Grim Reaper 186 Posted December 31, 2010 The Helmut Schmidt thread. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest new Posted January 1, 2011 He has been in decline for a few years now and with the recent death of his wife the odds are not bad, especially when taking into consideration his heart surgery saga. He himself, however, thinks he might have a few more years left in him and is continuing to work as a publisher and occasional political commentator. I personally believe he could be right but at 90 plus, all bets are off. While watching this Helmut we should also keep a keen eye on "Helmut the second", Helmut Kohl. Being Schmidt's immediate successor, Kohl is significantly younger and just married a gal half his age but is also a few 100 pounds overweight and has been featured during some recent official functions where his pronounciation was barely understandable and his walk appeared more than just a little bit unstable and quite slow Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Josco 49 Posted January 5, 2011 Low hanging fruit I suspect. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Oggbad 0 Posted January 5, 2011 I think Kohl would be a banker next year if he manages to survive this one - which looks a bit doubtful. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Perfect Passing 277 Posted May 30, 2012 Mr Schmidt has been quoted 2 days ago in New York Times, on the Greek Financial crisis that "Germany should show some heart" to our plate smashing, financially challenged european comrades. I wonder if this is a sign, that he knows that he may be giving fiscal advice very soon to the Greek Gods?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Your friendly Guest Posted November 11, 2012 I was a bit shocked when i saw him on TV in a wheelchair. He once said he had pain while walking in an interview some time before when he was not in the wheelchair yet so I think he could walk if he could bear the pain but it's still a bad sign. It's amazing that he had heart trouble for decades and has a heartmaker and is a chain smoker for probably all his life and is almost 94 now. Maybe the menthols keep him fresh. I think he still has a few more years because he just seems to be stable by nature no matter what. Helmut Kohl on the other hand already looks like his own wax figure and is in declining health although younger. He would be a better bet indeed. I know that this is maybe not the place because you want your bets to come true, but Helmut Schmidt is one of the few likeable politicians we have in Germany and I really wish him at least 6 more years with the ability of chainsmoking in interviews and therefore living against all odds as usual. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Guest Posted November 27, 2012 I have news to report on Helmut Schmidt.He will soon be 94, but he's fallen in love http://www.dailymail...falls-love.html Awwwww Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
InquilineKea 75 Posted December 9, 2012 Wow. Here's a video of him discussing the recent European Economic Crisis (in English) just on October 30th: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_mji_h3GXE Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Guested Posted December 11, 2012 He looks remarkably good for a 93 year old in that video and clearly still got his marbles. Although people in their 90s can go at any time despite appearing to be healthy (especially men, just look at Mr Dunn) on the balance of probabilities he might have a few more years left in him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Death Impends 7,979 Posted December 11, 2012 He looks remarkably good for a 93 year old in that video and clearly still got his marbles. Although people in their 90s can go at any time despite appearing to be healthy (especially men, just look at Mr Dunn) on the balance of probabilities he might have a few more years left in him. I wouldn't be surprised if he outlasts the younger Helmut Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Davey Jones' Locker 1,324 Posted March 12, 2013 We don't seem to have mentioned this bloke anywhere but Richard von Weizsäcker, President when Kohl was Chancellor, is still alive at 92. He maybe one to keep an eye on. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Guest Posted March 12, 2013 We don't seem to have mentioned this bloke anywhere but Richard von Weizsäcker, President when Kohl was Chancellor, is still alive at 92. He maybe one to keep an eye on. Indeed.In fact there are currently 57 former presidents and prime ministers over the age of 90 as you can see here http://en.wikipedia....g_state_leaders I've been keeping an eye on them all.Only one has died this year so far Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bibliogryphon 9,586 Posted March 12, 2013 We don't seem to have mentioned this bloke anywhere but Richard von Weizsäcker, President when Kohl was Chancellor, is still alive at 92. He maybe one to keep an eye on. Indeed.In fact there are currently 57 former presidents and prime ministers over the age of 90 as you can see here http://en.wikipedia....g_state_leaders I've been keeping an eye on them all.Only one has died this year so far Very interesting list. I am a bit concerned that most of the names on the list that are familiar are only so because I have read them on this site. May be teachers of A level politics should get each of their students to compile a statesman Deathlist and offer a prize so it would encourage them to do Research. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gcreptile 10,978 Posted May 30, 2013 Helmut Schmidt has recently been on a media tour: Here he is saying that the EU is in a deep institutional crisis: http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/altkanzler-helmut-schmidt-sieht-eu-institutionen-in-der-krise-a-902711.html Here is his new book that came out last month: http://www.amazon.de/Ein-letzter-Besuch-Begegnungen-Weltmacht/dp/3827500346/ref=la_B001HPX2P2_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369912412&sr=1-1 Here he is talking on german television about China last week: http://www.daserste.de/unterhaltung/talk/beckmann/sendung/02052013-weltmaechte-der-zukunft-100.html He still looks remarkably well and is probably going to last a while longer. He mentions though that it's "his last visit to France", or that it was "his last visit to China." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phantom 2,533 Posted July 9, 2013 Ex-Chancellor 'hoards 38,000 cigarettes' Famous for his love of smoking, popular German ex-Chancellor Helmut Schmidt apparently has 38,000 menthol cigarettes stashed in his house. He is, a top politician let slip on Tuesday, scared the EU will ban them. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr. Zorders 1,271 Posted July 9, 2013 Ex-Chancellor 'hoards 38,000 cigarettes' Famous for his love of smoking, popular German ex-Chancellor Helmut Schmidt apparently has 38,000 menthol cigarettes stashed in his house. He is, a top politician let slip on Tuesday, scared the EU will ban them. I guess that means he'll be the "star" of a shite documentary on Channel 4/BBC3 any day now. "EuroHoarders" perhaps? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest hatefulpric Posted August 9, 2013 Beg to differ, Helmut just bought upwards of 3,000 packs of menthol cigarettes, which he is stowing in his freezer, because the EU plans on banning them. So I think he has designs on staying around for a while if he's still smoking at his age. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CaptainChorizo 1,983 Posted December 19, 2013 Seems like notable German and Japanese people never die. Maybe winning WW2 wasn't the better deal after all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
InquilineKea 75 Posted December 22, 2013 http://eng.kremlin.ru/news/6398 You know, this is – how can I say – my farewell visit to Russia, because it has become very difficult for me to travel; I didn’t even really want to come here, because it truly is quite difficult for me. But ultimately, you must say your proper goodbyes to your neighbours, right? I have already visited China, the United States, Italy and France. But it was particularly important for me to come here, because I remember that at the end of the last century, in 1999, at the end of this century, at the end of the next century – we will always remain neighbours. In spite of any economic developments, or military developments, we will always be bound by fate; we will always remain neighbours. Granted, we have Poland and Ukraine between us, as well as other nations. But in good times and in bad times, we nevertheless remain neighbours forever – neighbours who depend on one another. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Guest Posted December 22, 2013 Schmidt will live to be 100 and more .I bet all my money on it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Book 3,557 Posted December 23, 2013 Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum 95. Geburtstag, Herr Schmidt! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
themaninblack 2,112 Posted December 23, 2013 And he still smokes like a chimney! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bibliogryphon 9,586 Posted April 11, 2014 He is still lucid enough to comment (and be reported) on Russia/Ukraine crisis Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maryportfuncity 10,650 Posted April 13, 2014 Low hanging fruit I suspect. Not bad then, for low hanging fruit three years ago! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gcreptile 10,978 Posted November 2, 2014 His press secretary, Klaus Bölling, is dead at 87: http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/ex-regierungssprecher-klaus-boelling-ist-tot-a-1000637.html (german link) The man himself is still in adequately good shape. Two weeks ago, he was talking about how the two major german parties are pretty much alike nowadays: http://www.bild.de/politik/inland/helmut-schmidt/ist-es-egal-wer-deutschland-regiert-38287944.bild.html (also a german link) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites