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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gisèle]

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?

Posted by: Pats | 28 Feb 2008 16:59:25

pats - i am that next frenchwoman! I think all news reporters will be taking a great interest in Carla's baggage from now on!
I think he did not accept the bag in a statesmanlike way - he took it like a small boy takes a birthday present from his grand'mère. He should act with more dignity then nothing would be an issue - he must learn this lesson.

[Rocket]

Terry

it's more

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

[Rocket]

Terry

it's more

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

[rocket]

QWERTY, Terry

"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."

No they don't set prices but they can influence public opinion enough to cause an outcry that they step in to do something about prices when they should butt out.

Rhetoric and promises by interfering gov'ts cause social unrest. In reality there is very little they can do about it but talk.

Remember Sarkozy's negotiations in 2004 with the supermarkets and suppliers to lower prices by 2%. Lot's of hype but little results.

QWERTY, you know as well as I do that a grimace from a member of government is enough to start the infernal machine rolling.

I was merely speaking about the influence a government has, in this case the French government in coercing change. It has always been that way in France where the government steps into areas that us Anglos consider the market forces should control.

[Romain]

Mark Twain used to say "The British are always talking about the weather, but they can do absolutely nothing about it".
The same goes with price control, there is no way to regulate retail's pricing, and it would go against the sacro-saint doctrine of free trade.
The lowering VAT claim is absolutely ridiculous : VAT on food products is 5,5% . Should you cancel the VAT, it would'nt change anything to price hikes.
Like many, I am from peasant's extraction, and I can't do nothing but rejoyce on revaluation of agricultural commodities, which was long overdue.

[Fernandez]

AZLOON -

You are surely a genius!

My SECOND thought was that Nico shouldn't be leaving her all alone at the Elysee with Jean (or Pierre, or Jean AND Pierre, or the Republican Guard, for that matter).

But, having been censored in the past with regard to La Premiere Dame, I thought I shouldn't push my luck and settled for my first post.

[Daniel Strohl]

Pats,

I am NOT the next Frenchwoman - LOL! But I think like you that "maybe he was just being polite to please the gift givers".

Gisèle,

Mme Sarkozy has received today as a gift a hand made bag (sac artisanal) from an African lady. She has accepted it - this is a scandal ! A rich former top model, and daughter of "richissimes" Italian industrialists, daring to accept a gift from a surely very poor lady, Africaine de surcroit!

Gisèle, je ne suis pas du tout contre les critiques, mais à condition toutefois qu'elles soient fondées sur autre chose que la mesquinerie (surement) et l'envie (peut-être): "Mme Prezzie won't even notice that bag amongst all the others"

"He should act with more dignity"
May be you should offer your services at the Elysée Palast to teach dignity and good manners to our président - LOL!

[Daniel Strohl]

Romain,

"The lowering VAT claim is absolutely ridiculous"

Romain, you will get in trouble with Mme Royal, since lowering the VAT is one of her proposals to increase the "pouvoir d'achat".

"and I can't do nothing but rejoyce on revaluation of agricultural commodities, which was long overdue"

Yes, and this will help to maintain and hopefully develop French agriculture, which should be an asset for our economy and not a burden.

I think that many French could accept to have the price of their "baguettes" increase somewhat if they reduce meanwhile somewhat their private telecom invoice - we saw a reporting on TV two days ago from which one may conclude that many of our compatriots find it normal to spend 100 to 200 Euros a month for the telecom fees of their family portables!

[azloon]

Fernandez --

Je pense que la garde républicaine pourrait avoir besoin de renforts pour accomplir cette mission. :)

there's only so much sacrifice that you can expect from one soldier.

la premiere dame certainly is a 'piece of work,' isn't she? i suspect NS has no earthy idea of just how "high maintenance' carlita is going to be.

[Romain]

Don't worry AZLOON, Carla's personal assets summ up to 18 million euros and more. She is the one who could help maintain Sarkozy lol. In Italy they call her "la Bruni", like "la Callas" or "la Bartoli", probably not over her voice.

[gisèle]

"Mme Sarkozy has received today as a gift a hand made bag (sac artisanal) from an African lady. She has accepted it - this is a scandal ! A rich former top model, and daughter of "richissimes" Italian industrialists, daring to accept a gift from a surely very poor lady, Africaine de surcroit!"
Daniel Strohl

accepting this bag from an African lady (pourquoi "Africaine de surcroit"? posez-vous la question) is very different from the Vuitton case - Vuitton doesn't need the publicity - it's a top marque known by les richissimes all over the world.
for this African lady to have her bag seen on the shoulder of Carla Bruni might just help raise her, and her village, out of poverty.
i hope you can see that there is a difference and not just want to growl at me because i'm not a sarkoziste like you.

again, i was touched by her simplicity and feel she could, à la longue, do something for Sarkozy's ailing image, à l'étranger au moins

he didn't seem very à l'aise or pleased when she was acting as interprète for him though

i would be glad to teach him some manners - by your sarcasm you obviously think that I don't have any, which is to your detriment I feel
it isn't because you don't agree with someone that they don't have any manners - people on this blog who agree with you are sometimes quite devoid of any notion of politesse - if i may say so, of course

[qwerty]

Terry: re government levies: as a member of a "profession libérale", at least 50% of my income goes to redistribution. Vive les URSSAF!!!

[qwerty]

To Peter Kinsley: my official "guru" Robert McKee (that's a joke, Terry, I have no masters) - he gives seminars in screenwriting and is much dissed by Joe Eszterhas of 'Basic Instinct' fame - compares Hitler and Winston Churchill: the first being a vegetarian animal-lover; the latter being a hard boozer and a meat-eater and screwer of everything that walks, whatever the sex or species. Is that a fact, Peter?? Did Churchill screw men and animals?

[peter kinsley www.peterkinsley.com]

QWERTY - you ain't Dutch - you're Double Dutch. Unlike most men in power Churchill had no scandal attached to his name. He never strayed because he was a syphylophobe due to his father's terrible death from syphillis. He was a cavalryman who loved horses but cavalrymen, traditionally, dislike dogs! If you think Hitler loved animals view the film of him at Berchtesgarten when Blondie cringes like a whipped cur when he reaches down to pat his "pet". He washed his hands after each time he touched the dog (is there a psychiatrist in the house?)
If your informant on such matters is McKee you are very easily conned. When I saw that John Cleese had paid him a large sum to attend his "seminar" in London I laughed out loud and was amazed at his naivety. "The pattern of stripes made by the cane cover matches the stripes of her jacket..." or some-such drivel. GBS said Those who Can - Do. Those who Can't - Teach.
I want to read the first novel and original screenplay by McKee and also by Doctor Jonathan Miller, another sprucer re-writing everyone's work. Now he thinks he is a sculptor. Have you seen it!!
Comparisons are futile: Both Hitler and Churchill were painters.
Both Churchill and Mussolini ("The Cardinal's Mistress")were journalists and novelists So what?
Stalin,Salazar,Goebbels all entered, or planned to enter a seminary to become p r i e s t s.
Hitler,Salazar, Himmler, Goebbels, Mussolini were all Roman Catholics.
It is as futile as Literary Prizes and Awards. The British turn everything into a horse-race and even bet on books winning The Booker Prize. The list of winners in past years is almost as laughable as the swill on the American best seller list.
Try your other keyboard, Qwerty, it might make better sense.

[azloon]

[She is the one who could help maintain Sarkozy lol.] Romain

Romain, you may not know that here we use the term 'high maintenance' to mean 'le projet total,' not simply the financial outlay required to keep the 'other' happy. in fact, money doesn't figure disproportionately in this description.

a woman, or a man, who demands copious amounts of attention, or whose behavior requires the other to be consumed with 'cleaning up' their antics, are considered to be 'high maintenance.' frequently, these sorts are more than a bit neurotic and/or narcissistic.

and in fairness to Carlita, Sarko himself may turn out to quite high maintenance.

a match made in hell?

[Daniel Strohl]

Gisèle,

I do not doubt at all that you have good manners. However, I was sarcastic purposedly, because it is rather "énervant et fatigant à la longue" to hear only critics all the time about Sarkozy's character and manners, et Sarko ci, et Sarko ça,et gna gna gna, gna gna gna, gna gna gna etc. And since this is not sufficient, the same is starting insidiously with his wife, because she is unlucky enough to be at the same time young, beautiful, intelligent, educated and rich (Oh, l'horreur!) and of course, mainly because it will hurt Sarkozy.

If I were "de gauche", I would try to find something more productive to do - for instance, work out credible alternatives. However, for the moment, we don't see much happen in this direction. Let us hope, for the sake of our country, that things will change after the élections municipales.

To conclude, we (fortunately) live in a democracy. Sarkozy has been elected for 5 years et quand le vin est tiré, il faut le boire! This was also the case with Mitterrand qui s'est accroché pendant quatorze ans et qui n'a pas toujours été un cadeau non plus sur le plan caractère, et je ne parle pas du reste - LOL!

[qwerty]

Thanks, Peter - I suspected there was something wrong with McKee's demonstration. I know where the "stripe-matching" comes from: Casablanca. But he had another theory about Chinatown, while discussing the "negation of the negation", that sent cold shivers down my spine: do you know what John Huston's line "the future, Mr Gittes, the future" really means, according to McKee? Incest with the child born of incest. After reviewing the film and checking it out on internet, I don't in fact think that interpretation actually crossed critics' minds or even Polanski's mind (though I may be naive in assuming that).

To get back to Churchill: what about the rumour that he believed he had chamanic powers?

[gisèle]

Daniel Strohl:
I wrote the following things:
"for this African lady to have her bag seen on the shoulder of Carla Bruni might just help raise her, and her village, out of poverty."
"i was touched by her simplicity"

please tell me where is the jealousy and the "gna gna gna" and where is the "starting insidiously"?
it is the second time i've written that I found her touching ("touchante" once in french)
i have not said she isn't young or intelligent or beautiful - that doesn't need saying - what i say are compliments for carla bruni

i have said I'm not a "sarkoziste like you" who make it clear that you are, so you label me "de gauche"
(my "label rouge" no doubt)
you are being unfair and you make assumptions - how do you know whether it is only sarkozy i don't like - maybe i like fillon, lagarde, mam - you don't know - and i won't say until i want you to know it

[peter kinsley www.peterkinsley.com]

Churchill had champagne powers and also scotch powers and cognac powers, ate well, did not jog, avoided fresh air by smoking a Corona-Corona*** His friend William Somerset Maugham had dry martini powers, claret and burgundy powers, played a little tennis, and if he corrected WSC he said: "Of course, Willie, you know best, but then you are so much o l d e r than I." (both born 1874 WSM in January, WSC in November. The former died at 90, the latter at 91.
*** Montgomery told WSC: "I do not drink. I do not smoke. I am one hundred percent fit." Churchill said: "I drink champagne, whisky and brandy, smoke cigars, and I am two hundred percent fit."
At 85 WSC could read a speech without using spectacles.
Maugham, at 90 could get an erection. He could run upstairs in the Villa Mauresque, Cap Ferrat.
Proof, surely, that all the doctors are w r o n g.

[Daniel Strohl]

Gisèle,

I am not interested to know your political opinions. It is a private matter - I am for respecting privacy of other persons. I want also that mine be respected, but I have nothing to hide or to be ashamed of regarding my political opinions. That's why I sign my posts.

Yes, I have voted for Sarkozy, along with about 53 % of the French. I do not regret it. But I have some problems to digest the constant bashing from some bloggers and a great part of the (French) press. It is mainly based on personal attacks not to say solely, with high flying arguments (le nain etc. - which you personally did not use, I acknowledge with pleasure) which do mostly not show very high intelligences...

PS: "my "label rouge" no doubt" - this is a sharp one - I like humour!

More seriously, I like also and respect Fillon, MAM, Lagarde. But the captain is right now Sarkozy - the ship is in heavy seas and he is in charge up to 2012. I think it is not wise to sabotage him constantly - not you personally, of course - but the (French) press. Ils sont en train de scier la branche sur laquelle nous sommes tous assis - eux y compris, mais ça ne leur a même pas traversé l'esprit. Les autres (nos divers voisins) observent les choses avec amusement, dans le meilleur des cas - j'ai bien dit dans le meilleur des cas!

[dada]

http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=UQdPoKPjrDg&feature=related

[Lily]

"Les autres (nos divers voisins) observent les choses avec amusement, dans le meilleur des cas - j'ai bien dit dans le meilleur des cas!" (D. Strohl)

'Only the funny will amuse.'

Daniel,

It has been Sarko himself who had wanted to 'go public' and invited the media to his private affairs.

If the media are there to report and uncover truth, and Sarko will give them what they are asking for, whose fault is it?

The government should lead; journalists report.

"I think it is not wise to sabotage him constantly - not you personally, of course - but the (French) press. Ils sont en train de scier la branche sur laquelle nous sommes tous assis - eux y compris" (D. Strohl)

I think Sarko is responsible for much of the sabotage himself. The press will be cutting the branch on which they are sitting, only if they collaborate with the government instead of reporting 'objectively' (oh well...).

Have you come across an AFP report on Rama Yade suggesting to clear streets from 'sans abri' using stink bombs (no Kärcher)? I read about this in German online news. News are not only spread by French reporters. There are more Bremners around.

I really don't think the media can be blamed for much. They want to report and sell, and this is their job.

The government's job is to govern. Competent media advisors could help improve the government's and presidential image.

[Valentin]

Between being open and transparent (and not a king in the château), and being continuously chased by media in search of and turning everything into a scandal, there's a world of difference.
Calling this "report" is a bit much.

Sarkozy can hardly be cutting his own branch. He spoke of the purchasing power in a reformist, not in a populist way; yet the latter version was preferred - by the whole media, as well as by Charles Bremner.
Calling this "objective" or "journalism" is a bit exaggerated.

Lily's
"AFP report on Rama Yade suggesting to clear streets from sans abri using stink bombs"

is a total misrepresentation. The topic is in Le Figaro and other newspapers as well, and not only on AFP. Rama Yade has NEVER suggested to clear streets of homeless people. She was asked a question on a mayor's proposal, she responded with much naiveté that "it might be a good idea", and a bit later she reviewed her position completely.

As to the idea itself: begging is forbidden in France. That's the law. There are lots of organisations and institutions taking care of the homeless, who often refuse this help. The Left will always see the homeless as unhappy people rejected by the society, when sometimes they happen to refuse housing, refuse work, live on begging and get used to that life.
I doubt the mayor of Paris allows begging in front of the Louvre. He doesn't use "stink bombs" though, but police, to keep them homeless away. That's why you don't see any.

Valentin

[Daniel Strohl]

Lily,

Yes, I have come across the Yama Rade story - I think it was through (French) TV.

"There are more Bremners around" -

Yes, of course - but most of the time less talented, and working mostly with second or third hand information - LOL!. Their job is easy, they have only to copy their French colleagues' "prose" and the process makes what is called "effet de levier" (expression I have learned thanks to the subprime crisis .), since everybody copies everybody across the boundaries and continents and this spreads like an influenza pandemia, but at 300,000 km/s - LOL!.

"They want to report and sell, and this is their job".

Yes, of course. However, it is clear that bashing (or bagging - .) or bedroom stories or princess stories sell much better than important and serious stuff. This may mean "que l'on a la presse que l'on mérite" ...

"(oh well...). Really, Lily - oh well!

"The government's job is to govern".

Yes, of course. This is most probably on their agenda right after the élections municipales. This leaves a little time for the press to continue leur "cirque" - LOL!

Peter,

I would be interested to know the precise brands of scotch, cognac, claret, burgundy, champagne etc. which had the favours of WSM and WSC. I trust doctors only moderately, and I am already in the age class where some intelligent help could be needed - LOL!

[millier marc]

nos voisins ont raisons .(uk; italie, allemagne ,espagne etc). de m'amuser dans le meilleur des cas.!!
Car ce cirque est du jamais vu!!!!!!
sous la 5eme république.
J'ai simplement honte pour mon pays.
pauvre france.

[azloon]

[I really don't think the media can be blamed for much. They want to report and sell, and this is their job.

The government's job is to govern. Competent media advisors could help improve the government's and presidential image.] Lily

cela dit tout !

[Lily]

"a bit later she reviewed her position completely."

Valentin,

frequent reviews of her position seem to be quite characteristic for both Yade and me :) -

I really hadn't come across that report in lefigaro or lemonde. My fault.

"turning everything into a scandal"

The media doesn't need to "turn" a lot...

Enfin, thank you for the info on begging. I wasn't sure whether begging was on the list of 'interdits'.

[Sandrine]

"She was asked a question on a mayor's proposal, she responded with much naiveté that "it might be a good idea", and a bit later she reviewed her position completely."

lol, it's exactly how this government work. They say something and then they take it back. Maybe that's because they simply don't THINK before speaking. Oh well, as usual it's the journalists' fault !

[Lisa]

Sarko a encore perdu une occasion de se rendre moins impopulaire ! Quelle idée d'offrir ce sac vuitton à sa femme qui est tellement riche qu'elle pourrait (presque) se payer toute la boutique vuitton des Champs si elle le voulait ! Quand apprendra-t'il à avoir un peu moins d'acquisitiveness comme vous dites ?! C'est vrai que c'est un peu agaçant d'être toujours déshonorés par ce goujat bling-bling même si le célèbre "casse-toi pauvre con" m'a plutôt fait rigoler !

[Valentin]

Lily:
"I wasn't sure whether begging was on the list of 'interdits'."

But you MUST have suspected something... the near absence of beggars in tourist spots must have stricken you as odd... I mean, they cant be THAT stupid as not to beg where so many rich foreigners come to spend their tallers! UNLESS the French beggar is more..how can we say.. romantic, intellectual, abstract... he might not think in terms of economic efficiency. Hmmm. Intriguing.

Sandrine:
"They say something and then they take it back. Maybe that's because they simply don't THINK before speaking. "

Or because some of them are young and new to politics, a bit like you and me, Sandrine :)
A minister capable of understanding a mistake and going back, can be a proof of wisdom too :)

[Romain]

LISA
On one end, Sarko is politically criticised for his monarch ways of exercising power. On the other end, he is frantically criticised for his unapologetic "nouveau riche" style. So which one is to pick : Monarch, or "nouveau riche" ? lol

[Lily]

"But you MUST have suspected something... the near absence of beggars in tourist spots" (Valentin)

I have been to tourist spots in France with and to others without beggars which is why I suspected that there were either different laws in different places or that law enforcement differed from one place to another.

How, as a foreigner, would I naturally know where they let it pass and where not?

[Romain]

Right LILY, that kind of rules depend on each Mayor. Even a French tourist would not know.

[Lisa]

Les sacs Vuitton ont une énorme valeur symbolique en France parce-qu'ils sont considérés comme étant au top de l'industrie de luxe française (leur logo doit être le plus connu et le plus prestigieux). C'aurait été un bon geste politique et compassionnel de l'offrir à l'une des innombrables caissières sous-payées qui n'ont pas choisi de faire du temps partiel ou à une femme seule avec enfants. Peut-être qu'avec le temps, Sarko apprendra à faire ce genre de geste. Ca ne suffit pas de passer sa vie à visiter les usines si c'est pour en repartir chargé de butin comme Napoléon en Italie !

[Daniel Strohl]

Romain,

Very simple, he is "un monarque nouveau riche" - LOL!

Ca fait un peu oxymoron, d'accord, mais pas plus que par ex. "énarque de gauche" - LOL!

[peter kinsley www.peterkinsley.com]

Daniel: Johnny Walker red label; the Glenfiddich; Grants; the Old Grouse; Smirnov vodka; Gordons, Gilbey's, Plymouth, Lamplighter gin(Mothers' Ruin); Cliquot (before she was a widow); Moet; Hennesey (introduced to France by the Irish "Wild Geese"; the family still lives in Cognac); Vat 69 (the Pope's favourite, LOL); Ducru Beaucaillou, St Estephe, St Emilion, Nuits St George, Moulin a Vent, Mouton Rothschild (i.e. Chateau bottled: the best); dry sack sherry and Coburn's port.
Basically, the good stuff. Beware of gut-rot known in Spain as garrafa, or any cheap booze.
But the secret is to EAT, and eat well. WSC and WSM did: the latter chose from his cook's "menu book" at lunch and dinner, and he was c a r e f u l. Only 2 Martinis, never three, and only one helping of meat or fish if there was creme brule to follow ("My sweet tooth"). Both ate The Full Monty -- Montgomery's breakfast - porridge,toast,bacon,egg,sausage, and good lining for a drinking man's stomach.
Churchill used to go to the House of Commons and wait to die (a good headline for the Daily Express and Lord Beaverbrook) and came back each evening, disappointed.
Maugham took the cure at Vichy or Badgastein or Brides-les-Bains, annually and after 64 made three visits to Dr.Niehans Swiss clinic for rejuvenation treatments.
Both had their manuscripts corrected by Eddie Marsh, a grammarian.
WSC started the day with a well-weatered whisky as an eye-opener, but was often sleepless after wartime and a lifetime of working nights. He phoned the Express newsdesk for the headlines. Once he asked for photographs of the Troooping of the Colour and I took a set of blown-up pictures to Hyde Park Gate where the old boy was in bed, having missed the annual ceremony.
Maugham died in the British-American hospital in Nice, the land donated by the French state for the war effort by the Allies.

[gisèle]

"A minister capable of understanding a mistake and going back, can be a proof of wisdom too :)"

It's only wisdom if they learn not to repeat the exercise.
Sandrine a raison, on fait l'effet d'annonce, on attend pour voir si ça passe, et sinon, on retire ce qu'on a dit.
C'est assez nul enfin.

[peter kinsley www.peterkinsley.com]

P.S. William Somerset Maugham said: "In order to eat well in England, one must have breakfast three times a day."
Daniel: All of this depends upon the metabolism of the drinker and clearly WSC and WSM had the metabolism of uranium burners, plus good medical advice (vitamin B12 etc) and a propensity to take good care of themselves.
My advice to anyone who suspects a medical problem related to alcohol or that a little message from Nature is about to arrive to tell them that all is not well should STOP. The view from the Wagon is not so bad and it lasts longer...

[Sandrine]

"Ca fait un peu oxymoron, d'accord, mais pas plus que par ex. "énarque de gauche" - LOL!"

hahahha !! euh Pourquoi c'est drôle encore ? J'ai pas tout compris...

Un peu de vocabulaire : "Un oxymore, ou un oxymoron, est une figure de rhétorique, une alliance de mots désignant des réalités contradictoires ou fortement contrastées "

Exemple : « Elle se hâte avec lenteur » ou bien "un intellectuel de droite" !! (lol, la dernière est un peu hard, elle n'est pas de moi, mais de Desproges).

So Daniel, an Enarque cannot be from the left ? I'm sure that's not what you meant... Vouliez-vous parler du pléonasme ?

[Valentin]

"intellectuel de gauche" can often be considered a pleonasm too. When that's the case, we can also safely consider "intellectuel" in the most hyperbolic sense possible :)

[Daniel Strohl]

Sandrine,

C'est un oxymoron un peu hard, mais il est de moi!

Je reconnais que c'est moyennement drôle seulement - je pensais à un énarque de gauche qui n'aime pas les riches, mais qui n'est pas (très) pauvre lui-même ... Mais la campagne électorale est quasiment terminée - y en a plein le dos (j'ai dit le dos!). On va passer à autre chose de plus intelligent.

Exemple de pléonasme : campagne électorale stupide ...
Exemple d'oxymoron : Alsacien buveur d'eau - c'est pour la transition vers le post pour Peter - LOL :

Peter,

Thanks for the very pertinent information. I think that it does reflect more than merely "connaissance livresque" of the matter - LOL!

BTW, my favourite whisky in the merchant navy was Johnny Walker Red Label. I know by name most of the liquors and wines you mention, but unfortunately it is only a "connaissance livresque" for a part of them.

Full Monty is quite ok (but without porridge, at least for me) - my wife calls this jokingly "petit déjeuner dinatoire".

I remember the name of Dr. Niehans. There was also a well known Rumanian doctoress at that time, but I don't remember her name (Anna ...?). But of course, she was behind the Iron Curtain - expression coined by the Old Boy, if I remember well. The Russian - pardon, the Soviets - had also devised the Bogomoletz serum. May be they have tested it on Staline and a few of his successors...LOL!

"should STOP" - yes, good advice. I get it enforced by my wife - LOL!

[Romain]

Daniel Strohl
Oxymoron :"cette obscure clarté qui tombe des étoiles. Ou alors :
Mitterand socialiste (lol)
Parti Socialiste socialiste (re-lol)

[peter kinsley www.peterkinsley.com]

Daniel - as a Navy man you will know a pink gin "Harry Pinkers" which has two or three drops of Angostura bitters and water added to the Mothers Ruin, and it is many years since I heard an order for "A pink Lamplighter". Gin, of course was obtainable in wartime as it is quick to make, but Scotch was unobtainable unless you knew the barman. My uncle, RAF, ordered two for himself and a "Bird Colonel" from his Irish bartender friend, who said "Ten shillings, please." The US Colonel paid the outrageous price and said to my uncle: "Gee, Pat, I wish your whisky was as cheap as your women."
Aged actors drank Booths gin, which was yellowish, and some I knew drank only Plymouth gin. When they had hangovers it was known as "Plymouth flu."
Cheers!

[Daniel Strohl]

Lisa,

"C'aurait été un bon geste politique et compassionnel de l'offrir à l'une des innombrables caissières sous-payées"

Sûrement, mais qu'est-ce qu'on aurait alors entendu (démagogie, mépris paternaliste des gens simples etc.)!

Romain

"Mitterand socialiste (lol)
Parti Socialiste socialiste (re-lol)"

We herewith award you the Oscar of the best political oxymorons!

Peter,

I am sorry, I have never heard of "Harry Pinkers" - on ne peut pas tout connaitre!

The story with the whisky and the Irish bartender is funny!

[Romain]

Peter & Daniel
Adding my modest contribution to the Weblog lexicon. The Irish for "pauvre con" must be "fookin eejit' lol

[peter kinsley www.peterkinsley.com]

Daniel & Romain: The US Colonel did not get a punch on the hooter becaue my uncle's name was Patrick. He told me he had fought his way through school and university with that name! The English girls wore what were known as Utility Knickers -- one Yank and they're off. Two Irish navvies (from: navigators, road builders) saw a figure prancing down a street in Chelsea whose waist was just a little too nipped in, his bowler a little too curly and his umbrella resembled a parasol. "Hey, Mick," yelled one: "Will you just look at that fookin' fairy!"
The figure stopped prancing, raised his umbrella and brought it down smartly on the navvy's had, screeching: "Abracadabra, then, VANISH!"
No, "pauvre con" becomes "stupid gorrier" (from gorilla)so when a lorry crashed into a taxi in Dublin the lorry driver yelled: "You stoopid gorrier, you blitherin' eejit, you *&*%* "!*&%and continued yelling insults for a full minute. The taxi driver listened, hand on chin. When he stopped, the taxi driver looked up at him and said: "You know -- you took the words right out of me fookin' mout' "

[Romain]

Peter & Daniel
Needing to brush up my English, I found the right f...in' place. Spot on ! Bloody beauty mate !

[azloon]

[English girls wore what were known as Utility Knickers -- one Yank and they're off.]

["You know -- you took the words right out of me fookin' mout' "]

Peter, good stuff.

[AlexAus]

Sarkozy has been disavowed with the local elections (March 9). Let's hope he gives up the bling bling style....