tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8435065948620169670.post5229636903317197438..comments2023-08-29T03:31:24.755-07:00Comments on Under the Burning Bridge: Hollande's dreadful week proves that 'a week is a long time in politics'Fripouillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14321346986665375480noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8435065948620169670.post-57367734870142166962013-02-10T11:49:17.781-08:002013-02-10T11:49:17.781-08:00Sorry, I forgot the link! (duh!)
http://www.youtub...Sorry, I forgot the link! (duh!)<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAD25s53wmEAmandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06031276247743743680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8435065948620169670.post-47773551277080826102013-02-10T11:48:40.727-08:002013-02-10T11:48:40.727-08:00Reading past posts will help me with what is going...Reading past posts will help me with what is going on in France. I have heard of Fillon but never of<br />Taubira. I am really out of touch but maybe it is better as it would make me very upset otherwise.<br />Thank you so much for taking the time researching different subjects so deeply. You are a breath of fresh air!<br /><br />If you are ever bored, watch this 88 mn "You tube" of Dr Neil De Grasse Tyson, about cosmic quandaries.<br />Brilliant and very entertaining!Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06031276247743743680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8435065948620169670.post-6421385559580211702013-02-10T07:01:27.088-08:002013-02-10T07:01:27.088-08:00Ah Findus! 'It's all Romania and the Mafia...Ah Findus! 'It's all Romania and the Mafia's fault' say the French, but I'm not convinced. This is going to be a long-running story and scandal in my 'umble view because I don't believe we know the half of it...Fripouillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14321346986665375480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8435065948620169670.post-2003022350351065702013-02-10T02:40:28.446-08:002013-02-10T02:40:28.446-08:00Mornin'.
Exactly sir. He's not in an ele...Mornin'. <br /><br />Exactly sir. He's not in an election. He was actually giving a keynote speech to the European Parliament. So the only reason for saying dumb stuff like that is that he's, well, dumb. <br /><br />In fact, I'm quite surprised by how he's turning out. I was never a fan of Sarko and I thought the Segolene was a complete dunderheed but I always liked Hollande. Peolple called him boring and Flamby but I always thought that his speeches were pretty good; funny and even rousing at times. And there is certainly merit to the idea that there is too much austerity. A great deal of merit.<br /><br />But, hélas, he doesn't seem to be fighting his corner very well. In fact, he's alienting himself. And now that he's on the international stage, he seems a bit lightweight.<br /><br />Anyway, me Findus lasagne is nearly cooked so I'll bid you all a fine Sunday.Streakynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8435065948620169670.post-69962738987848166252013-02-09T17:29:45.790-08:002013-02-09T17:29:45.790-08:00Hey, and talking of writing on suggested topics, I...Hey, and talking of writing on suggested topics, I've just found exactly the a story I needed (in a British paper as it happens) to illustrate your subject - happiness, or the lack of it. It's the perfect article as it illustrates the topic very well, which can then be gone into in more detail. I'm looking forward to this...Fripouillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14321346986665375480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8435065948620169670.post-791821937369682302013-02-09T17:25:29.535-08:002013-02-09T17:25:29.535-08:00Rats, I forgot to thank you for suggesting that I ...Rats, I forgot to thank you for suggesting that I write on the topic of Hollande's bad week. It was a lot of fun to write but I also think that although Hollande loused up somewhat you have to feel for him in a way. Fripouillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14321346986665375480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8435065948620169670.post-31719931775053038922013-02-09T16:40:29.227-08:002013-02-09T16:40:29.227-08:00Hi Nadege! Hollande resigning? Let's just imag...Hi Nadege! Hollande resigning? Let's just imagine he does. And that Sarkozy doesn't re-enter politics (which isn't a sure bet by any means.) We'd have Fillon for the UMP, and he is not only a well respected politician, even by the opposition, he is also a canny, intelligent and elegant man. Which means he'd be very hard to beat for anyone. <br /><br />Who could beat him? That's more difficult as I don't see anyone up to outwitting Fillon. Except hey! What about Taubira? After all, she's just proved with the gay debate that she too, like Fillon, doesn't need to shout to make herself heard and she is a highly competent politician, like Fillon.<br /><br />Yeah, Fillon vs Taubira. Now THERE'S a scrap for you!<br /><br />I started this blog just over a year ago, although I have had other blogs in the past. In fact I've been blogging now for something like 8 years in all. My job helps of course because I do most of it on the computer so I can write blogs during a break of an hour, sometimes two or three. I'm very fortunate in that respect. <br /><br />Ah, blogging. it's relaxing, it's good to see what other people like to blog about, and, as you say, you 'meet' some very kind people, some of whom I've had the pleasure of meeting in real life. Fripouillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14321346986665375480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8435065948620169670.post-45145591957640700772013-02-09T16:26:24.673-08:002013-02-09T16:26:24.673-08:00Evenin' Streaky, and you're quite right to...Evenin' Streaky, and you're quite right to say that the war in Mali is justified and that Hollande deserves credit for that. I blogged on this a while back to express my worry that France might end up 'doing a BUsh' and getting bogged down for years, particularly if help from African nations is long in coming, inadequate, or, worse, both. He had the good sense to decide to clean up the mess down there so let's just hope he has the good sense to leave before the recent suicide bombing attempt and attack on Malian army vehicles become regular occurences, that which is quite possible.<br /><br />As to Hollande's remarks about the euro, I was just as gobsmacked as you were. It reminded me of his 'I don't like the rich' remark in London. The rich and market fluctuations are here to stay and he'll just have to get used to it. I mean, it's not even as if he's in an election campaign and needs to say dumb stuff like that to garner votes.<br /><br />All of which of course is why Merkel dropped him and backed Cameron's more realistic stance, whatever may be thought of Cameron in general. <br /><br />If you ain't got the Germans on your side, you're on the losing side in the EU, that's just the way it is. Fripouillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14321346986665375480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8435065948620169670.post-44954388985431808442013-02-09T15:35:41.478-08:002013-02-09T15:35:41.478-08:00I am reading some of your older posts. When did yo...I am reading some of your older posts. When did you start writing your blog? It might take me a while to read the whole thing. Reading my first blog ever, was in 2006; "La France profonde". It took me a while to read each posts but I did it. Then because of commenters, I checked out their blog... I have so many favorites now, it is fun, but time consuming.Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06031276247743743680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8435065948620169670.post-12039911792353151012013-02-09T14:49:45.003-08:002013-02-09T14:49:45.003-08:00Maybe Hollande will resign! Let's see : we had...Maybe Hollande will resign! Let's see : we had "Bling-Bling, then Flamby" who is it going to be next? Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06031276247743743680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8435065948620169670.post-61291272078849960692013-02-09T11:24:41.016-08:002013-02-09T11:24:41.016-08:00Hi
Yes, just what I thought too. I think we have...Hi <br /><br />Yes, just what I thought too. I think we have to commend France (and Hollande) for what they've done in Mali so far and I hope it stays that way. Sarkozy's government having to take some of the blame for paying something like 90million in ransom during his time - money which went right into funding terrorists - so Hollande's actions are to be commended. Although, when I heard that they had taken some towns without meeting any resistance, Napolean's entry into Moscow came to mind...<br /><br />And yes, it was a bad week as far as the EU budget was concerned but what really shocked me was when he told the european parliament that "The euro should not fluctuate according to the mood of the markets" Is it just me but was that not just amateurish? Lacking the basic knowledge of how things work? I mean, what does he want? What is he suggesting? <br /><br />And nobody else wants it. Certainly not the Germans and not even the Spanish and Italians - who might benefit from the cheaper exports - because the stronger euro has brought their borrowing costs down to manageable levels. <br /><br />But the really negative aspect for him is that it drives the wedge between him and Merkel deeper. I think that will lead to Merkel chosing Cameron's side more and more often. <br /><br />And him not even answering the phone to have a meeting with Cameron, Merkel, Van Rumpoy and Barrosso, just looked like cowardice or huffing. <br /><br />Yup, a bad week. Streakynoreply@blogger.com