Sarkozy gets real off camera

Sarkozy en off sur le plateau de France 3

Keen watchers of Nicolas Sarkozy may be interested in this video. Recorded without his knowledge last night by staff at French public television, it shows Super Sarko's nervous and rough side.

The President was waiting to go on air at France 3 to explain how he aimed to rescue the European Union during his six month turn in the EU chair which opened today. He was tense because he had just driven past a mini protest by staff who are upset over his moves to take control of public television. France 3, the channel that covers the regions, is especially alarmed and two of the journalists questioning the head of state signed a protest last week.

The video shows Sarko in his usual impatient form. He snaps at a technician who he believes has failed to return his "bonjour" as he clipped on his microphone. "It's a matter of upbringing," he lectures the man. "When you're a guest you have the right to expect a bonjour... Or we're not in the public service here, we are at a demonstration... Incredible... and serious...That's going to change."   

Then he addresses Gérard Leclerc, one of the interviewers, using the informal -- and disrespectful -- "tu" and asks him: "How long did you spend in Siberia?". The reference (in the cupboard in French) was apparently to the journalist's recent assignment to off camera duties. "I wasn't in favour," he adds.  The exchange shows Sarko's menacing mateyness with journalists.

Sarko gets irritated about the wait and asks if the clock is wrong, fiddling with his Patek Philippe watch, a  wedding gift from Carla Bruni. He tells the interviewers to make sure to mention his morning dash to Carcassonne to commiserate with people wounded in an army base shooting. 

This is minor stuff and I apologise to non French speakers, but it shows the unvarnished Sarko that journalists see. It last went public on a video of him putting down a heckler at the Paris farm show. Today's video was released with obviously mischievous intent by France 3 staff to Rue89, a popular leftwing news site. As I write, some 180,000 people have already watched it and it is spreading fast.

Sarkozy spent some of the interview criticising the output of France Televisions, the public broadcasting company, saying it was too commercial. He wants more theatre and other cultural fare, he said. Last week he caused a furore by announcing that he would in future appoint the France Televisions boss rather than the supposedly independent broadcasting authority. France Televisions is unhappy over a Sarkozy decision to stop it broadcasting commercials in the evening without guarantees of alternative funding.

To be fair to the President, Sarkozy's second studio interview was only the second time that a French president has deigned to go to the TV rather than commanding its cameras to the Elysée palace.

Comments

[Roy Harris]

Isn't there something of an obsession nowadays with whether people in public life - be they film stars, musicians or politicians - are "nice". Indeed, it's almost the first question members of the public put about someone famous. Is anyone nice all the time? Any who are have little character, in my experience. Someone in a position of authority cannot afford to be "nice" all the time, whether he be a teacher, an orchestra conductor or a head of state. For instance, I have attended orchestra rehearsals during which very famous, gentlemenly conductors, much liked by many players, have been shouted and sworn at, their every request questioned.I can't see that Sarkozy here is particularly objectionable but then I am not a journalist.

[Doremi ( not Dot)]

Love the way il s'offusque du technician not saying hello but " tutoie" the journalist and behaves " en territoire conquis". He smiles like a Mako shark, actually behaves like one too. What is the point of power if you can't throw your weight around. Like all bullies when the mask of charm is off, it's not a pretty picture. Could someone start a whip-round for the rude technician, is Siberia cold this time of year?

[dot king]

For someone with as much TV debate, discussion, and interview behind him, Sarkozy is very nervous and doesn't seem to know how to control it. Preoccupied more with the effect he's having on the people around him that in the people themselves.

On this morning's radio news, the "ça va changer" was expressed as meaning that the offending technician would probably lose his job, but I can see that there's a wider context - with possibly more repercussions.

Good job the interviewers are calm and collected and unaffected by his quite agitated state. That kind of agitation is often contagious.

I've always thought - and probably said it before - that Sarkozy doesn't really seem all that interested in what he's doing - only in that he's doing it.

I didn't watch the programme, this little video is possibly more interesting . . .

[Sam Young]

Anyone who worked with Mother Theresa will tell you that she was domineering, back-stabbing, manipulative, playing the nuns against each other, etc.
In other words, it is impossible to achieve even mediocre greatness if you are "nice" all the time.
Also, to paraphrase Hitchcock "Journalists are Cattle".

[azloon]

You can't effectively wield power and be civil at the same time? oh, bullshit.

ronald reagan was endlessly pleasant, humorous and gentle with everyone he encountered. it reinforced his sense of dignity and power.

kennedy handled his relations with the media with infinite tact and humor. and was greatly respected for it.

ditto angela merkel, and tony blair.

sarko is classless, tasteless, with one contiguous 'rough edge.' it's a matter of upbringing. obviously, something went seriously wrong in the sarkozy household.

[razatork]

i don't see what's wrong with the video, can someone explain ??

i don't like him very much but i really don't see anything wrong in this video.

[Thanks Razatork... I didn't post it because there was anything wrong with the video. I thought it was interesting because you see how Sarko is when the camera is not on, at least not supposed to be. It shows you something about his style -- which is defensive and rather agitated -- that's all. Seems much of France also finds it interesting since it's now all over the media. CB]

[The3rdColumn]

A blogger friend of mine wrote in one of his blogs: Press Freedom is (merely) the Commercial Right to Sell News, Views and Entertainment...

If you come down to it -- he's absolutely right.

The Times and its journalists fall in the category of those in media who believe that they have the press freedom "to write as they please."

Journalists must start to realise that they can avail of the freedom "to write what they want" when they start respecting people they write about.

[PAUL]

People perceive what they want to perceive, partly unconsciously - this applies as much to myself as to Charles or anyone else. I can't for the life of me find anything unpleasant about Nicolas Sarkozy's behaviour.

[blossom]

what a load of sensationalism. only an anti sarkozyste can find anything "rough" here. he's human, for god's sake. enough of making french presidents "gods". they're not. not even mitterand was clean. what hypocrisy of those who find in this clip anything that blemishes the man.

[Anon reader]

Dear Monsieur, I dont like you saying Sarkozy only see opportunities...HOw would have you describe Tony Blair.He is very clever and modern,it is good to see a "real man"....with outburst and feeling....But thank for the video.He is right actually.How do you think the Queen would react if one of its subject would not salute her!?Politeness is rare nowdays and even if you dont like some one as a grow up you should always return a "salute"...this is called "live in good intelligence" or just "having manner".I do agree with him!I dont think you have been fair in your article.I am fed up of everybody critizing Sarkozy,I like him very much,at least he is the first president who try to make France evoluate and that why people dislike him so much,bse French are scared of changes.....He took me years to overcome my fear to speak in public,now I am completly okay,but most of people never overcome this fear.(if you dont believe me,visit an university where people have to do presentation,you will be surprise to see some of the student would rather "die"that to have to do one!anyway.Best Regards.

[PAUL]

Mitterrand was probably the least clean post-war French President! He lied to the people from the very start of his first term of office about his state of health; there was the sinking of 'Rainbow Warrior' and the renewal of atomic tests in Polynesia, despite expert warnings about risks to the local populations (amply borne out since); 'affaires' too numerous to mention. Benefitting from the "de mortuis nil nisi bonum" effect, he is revered in many quarters while Sarkozy, who so far has been involved in nothing of this sort, is railed against. "Folks is queer."

[azloon]

I find it incredible how many french readers defend sarko's boorish behavior. must be a french thing. apparently, boorishness is driven deep into the national character, so apparently it's not obvious to his fellow citizens.

this doesn't make him a bad president, and perhaps he's even a good one. but not because he's a boor. that's about bad parenting. John McEnroe grew out of it. maybe sarko will too.

Third Column says: The Times and its journalists fall in the category of those in media who believe that they have the press freedom "to write as they please."

Charles comes from a news tradition that actually believes that 'writing what you please' is the essence of vigorous journalism. what's your idea? writing about what doesn't please you?

[I]

Same, I don't see any rudeness. I am french and understand french. He only asked if the journalists were to speak about Carcassone.... not to "mention" it... He is not mad about the time, but wonders if his is on time.... Yes he is figiting and no one talks.... I mean... pleeeease.... give it some rest, people! No... all I conclude is that Mr. Bremner is writing a seemingly orientated article... when he is supposed to remain neutral and bring some real news instead: POSITIVE and NEGATIVE.

[Lamerloque]

C'est un ogre, pur et simple.

[Doremi ( not Dot)]

Mother Theresa was no saint?

[rocket]

I

"He only asked if the journalists were to speak about Carcassone.... not to "mention" it"

Yeh right! Like we just got off the plane in France yesterday

Then you say

"I conclude is that Mr. Bremner is writing a seemingly orientated article.."

Well I then we may also conclude that Mr. Sarkozy was also orienting his remarks! And we know what that means in France. It means do it or I will make sure you're in the dog house!

Even a strange look from someone in power in France can cost you your job.

[alan morgan]

I felt strongly that Sarkozy was the 'right' person for President when he was elected.
What I made no allowance for was he appears to be incapable of making the transition from Politican to President. He acts like a Prime Minister, seems incapable of delegating,walks like a young thug, no bonne manières and a comportment suitable to the rough side of Chicago. Does he suffer from Autisme one wonders?
His duty is to represent, amongst other things the dignity of France. Not to appear constantly as a swashbuckler - a swaggering bully, flamboyant and macho.
History will judge him whilst the population will flay him. As for Clara - how long with a loser?

[Mauvezin]

I conclude is that Mr. Bremner is writing a seemingly orientated article.
*******************
Bof !
Que pouvez-vous donc attendre d'un anglais !?

[Daniel Strohl]

"Today's video was released with obviously mischievous intent by France 3 staff to Rue89, a popular leftwing news site"

During the "official" interview - I saw only a small part of it - it was also very obvious that Sarkozy has a much faster mind than the "FR3 staff" :))

As an example : one of the interviewers - a lady - asked him why we still have deficits. Answer : for what reason are we not replacing 50% of the civil servants going into retirement, if it is not because of the deficits?

Additional and most probably complementing question from Sarkozy (to one of the male interviewers): how many staff are working at France TV ? He had to give himself the answer (11,000) and to push hard to get a (reluctant) answer regarding the number at FR 3 : 6,000 (out of the 11,000) !

If I were the TV lady, I would try to formulate questions less prone to backfiring (in colloquial French : "qui vous pètent facilement dans la gueule")... But I am not journalist at FR3.

Dot,

"On this morning's radio news" - probably France Inter ?

It is rather unlikely that Sarkozy will lose his time trying to get the technician fired. The shelling (if any :)) will probably be aimed at much higher hierarchical levels.

This morning, a news bulletin announced that the Chief of Staff of the French army offered his resignation after the incident/accident at Carcassone. Sarkozy accepted it ! But the reason was may be not only Carcassonne ...

[Geoff Miller]

Sarko was very polite to begin with but when you consider that he had to run the gauntlet of baying featherbedded lefties on his way into the studio and impoliteness from staff I am not surprised he complained.

Treat people with respect you lefties - dont behave like the spoilt "class warriors" you think you are.

France is a great country but, like the UK, it is being eaten away by undemocratic, marxist, adolescents.

He was the peoples choice. He is your President. Respect the people and the position he holds on their behalf.

Or leave France for Somalia - you'd like it there.

[peter kinsley www.peterkinsley.com]

Is there a small mis-print above and should 3rd column not read 5th column? Here lurks someone who appears not to like the freedom of the Press. Like politicians. Sarkozy calls on the journalists not to forget to mention his dash to Carcassonne "to commiserate" with those who lost loved ones in the army trigger-happy slaughter. Again and again we hear the UK politicians name another young soldier who is mentioned in their prayers! Do they really pray for the battlefield dead?
There is a stupid quote that the function of the Press is "the commercial right to sell news, views and entertainment"
The crooked Nixon was brought down by the Press after Watergate. Every week in Britain another politician is named as having fiddled, cheated and lied about expenses and personal use of taxpayers' money. It was the Press there who jailed Lord Archer and Jonathan Aitken for cheating and
stealing. The function of the Press is to caste a lynx-eyed view at the behaviour of those who believe they should lead us: to discover and expose who is robbing who, who is cheating who and who is screwing who. They are often linked together.
Half the voting population of France were for Sarkozy but luckily there is another half who have their eye on him too.
The London Daily Mirror in 1920 had a cartoon of two statesmen leaving the League of Nations meeting, one saying: "Strange ... I seem to hear a baby crying.." and the bubble said "Classe of 1939" Our leaders then could not even see what the cartoonist could see.
The same paper had a drowned sailor on a raft and the caption: "The price of petrol has gone up by 1p a gallon" Churchill tried to close down the paper for alleging profiteering. He failed.
Mr. Sar-cosy is cosying up to the British and the Americans and the Germans. The big guns. What is his game, now that he is in power?
Neither the German leader nor the British (Blair and Brown) nor Bush has ever worn a uniform. In a previous blog I quoted an ex prisoner of Buchenwald saying his advice to the young was: Beware the warrior king.

[denis l.]

I am convinced that Sarkozy is simply a new version of Chirac : pretending to act rather than actually reforming the country. I also dislike Sarkozy's style, and found his behaviour at the Salon de l'Agriculture undefendable. But I can't see ANYTHING wrong here.

The "tutoiement" (something I hate in my personal life) is almost standard when politicians and media big shots (and even not-so-big shots) talk to each other. I personnally find this "mateyness" repulsive, but the point is that there was nothing "disrespectful" here. The "menacing" aspect also escaped me.

Sarkozy did NOT "snap" at the impolite technician. He did NOT "believe" this man had failed to return his "bonjour", he was right about that. He did NOT get "irritated" about the wait. He did NOT "tell" the interviewers to mention anything, he merely ASKED whether they would ask a question about it (from the purist's point of view, he shouldn't have done that).

Nervousness yes, roughnes defenitely no.

There are only two things here that thoroughly appalled me : 1° the disloyalty of the technican crew, or of at least one of its members 2° the partiality of CB's depiction of this episode.

[lydia]

It never ceases to amaze me how the likes of Sarkozy believe that, though he had none in the first place, once he achieves notoriety and a bigger income class/breeding automatically oozes from his pores and he needs to constantly berate people about it.
"Fine feathers make fine birds" but nature gave him that face so we would never be 'sucked in'.

[Christian]

Sarkozy only showed how nervous he can be. You can feel the tension in the studio. I understand his "ca va changer" as a threat, especially in the current context where France Télévisions is about to be controlled by Sarkozy.

Do you think his question to Leclerc was meant to destabilize him? Or the other journalists in the studio?

It didn't frighten Audrey Pulvar during the show though... he seemed embarrassed when she asked him about immigration.

[felipesegundo]

Have to say I don't see an awful lot wrong with this. He's a bit on edge, and possibly slightly unpleasant about the technician, but I think Mr Bremner is overstating his case. If anything Sarkozy was more menacing once the interview got underway (he was deeply patronising towards the youngest journalist).

[Rulf]

@AZLOON:

You are indeed French. You don't even realize that if the French president "only asks", French journalists (and almost any Frenchmen) infallibly take it as an order and comply without a twitch, like nicely trained lap dogs.

The significance of this video is that it shows a) the alarming pathology of this man and b) the intimidation of the journalists -- they don't dare to (small-)talk with the president (and, for that matter, not even with themselves).

What this video does not show, however, is the on-air exchange between Audrey Pulvar and Sarkozy, when she presses the guy on an immigration question in an (albeit very mild) Paxman manner. Sarkozy was visibly angered by Audrey's candor and could only dodge a sincere answer by barking her off and letting go his second nature -- he always was and still is a shyster.

Alas, the indeed beautiful Audrey Pulvar will not only be one of the first French journalists who showed some courage before a French president, but she will also be fired in the nearest future. Nobody in the media survives such a lèse-majesté.

[Daniel Strohl]

Christian,

"he seemed embarrassed when she asked him about immigration."

At that very moment, the transmission with the FR 3 studio was interrupted for 1 or 2 minutes (at least in Colmar, Haut-Rhin) and replaced by a local topic with no relation to the interview. Raté technique ou intervention d'un "technicien de gauche" zélé ?

[Henri]

Dear Charles,

This is a "tempete dans un verre d’eau", as often we it comes to breaking news on the President Sarkozy character.

French people can be rude, and being one of them, I can assure you that your beloved President is not reaching our best level in this video.
He is indeed patronizing the technician, which would be deserved if the guy has not been courteous to the President.
But he seems very far away from the “out-of-his mind monster” that most people would like him to be.

As this is a blog, rather than a column, I can understand the interest in the video (which is likely to draw even more attention in the future)
but I think you mention exactly what it is. This is “minor stuff”. Issues in France are political … not yet politicians.

Let’s focus on the big picture, not the small screen !

[thomasine]

Reagan?! Kennedy?! gentlemanly?! Not nervous, maybe. President Sarkozy has no time to cool off on this thread - as some elderly bloggers - or get excited about the latest inimical post. And he will never have the time to be that suspiciously leisurely.

[Helen]

On this video, Sarko doesn't act agitated or domineering: setting one's watch to the correct time is hardly a sign of stress for someone who isn't on the dole, and I find
his question to Mr Leclerc was friendly meant, he adds that he had protested at the time of Mr Leclerc' s 'deportation'.
The small misunderstanding with the technician isn't such a big deal either: it's very common for French people to 'râler' about civil servants not being polite or diligent (you know, when you go to the 'impôts locaux' to pay your tax, and the two guys at the till are loafing around and telling one another about their holidays
instead of doing the job they're paid for. Just like in a British office, so I guess that's why a British viewer can't understand Sarko's remark!!)
In fact, Sarko is here calmer than usual, and he looks quite rejuvenated: does he use Botox? wouldn't be surprised if he died his hair, and he really sports a nice tan and a very well-cut suit. By the way, what's that bruise on his right cheekbone?.
He's really quite laid back, he even jokes with the journalists (cf the 'vibreur'). He speaks really slowly too (so that the 'average' French moron can understand what he says); a couple of years ago, he used to fire away at quite a rapid pace.
I wish I could be as calm as that whenever I have an oral exam, a presentation or an interview!

[Robert Marchenoir]

"How long did you spend in Siberia? I wasn't in favour."

Wow. Masterful. Very Putin-lite. No wonder he likes the man.

Now you have to be a bit of a communist thug yourself if you want to crush those arrogant, communist "technicians" and "journalists" in the public television channels, haven't you?

Also, I wasn't aware of this dreadful statistic: 6 000 people on the FR3 payroll, out of 11 000 in France Télévision.

I say: we lack plumbers.

It amuses me to no end, seeing leftists sing the praise of sate-owned media -- until the state swings from the left to the right, at which point they suddenly realise that dependency from the state might not be such a good idea after all.

[Sandrine]

"C'est un ogre, pur et simple.

Lamerloque"

Are you "the" L'Amerloque ? The one and only ?

[Luc]

"Sarkozy gets real off camera"

Fact is, he is also "real" when the cameras are on.

That's perhaps why the journalists are so destabilized by him ...

[Helene]

Presumably re the missing "Bonjour" Mr Sarkozy said, "C'est une question d'éducation", which would surely be more aptly translated with a phrase such as "It's a question of manners". When was the last time anyone said spontaneously "It's a matter of upbringing?" And the "tu" form is not by any means always disrespectful - it's more complex than that - used by a man of high office it could equally well imply that he considered his interlocutor to be equally lofty and that they could have a conversation among equals. By the same token, "vous" is not always polite: it can be used to push somebody away, to imply that he or she is nothing to the speaker.

[azloon]

[Reagan?! Kennedy?! gentlemanly?! Not nervous, maybe. President Sarkozy has no time to cool off on this thread - as some elderly bloggers - or get excited about the latest inimical post. And he will never have the time to be that suspiciously leisurely.] Thomasine

a very strange justification for sarko's asshole behavior. maybe the point here is the french prefer an honest boor as president to a liar and a cheat which has been previous norm. and i'd agree with that preference.

Thomasine, do we know you from someplace? you seems to have come out of nowhere, but are somehow familar..

[Jeanne]

I didn't find Sarkozy either "matey" or "menacing." I thought he was fidgety and tense, waiting for the broadcast to start, and saying casual, off the cuff things to the journalists--sort of thinking out loud. I didn't find the "tu" disrespectful--just a casualness resulting from familiarity. In my opinion the journalists are jerks for being put off by any of this--but then in my opinion journalists are generally mal élevés or they wouldn't be journalists.

[MYOS]

There's a context to all this:
- the technician had a headset on - he never heard the president talk; presumably the president didn"t see it.

- the interview was supposed to be about Europe. For the president to mention Carcassonne is tantamount to say "I want to talk about Carcasonne also", which is a way to direct the interview - but I've got no problem with it.

- F3 is regional TV: it's got regional branches. If you operate only nationally, you only need one studio, a couple technical teams, etc, in one place. Here, you've got 22 regions, which have already been collapsed into 13 to cut costs.

- the reason F3 people are protesting is that the F3 journalists will no longer be in charge of the news. In a nutshell, they'll no longer have control over editing and ay not even have control over anything anymore - a status which would profundly alter their job. It's a bit technical and hidden under the broader umbrella (CB can investigate this point.)

- Nicolas Sarkozy is widely known to "play with his watch" now that he can't display it more obviously. It's a way for him to attract attention to an object he likes to show off, but more discretely than before. This is not any mere watch: it's a Patek Philippe bought by his wife, and it costs about 50,000 euros.

[Christian]

I do not think for once that Charles' comments are correctly translated and reflect the president's behavior. He seems slightly upset because of the demonstrators, but he did not say anything rude.

[Sandrine]

"And the "tu" form is not by any means always disrespectful - it's more complex than that - used by a man of high office it could equally well imply that he considered his interlocutor to be equally lofty and that they could have a conversation among equals."

Yeah right, Helene are you French ? If Sarkozy says "tu" to me, I'm sorry but it is disrespectful, as he knows I can't say the same thing to him.

And that's the way it is with this journalist. There's a distance that he should keep, but saying "tu" is not a way of saying : "let's be buddy", just a way of saying, I'm superior to you, you would never dare saying me "tu" back. God I wish one of them would say something like : "Je vais bien et toi ? Tout se passe bien avec Carla ?" Just to see how he reacts when someone does the same thing as him...

To Jeanne,

"but then in my opinion journalists are generally mal élevés or they wouldn't be journalists."

Then why on earth would you come on a journalist's blog ? Only to insult him ? Dang, I'm sorry but you're the one who is clearly mal-élevée !

Azloon,
"maybe the point here is the french prefer an honest boor as president to a liar and a cheat which has been previous norm. "

No no no, some people can be liars and cheaters and assholes at the same time ! Sarko is not that different from the other presidents.

Charles, will you speak about the "dépenses" de l'Elysées ? And their super mega rise ??????? Let's show the whole word how Sarko is supposedly different than the other presidents...

[Daniel Strohl]

Helen,

"(so that the 'average' French moron can understand what he says)

LOL !

I agree with what you say regarding Mr. Leclerc. He is a sympathetic and educated gentleman (his personal political opinions are his own business - as far as I can remember, he never got publicly ("on the air") out of his neutral position as a journalist. This can't be said from all of his colleagues).

If Sarkozy says "tu" to him, this probably means that they are acquainted for years. And regarding "tu" and "vous", I would never use "tu" with a person I don't like or at least respect and appreciate.

Myos,

"it's a Patek Philippe bought by his wife, and it costs about 50,000 euros"

You should specify for a better understanding of the matter by our foreign friends that you are quoting Mrs.Royal, at least regarding the brand of the watch and its estimated cost :)).

More seriously, if Mrs. Sarkozy wants to make a gift to her husband, she is free to do it - it is her money, not ours (i.e the state's money).

Regarding relativity of money perception : I heard on TV that the German Euro players were to get each a bonus of 265,000 € in case of final victory :)), and the "poor" Spaniards only 215,000 €. The "regular" monthly salary of these gentlemen is not bad either.

Apparemment, tous les aficionados de football trouvent cela normal; mais dans le lot, certains de ceux qui ont des sympathies de gauche vont tout de même s'étrangler d'indignation à propos du prix exorbitant de la montre offerte par Madame Sarkozy à son mari ...

[Yosemite Sam (I'm not Dot either - really!)]

He makes me nervous just watching him. His hair seems much grayer from last year.

"Sarko was very polite to begin with but when you consider that he had to run the gauntlet of baying featherbedded lefties on his way into the studio and impoliteness from staff I am not surprised he complained."

I do this everyday in Berkeley, but if you ride down the street, guns-a-blazin', they don't really bother you.

[dot king]

"He seems slightly upset because of the demonstrators, but he did not say anything rude."
Christian

As I mentioned (a long way) above, Sarkozy has had lots of TV time, far too much for it to make him nervous about any imminent interview. He's also had to run the gauntlet of a fair number of demonstrations against him and/or his policies. Neither situation should make him that jumpy or nervous. In fact, he should be displaying a calm authority in such a situation.
I think MYOS sums it up nicely in terms of Fr3, but I would add that as for fiddling with his watch, even if he does want to show it off, he should have the good manners to know that it just isn't polite to trouble yourself about what time it is when you've accepted an invitation.
IMO he was attention-seeking as usual.

[Paulangers]

Many of your contributors miss the point about politicians since De Gaulle started bossing journalists about. Also Mitterrand did go to French television studios more than once.
After 40 years in France let me confess that French journalists are supine and no better than courtiers (and female journalists will have had affairs with various leading politicians). The Ferrari case and others in the past show that male politicians love being challenged by attractive female journalists. Plus ça change. Clearly Sarkozy has an insecure personality and tries to overcompensate by bullying people.
But doesn't this happen in faraway England too? And don't British journalists get supine over religion the royal family and cricket?

[Rulf]

@AZLOON

My sincere excuses to you. I meant to refer to the comment by some "I" just under your post, but I got confused by the messy way the messages are published and signed on Charles' blog -- some serious typographical advice is needed here.

[The3rdColumn]

Azloon,

Re: "Charles comes from a news tradition that actually believes that 'writing what you please' is the essence of vigorous journalism. what's your idea? writing about what doesn't please you?"

You are out of your depth man! If writing destructive drivel on a subject is vigorous journalim then you've just compared Charles Bremner to tabloid journalists.

Never mind!

If you re-read what I said, you will find (yep, even you!) I asserted from the begining that freedom of the press is (even if merely) a commercial right, etc etc.

So what drivel are you on now? Did I say that Charles Bremner couldn't bash whom he pleases to bash? I however pointed out that they (CB and his likes in the Murdoch press) SHOULD REALISE that they are free TO WRITE WHAT THEY WANT TO WRITE with a caveat: a minimu of respect for the people they write about whether they like them or not or Bremner has always shown intense and unrestrained loathing for the President of France -- why so? Pres Sarkozy is not Mr Bush or Mr Blair who have ordered the destruction of a people for all the wrong reasons.

It is quite evident that Bremner does not respect Sarkozy, so what makes him different from any other journalist writing for smut newspapers?

Freedom of the press does not give Mr Bremner license to pour out his vomit on the president of the Republic just because he doesn't like Mr Sarkozy's mannerisms. Mr Bremner loses that license when he yields to the baser instict of a smut journalist.

[Barrie Dee]

Martinet as a person

in French
The term was used for an external pupil of a collège (i.e. continental high school, especially Catholic). Jean Bodin, quoting the examination of three witches by Paolo Grillandi of Castiglione at the Castello San Paolo, Spoleto, records that the witches referred to the Devil as Master Martinet (maistre Martinet), or the Little Master (petit maistre).

in English terms
In English, the term martinet is usually used not in reference to the whip itself, but rather him who would use it, a person who demands strict adherence to set rules, especially such a person in the military.

[Joan Arles]

It's good of Charles to put through the insulting nonsense that "3rd Column" writes about him. He must have a thick skin. It's laughable though and insulting to say he "vomits" "loathing" about Sarkozy etc etc. Absolutely nowhere does he do that. I even heard him in France Inter (le Telephone Sonne) praising Sarkozy the other evening!

His posting on the France 3 video was as usual sharp and I see that it has been taken up all over the French media today.

I note that the extreme language used by "3rd column" about vomit etc is exactly the jargon used by propaganda press under dictatorial regimes...!

[Romain]

Off topic,

Marc Machin, subject of a former story by CB, is granted a suspension of sentence by the judiciary revision commity.

[Helene]

Christian, yes I am. And you?

[christopher muir]

Looks like my last post didn't get through. I'd noted that ii's not a good sign when leaders start appointing their own favourites to senior broadcasting positions. I followed the Russian NTV demise. A vibrant station breaking new ground with its investigative documentaries ("Itogi") and satirical shows, it came under Putin's gaze in mid-2000. Its coverage of the Chechnya horrors was too honest, it seems. The president also loathed the Kluky puppet send-ups, so he called in top NTV staff to attend a Kremlin conference; he smiled a lot and shortly after, had the NTV "rebels" fired and those lacking moral fiber promoted. The station's demise was blamed by the authorities on "tax fraud" - a constant Putin weapon. Now NTV's news service is utterly mundane. Lessons can be drawn from this event.

(YouTube has a nice archive of Kluky editions. Worth a look for anybody interested in Russian politics.)

[Gemma]

I agree with Denis (with the exception of Sarkozy being the new Chirac).

I have watched this film several times to try to understand what the reasons for the controversy and am having difficulty in finding them.

I find Charles Bremner's blog to normally be objective but this article gives a very misleading representation.
Sarkozy had every reason to be annoyed when the technician ignored him. The technician's behaviour was very rude and typically "Parisian". I come across this behaviour on a daily basis and am amazed that some people have no notions of simple courtesy. Sarkozy's subsequent comment is not "menacing". He's being cheeky.

"Tutoiement" is not "disrespectful". It is used in the workplace and is not out of place in this context.

There is nothing "nasty" about Sarkozy in this film.

[dot king]

"Bremner has always shown intense and unrestrained loathing for the President of France --"
(The3rdColumn)

Funny you should say that really, because I find he's often more than fair on Sarkozy, and tolerant to boot, but I don't accuse him of pandering to anyone.

But there we are, words on paper, open to how the reader interprets them . . .

[Daniel Strohl]

Rulf,

"French journalists (and almost any Frenchmen) infallibly take it as an order and comply without a twitch, like nicely trained lap dogs"

Your first intervention on the blog : GREAT (and courageously anonymous, of course).

"Some typographical advice" is needed - I am afraid you need advice in various other fields too :))

[dot king]

"As an example : one of the interviewers - a lady - asked him why we still have deficits. Answer : for what reason are we not replacing 50% of the civil servants going into retirement, if it is not because of the deficits? "
(Daniel on Sarko's "faster mind")

(I was just reading through the posts again trying to spot why Barrie Dee explains the word "martinet" in French and in English, thinking I'd missed something, and I reread Daniel's post.)

Daniel, that isn't an answer to the question. It is the quite usual political answer to a difficult and pertinent question, ie: another question.
Qu: Why are there still deficits?
Ans: Because I'm doing something about it.
That's what it amounts to, but dressed up and given a posy to hold, it doesn't seem quite so ridiculous.

[dot king]

": setting one's watch to the correct time is hardly a sign of stress for someone who isn't on the dole,"
(Helen)

We may be back to the issue of judging how clever a president is by his ability to accomplish simple actions - I'm thinking of "walk and chew gum at the same time" though I can't single out about whom it was said - dubya? Seems further back in time somehow.

All that to say: most people can adjust their watch without having to take it off and waggle it about.

[Robert Marchenoir]

Now, let's concentrate on the really important issues, such as the president's watch.

What's wrong with you people? Don't you like Patek Philippe? Do you think their watches are not up to par? Don't you appreciate the finest products of man's intelligence, craft and taste? Don't you like beauty? Are you unable to admire a wonderful object unless it's you who own it? Don't you approve of the generosity of a woman who makes a gift to her husband in order to show her love?

Regarding the alleged impropriety of looking at one's watch, Sarkozy was not invited for tea at the marquise de Pompadour's. He was on a professional mission, doing his job on TV.

It's a good thing he checked the time, too. France is sinking fast. There's not a second to loose.

Socialists shouldn't be too vocal about the passion of watches. The spokesman of the Socialist party, Julien Dray, is a notorious collector of very expensive watches.

[marc millier]

I'm very amaze that the president used the "tutoiement" with the interviewers.
its incredible.!!!..I can't imagine this.
Around me , we don't use the tutoiement" like the french president.
I'm very shocked.!!

[dot king]

"I'm thinking of "walk and chew gum at the same time" though I can't single out about whom it was said - dubya? Seems further back in time somehow" Me

Gottit, or at least I think so. Wasn't it Tricky Dicky Nixon?

[San Ying]

A TV technician's work is intense. The technician was making every effort to do the best he could at his job. Doing a good job for the President of France took over all his concentration and energy. He had no intention or time to 'insult' or ignore the President of France. His Sensitive Royal Highness Nicholas would do a better job as president IF only he possessed the technician's interest in his work and his calm. Carla must be regretting her thoughtless decision to become France's First Lady. Too bad. Too late!

[Roy Harris]

I note that Azloon is allowed to use "bullshit" to attack my ideas but that my reply to him, using the same term, has been censored and someone else is allowed to use "asshole". Ach, well, I'll leave your blog to the loony Azloon and 'Gauleiter' Dot King...

[Lex Stevens]

The powerful often fail to understand that they would do better to be befriend the "little people", both for their own personal gain and for their reputation.

Like so many politicians these days, Sarkozy fails to understand that he no longers exists in a bubble. He fails to understand that everything that he says and does is subject to immediate broadcast and recall.

Was there really ever a time when our leaders demonstrated gentler manners than the common man, or is that the stuff of fairy tales? Maybe Sarkozy is demonstrating genuine noblesse.

The humor in the video is that he is acting out the stereotype of French politicians in film.

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

No one seems to have considered the question of the abuse by journalists of the liberty of individuals. It is now possible for any one of us to be filmed at any time and for this film to be available to all and sundry on the net. The main question has been one of the French President's "lack of courtesy": this is rather laughable when one sees the same individuals using words like "bullshit" and "asshole". In short, anyone is free to do or say whatever he likes providing he himself is not directly concerned.

[christopher muir]

I earlier mentioned universal presidential sensitivities to satire - among them is one Vladimir Putin. This short scene from the NTV Kulky show contributed to the Kremlin virtually destroying the station's popular programme schedule in mid 2000. Rare footage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwZnHTOA9c8

[Romain]

I think Charles forgot to mention Sarkozy was warmed up by a welcoming comity of 1000 FR3 unionists chanting anti-Sarko slogans. Hence his state of mind before the interview. It is about time to dismantle the jurassic France Television and re-think the whole project

[no, I mentioned it, Romain. It wasn't 1,000. Much less. CB]

[Sandrine]

"If Sarkozy says "tu" to him, this probably means that they are acquainted for years. "

Daniel, you know that Sarko says "tu" to everybody ! Est-ce qu'ils le tutoient en retour ?

""Tutoiement" is not "disrespectful". It is used in the workplace and is not out of place in this context."

Hello ??? Is everybody crazy here ? Of course you don't "tutoie" like that !! Sarko is NOT your friend or your colleague, he's the President of the Republic ! This is not a normal situation (the one that you have at your workplace).

(ok, that was for Gemma)

Daniel, even if you love Sarko, would you say "tu" to him ? Of course not ! You would say "Monsieur le Président", like any other normal person. Even in the Elysee palace nobody will say "tu" to him (maybe Guéant ? But I'm not sure). Sarkozy se comporte comme un gamin mal élevé et maintenant on doit tous descendre à son niveau ! Gee, et quand je pense que je suis une des plus jeunes sur ce blog. Tout se perd... Pour info Daniel, je ne vous tutoie pas parce que j'ai du respect pour vous, pourtant ça fait un moment qu'on se "connait".

"Pres Sarkozy is not Mr Bush or Mr Blair who have ordered the destruction of a people for all the wrong reasons."

Do not give him ideas please !! lol, no seriously, how can you say that ? He just arrived !!

"Mr Bremner license to pour out his vomit on the president of the Republic just because he doesn't like Mr Sarkozy's mannerisms."

You are out of your mind !! Charles is one of the biggest fan of Sarko ! Sure he doesn't like his manners (who does ?), but otherwise, he likes him. I dunno how somebody as nice as Charles can like him, but it's the sad truth... I'm gonna pray for his soul ! :o)

[dot king]

"Sarkozy was not invited for tea at the marquise de Pompadour's. He was on a professional mission, doing his job on TV."
Robert Marchenoir

Sarkozy himself uses the expression "quand on est invité" I took my word from there - and cleverly translated it of course.

[dot king]

"I note that Azloon is allowed to use "bullshit" to attack my ideas but that my reply to him, using the same term, has been censored and someone else is allowed to use "asshole". Ach, well, I'll leave your blog to the loony Azloon and 'Gauleiter' Dot King..."
ROY HARRIS

Not having used the word "b-llsh-t" or "assh-le", nor having said anything to upset Roy Harris, I would like to protest at his citing me in that manner.

On another thread he was having me sent to Botany Bay (with another unnamed blogger "a couple of tickets" - I'm still wondering who the lucky winner is) after barely an introduction other than warning me about double-entendres in Shakespeare.

A frail "plant" indeed if I might say so. : )

[Mauvezin]

Sarkozy himself uses the expression "quand on est invité"
******************
Le mot "invité" est employé à dessein afin de marquer la distance.
Cela voulait dire : Je suis en terrain hostile.
Cela venant apres la mini-manifestation "saluant" son arrivée.

[dot king]

This tutoiement business really is a minefield isn't it? I've just rewatched the clip very carefully to see whether the journalist Gérard Leclerc addresses the president as "tu" but the occasion doesn't arise.
However, when he asks how long he's been "in the cupboard", using the "tu" form, I can only conclude that it is an incorrect and disrespectful way of speaking to him, because if they were friends, or long acquaintances, as someone has suggested, he would have known what Gérard Leclerc has been doing whilst he hasn't been appearing on television.
I find it very interesting and somewhat revealing that, for Sarkozy, being out of the public eye is necessarily being "dans le placard" which is generally used to mean being reduced in status and significance in the workplace.

[sebastien]

Dot King:
It was LBJ talking about Gerald Ford: "Gerry's so dumb he can't fart and chew gum at the same time".

Some might say this is a disability that's driven deep into the American national character. Or maybe it's just down to bad parenting.

[Daisy]

It's ironic that Sarkozy is upbraiding that person for not saying Bonjour. What does he know about good breeding? I remember when King Hussein of Jordan died, someone said of him that he always took the time to be nice to people, whether it's the person serving him tea or a head of state. Now that's good breeding. Angela Merkel certainly got the measure of him when she called him "the sun king" though I think Sarko is trying to be more like Putin.

"He tells the interviewers to make sure to mention his morning dash to Carcassonne to commiserate with people wounded in an army base shooting."

Gee, you mean he didn't do this out of compassion and the goodness of his heart? Well I am shocked!

[lydia]

Sarkosy and his $50,000 time piece is obscene. $50,000 could feed a small village for a year. I hope the next time he sticks his hand into a crowd, one of the little people relieve him of as they did Bush on his jaunt to Albania.

[rocket]

Dot

"I'm thinking of "walk and chew gum at the same time" though I can't single out about whom it was said

Gerald Ford

[thinknoworpaylater]

The use of tu as someone said is not always insulting. It can be friendly or antagonistic but everything depends on the tone: the mode of address. Charles is trying to show us (Anglophones) how the French may regard this behaviour because that is important in France. No doubt the readers of this blog may have a different but less influential view> As for Sarkozy - he is something of a showman no doubt - but it is policies that count not just mannerisms. Actually I think C.B.s is not distorted but does reflect an honest view of how things stand here. Sarko is in for a difficult time especially as he is now (also) president of the E.U. for 6 months. God help him, Peter Mandelson (no friend of mine) certainly wont.

[peter kinsley www.peterkinsley.com]

3rd Columnist: The age of defference is dead! In the UK print journalists ended it in the early 60's by ridiculing the high and mighty, and TV followed with their satire. In France there was a revolution to end it.***
"Respect!" is a buzz word in the UK right now (it is what the young blacks want and do not get because it has to be e a r n e d.)
Mitterrand supported two families on French taxpayers money. Chirac spent a million and a half euros on food and wine for his family home ( when is he coming to court?)
Sarkozy lives in a castle and flashes a 50,000 euro watch and wants a minor technician wearing headphones to respond to his "Bonjour Monsieur".
Respect is one thing.
La politesse is another, carried to extremes by the French. Overheard: "Gee - I'll be glad to get to England or back to the U.S.A where you don't have to shake hands and kiss everybody on the cheeks a hundred times a day."
*** Lord Louis Mountbatten was a Socialist, and helped India to its Freedom. He and his wife Edwina (one of the richest women in the world) turned Left when, on a visit to Russia after their marriage they witnessed a serf kiss the boot of a landowner and wait until the other boot was tapped on his head before he could rise. They were horrified and it changed their views forever.

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

My goodness, this is trivial stuff! Should the President have used "tu" or not? Should he have taken off his watch to adjust the time? If supposedly intelligent readers of "The Times" have nothing else to bother about in their lives, I envy them! Grow up!

[peter]

His cult of personality must be strong indeed in france if there's supposed to be anything significant in that video.

[The3rdColumn]

Peter Kinsley.com,

Who's asking for defference? I fault Mr Bremner's article/s on Mr Sarkozy for his regular gratuitous bashing of the president in this column that I feel he has strayed from being a judiciously objective journalist.

I do believe that it's difficult to call a journalist objective when he (or she) systematically goes rabid against a subject, i.e., person, etc, he writes about, for -- of all things -- his mannerisms, "ticks" or whatever.

I've praised Mr Bremner for many of his posts on issues that I believed reflected serious journalism.

To my mind, there are other issues involving Sarkozy that warrant rightful criticism; right off the bat, I can think of his breach of electoral promise when he said during the election prime time TV interview that he would pull out French troop participation from Afghanistan; instead he is reinforcing US diktat and Bush dogma -- not that I am anti NATO surge in Afghanistan but that was his promise and to break it to play footsie with Bush to me is serious...that, for instance, is something which should be tackled.

Writing about the president's mannerisms and splitting hair where Sarkozy's every physical gesture is involved points to an almost vindictive thing in Bremner directed at the president. Why so? This is not journalism or if it is, then it reminds me of Murdoch's other news medium, Fox New aka as Faux News.

So I ask the question again, what makes him different from a writer for a smut magazine?

Charles,

I will not follow the lead of the three amazons whose comments in my direction seem to be verging on the hystrionic -- Dot King, who despite having got anything rarely nice to say (except probably about herself?) but I say, that's her prerogative; Joan Arles, who thinks that your articles never reek of French bashing but that's her problem, and French civil servant Sandrine who says what she thinks of Sarkozy as is her right and why not? After all I don't think she's selling her thoughts here for a fee, i.e., a journalist. (I like the way Voltaire put it: "I may not agree with what you say but I will defend your right to say it!" but only for those who are not covered by a commerical right to sell and publish news, opinion, gossip, entertainment, chitchat, etc) -- who have come to your rescue for my earlier post reminding you of a tenet full of common sense:

"Freedom of the press does not give Mr Bremner license to pour out his vomit on the president of the Republic just because he doesn't like Mr Sarkozy's mannerisms. Mr Bremner loses that license when he yields to the baser instict of a smut journalist"

[rocket]

3rd column

"I will not follow the lead of the three amazons whose comments in my direction seem to be verging on the hystrionic -- Dot King, who despite having got anything rarely nice to say (except probably about herself?) but I say, that's her prerogative; Joan Arles, who thinks that your articles never reek of French bashing but that's her problem, and French civil servant Sandrine who says what she thinks of Sarkozy as is her right and why not?"

But you just can't help yourself and you do it anyway!

[dot king]

THE3RDCOLUMN
Below is my post: what is there in there that is SO contentious?

"Funny you should say that really,
because I find he's often more than fair on Sarkozy, and tolerant to boot, but I don't accuse him of pandering to anyone.

But there we are, words on paper, open to how the reader interprets them . . ."

Nor is there anything that is personally nasty to you. Unwarranted attack on your part - if you don't want anyone to express an opposing view to the one you hold, then I suggest you don't post it on a blog.

[dot king]

"my earlier post reminding you of a tenet full of common sense:

"Freedom of the press does not give Mr Bremner license to pour out his vomit on the president of the Republic just because he doesn't like Mr Sarkozy's mannerisms. Mr Bremner loses that license when he yields to the baser instict of a smut journalist"
(The3rdcolumn)

This is what passes for "a tenet full of common sense"?

And I'M the one who never has anything nice to say??

Ouh là!

[Sandrine]

"If supposedly intelligent readers of "The Times" have nothing else to bother about in their lives, I envy them! Grow up!"

Well ok then, sorry for that. I understand now that to show respect to people is only TRIVIA STUFF. You're so right, maybe I should do something else in my life rather than trying to educate my child so that she doesn't say "tu" to everybody af first glance. I mean people are dying around the world and here we are talking about good manners !

I say, let's all be ANIMALS !!! No manners, do whatever you want ! Be freeee !!! Yeeehaaa !!!!!!

Ok j'arrête le délire, mais qu'est-ce qu'il ne faut pas lire des fois...

[Daniel Strohl]

Sandrine,

"Est-ce qu'ils le tutoient en retour ?"

Oui (mais sans doute pas le technicien de FR3 qui apparemment ne dit même pas bonjour :)) - j'ai observé quelquefois que divers hommes politiques le tutoient; et pourquoi pas aussi des journalistes qui le connaissent depuis longtemps - je n'ai pas observé cela, mais je ne passe pas mes journées le nez et une oreille (la moins mauvaise :)) collés sur le téléviseur ...

Personnellement, si j'étais journaliste, je ne me laisserais pas tutoyer par les hommes politiques et réciproquement. Cela me garderait les mains libres pour écrire ce que je pense d'eux en cas de nécessité. Mais je ne suis pas journaliste :))

"Charles is one of the biggest fan of Sarko !"

No, Sandrine, Charles does his best to stay objective and if he thinks that Sarkozy takes measures which should be taken, he says so; conversely, if he thinks that Sarkozy exaggerates, he says it also. The latter happened several times.

Charles' opinions are always well pondered and are based on a large and diversified experience, which a number of his confrères are lacking. This does of course not mean that one has always to agree with him :))

Charles is a journalist, therefore I understand that he was a little bit "piqué" by the FR3 story.

Mais l'accueil que ces messieurs-dames du service public de l'audiovisuel croient pouvoir (et devoir!) réserver au président de la république, en se basant sur une importance qu'ils n'ont pas tout à fait (les téléspectateurs sont libres de choisir les chaines qui leur conviennent) n'est peut-être pas la meilleure façon de défendre "le service public".

Personnellement, j'ai trouvé que Sarkozy s'était bien contrôlé, même s'il a quelques tics. D'autres louchent, ou clignent des yeux d'une manière anormale (par ex. Mitterrand, lorsqu'il mentait - ça lui arrivait de temps à autre - mais comme il était très intelligent, il s'arrangeait la plupart du temps pour faire mentir ses sous-fifres à sa place; je dis ça pour taquiner Marc Millier qui est revenu sur le blog :))

[The3rdColumn]

Dot King,

Get hold of yourself missy... whatever gave you the idea that I didn't "want anyone to express an opposing view" to mine? I even cited Voltaire's motto on the matter of freedom of speech to prove my point.

Matter of fact, I acknowledged, that is if you failed to read it -- it's your prerogative and by extension, your right to do it. (nothing nasty there...)

And if you haven"t noticed, you seem to be falling in the same trap you've just laid out and should check yourself:

"if you don't want anyone to express an opposing view to the one you hold, then I suggest you don't post it on a blog."

(Charles, seems to me you've just gotten your blog an amazon major much like a sgt major ...)

[dot king]

Thank you Rocket and Sebastien for Gerald Ford - if I'd been asked to list US presidents I'd have forgotten him! : )

[dot king]

But my dear little 3rd column, you didn't just express a point of view that was opposite to mine, you included a personal attack.

Charles seems to be coping well with his "amazons" - you seem to be the one with the problem.

BTW I have two breasts - at least I did last time I checked - yup, still there . . .

[Lily to 3rdColumn]

3RD COLUMN,

Things on this blog have changed since you were here last time. I have always perceived CB as someone welcoming everyone with open arms and favouring a fair, balanced debate.

You are right when you note that there are a lot of trivia on this blog when CB could present careful analysis of Sarko’s EU presidency (as happened on the ‘Irish NO thread’ or the factual criticism that you mention. The choice of topics is easy accessible for everyone which is good and bad. I prefer the more difficult topics that I can learn from.

On the other hand, from how I see it, the mocking of public figures is also part of Anglo-Saxon journalistic ‘culture’ and should be taken lightly. Am I right that this is getting done in Britain, too, but less with regards to the Queen? – The French president in France is traditionally treated with more respect – but then Sarko also chose the rupture, including the treatment by the media, that we can see everywhere.

The above video clip is non-news as such. It is only newsworthy because “the French” are fascinated by this off-the-record clip – that distracts so wonderfully from more serious matter.

With regards to this blog: The problem isn’t CB, or it’s not him alone. This blog doesn’t have formal user/pseudo registration, and there is no troll policy.

Thus, you may be decided to offer counter-arguments to ROCKET’s famous bashing, try to reason with him or others. You will always lose because there may be more Rockets or DAISIES, and there are plenty of DOT KINGS who will not spend much time bothering with facts. If all else fails, she will hunt for your real or perceived or potential character flaws and attack these.

Who needs in-depth debating and commenting that “takes up all the blogging space” (Dot King)? (interesting rhetoric btw)

You can reread the thread about Carla’s lovers, if you like, and you’ll get the drift. I would vaguely guess that she now has appearances as thomasine and Roy Harris but who may know?? It is clear that she lied and used her different impersonations to bash fellow bloggers. But she may stay. Where is CB’s authority in this matter? She talked of “off-blog support”. Her character is visible for everyone, but she will not find criticism from SANDRINE, dear ROCKET, DAISY, MARY FERNANDEZ*, QWERTY and you name them. Occasional disputes seem staged.

There used to be FRANK SCHNITTGER who was la/ibelled as communist by TERRY. TERRY stayed. FRANK left. Ms or more likely Miss KING called me man pleaser and other things. She spread lies about MAGGIE that were not corrected. KINSLEY questioned RICHARD JONES’ identity who in his remarkable idealism at 90 years, blogs on but has also registered at ET.

‘Beware the warrior king’ (KINSLEY) is out here to destroy this blog. Why? I don’t know. Is this directed against CB? Or is it a Murdoch ruse to make this place trashy and still get cited as the prestigious voice from Britain? Or is The Times London so overwhelmed by this group of dishonest, disingenuous bloggers that they just cannot do anything about it?

I haven’t found the answer but look at this place with horror and amazement; underneath the surface it feels more like warzone than a friendly marketplace for the exchange of ideas.

I still like to read CB, especially when he dares say “NO”. He “sinned” twice – when he mentioned Marion Cotillard on 9/11 and when he said the Irish “No” was wrong – but he got corrected from the board. Maggie had asked Frank Schnittger to offer his first-hand insight (he’s Irish); his words were quickly discredited by the ‘majority’.

* This is Mary Fernandez who is a lawyer in the US working for the US army, complaining about “Carlita” that you are confronted with everywhere you go, e.g. on Paris Match. She must have access to well-assorted magazine racks at her base. ;)

------------------------

PETER KINSLEY

On this occasion: You had bitterly complained about this horrible political correctness that had led to changing designations on French WWII memorials from “the Germans” to “the Nazis”. There were others who found it outrageous as well.

I investigated this issue. These signs were changed all over France, beginning in the 1970s, in accordance with French and German common interests. Both sides are happy about the peace between them. And this attitude is welcomed by the community of French Jews who provided this information to me (Centre de deportation/Shoah, Lyon).

Cheers,

Sweet Lily – known for her soft and smooth words ;)

[The3rdColumn to LILY]

Lily,

Appreciate your comprehensive lowdown re how things stand today on Bremner's blog. Excellent synopsis ...

Thanks.

[peter kinsley www.peterkinsley.com]

Lily - glad you checked up. You should be a newshound. Just the facts, Jack! "Political Correctness" is a petty functionary with a whitewash brush: a senseless censor. Yesterday I mentioned the cartoonist with "Classe of 1939. I seem to hear a baby crying" and an easy way to explain this is with Ernest Hemingway's visit to the frontier where French families crossed on Sunday and stood and ate all the cakes from the shop window while the German baker (who had worked all night) and his wife and kids looked on. Our great leaders in the League of Nations had decided to torture the German nation as a reprisal for 1914-18, and when the 10,000,000 marks notes my father showed me could not buy a loaf of bread, there was only one way out: a box of matches, the Reichstag fire and little Adolph in power.
Christopher Burney, the British diplomat spy who was in the Paris Embassy in 1939 and ended up in Buchenwald, wrote that the very worst people in the concentration camp were senior French officers, who would use any selfish underhand trick with their fellow officers to better themselves. In "Le Chagrin et la Pitie" the resistant mayor of a village near Clermont Ferrand says: "If French officers had helped us and organised us we could have fought better but they sat at home with their feet up in front of a fire..."
Yes there is no end to the bitterness of WWII. General de Gaulle was shrewd: he refused to unveil a memorial to the Resistants in a town in SW France when he learned that the leader was a German (from the International Brigade in Spain)*** and the head
of the Gestapo in the town had been French!
Is Sarkozy shrewd? He plays political footsie with Germany. The French are and always were a militant nation, and so were (and are the Germans.
That is what I fear -- militarism from France and Germany in tandem.
*** They changed the German's name on the memorial to a French name! The French authorities handed over the Republican Spaniards and 3,000 died just building the stone steps of the entrance to Matthausen concentration camp.
P.S. If anyone thinks that display of nerves by the twitchy Sarkozy (he looked like one of those men who sold nylons out of suitcases in Bond Street) is worthless, then have one of our tame psychoanalysts check it out and report!

[azloon]

[ I however pointed out that they (CB and his likes in the Murdoch press) SHOULD REALISE that they are free TO WRITE WHAT THEY WANT TO WRITE with a caveat: a minimum of respect for the people they write about whether they like them or not or Bremner has always shown intense and unrestrained loathing for the President of France -- why so?] Third Column

TC --

it may not be in the french journalistic tradition to criticize the president, and so such an approach from a british newspaper is objectionable to some (like you).

suggest if you want only to read unctuous treatment of sarko, try parismatch.com. lots of nice photos too.

anglo-saxon journalists don't take themselves so bloody seriously as you would like them to. they like to have a little fun, and sarko is the perfect vehicle for this. exactly how you extract CB's supposed 'loathing' of sarko from his writings is a mystery to me. bemusement maybe.

i am sure this difference in opinion and approach can be traced back to 'le bac.'

[Daniel Strohl]

Lily,

Nice to see you back here.

PS : Peter has again got a bout of anti German bzw. French fever! The best remedy for him, in my opinion, would be to swallow "cul sec" half a bottle of good Scotch and to sing after that "God save the Queen" :))

[Lily]

DAISY,

I might have gotten you into the 'wrong' boat; sorry about that - but these days one hardly keeps track with right or wrong, and who is who and who belongs where.
------------------

"The French are and always were a militant nation, and so were (and are the Germans."

PETER,

Thanks for the newshound remark.

If anyone, shouldn't Jews be worried about whitewashing?

Re your above quote - Let me add: The British are and always were a militant nation.
---------------

THE3RDCOLUMN,

You're welcome.

[Sandrine]

For the 3rd column, I don't understand your problem with me. I'm an amazon, what does that mean exactly ? Would you care to explain because I might have some problem to understand what you meant exactly. Is it name-calling time ?

Where were you when the English press called Chirac a "worm" ? I don't really like Chirac, but I felt insulted by this au plus profond de moi-même. Charles is very far away from insulting Sarko. He has every right to let us know what he thinks of his manners. If you don't agree, just say so, don't say it's vomit or whatever because I don't think it is.

"and French civil servant Sandrine who says what she thinks of Sarkozy as is her right and why not?"

Encore heureux !! Il ne manquerait plus que je ne puisse pas dire ce que je pense...

Daniel,

Si Sarko a eu un mauvais accueil à France 3 c'est peut-être parce qu'ils ont profité de sa venue pour lui faire savoir ce qu'ils pensaient de ses déclarations sur France télévision.

Vous pouvez penser ce que vous voulez de leur manif, mais si Sarko n'avait pas commencé la "guerre", il n'aurait pas eu à traverser un champ de mines lors de sa venue sur le plateau de télévision. Quand on insulte les gens, il ne faut pas s'étonner qu'après ils soient en colère.

De plus, vous avez l'air de penser que ce sont des privilégiés comme à peu près tous ceux, selon vous, qui ont le culot de manifester contre les géniales lois concoctées par notre Maitre à tous; mais ce sont des gens qui sont (légitimement à mon sens) inquiets pour leur avenir. Il y aura vraisemblablement des licenciements. Si vous étiez à leur place, vous chanteriez les louanges de Sarko ou vous tenteriez ce qui est en votre pouvoir pour le faire changer d'avis ?

Non, pas la peine de répondre, je crois que je connais la réponse.

[Mary Fernandez]

Yes, Lily, Carlita has even filtered through the telegraph lines to the lonely forts of the Wild West. I can't imagine the media saturation you must be experiencing in the civilized world.

http://www.marianne2.fr/Sarkozy-devient-l-agent-de-Bruni-_a88427.html

You also seem not to understand what an Army Reservist is. That means I'm just school marm teachin' legal things at the local state run school here in Berkeley unless Uncle Sam says he needs me and there I go for a year. I won't be arriving at my post (the air force has 'bases', the army has posts) until August. I guess I'll just hang out in that one-horse town across the bay, San Francisco, and hope the sailors bring news of exotic far away lands until then.

[V]

"To my mind, there are other issues involving Sarkozy that warrant rightful criticism; ...
Writing about the president's mannerisms and splitting hair where Sarkozy's every physical gesture is involved points to an almost vindictive thing in Bremner directed at the president. Why so? This is not journalism or if it is, then it reminds me of Murdoch's other news medium, Fox New aka as Faux News."
(3rd column)

Yup.

[V]

Daniel Strohl:

"Personnellement, j'ai trouvé que Sarkozy s'était bien contrôlé, même s'il a quelques tics. D'autres louchent, ou clignent des yeux d'une manière anormale (par ex. Mitterrand, lorsqu'il mentait - ça lui arrivait de temps à autre - mais comme il était très intelligent, il s'arrangeait la plupart du temps pour faire mentir ses sous-fifres à sa place"

LOL and double LOL ! :))

[peter kinsley www.peterkinsley.com]

Daniel: If I were to sing God Save the Queen people would think I was singing about Mandy. I do not know the words. As my name originally was Paedar Cinnsealach, the latter changed in 1600 by the dastardly English occupiers to Kinslagh; Kinsela; Kinsella; Kingsly; and Kinsley in 1850 and my paternal grandmother was Italian.
Lily: "The British are and always were a militant nation." Don't I know it. I was conscripted into the bloody army for two long years. Luckily 18 months of it in la Belle France!
Some journalists, especially British ones*** are extremely rude about politicians. I, for example, seeing photos of Sarcozy and the beautiful Carla, was tempted to say: "An orang-outang with a Stradivarius") but it would have been unkind, and jealousy would have (quite rightly) been suspected.
*** Our host CB is Australian, with Scottish ancestry.
Once, in Minneapolis, giving details to post a manuscript to my NY publisher, the clerk asked: "Are you English?" I said yes to save time, and he said: "Thoroughbred English?" I nodded and bowed my head in shame. As J.P. Donleavy wrote in "The Ginger Man" "Jesus Christ was an Irishman and Judas was British."

[Lex Stevens]

Ah...but Chirac was a worm. One of my great disappointments was not getting to see Chirac and John Kerry try to out-slime one another.

Chirac had his moments. I particularly enjoyed it when he wiped the floor with George W. Bush.

All cultures have their pleasures, and in the English speaking world we enjoying saying nasty things about our leaders, and other people who take themsleves too seriously. (The British are much better at it than we Americans.) Or, if you will, we think of politics as a contact sport.

[Lily]

"I can't imagine the media saturation you must be experiencing in the civilized world."

Mary Fernandez,

No, you cannot. I live IN France and don't experience any of it. When asked spontaneously who I see most on French magazine covers, I'd reply Angelina Jolie. When you don't look for Carla, you don't see her - at least not in my not so remote countryside or whenever I go to more busy spots. France has a few more magazines than Paris Match.

"You also seem not to understand what an Army Reservist is."

Yes, indeed, I don't. So, thank you for the background.

[Mary Fernandez]

"France has a few more magazines than Paris Match."

Apparently, I'm more in touch with them than you. You obviously didn't read the direct link to Marianne citing Sarko's media overkill for Carla & her album. How's this for a quote:

"They are always pawing each other in public, which might be normal for newly-weds, but he is the president and she is the first lady - and they are not exactly young! The endless photos of Carla cosying up to Nicolas have become nothing more than a vulgar charade.

"Quite frankly it's overkill and we can't take any more. She is not so much a perfume but a very strong air freshener that we use to cover up unpleasant smells in public places."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/2217880/Carla-Bruni-is-%27modern-day-Marie-Antoinette%27.html

In addition to Paris Match, there's Le Point (a cover titled 'La Presidente' - inside with HER sitting at the presidential desk and Nico standing at her side), L'Express, last week's Libe interview... These are all off the top of my head and within the last few weeks.

I guess you see what you want to see. For you, they can do no wrong. Fine. Others have a different opinion.

[Lily]

“I guess you see what you want to see. For you, they can do no wrong. Fine. Others have a different opinion. » (M. Fernandez)

‘See what I want to see’… you may be right. I try to deal with the media with a conscious mind. There are many ways to feed us with things that have no meaning. I view them as detractors. Carla has no political weight.

If you want to criticise the fact that the media in France are not independent in the true sense of the word, I’m with you, but it seems that the US, too, has a special tradition of using the media as a political instrument. When you look into it, you become aware that the Carla mediatisation is quite harmless.

[another amazon]

"DAISY,

I might have gotten you into the 'wrong' boat; sorry about that - but these days one hardly keeps track with right or wrong, and who is who and who belongs where."

The3rdColumn

You didn't mention Daisy at all, your three "amazons" were Dot King, Joan Arles and Sandrine.
Daisy is mentioned elsewhere in an accusatory post from someone else, then you apologise to Daisy as if it had been you.
Pourquoi?
Intéressant.
No wonder there's so much insecurity around on this blog.

[Daniel Strohl]

Mary, Lily

"you become aware that the Carla mediatisation is quite harmless"

Yes, true - but the mediatisation is made by the media, in order to increase sales, i.e to make money. And as the French saying goes : "l'argent n'a pas d'odeur".

V,

"LOL and double LOL ! :))"

J'ai écrit: "comme il était très intelligent" (ce qui est indiscutable), mais j'ai oublié d'ajouter "et comme il était d'un cynisme abyssal", ce qui est tout aussi indiscutable. La formule n'est pas de moi, mais du rédacteur en chef très connu d'un hebdomadaire non moins connu.

Mais bien sûr, vous aviez complété ma phrase un peu bancale :))

[Daniel Strohl]

Sandrine,

"Non, pas la peine de répondre, je crois que je connais la réponse. " :))

Sandrine, je ne suis pas un ogre :))

Mais on va aborder un autre sujet apparenté, que vous n'avez peut-être pas pu suivre à Washington. Patrick de Carolis vient de faire une déclaration musclée (et courageuse - j'aime bien les personnes courageuses) lors d'une interview.

Il a dit que les déclarations de Sarkozy à propos du peu de changements ou de l'absence de changements dans les programmes de la TV publique étaient injustes (ce que je pense aussi) et STUPIDES.

Là, il est allé trop loin. Je ne pense pas que Sarkozy soit stupide; de Carolis ne l'est pas non plus. La conclusion que j'en tire est que de Carolis est excédé d'une part par les critiques de Sarkozy, mais d'autre part au moins autant par les tiraillements internes à France Télévisions, les manigances de certains syndicats et l'ego surdimensionné de certain(e)s journalistes, proportionnel à leurs diplômes, mais pas forcément à leur valeur telle que perçue par les téléspectateurs ou au moins une partie d'entre eux.

De Carolis a fait clairement comprendre qu'il démissionnerait à l'automne s'il n'avait pas les moyens (et la liberté) d'exécuter sa mission. A mon avis, le message n'était pas seulement destiné à Sarkozy... Si de Carolis s'en va, les syndicats vont devoir se gratter la tête pour pouvoir proposer à l'actionnaire principal un candidat valable (et courageux) ... Les syndicats se mettent en général assez facilement d'accord pour démolir, plus rarement pour construire.

[V]

D.Strohl:
"La formule n'est pas de moi, mais du rédacteur en chef très connu d'un hebdomadaire non moins connu.

Mais bien sûr, vous aviez complété ma phrase un peu bancale :))"

Certainly not, I'm not a malitious spirit, moi :) Which is why I've absolutely no idea which hebdomadaire you are referring to - although our american people might have, eux, given that all French newspapers and magazines seem to be so popular in all those hidden, God-forgotten corners of the USA these days.

There! this might be a rescue idea people at Liberation certainly didn't think of: exploit the mine of american readers. Not only they would make money enough to survive: they would also direct them from reading all thrashy French press ! :)

(qui disait que je suis pas un mauvais esprit? certainement pas moi! :) )

[Sandrine]

Mon cher Daniel,

Je vous avais connu plus inspiré...

J'ai effectivement lu ce que De Carolis a dit suite aux propos de Sarko, et j'ai aussi été impressionnée par son courage. Pour autant, il n'a jamais dit qu'il trouvait Sarko stupide, mais que ses propos l'étaient ! Big nuance... Et contrairement à vous, je ne vois nul part dans sa phrase la moindre petite allusion aux syndicats. Je pense justement que, pour une fois, ils sont sur la même longueur d'onde : plus de recettes venant de la pub signifie finalement la mort de France Télévision puisque jamais le gouvernement n'arrivera à subventionner le groupe à hauteur de ce qu'il perd. C'est un peu là où Sarko prend les gens pour des c..., mais puisque tout le monde s'en satisfait.

D'un autre côté, je m'étonne que vous pensiez ne serait-ce qu'un instant que les syndicats auront un rôle à jouer dans la nomination de leur future président si De Carolis démissionne. Sarko a dit que le président de France télévision devait être nommé par l'actionnaire principal. Donc par lui. Et Guaino a clairement dit qu'il faudrait certainement changer la présidence du groupe (pour après dire que De Carolis pourrait éventuellement être renommé). Rien dans tout cela me fait dire que les syndicats auront un rôle à jouer dans la nomination de leur président. Il ne manquerait plus que ça...

Au contraire mon cher. J'ai l'impression que votre "haine" aveugle pour tout ce qui est syndical vous fait leur donner plus de pouvoir qu'il n'en ont. En tout cas dans le secteur de la télévision. Je pense qu'ils essayent juste de défendre les emplois du groupe (moins de sous = moins de personnel) et une certaine idée de ce que doit être France télévision. Quoique vous en pensiez, c'est leur droit.

J'espère qu'elle ne deviendra pas une suite de chaînes "boring" avec juste du théâtre, de l'opéra et des émissions pédagogiques, n'est-ce pas, sur l'action du gouvernement (selon le souhait de Sarko, qui à part ça ne souhaite absolument pas dire aux journalistes ce qu'ils doivent mettre dans leurs journaux).

Happy 4th of July to all my American friends !!

See you later at the firework on the Mall !!

[Daniel Strohl]

Ma chère Sandrine,

Tout d'abord, un point que je tiens à éclaircir à propos des syndicats : je ne suis pas du tout contre, il en faut. A mon avis, il y a en proportion autant de gens qui pensent avant tout à eux avant de penser à l'intérêt général chez les patrons que chez les syndicalistes.
Ceci dit, vous savez ce que je pense des méthodes de la CGT ...

Effectivement, de Carolis n'a pas dit que Sarkozy était stupide, mais que ses idées le sont - il y a une nuance, comme vous le soulignez, mais une nuance ténue :)).

Effectivement, de Carolis n'a pas parlé des syndicats - il ne peut pas dire en public ce qu'il (peut-être) en pense; il a déjà suffisamment de problèmes par ailleurs!

Par pure coincidence, Le Point que j'ai reçu ce matin - c'est-à-dire bien après vous avoir écrit mon précédent post, contient un article intitulé "France 3, la machine infernale". Si vous avez la possibilité de le lire, faites le.

Ci-après deux extraits :

"Pas étonnant que Nicolas Sarkozy lors de la remise du rapport Copé, ait lui-même reculé devant cette pétaudière dans laquelle la CGT, leader avec 40 % des voix, fait la pluie et le beau"

"Tout est cogéré paritairement avec les syndicats : les embauches, les avancements ... Le DRH égrène des listes de noms et les syndicats approuvent ou désapprouvent. Ensuite, on distribue de l'avancement à ceux qui ont été retenus. C'est caricatural : on a la décision, mais pas le pouvoir, se plaint ce responsable d'une région ..."

Et le tout à l'avenant, sans oublier bien sûr le gâchis d'argent (le nôtre ...).

PS : Le Point est plutôt de droite - il faut en tenir compte. C'est ce que je fais aussi en sens inverse lorsque je lis un article de Libération. Voilà une transition toute trouvée pour répondre à Valentin :

Valentin,

You should transmit directly your excellent idea to the Libération people. I am not sure that they are reading Charles' blog and if they do, they most probably skip your posts as well as mine :))

[Fernandez]

Daniel, Valentin -

"given that all French newspapers and magazines seem to be so popular in all those hidden, God-forgotten corners of the USA these days."

Bad idea for several reasons:

1. Those newspapers & magazines are not popular - not in France, less here. (Besides, they only cover one story.)

2. It's on the internet so it's free. Silicon Valley's nearby. We gun-tottin' cowboy geeks have got the hang of these computer thingies.

3. 'God-forgotten'? No, no, no. America loves God, God loves America. It's symbiotic. (Glad you're a believer, V.)

de Carolis, c'est la classe totale. Je ne savais pas lorsqu'il présentait "des racines et des ailes" qu'il avait autant de qualités de leadership et une telle autorité morale.
Même si les médias importants (à part Le Figaro et Le Point - ce dernier se distançant néanmoins du pouvoir...et puis bien sûr TF1) sont pour la plupart à gauc