Brief report from friend in Madrid

[July]

Arrests have been made (2 Indians, 3 Moroccans, I think).

Could influence the election, friend doesn't believe PP (Aznar's party) will get an absolute majority, unlikely that PSOE (Socialists) will, either. PP could form a coalition with conservative party from the Canaries or one of the Catalan parties. Could be close. Not sure there is enough time for everyone to absorb news of arrests and have it influence their votes; undecideds become more important.

Shocked at cynicism of Ana Palacio's memo to diplomats to insist on ETA as guilty in attacks.

Demonstrations in front of PP headquarters about delaying giving information still taking place at nearly midnight, Spanish time, can hear the helicopter (apparently, there is always a helicopter when there is a demonstration).

If anything dramatic happens in the elections, will let me know, they are now saying that they should have some idea by 11 p.m. Spanish time (5 p.m. Eastern for us).

Demonstrations were unbelievable yesterday, never had seen anything like it. Feels the way we did after 9/11, wanting to help, not knowing what to do (authorities turning away blood donors and psychologist/pyschiatrists/counselors because so many have volunteered), overwhelmed, very sad. People trying to help from all over, as with the Prestige. Shocked. Interested in what we are saying/thinking.

[Joanne98]

1. You need to tell your friend about the Diebold voting machines

They're voting on them tommorrow.
http://www.blackboxvoting.com

[July]

2. I thought those were being tested in Mallorca.

Are they all over Spain now?

[CerealMurderer]

12. I doubt with this tragedy they are thinking of vote machines

Nor should they. I see no reason for the people of Spain to think anyone would try to cheat their votes. Do you?

[Junkdrawer]

16. A RW politician cheating an election? Perish the thought...

Golly.

[Poiuyt]

3. Tell your friend that we grieve with them

I hope they realize that not all Americans love war and killing

[DaveOinSF]

4. Tell them

We are all Spaniards.

[Gin]

6. Nice Dave..............We are All Spaniards..

gin

[scottxyz]

13. Somos todos Españoles

n/t

[newyawker99]

19. Hi DaveOinSF!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[aquart]

5. That's what we were like, wanting to help, feeling helpless.

And all I can think is that they don't realize how lucky they are to have casualties.

I don't know where to go or write to express my sympathies. New York knows how Madrid feels.

[July]

8. Yes, it is a positive that there are survivors, but

200 dead and 1400+ injured in a population of 42 million is certainly comparable to our numbers; nonetheless, it is, as you say, tremendous luck that people did survive. I don't think they are able to absorb that notion right now.

I will tell my one friend of your sympathy. You could probably send an email to the embassy in DC or the consulate in NY.

[Art_from_Ark]

10. I think you should rephrase that part about "lucky to have casualties"

since "casualty" can mean "serious or fatal accident", and "casualties" include the dead as well as the survivors.

[July]

7. Thank you all.

I will pass on your messages.

My friend was actually embarrassed to compare their tragedy with our 9/11, though everything I hear and see (watching Spanish TV) is so familiar. No, they didn't have skyscrapers fall, but it is the bloodiest attack in Spain ever, at least in modern times. The Spanish people's opposition to the Iraq war compounds their agony in being targeted. They were out in force before the war, and now they are in shock.

Speaking at least for my friend and like-minded liberals in Spain, though, they distinguish us from our "leaders," just as they distinguish themselves, who overwhelming opposed the Iraq war, from THEIR leadership, which got on board w/Bush and Blair despite popular opposition. I was there in December, and they harbor no resentment toward the American people. They can't believe we let Bush be pResident, though.

I am saving American newspapers for my friend; the solidarity is meaningful to her, and she spoke of it to me. She called us after 9/11, and it is so sad to be offering the same helpless sympathy after a similar tragedy. You are all so kind.

[Sugarbleus]

14. I'm so sad and moved by your post...

I truly "feel" for them in a profound way. It's one thing to read about a tragedy, it's quite another to SEE it on live TV.

I really can't find the right words to say, but I hurt with them.

The attack was so vast and cruel..it's unspeakably vile. I saw their tears in real time. I weep in private.

I don't have any empirical knowledge, but it "seems" like many of the European people so love their own--not that we don't, but the coalition soldiers that lost their lives in Iraq were brought forth into the public arena so the WHOLE of citizenry could pay their respects. That is extremely moving and precious. Send my wishes of love and peace to them. We embrace them in their time of sorrow and anger. ^j^

[kskiska]

9. I was just watching John Kasich on Faux

He was talking to a guy who said that Aznar's Populist Party had been ahead by 4 or 5 points prior to the attack, but now it looks as though the Socialists will win.

[Beam Me Up]

11. kick

:kick:

[UrbScotty]

15. Wish them the best.

I will keep all Spaniards in my thoughts and prayers.

[Lefergus70]

17. Sunday morning in Madrid

It's 8 a.m. and my wife, who is Spanish (I'm originally from Massachusetts) just left for the local polling station; she's been selected to be part of the citizens' committee that will have to supervise balloting all day and counting after the poll close.

She and my four daughters will be voting today, and they are very angry at the ruling PP government for (1) very possibly bringing the Iraqi war to this country and (2) very possibly covering up details in the investigation of the bombing for political puposes. How does the rest of the country feel? The answer, which we'll have tonight, might give us an inkling into how Americans will vote in November. Control of the media is an issue here too. For example:

At 7.45 p.m. last night we noticed that the two government-controlled channels, TV-1 and TV-2, as well as the Madrid regional channel, Tele-Madrid, also under the wing of the ruling conservative PP, were back to normal programming. And so was Antena-3, a private channel sympathetic to the government. Only Tele-5, which is at least partially owned by Italy's Berlulsconi, broke into its regular programming at that moment to announce the arrests of non-ETA suspects in advance of a statement by the Interior Minister. Tele-5 stayed with the story until the minister came on 25 minutes later, while the others stuck rigidly to their regularly-scheduled programs, which included a soccer match, until an instant before his address - then they went back to the programs.

Meanwhile, CNN-International - which we receive as mon-cable with a few other foreign channels through our block TV dish - had Brent Sadler live with the angry mob demonstrating before PP headquarters, shouting "Tell us the truth!". CNN-i never let up on this story since the first breaking news and has been covering it as if it was another 9/11. Last evening, while the official Spanish TV channels were giving slight attention to the supposed islamic link, CNN-i was weaving it into every report. We kept checking the French channel TV-5 and noticed that they were also on top of this. Friends with cable have commented that the BBC was also constantly contrasting the government's ETA-did-it messages with the non-ETA claims.

The main opposition party, the PSOE, has been respectfully quiet during these delicate moments. But the government's leading candidate for the presidency, Mariano Rajoy, was seen last night on TV playing victim, angrily denouncing the mobs outside PP headquarters, suggesting that this was a staged and illegal demonstration by an unnamed opposition group. In part, he was probably right, because a lot of the signs looked excactly alike and didn't appear handmade. However, non-militants were swelling the gathering; I know, because my eldest daughter and her friends told me they were rushing right over.

[DeepModem Mom]

18. Your report about Spanish tv news is very distressing --

and hits close to home, as tv news here, as you probably know, also tends to favor the (Bush) government. I'm sure you are proud, however, of the political involvement of your wife and daughters. Thanks for your post, and welcome to DU --