Almudena Grandes: 'Making politics with horror and blood': "The government of Jose Mar�a Aznar, setting itself up as defender of the motherland in the name of a rancid ultra-nationalism bordering on the most genuinely Spanish fascist ideology, had so tightened the cords of political life that it had created an unbreathable atmosphere for anyone in disagreement with its slogans."

Sounds like the kind of atmosphere Bush wants to create in the US for anyone who disagrees with him.

"... while the bodies were still warm, and so many corpses unburied, it began to become clear that the Spanish government was making politics with horror and blood.
... faced with horror, only honesty is befitting, there is no room for fear. It is important that no one is mistaken. On Sunday, the Spanish people voted bravely, they voted with rage and they voted according to their conscience. Spain has not humiliated herself before the attacks of terrorists, she has risen up against a government which humiliated her every day by using terrorism as an electoral weapon. Spain has shown that she is a decent country. The Socialist party has won the elections, but never was a victory so desired been at the same time as sad as this one. "

Right wing commentators in the US decry the spanish vote as appeasement. Even the washington post leans in that direction. Shame. The same people who claim they invaded Iraq to "create democracy" are bitter about a real democratic election. The people of Spain are not soft on terror, and they are not going to be manipulated by their government either. A great day for democracy, though the circumstances couldn't be sadder.

God Bless Spain!
- posted by geoff @ #