Sarkozy tells France a story

 

Sorry Frank, Valentin, Mads and others who think that there's too much Nicolas Sarkozy here. I can't resist posting this picture and citing some new insights into France's hyper-president.

The cover photo leads yet another Paris Match spread on Sarko's new love-life. The president is strolling in Egypt with his hand around Carla Bruni's midriff, above a glimpse of black underwear. "The lovers of the Nile. Kisses, laughs, tender gestures, the photo-album of their vacation," says the headline. The copy inside is grovelling gush about the super-statesman taking a well-deserved break.

Judging by the sales of Match and other media which are playing up the romance, the French have still not had enough of the Sarko show. But his exhibitionism is getting on the nerves of the opposition. François Hollande, the Socialist leader, has just defined the style with his usual wit. "Sarzkozyism is above all narcissism," said Hollande.

Thanks to a new book, we know that Sarkozy sees his highly orchestrated Egypian idyll as "telling France a story." The line comes from one of the fascinating scenes in Des Hommes d'Etat, an insider's account of Sarkozy's ruthless quest for power in the closing years of Jacques Chirac's administration.

Bruno Le Maire, the author, was chief of staff to Dominique de Villepin, the protegé whom Chirac appointed Prime Minister in 2005 in a last-ditch attempt to block Sarko's path to the Elysée Palace. Tom Cruise -- Villepin's nickname for his then Interior Minister -- believed that France did not care about a successful record. It wanted narrative. "You have to tell the French a story," Sarko lectured the newly-appointed Villepin. "What story are you going to tell them in July, in August, next year ?".

The extracts published in today's L'Express and other papers, show how obsessed Sarko was with winning power and how much Chirac and Villepin loathed him and were out to stop him. Sarkozy emerges as the figure we recognise, a little boy who wants to avenge rejection by the popular gang at school. "I am alone. I made myself alone. I will remain alone in this battle," Sarko tells Villepin in a tense meeting in late 2006. "All the others are out. Even the president. He thinks he knows better than me. But I know better and he won't get me."

Sarkozy is enjoying the last laugh, with both Chirac and Villepin facing criminal charges over episodes in their distant and recent past. The President is showing no mercy towards his former bosses, much to the chagrin of the Chirac camp. I have bumped into two of Chirac's inner circle over the holiday period. Both told me how much the old president, now 75, has aged in recent months and how wounded he was by Sarko's recent comment that the prosecutors should have got to him sooner over abuses when he was Mayor of Paris and Gaullist chief. Those were the years -- in the 1980s and early 90s - when Chirac was helping young Sarko up the ladder. 

The political season has opened again today, with ministers quaking over Sarkozy's first review of their individual performances after eight months in office. He is expected to keep François Fillon as his Prime Minister but cull the under-achievers from his cabinet within weeks.

It fell to Fillon today to give the first exegesis of Sarko's latest narrative for the people: French renaissance  through "the politics of civilisation".  Sarko borrowed this rather nebulous doctrine from Edgar Morin, a leftish sociologist, and announced it on New Year's eve. Fillon explained that it was all about "putting the values of the spirit and culture at the heart of an era that may be feared as disembodied, utilitarian and selfish." Pictures from the Nile are easier to grasp.   

Comments

[QCD]

Telling a story, in french, is known as raconter une histoire. Not to be confused with raconter des histoires, which means telling lies. A joke - like Frank's - is an histoire drôle.

Q: How many software engineers does it take to change a lightbulb?
A: It can't be done - it's a hardware problem.

The above will have struck most readers as unfunny - the narative hasn't taken root. But I can tell you that it's a lot funnier than most of the tags you'll find on Euro Tribune.

[azloon]

CB, rather than apologize to those who've carped about 'sarkoworld,' you could have 'dedicated' this nice piece to those of us, like me, who probably wouldn't be here without sarko's emergence a couple of years ago.

i will continue to encourage you to follow your gut (it's right on!) and give this guy as much exposure as he demands. he is the country's president, after all. sort of hard to dismiss him, n'est pas?

Dominique, you may be able to pull this lapin chaud 'out of a hat,' but you can't make him disappear.

:)

[Daisy]

I suppose it was inevitable that the first post will be about this nasty, creepy, tacky little scumbag. They all think they are infallible but that just makes the fall more spectacular. Do you think Napoleon or Hitler or Saddam thought their end would come?

[stephen Bull]

He is versatile, isn't he?
Romance, renaissance and recrimintion all in one day.

PS the future of aviation is hydrogen not batteries. It is lighter.

[dada]

learn how to ...

http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=Xmt9KXCCJ7M

[Emmanuel]

Mr Bremer,

I suggest a less glamourous but nevertheless interesting subject for a next post:

"L'appel de Latran"

It is to be noted that following his visit to Vatican, Mr Sarkozy gave a speech about religion and praise a "laïcité positive" as a more positive attitude toward religions.

The message here may be positive but the French President is the LAST person that should deliver it. A big big red line has been crossed here and it is surprising that it drew so little reactions in the press. Notable exceptions include "le Monde".

Laicité (secular society / governement) is a cornerstone of the French Republic. Personnally, I am not hostile to this governement's ideas and actions but I am troubled by "L'appel de Latran". It seems that I am not the only one.

http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/reactions/0,1-0@2-3232,36-992298,0.html

Incidentally, this speech resonates with the current American presiential campaign where two of the proeminent republican candidates uses religion as a political tool.

An interesting counterpoint is the debate that took place on IHT blogs from your Francophile peer Mr Cohen about the same question

http://blogs.iht.com/tribtalk/opinion/passages/?p=53

The comments from readers are very very interesting.

I am aware how alien the concept of "laicité" is (except for the Turks) but drawing a franco-american parallel on the question is always fascinating.

Ah yes, I did not buy an read the magazine that you mentioned in your post although Carla is beautiful on the cover page. I guess this is too frivolous for me.

[Marguerite.]

Vous qui savez tout, Monsieur Bremner,est-ce que c'est vrai que Jack Lang va entrer au gouvernement pour remplacer...?

[Dominique]

Azloon,

Just for you, a little histoire, written by Carla Bruni for an unkown man...at the time...

that can't be invented...I am sorry i had to post it. Sorry for those who can't read french.

Carla Bruni
Le plus beau du quartier
2002 "Quelqu'un m'a dit"

Regardez-moi
Je suis le plus beau du quartier
J'suis l'bien aimé
Dès qu'on me voit
On se sent tout comme envouté
Comme charmé, hum
Lorsque j'arrive
Les femmes elles me frôlent de leurs
Regards penchés
Bien malgré moi, hé
Je suis le plus beau du quartier, hum, hum, hum

Est-ce mon visage
Ma peau si finement grainée
Mon air suave
Est-ce mon allure
Est-ce la grâce anglo-saxonne
De ma cambrure
Est-ce mon sourire
Ou bien l'élégance distinguée
De mes cachemires
Quoi qu'il en soit
C'est moi le plus beau du quartier, hum, mais

Mais prenez garde à ma beauté
A mon exquise ambiguïté
Je suis le roi
Du désirable
Et je suis l'indéshabillable
Observez-moi, hum, hum, hum
Observez-moi de haut en bas
Vous n'en verrez pas deux comme ça
J'suis l'favori
Le bel ami
De toutes ces dames
Et d'leurs maris
Regardez-moi

Regardez-moi, hum, hum
Je suis le plus beau du quartier
J'suis l'préféré
Mes belles victimes
Voudraient se pendre à mes lacets
Ca les abîme
Les bons messieurs, eux
Voudraient tellement m'déshabiller
Ca les obstine
Bien malgré moi, oui bien malgré moi
Je suis le plus beau du quartier, mais

Mais prenez garde à ma beauté
A mon exquise ambiguïté
Je suis le roi
Du désirable
Et je suis l'indéshabillable
Observez-moi, hum, hum, hum
Observez-moi de haut en bas
Vous n'en verrez pas deux comme ça
J'suis l'favori
Le p'tit chéri
De toutes ces dames
Et d'leurs maris
Aussi, oui

[azloon]

Dominique --

this is the second time this week you have written in french in response to me -- quite romantic, but remember my level of incompetence (and my gender).

without even getting out my dictionary, i seem to be able to grasp the gist of carla's lyrics.

a suggestion by you, peut-etre, that these two narcissists are a match made in heaven?

remember, however, that she is an artist ("arteeestah"), and that her lyrics are art, not her personal truth -- which you seem to be suggesting.

i particularly like her humming ("hum, hum, hum"). i remember from the video posted here that she is quite a nice hummer (there is a joke i could make about 'humming' for those familiar with scatalogical english slang, but i'll pass).

[Robin.W.Midwood]

It is the machine behind "HIM" that intrigues me and which I admire for the thrust of change ;all angles seem to be covered and studied. Forgive me for adding ,but oh MR Brown!!!imposible to compare yet; but your fella on the other side of the water is !!!!!??.

[Ros]

Charles tells us "how wounded he (Chirac) was by Sarko's recent comment that the prosecutors should have got to him sooner over abuses when he was Mayor of Paris and Gaullist chief." I wonder what Sarko thinks of Tiberi's (Mayor of 5eme arron.where I live) abuses when he was Mayor of Paris. These have presumably been covered up as he will be useful in future elections but I saw with my own eyes the various piles of documents being bustled out of the Mairie! He still has plenty of followers who crowd around him (almost like bodyguards) during the Sunday market!

[Lily]

Emmanuel,

'laïcité' is getting discussed on Charles' post "French qualms over the Sarko show" of 19/12:

http://timescorrespondents.typepad.com/charles_bremner/2007/12/new-video-close.html#comments

Just read comments bottom up...

Thanks for your links!

[Justin, French Magazine]

I fear for Sarko - I think the little fella will have his heart broken by this nubile temptress. The unions had better watch out for the backlash when it happens...

[dot king]

Az, Ms Bruni's lyrics could well be inspired by personal experience - she also wrote a song, on the same album called "Raphaël" about one of her former lovers - mentioned already in despatches by better-informed bloggers than myself.

BTW on Jan 2nd, Didier Porte on "Le Fou du Roi" did an excellently hilarious and clever piece, largely on Nico et Carla. I recomend anyone who didn't hear it to listen "en décallé" to "Le Fou du Roi", on France Inter (franceinter.com), just after the midday news. I think it will remain available for a week without podcast.

Thanks for the book reference Charles, that looks like being worth a read . . .

[Emlyn]

François Hollande "With his usual wit": that's a new one on me. The day that supreme dullard comes up with something interesting to say I'll devour my béret!

[Emlyn]

Daisy,
Do you know what a scumbag actually is?

[Dominique]

I agree with Charles about F.Holland.

He is certainly the funiest of all, a lot of wit and huge humor, some times at his own expense. Listening to his discours is always pleasant and puts you in good mood. Great improvisations too.

The only issue is : politics is no cabaret. We already have humorists and we expect something else... something called....ideas

[dot king]

Emlyn, you've obviously never seen François Hollande being funny and witty - which he is - TV and radio presenters call him "un bon client".

BTW judging by her evidently heartfelt use of the word, I would say that Daisy knows what a scumbag is!! ;0
PS I do think the comparison with the likes of Hitler and Saddam is going a bit far, before the flack starts flying. I wonder if Carla Bruni would have been interested in them?

[Robert Marchenoir]

One more proof that Sarko should stop pandering to the left and start talking right.

Politics of civilisation are nebulous when promoted by Sarko and profound when promoted by Edgar Morin. Rrright.

Carla Bruni was a clever leftist when she sang against Sarko, and a showbiz whore when she jumped into his bed. Yawn.

[D]

Dear Charles,

Happy New Year

Sarkosi is brilliant at turning good stuff it into fluff or more dangerously, perverting its meaning, while doing exactly what he wants. If "the politics of civilisation" means collecting DNA from immigrants, selling nuclear/ Arms to ex-terrorists, to nations you are visiting with your girlfriend du jour or worse, insulting old colonies with the White's man swagger then it's French business as usual. No changes there. We need dosh, but can we put some decency into it please. What's next, a crass and unfunny comedian in your luggage to see the Pope?
The Sarko's blanket show is exhausting, the lack of other news is scary, as if his show is the only one we are willing to buy. French humorists are making a killing these days, try getting a tickets to Didier Porte, cruel but very funny, with a cult following on "le Fou du Roi". People want an alternative to the "official story" fed to them 24/7. When people are hypnotised by the Soap-opera/smoke screen then they become too sleepy to see the happening changes and to exhausted to do anything about it. When things don't work according to plan, Sarko might get a bumpy ride. My country has a habit of allowing the worst excess from their leaders until sending them to Elbe's island is the only option. Thanks to DADA for the link, Desproges would be so happy now. The freak show must go on, did I dream at the airport or is there a photograph of Rachida Dati on beach in bikini? If it's true, I wish Ségolène hadn't started this," if my plan sucks there is always the bikini" trend.

[Valentin]

"Emlyn, you've obviously never seen François Hollande being funny and witty"

I thought "wit" in English is synonymous to wisdom, or cleverness. I didn't know it means "being funny".

[azloon]

[Az, Ms Bruni's lyrics could well be inspired by personal experience] Dot

Dee, i was being ironic. or trying. americans, as all brits know, don't do this very well (see QCD post on previous thread).

[dot king]

Why Charles, I'm listening to you right this minute on France Inter, discussion of the new Ken Loach film.
Yet another good reason not to check my bank statements - thanks ;}

[Dominique]

Azloon,

Regarding your gender, this is not important. Bruni's song his all written as if a man was talking ("i'am the greatest", but masluline way) eventhough SHE sings.

Don't be stuck into the old way of thinking...enter the wonderful new modern (genderless) world of Sarko

The true modernity will be when we'll learn that Carla is a man! Then, i'll agree to talk about it all year long!

[Lily]

"I thought "wit" in English is synonymous to wisdom, or cleverness. I didn't know it means "being funny"." (Valentin)

Priceless!

Valentin, you were told you were witty and you nodded in agreement, feeling wise and clever.

Or is it that I just didn't get your joke?

[azloon]

[The true modernity will be when we'll learn that Carla is a man! Then, i'll agree to talk about it all year long!] Dominique

LMAO !!

finally, a legitimate use for sarko's DNA testing program.

and maybe a mouth swab for him too -- his 'top-gun' swagger is a little 'too much,' don't you think?

what a 'scoop' for CB if he could break the story !!

[dot king]

"The true modernity will be when we'll learn that Carla is a man! Then, i'll agree to talk about it all year long!" (Dominique)

I had thought, that on the other photo of "the Royal Couple" on the other thread, where she's wearing dark glasses and looking up at him (how did they do that?) she looked a bit like Gilbert Montagné . . .

[dot king]

Valentin, "wit" is sharp humour, it can be compared to "bel esprit" except that the desructive aspect is unnecessary. The best combination, of course, is to have "wit and wisdom" (an expression in English) - they are neither synonymous nor mutually exclusive, though witty exchanges are often between educated people, but then again, working-class humour is often very witty.
Wit revolves around sound knowledge of a subject, or a situation, or a person, enough to distort s/he/it, mock it. The link that Rocket once posted about sub-primes - the sketch by the two Johns - Fortune and Bird, about the poor black man in his brokendown wooden hut being the cause of the world economy crash - that is wittiness at its best or as near as damn it.

[Mads]

How clever - to tell France a story. Those of voting age will probably be the last generation who sat down with a book or were told a story rather than play electronic games.

We all like a beginning, a middle and an ending. If Sarko tells the 'story' of what he wants to do, how he is going to do it and then shows the population how it ends, he will engage their interest and hence not just their support but their desire for a 'happy' ending. There may even be those who will willing contribute to bringing about this 'happy' ending who would never have done so if the President had just informed the public of his intentions.

Charles, what do you think? Is Sarko realising that the only way forward is to really try and engender a public will for real change rather than cosmetic fiddling or is it just clever self-promotion to cover up presidential inadequacies?

BTW, with reference to Frank's complaint about the blog software, I tried to make a change to a previous post and it didn't work. Most Auvergnats say 'Pas bon' and the implication is decidedly not the same as the almost cheery British 'Not bad' or 'Mustn't complain'. These two phrases most often heard in a doctor or therapist's surgery. (Trust me on this one).

Is it really 'farewell' to Frank? I find one has to be careful with too much intellectualising as one is prone to lose touch with reality and start disappearing up ....After years of heavy, serious intellectualising, I find it fun to be a bit frivolous and light-hearted now and then.

[Valentin]

Lily: "you were told you were witty and you nodded in agreement, feeling wise and clever."

I was told that? (A) Zut, I dont even remember. Was it you no doubt :)

D'après Dot's courteous explanation (yes, we're exchanging amabilités now) witty seems to be quite nice a compliment anyway. Hmm. Clever or bel esprit. Can I choose the one I like?

[Dominique]

Telling France a story. Very clever indeed. Exactly what Obama is doing in the US right now.

[dot king]

Valentin, mon ami :) bel esprit as practised in the now extinct French royal court was a competition in the destruction of the other by insult and extreme mockery, it isn't interchangeable with clever, which we use as equivalent to American smart.
Voilà, au choix.

[Donald]

There is a rather straightforward interpretation as to why Sarkozy allows himself to be photographed holding hands with Carla Bruni for the cover of Paris Match which I think is being overlooked. It may even be true.

When Cecilia Sarkozy got her divorce from Sarkozy last October she went straight to L’Est Republican (http://www.estrepublicain.fr/une/exclusivite/art_579766.php
) for an easy interview which largely gave her side of the story. For a woman who said in the interview she wanted “to live in the shadows, as I like” this was a strange thing to do. She also consented to be photographed for Paris Match at around the same time. She reminded the readers in the interview that she had left Sarkozy two years before and that she was dumping him this time, not the other way around. During this time, Sarkozy remained silent and instructed his spokesman at the Elysée Palace to say not a word. But it must have been very hurtful to be so publically rejected by your former spouse. (Cecilia Sarkozy could have been more tactful and said the breakup was by mutual consent but she chose not to.) In addition to this, there were many rumors to the effect that Sarkozy might be so heartbroken without Cecilia that he might become incapable of doing his official duties as President of France.

Royal, after getting rid of François Hollande, also went to straight to the press to give her side; Hollande remained silent. Does anyone see a pattern here? There is clearly a double standard for what a woman can do in such a situation and what the man can do. He must be seen not to be beating up on his former spouse, but the woman can say what she wants and savage his character while he remains gallantly silent. Now we hear that Cecilia is also writing a book, knowing that as a man, and also the President de la Republic, he will not be able to respond in kind.

So … to tell the world that he is not just a person who has been rejected in love, he has himself photographed in very public settings with a supermodel, saying in effect, “There are people who find me attractive as a man. I have gotten over Cecilia. I am capable of fulfilling my Presidential responsibilities.” He is also possibly saying to Cecilia, “As much as I wanted you to stay in the relationship, now that you have so publicly humiliated me, you are not the only attractive woman in the world”. If this is his intent with that picture on the cover of Paris Match, who can blame him? After all, he is only human.

[christopher muir]

Sarkozy's tactic to tell the French people a "story" via the ever-helpful covers of Paris Match may wear thin as difficult economic times loom. The real story today is an increase in US unemployment and a nasty fall in the Dow, not to mention the oil prices. From a distance (say, in Moscow) the French president may soon become known as the playboy of the western world. He's indulging in a hazardous game - with risks for his country and himself.

[azloon]

Dominique --

re obama telling americans a "story"

is this a positive or negative judgement of obama by you? i would presume negative since it notes a similarity to sarko's behavior. and we know how much you love the 'little big man.'

you may not know, or may need to be reminded, that barrack obama has more class and good sense in his little finger than sarko has in his entire body (in other words, sarko has the emotional IQ of a chimpanzee) -- not to mention that obama is almost certainly quite a bit smarter than LBM.

someday, if france continues to allow itself to become cross-pollinated, your country too may have a presidential candidate of such high quality.

below is a link to an excellent interpretation of yesterday's iowa caucus results, with apologies to those who couldn't care less.

cheers

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/04/opinion/04brooks.html?em&ex=1199595600&en=763f9b684a6402cf&ei=5087%0A

[Dominique]

Azloon,

"obama telling americans a "story""

It was a positive judgement of obama. Telling a story is very important and i believe Sarko was elected because he managed to make the people willing to follow.

The issue is : what story is told? i don't know much about obama, but i am sure his "story" is better oriented than Sarko's little kinky things.

[Maggie G]

Excellent analysis, Donald.

One thing that I haven't noticed anyone commenting on is the fact that Carla's family is ALSo musical, and Carla's father is ALSO a composer.

This must be slightly irritating for Cecelia with her famous Spanish composer grandfather.

And does Cecelia still play the piano? I wondered if there was any significance in the choice of that picture of Carla playing the piano for the cover of Match.

[dot king]

"Now we hear that Cecilia is also writing a book, knowing that as a man, and also the President de la Republic, he will not be able to respond in kind."(Donald)

I think this must be the book that she nearly published two years ago, of which Sarkozy, then interior minister, managed to halt the release the night before it was due to be on sale in libraires.
This was just after the pictures of her with her lover in New York had been published (which resulted remember in the editor of Paris Match losing his job) and just before she came back to pretend to be his wife for a little while longer. He seems to do whatever he likes, and perhaps writing a reply could be part of his politique de le rupture . . .
It's quite usual these days for someone who doesn't really do anything to write a book and dish the dirt about someone who does - cf Christine Devier-Joncourt.
I don't think it's fair to lump Ségolène Royal in with these two illustrious ladies - she was active, working, independent, elected, a presidential candidate with the support of her electorate and without that of her party. No parasite or paid seductress was she. (This is not to start a pro-Royal argument, just to highlight the difference between her and Cécilia Sarkozy.)
Jospin's book is also pretty damning for some of his co-party members, is he allowed to do it because he's a man? without being accused of following "a pattern".

[dot king]

This à propos of nothing really, but amusing I thought; I didn't know which thread to put it on, whether to follow up on "wit", but decided that as it concerns a sex-toy, then this is where it belongs, with Nico and Carla!

When I first came on this blog, there as a lot of "testosterone-soaked" humour being flung around (money markets and etc) so here is a spot of oestrogen-soaked humour - it won't hurt too much, I promise.

First i'll leave a little pause so you can all come to terms with the idea of a - Talking Vibrator.

OK everyone? This concerns three friends in the UK whose names i refrain friom using, but whose initials are Christine, Pat and Sophie ;0

Pat: hey, guess what Christine gave me for Christmas - a talkng vibrator.

Sophie: and what does it say exactly? "Get me out of here"?

******

(In fact it says "oh no, I've got a headache")

[Rocket]

Hey! Hold on a minute Y'all!

I coined the term cross pollination referring to France in the last post and now everyone is using it here without any reference to ME! ME! ME! ME! In other words I ME MINE! I want some commission on this or at least ask me if you can use this expression beforehand.

I'll be waiting.

Merci de votre compréhension

[The 3rd Column]

"From a distance (say, in Moscow) the French president may soon become known as the playboy of the western world." -- Christopher Muir

That's a risk Pres Sarkozy is taking. If he ain't careful he might find himself in a politically compromising situation.

Remember Jack Profumo, the UK defence minister who was caught with his pants down in politically compromising circumstances?

[John Gregory Flinn]

"...to Dominique de Villepin, the protegé whom Chirac appointed Prime Minister in 2005 in a last-ditch attempt to block Sarko's path to the Elysée Palace."

I feel that 'dear' Jacques may have a lot to answer for in the recent past of French politics. He could'nt seem to make his mind up where he stood, and hardly showed any sense of strategic vision, especially regarding his ministers.

I thought De Villepin handled the 'non' to the USA over Iraq quite well and seemed destined for better things.
Yet after making him Prime Minister, Jacques cut the ground from underneath him on more than one occasion.
Such politicking probably stymied any chance of the Presidency for de Villepin in the eyes of the voter, although he might have been a significant rival to Sarkozy for the UMP nomination otherwise. But Jacques could'nt, or would'nt see that far!

Sarkozy's obsession for the presidency was clear enough, even to the extent of being labelled 'an ambitious upstart'. Which is how Jacques may have felt; but the antagonism only seemed to help him on his way.

Fillon also suffered under Chirac, so his association with Sarkozy seems natural.

can't help noting what cross pollination brought the US presidency, especially in terms of class and intelligence : Pants-Down Billy the Lier, W da Texas Ranger, Spying Richie, Round Robin Johnnie K...

I'll stop here or else this will look more like a rock'n'roll band, than (nearly all) US presidents of the last 20 years.

[dot king]

John G F - yes there was a lot of confusion wasn't there, nothing seemed clear - do you remember that little bit of footage of a political meeting where Bernadette Chirac (Maman) leaned across to Sarkozy and whispered "Heureusement qu'on vous a."? I found that very strange as Sarkozy was already going hell for leather for the top and the rift between him and Chirac was deepening by the minute.

[azloon]

Rocket --

re cross-pollinating

i used the term believing i was not plagerizing. where did you use it, and in what context? (i went back quickly and didn't see it). evidence, please.

i may have read it and unconsciously absorbed it for later use. if so, please take a bow as i stand aside. btw, if you did use it, you're brilliant. :)

this is the stuff of intellectual property disputes in which song writers and novelists claim to have been
misappropriated.

if you are not satisfied, please contact my attorney, Terry, who has switched and is now specializing in "bloglaw."

[Rocket]

Azloon

Post - France stops smoking

"Sorry but you have to really follow the news and in French at that to see that a lot of cross pollinating if I may use the term is being experimented with."

Posted by: Rocket | 2 Jan 2008 23:06:13

In fact the answer was addressed to you.

I also accept holidays in Arizona.

[christopher muir]

3rd Column -

Yes. the names Clinton and Profumo resonate in the context. The recent Sarkozy audience with the Pope may well develop into a potent sub-text worth looking out for.

[dot king]

Az, Rocket,
"cross-pollination" is a perfectly everyday term, I do not believe that it can be plagiarised (note correct spelling Az) except from the person who originally coined it.
Charles, we are counting on you for a botanical theme soonest if we are to sort out this important matter. Thank you. :)

[azloon]

Dot -- my dictionary agrees with you about cross-pollination but as Rocket can tell you, cross-pollinization often is the form used here, correct or not. unlike the french, we don't mind inventing words, or using non-standard spellings and repeating them until they actually gain currency. Rocket and I have no teachers grading us [except you :) ]

and if Rocket and I want to congratulate each other on the other's brillance, please, let us have our small pleasure. i have no one else in my life telling me how smart i am (what does that mean, i wonder?)

it was the context, not the word itself, i believe, that was the issue. admittedly, using cross-pollination (ok?) to refer to inter-marriage isn't really some revolutionary breakthrough in english usage, but it isn't often seen used in the human context, i don't think.

but i will now bu sure to renew with vigor my campaign to use this word in my preferred form and drive the 'correct' spelling into disuse? it will be a generational thing, likely taking a century or two.

[dot king]

Azloon, the spelling correction was of "plagiarise" - and the whole thing was in a humorous vein. :) :) :)
Cross-pollinization or cross-pollination - I hadn't even noticed - and you're probably right.
Anyway, it's a subject not to be sneezed at :)

[kerstin]

Cher Charles I expect you
will mark la rupture during Sarko´s press conference early Tuesday morning in putting the sharp merciless questions profiling
the independence of a journalist from a true democracy.
Especially as the early hour
is la rupture with traditional hospitality of foie gras and champagne for the benefit of a
very lukewarm cup of coffee to all.

[I'll be there, Kerstin. These events are usually bunfights in which the media stars grandstand in front of one-another, so I don't fight to put the obvious questions. I stopped going to Chirac's voeux in recent years because they were boring, despite the good champagne and canapés. At least Sarko is going t answer questions. CB]

[azloon]

[Azloon, the spelling correction was of "plagiarise"] Dot

please direct comments about spelling in my posts to my editor.

:)

[dot king]

Today's news reports a 7-point drop in Sarkozy's popularity, taking him to below 50% for the first time since the election.
Reasons: no improvement in view for pouvoir d'achat and his public over-emphasis on his love-life.
We saw it coming, n'est-ce pas?

Unconfirmed and uncommented rumours of a wedding on Feb 7th - it could be worse - they could choose the 14th - AAHH now wouldn't that be mignon . . .

Charles, can you find out if Carla is "plutôt culotte ou string"? It's possibly the only thing he has any control over at the moment - and possibly not for long! ;0

[Johnny Foreigner]

Charles Charles Charles

"In the day since he succeeded Jacques Chirac on France's republican throne, Nicolas Sarkozy has been a blur of action." May 17 2007 etc, etc.

What happened to "the solution for France"? What happened to the "Grit"? So, there's no action, after all, he's just telling stories. "Paroles et paroles et paroles" to quote the very catchy song. Sarko, Captain Finance. Sarko, Captain Interior. Are times moving so fast that readers are faster to catch on than journalists? Or are you telling us stories too?

Who knows who to believe any more.

9 months too late. Hello? Anybody smell the coffee?

[Valentin]

According to a poll by M6 and Liberation to be published today, Sarko's confidence rate is estimated at 54% - which is more than the votes he got 8 months ago.

Reasons:
the purchasing power is not expected to grow instantly, as if touched by a magical wand from Oz (one of the reasons presidential mandate is 5 years, not 8 months);
and also, Sarko's private life doesn't really interest anybody.

[sara]

reading the comments on this page has been trying. All the contributors are quite obviously mesmerized by the foreign, and buy into cliches and generalizations about nations, nationalities etc. Sarko is a filthy scumbag and it is quite amusing to watch the French and their admirers refer to Carla the ex-fromping supermodel , read whore, as the artist. Then again, it is typical of a decadent and degenerating age. Sarko, like the country over which he rules, is crass and vulgar. Furthermore, I consider him an ethnic Jew and not a white man.

[QCD]

Europe 1 journalists announced this morning that the problem with France (and Sarkozy's polls) is "pouvoir d'achat". It's quite simple: leave the euro, print some francs, impose price controls, ... what's so complicated about economics?

[QCD]

Sara, would you like to have a private chat with Daisy? On some other thread?

[Etiemble]

Maybe Miss Bruni did not read the banished "mémoires" from Cécilia.
I had it in time before Sarko ask the editor to burn it, without judgement.
I would have been very instructive for her if she cares about her future.

[dot king]

Valentin, you win the Sarko Diehard Award for this month - and possibly the rest of the year! :)

[azloon]

[Sarko, like the country over which he rules, is crass and vulgar. Furthermore, I consider him an ethnic Jew and not a white man.] Sara

and you're a racist?

you may want to present your aryan credentials.

[dot king]

"Furthermore, I consider him an ethnic Jew and not a white man.

Posted by: sara | 7 Jan 2008 03:32:34"

OK, Mr Moderator - how did THAT get through?

[Dominique]

Dot, there's even more,

"Sarko, like the country over which he rules, is crass and vulgar"

Posted by: sara | 7 Jan 2008 03:32:34"

OK, Mr Moderator - how did this obsious racist francophobic get through?

[Dominique]

Valentin,

Aren't you exhausted yet?

"According to a poll by M6 and Liberation to be published today, Sarko's confidence rate is estimated at 54% - which is more than the votes he got 8 months ago."

--> But less that Chirac after 8 months in 1995

"Reasons:
the purchasing power is not expected to grow instantly, as if touched by a magical wand from Oz (one of the reasons presidential mandate is 5 years, not 8 months); "

--> but who made the promess it would? (just like Chirac's fracture sociale)

"and also, Sarko's private life doesn't really interest anybody. "

--> so who's to blame? and who should defend himself ? who is damaging the institution? i heard on the radio he was going to make a press conference tomorow, and the France Info journalist was all excited because "the Elysée palace said he would talk about his private life".

So pathetic! let's go on like this and he won't last another year.

[QCD]

Dominique, you and Valentin really are two sides of the same coin. Proud aloof susceptible, unwilling to take criticism... a French prima donna.

Do you not see the qualitative difference between francophobia (a localised mistrust, easily attributable to the circumstances of its perpetrator) and antijewishness, which is a much darker form of morbidity? And does this opposition between 'Jew' and 'white man' proposed by Sara (a jewish name) not give pause to those in favour of ethnic profiling?

[Hope]

I'm so sick of the sarko show - tomorrow we'll get the next episode and then the wedding - OMG!

Spend a week in GB for Xmas and really enjoyed a break from him, his private life, and constantly being told how to live, what to be worried about etc. by the French media

[Valentin]

"let's go on like this and he won't last another year"

Nag nag naaag, this is what poor lefties said about Chirac too, not one month wasn't passing without incendiary declarations about how much he will last.
D, I can only tell you one thing: you didn't win by free elections; are you still hoping for some social unrest to do the job?
"Que le pays se soulève et renverse ce régime de la honte!"

Dream on ! :)

Dot:
I would say the same if DSK was president and someone had stung him every minute like you guys do.
I mean, why didn't you pick the second poll, rather than the first one? Here, I did it for you. I'm your contre-pouvoir ! :)

[Lily]

Sara - and Sara's critics,

Sarko's real or presumed ethnicity or his real or presumed religious leanings are completely irrelevant with regards to his presidency.

He is first and above all FRENCH AND France is LAIQUE.

(One day, I'll be naturalized...)

[azloon]

One day, I'll be naturalized...[french] Lily

Lily --

as an unofficial representative of the u.s. immigration and naturalization service, i would like to extend an offer of american citizenship to you and your family.

you are, imo, too reasonable and much too good a
listener to be french.

on the other hand, you may start a trend that changes the french character.

:)

[dot king]

Lily, irrelevant or not, Sara's labelling was anti-semitic with a dose of racist thrown in.

[Dominique]

Lily,

you're making progree... (by the way, Sarko won't be naturalized as he was born french : born in france = french)

QCD,

"Dominique, you and Valentin really are two sides of the same coin."

--> i am the good side! ;=)

"Do you not see the qualitative difference between francophobia antijewishness"

--> Did i put that on the same level? No. I said "more" meaning : to be added. But if we go further, we can stress on the fact that hatred for any caracteristique (jewish, french, white, black, gay, woman, muslim what so ever) are based on the same stupidity. All do not give the same results, but all come from the same perversity.

[Rocket]

Since we've got total freedom of speech on this blog as demonstrated by sara's comments. I'd like to add the following comment

Dot

"Charles, can you find out if Carla is "plutôt culotte ou string"?"

While your at it Charles can you also find out if she spits or swallows?

[Terry]

Sara said:

"Furthermore, I consider him an ethnic Jew and not a white man."

And all these years I thought I was white. I did not know I lied on my driver's license application.

One time I ran from the cops in high school. The police put out an alert-"Calling all cars. Be on the lookout for a drunk ethnic Jew running in his boxing shorts, he is 5"8 and has a Jewish nose."

Maybe, that's why they never caught me.

For an ethnic jew, I sunburn by the pool an awful lot. Perhaps, I am really a black albino.

At one point, Sara, Germany also had a similar problem distinguishing between whites and ethnic jews. We could go back to wearing yellow armbands if it is such trouble for you.

[Lily]

"as an unofficial representative of the u.s. immigration and naturalization service, i would like to extend an offer of american citizenship to you and your family." (Azloon)

Thanks Azloon for the flattering words. I will print this one out and keep it on file as "piece of supporting evidence"(??) should I ever request American citizenship.

"by the way, Sarko won't be naturalized as he was born french : born in france = french"

Dominique,

It would have been quite a novelty to have a non-French French president...

As for "born in france = french": This is no more automatic if a child is born in France and already holds a different nationality due to his/her parents. The child would have to give up his/her nationality and make a request for French citizenship (would you call this 'naturalization'(?)).

I think this blog needs a French lawyer, too.

[Lily]

"Lily, irrelevant or not, Sara's labelling was anti-semitic with a dose of racist thrown in." (dot king)

Dot,

If it WAS relevant I would be the first to say that someone who could arrange that with his/her values should volunteer and throw a stone at her.

We need a French lawyer. - Which one has more weight/significance - the non-observance of a Republican value or a racist remark?

AZLOON, - I think I have just muddled up terms. I had wanted to say 'Thank you - for the c o m p l i m e n t'.

[dot king]

Lily, you don't always have to dig for meaning, some things are just right there on the surface, staring us in the face.

[Terry]

"Furthermore, I consider him an ethnic Jew and not a white man.

Posted by: sara | 7 Jan 2008 03:32:34"

OK, Mr Moderator - how did THAT get through?"

Lest you forget. Charles IS a fellow zionist.

As the token jew on this site (actually the token baptized jew on this site), I think it's perfectly ok her comments went through "as is". It's always better when people are exposed for what they are rather than have their more sinister notions cloaked by "moderate" words. Sara now has to change her name to be taken seriously here. (my guess-sara is really a HE)

One red and one closeted brown shirt have come out in one week. That's a good week I think.

[Valentin]

There's a third opinion poll on Sarko, by IFOP :

Le chef de l'État reste cependant crédité de 53% de bonnes opinions.

That makes 2 to 1 for the Sarko diehards :)

[azloon]

re 'sara' racist drivel

[It's always better when people are exposed for what they are rather than have their more sinister notions cloaked by "moderate" words.] Terry

Terry and i probably won't be attending a barack obama rally together, but we will be celebrating the highest of u.s. values -- free expression.

Terry has credibly stated the case for it better than i did in weeks of posting about the spanish journalist.

[dot king]

"re 'sara' racist drivel"
Azloon, you were the first whose response "you're a racist" got printed after the Sara "drivel"
so have you changed your mind in the space of a day?
I can see the point that it's better to know racists and anti-semites for what they are, no problem with that, but what is the moderator there for ?
If "anything goes" under the "freedom of expression" rule Americans are so fond of citing, then there's no point in having a moderator, we can all just say anything we like without regard for laws applying outside the USA, or maybe we could just say nothing at all ...

Come back Sara, you have supporters, don't count on me though.

[Terry]

Dot:

"If "anything goes" under the "freedom of expression" rule Americans are so fond of citing, then there's no point in having a moderator,"

We are adults. None of us are going to die because someone thinks that someone is not white, but an ethnic Jew. Someone is always offended over something. It's a cruel world sometimes, Dot. People say hurtful, unkind things. Charles would working full time to moderate every single comment.

Your sentiments are good, Dot. But let's cut to the chase. Was there any real harm done to anyone by what "Sara" said? It didnt cause Dominique to say "Kill all the jews here starting with Terry" (no doubt he thought it though, eheh, but not because Im jewish). It certainly didnt cause me not to participate.

What Azloon and I worry about, is that same censor you demand will be used to stifle speech that really isnt racist or offensive.

A perfect example are those Danish cartoons.

[azloon]

Dot --

you are such a reactionary leftist (abeit a very nice one) that you leap to conclusions that aren't warranted.

what is inconsistent with calling a sara a racist (actually i wrote 'are you a racist?') and totally supporting her right to be a jerk? i was trying to engage her(?) in debate, not trying to drive her away.

the idea that you, or anyone for that matter, might be appointed thought censor of this blog is an appalling one. good intentions, i'm sure. but dangerous.

[dot king]

"Comments are moderated, and will not appear on this weblog until the author has approved them."

The above words are at the top of every post we write - if racist anti-semite stuff gets by, then what gets moderated?
Charles has said before that he moderates out what he considers foul language and personal insults. Now, none of us knows each other personally and we get pretty hot under the collar and sometimes sail close to the wind (I like a good epithet as you can tell, just when I feel like it).
I would be less offended by someone calling me a ------- ----- (for example :)) than I am by someone emerging from nowhere and using racist or anti-semitic language. In Europe (I think it's general) it's against the law to incite racial hatred or anti-semtism, so we're more sensitive to it - or at least I am, having worked in race relations in the UK.
Sara's were words that came from nowhere, not part of any discussion, s/he hasn't stayed around to see what others have to say. They only contributed racism and anti-semitism - we know it exists, but do we need it here?
Encouraging though, to see that others protested, come on, give someone else a telling-off ;}

[Terry]

Dot said:

"I would be less offended by someone calling me a ------- ----- (for example :))"

Very well then. Dot, you are a ------- -----.

The amusing thing is that I know what ------- ----- is. I'd like to buy a U, Pat.

[dot king]

The amusing thing is that I know what ------- ----- is. I'd like to buy a U, Pat.
Terry, glad to have written something that amuses you, unfortunately I don't know what a "U, Pat is, which might disprove what you said about me being a
------- -----!
Hey, Mr Moderator, did you see what he called me? ;0

[QCD]

U, pat? A mildly soft-centred person (7, 5)

[dot king]

"U, pat? A mildly soft-centred person (7, 5)"
QCD ?? i'm even more offended now :)
and I still don't know what it means - please ask mr moderator if you're allowed to spell it out!!
or maybe i don't need to know . . . ?

[azloon]

Dot --

you're a good advocate for anti-racist expression.

but, did 'sara" break a law?

if not, let's move on.

i love the idea that she, even anonymously, has the opportunity to make a public ass of herself.

the only (nominal) jew posting here was quite ok with sara's comments. he's a realist.

so let's take our cue from him and 'fuhgetaboutit."

[Terry]

You all fail the US pop culture quiz.

There is a US game show called "Wheel of Fortune". YOu are give a word or phrase like this.

------ ---- ------ -----. And you are give a clue as to what it is. A contestant will ask are there an "N"'s and all the n's will be filled in. Then you try to guess the meaning. You can buy a vowel from the host, Pat Sajak. Hence, the pop phrase "I would like to buy an "A", Pat.

[dot king]

------- -----!
dancing queen
buttery toast
bathing belle
caramel cream
stripey tiger
winning hands

Mr Moderator! Really! This is no time to be sleeping on the job . . . ;)

[Dominique]

Terry says :

"It didnt cause Dominique to say "Kill all the jews here starting with Terry" (no doubt he thought it though, eheh, but not because Im jewish). It certainly didnt cause me not to participate."

Can you please forget about me when attaching those words "kill-all-the-jews"? please be aware that there might be some french people around who can't always read properly english and who may misinterpret your words!! My reputation is important to me (probably some rests of the éducation bourgeoise i recieved!)

I might rather say "Kill all the Terrys, starting with the lawyers!" That sounds much more politically correct to me!

[Dominique]

Lili says

"The child would have to give up his/her nationality and make a request for French citizenship (would you call this 'naturalization'(?))."

France accepts dual, triple nationality. For exemple, Rachida DATI holds three nationalities (french, marocan, algerian) and that's not a problem. Same with Zacharie Noah (son of Yannick) holds also three nationalities (french, swedish & american). Some citizens can not be binationals, but that's because of their country of origin who refuse dual nationality. It depends on the remote country. But if a child needs to give up his "blood" nationality, what's the problem? it is still called naturalisation and France still accept it.

[Terry Terry]

I've been staying out of this until I passed my lawyer exams but really enough is enough.

[Terry]

HEY!

Terry Terry is an imposter! I am the real Terry. I did not write that 1/10 comment.

Fess up, Terry Terry. Who are you?

[dot king]

Azloon, I'm impressed with your TV culture, I can now imagine you with a six-pack and the TV! :)
That show is even on French TV, but I'm always watching something worthy when it's on.
True I hadn't thought of it - I didn't used to watch it in the uK either, so you, I failed that one.
QCD knew it though and on the other thread you say he's British, for reasons best known to the two of you! ;0

[dot king]

"did 'sara" break a law?"
(Azloon)
If the blog can be considered a public place, then possibly, but it doesn't matter, we can move on anyway - I think we have.
I'm sure you can see the other point though - why the "moderator" warning?
How bad does it have to get before you get yourself "moderated"?
One more question . . .
What am I doing in front of this PC at this time of night? Ho hum, there goes another New Year's Resolution! :)

[Rocket]

Dominique

You're all screwed up.

His name is Joakim Noah

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/joakim_noah/index.html?nav=page

Zacharie Noah is Yannick's Father

and I quote

http://www.tennis-histoire.com/champion-noah.html

Né le 18 mai 1960, Yannick Noah est le premier fils de Zacharie - camerounais et joueur de football professionnel évoluant au club de Sedan - et de Marie-Claire, française et professeur de lettre. En 1961, son pére remporte avec son club la Coupe de France de football. Malheureusement, en 1963, victime d'une double fracture de la jambe et du bassin, Zacharie doit interrompt définitivement sa carrière de footballeur. La famille Noah décide alors de quitter la France pour rejoindre le Cameroun, le pays d'origine de Zacharie.

The Swedish nationality is doubtful pal.

PS - France does have a very liberal policy towards dual nationality. Just too much paperwork. Much easier than many countries.

[Dominique]

Rocket,

i meant Joaquim thanks; but he holds 3 nationalities (swedish through his mother)

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joakim_Noah

[Rocket]

Dominique

Thanks

I looked on another Wiki site for Joakim Noah and I only found two. American and French.

[Dominique]

Rocket,

i am afraid the french wiki is the one to look for everything that deals with french way of dealing with nationalities of french citizens...

the american one will talk of the "american way" of dealing with nationalities of american citizens and provide the "american" point of view, according to the american definition of american nationality.

Maybe the sweeds do not accept dual nationalities and do recognize sweedish (or french - or american) nationality only. We don't know and i didn't find any sweedish wiki!

I was of course talking on a "french" point of view as there can't be any "universal" point of view regarting nationality questions.

Rachida Dati is also interesting!

[Rocket]

Dominique

Joakim was noted as French on Wiki (american) but not as Swedish. I wasn't sure if he was Swedish but do remember him acquiring the French passport sometime last year.

Was he French before he acquired the passport? I don't know.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joakim_Noah

"according to the american definition of american nationality."

We have legal acceptance of dual nationality with France (and others)in the US. France has same recognition as US

PS - In the US we give automatic nationality if you are born in the country and believe it or not even if you are flying over in a plane.

http://tinyurl.com/332bks

Cool!

from Wiki France

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Droit_du_sol

""En France, le droit du sol, introduit dès 1515, reste un droit conditionnel : il accorde la nationalité française de plein droit à tout enfant né en France atteignant sa majorité civile sous réserve d'avoir vécu de façon durable sur le territoire français."

C'est "sous reserve" qui me fait peur en france.

Anyway I'd like to do away with nationalities so we could live anywhere we want.

[Dominique]

Rocket,

France rule were the same regarding "droit du sol" until the shamefull Charles Pasqua (one of Sarko's mentor) changed the law in 1986. Frnch nationality is a "right" if you are born in France, but you need to ask for it. Meaning those who do not want to become french don't.

This is a true dangerous trend that is also coming from the european political union. European children of immigrants now keep their parent's nationalities as french citizenship no longer brings any additional right (euro citizens have the same rights in all of the EU, borders disapeared). This brings also a very complex complex for children of non-european immigrants who are told to become french if they want to integrate while europeans are not asked. The non european feel "colonized" again!

All this trend tends to send the french identity back to the "blood" identity, meaning you're french if your parents are, italian if your parents are, portugueeze if your parents are. But if your parents are from mali, you must become french!

This nationality issue is incredibly complex since the EU is set up. Citizenship is no longer linked to nationality and nationalities become therefore less inclusive. People nowadays attach a lot of importance to their "roots" (blood identity) unfortunatly. That clearly kills the "citizenship" project called "republic" that is based on emancipation from the origins.

You don't have that specific problem in the US as no EU is "deconstructing" the american nation.

BTW, i wouldn't like to do away with nationalities as this is the only democratic frame there is. No nation, means no democracy! Bringing nations down would send us back to te middle age

[millier marc]

I'm completly right with you "rocket'.le droit du sol.it the most important think to become french without "sous reserve"...

all the people born in france are french its my opnion..I'm french too.