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Slightly Optimistic
|  01 May '07 17:53 : 0 recs : edited 1 time : last edit 01 May '07 17:54
The European Commission seem keen to sign a transatlantic trade agreement this week at the EU-US summit (01 May '07 17:17, Europe forum).
As a condition of membership of the EU, all member states have of course surrendered their trading policies to the European Commission. From a europa website: "The European Union is the world's largest trading bloc, accounting for about one fifth of all world trade. Its common trade policy enables its 27 members to speak with one voice on the international stage. This is all the more important in a globalised world in which economies tend to cluster together in large regional groups."
However the pre-election promises of economic nationalism in France seem to conflict with EC policy. Will France be asked to leave the EU? |
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Reality
| 01 May '07 09:41 : 0 recs
Judging by the two campaigns and the individuals concerned, Sarko should win with 60% +, whereas a poll the night of the first round gave him around 53%, if my memory serves me well. In the UK, a woman of Royal's abilities would be fortunate to have reached the heights of MP, and certainly would not be regarded as being up to the job of PM.
The Sarkozy machine will not allow any gaffes prior to Sunday - any words he utters at the moment will have been well weighed, and the personal attacks on Royal are coming from Michelle Alliot-Marie and Rachida Dati, two of his campaigners. From what I can see, the Socialists are getting carpetted in most debates, as their policies don't have much meat on them, and they appear to forget how their years in office have also influenced the France of today. I trust that Sarkozy will come in vainqueur of tomorrow night's head-to-head debate, and I just hope that the waverers will leave their emotions at home on Sunday and vote for change. |
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agnostic
| 01 May '07 09:25 : 0 recs
It should be Sarko by quite a margin, surely? He was leader after the first round, and he's bound to pick up almost all of the le Pen vote, while the "centre" vote would logically split 50:50. No problem there, then, but you can imagine the Sarko team walking on eggshells, avoiding any kind of gaffe between now and Sunday.
Good French word, gaffe, another of the many French imports to English with which we have no trouble, unlike English imports to French which are routinely railed against by the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. |
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Reality
| 01 May '07 08:54 : 0 recs
This election result shouldn't be razor-thin, but you could well be right that it will be. The French have the opportunity to vote for the chance of real change, yet there still seems to be a real ambivalence out there. Or, perhaps, that ambivalence exists more through the media in order to keep the press plate spinning, and the reality is that Sarkozy already has it in the bag, but not, admittedly, with a fantastic majority.
Burry, the prospect of an elected Sarkozy unable to walk the walk (probably something more aligned to wading through treacle) due to having a tiny majority concerns me as it is highly probable. |
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steve s
| 01 May '07 00:38 : 0 recs : edited 2 times : last edit 01 May '07 00:41
Even more ironic that it is masculine, not feminine: Royale.
I can't help but be taken aback at how beuatiful the lady is. She would not win a beauty contest, one must be a bimbo to do that but for a lady who has borne a number of children, and for all her gaffes, is very bright. I find her very attractive. Very beautiful.
The French don't have a monopoly on that, but they sure have an inside track.
Oddly, part of her beauty is her imperfection, the kind that they ruin when they do 'make-overs'. You know, where they take radiant women and make them look like sluts!
I have complimented many women of late for having radiantly pure white hair. Nothing looks worse than trying to hide it with a dye job. Well...pardon me...what is even worse is a balding guy trying to do a 'comb-over'.
For God's sakes! It cost you a fortune in life, wear it well, whether it be white or none at all.
I agree with Burry that a razor thin victory is hollow, no matter which way it goes. Just witness the US right now. A nation deeply divided, albeit Bush is very good at creating enemies. He can take credit for turning the nation predominantly Democratic.
I'm rusty on my French politics, and have lost track of some of the unique variances on a Republic that France has. Must look that up. Not sure of the checks and balances in their system. I'm getting old!
But not too old for the likes of beautiful women like Seg. Speaking of cheques and balances.... |
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Thoughtful
| 30 Apr '07 23:23 : 0 recs
I always thought the French didn't like Royals!
Quite comical that a possible French President could have the name President Royal! |
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Burry
| 30 Apr '07 22:58 : 0 recs
Boff,,,,, plus ça change plus c’est le même chose..
It would probably be better for France if Segolene Royal becomes President, After 5 years of Royal ruining the country even the most pugnacious French socialist will vote for Sarkozy, that way Sarkozy would have a mandate to reform France.
As things stand, in this Election Sarkozy will probably scrape into the presidency, but there will not be a sense of renovacion & he will not be able to carry the parliament at the next general election , This will leave Sarkozy talking the talk but unable to push through his agenda. |
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Thoughtful
| 30 Apr '07 22:42 : 0 recs
Women presidents or Prime Ministers fill me with fear since Thatcher, then again the Clintons are different and I believe they would be a unique opportunity for the world.
A brilliant husband and wife team, I see nothing wrong with Hillary's image, I would imagine she would get a large proportion of the female vote in the US.
Then I am no expert. |
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Reality
| 30 Apr '07 19:02 : 0 recs
I don't really see France as a police state, however I would agree that there is a variety of Police (Nationale, CRS, Municipale, Gendarmerie), and I really am quite unable to make many distinctions between them.
As for the election, I would like to give a prediction, more out of hope than anything else: Sarkozy wins with between 53% - 55% of the votes.
If Royal wins, the Sun headline: 'Will the last person to leave please turn out the lights' would be extremely appropriate. |
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PaxAm
| 30 Apr '07 01:13 : 0 recs : edited 2 times : last edit 30 Apr '07 01:14
The problem for Hillary? A suprising number of women hate her. Not just dislike. They despise her. But they are not likely to be forward with that perspective.
Hillary is a woman - but somehow she lacks authenticity.
Strange political prediciment. It seems to me that her packaging makes it worse. |
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Thoughtful
| 29 Apr '07 22:57 : 0 recs
Interesting post agnostic, my fear is that of a woman President, Thatcher was one woman too many for me!
Then again I do think Hillary would make a good US President, it would be a unique opportunity with Bill and Hillary together!
I never thought of France as a police state, then again we should remember it is a republic. |
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agnostic
| 29 Apr '07 22:28 : 0 recs
I did post this earlier today in Topics, but it sits more comfortably here as well as kicking the thing off, I hope:
However strange a place France may be, I fear it will become stranger still after next week's Presidential runoff.
One British friend of mine who has lived in France for decades summed it up (I paraphrase, but only slightly):
"It's a great place to live, but you must understand that it's a police state. The tentacles of intelligence and administration cascade down from the centre, through the prefectures and into the mairies. The administration here know far more about every aspect of your life than in Britain. And should push come to shove, they have several different police forces, all with different responsibilities, powers and rules of engagement."
Take care; Britain under this Government is moving in that direction. |
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