Can surrender monkeys change zere spots?
Posted by Ron Coleman on May 6, 2007
Bill Hobbs says the West is moving rightward. Possibly; it’s at least not being overwhelmed by the blandishments of leftists. But let’s not exaggerate this: Sarkozy is very likely much better — for both America and France — than Segolene Royal would have been. And he’s likely to be an improvement over Chirac. But he’s still French — and so is France — and I don’t expect dramatic changes. We’re likely to see the benefits more in terms of damage not done than of positive improvements.
Not only that. Now I don’t know a darned thing about ze the French or even a word of French. But from what I do know, I suspect that if Sarkozy is going to move rightward, or in any sense America-ward,
it isn’t going to be for a while. It won’t happen until he proves that French bona fide (stop sniggering — that’s Latin) of independence from the U.S. by at least being standoffish for a while before skootching our way.
Zhust just watch.
Oh, and as to the rioting losers? I would counsel Sarkozy to immediately give them what they want and call new elections. He’d pick up another 5% on his mandate, tout de suite.
Ara Rubyan said
Hobbs (et. al.) lose me when they use terms like “right” and “left” when describing what’s happening in Europe. Sarkozy is all over the map, for example, on the issue of “disaffected suburban youth.”
But it’s even worse at home: on a day when Brit Hume and the White House agree with Ayman al Zawahri’s latest rant, you gotta wonder what’s happened to the old guard.
DK said
“if Sarkozy is going to move rightward, or in any sense America-ward, it isn’t going to be for a while.”
Sarko won on an anti-immigrant (read Muslim immigrant) platform. They moved right when it suited their interest — and go figure, that didn’t include an Iraq invasion, but rather, domestic concerns. Chirac’s refusal to be suckered by Team Bush was astute. Wish the NY Times and CNN had listened.
We need to stop pretending France is the malicious villain of the West, and recognize France has been successfully acting in her interest, and is only anti-American when we are kicking butt. As we are having ours handed to us, it is not surprising the new French leader is willing to offer us some sympathy and encouragement.
Bob Miller said
For the time being, the US and France share an enemy, so that will drive their policy.
Ron Coleman said
Chirac’s highmindedness, DK, was entirely negotiable. The only thing he was concerned about was French business interests in Iraq. Here‘s a nice roundup, via Instapundit, of his cheesy legacy.