France: Sarkozy wins presidential nomination: In bold speech, stresses values of 'republican right'

International Herald Tribune ^ | January 14, 2007 | Elaine Sciolino

[Cincinna]

Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy overwhelmingly captured the presidential nomination of France's governing party Sunday, pledging to reform the country, enforce respect of French laws and traditions and make the French work longer and harder.

In an 80-minute acceptance speech in a conference hall packed with 80,000 cheering supporters, Sarkozy also struggled to shake his reputation as the country's unforgiving law-and-order enforcer of security, portraying himself as a man of compassion who had changed.

"I have understood that humanity is a strength, not a weakness. I have changed," Sarkozy said from an immense stage bearing the colors of the national tricolor flag. He added, "I have known defeat, and I have had to overcome it, like millions of French people."

But his core message seemed aimed at wooing France's right-wing voters rather than those in the center or on the left who potentially could support his main rival, the Socialist party candidate, Ségolène Royal.

"My values are yours, those of the republican right," Sarkozy said. "These are the values of fairness, order, merit, work, responsibility. I accept them. But in these values in which I believe, there is also movement. I am not a conservative. I do not want an immobile France. I want innovation, creativity, the struggle against injustices."

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

You raise some very interesting points. I noticed that Sarko was in Corsica recently announcing some basketful of Euros for the Corsicans so I'm guessing that that would fit nicely with your theory of the DOM.

I don't know that much about Sego. From what I read and see, she is actually quite nice looking. I also see her as an empty vessel. She seems to spend a lot of time just looking pretty.

I do know this however. I followed her machinations in Lebanon fairly closely. The Hezbollah guy got up there and said that we (Hezzies) and you (France) understand one another very well because we have both been occupied. He then went on to say that Israel==Nazis. She nodded her head and said she agreed with all that was said. Some hours later she denied having heard anything the Hezzie guy said, said it was the fault of the translator blah blah blah. But the Firgaro reporter said that either the press pool was the victim of a mass hallucination or Sego was lying because they were all there, they heard the arabic as well as the French translation and when she nodded she clearly knew what she was nodding about. So how does that fit with your assessment of her honesty?

I get the idea that the race will be decided (like so many campaigns) on who is able to tactically wage the most competent, the most effective, the most gaffe-free campaign. And I think that Sarko will emerge as the clear leader in this area. I think he will prove himself to be an adept campaigner and Sego will prove herself to be error-prone and maladroit. And that that will determine the outcome.

On verra!

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

I guess the other unknown is the volatile combination of Sarkozy's somewhat Jewish heritage, his somewhat Jewish appearance and the streak of anti-semitism that is known to exist in France. Does Sego play the Jewish card? Do others play it on her behalf? Does this race become another chapter in L'affaire Dreyfus? I will be watching this aspect of the race with interest. These things are often done below the surface e.g. the whisper campaign against McCain in South Carolina in 2000 for example. By monitoring the blogosphere, one should be able to get a reasonable read on this aspect, I think.

[Vicomte13]

"Does Sego play the Jewish card?"

She already DID.

That was what was going on in Lebanon.

Sarkozy is not Jewish. He has a Jewish ancestor, a male, generations back. So did Adolph Hitler, apparently.

This is very complicated, and direct language and speech on any Jewish matters is never very wise in any country.

When I say Royal is honest, I mean within the bounds of reality. No woman or man is honest about sexuality or Judaism. Only the insane tell the whole truth on these two topics.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Entendu.

The other interesting thing for me will be the degree of Clintonista involvement in the Sego campaign. I *think* I heard rumors of such involvement but then again I'm not 100% sure. Was it Sidney Blumenthal I heard mention? Carville/Begala? Again I don't remember. But that aspect would be interesting to watch a mon avis.

[RockinRight]

Perhaps the French still have a shred of common sense?

[Vicomte13]

The Clintons are going to have enough trouble in America, and no American presence in any French election campaign will redound to the benefit of the French candidate.

[absolootezer0]

How the Republicans have managed to hold the Democrats off for as long as they have is a mystery.

republicans have all the guns.

[Antoninus]

Canada and France go right-wing, USA goes left...

I think we're in the Bizzaro world...

[Cincinna]

It wouldn't be the first time. Clintonoids have had a presence in the election campaigns of many leftists around the world.

[Cincinna]

Clintonoids support for left wing candidates around the globe is an ongoing phenomenon. It takes place behind the scenes, mostly under the radar.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Check on that - kind of like cancer viruses in the body politic's DNA.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

I think we're in the Bizzaro world...

Only in terms of the recent past - France historically has oscillated between the various extremes. One could argue that the US has as well, although due to our system of government I would argue that our oscillations are less pronounced.

[Cincinna]

The documentary film starring James Carville as himself, documents the Clintonoids role in the Bolivian election of 1999. Supporting an extreme far leftist.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0492714/

Isn't this some kind of treason, like voting in a foreign election?

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

They were nakedly obvious in Israel when they openly sent operatives to support Barak in 1999. That was naked political manipulation of another country's elections essentially by a sitting American president.

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

If Sarko wins, France has a future.

[Vicomte13]

Sure, but France is a sophisticated place and the usual Clintonista tactics are not likely to make much headway there.

[Cincinna]

The Clintonoid campaign operatives were the master of the game circa 1992 and 1996. The French electoral mentality is such that it might be verey persuasive in 2007.

Focus group and polling are two of the many techniques they use to frame a candidate's message.

Foretunately, as the OP pointed out,they have rarely been successful.

FWIW, they are running Hillary's campaign in 2008 with 1992 mindset and tactics.

[Vicomte13]

Yes, I think that Mme. Clinton is a mean, tired old hag.

That said, I believe that the American Democrat ticket will be Clinton/Obama. And I believe that Republican implosion and the American version of "la vote..." I won't INTENTIONALLY offend you again (you know what I mean) AND the minority excitement AND the ever-growing Hispanic leftist vote will deliver the victory to the Democrats.

I don't think it will be because Clinton does anything clever. I think she will be blessed by who she has as enemies (the Republicans, with their Maginot White House) and by the staggering humiliation the US will have suffered in Iraq by then.

I just don't see much of what the Clintons do working in France.

Here, there are two vigorous and young candidates, Sego and Sarko. They each have a vision, and they are each relatively articulate. They each have loyal party followings. There isn't a huge "independent" uncomitted bloc of voters in France as in the USA, so the election must be won at the margins. The issues are clear enough: Arab integration, jobs (toujours), security, France's place in the EU.

What the Clintonistas have done best is, well, finding someone to split the opposition vote. Bill Clinton never won a majority. The Republicans split and followed two candidates.

[BillyBoy]

>> I do want to point out to that Sarkozy firmly rejects the American war in Iraq as a mistake. He supports Chirac's opposition to the war. <<

Can't believe people are getting excited that France's idea of a "right wing" politican is winning. So what? France's CURRENT president is from their "right-wing" party. The same party that nominated Jac Chirac nominated this guy. The only reason they DIDN'T nominate Chirac again is he didn't announce his candidacy because knows he'd lose a third term. Here's the new guy:

"I am not a conservative. I do not want an immobile France. I want innovation, creativity, the struggle against injustices."

Oh yeah, this guy is our buddy.

Sarko vs. Royale is simply left-wing vs. far-left wing. Another "victory" like when gay-marrage luvin' Gavin Newsom became Mayor of San Francisco instead of the Green Party guy.

[Vicomte13]

The good things about Sarkozy is that he will moderately cut some taxes and really hammer down on law and order issues.

Other than that, do not expect a French Reagan.