French President Nicolas Sarkozy branded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "a liar" in a private conversation with U.S. President Barack Obama
Posted on 05/06/2012 8:14:35 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
French President Nicholas Sarkozy conceded defeat today in the presidential elections to Socialist candidate Francois Hollande, making him the first incumbent president to lose an election in France since 1981.
Hollande, who was leading 51.7 percent to 48.3 percent in the exit polls, will be France’s first socialist president since Francois Mitterrand left office in 1995.
“I’ve tried to do my best to protect the French people from the unprecedented crisis that has shaken the world,” said Sarkozy, whose defeat makes him the eighth leader of a Eurozone country to be replaced or swept from office in just over a year.
But Hollande’s victory was a clear rejection of Sarkozy’s attempts to get the debt crisis under control through an austerity program.
“Austerity can no longer be the only option for Europe,” Hollande said today in his acceptance speech in reference to Sarkozy’s policies to cut government spending.
Under Sarkozy, France’s unemployment rate rose to 10 percent. Hollande wants to put France on a different economic track, promising to raise taxes on France’s wealthiest and stimulate economic growth. During his campaign, Hollande promised to deliver more jobs for policemen and 60,000 jobs in the education sector without increasing France’s total number of civil servants.
“May 6 gave us a new start for Europe, a new hope for the world,” Hollande said today in his acceptance speech.
Hollande used one of President Obama’s favorite campaign terms several times in his speech, noting that “change” is a “heavy mandate,” but it is his “mission and duty.”
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
did he promise to fix the ocean, too? the damn thing started leaking oil after the last guy that tried that.
During his campaign, Hollande promised to deliver more jobs for policemen and 60,000 jobs in the education sector without increasing France’s total number of civil servants.
Good trick, hows he do it?
People get what they deserve. I have no sympathy for people who just want quick fixes and free stuff.
I pity the French, We were promised this in 2008 and look what happened. Some just do not learn by example.
For the French, no matter who wins the election, the country loses.
At least Sarkozy had guts, unlike his predecessors and his successor (socialists don’t have guts; they have quiche!)
Can the next war in Europe be far off?
Obama’s new campaign slogan, “New Hope for old.”
Get ya New Hope here, revised formula, newer,
better, More Hope for your money.”
New Hope? Why, did the old hope not work out?
New hope for the world?
Wow ain’t he grandiose. More like he will turn France into a laughingstock. Dope for the world! Rope for the world! Mope for the world! (Any more?)
Give us all a break.
Hollande: promising to raise taxes on France’s wealthiest and stimulate economic growth.
Where have we heard that before? France and Europe is in real trouble.
What war. France will hoist the white flag, it’ll become Europestan, and all will live happily ever after (because those who won’t, will be beheaded).
For the French people, that translates to “Abandon all hope”...
They’ll be wishing they could bring back Le Pen. Well no, actually they won’t...
Taupe for the world...
Oh goody.
France’s rich will all go to Canada.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy branded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "a liar" in a private conversation with U.S. President Barack Obama
France’s rich will all go to Canada.
...
unless we can coax them down to Louisiana with the Cajuns
The last socialist President of France was largely responsible for the Rwandan Holocaust.
Mr. Hollande’s “Hopus”
“Austerity can no longer be the only option for Europe,”
They thought the half-hearted austerity Sarkozy proposed was tough? Wait until they see the austerity the Socialists bring France.
Yep, they sure won’t stay in France.
Might try to coax them here but doubt they’ll come until Zer0 is history.
“Can the next war in Europe be far off?”
Not far, France simply needs to decide to whom they wish to surrender.
Good one.
“Hollande Wins French Presidency, Promising ‘New Hope for the World’”
He’s almost as humble as our dear leader.
They won't have the the good ol' USA to save them this time.
[[ Hollande Wins French Presidency, Promising ‘New Hope for the World’ ]]
Such are the promises of all socialists.
Unfortunately, the world that’s left after their promises evaporate is usually much worse...
I hope it is only the French that he drags over the cliff.
France’s rich will all go to Canada.
Excellent point.
Anyone who believes his promises is a moron who deserves the grinding poverty and prison state its going to bring.
With a 75% income tax
Sarkozy had guts a few years back when he proposed that the government build Mosques and madrassas with tax dollars and amend the Constitution to exempt Islam from the Separation of Church and State??
When he european economy really collapses they will hve to blame someone and war could be inevitable. Their target might be tiny Israel of course.
Hollande used one of President Obama’s favorite campaign terms ... a “heavy mandate”
********************************
Hollande was surprised to learn that Obama’s phrase was actually “a heavy man date”.
If Chuck Martel was alive, he’d feel a little like Charlie Brown in September.
Deliver me from Eurotrash like this. French companies will be leaving that hellhole as fast as you can say “Forward!”
“... promising to raise taxes on France’s wealthiest and stimulate economic growth...”
Yep, and I’ll be starting my diet as soon as I’m done with these here donuts.
"Austerity can no longer be the only option for Europe," Hollande said today in his acceptance speech in reference to Sarkozy's policies to cut government spending."
Beggars can't be choosers.
Sweet Mother of gawd!
The savior is here¡
Sure. It’ll start with them throwing down the White Flag.
Y’all are presuming that the Europeans still have militaries with which to fight wars.
Look at this cognitive dissonance: [ Hollande wants to put France on a different economic track, promising to raise taxes on France’s wealthiest and stimulate economic growth. ] Raising taxes on the wealthiest & in general is the fastest way to DESTROY economic growth.
Now if they really want to stimulate economic growth they would LOWER taxes or abolish them outright.
I am hoping he takes all of Western Europe with him, not just France. Socialism needs to have a new flaming, screaming failure to remind people why it’s a bad idea.
well unkus, we’ve got plenty Americans now also buying properties abroad as their “bug out” retreat.
I know people who are doing just that in Panama, Argentina and Chile.
I was explaining to my daughter about how it was now down to Obama and Romney. She said “Dad - what was the name of that country? Costa Rica?”
She’s 14.
Sadly, we are in the same boat as France. Any President that cuts benefits to the government teat crowd will probably face a defeat by the same margin.
This is the reality we face. Any conservative who wins will face the same problem. It won’t take 5% cuts to invoke the same response we see in Wisconsin. 15% cuts would result in even more angst. I think anything more than a 5% cut would result in crushing mid-terms for the GOP.
That’s the way I see it. It’s not optimistic, but I invite anyone who thinks differently to tell me where I am wrong. Our current reality is that we need to cut probably 40% of the Federal government budget and cut regulations to stand a chance of returning to long-term prosperity. Anyone who cuts that much will be a one term proposition and they will lose ground in congress.
The longer we go without long term austerity measures by government the weaker the dollar becomes and the higher inflation will go. It’s a catch-22. The cuts will take many administrations to be effective. All the progressives have to do is convince the mushy middle that the pain is not needed and we are back to square one. Just like France.
I was explaining to my daughter about how it was now down to Obama and Romney. She said “Dad - what was the name of that country? Costa Rica?”
She’s 14.
You are to be commended.
1. Cut Regulations
2. Set economic policies that maximize growth (i.e.no dividend and savings taxes, Corporate Tax is 10%).
3. By EO close Agencies such as the EPA, Energy, Agriculture etc. because we cannot afford them.
4. Stop all federal funding to non essential organizations like Sierra Club, ACORN (whatever it is called now).
Once the economy is growing and unemployment (U6) is down to 10%
put in place new SS limits (i.e. cannot collect until 70yrs old for those born after 19__). Recommend Tort Reform.
That would be a start. The real cuts must come in entitlements to balance our books and have any chance at getting out from underneath our debt. SSI at 70 won’t be popular, but it would make sense.
Cutting agencies will negatively impact unions and our own Hollande will come along to promise the leeches a payday. One apathetic election for the GOP and it’s a repeat of France. Cutting government funds to progressive groups would also motivate them in the mid-terms and the next election.
One term is likely because the progressives will promise their constituency that they will reverse the cuts.
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