tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34249799.post2236191465596571907..comments2024-03-28T17:03:22.102+13:00Comments on AmeriNZ Blog: Adieu, liberté française?Arthur Schenckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10568299067544221996noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34249799.post-73869148208884925582007-05-08T18:52:00.000+12:002007-05-08T18:52:00.000+12:00Oh, I forgot the (x) security thing, the (y) poor ...Oh, I forgot the (x) security thing, the (y) poor record of the government that he has been a part of for the last five years (as Minister of Finance and Minister of the Interior), and (z) the fact that he stabbed his political mentor in the back, and so on....lost in francehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08133448605980627117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34249799.post-63918180347374227782007-05-08T17:35:00.000+12:002007-05-08T17:35:00.000+12:00Well there is a ray of hope -- the upcoming legisl...Well there is a ray of hope -- the upcoming legislative elections. Sarkozy needs a legislature to pass laws. If only the left and center parties gain more seats than his ....<BR/><BR/>Perhaps what disturb more about Sarkozy than anything are: (1) his pure ambition which if unchecked is dangerous (the way he took control of his party was machiavellian); (2) his cronyism and friendships with too many powerful people; (3) his arrogance (and that of his party); and (4) his party's lukewarm record on gay rights.lost in francehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08133448605980627117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34249799.post-37651624653433671612007-05-08T11:35:00.000+12:002007-05-08T11:35:00.000+12:00Great discussion, guys!I should qualify: I'm not s...Great discussion, guys!<BR/><BR/>I should qualify: I'm not saying that Sarkozy's supporter's are fascists, or even that he is, but rather that he reminds me of Bush circa 2000, when he and his controllers hid their fascist agenda. Sarkozy's former control over police gives me pause, and could lead to a crackdown as Putin did in Russia.<BR/><BR/>However, I do think it says something about expectations that among the first calls of congratulations Sarkozy got were ones from Bush and Blair. In his victory speech, he said France was America's friend (based on what the translator said), and that would clearly be music to the Bushies' ears.<BR/><BR/>I can't speak to what either of you were saying about individual French people's support or lack of support for Sarkozy, since I don't know any French people. However, my <I>impression</I> is that the Left has a real image problem in France, and that contributed in part to their defeat.<BR/><BR/>One talking head on TV (BBC World, I think it was) was blaming the debate for Royal's loss, saying she didn't say anything and was "aggressive" (which to my American ears sounded like the old "a man is strong, a woman is a bitch" sexism).<BR/><BR/>Bottom line for me, though, is what I said in the post: "The last thing the world needs is another right wing head of state, regardless of country."Arthur Schenckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10568299067544221996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34249799.post-43659106326441991602007-05-08T08:51:00.000+12:002007-05-08T08:51:00.000+12:00@This Boy Elroy: Sorry for the generalization, bu...@This Boy Elroy: Sorry for the generalization, but I know many highly educated people in France who are sick at the thought of Sarkozy as President.<BR/><BR/>I can't believe that such highly educated Frenchmen believe in splintering their country even more. Why can't France be more progressive like Spain instead of becoming more regressive on social issues, as Sarkozy seems to promise.<BR/><BR/>Ever since he and his party have come to power there have been more riot police in the streets than I ever saw before.<BR/><BR/>La Petite Anglaise got it right it her blog where her reaction to the election is "oh. shit."<BR/><BR/>But I guess Sarkozy will be easier to take living thousands of miles from France ....lost in francehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08133448605980627117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34249799.post-86996255465876392312007-05-08T03:36:00.000+12:002007-05-08T03:36:00.000+12:00I'm sorry Lost in France but your generalization i...I'm sorry Lost in France but your generalization is moot. I work with highly educated French who come here because it's a reknowned institute in the field of scientific research, not because they have empathy with Bush or neocon philosophy.<BR/><BR/>I don't know either candidate well but I do know my colleagues. When I asked them why they were pleased with the results the consensus is that Sarkozy seemed to present himself as a "candidate with more solutions rather than talk." They don't think he's the best candidate but they believe that he was better than Royal and that socialism wasn't working. <BR/><BR/>I just find the rift interesting.This Boy Elroyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00430436265377005923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34249799.post-16188883136219960092007-05-08T01:19:00.000+12:002007-05-08T01:19:00.000+12:00@Arthur: You will laugh at the graffitti in my po...@Arthur: You will laugh at the graffitti in my post of today. <BR/><BR/>If you are interested on one take on the French nuclear/Rainbow Warrior scandal try reading the "L'Affaire Rainbow Warrior" chapter (it's in English) of the book "The French Secret Services: From the Dreyfus Affair to the Gulf War" by Douglas Porch -- Oxford University Press, 1997.<BR/><BR/>@This Boy Elroy: If you are living in Texas, it would figure that the French near you would like Sarkozy. After all, I can't imagine any other kind moving to Bushville (there is a marked propensity among the French -- or perhaps the more enlightened ones -- to gravitate to New York City or perhaps San Francisco).lost in francehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08133448605980627117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34249799.post-38672830640655219132007-05-08T00:59:00.000+12:002007-05-08T00:59:00.000+12:00All the french that I work with are pleased with t...All the french that I work with are pleased with the election results and they aren't fascists. I'm a bit confused about the situation over there. I am loath to believe that this will mean anything for Bush. Conservative across the pond is not the same as it is here in the US. Let's not forget that Europe ran all the crazy people out. The crazies found some land and called it The United States of America.This Boy Elroyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00430436265377005923noreply@blogger.com