Some Not So Happy At The French Results

[Kathianne]

Kos Kids going ballastic:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/5/6/124413/2032


Sarkozy wins
by lorax
Sun May 06, 2007 at 09:50:36 AM PDT

Belgian and Swiss media are reporting that according to exit polls, Nicolas Sarkozy, the candidate of the right-wing, has been elected President of France by a margin of 53 or 54 to 46 or 47 for Segolene Royal, the socialist candidate. Royal is the first woman to make it this far in a French presidential election. Her run was hobbled by some early gaffes from which she seemed unable to recover her footing. Sarkozy plans to pursue close ties with Bush and the U.S. and a neoliberal economic program that will hurt the most vulnerable in French society.

* lorax's diary :: ::
*

It's a disappointing development for our French friends and for the whole world. As many mistakes as Segolene made, I believe that she would have made a remarkable president. Sarkozy is poised to institute Le Pen-esque policies cracking down on those he has previously referred to as "rabble" and promised to clean out "with a fire hose"--anybody who doesn't look and act French. If anything, this election proves that Americans don't have a monopoly on reactionary politicians who get elected by using fear, division, and the politics of exclusion. Here's hoping for a better result in the upcoming French parliamentary elections.

Tags: Nicolas Sarkozy, Segolene Royal, France, French presidential elections, Europe (all tags)

[Hugh Lincoln]

Boo-hoo. Pinkos sure are down on democracy these days.

[82Marine89]

I want to see how long the next muslim riot lasts.

[Pale Rider]

It doesn't matter where the liberals are in this world, they all cry like little babies when they lose some power.

[Abbey Marie]

Have they started asking for recounts yet? :laugh2:

[Fountainhead]

Have they started asking for recounts yet? :laugh2:

:laugh2: Did the French use the latest Dibold voting machines ?:laugh2:

[Incognito]

"reactionary politicians who get elected by using fear,"

Uh... who was the one who threatened there would be violence if Sarkozy was elected.

Sarkozy is the best thing for France, Europe and the world at large.

[avatar4321]

who would have ever thought Hell would freeze over. Must have gotten too cold in France (jk)

[Kathianne]

I want to see how long the next muslim riot lasts.

Seems they did a bit:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070507/ap_on_re_eu/france_election


...Sarkozy, 52, has drawn up a whirlwind agenda for his first 100 days in office and plans to put big reforms before parliament at an extraordinary session in July. One bill would make overtime pay tax-free to encourage people to work more. Another would put in place tougher sentencing for repeat offenders, and still another would toughen up the criteria for immigrants trying to bring their families to France.

On election night, scattered violence was reported around France. There had been fears that the impoverished suburban housing projects, home to Arab and African immigrants and their French-born children, would erupt again at the victory of a man who labeled those responsible for rioting in 2005 as "scum." Police reported that 270 people were taken in for questioning and that 367 parked vehicles had been torched. On a typical night in France, about 100 cars are burned.

That abrasive style raised doubts over whether Sarkozy, himself the son of a Hungarian refugee, could unite a politically polarized, increasingly diverse nation.

Late Sunday, small bands of youths hurled stones and other objects at police at the Place de la Bastille in Paris. Some bared their backsides at riot officers behind their shields, and police fired volleys of tear gas. Two police unions said firebombs targeted schools and recreation centers in several towns in the Essonne region just south of Paris....

[Gaffer]

He's going to cut liberal programs and he's going to make the muslims assemilate. Sounds like a good guy to me. There may be hope for france yet. if it's not already too late.

[Kathianne]

He's going to cut liberal programs and he's going to make the muslims assemilate. Sounds like a good guy to me. There may be hope for france yet. if it's not already too late.

I don't think he will be able to do either of these. Nor do I expect huge changes in foreign affairs.

What does catch my attention is with the things he's said, he won overwhelmingly.

[manu1959]

"reactionary politicians who get elected by using fear,"

Uh... who was the one who threatened there would be violence if Sarkozy was elected.

Sarkozy is the best thing for France, Europe and the world at large.

i remember the edwards saying there would be riots if bush was elected....

[Kathianne]

i remember the edwards saying there would be riots if bush was elected....

and so there were. But still, most French must see something in this guy, that doesn't hate the US, indeed, made clear that we should be an ally.

[manu1959]

and so there were. But still, most French must see something in this guy, that doesn't hate the US, indeed, made clear that we should be an ally.

there were riots when bush got elected? .... as for the french pres...send troops to iraq if you are an ally

[Kathianne]

there were riots when bush got elected? .... as for the french pres...send troops to iraq if you are an ally

Oh my, I read wrong? Sorry.

For the later, considering he's not been installed, even then, I do NOT expect any real change from the French. They must begin at home. Rough road that will be.

[manu1959]

Oh my, I read wrong? Sorry.

For the later, considering he's not been installed, even then, I do NOT expect any real change from the French. They must begin at home. Rough road that will be.

the french posture...... talk tough..... negotiate .... surrender.... talk tough.....then claim the moral high ground.....

[Kathianne]

the french posture...... talk tough..... negotiate .... surrender.... talk tough.....then claim the moral high ground.....

I'll not disagree on principle. However, he DID talk pro-USA and still was elected overwhelmingly. I don't think the 'average' French citizen really wants a 40 hour work week, 2 weeks of vacation, or French troops in any venue.

But their votes do illustrate they know they are wrong.

[manu1959]

I'll not disagree on principle. However, he DID talk pro-USA and still was elected overwhelmingly. I don't think the 'average' French citizen really wants a 40 hour work week, 2 weeks of vacation, or French troops in any venue.

But their votes do illustrate they know they are wrong.

having lived in france for a very short time while at university....my 2 cents.....i think that she was so underqualified and so far left even for the french....and i really don't see french men putting a women in charge....he won by default....

[Kathianne]

having lived in france for a very short time while at university....my 2 cents.....i think that she was so underqualified and so far left even for the french....and i really don't see french men putting a women in charge....he won by default....

Your short time was more than mine. I'll bow to that. ;)

[Hugh Lincoln]

What does catch my attention is with the things he's said, he won overwhelmingly.

Yes, this is the right focus, I think --- he talked pro-USA, he talked pro-France/French culture, he even said some nasty things to the rioters/immigrants. And won. But he's definitely no LePen, from what I've read... darn!