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François Hollande concedes taxes 'too heavy' in admission that annoys all sides in France
Telegraph - UK ^ | January 2, 2014 | David Chazan in Paris

Posted on 01/02/2014 5:31:37 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife

A New Year's message from François Hollande backfired as his vague promise that taxes would be lowered some time in the future jarred with French voters facing tax increases that took effect as he was speaking.

Instead of winning plaudits for his unexpected admission that taxes had become "too heavy, much too heavy", the unpopular socialist president - weakened by tax increases, rising unemployment and a shrinking economy - provoked incredulity and scepticism among critics on both Left and Right.

Hard-pressed French households faced VAT increases on most goods and services from Jan 1 and only days earlier France's supreme court had upheld a new 75 per cent supertax on high-paying companies.

Mr Hollande made his televised address in front of a virtual background, an image of the Elysée Palace, which provoked a flood of comments on Twitter comparing his appearance with that of a Soviet leader of the 1970s.

Philippe Moreau-Chevrolet, a leading PR consultant, told BFM television: "He looked unprofessional, and it leads people to question how professional he is when it comes to policy if he's not professional in the way he communicates."

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: economy; europeanunion; france; francoishollande; hollandetaxhike; socialism; taxes; unemployment
This "admission" seems to be a familiar refrain from Leftists [socialists]. Have to keep the lid on things before it's totally communist.

Mr Hollande made his televised address in front of a virtual background, an image of the Elysée Palace, which provoked a flood of comments on Twitter comparing his appearance with that of a Soviet leader of the 1970s.

Oct 1995: [Bill] Clinton Angers Friend and Foe In Tax Remark "....Speaking at a campaign fund raiser in Houston, Mr. Clinton said: "Probably there are people in this room still mad at me at that budget because you think I raised your taxes too much. It might surprise you to know that I think I raised them too much, too.".......

1 posted on 01/02/2014 5:31:37 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
(This is the picture that Hollande wanted banned from the Internet. The caption is from the French edition of MAD Magazine, and translates into the French equivalent of "What Me, Worry?", the slogan of Alfred E. Newman.)


2 posted on 01/02/2014 5:36:39 AM PST by yefragetuwrabrumuy (There Is Still A Very Hot War On Terror, Just Not On The MSM. Rantburg.com)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Obviously, he has not raised them enough. Forget 75%. Forget 100%. He should go for 125%. That will fix everything.


3 posted on 01/02/2014 5:40:28 AM PST by jim_trent
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To: jim_trent

The Left is already suggesting going after peoples savings in its gluttonous quest for “other people’s money” to squander.

SO 125% might not be out of the question.


4 posted on 01/02/2014 5:45:34 AM PST by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

A socialist is just a communist with an iPhone.


5 posted on 01/02/2014 5:45:34 AM PST by fruser1
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Someone tell the new Commie mayor of NYC, quick.

(And we thought Bloomberg was awful.)

For the Libs, and even some of our own, who dislike the name “TEA Party” (for Taxed Enough Already), I’ve been trying to come up with a different name for the same cause, and I’ve got it (didn’t originate it):

“WE THE PEOPLE”.


6 posted on 01/02/2014 5:48:48 AM PST by txrangerette ("...hold to the truth; speak without fear" - Glenn Beck)
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To: fruser1
“A socialist is just a communist with an iPhone.”
************************
Exactly
7 posted on 01/02/2014 5:54:33 AM PST by mongo141 (Revolution ver. 2.0, just a matter of when, not a matter of if!)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

At least the French seem to recognize a blithering incompetent when they see one.


8 posted on 01/02/2014 6:36:52 AM PST by Buckeye McFrog
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To: mongo141

If France (and the rest of Europe) would stop being the socialist cesspool that it is—maybe folks could prosper.


9 posted on 01/02/2014 6:39:00 AM PST by brooklyn dave ( Dante DiBlasio's Afro for President)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

I can’t see any downside to one socialist exterminating another socialist.

It’s like drug cartel shoot outs between rival druggies. The higher the body count of cartel “soldiers” (not innocents), the better.


10 posted on 01/02/2014 6:42:20 AM PST by Cen-Tejas (it's the debt bomb stupid!)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Class warfare is evil and should not be tolerated.


11 posted on 01/02/2014 7:19:49 AM PST by lormand (Inside every liberal is a dung slinging monkey)
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To: Cincinna

Gallic ping.


12 posted on 01/02/2014 7:45:56 AM PST by Army Air Corps (Four Fried Chickens and a Coke)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

“Mr Hollande’s failure to fulfil his promise to reverse the increase in unemployment, now nearly 11 per cent, has undermined his credibility and made him France’s most unpopular president for decades.

He reiterated that the “battle for jobs” was his “only priority” and insisted that his policies were working.”

This guy sounds like France’s version of Obama.


13 posted on 01/02/2014 7:49:17 AM PST by Signalman
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Hollande and Obama should get together for a bi-lingual pity party. They could call it a Gerber Baby Food Summit, bring your own bibs and bonnets.


14 posted on 01/02/2014 9:34:58 AM PST by lee martell
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To: BenLurkin

ShareTheWealth.gov


15 posted on 01/02/2014 8:47:43 PM PST by Paladin2
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...
Thanks Cincinatus' Wife.
16 posted on 01/04/2014 6:14:12 AM PST by SunkenCiv (http://www.freerepublic.com/~mestamachine/)
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