h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Today I saw and heard live at BBC-world the speech of the president op France to the English politicians at his first state visit to GB.

As the public was, also I was very surprised about what he said and how strong he believes in the change of international policy of France, as it had been before for decades and decades.

This was far more than just polite talking. A couple of times he was interrupted by law applause.

Thank you for your soldiers you send to liberate France in the past.
France needs BG also now and we need cooperation with GB in all kinds op issues, like Europ.Union, climate change, terrorism (We cannot leave Afghanistan as long as it is unstable), etc.

Yes, it was impressive, because one felt the emotions he used from himself.
He also spoke bluntly about China and Tibet and that there should be a dialogue and that he will not attend the openings ceremonial of the Olympics.

Really impressive.
Of course there's more to say, but I still believe this was a very different president/policy than even before.
French German relation will not flourish as before.

I don't understand your last sentence about french-german politics. Is it an either or situation with France? Either they're trying to cooperate more closely with the UK or they're trying to cooperate more closely with Germany?

sort of. Historically there has been the FrancoGerman partnership at the centre of Europe and the UK off to one side, dipping its toe in and out as it sees fit.
Thing is though, Sarkozy doesn;t seem to like Merkel that much, they seem to be from different places politically. If UK still had Tony Blair then I could see a Blair/Sarkozy partnership doing big things in Europe (whether they'd be 'good' or not is another matter). But not so sure about Brown. I've heard a few times in various press stories (from various sources) that other governments have found it difficult to get in touch with Brown and set up meetings/phone calls.

Sarkozy is clearly trying to set up a new power base given that the FrancoGerman one isn't operating too well at the moment. Whether or not Brown will go for it, I'm not sure. He's a lot less 'available' - even to the home media and sources - than Blair was. Blair was always being quoted and giving sound bites - Brown seems to have hidden in his bunker and delegates stuff to others.

Well about Germany, I just expect that the attention they received will be less than Mitterrand gave. It is a solid relation so it's just a result of paying attention to GB by France.

Although Mitterrand once said the same and was the first one, the words of gratitude for all those English soldiers in the first and Second World War was welcomed and one could feel tee emotion in the hall. ("Where you there, Alfredo,"- no, but I saw it live at BBC)

I think he really stands for what he Sais/says and it was a pleasing moment for me (born in 1951) to see this happening as we live at a continent with outrageous continental and world wars and even a holocaust of seven million people, besides the "blessings" of the Soviet Union.

Yes, I am very skeptical normally and now also, but I believe that he stands for what he says, personally and as president of the French republic.

It will feel uneasy if the relations in Europe would become closer, causer any change causes some unease.

But,
Yes but, I have my doubts about his ambivalent character. Being drunk on stage a week after the inauguration trying to answer questions,
Then his glamour marriage after a quick divorce, using the word "war" after Bush did, about Iran.

Well, I doubt if most French peoples feel represented by his behavior at the stage of world politics.
Goes on holiday at the Bush family, wants better relations with USA and GB, easily reacts in very sensitive (and therefore difficult) issues, especially for the minor "superpowers" in the world, like Japan, France, Germany, Italy. Countries that are rich and powerful, but don't have the military power to impress.

I think most French feel embarrassed and disappointed or even angry about his goal to become far closer to the USA than any president was before.
In the local elections last week his party lost a lot of votes. I think they are related to what I just wrote.

It's a pity, because once France should faze that it's not a superpower any longer and sits on the same bench with Germany, Italy, Brazil, etc.
Their attitude was understandable, but so outdated and they behave so far very opportunistic. For every deal in the European Union France always wants something in return. Always, all the time, everywhere.

You had Thatcher as a pit-bull, but we all know GB always joins ten years later.

I'm tired and it's in the dead of night.

Most important is the question that will rise in world politics; how far does he represent the French and will he be able to run a second term in office.

To say the least, it would feel rather uneasy to fall in love for four years and then being confronted by the old attitude that the president interrogates young voters why they prefer to go to Mac Donald is French food.

Maybe it will all end in the middle.
Why?
Because now all parties may cry about the loss of French political culture, while realizing it is more than urgent, and when they govern their country they can pull some French sentiment again in world politics.
What I'm saying is; he does the difficult job, that's needed and those who come after him can easily blame Sarkozy for it and continue the new balances of power in Europe.

And there's a last thing; I think he also has populist aspects in his behavior and he keeps the press from a distance by doing every new day something unexpected. That may hold for six months, but not longer. How stable is his mind.
He may be a hard-luck pilot.

The populist behavior was clear to me when he was confronted with the suburbs of Paris etc, where social life is very poor and overcrowded by Moroccan and Algerian families.
I could not see more than just populist racism at a lower profile level than Le Pen.


It's four oçlock, I'm going to bed.

Greetings from global Amsterdamned

Is an example of the FrancoGerman partnership like the times they teamed up to lay waste to the areas between and within their countries last century?

>Is an example of the FrancoGerman partnership like the times they teamed up to lay waste to the areas between and within their countries last century?

Yes, well we can all recall the time France and Germany "teamed up" in 1914 and 1939.

Alternatively: eh?!

What about Franco-American alliances?
http://i4.peapod.com/c/Q0/Q0RG9.jpg
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28022