French / U.S. relations

[lefutur]

"The White House announced today that President Bush and first lady Laura Bush will host French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Cecilia Ciganer-Albeniz for a private lunch on Saturday in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Mr. and Mrs. Bush will be staying this weekend at the summer home of President George H.W. Bush, the president's father, in Kennebunkport.

The Sarkozys have been vacationing this week at Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire.

Earlier this week, a shirtless Mr. Sarkozy lost his temper when he sighted two American photographers taking pictures of him boating with his family. The French president boarded the photographer's boat and berated them in French.

A White House statement about the lunch said that "the United States and France share a deep historic friendship and have worked together since the founding of our Nation to protect freedom around the world. The President looks forward to meeting President Sarkozy on his first visit to the United States as President."

Mr. Sarkozy, the former French interior minister, won election in May."


-- Jon Ward, White House correspondent, The Washington Times

[Catfish]

Thanks for posting that. I know that Sarkozy is closer to the Right
than the French are used to, but he is in no way Conservative...at least
according to my American understanding of the Political Right in the USA.

I agree that the US and France have historically been friends.
IMHO, the def. of a friend is someone that is close to you, but
it doesn't mean that they are EXACTLY like you. We have many things
in common with France, but we are also both different. I think that is
a good thing, but I guess when you ask a historian with an
openmind that is what you're gonna get.

[Douai]

Thanks for posting that. I know that Sarkozy is closer to the Right
than the French are used to, but he is in no way Conservative...at least
according to my American understanding of the Political Right in the USA.


Sarkozy and his party is conservative. It's just that the Republican party is further conservative than the UMP (Union pour un mouvement populaire).

[Catfish]

Sarkozy and his party is conservative. It's just that the Republican party is further conservative than the UMP (Union pour un mouvement populaire).
So would Sarkozy and the UMP be like American Democrats and the former Chirac was more
of a Socialist?

Merci.

[guignol]

left and right is so simple to define. first of all, are we talking politics, sociology or economics? next you have to look at the climate the politician has to function in.

here's an interesting example; as outrageous as j.m. lepen's image is, there's nothing on his platform that goes as far as some mainstream politicians do here in california. his daughter marine, much more suave, would do very well here and would not even be considered right wing!

sarkozy, in terms of law and order, is reacting to a situation much less severe than that in the US, and in terms that are rightwing here, but perfectly neutral for america, all but a few fringe politicians here are on his wavelength. in economics he is one of our most conservative figures, but the context in france is such that all of his reforms would still leave us in a social position that not even the left wing of the democratic party could dream about.

but if you transplanted sarkozy to california, would he be a liberal or a conservative? would he try to achieve the same state of affairs as he wants for france (which would place him just to the left of, say, ralph nader!) or is "conservatism" something organic, meaning he would retool his ideas to fit him into the same place in the spectrum he occupies here?

ps: chirac is not a socialist in french terms by any means, he is more conservative (meaning less activist) than sarkozy!

[guignol]

it's always the aunts and second cousins who haven't seen a child for a while who most remark how much he's grown, and coming to the US after three years i find the change astounding!

freedom fries were already getting a bit stale then, but they still were widely consumed; representing france in those days could be dicey, and although my kids were by no means ostracized at school, i know that a few of their classmates looked upon them as martians. adult conversation was often stilted, and the few who wanted to express support for french positions did so in hushed terms out in the garden.

what a difference these days! there are still a few (very few) "support our troops" magnets but not a single anti-france bumper sticker. the election of sarkozy is being used as a pretext for changing of many opinions, but it's just a face-saver. it has become so painfully evident that chirac was right and bush was very, very wrong, that only the looniest, those who equate public libraries with godless communism or consider bombing mecca a reasonable next step, still have a beef with france. the general tenor of things runs more to:

http://www.montereyherald.com/opinion/ci_6533846

[Douai]

So would Sarkozy and the UMP be like American Democrats and the former Chirac was more
of a Socialist?

Merci.

Not exactly. The UMP in general is right-wing, but they do have center-right members of their party, which is not an uncommon practice. The Republican party has several members that many consider to be moderate-right such as McCain and Giuliani. The Democratic Party of the United States is more of a center-left party. They really aren't as liberal as many Americans make them sound, and compared to the French PS (Parti Socialisite) they are pretty tame. I think Chirac would be considered more of a moderate-conservative.

[YankBastard]

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[lefutur]

I watched that show on PBS the other day. I think it was called "The Anti-Americans". I thought it was good but didn't really teach me anything i didn't already know except that i didnt know how much the Polish people love Bush.

[guignol]

poland is just a flat out weird place these days... they have the kaszynski twins as president and prime minister making outrageous remarks either antieurope, antihomosexual or antisemitic every week... they're ex-child actors; sure CA had reagan and arnold, but i don't think even we would elect mary kate and ashley! and then there's radio marija! i don't see why people are in a fuss about turkey joining the EU... today's poland is mars in comparison.

[YankBastard]

President Bush Holds Fruitful Meeting With All-New, Refreshingly Submissive Ruler of Insufferably Snotty Frogs

THE PRESIDENT: President Sarkozy, welcome to Kennebunkport.

SARKOZY: Merci, Monsieur Bush! C'est pour moi un privilège de visiter votre magnifique demeure!

THE PRESIDENT: Ummmm... what? Listen, cut the "voolay voo kooshay aveck mwah" blah-blah, OK Jacques-Pierre? You know what they say: "When in Rome, speak American."


SARKOZY: But of course. I vas merely saying zat eet eez an honor to be here at ze famous "Walker's Point". Who would have thought zis day would come, no? A Frenchman at ze home of ze Bushes? Mon Dieu!

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, whatever. This was my old man's idea. He's still got a major boner for this foreign policy crapola, and he said we had to invite you, for diplomatical reasons. Know what I mean, Kozy?

SARKOZY: Oui-oui. But vat eez zis "Koh-zee"?

THE PRESIDENT: That's my nickname for you. Kozy. Like koozie. You know what a koozie is?

SARKOZY: Non.

THE PRESIDENT: It's like a little foam rubber cooter that that you jimmy your brew-ha-ha bottle inside to keep it cold.

SARKOZY: Ahhhhh. I see. You know, I so enjoying my vacation here in ze "Nouvelle Eengland"! C'est très joli ici!

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah. Small talk. Great. So remind me once again – why is it I shouldn't smash in your face for being a big French asshole?

SARKOZY: Because, Monsieur – la Belle France and America are ze best amis! Because it was ze France zat invented ze Democrazy, no? And because it was ze France zat helped America in ze revolution against ze British, no?

THE PRESIDENT: (Rolls Eyes) Yeah, I learned that prehistoric stuff in college. But what have you done for me lately?

SARKOZY: Zen peut-être it is because like you, I deteste ze intellectuels, and zat because even zough you are ze most despised man in ze France, zat I am here today, showering your stinky cowboy anus with ze famous French tongue kisses!

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, that might be it. I do like to have at least one Euro-schnozz buried in the crack of my Wranglers at any time, you know? And ever since Tony Blair got ridden out of town on a rail for being my man-beotch, I've been feeling awful neglected that way.

SARKOZY: No vorries, Monsieur. Eet eez my intension to maintain – at all costs – ze integrity of ze Franco-Americaine friendship. If for no ozzer reason zen I enjoy being in ze global spotlight avec vous.

THE PRESIDENT: Awesome. Hey – Franco-American? That's my favorite lunch! You like that too? Which kind? Meatballs or no meatballs?

SARKOZY: J'adore vatever kind zat you like, Monsieur President.

THE PRESIDENT: Awesome. I like them with American cheese melted on top. I think American is the greatest cheese in the world. Don't you?

SARKOZY: Mais oui, Monsieur. J'adore le fromage Americain. It is ze only true cheese in ze world, non?

THE PRESIDENT: You betcha. Hey, you wanna beer, or some wine?

SARKOZY: Wine, s'il vous plaît.

THE PRESIDENT: Lucky for you, we got some TEXAS wine. Best frickin' wine on earth, don't you think?

SARKOZY: Absolutement! Ze very best, of course.

THE PRESIDENT: Well help yourself. We don't put on airs with no sissy long stemmed glasses round here. Just chug straight from the box, Frenchie – and don't mind my momma's lipstick on the plastic spout.

SARKOZY: (Guzzles from Spigot) Ahhhhh! C'est delicieux! Merci beaucoup.

La France is blessed to have la famille de Georges Bush comme très bonne amie.

THE PRESIDENT: It sure as ******** is. I think you and me are gonna get along real well, Kozy.

[YankBastard]

You helped us win our independence, we saved you in two wars. Just give us Audrey Tautou and we'll call it even. http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif

[lefutur]

You helped us win our independence, we saved you in two wars. Just give us Audrey Tautou and we'll call it even. http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif

don't forget the statue of liberty. we'll keep her, thank you. :rolleyes:

[guignol]

Just give us Audrey Tautou and we'll call it even.hey, you've already got julie delpy!

[Nanbawan]

we saved you in two wars.

2 ?

[Nanbawan]

hey, you've already got julie delpy!

I think they're also salivating on Marion Cotillard...

[guignol]

I think they're also salivating on Marion Cotillard...and in return they give us michael moore... so we'll probably have to throw in virginie ledoyen for a makeweight...

[Nanbawan]

^ I propose Marianne James ! :D

[YankBastard]

http://www.toothpastefordinner.com/111004/the-united-states-of-stupid.gif

[YankBastard]

^ I propose Marianne James ! :D

How about you just take Chelsea Clinton.:cool: