Conservatives about to take over France!!

[ProfJohn]

Ok, calling Sarkazy a conservative in the American tradition might be a little bit of a stretch but in European terms he is one.

He is also favored by over half the French voters and should win by a 5-8 point spread.
This is good for American-French relations because he is considered very pro-American compared too many of the others in the French government.

Building better relations with France is paramount because they are one of our largest detractors on Europe. And while we will not see French troops in Iraq any time soon we may see them more willing to help in other parts of the world.

French help could be very important in places like Iran and Sudan/Dafur because France tends to be one of the worst offenders when it comes to letting dictators and tyrants off free.

Now if we can get rid of Putin and replace him with someone who understands the meaning of the word freedom we would be a long ways towards making the world a better place.

 

[FoBoT]

i heard on the radio that Sarkazy is very pro-American , it would be a nice change for European nations to give us some support

Putin is the new Tzar of Russia, it is a sad turn from the fall of Communism

 

[ProfJohn]

One thing about Putin though, economic freedom nearly always leads to political freedom. So his crack down could be short lived. Unless he figures away to stay in power beyond his term limit.

 

[Butterbean]

I been hoping all week there is no "Madrid" in France before the election. It would be perfect timming for such a thing sad to say.

 

[libs0n]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
One thing about Putin though, economic freedom nearly always leads to political freedom. So his crack down could be short lived. Unless he figures away to stay in power beyond his term limit.

Putin represents the interests of the former KGB, who have been amassing political power since the fall of the Soviet Union. When Putin steps down another man of their steed will step up. Something like 78% of government positions are now occupied by former KGB members.

I hope the chick wins.

 

[Jaskalas]

In with France, out with Brittan and soon out with Bush. Times are a?changing.

 

[1prophet]

Originally posted by: Butterbean
I been hoping all week there is no "Madrid" in France before the election. It would be perfect timming for such a thing sad to say.

Since France opposed the war in Iraq an event such as "Madrid" would probably backfire on those behind it and those they claim to represent.

 

[Lemon law]

Like the United States, various European nations have been electing either far right or far left governments---and when the extremist new government flops they lurch to the exact opposite side of extremism. And never manage to find a happy medium for a very long time.

If France lurches to the far right---don't look for it to last all that many years---or be a trend elsewhere.---and the same can be said if France lurches to the far left. When you govern
away from the center---most everyone ends up alienated.---but a very few are ecstatic for a while---and then go into a lasting depression.

And suffering Succotash--we may--gasp---have to rehabilitate the French Fry.

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

He's from the party of Chirac, who has been in power for about 8 years or so now. So don't expect much change. The French will remain an arrogant bunch who thinks the whole world should start speaking French.

Besides, what is called right-wing here would be called Communist in the USA.

 

[BoomerD]

So, if the convervatives take over France, are they gonna change the name to Freedom? Hmmm, Paris, Freedom...doesn't sound quite right...😉

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
So, if the convervatives take over France, are they gonna change the name to Freedom? Hmmm, Paris, Freedom...doesn't sound quite right...😉

Paris, Freedom. Hmmm... Freedomish Wine... Freedomish Bikini... Freedomish kissing...

😛

 

[ntdz]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
Ok, calling Sarkazy a conservative in the American tradition might be a little bit of a stretch but in European terms he is one.

He is also favored by over half the French voters and should win by a 5-8 point spread.
This is good for American-French relations because he is considered very pro-American compared too many of the others in the French government.

Building better relations with France is paramount because they are one of our largest detractors on Europe. And while we will not see French troops in Iraq any time soon we may see them more willing to help in other parts of the world.

French help could be very important in places like Iran and Sudan/Dafur because France tends to be one of the worst offenders when it comes to letting dictators and tyrants off free.

Now if we can get rid of Putin and replace him with someone who understands the meaning of the word freedom we would be a long ways towards making the world a better place.

I hope you know that Chirac is also a conservative in France.

 

[Aegeon]

Originally posted by: Lemon law
If France lurches to the far right---don't look for it to last all that many years---or be a trend elsewhere.---and the same can be said if France lurches to the far left. When you govern
away from the center---most everyone ends up alienated.---but a very few are ecstatic for a while---and then go into a lasting depression.

If you actually look at the political realities, calling him far right is just absurd. That would be Le Pen and his party in France. Sarkazy is actually part of the same party that Chirac is a member of.

 

[miketheidiot]

as has already been said, conservatives have been in charge in france for the better part of a decade.

The rest of the op is slander and hyperbole.

 

[imported_Tango]

Originally posted by: Aegeon

Originally posted by: Lemon law
If France lurches to the far right---don't look for it to last all that many years---or be a trend elsewhere.---and the same can be said if France lurches to the far left. When you govern
away from the center---most everyone ends up alienated.---but a very few are ecstatic for a while---and then go into a lasting depression.

If you actually look at the political realities, calling him far right is just absurd. That would be Le Pen and his party in France. Sarkazy is actually part of the same party that Chirac is a member of.

Correct. And the good news is Le Pen got kicked on his ass badly this time.

 

[BDawg]

First France! Next the World!

First France? I think the US was first and just look at how they screwed this country up when they held all the levers of power.

I guess France is going to invade the UAE or something.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: BDawg

First France! Next the World!

First France? I think the US was first and just look at how they screwed this country up when they held all the levers of power.

I guess France is going to invade the UAE or something.

Shlould ask the OP what Country the U.S. will invade next, he seems to have inside information on the Imperialists's agenda.

 

[tw1164]

Can I stop ordering freedom fries yet?

 

[ebaycj]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
Ok, calling Sarkazy a conservative in the American tradition might be a little bit of a stretch but in European terms he is one.

He is also favored by over half the French voters and should win by a 5-8 point spread.
This is good for American-French relations because he is considered very pro-American compared too many of the others in the French government.

Building better relations with France is paramount because they are one of our largest detractors on Europe. And while we will not see French troops in Iraq any time soon we may see them more willing to help in other parts of the world.

French help could be very important in places like Iran and Sudan/Dafur because France tends to be one of the worst offenders when it comes to letting dictators and tyrants off free.

Now if we can get rid of Putin and replace him with someone who understands the meaning of the word freedom we would be a long ways towards making the world a better place.

So, you admit that realistically, when judged on the american political scale, this guy is still probably centrist AT BEST, more likely a little left-leaning. And yet, you take some kind of thrill out of his possible election because, in his political environment, he can be labeled with the tag "conservative" (even though he really is not).

Hooray for labels ! GO TEAM CONSERVATIVE!!!!

 

[Phokus]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
Ok, calling Sarkazy a conservative in the American tradition might be a little bit of a stretch but in European terms he is one.

He is also favored by over half the French voters and should win by a 5-8 point spread.
This is good for American-French relations because he is considered very pro-American compared too many of the others in the French government.

Building better relations with France is paramount because they are one of our largest detractors on Europe. And while we will not see French troops in Iraq any time soon we may see them more willing to help in other parts of the world.

French help could be very important in places like Iran and Sudan/Dafur because France tends to be one of the worst offenders when it comes to letting dictators and tyrants off free.

Now if we can get rid of Putin and replace him with someone who understands the meaning of the word freedom we would be a long ways towards making the world a better place.

http://www.diosa.net/art-net/RumsfeldHussein.jpg

Edit: And currently, we support the military dictator Musharref ... who could very easily turn into our enemy in the future.

 

[Martin]

I hope you don't live with the delusion that left and right mean the same thing in different countries, or that Sarkozy would be anything like the docile poodle Blair was...

 

[jman19]

Originally posted by: ebaycj

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
Ok, calling Sarkazy a conservative in the American tradition might be a little bit of a stretch but in European terms he is one.

He is also favored by over half the French voters and should win by a 5-8 point spread.
This is good for American-French relations because he is considered very pro-American compared too many of the others in the French government.

Building better relations with France is paramount because they are one of our largest detractors on Europe. And while we will not see French troops in Iraq any time soon we may see them more willing to help in other parts of the world.

French help could be very important in places like Iran and Sudan/Dafur because France tends to be one of the worst offenders when it comes to letting dictators and tyrants off free.

Now if we can get rid of Putin and replace him with someone who understands the meaning of the word freedom we would be a long ways towards making the world a better place.

So, you admit that realistically, when judged on the american political scale, this guy is still probably centrist AT BEST, more likely a little left-leaning. And yet, you take some kind of thrill out of his possible election because, in his political environment, he can be labeled with the tag "conservative" (even though he really is not).

Hooray for labels ! GO TEAM CONSERVATIVE!!!!

ProfJohn is a partisan hack - nothing new here.

 

[fskimospy]

Originally posted by: Tango

Correct. And the good news is Le Pen got kicked on his ass badly this time.

One thing about Le Pen though, it seems that the more conservative plank co-opted a bunch of his positions. So while this may have led to a drop in his support... the positions that he had been advocating have become more accepted. Not saying that it's a good thing, but I don't think Le Pen's ideology took as much of a beating as he did.

 

[BMW540I6speed]

The fact that France has had a real debate about its future stems in large part from the fact that there were eight unique candidates with a plan for the country.

Meanginful political change began to occur in Israel when Ariel Sharon formed the Kadima party; Sharon recognized that progress could not be achieved with the impasse created by the Likud and Labour parties.

Northern Ireland finally achieved inroads to peace once centrist, liberal AND conservative parties began working together to solve the nearly forty-year old crisis.

France right now is at a crossroads, they may choose Royal or Sarkosi, but you get a sense that they are really thinking about it and are having a real hand in their fate, they don't want to go back to the days of Chirac and stagnation, but neither do they want a country so wedded to neoliberal capitalism that they lose all that is precious.

Contrast that with any US election. Issues are not debated at all, positions are taken and other positions attacked. Any lobby can work the Washington beat hard until they are unassailable and unopposable. Character assassination and attack ads are the order of the day. You can pay to literally shred a person to pieces.

The symptoms of our failing (failed?) electoral process. The root cause of these symptoms is the bipolarilty of American politics, and the lack of alternatives in the selection of our representatives.

Until a meaningful dissection of the two-party state can occur, we can continue to expect more beauty pagents, more lobby groups, and more weak-minded lemmings in office following their Appointed-in-Chief.

The blame for the entity called 'George Bush' can be placed right at the door of the American voters and pundits who saw greatness where the rest of us saw a fraudulent character.

Never mind Florida for now, he might have been 300,000 votes short but he wasn't 10 million short.

So it's somewhat academic now.

He was very nearly half way there.

People don't tend to vote for candidates they despise, ergo, they liked what they saw. But them liking what they saw is deeply troubling. It means in effect that the US is so wrapped up in one confected national myth after another that very nearly 50% of the people can see a real turkey and deem it a golden goose.

All a candidate has to do is have the right backers, loads of money, press all the correct single issue fanatic buttons (abortion, NRA, low taxes etc...) be optimistic and he can sucker into one grand coalition nearly 50% of his fellow citizens.

If centrist democrats and republicans break away and form a real third party, then true debate will flow on Capitol Hill. How is that the country can support Trent Lott as a majority leader, and then two years later choose Nancy Pelosi to be the third most powerful person in the country?

I think she has done a better job a finding the middle ground in the House then Lott, Gingrich, or Hastert ever did.

But let's face it, neither Pelosi nor Hastert represent the majority views of Americans. With an active, powerful centrist party in place, cooperation, collaboration and compromise will naturally ease its way back into the system.

Until then, we'll be stuck with the Conservative Christians and Progressive Liberals hijackking the system, unable to lead the country into a more secure, peaceful and tempered state of being.

 

[yllus]

I would hope that he wins. His number one opponent seems to be running her campaign sometimes exclusively on the fact that she's a woman.