France going conservative?

[WRESTLINGFAN]

Looks like it could happen. Does that mean the boycott of anything French is over?


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18513937/

[DarkHippie]

People are still boycotting France?

[Kevin]

People are still boycotting France?

Nobody is keeping me from my French Fries.. NOBODY!!!

[HBox]

There already was a conservative government over there. Chirac is in the same party Sarkozy is.

[Bulldogcakes]

It's really not surprising. After the widespread violence they had involving immigration you can expect a turn to the Right. Happens every time either the Right or Left goes too far and the inevitable results follow. They have an enormous welfare state, and an open door policy on immigration where people walk in and go on the dole for generations. Meanwhile, every year they have to decide what social services they're going to cut for everyone because they simply cant afford it.
Plus, friends tell me even the famed restaurants of Paris aren't what they used to be. No more apprenticeships, everyone has to go on the books (to pay taxes). As a result owners are hiring less people, the whole culture by which chefs were once educated no longer exists.

To be fair, globalization has driven some of this as well. But long story short, France just aint what it used to be, and they know it.

[TheMojoPin]

It's really not surprising. After the widespread violence they had involving immigration you can expect a turn to the Right. Happens every time either the Right or Left goes too far and the inevitable results follow. They have an enormous welfare state, and an open door policy on immigration where people walk in and go on the dole for generations. Meanwhile, every year they have to decide what social services they're going to cut for everyone because they simply cant afford it.
Plus, friends tell me even the famed restaurants of Paris aren't what they used to be. No more apprenticeships, everyone has to go on the books (to pay taxes). As a result owners are hiring less people, the whole culture by which chefs were once educated no longer exists.

To be fair, globalization has driven some of this as well. But long story short, France just aint what it used to be, and they know it.

Did you totally ignore HBox's post? How is this any kind of a change when it's potentially the same party staying in power? Same as it ever was.

[Bulldogcakes]

There already was a conservative government over there. Chirac is in the same party Sarkozy is.

Chirac is a moderate a country club conservative, Sarkozy is a socially conservative ideologue.

To put it in US terms, its like going from President Gerald Ford to President Pat Buchanan. Big difference.

[Bulldogcakes]

Did you totally ignore HBox's post? How is this any kind of a change when it's potentially the same party staying in power? Same as it ever was.

Spoken like a true lefty who cant see the shades of gray in a party other than his own.

BTW-First of all, check the time. I was still typing as H posted. Then look at my response and maybe you'll realize all Conservatives aren't the same. You . . . . you . . conserva-racist? Whatever the word is, you're it. Pfffft! That was my tongue sticking out.

[TheMojoPin]

Chirac is a moderate a country club conservative, Sarkozy is a socially conservative ideologue.

To put it in US terms, its like going from President Gerald Ford to President Pat Buchanan. Big difference.

It's the same party. I really don't expect much to change.

[johnniewalker]

It's the same party. I really don't expect much to change.

A major issue was that he was going to reexamine and change the social welfare system, where Royal was going to keep it in place. I thought that seemed like kind of a break from status quo.

[TheMojoPin]

Spoken like a true lefty who cant see the shades of gray in a party other than his own.

BTW-First of all, check the time. I was still typing as H posted. Then look at my response and maybe you'll realize all Conservatives aren't the same. You . . . . you . . conserva-racist? Whatever the word is, you're it. Pfffft! That was my tongue sticking out.

Yeah, that's obviously exactly what I said. This isn't as huge a leap as you're making it out to be.

[HBox]

My only point is that it's not going to be a huge change. There was going to be a change in France no matter what due to some of the problems facing them. They chose a candidate more in line with the policies of the existing government. Sarkozy was a member of that government. I believe he was the Interior Minister.

But mostly it's because of the perception that France is the liberal capital of the world. I think most people would be surprised that the left party over there hasn't been in power in a very long time.

[Midkiff]

The whole hayseed anti-France thing was stupid anyway.

[Bulldogcakes]

SOCIALISTS IN HISTORIC DEFEAT/// PRO-AMERICAN SARKOZY (53.0%) DEFEATS SOCIALIST MS. ROYAL (47.0%) FOR FRENCH PRESIDENCY... (http://today.reuters.com/misc/PrinterFriendlyPopup.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2007-05-06T181532Z_01_L06633468_RTRUKOC_0_US-FRANCE-ELECTION.xml)

[TheMojoPin]

Interesting, I hadn't heard this before:

He has promised a clean break with the policies of Chirac, once his political mentor, and says he will curb the powers of the unions and toughen sentencing for criminals.

BDC, looks like you were right, at least based on what they've talked up so far. Sorry for jumping on you like I did.

[Bulldogcakes]

Interesting, I hadn't heard this before:



BDC, looks like you were right, at least based on what they've talked up so far. Sorry for jumping on you like I did.

Oh stop. I dont take these things personal, especially when it comes to politics. I scream back and then forget it 10 minutes later.

Sports, however, is a matter of life and death. Probably because the stakes are so low, as the old saying goes.

BTW-It takes a real mensch to admit he's wrong. You Sir, are a true mensch.

[Midkiff]

New French leader: U.S. can rely on our friendship

Conservative Nicolas Sarkozy was elected Sunday to a five-year term as France's president and quickly signaled that France will be a U.S. ally. Sarkozy told his "American friends that they can rely on our friendship ... France will always be next to them when they need us." But he added that "friends can think differently" and called on the United States to lead the fight against global warming.

Such a simple request... too bad W is too stupid to do it.

HERE (http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/05/06/france.election/index.html)

[badmonkey]

First we gotta build this giant firetruck with a giant hose and a giant ladder to reach the sun...

Badmonkey

[epo]

People are still boycotting France?

I think the south still is.

[Bulldogcakes]

I think the south still is.

They're also still waiting for General Lee to take another crack at Gettysburg.

[Midkiff]

First we gotta build this giant firetruck with a giant hose and a giant ladder to reach the sun...

Badmonkey

:wacko:

[Yerdaddy]

Oh stop. I dont take these things personal, especially when it comes to politics. I scream back and then forget it 10 minutes later.

Sports, however, is a matter of life and death. Probably because the stakes are so low, as the old saying goes.

BTW-It takes a real mensch to admit he's wrong. You Sir, are a true mensch.

What's that, a man-wench? We already knew that about mojo. I think it was his original board name. Mojopin was a board character until he stuck the password for Mench down his mench cleavage and couldn't get it out.

[HBox]

Chirac is a moderate a country club conservative, Sarkozy is a socially conservative ideologue.

To put it in US terms, its like going from President Gerald Ford to President Pat Buchanan. Big difference.

I almost forgot. Sarkozy is no Pat Buchanan because France has it own Pat Buchanan. His name is Jean Marie Le Pen and he favors heavy immigration restrictions, incentives for women to stay home and tend to families, government censorship and is heavily isolationalist. And in the last election due to a pathetic Socialist candidate and latent angst against immigrants he actually got past the runoff election and into the final election. France was so embarrassed that it re-elected Chirac with an insane 82% of the vote.

France has reached a crossroads and this election was going to bring along major change no matter what. But it's not as major as its being portrayed.

[A.J.]

Sarkozy is the one who referred to those Algerian immigrants who rioted a while back as "scum".

This could be fun.

[johnniewalker]

Sarkozy is the one who referred to those Algerian immigrants who rioted a while back as "scum".

This could be fun.

It started alright...


Sarkozy election victory marred by riots (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=453227&in_page_id=1811)

[EliSnow]

The whole hayseed anti-France thing was stupid anyway.

Well, especially in retrospect. They didn't think that going into Iraq was a good idea. And what have we discovered?

[Midkiff]

Well, especially in retrospect. They didn't think that going into Iraq was a good idea. And what have we discovered?

Yeah, exactly. Some of us saw it ahead of time, though.

[EliSnow]

Yeah, exactly. Some of us saw it ahead of time, though.

I did as well. I had several arguments with my in-laws back then why we shouldn't be invading.

[Midkiff]

I did as well. I had several arguments with my in-laws back then why we shouldn't be invading.

I feel your pain, brother. I've got a family full of hayseeds too, for the most part. I don't even bother discussing religion or politics with them anymore, other than one or two people.

[EliSnow]

I feel your pain, brother. I've got a family full of hayseeds too, for the most part. I don't even bother discussing religion or politics with them anymore, other than one or two people.

I wouldn't call my in-laws hayseeds. They are conservative, irish-american Long Island people, who couldn't stop calling W a "great man," until the Iraq situation didn't turn out the way they thought.

[Midkiff]

I wouldn't call my in-laws hayseeds. They are conservative, irish-american Long Island people, who couldn't stop calling W a "great man," until the Iraq situation didn't turn out the way they thought.

Ugh. Douche chills! That sounds just like my mom and step-dad. Only they never jump off the W bandwagon, for supposed "religious" reasons, no matter how much of a fuck-up he is.

Oh, they live in the south now, so I guess they are wanna-be hayseeds. My mom is from MI and my stepdad from Jersey. Crazy.

[Fat_Sunny]

Dude, You Call Everyone Hayseed, But Aren't You From The Hill Country Of Texas, That Just Got Electricity Like 10 Years Ago? Who's The Hayseed??

[badmonkey]

Well, especially in retrospect. They didn't think that going into Iraq was a good idea. And what have we discovered?

Maybe
France
Ate
Your
Oil
For
Food
Program (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/core/Content/displayPrintable.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2004/10/10/do1001.xml&site=15&page=0)

[EliSnow]

Maybe
France
Ate
Your
Oil
For
Food
Program (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/core/Content/displayPrintable.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2004/10/10/do1001.xml&site=15&page=0)

I'm not saying they didn't have other motives for not invading Iraq; but the fact of the matter is that people were pissed at France because they wouldn't support us in something that wasn't a good idea.

[Midkiff]

Dude, You Call Everyone Hayseed, But Aren't You From The Hill Country Of Texas, That Just Got Electricity Like 10 Years Ago? Who's The Hayseed??

Negatory, good buddy. I am from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, across the lake from Canada. My disabling service to my country brought me to Texas, and as I have said before, I'm leaving as soon as I can. If it were not for mitigating factors preventing my departure, I would have left already. Believe me, I am nauseated on a daily basis by the ultra-red populace I encounter constantly.

[Fat_Sunny]

Negatory, good buddy. I am from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, across the lake from Canada.

Fat Knows The Area Well. He Grew Up In Wis. And He And His High School Friends Used To Drive Up There On Spring Break To Ski At Indian Head And Powder Horn. Fat Also Had A Great-GrandParent From Iron River. The U.P. Is About As Remote As You Can Get And Still Be In The U.S.!!

Sorry To Hear You Are Disabled, Though.

[Midkiff]

Fat Knows The Area Well. He Grew Up In Wis. And He And His High School Friends Used To Drive Up There On Spring Break To Ski At Indian Head And Powder Horn. Fat Also Had A Great-GrandParent From Iron River. The U.P. Is About As Remote As You Can Get And Still Be In The U.S.!!

Sorry To Hear You Are Disabled, Though.

Hey, thanks budday. It's all internal, though. Nothing externally visible, so it does not hamper my ability to get laid! Woohoo! My pension, while small, does help out.

The whole UP rocks in my opinion, but you have to be an outdoorsy person. I'm from Marquette, and spent lots of time lake-diving, wandering the woods ot there in Seney, Pictured Rocks, hunting, and slogging through blueberry bogs.