Posted on 08/04/2007 10:56:29 AM PDT by blam
Nicolas Sarkozy risks revolt with US holiday By Henry Samuel in Paris Last Updated: 2:29am BST 04/08/2007
Nicolas Sarkozy risked horrifying the historically anti-American French establishment yesterday by choosing to spend a two-week summer holiday in New Hampshire.
Wolfeboro is not far from President George W Bush's family estate in coastal Maine
The French president, who has already drawn howls of protests for his unashamedly pro-Anglo-Saxon stance, spurned his homeland and the Francophone destinations favoured by his predecessors when he arrived yesterday in the select lakeside town of Wolfeboro, north of Boston.
The choice of an American destination was seen by some as proof of his desire to bolster Franco-American ties sorely strained by the invasion of Iraq.
"Mr and Mrs Sarkozy are on holiday at the invitation of friends in a house situated two hours' drive from Boston. They went there as a family on a regular flight," said an Elysée spokesman.
Mr Sarkozy, 52, his wife Cécilia and their son Louis are reported to be staying in a luxurious villa owned by Mike Apple, a former Microsoft executive, which costs £15,000 a week to rent. The residence has a private beach, a marina with room for four boats, a spa, private cinema and video gaming room.
Wolfeboro is not far from President George W Bush's family estate in coastal Kennebunkport, Maine, sparking suggestions yesterday in the French press that the two leaders might use the opportunity to get to know each other, perhaps going running together. Both are keen joggers.
Like Mr Bush, the French president is teetotal - another source of irritation in wine-producing France. "It would really be astonishing if the two men would not benefit from this to meet each other," said Le Parisien.
Mr Sarkozy, who has been pictured wearing Manchester United and NYPD T-shirts, is seen as a breath of fresh air by American conservatives who loathed his predecessor, Jacques Chirac.
Mr Chirac's refusal to back an allied invasion of Iraq in 2003 sparked nationwide anti-French sentiment epitomised by the line "cheese-eating surrender monkeys".
Like many food outlets, the cafeteria at the New Hampshire State House, then dominated by Republicans, briefly renamed its French fries as "freedom fries".
But the expense of the trip was already raising questions. "Who will pay?" asked René Dosière, a Socialist who has studied the budget of the Elysée, pointing out that the cost of the two-week holiday, including flights, would come to more than his official annual salary.
The ones I bought in 1998 are about due for replacement.
I keep hearing how French people don’t like this guy. Judging from election results, they must be a minority.
I think we've gone from "Boycott" back to "Disdain".
Actually, it is probably the same “media, artistic, social and academic elites” that detest our “Cowboy” in the White House.
I’ve throttled back from “pure loathing” to “hatred”. I’m considering revising that to “intense dislike” if Sarkozy comes through on some of his promises.
With that name, he probably quit 'cause he couldn't take the kidding anymore.
Yeah - I got rid of Goodrich for Kelly. Then I traded the car and got stuck with Yokohama.
Too bad, the UK has no gonads.
It gave up its UN security council seat, and its future,
to Germany, unlike France.
So maybe this heralds UK’s whining exit.
Wolfeboro is a nice place.
LOL. What's it gonna take to get you to "tolerate"?
Yokohama makes great tyres. A heck of a lot better than Michelin.
Tourist trap. Bills itself as the “Oldest Vacation Destination in America” or some such.
My experience as well.
Japanese, though - I try to avoid them, Chinese, Korean, and German whenever possible.
I love this article so much I want to marry it.
Ive throttled back from pure loathing to hatred. Im considering revising that to intense dislike if Sarkozy comes through on some of his promises.
I COULDN’T AGREE MORE...
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