 2016 and 2020 elections and televised addresses. But in the following years speculation over Wilhelm's health grew as he made fewer and fewer public engagements; those he did make were closed off and heavily stage managed. This came to a head in 2020, when Kronprinz Alfred officially opened the Munich Winter Olympics and the Reichstag session, with his father's frail and disoriented appearance at the latter causing national and international concern.
However, German media regulation heavily censors coverage and criticism regarding the royal family. In the previous decade, senior British journalist Patrick Persaud had been all but exiled from Berlin for a decade over a hostile interview of the Kaiser, and several Berlin-based media outlets were fined and faced hostile protests for publishing speculation over the Kaiser's health. As a result of these restrictions, German and international media outlets and online Memex gatherings increasingly referred euphemistically to the Kaiserabwesenheit, as the figure who once dominated the German and international body politic very quickly disappeared from view.
Kaiserabwesenheit also refers to the political changes that occurred during this time, as then-Kronprinz Alfred rose in prominence and influence, taking his father's place at diplomatic and constitutional events and making increasingly direct political interventions. In 2016 Alfred made a controversial trip to Reichswehr soldiers stationed in Malaya, speaking supportively of their mission, in contrast to his father's well-known scepticism of the German-led Malayan Intervention. The next year the Hohenzollern household was effectively purged, with several aides and courtiers close to Wilhelm V dismissed and his siblings stripped of public-facing positions. While as politically conservative as his father, Alfred had different political interest than Wilhelm. He was more interested in environmentalism, population control and the Lasker Cabinet's foreign policy of interventionism and European integration. Close to Reichkanzler Arnold Lasker, the Fifth Lasker cabinet formed in 2021 reflected the Kronprinz's interests; ministers known to be hostile to Alfred and his politics such as Clarissa Ulrich and Rudolph Hipper were demoted or dismissed.
This apparent usurpation led to political unrest and instability. Alfred was held with far less reverence than his father, with memories of 2000s-era financial scandals involving the Kronprinz and his in-laws still lingering. Mass protests organised by both the far right and the far left against the alleged StillerPutsch (silent putsch) that had took place within the German government.
Even much of the Junkers establishment were sceptical or downright hostile to this emerging political dynamic. Alfred was referred to by many conservative politicians and commentators as the Gymnasiumkaiser, as Alfred appeared closer to middle-class Gymnasium-educated conservatives such as Lasker than the traditional German aristocracy that was still more loyal to his father. Depending on the commentator, "Gymnasiumkaiser" was either praise for Alfred's more direct, down-to-earth approach or class-based derision over his more direct approach to politics. With lines of accountability and decision-making becoming heavily blurred, the 2021 German elections became an unspoken referendum on the Kaiserabwesenheit, with Lasker's governing coalition re-elected by a surprisingly slender margin.
While international observers (and German-language media outlets based in Vienna, Zurich and Amsterdam) speculated that Wilhelm V may have been suffering from Parkinson's Disease, dementia or a similar degenerative illness, neither the Hohenzollern family nor the German government has ever publicly commented on his health. Wilhelm's official death certificate, released to the media after his state funeral, listed his cause of death as simply "old age."
(credit to @Beata Beatrix for coining the name)
Following the death of Empress Consort Elisabeth-Marie in 2014, Wilhelm V went into a period of "seclusion", making few public appearances beyond regular constitutional obligations such as the state opening of the Reichstag, the formal re-appointment of the Lasker Cabinet following the 2016 and 2020 elections and televised addresses. But in the following years speculation over Wilhelm's health grew as he made fewer and fewer public engagements; those he did make were closed off and heavily stage managed. This came to a head in 2020, when Kronprinz Alfred officially opened the Munich Winter Olympics and the Reichstag session, with his father's frail and disoriented appearance at the latter causing national and international concern.
However, German media regulation heavily censors coverage and criticism regarding the royal family. In the previous decade, senior British journalist Patrick Persaud had been all but exiled from Berlin for a decade over a hostile interview of the Kaiser, and several Berlin-based media outlets were fined and faced hostile protests for publishing speculation over the Kaiser's health. As a result of these restrictions, German and international media outlets and online Memex gatherings increasingly referred euphemistically to the Kaiserabwesenheit, as the figure who once dominated the German and international body politic very quickly disappeared from view.
Kaiserabwesenheit also refers to the political changes that occurred during this time, as then-Kronprinz Alfred rose in prominence and influence, taking his father's place at diplomatic and constitutional events and making increasingly direct political interventions. In 2016 Alfred made a controversial trip to Reichswehr soldiers stationed in Malaya, speaking supportively of their mission, in contrast to his father's well-known scepticism of the German-led Malayan Intervention. The next year the Hohenzollern household was effectively purged, with several aides and courtiers close to Wilhelm V dismissed and his siblings stripped of public-facing positions. While as politically conservative as his father, Alfred had different political interest than Wilhelm. He was more interested in environmentalism, population control and the Lasker Cabinet's foreign policy of interventionism and European integration. Close to Reichkanzler Arnold Lasker, the Fifth Lasker cabinet formed in 2021 reflected the Kronprinz's interests; ministers known to be hostile to Alfred and his politics such as Clarissa Ulrich and Rudolph Hipper were demoted or dismissed.
This apparent usurpation led to political unrest and instability. Alfred was held with far less reverence than his father, with memories of 2000s-era financial scandals involving the Kronprinz and his in-laws still lingering. Mass protests organised by both the far right and the far left against the alleged StillerPutsch (silent putsch) that had took place within the German government.
Even much of the Junkers establishment were sceptical or downright hostile to this emerging political dynamic. Alfred was referred to by many conservative politicians and commentators as the Gymnasiumkaiser, as Alfred appeared closer to middle-class Gymnasium-educated conservatives such as Lasker than the traditional German aristocracy that was still more loyal to his father. Depending on the commentator, "Gymnasiumkaiser" was either praise for Alfred's more direct, down-to-earth approach or class-based derision over his more direct approach to politics. With lines of accountability and decision-making becoming heavily blurred, the 2021 German elections became an unspoken referendum on the Kaiserabwesenheit, with Lasker's governing coalition re-elected by a surprisingly slender margin.
While international observers (and German-language media outlets based in Vienna, Zurich and Amsterdam) speculated that Wilhelm V may have been suffering from Parkinson's Disease, dementia or a similar degenerative illness, neither the Hohenzollern family nor the German government has ever publicly commented on his health. Wilhelm's official death certificate, released to the media after his state funeral, listed his cause of death as simply "old age."
(credit to @Beata Beatrix for coining the name)
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Beata Beatrix
Camille Paglia on Judge Dredd
- Location
- Portland, OR
- Pronouns
- she/her/hers
The credit is appreciated but I think Gymnasiumkaiser is the most sickening compound word I have ever heard, haha!
- Location
- Toronto, ON, CA
- Location
- Albany, NY
- Pronouns
- She/Her
This is a marvelous little glimpse to a setting.
- Location
- Toronto, ON, CA
Centre Party - Zentrum - Z:
Conservatism, Christian democracy, constitutional monarchism, German nationalism, economic liberalism [faction], pro-European Association. Centre-right to right-wing.
Social Democratic Party of Germany - Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - SPD:
Social democracy, Democratic socialism [faction], reformism, Liberal socialism, republicanism [faction], European Association-sceptic [faction]. Centre-left.
Worker’s Alliance - ArbeitsAllianz - AA:
Democratic Socialism, Communism [faction], Marxism, republicanism, anti-European Association, German nationalism. Left-wing.
Reich Party - ReichsPartei - RP:
National Conservatism, nativism, German nationalism, pro-European Association, pro-monarchy (faction). Right-Wing
Union of Democrats and Progress - Union der Demokraten und Fortschritt - UDF:
Liberalism, social liberalism, reformism, open government, pro-republican [faction], European Association scepticism [faction] Centre to centre-left.
Waldersee List - Waldersee für Deutschland - WS:
Populism, Centrism, Big Tent, Anti-European Association. Centre.
National Liberals and Conservatives - Nationalliberale und Konservative - N:
Conservatism, economic liberalism, environmentalism, pro-European Association, pro-constitutional monarchy [faction]. Centre-right.
Polish People’s - Stronnictwo Ludowe - P
Polish nationalism, minority rights, liberalism [faction], decentralization. Centre to centre left.
Liveable Germany - Wohnbar - WD:
National Solidarism, Nativism, German ultranationalism, anti-Hohenzollern, anti-democracy, Far-right.
Conservatism, Christian democracy, constitutional monarchism, German nationalism, economic liberalism [faction], pro-European Association. Centre-right to right-wing.
Social Democratic Party of Germany - Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - SPD:
Social democracy, Democratic socialism [faction], reformism, Liberal socialism, republicanism [faction], European Association-sceptic [faction]. Centre-left.
Worker’s Alliance - ArbeitsAllianz - AA:
Democratic Socialism, Communism [faction], Marxism, republicanism, anti-European Association, German nationalism. Left-wing.
Reich Party - ReichsPartei - RP:
National Conservatism, nativism, German nationalism, pro-European Association, pro-monarchy (faction). Right-Wing
Union of Democrats and Progress - Union der Demokraten und Fortschritt - UDF:
Liberalism, social liberalism, reformism, open government, pro-republican [faction], European Association scepticism [faction] Centre to centre-left.
Waldersee List - Waldersee für Deutschland - WS:
Populism, Centrism, Big Tent, Anti-European Association. Centre.
National Liberals and Conservatives - Nationalliberale und Konservative - N:
Conservatism, economic liberalism, environmentalism, pro-European Association, pro-constitutional monarchy [faction]. Centre-right.
Polish People’s - Stronnictwo Ludowe - P
Polish nationalism, minority rights, liberalism [faction], decentralization. Centre to centre left.
Liveable Germany - Wohnbar - WD:
National Solidarism, Nativism, German ultranationalism, anti-Hohenzollern, anti-democracy, Far-right.
- Location
- Toronto, ON, CA
German Federal Election, 2021:
Anbruch: Lasker für Deutschland - 279 - 44.6%
Anschluss Deutschland - 181 - 37.6%
ArbeitsAllianz - 30 - 9.1%
Polish People's - 4 - 2.3%
Wohnbar - 1 - 3.2%
Independents - 2 - N/A
Anbruch: Lasker für Deutschland - 279 - 44.6%
Zentrum - 160 - 31.0%
ReichsPartei - 60 - 8.1%
National - 39 - 5.5%
Anschluss Deutschland - 181 - 37.6%
SPD - 124 - 23.0%
UDF - 31 - 6.8%
Waldersee List - 26 - 7.8%
ArbeitsAllianz - 30 - 9.1%
Polish People's - 4 - 2.3%
Wohnbar - 1 - 3.2%
Independents - 2 - N/A
Beata Beatrix
Camille Paglia on Judge Dredd
- Location
- Portland, OR
- Pronouns
- she/her/hers
NOT THIS
- Location
- Toronto, ON, CA
I was trying to come up with terrible Italian-style coalition names and I couldn’t resist.
- Location
- Toronto, ON, CA
The electoral system’s actually parallel voting, but it large constituencies and a high threshold for the list seats it incentivizes parties to form electoral alliances to maximize their chances.
- Location
- Toronto, ON, CA
A Theoretical Look Forward: The Extraordinary Men of Downing Street
2016-2018: Iain Fletcher (Conservative)
2018-2021: Alan Partridge (Conservative)
2021-2022: Vivian Rooke (Conservative)
2022-2022: Alan Partridge (Conservative)
2022-: Ted Hastings (Labour)
2016-2018: Iain Fletcher (Conservative)
2018-2021: Alan Partridge (Conservative)
2021-2022: Vivian Rooke (Conservative)
2022-2022: Alan Partridge (Conservative)
2022-: Ted Hastings (Labour)
Walpurgisnacht
It was in the Year of Maximum Danger
- Location
- Banned from the forum
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Knowing Me, Knowing The EU Deal.
- Pronouns
- it/its (you'll get used to the third person thing)
You know I always felt like if Partridge did run for parliament he’d run as an independent along the lines of Martin Bell. Not because he’s not extremely Tory, he very much is, but I think he has the ego to do that sort of thing.
- Location
- Toronto, ON, CA
He has the ego for that sort of thing but he is also, quite fundamentally, a massive coward and a massive suck-up. If a Tory hack came up to him and offered to make him a star candidate, he'd find it very hard to say no.
I remember there was a recent Partridge skit (I think it was for Comic Relief) where he goes on a tangent about how great the Big Society was, and I think his politics would be a bit more idiosyncratic than everyone assumes - a lot like Johnson in that respect.
- Location
- Toronto, ON, CA
1957-1963: John Diefenbaker (Progressive Conservative)
1957 (Minority): Louis St. Laurent (Liberal), M. J. Coldwell (CCF), Solon Earl Low (Social Credit)
1958: Lester Pearson (Liberal), M. J. Coldwell (CCF), Solon Earl Low (Social Credit)
1962 (Minority): Lester Pearson (Liberal), Robert N. Thompson (Social Credit), Tommy Douglas (New Democratic)
1963-1964: George Hees (Progressive Conservative)
1964-1970: Lester Pearson (Liberal)
1964: George Hees (Progressive Conservative), Tommy Douglas (New Democratic), Robert N. Thompson (Social Credit)
1968: Tommy Douglas (New Democratic), George Hees (Progressive Conservative), Réal Caouette (Ralliement créditiste)
1970-1974: Mitchell Sharp (Liberal)
1973 (Minority): Tommy Douglas (New Democratic), John Diefenbaker (Progressive Conservative), Réal Caouette (Ralliement créditiste)
1974-1979: Claude Wanger (Liberal)
1974 (Minority): John Harney (New Democratic), John Diefenbaker (Progressive Conservative), Réal Caouette (Ralliement créditiste)
1975: John Harney (New Democratic), John Diefenbaker (Progressive Conservative), Réal Caouette (Ralliement créditiste)
1979-: John Harney (New Democratic)
1979: Claude Wagner (Liberal), Jack Horner (Progressive Conservative), Gilles Caouette (Ralliement)
1957 (Minority): Louis St. Laurent (Liberal), M. J. Coldwell (CCF), Solon Earl Low (Social Credit)
1958: Lester Pearson (Liberal), M. J. Coldwell (CCF), Solon Earl Low (Social Credit)
1962 (Minority): Lester Pearson (Liberal), Robert N. Thompson (Social Credit), Tommy Douglas (New Democratic)
1963-1964: George Hees (Progressive Conservative)
1964-1970: Lester Pearson (Liberal)
1964: George Hees (Progressive Conservative), Tommy Douglas (New Democratic), Robert N. Thompson (Social Credit)
1968: Tommy Douglas (New Democratic), George Hees (Progressive Conservative), Réal Caouette (Ralliement créditiste)
1970-1974: Mitchell Sharp (Liberal)
1973 (Minority): Tommy Douglas (New Democratic), John Diefenbaker (Progressive Conservative), Réal Caouette (Ralliement créditiste)
1974-1979: Claude Wanger (Liberal)
1974 (Minority): John Harney (New Democratic), John Diefenbaker (Progressive Conservative), Réal Caouette (Ralliement créditiste)
1975: John Harney (New Democratic), John Diefenbaker (Progressive Conservative), Réal Caouette (Ralliement créditiste)
1979-: John Harney (New Democratic)
1979: Claude Wagner (Liberal), Jack Horner (Progressive Conservative), Gilles Caouette (Ralliement)