Nobody Says No To Sarko

Spectators of French politics are being entertained by a lurid show. This tragicomedy  could be entitled Meltdown on the Left Bank. The master of ceremonies is of course Nicolas Sarkozy and the setting is the Rue Solferino, home of what is left of French Socialism. 

The party that is led by François Hollande, the estranged partner of Ségolène Royal, is in panic over endless raids in its higher ranks by the radical rightwing president. The predatory tactics of "Super-Sarko" are now raising doubts about the very survival of the party that was built in the 1970s by the late François Mitterrand and suffered its third successive presidential defeat with Royal's candidacy in May.

Sarkozy was not content with poaching the popular Dr Bernard Kouchner and five other leftwing figures for his government of "ouverture", or opening. He has continued in brazen fashion to woo more Socialist stars and some of them are falling to his charm. The latest is Jack Lang, the long-serving culture tsar of leftwing governments. Lang today stormed out of the Socialist leadership, resigning his position as a national secretary, after being threatened with suspension if he signs up with Sarkozy. 

Sarko wants Lang on a commission to draft a revision of the constitution and Lang is likely to accept. Last night, Hollande and his lieutenants drew up the wagons and warned Lang and any others thinking of defecting to Sarkoland that they will be suspended.

Sarkozy's torture of the left has spread fear and suspicion in the rue Solferino. Every beep of a cell phone could be the call that your colleague gets from Sarko. The President is gleeful over the chaos that he is inflicting among the Socialists. On Sunday he publicly named five more leftists to whom he said he wants to give assignments. He promised that he would continue to cherry-pick the "best talent" in the interests of the nation
   
His biggest feat so far was his extraction from the party of Dominique Strauss-Kahn [picture], its most formidable potential leader. Sarkozy scored a double triumph by persuading European leaders on Tuesday -- some of whom were reluctant -- to back the affable DSK as next head of the International Monetary Fund.  Strauss-Kahn is likely to get the nod from the USA and the IMF's other governors since the post is traditionally in Europe's gift.

So Sarko has pulled off a coup, securing a top international post for France and exiling the most credible Socialist to Washington next October. With magical skills like that, it is not surprising that media are calling him Harry Sarkozy.

The methods of the "omni-president" as Hollande calls him, are paying off with public opinion. Sarkozy won only 53 perecent of the vote, but his approval ratings are now in the mid 60s as his multi-ethnic, multi-party government has seemingly given the lie to predictions that he would impose a sectarian rightwing regime. "Two months after the election of Nicolas Sarkozy, who remembers that he was demonized?" le Figaro gushed today.   

Sarkozy's opponents are crying foul and predicting that his ouverture administration will come a cropper. François Bayrou, leader of what remains of the centrist MoDem party, appealed to his allies to resist the siren song from the Elysée Palace.  "Sarkozy is behaving like a piranha loose in a bowl of goldfish," he said.

Bayrou is one of the piranha's big victims. After threatening for a time to defeat Sarkozy in the spring campaign, the centrist has been left with only three parliamentarians. The rest of his party has defected Sarkozy's camp, several as ministers.

Cries of pain are also coming from Sarkozy's own Union for a Popular Majority.  Many of the president's campaign supporters feel betrayed as opponents have been given posts that they thought they had been promised. One UMP baron grumbled to le Figaro: "Sarkozy is stealing all of the talent on the left. If this keeps up, I'm going to join the Socialist Party."

The honeymoon shows no sign of waning. On Saturday, Sarkozy reviews his first Bastille Day parade and is staging a free pop concert by the Eiffel tower. Monday just might dampen the euphoria. Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany is coming to Toulouse to chat with Sarkozy and she has begun displaying irritation with the line that France's imperial president has been taking in Europe.

On German television, she slapped down Sarko's demands for the Europe's single currency to be brought under closer political control. In private, she is said to be fuming over the way that the Energizer president is bouncing Europe into policies that favour French interests. But Sarko is hardly the first French leader to do that.

[Marianne magazine drew an interesting parallel between Sarkozy's style and that of Napoleon III, the grandiose politician who promoted himself emperor in the mid-19th century. The two official portraits show a resemblance] 

Footnote: Ségolène Royal has promised to account for her failed presidential run in a book in the autumn. So far, she is still in denial. She refuses to call her performance a defeat, talking only of her "non-victory". She blames the party for sabotaging her campaign. She does admit that her troubles with Hollande were a handicap and that her team sometimes might have looked a little shaky. Royal remains popular with leftwing voters but her chances of taking over the party look remote.      

Comments

[Robert Marchenoir]

The Left loves to conjure historical memories. During the election campaign, Sarkozy was Pétain or Hitler. Now, he has been demoted to Napoleon III.

A Frenchwoman, Agnès Poirier (I think that's her name) has just written a thoroughly ridiculous op-ed piece in the Guardian drawing that very parallel.

The lack of imagination of these people is appalling. Once, on the Left, someone whispered : "Pétain!", and suddenly the media and the blogosphere were full of arrogant, pseudo-intellectual types who had just discovered the Pétain connection all by themselves: you see, Sarko talks about the work ethic, family values and national identity; Pétain's motto was "Work, family, country"; so here you are. Sarko is a traitor and a nazi.

Now, someone has re-discovered Napoléon III in some dusty old school book, and suddenly they are all jumping up and down, shouting: "Napoléon III !", "Napoléon III !".

Our in-house liberal, Dominique, has already gone all the way back to Louis XIV. I think Roman emperors and Greek gods should be turning up soon on the agenda.

Note to all those self-appointed thinkers, who have been handed out their baccalauréat for free by a nanny-state eager to distribute diplomas the way it gives out social allowances (liberally): politics cannot be duplicated accross the ages.

It is impossible to "be" Pétain again in 2007, because the world we live in is no longer the world of 1940. It is impossible to "be" Napoléon III in this day and age, because in Napoléon III's time, the Internet, hedge funds and silly TV shows did not exist.

Of course, it is easier to pose as a smart intellectual by pretending to dig up profound analogies with long-dead leaders, than to come up with innovative policies adapted to the present-day situation.

While the Left leafs lazily through their academically-challenged primary school history books, instead of reassessing its policies and agenda, we are at least seeing some action from the government.

And the funniest thing is that it's Sarkozy who, on top of renovating the French Right, is renovating the socialist party, by hiring its most open-minded leaders and allowing them to get a grip on things and test their ideas.

[Jonathan]

Sarko's opponents are crying fowl? What a bunch of chickens!

[Terry]

I am a big fan of Robert's posts. The only problem is that it's so hard to post after reading him. He truly says it all. And well. I particularly liked the Roman gods line.

But I will make a feeble attempt.

I too was struck by the irony of Sarkozy filling up posts with Socialists. Call me an absolutist, but I thought the whole idea of voting Sarkozy in was to keep the Socialists out. You obtain political position to administer your policies. Are these socialists going to administer center right positions? And, as Robert points out, he is giving these socialists credentials and experience that they would not have if they were shut out of government. I believe this will prove to be a big mistake.

I find it amusing that Merkel is upset that Sarkozy is protecting French interests in the EU. Isn't that what Germany does? The euro has been a disaster to Italians by causing ridiculous inflation. I do not know if that's the case with France. I wonder what "tighter political controls" mean regarding the euro. I also wonder if Sarkozy will pay for substituting a treaty for a referendum on an EU constitution. A lovely undemocratic way to backdoor (pun intended)the EU constitution on the French electorate. But I dont know if this is a done deal.

[Dominique]

Ségolène who? ho! that one.... i already forgot her. Did Sarko call her? not yet. As he only calls the best of breed for the good of the nation (!), i am afraid she might not be called soon...

Robert,

Regarding Napoleon III, neither Charles B nor Agnès Poirier in the Guardian are the first to mention him.

The first was Jacques Marseille (well known historien who rewrot french history in Nouvelle histoire de la France (Perrin, collection Temps 2001), a must nowadays eventhough J.Marseille is a well known sarko supporter. J.Marseille actually sees the Napoleon III period as one of the most brilliant in french history (industrial revolution, building of 16000 kms of voies de chemin de fer, import of unions, complete redesign of Paris with Baron Hausmann who made out of Paris a model of modernity at that time, copied by Vienna and so many other cities, etc.....)

Napoleon III had a huge ambition and had a simle political program : fight "paupérisation". But, once elected..he thought it would b easier with a coup d'état allowing him to be emperor. That's clearly a limit to Napoleon III succes, along with the franco prussian war defeat in Sedan. But then, here comes the communards!

Watch out Sarko! we're all watching you!

Charles (B)

I disagree with your point about DSK being appointed by Sarko. Pascal Lamy is head of WTO. He was appointed under Chirac's presidency and no one even thought of saying that he was a socialist traitor running after a big post! Neither was the socialist party complaining about it.

It just shows the vacuity of the socialists thinking yet : while some are happy to get to responsibility, others claim that working for the IMF is betrayal of the left! (Emmanuelli & Mélanchon). Even worse, th François Holland supporters claim that getting to the head of the IMF serves the people while being appointed minister of Sarko is only running after a post.

The socialists are indeed pathetic! Go Valls, Go! kick them out!

[HdF]

There is little doubt in my mind that among the three political flavors of the French right described by Rene Remond, a French political scientist who recently passed away, Bonapartist, "legitimiste" (deeply-rooted believers in the utmost importance of tradition) and Orleaniste (liberal), Mr. Sarkozy belongs to the first one. Illustrating this point through a picture is amusing, no less, no more.

But when looking at it, we should always keep in mind that Marianne is exploiting a niche market: Sarkozy bashing.

[Keith]

Beautifully put by Robert Marchenoir - absolutely fantastic - I certainly could not have described the French Left any better....

[VisitorHK]

His father had told him once : « A Sarkozy will never be President of France. You would have to go to the USA for that.”
(Have you had this on an earlier Blog? I will have to re-read everything).

Now, he IS French President – nobody says no. He is compared to (mainly questionable) leaders of former eras or present-day Bush, Berlusconi, etc. Whether he will be remembered or not is not a question any more. He is still in his probationary period – and has already gone down in history.

He doesn’t force his will upon those who follow his ideas. He attracts socialists with some French magical mystery or do they, too, simply wish to have their share in power? Sarkozy owes his success to his very particular charisma – and a Constitution that gives him the freedom most keep dreaming of.

Robert Marchenoir, “politics cannot be duplicated across the ages.” That is so true.

“A ball never will come rolling from where you may expect.” (?)

Some ‘experts’ want to write history too early. Sarkozy will be a historic figure. He will be remembered but he will have to tell us what to write. It is still too early. The wisest thing to do will be to watch out (follow the news), wait and see and let future happen.

Some are happy with this, others will go on regretting their non-victory and blame the winner.

[rocket]

Jonathan

"Sarko's opponents are crying fowl? What a bunch of chickens!"

Especially from that "henpecked" Hollande

http://www.thenewchristinescreations.com/insulthen.html

[rocket]

Terry

If you had lived in France for as long as I have you would be overjoyed to see the two sides (left and right)at least coming together a bit. It has been nothing but constant bikering and sabotage, kniving in the back and sooooo much more over the kind of society that each side wants France to be.

As for Sarkozy defending French interests, it's normal but what he is doing is undermining the euro and trying to intervene in its exchange rate. While Germany has gone back to work and is exporting up a storm in spite of a strong Euro, France is still complaining between lunch and dinner. A high deficit could enhance inflation and as we all know (except for one of us on this blog and his name starts with a "d")

This article may help you to understand sarkozy's attitude which could be a bit dangerous for my liking but overall I give him a high rating so far

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/07/09/business/euro.php

[Terry]

Rocket:

I have not lived in France. So, if you think that this will unite the country, I will have to defer to you. But I still think the socialists will undermine his policies.

Thanks for the link. I think Sarkozy is right to protect the interests of France in the EU. As should every country. The question then is what is the EU? Is it united states of europe or everyone for themselves. I also think the EU treaty idea is rather undemocratic especially since French voters clearly said "Non!".

[textibule]

From the IHT article that Rocket cited (Thank you, Rocket!):

"Frenchmen already preside over three of the world's most august international economic organizations: Pascal Lamy at the World Trade Organization; Trichet at the European Central Bank and Jean Lemierre at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development."

As a reconstructed liberal anglo-saxon living in France for 25 years (or is it 30? I'm getting old) I'm appalled by this revelation. The French, bless them, have tres peu d'education économique in their daily lives. For those of you who do not live here, have not worked here, please, believe me on this.

If frenchpersonnes are indeed going to control most world economic institutions, c'est le monde à l'envers. When Wolf o'witch was WB head, it was a fun counterbalance. But now? Brrrr, I'm frightened, confused.

[rocket]

terry

"I think Sarkozy is right to protect the interests of France in the EU. As should every country."

Watch out for the limits. Imagine if New Jersey Fiscal policies alone could sabotage the growth of the entire US economy. France has always looked out for itself at the expense of the more common bigger picture which is the European Union. Or as Degaulle said.
"France doesn't have friends, it has interests"

In other words... team player not!

Although Sarkozy represents a breath of fresh air,(for the moment) France is a paternalistic society as we have seen through history. In fact all of these latin countries have always needed a strong leader due to psuedo individualism and egotisme of the population. Hmmm! Some aspects of simple personal freedoms may be put on the line in the near future and some economic figures may be sexed up as is happening now with the unemployment figures in France.

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/06/28/ap3867921.html

sorry but the good stuff is in French.

The socialists will certainly try to undermine his policies as long as Hollande remains at it's head but we have to follow the evolution of French politics and as ludicrous as this may sound, the response of eventual street protests to determine a change in the balance of power.

You said

"I also think the EU treaty idea is rather undemocratic especially since French voters clearly said "Non!".

Terry I like you but you don't know France or the French

Terry, the French say no to everything. They are known as nonists. You can't even begin to imagine the complication here and especially if you don't speak French.

The French voted no because of too many sound bites by left wing and populist French politicans telling the population that the constitution was too free market. Nobody actually read the damn thing (Hi Dominique!)

[rocket]

Textibule

Sometimes I am floored to see how naive is the rest of the world over French argumentation. Since you've been here for 25 and me for 30. I can say with the certainty that you will understand that the French argumentation is "cause toujours" Unfortunately those not familiar with France often fall for it. ( Hi Dominique!)

[Monika]

I see that many readers of this blog (and may I assume its author, too?) rejoyce about Sarko's smart moves to dismantle the socialists.
But even if one doesn't love the socialists and their program: I fear that this strategy holds some dangers to democracy. Not that I believed that tomorrow there will be a dictator Sarkozy but one might fear that Sarko is aiming (at least that's what Charles' article seems to suggest) to destroy the PS to some extent or at least to weaken it still further. Well, one might not regret this but whom will people vote for who don't want to vote for Sarko but there's no real important alternative? There is a risk that parties on the extrem ends of the political spectre may profit from the loss of strength of the Socialist party if this process goes on. I don't believe that this is something to wish for, even if one despises the Socialists.

Btw. I still consider Sarko more like a strong etatist with conservative points of view than a real liberal. He is imho in the line of de Gaulle and Mitterand, both loving big gestures. Probably we'll see the building of a Musée Sarko or whatever similar to the Library Francois Mitterand ... imho THAT is Sarko's real ambition: to leave some footprints behind. Nothing less, nothing more.

Aaaah, les grands projets ... !

[Terry]

Rocket:

You're probably right that I don't know the French. But I don't think it's too hard to understand France. If the U.S. is for it, France is against it. C'est tres facile.

The EU constitution is over 400 pages I believe. I browsed through it online awhile back. "To his royal majesty, the King of Brussells," its starts or something like that. So who's gonna read it? Whether I know France or not, I don't think the constitution should be rammed down their throats no matter how pesky the French can be.

I don't know your citizen status in France. Are you for the EU constitution or against it?

Is the euro good for France?

I'm not challenging you on this. I just want to know what you think. You live there, so you obviously are a better judge than me.

I like you too.

[Daniel Strohl]

Charles,

"Meltdown on the Left Bank" : let us hope that the fall-out remains under control ...

Robert,

Well done ! En plein dans le mille ! (Right on target).
« ... who have been handed out their baccalauréat for free » - the batch of this year, as I heard this morning on radio, is over 83 % « de reçus » ! A new miracle !

Dominique,

« It just shows the vacuity of the Socialist thinking yet » : if you continue like this, Sarkozy will possibly hire you as a junior minister and you will be discharged with dishonour of the Part Socialiste by « le Premier Secrétaire ».

Terry,

« And, as Robert points out, he is giving these socialists credentials and experience that they would not have if they were shut out of government ».
With the notable exception of Dr.Kouchner, these socialists got only minor cabinet posts. And I believe furthermore that they are as socialists as you and me are. They simply are fed up with the silly demagogy of the PS, which is not likely to be dropped tomorrow morning, since the socialists can not right now start to tell the truth to their brain washed electors and « militants ». It takes time to teach Pavlovian reflexes, and even more time to cancel them.

Regarding Strauss-Kahn, he already has got experience as a (successful) finance minister. And Jack Lang - the up to yesterday permanently smiling male figurehead of the PS - knows that he is marching inexorably towards the exit of his political life. He is already a wrinkled grey haired senior in the Vieille Garde (Old Guard) ... But unlike the Vieille Garde, he is going over to Blücher (or Wellington) ...

[azloon]

"There is a risk that parties on the extrem ends of the political spectre may profit from the loss of strength of the Socialist party if this process goes on."

monika --

fear not.

when my twenty-something, populist son called me the day after bush's reelection and expressed horror and dismay, i told him, "don't worry, the worm will turn."

and so it has.

every victory contains within it the seeds of it's own destruction. the more arrogant the victor (bush said immediately after getting 51% of the vote, "i've earned alot of political capital and i plan to spent it"), the more resounding the fall.

let's hope NR shows a little restraint.

otherwise, as we like to say, "the bigger they are, the harder they fall."

and it won't be the splinter parties that emerge to cause trouble, it will be ......(drumroll).......nos vieux amis, les socialistes. they just have to lick their wounds for awhile, and figure out what people want to hear. then they're 'back in business.'

[christopher muir]

Every democracy deserves a strong opposition. It's not in the interests of France to be ruled by a party filled with talented former members of the opposition. These defections may appear like good news now, but let's give these strange events time to mature. The final outcome may not be all that palatable.

[Actu75]

"the Energizer president is bouncing Europe into policies that favour French interests. But Sarko is hardly the first French leader to do that."

This of course is NOT the kind of commitment a british PM would take. Nore would it be, on a world scale, the guideline of an American President...

Rocket
"the French say no to everything."
Then, after 30 years, you seem to have been contaminated in your own way for on this blog you say "No" to everything that is French. (Material and sentimental affairs not included).

[rocket]

Terry

"I don't know your citizen status in France. Are you for the EU constitution or against it?"

American citizen. French long term resident. The European contitution is dead. Yes I was for it as I'm not afraid of competition. Couldn't vote on it though not being a European citizen

Is the euro good for France?

The Euro is good for France and Europe but of course as inveterate interventionists and particularly as per ECB (European Central Bank), the French want to control it and it is in fact an independant body.

From the Sarkozy point of view if the French can't compete on the export markets it could only be the fault of the ECB policies. Germany is the leading exporter in the world using the same currency as France. Sarkozy uses this argument as a populist rallying point as France systematically looks for an enemy to explain it's own self created ills. (Remember Chirac and globalisation) This is actually learned behavior since childhood which translates into "nonisme" as adults. "Ce n'est pas de ma faute"..It's not my fault) For these of you who think I am French bashing (and I cite Actu75 by name and tell you "haut et fort" that you are part of that population "qui a besoin que l'on caresse dans le sens du poil, sinon on est frenchbashers") please read today's editorial in Le Figaro on how Sarkozy wants to put the "mainmise" on the ECB and then get back to me

http://tinyurl.com/2e8jwf

[textibule]

ACTU75
I am sitting on my terrace in the SW of France, with view imprenable of impeccably manicured fields and wood, apricots and mirabelles ripening, glass of cold rosé in hand, an ADSL connexion that seems to work, and I have to agree with Rocket.

The French do say 'no' to everything. I think it's a way to guarantee that the good ideas don't come from somewhere 'barbare'. Then, if we are patient, ie, sip our rosé slowly, everything will be all right.

[Terry]

Rocket:

Thanks for your comments. The reason I asked about the Euro is that I have been to Italy a lot in the last five years. Italians hate the euro. Apparently, the conversion raised the prices of everything an astronomical amount. Two years ago when I was there, some Tuscan supermarket change said it was going to accept the lire again. That's a pretty big deal when merchants are saying they are going to accept currency not recognized by the government. I heard a little grumbling in France but not like Italy.

I am actually surprised that you are for the constitution. The idea of France or England giving over their sovereignty to socialist bureaucrats in Brussells seems like a pretty bad idea to me. Has Sarkozy effectively removed the competition clause? As a lawyer reading the constitution, especially, the rights provisions, there's going to be problems. "the right to human dignity" for example could be used for anything. Everyone fired should be given their full pay by the government because it is undignified for them to have their wages reduced.

[rocket]

textibule

You got sunshine down there???

Terry

I never read it, just thought it was a good idea. Not really deep studying. I am also not a lawyer so you see it from a different perpective and certainly can percieve it differently than me.

PS

They are not all socialist in Brussels.

"the right to human dignity" or example could be used for anything.

So could the "pursuit of happiness"

[Terry]

Rocket:

The pursuit of happiness is in the Declaration of Independence, which is not the constitution and is not interpreted by the court. Rights were given broadly yet narrowly. "congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech". The interpretation questions rarely arise over what is speech, i.e. the internet, etc. Human dignity is so broad a concept as to mean almost anything.

[Daniel Strohl]

Textibule,

Your commentary dated 11. jul. 19:28

"The French, bless them, have très peu d'éducation économique in their daily lives."

Unfortunately, this is true. The French get even the contrary of "éducation économique" right away at school; most of the teachers are leftist - which is their good right, of course - but a part of them do not shy away from brain washing their students with leftist theories, including economics, of course. If this would not be the case, it would be difficult to (an)understand why almost all student and teachers unions are left oriented, with completely unrealistic demands (for which we should pay, in addition to the already unfathomable Danaïds' vessel of our Education Nationale) and questionable opinions, which they are free to have.

« Brr, I am frightened, confused »
The nomination of Strauss Kahn - if it is confirmed - should not be seen as a danger. This gentleman has been an excellent "ministre des Finances", even if it was under Jospin, and he has got good economic results during his term, even if one could object that the general economic situation was good anyway at that time. But he did nothing wrong. This morning, in a talk show on TV, a hard core leftist journalist said that Strauss Kahn was the most liberal of all socialists and even more liberal than Sarkozy. In my opinion, our president is certainly not a leftist, but he is rather a pragmatist than a « pure » liberal. « Pure » is an adjective which may be dangerous in some cases. The results are important, not the theories.

Mr. Trichet is the President of the European Central Bank since several years. As far as I know, he has always made his duty in compliance with the rules of this international body (and, I suppose, with his professional convictions) and not according to French wishes. The same is true with Mr.Lamy and with Mr.Lemierre – otherwise, we would have had « une levée de boucliers » in the international press – which are always happy « de taper un peu sur les Français », since this is popular and therefore good for the circulation ...

In conclusion, Textibule, you should continue to sip your « rosé » « en toute tranquillité d'esprit».

An (unpolitical) question to you : in your place, do they produce « eaux de vie de mirabelle et d'abricots » ? One of the best « eaux de vie d'abricot » is distilled in Austria, where it is called « Marillengeist, Marillenlikör ».

[Monika]

Terry wrote:
#I am actually surprised that you are for the constitution. The idea of France or England giving over their sovereignty to socialist bureaucrats in Brussells seems like a pretty bad idea to me.#

Mh, not sure if they are THAT socialist. Actually the French voted no because they feared it would be too liberal. Now if these bureaucrats are in fact socialist you'll see me confused.

Terry further wrote:
#As a lawyer reading the constitution, especially, the rights provisions, there's going to be problems. "the right to human dignity" for example could be used for anything.#

Mh. Well, a good constitution should be vage to some extent. The problem with the European constitution was that actually it was too precise. A constitution shall not replace laws but set the frameset of basic principles. The actual laws are made by parliament and enforced and made precise by court ruling. Imho it doesn't make much sense to have a constitution that is too rigid and leaves no place to law interpretation.

Btw. the most important phrase in the German constitution and in a part that cannot - under any circumstances - be altered: 'the dignity of man is untouchable.'
This phrase is a direct consequence of and was written down in the face of the horrors of the just fallen Third Reich where human dignity was first ignored and harmed before physical destruction followed. And up to now Germany has fared quite well with this phrase.

[Valentin]

Just to add to the preceding posts that the EU and his executive body have been created as an economic union, with as goals free market, open, unrestrained competition, fight against state intervention in economy, against undeserved subsidies and so on - which makes it as capitalist as the United States (if not more).
Speaking about "socialists in Bruxelles" is a pure contradictio in termine, they are amongst the most convinced freemarketeers ever.

The introduction of the Euro had as SOLE reasons economic ones, amongst which fight against inflation - goal attained according to all statistics. Why people have the feeling everything got much more expensive since 2002 is a mystery still unexplained.
As to Italians, both the politicians and the public, they have quite a short memory. Before the Euro exist the Italian pound was often devaluated and speculated on the markets, and billionnaire tycoons like George Soros almost brought Italy to default that way. Britain too actually, which is a moment whose repetition I'm waiting for, to see them Brits coming begging for the Euro like they came for the unified european market

As to abandoning sovereignty, well it would have (and will) never reach (ed) the degree to which the Great State of Ohio and the others abandoned theirs to enter their own Union.

[Susannah]

Terry is worried about Sarko's Socialists:

"Call me an absolutist, but I thought the whole idea of voting Sarkozy in was to keep the Socialists out. You obtain political position to administer your policies. Are these socialists going to administer center right positions?"

I actually don't think this is something conservatives need be too concerned about. Sarkozy's tactic seems to be to find competent Socialists who, whatever their broader philosophical position, happen to agree with him on one range of issues, and then put them in charge of those issues. Thus Kouchner, although a Socialist, is Atlanticist and humanitarian; Sarkozy agrees with him on those points; therefore he can trust Kouchner as his Foreign Minister, even though he might not trust him to do anything else.

Or take Fadela Amara -- though she's quite far to the left, her big issue is combatting thuggery (and often, radical Islam) in immigrant communities, and strenthening the healthier trends in those communities; and that, I believe, is Sarkozy's ultimate aim for the banlieues as well. She's motivated by a concern for French Muslim women, and he seems to be motivated by more general law-and-order motives, but they want the same thing, so why not work together to get it? Even though they agree on very little else.

In short, I don't think Sarko's ouverture means he's going to adopt ideas from the Left; he's just picking up Leftist politicians who already share (a few) ideas with him.

[Susannah]

Sorry, just wanted to add a postscript to reply to Valentin, who pointed out that:

"As to abandoning sovereignty, well it would have (and will) never reach (ed) the degree to which the Great State of Ohio and the others abandoned theirs to enter their own Union."

Yes, that's true, but on the other hand it's not like Ohio had an independent history stretching back over a millenium and a half, or a really rich and distinctive cultural identity, which then was tragically dissolved in a sort of amorphous pan-national mush. The states were all very young, and, what with the whole melting-pot thing, never had much of a strong individual cultural identity to begin with. (Regions have identities -- the South, the West, etc -- but not so much individual states. South Carolina and Georgia feel pretty much the same.) So losing its sovereignty didn't represent the same sort of earth-shaking change to Ohio that it would to France.

Besides, no offense to Ohio, but if I had to choose between the end of Ohio as a sovereign entity, and the end of France, Ohio would not look like much of a loss.

I'm now feeling distinctly unpatriotic. Also hoping no one here is from Ohio.

[Maggie]

There is a new word making the rounds which could be so applicable to France & the French.
It's being used to describe politicians , countries or people who want to ban everything.
France would sincerely like to ban all things non French so here is a new Anglo Saxon word for them to use, it's , BANSTURBATION.
May they enjoy using it !
Used originally in a blog then taken up by the Telegraph yesterday, or was it here in the Times ?

[rocket]

I'm from Ohio

I was born in Dayton!

[textibule]

Daniel,

I used to know a 'bouilleur de cru" who made an eau de vie de mirabelle that was always welcome in my home :-)

I don't think he's around anymore, and his metier is one of the interesting things that is gone from France.

Back to politics. I remember when Trichet was first named to his post and he wanted to eliminate 80% of the jobs in the Banque de France, justifying his policy by pointing out that France had 10 times more national bankers than anywhere else, so eliminating 80% would still leave France with twice as many national bankers as anywhere else.

The national bankers, of course, went on strike, and Trichet backed down.

Second day of sunshine in a row. Summer is huge. Think I'll have a rosé on the terrace.

[Ros]

Yes, Maggie, this awful word has been used in the Telegraph for quite a while, originated as you say, in the Tim Worsall blog - I don't thin the Times would go so far!

[azloon]

word review:

bansturbation: faux clever, imo. banal.

for would be word-makers:

"californication": if you are going to try to make a new word of this sort, this is the model for it (means: californians with mucho dinero from sales of their mcmansions moving to bordering states and driving up real estate prices, and otherwise messing with the local cultures).

attributed to a disc jockey in seattle, washington one of the favorite landing spots of restless, tasteless, money-laden californians. truth: californians took one of the most beautiful spots on earth, raped it, now are moving elsewhere in droves to participate in the degradation of whatever neighboring areas which so far have been spared.

[Mauvezin]

Maggie writes " BANSTURBATION"
The right word would be "distanciation" or "detachment" from the anglosphere

[VisitorHK]

"Bansturbation" - In what context did that word appear? Was it about the ban of "Tintin in Congo" (reason: racist, cruel towards animals)? The list of racist and brutal literature/comics that should be banned would be long. Bookshelves all over Europe are full of it.
It was banned in England, though.

[Daniel Strohl]

Textibule,

Yes, it is a pity that "le métier de bouilleur de cru" has disappeared, due to law. The official reason was that this would help to curb alcoholism; the other reason is that the state now cashs in huge taxes on alcohol sold in shops and bars since it has a quasi monopole.

However, there are of course some loopholes. For instance, I know two different persons distilling schnaps, but only for their private use - not for sale, because the potential fines are very high i.e dissuasive.

Regarding Mr.Trichet : in my opinion, he backed down not because of any personal weakness of character, but because he was told to do so - the general mood was to avoid any bigger trouble with unions in order not to jeopardize the result of pending elections - in France, up to now, we have always got pending elections. Let us hope that things will change now, even if the elections will still be pending as usual ...

Please enjoy your "rosé" and let us hope for the best

[Robert Marchenoir]

"Tasteless, money-laden Californians..." (Azloon)

Aaaaaaah!... What a breath of fresh air! Let's have some American internecine bitching for a change...

Time to give us Frenchmen a break.

[Terry]

My mother said I would go blind if I bansterbate.

[Valentin]

Just a word to say that I've got nothing against Ohio - I would have mentioned Utah if I hadn't happen to know that girl from Ohio (hope no one here is from Utah now !).

That's what I tried to say too: the EU has no business killing national identities or sovereignties. This is not the US kind of union of states. But when there are 20-30 small countries on a small strip of land called Europe and they decide to work together on a range of issues, they do need to share a bit of sovereignty. Not lose it: share it.

[Maggie]

Terry,
So spelling wasn't your mothers strong point & clearly she was wrong , as you didn't go blind ! :-)

[thinknoworpaylater]

Good! let's leave politique for the moment ( it never leaves us). Distillation still exists in France and is not illegal. What has happened is that the government has withdrawn the right (droit) to have made by fermentation of fruit a certain quantity of alcohol by distillation without taxation. The law came in in 1947 (I think) but allowed those still doing it to continue to make alcohol (by government controlled distillateurs) without tax, up to twenty litres at 50% (not bad, eh!). Now the deal is that the tax has been reduced but the "privilege' has been eliminated. Consequently we make 15 litres of eau de vie de cerise each year and pay our taxes to the revenue. However, it is not illegal and should be supported especially since it is not expensive. If there is fruit in your area/garden research the local distillers, get people to pick it and maintain this tradition. It isn't expensive because the revenue has reduced the tax for the first ten litres! Before we came here (Vaucluse) we lived in the Cote d'Or and the legal distillers were everywhere (3km,7km away). Great fun going to visit them in the winter, stamping our feet, while the copper stills chuckled away. Never get this in the UK. It was suppressed by the State years ago.Let's keep it going here.

Terry - (still politics) - While I'm all for autonomy of the individual and limiting the State in relation to small activities I'm still bound to say that some regulation of the Capitalist system (big Capitalism) is necessary. But little producers have my real sympathy. By the way distilling your own stuff privately is dangerous as well as illegal. Pay the tax, use a professional distillateur and don't go blind.

[terry]

Thinknow:

As an unorthodox marxist, I imagine you must believe everything you should be regulated by the government.

What do you think should be?

What is an unorthodox marxist? Did I miss your explanation?

[Roger Goodacre]

Where does visitorHK get the idea that Tintin in the Congo is banned in the UK? (governments long ago gave up ideas of trying to suppress publications after the Lady Chatterley's Lover fiasco).

On the contrary, Tintin in the Congo is now in Amazon UK's top 10 best sellers - all thanks to some loon from the Commission for Racial Equality (a truly Orwellian conception) who inadvertently sparked a fantastically successful free advertising campaign for the book by pontificating on the 'racist and colonialist' views expressed and trying to bully libraries and bookshops into moving it into the adult sections only.

[Daniel Strohl]

Roger Goodacre,

"All thanks to some loon from the Commission...".
I like your formulation ! But if the "loon" you mentioned happens to read also Charles' blog, he may possibly not appreciate ...

A propos "loons" in commissions : we have got plenty of them - may be that the percentage of loons per commission is not higher than elsewhere, but since we have so many commissions, the absolute number of "commissioned" loons is very high in France ...

[azloon]

LONG LIVE LE LOON !

LOONS ARE PEOPLE TOO !

TAKE A LOON TO LUNCH !

YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND A LOON UNTIL YOU'VE WALKED A MILE WITH WEBBED FEET !

WHERE THERE'S A COMMISSION, THERE'S A LOON !

(copywrite 2007)

:)

[rocket]

MOON A LOON!

[rocket]

(copywrite 2007)

eh, scusi

maybe copyright would be more in order

[azloon]

rocket --

yeah, i knew "write" didn't look wright.

would loon mooning be enhanced if accompanied by toons from claire de loon (si vous avez besoin d'un connection francaise).

gene h.

[Judith]

President Sarkozy would have two motives for bringing some of his Socialist competitors into his camp, both of which are very good politics. One would be to engender a sense of national unity (always beneficial after a hard fought election.
The second reason of course would be to deprive his opposition of its best and brightest. However it is just possible that he unwittingly does the Parti Socialiste a favour because the loss of the old guard leaves lots of room for renouvellement. He may come to regret this if he has to deal with a more effective competitor in five years time.

[thinknoworpaylater]

Terry - of course I dont think that everything we do should be regulated. Unorthodox here means what it says. You miss nothing and yet you miss everything. In my previous text I talked about the regulation of big capitalism. After Enron and the Robert Maxwell scandals I thought you could see the point. Of course the people involved in Enron have been punished and Maxwell who was being pursued by the authorities committed suicide. None of that helped the shareholders, pensioners or employees after the event.Hence the need for regulation that seeks to prevent such crimes. We are talking millions or billions of pounds- dollars here, and enormous damage to peoples lives. And don't start saying they ( Enron - Maxwell) were criminals and every system has them. So was Stalin, God help us, but we should be able to do better. Independent regulation is essential for all big capitalist operations to stop people like that getting in and doing damage. Anyway there is plenty of evidence that capitalism can fail as a system because of its inherent instability.1929 wasnt just a blip and the early seventies during the oil-shock were pretty worrying. A Marxist would say that such instabilities were an intrinsic feature of capitalism. I see (from the Sunday Times dated July 1st) that because of global capitalism (probably) the median income of American men in their thirties in 1974 was the equivalent of 40,000 dollars but is only 35,000 dollars in 2004 (in real terms). This comes from an American study done by the Economic Mobility Project. Inevitably capitalism searches out the cheapest source of labour power globally. So what is good for global capitalism is not necessarily good for American workers. But I do admire/applaud the fact that American institutions can scrutinise the sytem and point out its failings. I dont suppose this answers your questions but they do seem a touch rhetorical and point-scoring when you address them to me. By the way social/economic mobility in the U.K. is also slowing and the issue is being widely debated there.

[Terry]

Thinknow:

"Anyway there is plenty of evidence that capitalism can fail as a system because of its inherent instability.1929 wasnt just a blip and the early seventies during the oil-shock were pretty worrying."

Well, totalitarism is very stable in its own way. But I wouldnt recommend it.

The crises of 1929 and the seventies (oil) became crises because of government regulation. The banking crisis was caused to a large extent by the reserve board restricting money when there was a run on the banks. Instead, the board should have increased the supply of money. Since banks would have been able to give people there money, this would have restored confidence in the banks and stopped the run. It would also have allowed businesses to pay for employees. With the oil crisis, carter caused shortages by instituting price controls. The results: long lines and gas rationing.

[rocket]

Thinknow

"Inevitably capitalism searches out the cheapest source of labour power globally."

Oh really! Have you ever heard of a country called China?

Thinknow. Unfortunately once again you don't know what you are talking about. Just another Socialist Marxist blinded by their own false certainties.

[thinknoworpaylater]

Terry - the crisis of 1929 was not a CONSEQUENCE of government regulation. It started before the Fed's intervention because of the inherent instability of capitalism, especially the stock market (gambling) system. It is the only system we have, but let's see its defects. I don't suppose you are proposing the abolition of the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission - invented just after the Crash to control the situation).

Rocket (Shithole, your favourite epithet, after Royale). You've missed the point. China is exactly where goods are being produced (and India) that undercut Western labour costs. That's the point, stupid. And this is Adam Smith's idea, not Marx's. And by the way, there are no socialist or marxist certainties that I know of.

[Terry]

Thinknow:

Yes, the 1929 episode spiraled into a crisis because government restricted the supply of money. There are always upturns and downturns in markets. That's not instability. (Incorrect) Government action is what made the crisis unstable and threw this country into a depression. I know you've read marx as I have. But maybe you might want to consider expanding your library with a little Friedman and Hayek for a fuller picture of economics and how it works.

"That's the point, stupid. "

I don't know. Was it really necessary to call Rocket "stupid" or "sh#thhole". If you think what he said was stupid, I guess you can say that you think what he said was "stupid". I'm not so sure calling him names make you appear intelligent. It certainly didn't buttress your point.

[We do agree on one thing. The stock market is a casino.]

[thinknoworpaylater]

Terry - Ilike the way you always reply quickly -also the quality of your replies is always good- even if I dont always agree. You are right when you say its a casino. There were ten or twelve crises between 1812 and 1929 and the situation corrected itself eventually but the social costs during even a short period of say two years were considerable. I mean in America. Regarding the great Depression (which lasted longer) I recently read an interesting academic article linking long wave, Kondriatev theories of business cycles and the greater use of electricity in manufacturing in point of production machines which lead to higher production per man hour thus reducing demand for labour (and thus ability of workers to consume) as a factor in the Depression. AS to the point about China and India we can expect more and more labour price competition. The last pieces of volume car production in the U.K. not based on foreign investment (Japan etc.) was sold to a Chinese company a couple of years ago closing the factory at Longbridge near Birmingham and throwing thousands out of work, I was brought up there: and yes I have heard of China.As to Rocket- Im just reminding him that he was the first to use the term to describe Segolene Royal in one of his earlier blogs during the election. Like you I find it pretty objectionable but here its used as a tag to his codesign since he used it first (and whatever Segos limitations she hardly deserves the word no more than he.) O.K, I take it back. Magnanimity is essential. He knows what I meant. Anyway you say you are coming to Paris next year Im sure you will have a great time. Best of luck. We will speak again. Adieu. As

[Terry]

Thinknow:

Thank you for your comments.

"and the greater use of electricity in manufacturing in point of production machines which lead to higher production per man hour thus reducing demand for labour (and thus ability of workers to consume) as a factor in the Depression."

Perhaps, it could be a factor but only neglible I think. Here's why. Someone decides to make electric machines that cut down labor costs. Yet, some one has to make the electric machines which is a new industry. Electricians have to install wiring everywhere. Wires have manufactured. Utility poles have to be cut and treated. Someone has to generate the electricy. This means the creation of electrical plants and special machinery to run it. I could go on. The point is that yes, electric machines may reduce a particular manufacturer's labor needs resulting in fewer jobs. But the new usage also creates a demand for electrical goods creating a vast new industry and jobs in other areas. The question is whether the laid off workers can get into one of the new industries.

Economics is something that many marxists don't understand. That is because they are focused on politics not economics. They want everyone to have equal access to everything. Yet, they have no clue how their French camembert ends up on the table in Birmingham. In other words, they've come up with the solution before they have bothered to figure out how to get there.

As to the "stock market crash", don't forget very few people were invested in the stock market. It's near 50% today in the U.S., but I think less than 5% in 1929. The crash, caused by speculative buying on credit, precipitated another bank run. The difference was that the government, this time, cut off the money it lent to banks. The banks limited withdrawals making it hard for employers to take out money to pay employees. It also caused more runs on the bank followed by more bank failures worldwide. All courtesy of the U.S. government. The crisis was blamed on the market system rather than on stupid government policies by those who adhere to marxist/socialist views. Ironically, the solution to the problem was more government through socialized programs.

The important part to understand about economics is that not all bad news is really bad news. No one wants low wages. Yet, low wages are not bad when there are low prices-as is also true right now in the U.S. Look at the low dollar. Is that really bad for the U.S.? Certainly if you are traveling to Europe ($7 coke !?!) or importing it is. But for exports it is good. Our clothes and goods are cheaper from Europe. My Scottish cousins came here last year with empty suitcases just to load up on clothes. By contrast, wages are high in France. But costs and taxes are also high so is there any real benefit to the high wages. I think disposable income is the most significant factor.

[Valentin]

"Certainly if you are traveling to Europe ($7 coke !?!) "

That's La Closerie and La Coupole Mister, in other places a coke is about 1-2 USD. Don't make us guilty of your own flops :)

[azloon]

valentin:

from new york times piece on how dollar weakness affects european travellers from u.s.:

For Kaelon Kroft, a custodian from San Bernardino, Calif., it was the cost of Coke that shocked him most in Paris. “We just paid 9.5 euros for a can of Coke at a cafe,” he said. “At our hotel, the bar was serving a glass of Coke for four euros.”

so what's the story here ?? are we talking tourist 'rip-off' places, or are cokes more expensive generally than you contend? i will make my decision about a european vacation based on the price of a coca-cola (with lemon AND ice).

p.s. a coke without ice is like a warm margarita (margarite en francaise?). please anglicize the name of this wonderful mexican intoxicant. it may be harder to say, but "margarita" it is. any good mexican restaurants in paris? no, i mean muy bueno.

p.p.s. you notice the person quoted in the nytimes is a 'custodian.' that's a janitor. are many french janitors travelling to north america this summer?

which reminds me of the joke: a plumber delivers his bill to a customer who says: my god, this is ridiculous. my physician doesn't charge this much. and the plumber (janitor) says, " i know, i used to be one."

[Valentin]

Azloon:
"so what's the story here ?? are we talking tourist 'rip-off' places"

Yes. At stores a can of coke goes around 1 euro and 2-3 euro (3-4 USD) in decent cafes. Pizza Hut marks the icecold midsized glass at 2.70 euro, I guess.

"are many french janitors travelling to north america this summer"

Are we supposed to appreciate American janitor's good situation (for being well off enough for the trip), or the French janitor's good taste (for sparing the good Americans the pleasure of his janitor manners in tourist hypostasis) ? :)

(or maybe the inspiration of both, one for coming and the other for remaining in this open-air museum!)

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=956742007
(for the fun of the story)

[azloon]

valentine --

what great story !!

in the same vein, there was a youtube video recently of an english car rental agent who sings opera and won the "england has talent" contest. he had a wonderful voice tho i think the story was a little bit 'doctored' since he had sung prior with symphonies in italy and england.

why did i mention the janitor? only, because he was quoted about the price of coke in paris, a subject of at least limited interest here.

but then i became intrigued by the idea this guy going to europe when it very expensive for americans, especially for middle class folks.

it has now occured to me that he likely has a high paying. civil service positon, and may have more income than i do (see joke). and i am sure his manners are better than mine. :)

re: your using the word 'hypostasis'

i thought to myself, 'that isn't an english word,' tho i loved the sound of it. then i went to my dictionary, discovered it, and now plan to use it. i secretly enjoy the looks on people's faces when you use a highly obscure word in casual conversations. thanks for the lesson in my own language.