Sarkozy bags a Vuitton for Carla

Here is a clip of yet another gaffe by President Sarkozy.  Topic number one in France this week is the difficulty of making ends meet. Sarko and François Fillon, the Prime Minister, have proclaimed war on what the country sees as a conspiracy by manufacturers and retailers to raise prices out of all proportion to costs.  The sense of collapsing purchasing power is credited more than anything else for Sarko's deep unpopularity. The sense of urgency was created by a survey this week that showed that some supermarket food items had jumped by between 25 and nearly 50 percent over recent months, among them a leading mass market camembert which rose by 30 percent.

Fresh from the fiasco of his "pauvre con" exchange at the farm show, Sarko descended on deep rural France yesterday to show his concern for the struggle to pay the daily bills.  At Saint-Pourçain in the Allier département he told the crowd that there was obviously a "fiddle" going on when pork producers were being paid peanuts while the price of ham had exploded. The government will investigate and "strike where it hurts", he said.

But then he blew the concerned image at the local workshop of Louis Vuitton, maker of the luxury leathergoods that are especially prized by Asian, Russian and American women. He was handed a handsome LV bag. "You can guess who I am going to give it to," he said. "This will please her. This morning she told me 'you bring me back something'." Heads of state always receive presents, but given Sarko's need to shed the bling-bling aura,  a leg of ham might have been a better gift.

The President is off today to Chad and South Africa, taking Bruni for her first foreign trip as première dame. He will be glad to escape after a rough week. But the gaffe-prone team at the Elysée Palace will no doubt keep us entertained in his absence.

To follow up on our debate this week on bad language, here's another taste of Sarko's rough tongue. According to today's Canard Enchaîné, which is usually well informed, the president blew his top with his staff after a string of goofs last Wednesday. He was, he told them, surrounded by a bunch of cons et de branleurs. The latter word in British English translates directly as wankers. Con, as we noted earlier has lost its sexual sense and just means fool, idiot or clown.      
               

Comments

[Daisy]

Have some sympathy for Sarko...his own purchasing power has fallen too. Bling isn't as cheap as it used to be!

[Lily]

[a leg of ham might have been a better gift.]

Well, yes, but would Carla have appreciated a piece of meat as much as she will probably be pleased with this piece of leather? Besides, both originate in animal farming. Both are local produce, though the bag won't be savoured in a dish.

It was considerate to offer Sarko a bag instead of ham. He didn't choose his gift, he just accepted it.

[GAG]

Is Sarkos acceptance of the Vuitton bag a gaff or just another example of French naiveté? In any other country the government’s public relations experts would have turned this sound bite into a positive example of supporting national industry. It appears to me that Sarko is correct in believing he is surrounded by an inept team. Of course, what he should do is employ some hard headed American or British media experts. After all, the French media are a pretty docile mob and shouldn’t take a lot of convincing. Even the Canard Enchaîné could be turned into a positive organ if handled correctly.

And as for falling into the rising prices trap, how naive can you get? If the British government panicked every time Which magazine published a negative article. The honest response from the French government (which must come after the local elections) should be to explain to the people of France that they and their country are on the road to poverty and that lifestyles should be adapted accordingly. After the elections the individual tax loading will undoubtedly be increased both by local and national government. This combined with rising prices will reduce further the populations spending power.
GAG

[azloon]

"...This morning she told me 'you bring me back something'."] Carla the Magnificent

it's been about three weeks. how about bringing back a handsome friend?

[Terry]

"Sarko and François Fillon, the Prime Minister, have proclaimed war on what the country sees as a conspiracy by manufacturers and retailers to raise prices out of all proportion to costs."

I was wondering what evidence Sarko has that is there that the manufacturers and retailers have raised prices out of proportion to costs. Price is determined by supply and demand. Part of that is a willingness of customers to pay the price. If the price of camambert becomes too high, people who dont NEED camambert will buy less of it. This, in turn, eventually lowers the price to some level where people will buy the most camambert and that "fair" price.

Are the costs of retailers/manufacturers going up? In the US, they are for several reasons. The first is the cost of fuel. Everything sold in stores is transported by truck. When shipping costs go up, prices go up. Another is the lunacy of ethanol, which is made by corn. The government started subsidizing corn for ethanol produce so corn is going to ethanol rather than for food products, corn oil, corn sweetener (used more than sugar in the US) and cattle feed. Since corn is used for cattle feed, steak and dairy product prices have dramatically increased in a short time.

I dont live in France. So, my open question to you in France are whether France has experienced these same phenomena.

One other point on the purchasing power squeeze, is high taxation. When the government takes half your income, THAT is the biggest hit to purchasing power. Does anyone complain about the rising costs of GOVERNMENT?

"would Carla have appreciated a piece of meat as much as she will probably be pleased with this piece of leather? . . . .
It was considerate to offer Sarko a bag instead of ham. He didn't choose his gift, he just accepted it. "
LILY
1) on s'en fout de ce qu'apprécierait Carla
2) réponse typiquement "bonne femme" tant qu'on lui rapporte des cadeaux elle est contente
PAH! rien dans la tête

[john o'doe]

It just goes on - never fails to surprise and amaze - the SarkoRealityShow has to be the best in the world.
Next up are the Fun-packed Further Adventures of Sarko the Saviour in Chad, Babes, Backslapping and Big Game Action in South Africa, King for a Day at Buckingham Palace, featuring Carla and the Queen of England, then Sarko's SMS to Cécilia on her Wedding Day, Les Municipales or The Big Thumbs Down -Little Nicolas and Carlita alone against the citizens, followed by, and I can hardly wait, Extreme European Makeover where Nico and his gang of crazy designers get just 180 days to change the fusty face of European politics.

[rocket]

Terry

Right now there is a big media blitz by the government with controllers going into food stores to make sure the margins (which I believe are frozen in France) are respected. All of this is being done of course because there will be Municipal elections in France in a few weeks and the right stands to lose quite a few City Halls in the process.

So since Sarkozy can't do anything for purchasing power in the form of salary increases (les caisses sont vide) (there is no more money)He needs the sound bites and for people to believe his administration is doing something. In reality and as most of the journalists agree, there is little the gov't can do about prices.

I heard an interesting interview with a Belgium consumer advocate yesterday who said that prices have remained lower in Belgium because the market rules more than in heavily government controlled France.

I personally don't like to see inspectors swoop in on business because of political expediency but unfortunately that is the way it works here and has always been that way.

"Price is determined by supply and demand. Part of that is a willingness of customers to pay the price. If the price of camambert becomes too high, people who dont NEED camambert will buy less of it."

Not really, in France the government is expected to step in to lower prices.

There's a saying. What goes around comes around. Up till now the French have been very quick to condemn the "stupid Americans" because they got Bush. Well, they are not so happy with their guy now. A few years ago it was electricity price increases in the US that the French criticized. Now they have very high inflation in basic staples.

The French criticized Enron saying it could never happen here and then boom two years later there was France Télécom with the highest debt in the history of corporate industry, but subsequently bailed out in various forms by the French government.

Sometimes, as Chirac once said refering to the Eastern Europeans and their support of Bush "people missed a good opportunity to keep their mouths shut"

That's basically why I am not to concerned about the grief we as Americans get in France. The same thing happens here just sometimes a bit later.

PS - I believe the General Accounting Agency in the US would have been standing outside the door of the Vuitton factory to snatch the purse away from an American President. As Charles mentioned, another gaffe, but I'm beginning to believe the line between personal profiteering and ethics is getting a little fuzzy over here.

[rocket]

anonymous

"2) réponse typiquement "bonne femme" tant qu'on lui rapporte des cadeaux elle est contente
PAH! rien dans la tête"

What is that supposed to mean?

[Terry]

One other point...

Am I not wrong that France has a ridiculously high sales tax rate? (someone tell me how much). This is something that really cuts into purchasing power. The French government makes a nice "profit" on every good sold in France without any cost to itself. Meanwhile, manufacturers/retailers/producers has to add on it's profit AFTER the tax is added on.

If Sarko really wants to help with consumer purchasing power, he could reduce or (gasp!) eliminate the sales tax. Or he could try to demonize business as "greedy". Should I venture a guess which route he will take.

You know I like Sarko, Valentin. But will he do this?

BTW: In New Jersey, there is also a 7% sales tax (also too high in my opinion). Food and clothing is not taxed.

[rocket]

On the commentary of Christophe Barbier today (Feb 27)he picked up on "le sac"

http://tinyurl.com/2t2fpu

[Lily]

"LILY
1) on s'en fout de ce qu'apprécierait Carla
2) réponse typiquement "bonne femme" tant qu'on lui rapporte des cadeaux elle est contente
PAH! rien dans la tête"

ROTFL - Is this Dominique speaking by any chance?

See, I'm a bit old-fashioned with regards to gifts. I think it would have been better for Sarko to think of a personal attention for Carla himself, but then it is a nice gesture to be given a regional souvenir.

And he appeared really grateful about it.

I think there is nothing wrong with this gift; it was Sarko who decided who to give it to.

And I doubt that Carla will be happy with Vuitton bags alone. (She needs rings and flowers, too, and maybe? more.)

[rocket]

Terry

"If Sarko really wants to help with consumer purchasing power, he could reduce or (gasp!) eliminate the sales tax."

Value added tax. Not sales tax. 19.6% and can't be cut by much. A major source of income. All Euro countries have them. Some are even 25% like Sweden. All our high by our sales tax standards. But be careful. No state tax in France, just "Federal" Nationwide income tax as France is not a Federalist country.

The question came up yesterday and the Prime Minister rejected it. Anyway it would have only been a couple of % points and would have been quickly lost to price increases.

[Lily]

"I'm beginning to believe the line between personal profiteering and ethics is getting a little fuzzy over here." (Rocket)

And I begin to think French :-o ! Oh dear.

[Lily]

I wanted to say "French" sarko-style...

[Fernandez]

"would Carla have appreciated a piece of meat as much as she will probably be pleased with this piece of leather? . . . ."

That 'piece of meat' could be Azloon's 'handsome man' (and he could be wearing leather too). Problem solved. Carlita's happy.

[Terry]

Rocket:

Thanks for the information. Two things come to mind.

First, you indicated that the government is interfering with the pricing system by setting "margins". Artificially, imposing "margins" is exactly what has produced shortages and pricing disturbances in the Venezuela market.

Second, is your comment on the VAT tax:

"The question came up yesterday and the Prime Minister rejected it."

Another universal. The government always will demand its "share" of the booty. They will always say we absolutely positively cannot lower the tax. Yet, they insist that the producers do with less when their costs go up. Also, if the government lowering the tax doesnt necessarily mean that the producer will keep the difference. Some producers will charge less for camambert to attract more customers. This is something Sarko has control over. But the government just wants it's money. Some reformer.

Actually, a third point. A high VAT tax discourages consumer spending. The last thing France needs.

[Valentin]

Hey Terry
Tonight I'm in a gloomy mood. Economics will have to wait. Sorry.

Lily,
Welcome to the Sarkozye! We promise to treat you well :)

[Marguerite.]

On avait eu un bon apercu de la richesse du vocabulaire de Sarko dans le livre de Yasmina Reza "l'Aube, le soir ou la nuit" -livre qui retracait la campagne presidentielle de Sarkozy-.
Avant sa visite dans le Finistere, le 1er mai 2007:"Qu'est-ce qu'on va foutre dans un centre operationnel sinistre a regarder un radar? Qui a eu cette idee de demeure ?Je me fous des Bretons. Je vais etre au milieu de dix connards en train de regarder une carte".
Les Bretons n'ont pas ete contents.

[Robert Marchenoir]

Yes, Marguerite, but Bretons are indeed connards. That's a fact. A great deal of scientific research has gone into that and it is now official.

As for the wanker thing, when you're the boss, you are always surronded by cons and branleurs. That's the whole point.

Otherwise, when things go awfully wrong, you wouldn't be able to bash their heads together and scream to their faces that they are a bunch of cons and branleurs.

Which is a pretty standard management procedure really.

Nothing to write the International Court of Human Rights about, unless you're the delegate for campus diversity at Berkeley's department of transgender studies or something.

[Daniel Strohl]

Terry,

"So, my open question to you in France are whether France has experienced these same phenomena.

Yes, of course, Terry. Les mêmes causes produisent les mêmes effets. However, the ethanol thing is not (yet) a problem as it is already in the US. TV and radio say that exports of corn (blé) and dairy products to emerging markets (China, India) are the cause of the price increases.

Rocket,

"just "Federal" Nationwide income tax as France is not a Federalist country".

It is true that France is not a federalist country as the US are. However, France is divided in "régions" (22 regions - 20 of them left oriented!). Therefore, there are corresponding taxes - taxe d'habitation, taxe foncière. The sum of these two regional or local taxes is often higher than the national income tax – I think this is mostly true for small and medium earnings, i.e. the big majority..

Below an amusing link about the alternative to Sarkozy, i.e. Mme Royal. As everybody should know worldwide (even in Arizona, Azloon – LOL!), she is the Présidente of the Région Poitou-Charentes.

Yesterday, we saw her on TV (only may be 2 minutes, my wife can’t stand her and I am not a big fan either!) – she was presiding a session of the Conseil Régional, with the Vice-President (a barbudo) sitting at her side. The latter had the “outrecuidance” (bumptiousness?) to contradict her on the financing plan for 2008. He said that one should increase local taxes (including on gasoline – I didn’t know that the régions were entitled to levy taxes on gasoline); she said that, due to the price increase of commodities hitting heavily the population, it was not wise to further increase taxes. Therefore, the missing part of the budget should be financed by borrowings.

The bumptious vice-president was dismissed (and apparently in front of the assembly) of his job as finance manager.

Herafter the version of Le Figaro:
(I didn't bother to cross-check with leftist papers):

http://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/2008/02/27/01002-20080227ARTFIG00006-royal-sanctionneson-vice-president-de-region.php

[Francois D]

There are two things that shocked me in attitudes during this video:

- For the President, it is in the tradition that Presidents not accept personal gifts for themselves but enrolled them in an inventory, for exhibition after their departure in a small museum located in their natal village (Pompidou, Mitterand, Chirac soon,Giscard, I do'nt think.).. Nicolas demonstrated again breaking with his predecessors ..

- For Vuitton, mark of major class and elegance used to trade with VIP, do you consider as elegant, or even completely "radin" (scrooge?), to offer a bag to the man (even for being weared gracioulsly by a top) and not to the woman next him, C Lagarde, the Minister of Finance? Look at the video, she bizarrely smiles..
He is not hindered, as always ...

He has gone to Africa for two days. What will happen?

[Pierre Bernardi]

Terry, Rocket, there's a bigger problem. When the euro reaches $1,50, why does Le Monde explain on the front page, that this is terrible for French industry, but not for the germans, because they have a "monopoly" on heavy industrial equipment? How does such rubbish get past the editor? I deduce that there is little economic culture in this country, but what does it matter? since with all your economic literacy you're still going to get stuffed because of your subprimes. Sure, understanding monetarism is great, but knowing how to make a Vuitton bag is better. It doesn't happen overnight. There are barriers to entry.

PS: Terry, as you know, prices for food products are terrible. About €7,50 a coke.

PPS: thank you Lily and Charles for your congratulations. I've posted a photo of Margaux on my website, at http://qcd.free.fr, aged eight hours.

[azloon]

Fernandez --

great minds think alike.

Charles censored my follow-up email to the one about 'bringing home a handsome friend' or a piece of meat, as you perceptively have pointed out.

suffice it to say that the censored item had to do with Carlita's previous adventure with the son of her philosopher-lover.

the censored item was a little crass, but, i say, if you make your bed, then sleep in it.

or something like that.

:o)

[Judith]

Such a wonderful range of commentary! First to GAG, I agree that Nicolas Sarkozy needs a really good media adviser. I know a few in Australia who would be enormously helpful to him. I note that before he was President (and before he 'outsourced' his media management) he did very well in managing the media himself. Perhaps he should return to a more hands on role in his media management and step back a bit from day to day management of government.
Re Rocket's comment on the US General Accoounting Agency taking the Vuitton bag. Australia has very low limits on the value of gifts which politicians can receive. Anything over $300 must either be relinquished or the difference (up to the market value) paid if the person receiving the gift wishes to keep it. If such restrictions applied in France, Sarkozy would have quickly handed the bag to an aide and the bag later auctioned for charity. And there would have been no political repercussions to that! And he could have bought a Vuitton bag for his wife for her next birthday.

[Romain]

I don't think that particular episode will cost Sarkozy a "ham and a leg" in public opinion. It is normal to accept a gift from workers who take great pride in their craft. Louis Vuitton is also a very symbolic exception to "delocalised" manufacturing.
"Con" has many different meanings, the closest is the American "moron", the Australians would say "bloody idiot" which would tally quite well with "pauvre con"

[qwerty]

Terry: I'm not sure about the government setting prices in France, that went out decades ago. But French and European competition law is supposed to ensure transparency and that prices are not rigged between oligopolistic economic soi-disant competitors, distributors or producers.

Since the prices in the supermarkets have been going up, food (broccoli???!!!) and cleaning products have started to disappear in my house...It's hard for a lot of people.

[rocket]

Terry

a quick one and I'm out the door

"Actually, a third point. A high VAT tax discourages consumer spending. The last thing France needs."

VAT has always been high in France and Europe in general. Between 17.6% and 19.6% in france and about 20 years ago there was even a 33.6% VAT on luxury items. Cars for example.

More later in the day

[Daniel Strohl]

Re: my post about Mme Royal

May be I should have pointed out, for our foreign friends not fully aware of every detail of the French political life, that there will be important elections in a few days (élections municipales), in which the left(ists) hope to take their revenge of the lost “élection présidentielle”. This proximity may possibly have some influence on decision taking in financial and tax matters – however, during the campagne présidentielle, Mme Royal had cited in example her “orthodoxie financière” at the head of the Région Poitou-Charente – at least if I remember well. May be I am wrong.

Pierre,

"How does such rubbish get past the editor? I deduce that there is little economic culture in this country",

Pierre, one can't improve one's economic culture if one spents the time trying to invent new ways of bashing Sarkozy - LOL!

More seriously, a few months ago, the Germans were boasting that the high price of the Euro would not do any harm to their industry. Meanwhile, most of them have changed their mind.

Rocket,

A few months ago, you said that the Euro would hit the 1.50 mark at end of 2007. You are almost two months late! You too should somewhat reduce the time you spent with Sarko bashing and increase the time you spent reading serious papers dealing with economy – LOL!

[Lily]

François D,

Thank you.

QCD/Pierre,

you're welcome (cute baby!). Your link is sabotaged by the comma at the end.

[christopher muir]

The extraordinary acquisitiveness of the French President will need controlling when he one day visits the French mint.

[Ros]

I quite agree with ROMAIN who says "It is normal to accept a gift from workers who take great pride in their craft" the Queen does it all the time so why not Carla?
I'm looking forward to Charles'blog on the visit to Windsor on 27th march when I think Carla will come back with a few presents - wait and see! (luckily we'll have finished with the Municipales by that time!)

[Romain]

I've heard from Canal + that, according to a serious survey, Sarkozy had overtaken Britney Spears on the internet buzz.
Like ROS I can't wait till you tell us more on the Windsor rendez-vous.

[millier marc]

I'm looking forward to seeing the blog with the sarko's mistakes during the future visit in UK .
I do hope that Carlita will give somes advices about "bonnes maniéres".
what s a shame about this bag story.!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think that english tabloids papers will be happy with the sarko's visit.

[Maggie G]

Congratulations, Pierre Bernardi!

Hope your new responsiblilities will allow you a little time to continue blogging.

[peter kinsley www.peterkinsley.com]

A HANDBAG! It is true, Ros, that Her majesty (called Brenda by her staff) will be giving a prezzy to Carla, certainly a photograph of herself with Phil the Bubble (that's Cockney rhyming slang - Bubble and Squeak, Greek. (Australians *** have their own slang and he is Werris Phil and the Queen is The Dilldoddy).
Her Majesty g i v e s handbags as presents, but she gives them to her Ladies in Waiting or other deserving causes. These are the handbags s h e is given by the smiling heads of emergent African nations, and others, when she visits. Asked what she would like the Palace directs them to Aspreys in Bond Street who deliver her favourite crocodile skin bag with solid gold clasps in time for the ceremony and she puts them with the other dozen or so at the Palace, ready to be handed on as presents.
The shop is rather old fashioned so the girl on door-duty was surprised to welcome Frank Sinatra who asked for diamond bracelets. An aged retainer produced glittering trays and Ole Blue Eyes chose two. "Have 'em sent to the Dorch -- the Dorcheter," he snapped at the old retainer . "Yes sir. Your name, sir?" "Sinatra," snarled Frankie. "How do you spell that, sir?" "S I N A T R A. Don't you go to the movies?"
"As a matter of fact, sir," smiled the old man, "I have always preferred the theatre."
*** Werris is a Creek in Oz, hence Werris Creek - Greek. A dill is a fool, so a Dilldoddy is a silly old woman -- Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
An older expression is for Winston Churchll for whom the disaster of Gallipolli was blamed -- Cannonfodder Fats. The War Office had successfully gagged the British Press but one journalist, covering the story with the ANZACS (Aussies and New Zealanders) beat them by returning to London and walking into The Times office to write his exposure of the slaughter, and his son is now the present owner of our favourite newspaper.

[gisèle]

je suis sûr que carlita possède déjà une belle sélection de sacs vuitton - alors un de plus . . .
lui n'avait pas l'intelligence de parler de ça comme une fierté française, juste une acquisition supplémentaire - et bien sûr il faut toujours parler de sa conquête de la belle - ça lui a donné une nouvelle opportunité
déjà on a vu hier soir que carlita ne savait pas comment se comporter en femme du président lors de la visite au tchad, mais je l'ai trouvée plutôt touchante, elle cherchait ses repères - si elle sait enfin se faire aimer peut-être qu'elle le civilisera, mais j'ai peur qu'il lui faudra du temps

mais lui, à côté, plutôt vulgaire, indiquant quelqu'un ou quelque chose avec son pouce (ah! la claaaasse!)
il devrait s'assurer des ses plus belles manières pour la palais de buckingham ou c'est la nation entière qui est ridicule

[peter kinsley www.peterkinsley.com]

A HANDBAG! It is true, Ros, that Her majesty (called Brenda by her staff) will be giving a prezzy to Carla, certainly a photograph of herself with Phil the Bubble (that's Cockney rhyming slang - Bubble and Squeak, Greek. (Australians *** have their own slang and he is Werris Phil and the Queen is The Dilldoddy).
Her Majesty g i v e s handbags as presents, but she gives them to her Ladies in Waiting or other deserving causes. These are the handbags s h e is given by the smiling heads of emergent African nations, and others, when she visits. Asked what she would like the Palace directs them to Aspreys in Bond Street who deliver her favourite crocodile skin bag with solid gold clasps in time for the ceremony and she puts them with the other dozen or so at the Palace, ready to be handed on as presents.
The shop is rather old fashioned so the girl on door-duty was surprised to welcome Frank Sinatra who asked for diamond bracelets. An aged retainer produced glittering trays and Ole Blue Eyes chose two. "Have 'em sent to the Dorch -- the Dorcheter," he snapped at the old retainer . "Yes sir. Your name, sir?" "Sinatra," snarled Frankie. "How do you spell that, sir?" "S I N A T R A. Don't you go to the movies?"
"As a matter of fact, sir," smiled the old man, "I have always preferred the theatre."
*** Werris is a Creek in Oz, hence Werris Creek - Greek. A dill is a fool, so a Dilldoddy is a silly old woman -- Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
An older expression is for Winston Churchll for whom the disaster of Gallipolli was blamed -- Cannonfodder Fats. The War Office had successfully gagged the British Press but one journalist, covering the story with the ANZACS (Aussies and New Zealanders) beat them by returning to London and walking into The Times office to write his exposure of the slaughter, and his son is now the present owner of our favourite newspaper.

[rocket]

Daniel

you said

"A few months ago, you said that the Euro would hit the 1.50 mark at end of 2007. You are almost two months late! You too should somewhat reduce the time you spent with Sarko bashing and increase the time you spent reading serious papers dealing with economy – LOL!"

11/28/2007 1.48580

Add commission and la compte y est!

I would say I was closer than your minister of the economy Lagarde who was still forecasting 2.25% growth 2007 as late as early December 2007

Only to change her opinion 3 days before publication of annual GDP.

I saw you wrote LOL on your post so I won't hold your comment against you.

I wish I had as much luck in predicting equities as I do with the dollar. Watch for a rise to 1.55 - 1.57 before any downward movement.

Now send me a check for 100€ for the advice (smile) Non, plutôt cash!

I subscribe to WSJ.

T'as besoin de conseil fiscal? I know a small country in the mountains. Call my secretary in the morning.

[Emlyn]

Come off it! If people are going to get jealous over a handbag a man offers to his new wife... Well, those who do are a mean-minded lot!

[azloon]

[I've heard from Canal + that, according to a serious survey, Sarkozy had overtaken Britney Spears on the internet buzz.] Romain

could rehab be next? (where presumably he would be encouraged to start drinking alcohol as a way of getting him to mellow out a bit)

[Romain]

Should Carla courtesy ? I guess not because she's not a subject.
On the other end, I am confident she will make Nicolas behave.
I remember the Queen's visit to Australia during Paul Keating's office. He laid a hand on her back, not quite inadvertantly. The Melbourne Age frontpage headline shouted :"Hands Orff Cobber!"

[Emlyn]

The Left spend a great deal of energy fighting easy causes such as the foibles of a right-wing President or the cost of living. Why don't they try something worthier of their talents such as getting their troops to stop moaning all the time?

[Terry]

Pierre:

"Terry, Rocket, there's a bigger problem. When the euro reaches $1,50, why does Le Monde explain on the front page, that this is terrible for French industry, but not for the germans, because they have a "monopoly" on heavy industrial equipment?"

Because (and my apologies to Charles who I think TRULY is an exception or I wouldnt be here), journalists are rather lazy. They report what they see without much in depth thought or analysis. Most do not have much life experience off their keyboard. (at least the couple i personally know).

In America, we have the REVERSE with our dollar. All the media says the dollar is weak and that means the doom of America. However, a weaker dollar means our exports our cheaper (even with foreign import duties). This means an increase in demand for US goods, more profits, more jobs. But the journalists just here the dollar's weak and report disaster without thinking the matter through. The weak dollar is only bad if you are a thirsty tourist in paris as you note. The strong euro hurts French exports because they are more expensive as they have to be bought with the weak dollar. My wife, who works for Kendall Jackson, informs me that French wine sales are down due to the increased costs.

As you note, the Germans will not be immune to higher euro despite their monopoly status in some industries. Consumers have ways of avoiding higher costs. Certain specific industries may feel the effects less.

As to our "subprime" stuffing, it would be better there was no problem. But, I have noted in detail that the effects are overstated and how the losses will be limited mostly to those industries narrowly involved. In the end, the "crisis" will result in alot of opportunities for investors to buy property rather cheap. These properties are run down and will have to be restored which means construction jobs. As with most economic "disasters", they usually produce economic benefits.

It appears congratulations are in order but I am not sure why. I would like to extend mine but refuse to do so until I know the reason.

[Terry]

Qwerty:

"Terry: I'm not sure about the government setting prices in France, that went out decades ago. But French and European competition law is supposed to ensure transparency and that prices are not rigged between oligopolistic economic soi-disant competitors, distributors or producers."

I really have no idea either. That's why I asked. I am going on what Rocket informs me (unless I have misinterpreted him). Collusion among producers is also regulated in the US, as it should be. You have confirmed Charles' point about loss of purchasing power. My point it's always convenient for government to redirect consumer anger toward the producers. However, Qwerty, add up how much of your income goes to the state before your receive it. Everything you purchase is increased by government taxation nearly TWENTY percent. Producers are suffering costs increases to due fuel and to a lesser extent, as Daniel confirms, the ethanol nonsense. Sarko CAN reduce the burden on consumers by lowering VAT and income taxes. As Reagan proved, this does not result in lowering government receipts but INCREASES them.

It seems Carla gets her Vuitton bag while her husband refuses to consider helping ease the VAT tax burdens on French consumers.

"Let them carry Coach" seems to be his sentiment.

[Lily]

"[I've heard from Canal + that, according to a serious survey, Sarkozy had overtaken Britney Spears on the internet buzz.] Romain

could rehab be next?" (Azloon)

ROTFL !!

[Daniel Strohl]

Rocket,

"I know a small country in the mountains"

Yeah, me too! I understand even more or less their dialect (I heard a sample of it two days ago on TV). It could help to negociate good terms ... they need new customers.

"Watch for a rise to 1.55 - 1.57 before any downward movement.

Ok, I keep these figures in memory (I am not a subscriber of WSJ - no need with our "retraite par répartition" - LOL!)

EMLYN,

"as getting their troops to stop moaning all the time?"

C'est comme les coups de marteau sur la tête, ça ferait du bien si ça s'arrêtait. Mais il ne faut pas trop y compter ...

"to get jealous over a handbag a man offers to his new wife...

"Those who do" probably offer to their new wife a cheap counterfeited Vuitton bag bargained on the market of San Remo ... Et en plus, c'est bon pour l'industrie française du luxe! On a l'esprit patriotique, que diable!

[gisèle]

"Come off it! If people are going to get jealous over a handbag a man offers to his new wife... Well, those who do are a mean-minded lot!"
emlyn

what a strange comment - who's jealous? Mme Prezzie won't even notice that bag amongst all the others (remember she was top model and she is very rich)

a man who THINKS to offer his wife a Vuitton handbag, is generous, not the one who stumbles across it in the course of his daily grind and offers it as an afterthought, because it's there
this kind of man can be thought as "mean-minded"

what a strange definition of generosity some people have . . .

[Pats]

I dislike Sarko as much as the next Frenchwoman, but as anyone stopped to think that maybe he was just being polite to please the gift givers, and has no intention of keeping it for himself?

[millier marc]

I'm sorry but I'm compltly right with gisele.Carla is very very rich. of course she was a top modal but also her family was a industriel italien family.We know perfectly she need not getting one new bag even from VUITTON..SARKO is a little man in his mind.He is rude every time , every where in all events.
The probleme for FRANCE is . SARKO isn't president. impossible for him to be correct , to be normal..

all what he does , I'm shock.

I'm french I'm not proud of this . but I'm .and I'm shock for my country.its so ridiculos.for France..
whats a big different with Dominique de Villepin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!