But George W. Bush drives her nuts. And it's probably his style more than his politics. A Dick Cheney who pushes an individualistic, every-man-for-himself philosophy in a frank manner may be disagreed with but not hated. The spectacle of Bush alternating between tax cuts for the rich and displays of religious piety, however, sends my friend over the deep end. Americans, for their part, have no obligation to admire French President Jacques Chirac (also a former exchange student in the United States). The cagey old pol has undoubtedly exploited anti-American feelings in France, also a latent force, to distract attention from his various scandals at home. For example, a now deceased member of his Gaullist Party describes on tape how he handed over $720,000 in cash to a Chirac aide as the boss, then mayor of Paris, looked on. Were it not for a court ruling that a sitting president cannot be dragged before a judge, Chirac might be behind bars today Does anyone else have a hard time with this moral equilivancy? Just a note to Miss (Ms.??) Harrop, taking bribes in your office is illegal. Breaking the law is not the same thing as having a different tax policy or a faith in Jesus!!!!!
Further, I wanted to point out that while what Chirac did here was despicable, it isn't the reason why Americans don't like him. We don't like him because at a time when we NEEDED to act in our own self interest, France did everything they could to stop us... including giving aid and comfort to our enemies. I could care less about local French politics, it's the geo political stuff that bugs me!
When France stops being a sissy loser country, then I'll stop bashing them. Until then I don't care what the Frogs think of us.