Sarkozy's new love story

They don't call him Speedy Sarko for nothing. It's exactly two months since President Sarkozy very reluctantly confirmed that Cécilia, his wife, had left and divorced him. Today, he has presented France with a new girlfriend, Carla Bruni, who turns 39 this week. Sarko being Sarko, he chose as the venue the Christmas parade at Disneyland Paris.

Bruni, a singer-songwriter and former model -- who resembles Cécilia -- is a household name in France and her native Italy. She is known for her successful first album of songs, sung in gravelly Leonard Cohen-style voice, four years ago. Her second, based on the works of great English poets, has flopped.

Known as a tempestuous and intellectual beauty, she is celebrated for a busy romantic life. Newspapers today discreetly mentioned her reputation as une dévoreuse d'hommes, a man-eater. Former close friends range from Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton to Laurent Fabius, the former Socialist Prime Minister and other famous actors and writers. A couple of years ago, Bruni featured as the villain in a book by Justine Lévy, daughter of Bernard-Henri Lévy, the thinker, after she departed with Lévy's husband  Raphael Enthoven. 

It was obvious that Sarkozy would move as fast as possible to fill the vacuum left by Cécilia's absence and to shed the image of abandoned husband. He did the same when his wife left him temporarily in 2005, moving swiftly into a public relationship with Anne Fulda, a Figaro journalist, whom he dropped when Cécilia came back nine months later.

At the time, Sarkozy said that never again would he discuss or show off his private life in public, but we knew he never meant it. The President told visitors over the past week to expect a Christmas surprise and about 15 photographers were tipped off to be around when the couple dropped into the Disney crowds with Bruni on Saturday. 

Cover stories have been prepared for three celebrity magazines, according to L'Express magazine's website, which was given the honour of announcing the news. They include Paris Match, the glossy weekly and Sarko house organ, which is owned by Arnaud Lagardère, a friend of the President.

It was love at first sight when Nicolas Sarkozy et Carla Bruni met at dinner at the home of Jacques Seguéla, dean of the French adversing world, in late November, we are told. They were seen a week ago strolling in the grounds of Versailles. Why did they go down-market to Disneyland for their public outing, the commentators are wondering.

Once again, the French media are confused about how to handle this latest piece of image management by Sarkozy. On one hand, their instinct is to take the Gallic high road, respect the laws of privacy and eschew gossip about the life of the ruler. But since the President has orchestrated the episode, most by mid-morning have put scruples aside and have reported l'idylle de Carla et Nicolas as the top story.  They are getting over their qualms by adding a little spin about la peopleisation of French public life and noting that a Christmas love story is good timing for the president as his ratings have begun to sink. The other two stories of recent days have been his humiliation by Muammar Gaddafi, his guest last week, and the rough treatment of homeless Parisians by Sarkozy's police.

Welcoming readers to "Sarko: Season Two", Libération concluded: "This paparazzised idyll, carried out with the complicity of the subjects, will do a lot to refurbish the image of a President who was left to his own devices by his ex-spouse."

Here is Mlle Bruni singing her hit, "Someone told me".

Carla BRUNI - Quelqu'un m'a dit - Clip

Comments

[Dr Rumsfeld]

As Rimmer in Red Dwarf would say 'Wow, what a guy!'

[John]

My advice M. le President is that if you invite the wolves to dinner, then expect to be next on the menu.

[Veronique M., France]

Little correction : Carla Bruni departed whith Raphael Enthoven (a philosophy teacher), the son of Jean-Paul Enthoven (also a philosophy).
Before this, she had a love affair with Jean-Paul Enthoven.

[Lily]

Now I would like to hear Dadou on Petit Nicolas’ latest conquest.

He has found rejuvenated Cecilia back – which may still seem so, after the three week (!) romance with a few interruptions by Gaddafi and the usual business… - She might be different under the surface, though. He’ll sure find out – and let us know.

Don’t the media [sorry, Charles -] feel that they get ‘messed around’ as they get into the trap whenever Sarko appears with an attractive woman by his side?

I guess Sarko prefers to see the public discuss his love life instead of his politics. The media will be happy with it, as long as his stories sell. I guess they do.

Sarko was in full control of the situation when he got divorced. No information leaked before the actual divorce. Here again, he stages the break of the news. No leak within these three weeks.

Why is it so difficult for ALL the news people to get all the information ANY time?

The news gets through to the public whenever the President wants it which is quite normal.
The surprising thing just is that it appears that little news - that the President doesn’t want to see publicly discussed – will get published (or is this grossly exaggerated?).

[Maggie G]

The whole story strikes me as rather fishy -- there has been such a media frenzy over it.

I put the radio on for an hour in the morning (where it was the top story, I believe) and an hour or two at noon, and already they have analyzed the thing to death, including one woman shreiking, "He's the President of France! He should have chosen a better symbol than Euro- Disney!!"

Can they really sustain this story for another day? One caller commented that the only good thing about it is looking forward to tomorrow morning to see what Nicholas Canteloup will do with it.

[TJ]

Shurely shome mishtake? The French term for celebrity nobodies is "pipole" (sorry, Academie Française), so the verb must be "pipolisation", isn't it?

[John]

Meanwhile, Belgium is seriously falling apart, but of course it's much more important to gossip about the president's love life!

Charles Bremner, I asked you a few months ago if you could post something about the opinion of French political leaders behind the scenes vis à vis the Belgium crisis. You said you would talk about it, but you still haven't done it. Since you're an avid reader of Libération from what I understand, you've probably read this incredible story this week-end: a top Belgian politician from the center-right, Daniel Ducarme, called for a union of the French-speaking part of Belgium with France. He said Brussels and Wallonia could have the same status as French Polynesia, France managing defense and foreign affairs. According to Libération, Daniel Ducarme visited Paris during the week-end to have talks with French politicians.

So do you know anything about this? What's the talk of the (political) town regarding Belgium? Sarkozy was interviewed last week about Belgium and he said France would not interfere, but of course everybody thinks in reality France has a plan. What's your take on it? If Wallonia and France joined France, the French population would reach almost 70 million (incl. overseas France), thus significantly altering the balance of power in the European Union.

[Richard, Paris]

Another reasonable trade off for Sarko. By the time the press has finished with this new story, everyone will have forgotten about the Khadafi furore and the freezing homeless people.....

[Dominique]

I lack words in order to describe what this president is up to.

[Daso]

Sarko warms himself up in the arms of his newfound love when thousands of homeless freeze on the banks of sein river. After gadafi this isn't a bad choice. Come on.. Old boy, get going. Yes, media people you've got something to talk about now; hurry up please. You'll never die of starvation..!!

[qwerty]

My goodness -- I looked up the Daily Mail on Google, to see what they had to say about it, and came up with....Laurence Ferrari. I suppose she's history?

[dot king]

So, just a week ago he was lunching with Chimène Badi, I think Laurence Ferrari was a non-starter. My master (or possibly mistress)theory is that he had a batch of greeting cards printed with "meilleurs voeux, N et C" - therefore he had to choose someone with initial C, hence Chimène Badi who might have been a serious contender as she's from ethnic minority origins . . .
He keeps going for these tall women though doesn't he - obviously can't do without those dinky little cuban heels (can't we call those something else? "cuban" sounds a bit "leftish" :))
Ms Bruni supported Mme Royal in the elections and also signed the anti-DNA petition. Will he make her suffer for this??
Reading the list, she sounds like she's dumped better men than Sarko - and I am seriously revising my position on Eric Clapton! :(

[Lily]

"...a top Belgian politician from the center-right, Daniel Ducarme, called for a union of the French-speaking part of Belgium with France. He said Brussels and Wallonia could have the same status as French Polynesia, France managing defense and foreign affairs. " (John)

John, Charles,

tell us more, please. That would not only mean a shift in power but also that Brussels would be part of the French Republic which could help to overcome French European scepticism.

How serious is this?

[D]

How sweet, while everybody's head is buried in Gala, he can pass what ever reforms he wants.

[The 3rd Column]

As a French citizen and one who voted for Nicolas Sarkozy, I say right on, Monsieur le Président...

I don't think the French electorate need to worry that you are dating all these ladies. You are not married and who you date is your concern -- it's your "droit le plus stricte" (your right in the strictest sense).

But a caveat, Monsieur le Président -- that these romances should not get in the way of your work as president of La République Française. Your duty first and foremost is to the country -- it's your responsibility to "preside" over the affairs of the nation and its citizens with as much presidential efficiency as possible -- nobody but nobody should step in the way, not even a "future first lady."

[Emily W]

OK it is not comfortable being homeless in winter but freezing to death on the banks of the Seine? I don't think so. What about all this global warming then and remember Paris is a city of lots and lots and lots of hot air. Carla is an improvement on Gadaffi that's for sure. But 39 is a tad ancient and worn don't you think -too many bones rattling in the armoire.

[Andy]

What about poor Rachida? Yesterday's woman already?

[Valentin]

It seems most of those manifesting on the banks of the Seine were radicalized militants of the Don Quichotte association, and not at all actual homeless people.

Yet another anti-Sarko operation, I'd add.

[Mauvezin]

The whole story strikes me as rather fishy -- there has been such a media frenzy over it.
*********************
Oh Maggie are you kidding !?
What about years of gossip about Diana !?
What about the so long boring Mc Cann story !?

[thibaud]

Fess(e) up, now. Better a Speedy Sarko than a Snarky Speedo.

[dot king]

an aside - Mauvezin are you 32?

[dot king]

Mauvezin, noticed your contributions before, are you of the thirty-two?

[dot king]

I clicked on the link to l'Express yesterday and was amazed at the clip of Christophe Barbier, whom I often see on "C dans l'Air" and have previously regarded as a clear-thinking authority on whatever the issue of the day is, Khadafi, strikes, Arch de Zoë - you name it.
He spoke of the new presidential couple as being of great importance because Carla Bruni is a star of planetary proportions.
Q Q Q Q Q U U U U O O O O I I I I??
He also spoke of her as a "singer" and on "C dans l'Air" yesterday evening, he begged that she should not give up singing. (He's obviously an unconditional fan; whether "singing" is the right word for what she does is debatable.)
Yesterday I was talking to an English friend who lives in France and who hadn't ever heard of Carla Bruni. So much for "vedette planétaire".
I suspect we are in for a lot of media fawning.

[I agree, Dot. When I mentioned Bruni to The Times Foreign Desk yesterday morning, they had not heard of her. So much for planetary proportions, though that does rather illustrate my point on Sunday about Anglo-Saxon culture being closed to non-Anglo artists. CB]

[M-J]

Thanks for the list of Clara Bruni's lovers, Eric Clapton, Mick Jaegger and others... Only one name named for the President, the journalist Anne Fulda! It is not surprising he has got some catching up work to do !

[christopher muir]

The Monaco Palace can provide the 1956 script with stage directions. Nothing changes.

[christopher muir]

The Monaco Palace can provide the 1956 script with stage directions. Nothing changes.

[Hope]

Charles, wasn't CB's (oh, she's got the same initials as you!) last album in English? - the idea I suppose being that she would 'conquer' the anglo-saxon market... I think it flopped... planetarily...

French artists being recommended in British paper's Christmas lists include Vanessa Paradis, Rachida Taha, Charlotte Gainsbourg and even Benjamin Biolay (and don't forget Air, Justice, and all those floppy-haired DJs who export rather well)

[dot king]

Charles: I shall be phoning a friend in the UK who is married to an Italian soon, I shall keep you posted as to whether they've heard of Ms Bruni!
Yes, her being unheard of does illustrate your point about the refusal of non-anglo culture, but what is she to be known for? As you mention, her recent CD of English/American poetry set to her own music was a flop even in France - and hardly surprising, but the amount of praise and positive criticism and air-time she got in French radio and TV was disproportionate even for a country where beauty is counted as if it were €uros.
On "Le Fou du Roi" she was compared to Bob Dylan and to Joan Baez, and her "interpretation" (intelligible guitar-accompanied mumblings interspersed with "Hmmm"s) of the poems was likened to Jimi Hendrix' playing the USA national anthem and to Gainsbourg's reggae version of La Marseillaise.
Hendrix and Gainsbourg, whatever anyone thought of them at the time, and both created controversy, each made an impact, a statement, provoked anger, a rethink, whatever, but there was a reaction. They made a difference, even if it was just de passage. Carla Bruni contributed nothing to anyone's understanding of English-language poetry - in fact you couldn't tell what she was singing. In one radio interview she attributed one of her songs to the wrong poet! In another (it's a véritable gavage sometimes) she said that Marianne Faithfull had given her a book of Shakespeare's sonnets, and had told her they would be quite difficult. But, she said, she understood them straight away - which had they heard about it, the scholars who've been analysing them for about four centuries, might have found disconcerting!!
On today's lunchtime news, The Romance was still being discussed, but had dropped below the homeless and the Palestinian Fund - is she to be included in the Papal visit? Is she to be included at Buck House next March? She was described as "super belle et super intelligente".
BTW Charles - I think they cited your article on France Inter 13h News, said that the very "sérieux journal The Times" had called Carla Bruni "une croqueuse d'hommes".

[John Gregory Flinn]

From the pics I've seen of Carla Bruni she looks like a clone of Cecilia.

JOHN - I agree with your call for some French opinion on Belgium ex-CB.
From what I've read elsewhere the Dutch seem ready to absorb Flanders, and Brussels might remain as a sort of modern 'city-state' although there has recently been some gerrymandering of the voting sectors there.
The inauguration of Miss Belgique yesterday(?) was greeted with boos after she answered a question in French which was put to her in Dutch. So there is not much love lost between the two groups.

Strangely, the outcome in Kosovo could have implications for Belgium.

[Gilbert Murray]

One can be a militant and homeless-to the charitable person who seems to guess otherwise.Pecksniffery.

[Terry]

Maggie quoted:

"He's the President of France! He should have chosen a better symbol than Euro- Disney!!"

Yet, more proof of the supposed supremacy of American culture. McDonald's would have been poor form.

[richard jones]

John,

If Wallonia went back to France it would only be 1830 revisited. The idea of regaining Wallonia has never been far down the French agenda. In some ways the French induced and funded ill-treatment of the Vlams by Wallonians was part of this plan and certainly having Brussels as a European capital helped. Now I wonder if Germany would start to reactivate their almost, but not quite dormant plan to regain Alsace-Lorraine

[dot king]

Oh boy! What if Carla Bruni gets invited to Buckingham Palace as Sarkozy's official - erm, whatever - imagine the conversation:
- Charmed. And what do you do young lady?
- Egalement Votre Majesty. I sing and play the guitar, Ma'am.
- Oh, how interesting. I've met one or two young men who sing and play the guitar at my New Year's Honours ceremonies. Perhaps you know Mr Jagger and Mr Clapton?

Baffouillements sarkoziens! ;}

Perhaps someone should warn Her Madge? But, could be all over by then. Qui sait?

"One can be a militant and homeless"

...which was definitely not the case.
Your comment is obviously biased and your judgment already made.

[Maggie G]

Just in case the language policeman is off-duty, I would like to point out to Richard Jones that that should have been

"In some ways the French-induced-and-funded ill-treatment of the Vlams by the Wallonians was part of this plan",

and not "In some ways the French induced and funded ill-treatment of the Vlams by the Wallonians was part of this plan".

It seems to me that the verb in that sentence is "was", and if you don't put hyphens, it looks like "induced and funded" are verbs, but if they are, the end of the sentence doesn't make sense.

N'est-ce pas?

[dot king]

On the Belgian front, I heard on yesterday's news that an interim government was being formed and that a solution was likely to be found.
BTW Miss Belgique was elected DESPITE not being able to anwser that she wanted to undertake Humanitarian Causes for World Peace in Dutch.
I think we are expected to think this was a step in the right direction.
They elected her and she has undertaken to learn to speak Dutch. Just another political compromise ;}
Watch this space.

[QCD]

Are you allowed to post an MCM clip on your blog Charles? And is that you in the background holding the candle?

[Dominique]

Lili about Belgium,

"That would not only mean a shift in power but also that Brussels would be part of the French Republic which could help to overcome French European scepticism."

I'd rather write :

"That would not only mean a shift in power but also that Brussels would be part of the French Republic which could definitly instal European scepticism about France."

More seriously, people from belgium do not want to become french. Bruxellers even less...

[KARENB]

I warmly recommend all refer to the quite instructive book by Justine Lévy, Bernard Henry-Levy's( the philosopher-writer)young daughter...then you will get the best possible picture of Miss Bruni and her... for others mainly... devastating nymphomania.
You will hear the sweet story of Justine's last holiday with her young husband, Raphael Einthoven, at her father in law's Jean- Paul Einthoven ( the publisher) summer residence...and how the ruthless in house Mistress of Einthoven Senior ( dear sweet Carla!) delighted herself having sex in the family home with Justine's young husband when the rest of the party was sent away...of course there was a divorce but more than anything a young woman who did hurt like hell for years...Ask Jerry Hall, she knows the feeling...Jacqueline Bisset as well...I am afraid I do not have the list of the others...too long...that kind of behaviour has got a name, doesn'it?
In itself, who cares?
But the President of La République Française...parading around with "that"...If it does him good, O.K...but can he not keep her for his own use and spare us that unclean image...would Sarkozy had got tips from Arnaud Klarsfeld and most of his male staff...who had been "there" before?

[mathilde]

i'm french girl and excuse me but ispeak not very well english (sorry)
i read yhe times 2 years ago.
carla bruni and sarkozi realy?
just a friend or more???

[Blendi]

These distractions are becoming too much and leading to some serious doubt about the guy`s wisdom. And it isnt any other guy, but the President of France!

Exhibiting this kind of erratic behaviour won`t help Comrade Nicolai when the going gets tough. He must find a wife / girlfriend, but dating C. Bruni is not the best way to find some peace and bring little tranquillity in his troubled - home / private life.
--------------------

One more publicity seeking girlfriend and I may be forced to call the guy - Immature.
;)
Lets hope he`ll change.

[christopher muir]

A sort of Prince Rainier - Grace Kelly rerun to the altar?

[marine]

This is funny, Sarko and Carla, the presidency is turning into a soap opera.
Carla said many times she was not a monogamous person, perhaps Sarko sets himself a new challenge, or perhaps that, being finally a very traditional French president, he needs multiple relationships. Well, if it doesn't work out, he could ask minnie for a date.

[Frank Schnittger]

Whilst you guys are engaging in tabloid journalism and frivilous debate I have written a blog on why Ireland may reject the EU Reform treaty thus throwing the whole process of EU reform into disarray.

Ok, ok I know its not a very sexy topic, but for those who want to read on, they can do so at http://www.eurotrib.com/?op=displaystory;sid=2007/12/18/165010/83

[Rocket]

Mathilde

Moi American garsson

too peu lir jornals franseys?

Bruni é sarkosy plus k'ami

And...they're making nookie nookie

[Johnny Foreigner]

The mind can't help but wander and wonder:

1. Nothing like bedding an ex-model (or being presumed to have bedded) to get back into ones media stride after a tough week with troublesome foreigners.

2. What if actually she's filming the lot, and "playing away" at the same time?

3. In a startling coincidence, he'll get his heart broken during a period of important union and university reforms and fall back into Rachida Dati's arms.

4. They'll have a John and Yoko style naked protest for the release of Ingrid Betancourt.

[richard jones]

Maggie,

Yes, I should have moved 'France' to the end of the sentence and expressed it as an ablative absolute but we Welsh-Swiss-Argentinian-Greeks do get linguistically confused de temps en temps.
Having said this I think the point was generally understood that France retains a historic (or would you prefer 'an' - based on assonantal phonetics rather than caligraphy?) interest, founded - they maintain - (or would you prefer (they maintain)) on their shared socio-cultural background with Wallonia and this excuse shades quickly, catalysed (when is a gerund a verb?) by French national interest, into close econo-political links. France, make no mistake, will put those interests before the unity or viability of a Belgian Federation on the basic French tenet that if we cannot reign over it we will rein in
its influence (eg OTAN).

[richard jones]

Dominique,

Les belges de Wallonie ne veulent pas être adopter comme français. But this is nothing to do with anything. It is to do only with France, the wishes of Wallonie ne figurent pas.

[QCD]

Richard Jones, you do realise that you're calling for WWIII? Why do you think the European Union was created? To accomodate Scotland?

[GAG]

Having recently heard Carla Bruni singing, I can well understand Time magazine’s comments about French culture, as mentioned in the previous blog.

[john o'doe]

"Once again, the French media are confused about how to handle this latest piece of image management by Sarkozy. On one hand, their instinct is to take the Gallic high road, respect the laws of privacy and eschew gossip about the life of the ruler."
Sarko-friendly TF1 got it wrong by totally ignoring this story when it broke on Monday. They explained that they had taken the privacy high road.
Sarko-friendly Paris Match apparently hesitated to buy and publish the photos out of fear of been seen as a government organ. Let's not forget that the previous editor was fired two years ago after he put Cécilia with her then lover on the front page.
Before the Disneyland coming out, photos had been taken of Sarko with la Bruni in Versailles but the press didn't dare publish them.

[QCD]

"Adoptés", not "adopter", Richard Jones. The French already rein in wallonian influence. In fact, Wallonia is pouring with French influence. What's more to rain in? I mean rein in?

And as for history, it may not have escaped your attention that the map of France forms a near-perfect hexagon. See Renaud for further details.

Let Wallonia be its own state if it wants to. They might get around to improving the road signs.

[John Gregory Flinn]

I've read your well-argued article FRANK, and can agree with the sentiment "that Ireland's (and the rest of them - my parentheses)political elite and their European counterparts are engaged in an elite project to push ..."

The "Allegations that the Treaty will compromise Ireland's (largely fictional) neutrality...." is a serious point for the Irish who, I feel, always want to retain the OPTION about neutrality. I think they like to see which way England might jump.
But was'nt this an issue the first time around? If not, why should it be this time?

Politics seems to be going the way of Football - too much money swilling around for its own good.
Consequent disillusionment should follow - we'll see.

[John Gregory Flinn]

I've read your well-argued article FRANK, and can agree with the sentiment about the political elites pushing their own agendas.

The thing about Irish neutrality is that, I feel, they always want to retain the OPTION about it. I think they like to see which way England might jump.
But was'nt this an issue the first time around? If not, why should it be this time?

Politics seems to be going the way of Football - too much money swilling around for its own good.
Consequent disillusionment should follow - we'll see.

[Han-Koh Chung]

I hope Mr.Sarkozy could find his true love and be happy.

[Sam Young]

@ Frank Schnittger

Hello, FS,

Yes indeed, not really related to NS and his paramour, but more interesting IMHO.

Your article finishes with the words "We have one shot at getting this right."

Yes, i agree. It is essential that the Irish vote massively against this treaty. I know i will. And i know many people who will. Hard to predict the outcome.

[John Gregory Flinn]

Hi HAN-KOH CHUNG, I guess you are Korean.
Forgive me for being intrusive (my wife is korean), but what do you think of Lee Myung Bak's chances of winning the presidential election?

I also hope that M. Sarkosy finds true love, but it seems elusive these days in politics.

[Frank Schnittger]

John Gregory Flinn - you'll find it hard to find anyone with a clear definition of what Irish Neutrality actual is, other than a vague determination to maintain our independent right to do our own thing if and when we choose. It began during WW2 because we couldn't bring ourselves to overtly support the Brits - although we did covertly - right down to providing the weather forecasts for the D Day landings.

Nowadays "neutrality" is an issue in relation to rendition flights through Shannon, not joining NATO, etc., and some resistence to the EU developing a common defence and security policy. It was the pre-text for having a second referendum on the Nice treaty, but less complacency and a higher turnout was the reason it was actually passed.

I don't think it will be a huge issue this time around, its just a hook to motivate all the people who are appalled by the rendition flights into voting against the treaty, although the issues are actually unrelated, and if anything, the Treaty will enable a stronger, more coherent and concerted EU foreign policy emerging independently of the US.

Sam Young - I think that similar to Nice, a low turnout could lead to a no vote majority, but a high turnout will probably see it through.

[Frank Schnittger]

John Gregory Flinn - you'll find it hard to find anyone with a clear definition of what Irish Neutrality actual is, other than a vague determination to maintain our independent right to do our own thing if and when we choose. It began during WW2 because we couldn't bring ourselves to overtly support the Brits - although we did covertly - right down to providing the weather forecasts for the D Day landings.

Nowadays "neutrality" is an issue in relation to rendition flights through Shannon, not joining NATO, etc., and some resistence to the EU developing a common defence and security policy. It was the pre-text for having a second referendum on the Nice treaty, but less complacency and a higher turnout was the reason it was actually passed.

I don't think it will be a huge issue this time around, its just a hook to motivate all the people who are appalled by the rendition flights into voting against the treaty, although the issues are actually unrelated, and if anything, the Treaty will enable a stronger, more coherent and concerted EU foreign policy emerging independently of the US.

Sam Young - I think that similar to Nice, a low turnout could lead to a no vote majority, but a high turnout will probably see it through.

> DOT KING
No but Mauvezin or Malvezy is my family's one property name coming from the north of the 65 .
I live in Paris :)

[azloon]

i find the gossip about carla and sarko much more compelling than belgian and irish political palaver.

remember, media is about distraction, not substance. everyone knows western civilization is headed down the tubes anyway, so why care about whether belgium becomes two or four different countries, or if ireland becomes the fifty-first american state?

re carla's video clip

she has an appealing 'introductory' cough, and hums quite nicely.

on the negative side, i think i would become bored with her quickly, but not 'stiff."

[dot king]

Azloon, Carla B won the Best Female Artist French Music Award for that album and it's pretty much the same all the way through - I think it was two years ago, maybe three.
It's OK (far) in the background, but the English / American poetry was a real bummer.
I'm still surprised at the lack of reaction to Sarko's taking J-M Bigard to the Vatican with him. Come on you lot, where's your sense of outrage?? ;}

[dot king]

Mauvezin - thanks interesting to know the other version o a local lieudit - the 65's not so far away from the two others I know in the 32 and the 40, but they are villages not "family seats" :)

[Mauvezin]

they are villages not "family seats"
*******************
You're right , there is several Mauvezin ou Malvezy meaning "mauvais voisin = bad neighbour"
In my case it's a family seat or " le nom d'une terre" :)

[Mauvezin]

I'm still surprised at the lack of reaction to Sarko's taking J-M Bigard to the Vatican with him.
******************
Me too !
I can't understand this kind of taste !?

[dot king]

Mauvezin - about JM Bigard - the lack of reaction is probably because many of the posters are outside of France and don't know who he is - yet another piece of French culture that they haven't been able to export!! :)
Good news for the rest of the world IMO.
Seriously though, why him? It almost seems like a deliberate insult given the extreme vulgarity of the man. It doesn't do the presidential image any good to see him frequenting JMB - but maybe he too is a "gadget" - a link to the lowest common denominator voter.

[Mauvezin]

It doesn't do the presidential image any good to see him frequenting JMB
***********
Sure
But I'm asking myself why he introduced JMB front the Pope !??
A so vulgar character pronouncing the word "dick" each four words can be introduced in barracks but never in Vatican or any religious place .
M Sarkozy, put aside his qualities,is a kind of "parvenu" the kind of character depicted in "Le bourgeois-gentilhomme" a modern M Jourdain.
Merry Xmas
Happy New Year
MdM.

[dot king]

Mauvezin, quite, as if he hasn't quite yet learned society manners.
I think we each understand the other, but I was referring to the lack of perplexity on the JMB at the Vatican story and explaining it by thinking that most bloggers don't know who he is.
Some humorists can be vulgar and funny, JMB is just plain sickeningly vulgar, wide of the mark. Also France counts many practising Catholics who must be wondering why such an "honour" should be conferred upon one so "unworthy".
well I suppose it could have been worse - he could have taken along Cauet . . .

[Valentin]

"A so vulgar character pronouncing the word "dick" each four words "

Coming from a French person, this strikes me as a rather unusual accusation, as the everyday-life language of even the most civilized is literally filled with the different declinations of the verbs chier, foutre and so on. Come on, you're the only nation who turned songs about the chatte or the zizi into hits ! :)

[Mauvezin]

as the everyday-life language of even the most civilized is literally filled with the different declinations of the verbs chier, foutre and so on.
**********************
Souffrez, Monsieur, ma tres sincere admiration pour votre sens de la nuance

[dot king]

Valentin, you never cease to amaze me - just because a lot of people use bad language doesn't mean that JMB should get to go on a presidential visit to the Vatican. The two things are, and shoud remain (have remained) quite separate.
Perhaps you think that le Bigard should be their official ambassador?

With any luck, His Holiness might never have to listen to what passes for humour chez Bigard.
BTW he is also sexist, mysoginist, and has, as Mauvezin points out, an obsession with his own "tackle".
Aside from all that, I'm still trying to work out the intrinsic political value of his presence on a state visit!

[Valentin]

Dot:
"just because a lot of people use bad language doesn't mean that JMB should get to go on a presidential visit to the Vatican"

Agree.

"The two things are, and shoud remain (have remained) quite separate"

True.

"Perhaps you think that le Bigard should be their official ambassador?"

I don't.
I don't know why Sarko took him. Goodness. Maybe they were friends in the kindergarten, maybe Bigard is another man in private, NO IDEA!
Is this of any importance? Did Bigard sign anything? The President even took his mother on an official visit. That doesn't bother me, nor does it interest me.

My post before was about the "dick every four words", nothing more.
French do talk pretty dirty in real life, they shouldn't play the virgins, just dont go to Bigard's shows!

[Mauvezin]

French do talk pretty dirty in real life.......
***************
........and don't wash themselves.....!!!

[Valentin]

"and don't wash themselves"

Si c'est vous qui le dites... bon ben... ma foi ! :))

[millier marc]

its incridible , Bigard in front of the pope.He is so rude and so vulgaire.Is it the FRENCH CULTURE!!!.I don't think so !!!!! happily. I'm french and I 'm completly shock!!
I'm reminbering his dirty story "le laché de salopes"!!
Its the proof that SARKO isn't normal

[Valentin]

Il parait que J-M Bigard est très religieux et respectueux envers l'Église dans sa vie perso, le contraire de ce que l'on pourrait croire en regardant ses one-man-show.

[millier marc]

il est peut-être religieux , c'est son droit !!!!, mais il est vulgaire et ses histoires sont vraiment pas un exemple de la culture française.
Il est en fait au mme niveau
que le nouveau prsesident français.
Un teenager attardé!!!!!