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Yeah, you forgot this last part.Quote:
Originally Posted by LegioXXXUlpiaVictrix
Quote:
But, he added, "Friends can think differently."
He then called on the United States "not to impede" in the fight against global warming. "On the contrary, they must lead this fight because humanity's fate is at stake here." (Watch Sarkozy's victory speech Video)
Why are you quote-bracketing all your statements, Louis?
As for the Franco-American relations, Lord knows there's been plenty of immaturity on this side of the pond. One good thing about the election of Sarkozy.... I believe this means the official end of having to 'Freedom Kiss' Mrs Corleone. :kiss:
I never got the impression Royal was all that anti-American though. Didn't she try to hitch her wagon to Hillary early on? Not exactly a move you'd expect from a rabid anti-American.
As for an anti-American regime in the UK, I get the impression Gordon Brown's going to have a thing or two to say that's not in Tony's script. He is the heir apparent, right? I don't think he thinks too highly of us these days, and the days of our 'special friendship' may be coming to a close. Who knows, perhaps you could muscle in. You know American politicians' motto: Any port in a storm.
Congratulations, France. :france: I didn't think you could elect a liberal, but you proved me wrong. I hope Msr. Sarkozy is able to attend to your employment issues and help strengthen your industrial base. Just a quick question on that... because entry level work for professionals is tough to come by, have you found an emmigration of your young graduates to greener pastures?
I will say, my money on who outside of France is most unhappy this morning? It's a tie between: https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...imir_Putin.jpg and this guy: https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../Hu_jintao.jpg
One more thing, is there an English-language version of Les Echoes?
Ahh. Poor baby. :laugh4:Quote:
Originally Posted by Meneldil
Hey Louis VI, it's not any kind of xenophobic stance, it's just his name:dizzy2: (does it disturb you:inquisitive: ?)! And of course I have immigrants among my ancestors, as everyone does... my father in law is french for less than two years! I just want to point out that he is not the son of a poor little immigrant but a son of the nobility who grew up wealthily in a wealthy town. I don't give a damn wether his name is hungarian or southern berrichon, he just does not know what it is to be broke...Quote:
Originally Posted by tristuskhan
Don Corleone: the english version of Les Echos is the Financial Times: different langage, same ideology! And Poutin and the chinese PM (don't remember his name) can't be unhappy: they also control the media, rule by menace and blackmail, hate any kind of opposition, just like Sarko does (les Echos and the Financial Times would say they are "pragmatic"...
Sarkozy is scary indeed, but not like Bush. More in a Blair / Berlusconi / Hannibal Lector kind of way.Quote:
Originally Posted by LegioXXXUlpiaVictrix
It is not a sign of weak character to declare yourself pro-American in France. Sarkozy: 'Some opponents nickname me Sarkozy l’Américain.Quote:
His statement: "American friends that they can rely on our friendship ... France will always be next to them when they need us" sounds more like he's weak, uncertain and willing to crawl before the USA rather than cooperate with them on equal terms. Hope he doesn't draw the EU into Iraq or something like that.
Of that, I'm proud'.
I wouldn't worry about France joining in in the Iraq party. There is no political will towards that whatsoever, it's entirely unfeasable. There are more options than either lapdog or vitriolic animosity.
Sarkozy shouldn't have gone to visit Bush last year, that was a mistake. In his urge too undermine Chirac, he was dangerously close to stating that Chirac made a mistake in 2003. When of course opposing the invasion was one of Chirac's best judgements of his career. It is debatable whether France went about it in the right way, but the basic decision not to invade was right.
The disagreement about Iraq has always been presented by France to America as 'disagreement within a mature friendship'. The disagreement part is clear, but then so should the friendship part be.
Below top-level, Franco-American relathions are pretty solid. In Afghanistan, the WoT, Lebanon. And more importantly in the daily transfer of goods, people, capital and ideas across the Atlantic. These have been pretty much untouched in the last few years. But that is not enough, relations need to be repaired more fundamentally. Now would be a good time, America has moved on from the darkest years of the Bush presidency, yet feels itself isolated and unloved. It's time to show some friendship - let us not forget that the world is far, far more hostile towards America than America is to the world. I am entirely fed up with anti-Americanism. 'America is a bad civilisation', 'America has got no culture', 'Americans are loud, abrassive, sneaker wearing, gum-chewing, ignorant, trigger-happy Jesus freaks', '9/11 served them right, VT served them right'.
Gah! For too long have I believed it is anti-Bushism, anti-capitalism, anti-globalism. It is not, it is an enduring, pervasive hatred that is not related to the actions of the hated object, but, like anti-semitism, mirrors the hating subject.
Two events made me decide not to stand for it anymore. The first was reading Bernard-Henri Lévy, who showed me how to be anti-anti-American. The second was when I was having a cup of coffee with this girl. She was at a loss for a conversational topic. She could've started one about her study, or about my beautiful eyes and manly body or any other subject girls I know have smalltalk about. But no. Out of the blue, for no apparant reason whatsover, she said: 'I hate the Americans'. Literally. This opened my eyes. What kind of conversation starter is that? Why is that normal?
Right then and there I decided to not stand for anti-Americanism anymore. Well no, the next day I did because I really wanted to land her into my bed first. At which I hopelessly failed.
Which, come to think of it, could be the real reason why I dislike anti-Americanism this much. Hmmm.....
Because I was making several unrelated statements in a single post and thought quote-bracketing them would make it easier on all you people's eyes. ~:mecry:Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Corleone
Why do you need an English version of les Echos?
Yes it is his name, but it is usually spelled in a gallicised manner. I've seen Sarközy de Nagy-Bocsa used to stress his Hungarian, immigrant roots. And you don't strike me as a FN beauf, so I thought it was odd.Quote:
Originally Posted by tristuskhan
There is more to Sarkozy's wealthy youth than meets the eye. He is the son of Hungarian nobility. But his families possesions were seized by the communist when his father fled. Sarko actually grew up in relatively sober conditions compared by the standards of his surroundings, his friends and Neuilly-sur-Seine. While his ancestors were rich, his was a bereft family that couldn't afford the life-style they deemed appropriate for a family of their standing. This frustrated him much, and is I think one of the causes for his unrelenting ambition. Sarkozy likes to portray a wealthy youth, but it is a matter of keeping up appearances.
No need to cry, I just kept searching for whom you were quoting back in the thread. Once I figured out you were quote-tagging yourself, I just wondered why you would. No criticism intended.Quote:
Originally Posted by Louis VI the Fat
And I want an English version of les Echos (will somebody PLEASE teach me how to make accent characters in Firefox!), because generally speaking, I find the financial paper of any society to be top-notch. Le Monde is a bit, uhm, editorially directed for my tastes. But I'm hoping les Echos, like the Financial Times and the WSJ, will have a less political, more economic focus. Honestly, I didn't know until I saw it referenced in a CNN article that you guys even had a financial paper.
Yeah, we got one last year. And telephones the year before. Next year, plumbing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Corleone
:beam:
Oy, I really need to remember to proof my posts for content, not just spelling and grammar. Of course I knew you had a financial paper in theory. The CAC-40 has to be mentioned somewhere.... :duel: I just didn't know WHAT it was. Now that I do, I think it would be interesting to see how the French Wall Street (which would be??) views various events.
From one american to one frenchmen let me say that the majority of the people in my social circle (middleclass voter types 30+) dont think much about France or Europe for that matter.Quote:
Originally Posted by Louis VI the Fat
I am happy that France has stayed to the right and hope you rebuild your republic, but for my two cents and for a silent numerous few here in the states we would prefer you direct your energies at solidifying the EU constitution and becoming a super power in your own right (well sell you plenty of weapons have no fear).
I respect your opinion, your very level headed. When I was in france last in 98I was travelling with an englishmen, and a Belgian, the englishmen bore the brunt of the abuse and the french I dealt with didnt give me a hard time, or the time of day.
France has an opportunity to really rechange its economy and get back in line with the EU, a closer relationship to the U.S. isnt necessary because as you mentioned the percieved deteriation of the relationship was primarily at the senior "presidential level". The antiquated alliance structure that was in place for the Cold war is still in place and functioning okay (see afghanistan).
I dislike anti french/europe as much as you seem to dislike anti american, but alas, it seems to be the EU side that wants the marriage to continue on more so then the U.S. side, a lot of us are willing to move on, learn from the relationship and wish everyone the best, the slate clean.
Evidence based on a prediction: In the run up to the U.S. election "France" and the EU as a whole will be a minimal very bottom level issue, on the flip side, the french election, and the English PM situation will have the "U.S." relationship a little higher on its docket.
I think we should continue to work as best we can on mutually beneficial subjects, but perhaps its best to let the U.S. go and meander in sadness of being unloved. I promise we will be okay, the chinese adore us and our consumption anyway. :)
Don't forget air conditioning. It was unbelievably hot last summer. :beam:Quote:
Originally Posted by Louis VI the Fat
Congratulations to M Sarkozy.
Are you allowed to gossip about his marriage now?
:devil:
Oh relax. Come on, you know what I'm like, I post...stuff. I knew what you meant. ~;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Corleone
Besides, I still need to get even for you backstabbing me Capo di tutti Capi.:smash:
The CAC 40 is part of the Euronext stock exchange nowadays. They have a multi-lingual website. It looks rather technical though.
I really don't know where to get French business news in English. It must be around somewhere on the web. Agence France-Presse is a comprehensive news agency, France24.com is good for general news. Both provide full English service.
His first or his second? :smartass2:Quote:
Originally Posted by Banquo's Ghost
Did they find Cécilia yet then?Quote:
Originally Posted by Banquo's Ghost
Word is that Royal and Hollande are not together anymore either, they were just pretending to be for the time being. But we'll have to wait for revelations in the Swiss presse, French reporters are usually too timid too ask questions - followed by them priding themselves on not being 'intrusive'.
Here's Royal and Hollande, when they were still a happy couple, preparing for the presidency by reading 'History of France for dummies' :beam: :
http://static.flickr.com/117/314161243_064c4ae74d_o.jpg
good result for the UK, we are more likely to get our aircraft carriers now. :2thumbsup:
I really never thought that in such a negatively charged environment that I could learn so much about and come to respect a country I formerly despised. I'll call it the French/Backroom paradox :book: . I guess two negatives can form a positive.
I think the epiphany first formed when it was implied that France revels in the disdain of others I thought: Brilliant! :idea2: The whole attitude thing shows that they still have so much symbolic, if not military, power they have over the world. I felt like such a tool :shame: .
Now, time for the French vodka and deserts. :barrel:
Yay Sarkozy!
his first order of business needs to be hosing down the social underclass that thinks it can riot and destroy property everytime something upsets them. And by hose down I mean hose down.
Louie your eyeopening comes from a love of me and nothing more :kiss:
How soon will he catch a bullet if he tries this?Quote:
Originally Posted by Major Robert Dump
A very questionable source(she didn't even know he won, and she wants to move to France) claims that Sarkozy's election will trigger massive strikes across France. Now while this hasn't happened yet, I ask our respected French members is this likely to even happen? And if this does happen, what will Sarkozy do about it?
Here's a fascinating breakdown of the voting patterns in the election.
It appears that Sarko owes the Elysee Palace to a lot of grumpy old shopkeepers - and that the generation which is prevalent here in the Org voted largely for Mme Royal.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Discovery1, I heard from one of my friends at school that, while there weren't any strikes as such yet, there have been a dozen dustbin fires and a few burned cars as well. And that would have been where I live, which is the Regional capital of Franche-Comté. It's not a big town, but if something happened here, then what could happen in Paris?
Also, I believe Sindicates have said they would go on strike in the case of a Sarkozy victory. This being written two days after the election, and when Sarko "technically" isn't president, they probably didn't have time yet to do something.
And, remember the riots from only a couple of years ago. That would be Sarko's major danger for now - at least that's the way I see it. The last thing he'd want is a repeat of those events.
If you're not a socialist when you're young, you have no heart.Quote:
Originally Posted by Banquo
If you're still a socialist when you're 40, you have no brain ~;)
I heard from a German student here that a French friend of hers said Sarkozy and his buddies were like nazis and that there was going to be a civil war. Now I could be wrong with my judgement, but I'm pretty sure she's about as bleeding heart liberal as people get so I wouldn't really read too much into that and instead just sit back and watch what happens.Quote:
Originally Posted by discovery1
Today I heard that there are people protesting in more or less violent ways and that some leaders said they shouldn't oppose a majority vote. Those leaders may have a point.:inquisitive:
Civil war I think may be exagerated.
Riots is possible - Sarkozy said he wasn't the President of Two divided Frances but of One France. That was a clear mistake, considering the 53% who voted for him. I guess we'll see.
A few things to remember are:
-Segolene was a woman. Tragically, even here there are sexists who will have voted Sarko just because she's a woman.
-She did quite a few mistakes during her campaign. Just a few stupidities, but some people may have analysed the behaviour of the candidates during the campaigns. Hers wasn't the best, in my humble opinion.
-Some people may not have voted. I don't know the amount of people who haven't, but it could have been high enough to switch the results.
-There are still the Legislative elections in a month. This I believe is most important, because from those results depend the future Prime Minister.
good quote.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fenring
i have no heart tho. :(