The New York Times didn't even wait for the French election results to become general knowledge before they began their sniping of the new "Conservative" French president, Nicolas Sarkozy. In what is supposed to represent an analysis of his election, the Times spends more time in naked name calling than substance.
Let's review some of the harsh words, slights and names the Gray Lady hurls at the new president-elect.
- Arrogant, brutal, an authoritarian demagogue...
- ...one of the most polarizing figures to move into Élysée Palace in the postwar era...
- He has always been nakedly ambitious, pragmatic and calculating and not beyond betrayal to reach his goals.
- Mr. Sarkozy is a tad shorter than Napoleon was. His profile is remarkably similar to that of Louis XIV.
- Mr. Sarkozy’s brash manner and strong oratory style...
- Many people regarded the anticrime campaign as a calculated effort to win support from France’s far right in anticipation of his presidential bid.
- Mr. Sarkozy’s personal life has been less successful than his public one...
Man, it seems impossible that such an ogre could have anyone who would like him enough to vote for him... well, if you'd listen to the New York Times, anyway.
And what is the title of their "analysis" piece?
Nicolas Sarkozy: Winning the Chance to Prove His Critics Wrong
Only the New York Times can read an overwhelming election and decide that the winner has to prove people wrong!
I suppose it is beyond the New York Times' ability to understand that Sarkozy just might want to lead his country in the style in which he presented himself to WIN the election!
No way! He has to change himself now that he has won... just to satisfy the Times.
Even more ridiculously, the Times never found space to mention that Sarkozy has insisted that an important policy for his new administration would be to attempt to heal the rift his predecessors have created between France and the USA and that France needs to become closer to the US. Do we have to wonder why that is?
One thing about this report is good though. It shows that the Times is just as wrong about politics in the rest of the world as they are about US politics!
They get points for consistency, at least.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
They conveniently left out th
May 6, 2007 - 17:50 ET by Gat New YorkThey conveniently left out that Sarkozy wants to have a closer relationship with the U.S. That is probably the source of the NY Times concern.
Hey, you are right. I'll add
May 6, 2007 - 17:52 ET by Warner Todd HustonHey, you are right. I'll add that to the piece!!
Thanks for that alert.
Don't shake hands and don't win
May 6, 2007 - 19:13 ET by acumenI presume among other things, French voters didn't agree with Sarkozy's socialist opponent Royal stating that she wouldn't shake hands with Bush. That's got to have the writers at the NY Times seeking additional therapy.
Meanwhile back in France, the Islamo-fascists ought to be setting torch to cars in protest about now. The left just doesn't seem to handle defeat well - victory either for that matter.
85% turnout in France
May 6, 2007 - 19:54 ET by RJThere was an 85% turnout of eligible voters in the election, meaning that this was a serious event to the French.
Just heard Sarkozy say "America can depend on France." Good intentions, perhaps, but I don't know much about their system of government. I wonder if they have the same kind of opposition with the same obstructionist power that we currently have in America.
I don't know either RJ
May 6, 2007 - 20:24 ET by acumenI don't know either RJ. I've ignored the French for a long time and I'm not even sure the French know how their government works. I do know that their long experiment in socialism has only brought the French ultra-high unemployment, a bloated federal budget that bought voters in the past, a high influx of Muslim immigrants that bypassed work (and paying taxes) heading straight to the gravy train, riots by leftists, a dwindling ethnic populace based on socially accepted abortion and designer one-baby families among other problems. I personally believe France's biggest problem is a large segment of it's population replacing Christianity with secularism but that is a personal faith opinion and better suited for other sites.
Interesting to note, that although a supporter of Bush on many policies, Sarkozy differs with Bush on many issues such as the extent of human-induced global warming. Still, Sarkozy is a heck of a lot better than what the opposition had to offer.
What's especially encouraging to me is that both German and now French voters have elected Presidents that support Bush while their opponents railed against Bush. After being constantly told by the Dems and their MSM press wing that Bush is damaging our reputation in the rest of the world, I find it fascinating that other than Spain, supporters of Bush are being elected to the highest office in Countries all over the world. Somethings not adding up......
Good point
May 7, 2007 - 00:13 ET by KpajAcumen, that's a very good point about people who want a better relationship with the US are getting elected in some of the far-left-leaning countries. Maybe things are changing a little. Nonetheless, I'm glad you brought out that issue.
Do you think now we will hear
May 6, 2007 - 21:08 ET by Gat New YorkDo you think now we will hear the truth about France's relationship with Hussein?
Good question, and the oil fo
May 6, 2007 - 21:09 ET byGood question, and the oil for food, and the no fly over.
Supreme Court, National Security, Borders, Fiscal Restraint, my litmus test for President.
Gat,Maybe, but definitely NOT
May 7, 2007 - 07:11 ET by Indiana JoeGat,
Maybe, but definitely NOT from our MSM. They have too much invested to tell the truth now.
IJ
For years I liked only ONE
May 6, 2007 - 17:54 ET by upcountrywaterFor years I liked only ONE thing about the French, their Atomic power plants.
Now maybe there are 2 things. Good luck Nicolas Sarkozy.
Isn't it strange that a socia
May 6, 2007 - 18:20 ET by zfIsn't it strange that a socialist country like France and a country that had atomic weapons used against it like Japan are two of the top, if not the top two, users of nuclear power planets while here it is almost a taboo?
Liberalism is a funny thing...
Yes zf,while we continue to d
May 6, 2007 - 18:43 ET by upcountrywaterYes zf,
while we continue to depend on mid east oil, more and more.
1300 IRANIAN GAS CENTRIFUGES MAKING H BOMBS, AND YOU THINK IT'S YOUR RIGHT TO FILL UP!
I wonder if someone from Fran
May 7, 2007 - 09:13 ET by zfI wonder if someone from France or Japan would build a pipeline in Alaska for us? <g>
the Times spends more time in naked name calling than substance.
May 6, 2007 - 18:13 ET by BiggReddName calling is all they have, it's the last resort of a desperate argument.
Arrogant, brutal, an authorit
May 6, 2007 - 22:41 ET by Interested and concerned CDN...
They should love him, doesn't this describe Clinton?
Clinton
May 7, 2007 - 09:45 ET by pbanks7Silly me, I was thinking Bill, and they didn't all fit. Hitlery, however....
Ignorance is bliss. It's easier to repeat a mindless slogan than to do some actual research.
During the lead-up to Iraq w
May 6, 2007 - 18:30 ET byDuring the lead-up to Iraq wasn't the MSM chastising us to be 'civilized' like the French? Now the French elect someone (most likely by 'mandate' margin) who the MSM view with the same lens that they view W?
Think the burning cars (past) had anything to do with the way the French voted?
Think the burning cars (future) will be reported as the truth behind the socialists tolerance?
Supreme Court, National Security, Borders, Fiscal Restraint, my litmus test for President.
As for items one through four
May 6, 2007 - 19:03 ET by dahliatraversAs for items one through four on Warner's list of New York Times' descriptions, doesn't that sound eerily like one of the American Democrat presidential candidates?
P.S. Note to the NYTimes. You can rachet down the dictatorial adjectives about France's new, duly elected President. In view of France's Constitution, Sarkozy will have his hands tied on the authoritarianism, brutality and monarchy fronts.
They must had seen this http:
May 6, 2007 - 19:10 ET by general companyThey must had seen this http://www.atlanticfreepress.com/content/view/1513/81/
the free press saying the NYT
May 6, 2007 - 19:29 ET bythe free press saying the NYT is bias to conservatives? And i've been told there is no connection between liberalism and drug use
Supreme Court, National Security, Borders, Fiscal Restraint, my litmus test for President.
The NYT editorial board is no
May 6, 2007 - 19:48 ET by GalvanicThe NYT editorial board is no doubt having a hard time rationalizing how the French people --- whom they deem so much more cultured and worldly than Americans --- could have gotten this election "so wrong." ;-)
...looks like the French were
May 7, 2007 - 11:17 ET by TruthMonger...looks like the French were rightly ashamed of Chirac's support of hussein and bin laden...maybe Blair was right after all - whattya say there al-queda-lovers in the UK...?
What has the MSM just been saying about our last election? Oh yeah: "the people have spoken - will the government listen...?"
It's eerily quiet on the Bush-hating front this morning...hee-hee-hee...
Mon Deau! Alors! Sacre Bleu
May 6, 2007 - 19:59 ET by kevcadMon Deau! Alors! Sacre Bleu! (Hope I got the spellings close)
I guess the Times is so shaken at what's gotten into the French peoples, both here and abroad. First Canada elects a conservative, now France! The libs at the Times are running scared!
Not enough beer for all these
May 6, 2007 - 20:30 ET by pbdmillerNot enough beer for all these tears!
Mr. Sarkozy has called for &q
May 6, 2007 - 21:00 ET by dahliatraversMr. Sarkozy has called for "a rupture with a certain style of politics", saying he wants to encourage social mobility, better schools and cuts in public sector staff.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3673102.stm
Can we bring him to America? The Northeast in particular could use a little of that philosophy.
D the levels to which he is c
May 6, 2007 - 21:05 ET byD
the levels to which he is cutting would be increases for us!
Supreme Court, National Security, Borders, Fiscal Restraint, my litmus test for President.
Well ... he could at least ho
May 6, 2007 - 21:12 ET by dahliatraversWell ... he could at least hold cutting seminars which our elected officials would be required to attend.
Can I dream of eating "Frech"
May 7, 2007 - 05:49 ET by old croCan I dream of eating "French" toast again? I will welcome the change from my usual staple of pancakes with "Aunt Jemimah" syrup!
"Just put down 9/11... I think, on most things I'm liberal, except on defending ourselves and keeping half the money. Those things I'm kind of conservative on."
Dennis Miller
Good point! French toast an
May 7, 2007 - 06:29 ET by dahliatraversGood point! French toast and french fries are back.
How far they've fallen
May 7, 2007 - 08:02 ET by golfingtitanYou know... back in 1904, the NYT had a section called "Today's Converts". It was an entire section that listed the names of those who entered into Christianity that day.
Granted, they couldn't do this now as there's hundred of thousands doing it every day.... but it's just weird to see how far they've fallen. I can't imagine they'd have anything even remotely close to that today.
I'm glad for France's new president... and I hope he keeps his promise.
btw... it's my first post but I'm a long time reader!
welcome. These are the
May 7, 2007 - 08:19 ET by USA4freedomwelcome.
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc.
Ronald Reagn- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
Also welome to you. As a "lur
May 7, 2007 - 11:49 ET by old croAlso welome to you. As a "lurker", I am sure you have come to know various posters and the insight and humor they bring to this site. Looking forward to your comments!
"Elected office holds more perks than Elvis' nightstand."
Dennis Miller
Well Mr. Sarkozy, will France
May 7, 2007 - 08:37 ET by dscottWell Mr. Sarkozy, will France now maybe stop selling guns and ammo to Sudan to end the Darfur genocide??? Yes, your unemployment will go up temporarily from idling the gun factories, but then Capitalism has so much more to offer and a clear conscience. Will you embargo Sudanese oil???
“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.” – Marcus Aurelius
I think that what has the Tim
May 7, 2007 - 12:24 ET by BeowulfI think that what has the Times' panties in a bunch is that France, under good ole Jak Charak, epitomized their own liberal, ultra-left "values". Canada used to, and was so much closer, but that liberal storm shelter went away. Now France is abandoning the philosophy of truth too? Is it any wonder the NYT broke out their right-wing name-calling dictionary? I'd say that the hankies are going to be stomped tonight...
The Closed Mind Erects Strong Barriers
I wonder who Jean Francoise
May 7, 2007 - 12:31 ET by Jack BauerI wonder who Jean Francoise Kerry voted for?
He does get a vote in the French Presidential elections, right?
Mais oui!
May 7, 2007 - 13:02 ET by dahliatraversMais oui!
A little limerick---
May 7, 2007 - 15:57 ET by misterbillA French President named Sarkozy
Said , "with America I'm cozy"
I'll stand with you tight
I may even fight
As long as I don't have to watch "Rosie"
A question
May 7, 2007 - 15:57 ET by goldenthroatSo the new French president's 'personal life has been less successful than his public one' according the NYT?
Hmmm - did the NYT ever write that about Slick Willy or the Revvvvvvvvernd Jesah Jackson?
Of course not - THEY'RE LIBERALS!
Never dance on an empty stomach unless it's a liberal.
Yeah, what's the deal with se
May 7, 2007 - 21:31 ET by dahliatraversYeah, what's the deal with selectively noticing people's private lives? And when you do it, isn't that the politics of personal destruction, or some such?