She seems to think she's chancellor of the whole EU. I don't know if it's ego or narcissism or both.

that needs to be taken to the people and voted on.

and the antagonism that people feel for germany right now -- she should have shut up.

Its much more autocratic and hierarchical that the US and yet still has tremendous support.

but a lot of press sentiment has been expressing democratizing exactly the thing you're talking about.

and if the eu wants to go forward with federalizing -- now would be the time to start talking democratizing the process -- and merkel should just realize she's giving herself really bad pr just now.

The Iron fist she seems to wield is not popular. With the EU refusing Greece's request to extend their payment deadline recently and Spain in severe financial trouble. Lithuania just voted out their far-right austerity government too.

The people aren't going to go for federalization right now. The member states will have to be in better economic situations before the people are ready. Right now I would bet a lot of them are blaming Merkel's iron fist for the austerity measures that are lowering wages and sending up unemployment.

and the fact that all the major powers were being run by conservatives at the time that it happened?

Merkel in Germany.
Sarkozy in France.
Dickhead in England.
Bush in the United States.

Gordon Brown was PM of Britain at the time, and while certainly third way he was not a Conservative.

Brown was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The Conservatives were out of power from 1997 until 2010.