RK ARCHIVE - Sarkozy About to Win Big in France? (UPDATE)

P.S. Keep in mind that "conservative" means something quite different in France than it does here. I'd argue that a French "conservative" is more like a mainstream Democrat here in the United States.

P.P.S. In other international news, Tony Blair's Labor Party "suffered considerable losses in local elections held Thursday, but the numbers fell short of the disaster that many analysts and polls had predicted." It is expected that next week Blair will announce his resignation as Prime Minister after a decade in office.

[UPDATE: Sarkozy wins big, 53%-47%. He pledges "to give greater value to work, to authority, to respect, to merit."]

Comments

Eh, not quite (DanG - 5/5/2007 2:03:53 PM)

They aren't like the mainstream Democrat THAT much. Maybe slightly more to the right. They're very oppossed to immigration of any kind because it apparently soil there "Frenchness." They also tend to be much more capitalist. But again, the French have different hot-topics than we do. I'd suggest that the major issue in that election is Immigration, in which Sarkozy is to the right of many Republicans. Remember, Sarkozy is actually one of the "right-wing members" of his own pary. He's slightly more conservative than Chiraq.

But honestly, who cares about the French? It's not like they actually have any control of world policy. What would they do in a war, through Cheese at the enemy? Talk about a shabby army.

Actually, the French have (Lowell - 5/5/2007 2:47:59 PM)

around 350 nuclear warheads, more than the UK or China. France also has the sixth largest GDP in the world, and the 20th largest population (ahead of the UK). Finally, France has an amazing history in culture, philosophy, and many other areas. Among other things, France helped the United States win its independence from England. We have fought side by side with France in many wars, including Korea, Vietnam, and the 1991 Gulf War. Why you choose to insult France I have no idea, but they certainly have a lot more than cheese they could throw at you. (speaking of which, the French make incredible cheese, wine, and lots of other things!)

We don't use nukes (DanG - 5/5/2007 6:21:21 PM)

Population means little in terms of military power. Like you said, the UK has a smaller population, and I'd take them into battle over the French ANYDAY. I'm not talking about culture, I'm talking about military. They have nothing there. Yeah, they helped us win independence, but that was about 3 governments ago. Check the scorecard; the French haven't won a war since Napoleon. They still act snooty towards Americans, yet without us they'd be speaking German twice over by now. They OWE US that culture, language, etc. You think a little respect for our country is in order. Instead, Parisians in particular look down on us.

I don't like the French. I can't stand a false sense of superiority. That's why I don't like Bush and his people. The French are still on the UN Security Council, yet they haven't been a military power in years.

Would Bush ever say THIS? (Lowell - 5/7/2007 8:35:12 AM)

Sarkozy, who won Sunday's presidential election to succeed Jacques Chirac, said "a great nation like the United States has the duty to not create obstacles in the struggle against global warming."
"Quite the contrary, it should take the lead in this battle because what is at stake is all of humanity," said the rightwinger, who won 53 percent of the vote, according to projections.
"France will make this battle it's first battle," he said.

Source: AFP.

Also, let's consider what Sarkozy did NOT (Lowell - 5/7/2007 8:37:45 AM)

talk about repealing:

*France's universal health care
*France's $7 per gallon gasoline prices
*France's ban on handguns

Interesting that in the United States, all of those would be seen as "left wing." In France, they're mainstream.