Criminal on 24/3/2007 at 19:35
................................
Vigil on 24/3/2007 at 19:41
out
OnionBob on 24/3/2007 at 19:42
its me
Spitter on 24/3/2007 at 19:42
Its me. Im the 44th president of the united states of america.
Criminal on 24/3/2007 at 19:49
...............................
TF on 24/3/2007 at 20:03
:tsktsk:
dj_ivocha on 24/3/2007 at 20:14
:tsktsk:
rachel on 24/3/2007 at 20:22
Considering the recent elections, considering the general mood, considering I absolutely have no faith in the majority of my fellow citizens,
As much as I'd like to have a Royal president for more than a few reasons,
I hereby officially derail this thread and predict that Sarkozy will win next month in France. I utterly despise the man, he represents everything I hate about politics, and it disgusts me to know that I'm probably right.
Ugh.
Your Bush will go out in 2008 but don't worry, we have our own just ready to follow up.
SD on 24/3/2007 at 20:56
Quote Posted by raph
I hereby officially derail this thread and predict that Sarkozy will win next month in France. I utterly despise the man, he represents everything I hate about politics, and it disgusts me to know that I'm probably right.
He does indeed peddle some particularly vile rhetoric, especially his reactionary views on social issues and his stance on immigration and crime.
However, Sarkozy has the potential to implement some much-needed economic reforms and to deal with that permanent underclass which the French left so love to ignore. If he can create a more prosperous and less divided society through economic reforms, then maybe he's an evil you could bear to withstand for a while?
So far as Segolene Royal is concerned, she really is the most depressingly batty kind of socialist. Think UK Labour in the 70s, and you're not far off. She think the problem with the 35-hour week is that it's too kind to employers (!) and is most definitely not the kind of politician you could expect to stand up to French farmers, abolish the common agricultural policy etc.
If France wishes to escape the rut of social and economic decay it's in, it has to drastically reduce unemployment, which means abandoning the ludricrously restrictive labour laws that make it so costly for employers to create jobs. Royal does not appear to have the inclination or political courage to push through these reforms; Sarkozy has a multitude of flaws (not least his deeply unpleasant populism) but the fear and loathing that he exploits is a product of the economic problems he offers a realistic solution to.
Anyway, if you want my honest opinion, there are no genuinely good choices in French politics. France is Europe's black hole of liberalism; a country living in its own world waiting for society to fall apart. Even the French liberals want the EU to impose trade barriers against China to protect French jobs. Of the three main challengers, Bayrou is the least offensive, and if forced to pick, I'd plump for him. But between Royal and Sarkozy, it's really a Devil and Deep Blue Sea situation.
Martlet on 24/3/2007 at 21:02
You can't forget Jean-Marie Le Pen - the French can hardly claim liberty, egality and fraternity if someone like him can make it into the final round of voting.
