Not true. Bars, cafés, etc., are open.

You need a stiff drink or two before you vote in french elections.

"You need a stiff drink or two before you vote in french elections".
Why is that?

Probably because the same people who say that France is in ruins are the same ones who support Sarkozy, who has been in power for 5 years and is fully responsible for a number of the problems. After all, he is the one who, the moment he became Minister of the Interior, cancelled the existence of local neighborhood cops because he said that the police shouldn't be used for prevention, only for repression.

I see.
We were in Paris last March and had to avoid the barricades.
It is to France's credit that someone like Royale can run ( and maybe win ).
Imagine an unmarried mother of 4 running for the highest office in the U.S. !

Imagine an unmarried mother of 4 running for the highest office in the U.S. !


Yes, quite an achievement. France can be very proud of that kind of person.

hi, y'all,

don't know who I'd vote for if I could.

conventional wisdom has it that no government yet elected has been more left -wing than its manifesto - they always go to the right. that would worry me if I were thinking about voting for Sarkozy.

regards, ann.

ann, why would that bother about one and not the other? Would you want France to go even more to the left? Its a house of cards now and needs economic growth to keep it afloat.

"Yes, quite an achievement. France can be very proud of that kind of person".
Well, at least she did not join the Coast Gard to avoid Vietnam, abused drugs and boozed in her " youth "( was it 40 ?), and than found the Lord.
Not to mention sending thousands to death and life long disabilities only to loose the war and American prestige .

Nor did she lie to her draft board in order to avoid serving in Vietnam.

I shouldn't have posted that.

Please forget I said it.

"Imagine an unmarried mother of 4 running for the highest office in the U.S. ! Yes, quite an achievement. France can be very proud of that kind of person."

Well she won't be given a BJ in the oval office will she !

And at least she managed to achieve something worthwhile. the brainless idiot you currently have will never ever do that.

Oh and to answer the op's question My wish is for us to have an election here too and kick Bushes buddy out of No 10. !!!!

Muck

or 'mentored" interns , for that matter.

>"Imagine an unmarried mother of 4 running for the highest office in the U.S. !

Mme Royal's SO for the last 30 years has been François Hollande, current leader of the Socialist Party (SDP).

They have a civil union.

Imagine divorced men running for the highest office in the U.S. !

R. Reagan - elected
N. Gingrich
R. Giuliani
D. Kucinich
J. McCain

((I))

"imagine divorced men running for the highest office in the U.S. !'

Things have changed - for the better.

Remember when the problem with Kennedy was his religion; same may be the case with Romny this time.
It takes time...

I wonder how Northshore feels about Newt Gingrich's three marriages? Including the affair with the 3rd wife that started while the 2nd one was on her deathbed? Or Bill Bennet's gambling? Or the congenital lying that plagues this administration?

Sounds like Royal could give our Republicans a few lessons in "family values."

I'd like to see Royal get in. It would be interesting even with her dah, Bush moments.

Mucky, old mate, if you'd like to revisit Australia later this year you can witness another Bush buddy being evicted from the PM's residence, and very likely from his own constituency too (the icing on the cake).

I agree that European agricultural protectionism is a scandal, but how likely is it that Sarkozy would be able to do anything about it, even if he wanted to? The prime function of conservative parties is to give to those who have, Thatcher and Shrub being the most shameless exponents in recent history. How does improving access by third-world farmers to French markets contribute to that agenda? Does he have a taste for masochism?

PalenQ, I think this is an entirely reasonable thread - thank you for posting. I hope to visit France in the not-too-distant future and I hope to go equipped with some social/political insights into the country as well as a list of museums, cathedrals etc.

Cimbrone - yes and the Gingrich 'affair was made worst by the fact that he was found to be receiving a BJ in the hospital parking lot while maintaining his vigil with his current wife of the time. At least i understand it to be that.

I've revised my predictions in Sunday's election:

Sarkozy 25%, Royale 22%, Beyroud 19%; Le Pen 18%. But Royale win then win the final playoff.

It's been said that Le Pen's polls traditionally are understimated since folks are chagrined to admit they are actually voting for him in polls when in fact they do...but this time around i think some Le Pen supporters will say they are voting for the one-eyed xenophobe and actually vote for Sarkozy because some of his rehtoric has been blatanly anit-immigrant... such as calling the banlieue immigrants scum after the 2005 rioting and calling for tough anti-immigrant legislation and a strident call for law and order. So i think this time he will not exceed the poll numbers but will actually do less well. And in the second round the Beyroud-Royle vote will defeat Sarkozy.

You people are so touchy. I was actually serious, and paying her a compliment. She is a bit of an airhead, but has done well despite some ups and downs.