Entelechy nails it, but I’ll add that it won’t be long before France comes to us for assistance. Their diplomats had better watch their steps.

Still wearing those merlot colored glasses, my friend?

fogw on May 14, 2007 at 1:33 PM

Heh, fogw, indeed my friend, with pride (your wit floors me often), I look good in colored glasses :) However, I’m nothing if not a realist.

On a serious note, Freelancer, my other friend, defended me correctly. I didn’t put much celebration into the “rediscovered friendship” part of the speech. I don’t recall commenting on that at all, bacause it wasn’t in my focus.

Yes, I was/am happy that Monsieur Sarkozy won – primarily because Madame Royal lost. It was/is a big deal for Europe and the NYT; never forget that. They all assumed that because Mr. Bush has low ratings, this wouldn’t be possible.

Reality is, as I commented on this topic previously, that in Europe the difference btw. the socia*ists and the conservatives is minimatesimal. It’s just a matter of degree. They are both for high taxes, high government interference/do-gooderism in all aspects of life, lamb-like approval of that from the electorate, world-peace-lovers, anti-Americans from the Government (not so much the people, not all the people, anyway), collectivism versus individualism, idealism, anti-Capitalism, nationalism, colloquialism, and other -isms, I’m not fond of.

Chirac, all of his reign, was a disaster and I’m happy it’s over. However, I don’t expect too much going forward. Just a tad bit more than from Royal.

Glasses still off :) Regards,

Entelechy’s analysis is appropriate. Less left DOES equal more right, however small the distance. And Sarkozy, if he might not be our best friend, is far closer to a friend than Royal would have been. I’d say at this point that still says a little bit about not Sarkozy, but the French people. Maybe they weren’t so ready to surrender to complete soc*alism. Yet.

I’d put the champagne away, though. France will always be France.

Sarkosy defeats the enemy…and then surrenders. How very French.

Entelechy on May 14, 2007 at 1:28 PM

Still wearing those merlot colored glasses, my friend?

He’s just a lesser ‘devil’ than Royal would have been. There was no 3rd option. At least he will still shake Mr. Bush’s hand at the G8 Summit, whenas she wouldn’t have. Not mucht, but it’s a little bit above zero.

Europe doesn’t evolve rapidly, contrary to their elitist assumptions.

I knew it was too much to hope for. With the election of Conservative Nicolas Sarkozy to the Presidency, things looked bright for a new and better relationship with France. One where they didn’t disagree with us on everything, just…

And as part of this new alliance, he’ll be sending French combat troops into Anwar province when? Walking the walk is different from talking the talk.

Sarkozy’s using the phrase “accepting that one’s friends can act differently” should be a giant red flag to our State Department. We already have a “friend” who acts differently, name of Putin. I’d like an ally who acts and thinks like we do, when it comes to fighting the war on terror. That would make them ……. an ally!

I sincerely hope you’re right Jaibones, but with the infusion of millions of Muslims in France, I fear you’re wrong. IMHO a quasi-friendly alliance with us will stir the pot of France’s non-voting age “youth”, and strengthening international relationships will take a back seat to appeasing the volatile masses on the home front. The French have a history of caving-in to threats, rather than standing up to them.

Words and deeds. Time will tell.

fogw on May 6, 2007 at 10:14 PM

Well that didn’t take long, did it?

The Franco/American alliance is older than the British one. Saying that you two were never allies is incorrect.

The United States has no friends. It didn’t have them under Clinton, and it doesn’t have them now. At least now we’re not crippling ourselves on the outside chance than someone might throw us a crumb of good will. George Washington was correct. Nations do what is in their own interests, and that is the only motivation we can count on from France, Great Britain et al.

It’s not like we have missed France being an ally? Oops, when were they ever an ally? Silly me, nev’er.

I’d put the champagne away, though. France will always be France.

What’s that sound? Oh, it’s the sound of France surrendering, to themselves!