[MadIvan]

Well that's that then. Bill Clinton obviously is a student of Chirac's techniques.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Ping!

[kinoxi]

The people that repeatedly voted him in did not seem to mind at the time.

[WoofDog123]

graft doesn't bother me that much (it is the nature of the beast) AS LONG AS the pol gets the job done. Maybe I seem cynical but the only way to get a pol who doesn't want to get rich is to find one who already is.

"One of the most astounding reports of Mr Chirac's extravagant use of taxpayers' money for his own personal comfort is that he ordered the presidential jet to make a 1,200-mile detour across Europe so he could enjoy a good night's sleep, uninterrupted by take off or landing, before attending a breakfast meeting with president Vladimir Putin in Russia in 2004."

actually, this is the only thing in the article that seems justifiable. Meeting the head of state of a major power on a bad night's sleep is not in the national interests at all. I am baffled this is even added into the lot, but presumably french voters are collectively as stupid as american voters.

Or to put the question another way - would freepers like bush meeting putin on 4 hours sleep or 8, even if it requires some extra jet fuel to stay in the air?

[JimSEA]

Ah Yes!! I fondly recall the $500 Haircut in Air Force one at LAX while holding up traffic. Too bad about the last election, JFK would have made such a good friend for Chirac, these other Americans are so provincial.

[oyez]

It's good to be king.

[Chode]