Sarkozy's blue wave + Lieberman statements + Bush = bad omen

[demoleft]

Sarkozy made it.
First, as President. Today, as political leader.
According to polls he gains 46% and will rule France without meaningful opponents.

Socialists get around 28% while Bayrou and his Democratic Movement, expected to receive 10% votes at least, seem to get only 7% (according to Le Figaro).

Poor rates in voters, I seemed to read. The lowest since the 50’s. But I’m not sure.
Numbers aside, Sarko’s “blu wave” is something real and overwhelming.

It’s just accidental, but I read these news after reading the news about Lieberman’s statements on IRAN here on DU, at http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2875777&mesg_id=2875777

I thought we're on the verge of something wrong in international politics. No hope.

And an old vision came back again in my mind: USA, France (replacing UK) and allies surrounding Iran, ready to attack – just while Lebanon and Gaza are exploding, Iraq is breaking into pieces and Afghanistan is on the edge of chaos.

Bush in Rome - sad, again
Just yesterday I heard Bush state that the Pope, poor sensible guy, though urging peace in M.E., worried for the Christian communities in Iraq.

The Christian communities?!

I jumped on my seat. What does it mean, in a land where human life is not worth the bullet that takes it?
What a silly thing to say, reporting the Pope's words to the world. The first idea that came to my mind was: a crusade. He's trying again to promote the idea of a crusade.

And what a simple cruel way to suggest the idea of a crusade: questioned about the Pope's opinion on Iraq, Bush answered that he worries for the rights of Christian communities there...my God, in a land where people are torn into pieces every day and no one seems able to stop the massacre. He should be banned the use of the word "Christ" and its derivations.

The overall rating of the news I read was:
Yes, "All is not well / I doubt some foul play".

[jmp]

1. Relax

The French are not going to attack Iran.

[demoleft]

2. Hope so...

...but Sarko expressed closeness to USA positions regarding the Iranian nuclear program.
After Iraq, I'm very careful when European countries say (mine included, Italy)

1. they agree with Bush's position on Iran
2. they have a right to control the nuclear program of an independent country

And, anyway, the Iranian request that Sarkozy play an intermediate role in the matter seems only an attempt to divide the West.

But I hope French won't back Bush.

[jmp]

3. ...

France has nothing to gain from participating in an attack on Iran. They don't do anything unless it benefits them.

People forget that Chirac was also "pro-American" at one point.

[athebea]

8. Sarko's win has nothing at all to do with Iran

It has to do with French voters demanding a strong leader who will handle the rioters in the banlieue with a 'whiff of grapeshot' if need be.

There are banlieue which are in effect 'islamic republics' where officials of the French state are denied entry. This means that portions of France are in a state of insurrection against the central government. This cannot be tolerated. French voters are responding to the riots of last year the same way American voters responded to the riots of the 60's. By voting for a leader who promises them 'law and order'.

[demoleft]

9. It doesn't matter what he was voted for...

Whatever the reason why, Sarko wins and he's in power now.

What has it to do with the Iran issue? He's closer to USA than Chirac was and this is well known and well documented.

Moreover...
The fact he is considered a "danger" from other conservatives in France disturbs me.
The fact that he's really close to big media business in France disturbs me (information control is everything: do you remember Colin Powell and his "evidences" against Iraq? All the News was about that at the time).
The fact that he's not like Chirac, he's one who stands right of Chirac, interprets an "aggressive" rightism and means to give France a new path in international matters disturbs me.

A leader makes the difference. In Italy Berlusconi took my country to share with this madness in Iraq. He almost destroyed the good image Italy had among the muslims, an image and an authority that could have been better spent diplomatically.

Politicians have a background and must answer it. Sarko has one that makes me doubt!

[madfloridian]

4. Demoleft sees a varied view where he lives.

It is good to see the viewpoint of the Italians, don't you think?

We surely are lacking in news in our country. My friend in Belgium, and demoleft, from Italy whom I consider a friend also....see sources we have to dig for here.

[madfloridian]

5. Someone remind me...what was the name given to first battles in the war in Iraq?

It did have something to do with "crusades". Wasn't Ashcroft involved?

Demoleft may have a point here.

[PassingFair]

6. I know we threatened to drop a bomb named...

MOAB.

Crazy *astards!

Hi Mad!

:hi:

[demoleft]

10. The choice of words...

You know, it's maybe due to my literary Bildung, but the first thing I remark in a political leader is the way he talks, the words he chooses, the relation with the media.

I'll never forget Joyce defining the 1.World War "a damned lie". In Italy newspapers were full of false informations at the time. And the story goes, the same one, today. A war must be prepared with words to convince people, to create an opinion. As Jago does with Othello, leading him to murder. Bush answering the question on Iraq with the issue of the Christian communities sounded fearful to me. Yes, it reminded me that a crusade was what was at stake.

"We're all americans" was the slogan in Italy after 2001. That meant: we're all with Bush. And it was war.
Tv programmes, media in general were full of this stuff.

I don't trust and I don't believe Sarko. I know these kind of politicians: when they want to be so strongly in control of the media they're up to something.

Le Monde said there's a video of Sarko on G8 that was broadcasted in Belgium but not it France, where President Sarko appeared a little bit...altered! You know, he doesn't drink. But some say the orange juice he was served during the meeting with Putin was blended with Vodka!
It was on June, 7. The youtube video is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We2Tb6Ws_I4

Really funny...what's not fun in it is: why was it not broadcasted in France?!

ps:
And, (this is off topic, Madfloridian!) I saw Bush in Italy really relaxed. Too relaxed...That's why I worried for Lieberman's words...What's really happening in the Democratic Party?

[madfloridian]

12. Lieberman is no longer considered a Democrat by many of us.

He is too close to Bush.

You know that relaxed Bush? Probably imbibing more than he should.

:hi:

[demoleft]

13. ha ha...

:rofl:

...well that's another point in common with Sarko now!

Watch the youtube video I quote in my previous edited post you've just replied to!

ciao!

[madfloridian]

15. Oh my goodness. Sarkozy also?

Do you know how to post a video in this forum? You should post that one.

He can hardly stand up, and his speech was not steady.

What the heck kind of world leaders do we have? I can't understand the announcer, but I sure understand the picture.

[KoKo]

17. Candid Photo's from G-8 Make me wonder if all were Drunk...here:

{Didn't want to take up bandwith with all the other photos...Putin, etc. but here's the link if anyone wants to view them all)

http://en.rian.ru/photolents/20070609/66969181_18.html

[demoleft]

21. Ha ha, they seem illustrations...

...from Charles Darwin's The Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals.

Really fit!

Ciao

[madfloridian]

20. I posted the video in the Poltics Video forum.

Thanks for sharing it.

[KoKo]

16. OMG.....I didn't think that video would be that bad.... He's drunk out of his mind

or has a terrible medical condition. Also he seemed out of breath.

What went on at that G-8? There were pictures posted here on DU over weekend that showed them all looking pretty weird. I'll try to dig them up.

[Gloria]

7. Low turnout in France for this first round is part of the problem....

pundits saying that it hurt the left who read the polls and thought the game was up and stayed home

[demoleft]

11. You're right. It is.

[cyclezealot]

14. what is surprising is how unrepresented the Assembly vote was.

The left was not skunked by that much. The neo nazi right got 45 % and the combined left got like 43%. That is not a wipe out. Many EU countries have some form of proportional representation. Obviously NOT in France. This kind of result sounds more like America. Strange, because the actual election process seems so much more democratic to issues such as air time, etc.
What I wonder. With such a disproportional Assembly, how the French will react when they don't like some of the rights economic reforms/ school reforms. There will be no challenge in the Assembly and no debate. But, in the streets challenge will be likely. Will the government still ram down such reforms when the citizenry doesn't want them.
Recall, the new cabinet has members such as Juppe and Rarrafin. They were ousted by Chirac because their reforms were not accepted by the French people. WIll they be under Sarko?
I don't think the French really know what it is they are getting.

[bikebloke]

18. I've been wondering what the French were thinking

Scare-cozy has been recycling reaganomics with the old trickle-down farce and how businesses must come first. They only had to look across the water to see what a failure it's been. He'll rob from the middle class and poor, and enrich his already rich cronies.

Listening to the Beeb yesterday, I think it was journalist from Liberation, who said the french always have the "street". But will Sarko quash the traditional French street demonstrations with the brutal hands he plans for the baniliues?

[cyclezealot]

19. Sarko says he won't be bullied.

Bikebloke!. I like that. The French have the street, yes. Sarko thinks he does not have to listen to the street.Already is calling them names. I sort of think French business interests is a little more restrained than US business, because they know the French will take no crap. I predict Sarko , the Machevellian will know his limits, maybe; because French business knows their limits. Well, DeGaulle is a stronger man than Sarko and he had to. But, he will try to squash the French if he can.

[KoKo]

22. kick!