US politicians urged to put 'French' back on the menu

[Nambe]

--- Lawmakers ordered the foods renamed "Freedom" fries and "Freedom" toast earlier this year, reflecting anger at opposition to the US-led war to topple Saddam Hussein.

But Texas Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee says times have changed and now the Bush administration is trying to get France and other members of the UN to help stabilise Iraq.

She has circulated a letter urging the US House of Representatives to put back the word "French" in fries and toast on House cafeteria and dining hall menus.

[joeybee12]

1. It's amazing that they even have to ask!

Are we pathetic or what?

[tridim]

6. -We- aren't

but -they- are.

[disgruntella]

2. Well, if this meaningful political gesture doesn't do it

-- what will? :eyes:

[Jacobin]

3. What a bunch of idiotic loons

Smirk marching the country off a cliff, France turns out to be absolutly and completely CORRECT and these bozos are arguing over how to insult the French, who we are begging to come help us out of the quagmire.

Damnit, that hurricane can't come soon enough to wash these morons out to sea.

[Cappurr]

5. These silly little boy games were bizarre

they should simply put the menu back the way it was and make no comment, If they are FORCED to say something....they should just admit the whole thing was dumb and juvenile

[Cha]

8. We knew when they did it there would come a time when it would

be changed back... Just didn't know how Soooooooooooon! :nuke:

[frylock]

4. perhaps they should add freedom crow to the menu.

[Cha]

10. They should! But will they? Nooooooooooooo!

:-)

[CarlBallard]

11. I love it! (n/t)

[FlemingsGhost]

7. And the French couldn't care less...

The only "apology" the world will accept from the U.S. will come from us, the American people, in the form of throwing George Bush and his cronies out on their sorry asses.

The damage is done, folks. How sad that Americans feel a symbolic gesture like renaming food is a thoughtful, rational response to political opposition from a long-time ally. (Nevermind that neither french toast or french fries are actually French cusine.)

Hear that, America? The whole world is laughing.

[Paschall]

29. Laughing indeed

I think you're half right about the French cuisine. The Belgians claim to have invented fries. I'm not sure if the French invented egg-drenched fried toast, but there is a French recipe for same. The dish is called pain perdu, "lost--or waste--bread."

However, I've never seen it served in the past 20 years I've lived in France. In fact, I've never even heard anyone mention it. I suspect it's a country dish that must have been popular until WWII when about 70-80% of the French population was rural and the average French diet consisted of about 800 grams of bread per day, and 200 grams of meat once a week. In other words, the French might make a meal of stale, leftover bread if forced to by abject poverty. Otherwise, forget about it!

But with the GOP looting the Treasury like never before, perhaps "poverty food" is appropriate for the Congressional cafeteria.

[FlemingsGhost]

33. French toast was invented by Joseph French, an AMERICAN

Dreamed it up in 1724, at his roadside tavern in Albany, New York.

http://www.stratsplace.com/rogov/french_toast.html

[cthrumatrix]

9. I say let them keep it that way.....time will demonstrate what fools they

were ....it seems we will need to learn from our mistakes ... the hard way

[kskiska]

12. O'Really must be out of the loop

Tonight he called for stepping up the boycott and said he's still not buying anything French. Funny, since he was caught dining at his favorite French restaurant near the studio a few months ago.

[grytpype]

13. A Repug Congressman

[PartyPooper]

17. They should be re-named "Free From Bush Fries"

when the Dems win the election next year!

:dem:

[David Zephyr]

14. Brilliant Move by Sheila Jackson Lee. Her Doing This REMINDS People.

It stirs up the old pot, doesn't it?

Congresswoman Lee is very astute in doing this. They must be squirming.

[BattyDem]

15. The fact that they ...

... renamed them "Freedom Fries" in the first place, is absolutely pathetic! I swear, we have a bunch of 5 years olds running this country. How childish and petty can you get? And now they're wasting more time discussing whether or not they should change the menu back? Don't these people have more important things to worry about? Grow up and change the menu back and the next time someone pulls a hissy fit because they don't get their own way, please let the grownups handle it! :mad:

On edit: Just read David Zephyr's post - good point about Congresswoman Lee reminding the masses of the stupidity of the GOP. I'm still ticked off that they're wasting our time and tax dollars on such a trivial matter, but if it makes the Repukes squirm, it can't be such a bad discussion after all. :evilgrin:

[wtmusic]

16. 'Freedom Fries' will now be called 'Asskiss Fries'

and 'Freedom Toast' will be called 'Brownnose Toast'

[Benhurst]

21. "Freedom Toast" should be called "America's Toast",

which it will be if we don't get rid of these idiots who are bankrupting the country.

RESTORE THE REPUBLIC: COUNT THE VOTES IN 2004

[InkAddict]

18. OK, I'll Bite!

it's "fun" to be child-like (hehehe)once in awhile...

But, I thought the ambrosia of the Gods was "chocolate?" You'd think they'd be far to busy to chow down at lunch. M&Ms for patriotic Americans! Melts in your(silent/lying, take your pick)Mouth - NOT in your(busy)hands! Remember, Jack Sprat...

Oh-oh, there I go again, adult-mode gutter brain.

[are_we_united_yet]

19. God I am so embarassed about this! eom

[Gman]

20. Hell, leave it like it is

and make sure the French know about it the next time Bush goes begging at the UN.

[Zero Gravitas]

22. They're still doing that

How utterly pathetic and childish. What a bunch of losers.

Yeah Congresswoman Less is smart to bring this up now as it reminds people ofpetty vindictiveness of the Republic Party and also that they were oh so wrong about Iraq (and therefor the Old Europe Chocolate Makers were RIGHT and the mighty Bush* was WRONG).

And I agree that maybe they should leave it the way it is as a reminder to all the world how small minded these people are.

[BobTheSubgenius]

23. JEEZ!!! And just when....

....the folks in Quebec were getting to like being "Freedom-Canadians".

[Laughing Mirror]

24. i am constantly surprised and delighted by the actions of marvelous

Sheila Jackson Lee

i hope she is the first woman to be president

[femmecahors]

34. Hey! Don't forget the wonderful BARBARA LEE . . .

from Oakland. She voted against okaying Bush's war. She's really brilliant too!

[Sweetpea]

25. All I can say is.......LOL!

[opihimoimoi]

26. Too Little Too Late

The Pubs have revealed themselves as spoiled children

Choking on the Crow "Under Glass", these nimwits jus don get it.

What can anyone say? Those Pubs are embarrassing America no end.

Throw the bums out for gods sake. Sacre bleu

[screembloodymurder]

27. Their gonna bring the French into Iraq

and have them surrender for us. That way Bush can blame them when he pulls out. The freepers need someone to blame, why not the French.

[Dirk39]

28. Just a stupid european question:

was it really forbitten, to sell french fries as french fries? Was it really a kind of law??? Sorry, I can't believe this. Does this mean, selling oops french fries as french fries could put you in front of a court?
Please tell me, that this isn't true,

From the country of Frankfurters - ohhh pardon: Hot Dogs,
Dirk

[opihimoimoi]

30. Nope, it wasn't a LAW but it was a sarcastic response to the French

refusal to play along with Bush re the Iraqi War.

[Paschall]

31. No, there was no prohibition on the use of the word "French", Dirk

It was just a public relations thing. I think Congress voted a resolution to rename the dishes in the Congressional cafeteria. They didn't pass a law. And French fries and French toast were renamed in some places across the country by restaurant owners themselves. A good ole American volunteer effort. But it always seems easy to find American volunteers for red-white-and-blue chest thumping.

[femmecahors]

35. I can't remember the two Congressmen who started it . . .

in the Congressional cafeterias, but the one from Ohio had a FRENCH name . . . and I also pointed out in a letter to him that his three field offices were located in Ohio towns with French names . . . his office never wrote me back to thank me for alerting him to the horrors lurking in his own district.

[NYC]

38. Ney

Famous French Field Marshall Ney.

I found the name amusing.

[Dirk39]

36. Thank you, I breath again....

let them do it or regret it or what do I care...
Cold cat,
Dirk

[PartyPooper]

32. Yes, it was verboten! At least, by the FAR RIGHT FASCISTS!

But, no one was punished in a court, rather...if they owned a shop, a store, or a restaurant...they were often boycotted by right wing extremists!

Sadly, the 'anti-French' sentiment persists to this day!

:-(

[BonjourUSA]

39. The USA always need an enemy

Like Gorby said to Bush (the first): "we are going to make you the worst joke. We are going to remove your enemy ".

A French cheese eater surrender monkey.
(I have not yet eaten all the 500 kinds of French cheeses. And I don't believe I'll get the time to do that before dying)

[symbolman]

37. How about

IMPEACHMENT FRIES or IMPEACHMENT TOAST?

[regnaD kciN]

40. As someone who grew up across the Swiss border from France...

...and used to speak French better than English, my humble opinion is that, if they haven't had the common sense to change it back by now, they should bloody well be forbidden from doing so at this point or any time in the future. Screw the idea of acting like "now that the war is over, we can start being nice to the 'frogs' again, no matter how wrong they were." As far as I'm concerned, those who perpetrated this idiocy should be required to list "Freedom Fries" and "Freedom Toast" on their menu forever...or at least as long as it takes to become an embarrassment to the U.S. Congress, and an old, tired, pathetic joke for any visitors to their cafeteria; in short, until those who came up with this "display of patriotism" are recognized by all for the laughingstock they truly are.

:spank:

[opihimoimoi]

41. The Pubs are truely expidient??????

aren't they?

[saigon68]

42. What will they do with phrase CHEESE EATING SURRENDER MONKEYS?

Will Pierre and his friends ignore this slur--- I THINK NOT !!!!!

[tlcandie]

43. Wonder how much this costs US taxpayer to reprint these

damned menus?!?