The new French President and the US elections
So "Sarko" has la victoire en France...hooray for him, since he's a Hungarian and I like Hungarians. Plus, a sampling of pols across party lines seems to think he will be good for Franco-American relations.
What about the 2008 US contest, though? On the face of it, you would think that Segolene Royal's defeat doesn't augur well for Mrs. Clinton's chances. You Francophiles, are there valid comparisons to be made here?
What about the 2008 US contest, though? On the face of it, you would think that Segolene Royal's defeat doesn't augur well for Mrs. Clinton's chances. You Francophiles, are there valid comparisons to be made here?
posted by buckarooskidoo at 11:49 PM
4 Comments:
Our Hungarian friend is going to have a tough time of it I think. And no, I don't think it will be because of his delightful take on human sexuality, having said during the campaign that he is "inclined to think that people are born pedophiles.”
Sarkozy's troubles are France's inability to assimilate its immigrant population. The majority of the nation's immigrants live in skyscraper-tall ghettos, known as “cites.” Sarkozy did a masterful job of ignoring these people, mentioning them only to denigrate or insult. Sharing theories as insightful as taking a hose and washing them away, Sarkozy amazingly enough managed to win the election. Now I know we have more than our own problems with immigrant assimilation. But we have yet to elect a President who wants to wash our immigrant populations out to sea.
But wait, you ask, if that’s all he did, mock them during the campaign, is that really that bad (well yes, it is)? – But there is more. Guess who was the minister of the interior during the Banlieues battles (riots)? And how did he handle those riots? Well, with great force and by calling the youth involves scum.
Can Sarkozy manage to overcome his distaste for non-Hungarian immigrants to La Belle France? Can he assure parents that his tough on crime stance will include pedophiles? Can he help bring a country that is so divided right now together to work for a secure future?
It would be nice, but I’m not betting the farm.
So this is a slap at the suburbs, a rebuke to those who rioted? it is hard to read it any other way, in view of your commentary above.
I think it's a vote that's more than just creating a modern France for a modern world. There's no ignoring the tensions between immigrants and native French anymore. This vote shows the tension and may well help make it worse. Let us hope not.
Sounds like he may be a new lap-dog for Bush.
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