Nicolas Sarkozy - France turns rightward

Well, I'm disappointed in the election. France could have had the "world's hottest leader."
But the good news for France is that Dr. Berman will now call off his boycott of French wines. :lol:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ May 7 2007, 08:42 AM) [snapback]436740[/snapback]</div>

Don't we already have a French Rudy? I think that dress is by Chanel. :lol:

p.s. sorry David- I know your post was serious; I'm just having a little fun this morning!

 

Wow- a Petrus- that was a gift! I have had the pleasure of tasting a Petrus once in my life; it was amazing.

I have a similar story. When we bought our previous house in 1994, the realtor came to our house after the closing with a big shopping bag. He knew that I was a wine collector because I showed him where I was going to build the cellar in the new house. He had sold this old estate, and there were some old bottles of wine left in the cellar, and he figured that I would appreciate them. So he proceeds to pull these bottles out of the bag, and they're all mediocre German wines that wouldn't have been great when they were younger, and they were far too old to drink. So I almost fell over when he pulled out the last bottle- a Château d'Yquem. It was from the '40s- I don't remember which year (there were at least three 100-point vintages in the 40s). A d'Yquem from a good year is drinkable after 100 years or more. So we went to visit friends in NJ who are also oenophiles and had a great dinner with incredible wines at their house. The climax of the evening was to be the opening of the d'Yquem. But, alas, it must not have been properly cellared, as it had turned bad.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ May 7 2007, 11:33 AM) [snapback]436853[/snapback]</div>

A votre santé!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(larkinmj @ May 7 2007, 09:48 AM) [snapback]436810[/snapback]</div>

I assumed "Doctor" "Berman" was boycotting them because he's not of legal drinking age yet. (And too bad God probably doesn't exist, otherwise I'd be thanking Him that "Doctor" "Berman" isn't of voting age, either).

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ May 7 2007, 10:35 AM) [snapback]436944[/snapback]</div>

dbermanmd,

You were suckered in! :blink:

The liberal faction doesn't want to talk about wine.
What they really don't want to talk about is NICOLAS SARKOZY!!!!

Don't let the wine go to you head!
You don't actually have to drink the liquid for it to mess with your train of thought.
Next time, try to say on subject.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ May 7 2007, 07:42 AM) [snapback]436740[/snapback]</div>

The First Rule of French Warfare; "France's armies are victorious only when not led by a Frenchman."
The Second Rule of French Warfare; "France only wins when America does most of the fighting."


The First Rule of Muslim Warfare; "We can always beat the French."
This rule is identical to the First Rules of the Italians, Russians, Germans, English, Dutch, Spanish, Vietnamese and Esquimaux.

Just the "strong" country we need! :lol:

All joking aside, I can't seem to find too much on the man and his political leanings, just the positions he's held in the past. I did read a bit about statements he's made that have given the impression that he was breaking beyond the separation of the judicial and executive branches, which is a bit worrisome. However, I'm not French, and they can do what they want with their government

 

Don’t forget if it wasn’t for France there would be no America.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ May 7 2007, 05:40 PM) [snapback]437229[/snapback]</div>

I think its a mistake to think he will be "pro-America" ... all French politicians are pro-French, as they should be. He is for putting the French back to work with a 40 hour work week (you can be arrested for working more than 35 hours), reducing welfare benefits with some kind of "workfare" program, limiting immigration and, probably, trying to get the French people to start having kids again (my guess on the last one, but the reason they have such liberal immigration is to provide workers).

He will not be supporting our pre-emptive, "if you're not with us, you're with the terrorists" foreign policy any more than President Chirac. Most of us don't support that, so we shouldn't be surprised.

It does show Europe as moving right, with Germany's recent chancellor and now the French President being conservative. Some of it may be nativist reaction to Muslim immigration and the threat to their own cultures from that.

 

Berman, could you please post some articles that support your assertions that he will be all of this stuff?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sufferin' Prius Envy @ May 7 2007, 07:12 PM) [snapback]437155[/snapback]</div>

Don't be so quick to make sweeping generalizations. I'm the one who started the wine thread on FHOP. I'm happy to talk about wine all night long- although I'd much rather drink it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ May 8 2007, 09:06 AM) [snapback]437438[/snapback]</div>

What i've read have stated individuals opinions that he's pro-America, most of them just quoting one time where he said France would be Washington's friend - Nice words, but honestly, just about every major official for one of the developed countries has said stuff like that over the past 50 years. It's actions that count, and i haven't seen anything to indicate he's not just paying us lip service.

In fact, he could cause huge problems for France. He's very abrasive, and has repeatedly attacked the poor, labeling them as "scum" and vowing to mop up the areas with a high-powered industrial cleaning machine. Doesn't sound like someone who wants to unite the country, like he claims.

And even if he wants to be friends with America, he has to worry about his own reelection... And reports say that most of France is very bitter towards America.

http://english.pravda.ru/world/europe/07-0...ench_presiden-0

Please, like i requested, post links to articles that back up your claims. With out links, claims are just opinions.

 

Sarkozy undoubtably benefitted from the backlash against immigration in France and in western Europe in general. Also, France is a somewhat chauvinistic society, and there were probably a lot of voters who could not bring themselves to vote for a woman. This was certainly a divisive election in France (like our recent elections); there were a lot of riots in France in the wake of it (the most popular hobby in France is apparently setting cars on fire).
France has its parliamentary elections next month; that will determine whether or not Sarozy has a mandate to push through his agenda.

 

Once again, you ignore my request that you post links.