ldmom06

Oh those pesky French....
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"Mr Sarkozy is pouring cold water on President Obama's efforts to recast American leadership on the world stage, depicting them as unoriginal, unsubstantial and overrated. Behind leaks and briefings from the Elysée Palace lies Mr Sarkozy's irritation at the rock-star welcome that Europe gave Mr Obama on his Europan tour earlier this month.

The American President's call "to free the world of the menace of a nuclear nightmare" was hot air, Mr Sarkozy's diplomatic staff told him in a report. "It was rhetoric – not a speech on American security policy but an export model aimed at improving the image of the United States," they said. Most of Mr Obama's proposals had already been made by the Bush administration and Washington was dragging its feet on disarmament and treaties against nuclear proliferation, the leaked report said."

World Agenda: Nicolas Sarkozy puts Barack Obama in the doghouse - Times Online

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I guess it's back to not caring what the rest of the world thinks right?

catahoula

When they're not thinking the right things... of course we won't care.

ldmom06

Can't go wrong with right thinking cat.

momfromme

Oh, you're really cued into what French leader purportedly thinks. Has that been a long-standing guide to your views?

And are you so sure that this unsourced report is true? Usually leaks come from one element in govt that's trying to either push out its own views or embarrass others. (See Kissinger in the Nixon administration.)

Keep in mind that it will probably be denied in the next 24 hours since the French govt would not want this report to stand uncorrected-- that would be just awful diplomatic politics.

By the way, how is Sarkozy doing these days with his own people? Last I looked his job approval numbers were in free fall.

ldmom06

memom - clarity please? Your post is all over the place and I'm not getting your drift.

momfromme

Sorry, but I'm tired and have to get to bed. If I get back to this tomorrow, I'll clarify then. In the meantime, try rereading what I wrote.

catahoula

momme, what is it with you and "job approval ratings"?

ldmom06

Oh I know you'll be back memom. But despite your edit, I still don't know what you mean by your first two sentences in #4.

I'll just have to wait until tomorrow I suppose.

pugmadkate

It's fun watching the right embrace France. Remember Freedom fries?

nbachris2788

The contemporary right-wing has no principles. When Bush was in power, it was obey the president or be cast out of the country. Now that Obama is in power, it's all about revolution and secession.

Ridiculous. Democrats are like Mozart while Republicans are like Salieri.

cartera45

With Sarkozy's approval rating, it's likely that whatever he's against, about 70% of the French people are for. He's their version of Bush - not particularly polished or literate. Now the French know how to protest - millions have hit their streets to protest him.

ldmom06

And we all know how important being polished is... right? I mean polished certainly outranks responsibility, and common sense...right?

Does anyone here really think posting this article is the equivalent of the right embracing France? Seriously are we deliberately avoiding the point? And have you (pug) nothing else? It's as if liberals are an empty vessel and can only fill themselves with the thoughts of others. When I say 'Irony!' and your response is 'No! Irony!', I'm reminded of a little kid who knows nothing of debate but pouty retort and foot-stamping.

Hunt

I guess I don't understand why Americans should be upset that the leader of France is jealous of our leader. Isn't that a good thing?

cartera45

ldmom - did you have a point to avoid? If it was that President Sarkozy represents what the rest of the world thinks, then it was pointed out that he doesn't even represent what France thinks. If it was to simply point out that there are world leaders who disagree with Obama, then the little remark at the end not only makes no sense but is also suggestive of a little pout and a foot stomp.

ldmom06

Read again cartera...I know you'll get it eventually.

I love how facts make liberals so nervous. It's truly amusing. Facts are...the lovefest between Sarkozy and Obama was media manufactured. If the media will manufacture this, perhaps we should consider what else they will manufacture. Suggesting that Sarkozy is to France is as Bush is to America really doesn't mitigate this concern now does it?

Furthermore, when it was believed Sarkozy was so enamored of Obama, many treated this as evidence that Sarkozy reflected the feelings of France and the rest of the world. So now that Sarkozy has revealed his true opinion about Obama's capabilities, Sarkozy's opinions are dismissed.

Oops...irony again. Go for the empty vessel defense one more time. It's getting to be fun seeing my words repeated back to me.