Will Sarkozy Win?

[DawnCt1]

If Sarkozy wins, he may be the best alli from France for the United States since Lafayette! He has a plan to revive the French economy and thinks that the 35 hour work week is absurd. This may be a big turning point for France. It may result in increase pressure on countries like Iran and inprove Franco-American relations. Looks like he is doing well so far. Only time will tell. If Royal wins, it may make things more difficult between the US and France.http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=af02d20d-fd26-43d8-84ac-d735e0373301&k=27096

 

[reeeoga]

It will be interesting to see the reaction around the world and in France if he does.

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

He did win - it will be interesting to see if the conservatives stop bashing France now.

 

[dcentity2000]

He got 53% of the vote with the remainder going to the socialist Segolene Royal. Turnout was 85%. The socialists have now been out of power for two terms and are entering a third. Sarkozy said that the USA can count on friendship from France but urged the US President to tackle climate change.

See here for the policies: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6357899.stm



Rich::

 

[Database]

Very Interesting!

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

Funny how as soon as the French get a conservative with similar values to Bush they are our close friend and allies again. Think Bill O'Reilly is going to call off the French boycott now?

My MIL called this morning very disappointed about the results, she was not a fan of Chirac and this is even worse. It's like a mix of Chirac and Le Pen. It's going to be an interesting five years over there.

 

[NewJersey]

I laugh when I see the 'boycott France' bumper stickers. Time to peel those babies off.

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

I laugh when I see the 'boycott France' bumper stickers. Time to peel those babies off.

You know they won't! Too many years of pushing that one. We have someone in our town that has a few anti-French bumper stickers, I pulled up along side him when I had the vans windows painted for the world cup last year, French flags, French words - I just grinned. He almost looked shocked!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Errrm, progressive folks... is the France boycottt anything more than a liberal myth? Maybe I haven't been paying attention, but I haven't heard a lot of bellyaching about France since 2004. Disclaimer: I don't watch or listen to O'Reilly so I don't know about any "boycott" he may be pushing.

As for the election, from what I've read it seems that the people of France have made a sound decision that is best for the future of their country. Really, it comes as somewhat of a surprise given the current liberal mania in Europe.

 

[DawnCt1]

He did win - it will be interesting to see if the conservatives stop bashing France now.

What a difference a day makes. The fact that he wants to ease some of the labor laws and finds the 35 hour work week ridiculous, indicates to me that he may actually have a chance of improving France. This could definately be a positive step for relations between both countries. What a welcomed change for a country that has embraced cradle to grave socialism. Besides, the disdain that conservatives have had for France didn't even approach what Chirac has had for the USA.

 

[DawnCt1]

I laugh when I see the 'boycott France' bumper stickers. Time to peel those babies off.

Absolutely. He released a statement saying that America had a friend in France. Its about time.

 

[LukenDC]

The curious thing about Sarkozy's views on the USA is that traditionally the US has had better relations with French socialists than French conservatives. Relations with socialist Mitterand were generally warm while relations with conservative Chirac were quite chilly at times. And let's not forget conservative De Gaulle who pulled France out of NATO's military apparatus and made numerous anti-American gestures.

Sarkozy is a different kind of French conservative. My own hypothesis is that nationalism has played a major role in French conservatives' ambivalence/disdain towards the USA. As the son of immigrants, Sarkozy does not share the same sense of nationalism held by Chirac and De Gaulle. He will be interesting to watch.

 

[DawnCt1]

The curious thing about Sarkozy's views on the USA is that traditionally the US has had better relations with French socialists than French conservatives. Relations with socialist Mitterand were generally warm while relations with conservative Chirac were quite chilly at times. And let's not forget conservative De Gaulle who pulled France out of NATO's military apparatus and made numerous anti-American gestures.

Sarkozy is a different kind of French conservative. My own hypothesis is that nationalism has played a major role in French conservatives' ambivalence/disdain towards the USA. As the son of immigrants, Sarkozy does not share the same sense of nationalism held by Chirac and De Gaulle. He will be interesting to watch.

Literally a fresh face.

 

[Mugg Mann]

Absolutely. He released a statement saying that America had a friend in France. Its about time.

Actually, we've always had a friend and an ally in France. It's a shame this administration didn't take their advice and intel about Iraq more seriously since they turned out to be correct. We would have saved ourselves hundreds of billions of dollars and thousands of American citizens would still be alive.

 

[Mugg Mann]

Errrm, progressive folks... is the France boycottt anything more than a liberal myth? Maybe I haven't been paying attention, but I haven't heard a lot of bellyaching about France since 2004. Disclaimer: I don't watch or listen to O'Reilly so I don't know about any "boycott" he may be pushing.

As for the election, from what I've read it seems that the people of France have made a sound decision that is best for the future of their country. Really, it comes as somewhat of a surprise given the current liberal mania in Europe.

O'Reilly's "boycott" of France was an embarrassing chapter for him and his show. He claimed it was working when it actually wasn't and cited a publication that never existed to "prove" his point. Classic O'Reilly. (It's amazing that some people still take him seriously!)

Read for yourself;


FOX's O'Reilly fabricated evidence of success of purported boycott

Host Bill O'Reilly threatened Canada with a boycott like the one he advocated against France, then cited a phony statistic about the success of the French boycott. The threat came during O'Reilly's April 27 debate with Toronto Globe and Mail columnist Heather Mallick about Canada's harboring of two deserters from the U.S. military who have fled to Canada. From FOX News Channel's The O'Reilly Factor:

O'REILLY: Now if the [Canadian] government -- if your government harbors these two deserter [sic], doesn't send them back ... there will be a boycott of your country which will hurt your country enormously. France is now feeling that sting.

MALLICK: I don't think for a moment such a boycott would take place because we are your biggest trading partners.

O'REILLY: No, it will take place, madam. In France ...

MALLICK: I don't think that your French boycott has done too well ...

O'REILLY: ...they've lost billions of dollars in France according to "The Paris Business Review."

MALLICK: I think that's nonsense.

Media Matters for America found no evidence of a publication named "The Paris Business Review." A Google.com search revealed no mentions of "Paris Business Review," "Revue des Affaires de Paris," or any similar French name. A LexisNexis search for "Paris," "France," or "French" within five words of "business review" produced no relevant results. There is a journal called "European Business Review," which is published in England; however, over the past two years, "European Business Review" has not mentioned an American boycott of France.

Furthermore, contrary to O'Reilly's claim that France has lost "billions of dollars" due to an American boycott, American imports from France have actually increased since international tensions with France began in the months prior to the start of the war in Iraq in March 2003. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in February 2004, the United States imported $2.26 billion in French goods and services, up from $2.18 billion in February 2002.

Two days later, on the April 29 episode of The O'Reilly Factor, O'Reilly plugged a poll on his personal website, BillOReilly.com: "A new BillOReilly.com poll asks you the question will you boycott Canadian goods and services if that country does not return two American deserters who are being glorified by some of the Canadian media?'"

http://mediamatters.org/items/200405020006

 

[NewJersey]

Literally a fresh face.

I'm glad you understand why I donated to Obama yesterday.

As far as Sarkozy goes, I do think he will help to turnaround France's economy.

 

[DawnCt1]

I'm glad you understand why I donated to Obama yesterday.

As far as Sarkozy goes, I do think he will help to turnaround France's economy.

That I don't understand. He was probably voting on traffic laws in the state legislature three years ago. He isn't ready for prime time.

 

[NewJersey]

That I don't understand. He was probably voting on traffic laws in the state legislature three years ago. He isn't ready for prime time.

Eh, it was worth a shot.

 

[Mugg Mann]

Eh, it was worth a shot.

Hey, I applaud you for taking it. Not that you'll ever get the concession you intended......

 

[DawnCt1]

It looks like the "loyal socialist opposition" is taking their defeat as expected.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21684341-38200,00.html?from=public_rss