Today I had lunch on the rue des Martyrs in the 9th (a very busy street that they turn into a pedestrian area on Sundays) and within 5 meters was given 3 promotional leaflets for the 3 main candidates. I already mentionned Nicolas Sarkozy and Ségolène Royal, here is now François Bayrou "the 3rd man" as they call him. He claims to be at the center and it works! The polls now give him a score of 19% for the primaries and say he would win over all the other candidates if he makes it to the "final".
You wanted me to get pics of Hugh, Eric? You doubted i could...? Go and see! I do loathe being handed leaflets in the street. Or being called at home or letters being sent, unsolicited. I mean, i don't start randomly telling people how i went to Liz Hurley's wedding, do I? Oh. Ah.
ReplyDeletelol Eric, thank you indeed! You visited; always a thrill i must say, seeing your face on my blog!
ReplyDeletePolitics, politics, a topic the French love so much. I really wonder how this election will turn out. It would be a great thriller if not for the fact that the bottom line is France's future...
ReplyDeletewhen we do the selection, we always dont know who they, we only gave the names....thats our politics.
ReplyDeletejing
Eric, I read that the candidates will be making a serious push for the immigrant vote as they may make the difference in this election.
ReplyDeleteJing: That's because China is not democratic. It is not the same or even close to the same as the elections in France (as I'm sure you know). The rapid growth of a country with an authoritarian government is troubling to the rest of the world. Especially since they recently decided to increase military spending by 18%! We're counting on the people there to push out "big brother" so that they are accountable to the people. But since you can not access information on the Internet (because the Chinese government have restricted access to it, getting information is almost impossible). Therefore, I'm including some info from Wikipedia that I'm sure you are not able to access:
ReplyDeleteFrom Wikipedia: China is mainly run by the Communist Party of China (CPC), but there are other political parties in the PRC, referred to in China as "democratic" parties, which participate in the People's Political Consultative Conference, while serving mainly to endorse CPC policies. There have been some moves toward political liberalisation, in that open contested elections are now held at the village and town levels,[12] and that legislatures have shown some assertiveness from time to time; however, the Party retains effective control over governmental appointments. This is because, in the absence of meaningful opposition, the CPC wins by default in most electorates.[13] The CPC has been enforcing its rule by clamping down on political dissidents while simultaneously attempting to reduce dissent by improving the economy and allowing public expression of personal grievances so long as they are not organized.
The Constitution of the People's Republic of China states that the "fundamental rights" of citizens include freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the right to a fair trial, freedom of religion, universal suffrage, and property rights[20]. However, China is not a constitutional republic, and censorship of political speech and information is openly and routinely used to protect what the government considers national security interests.[21] In particular, press control is notoriously tight: Reporters Without Borders considers the PRC one of the least free countries in the world for the press[22].
At times, the PRC is faced with criticism from foreign governments and NGOs concerning allegations of gross human rights violations. These criticisms allege that there existed a widespread practice of lengthy detentions without trial, forced confessions, torture, mistreatment of prisoners, as well as allegations of restrictions on freedoms of speech, assembly, association, religion, the press, and workers' rights.[21] Furthermore, China leads the world in capital punishment, accounting for roughly 90% of total death-penalty executions in 2004.[25] These issues remain one of the driving forces behind independence movements in Tibet and Xinjiang.
Eric, François Bayrou seems to be coming up fast in the polls and in the spotlight. Do you think it's just because people get bored and a fresh face gives a new voter stimulation?
ReplyDeleteAs for us here on PDP, I think we all know who should be running for President!
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****** ERIC FOR PRESIDENT ! ******
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Love this photo - it would be fun for me as a visitor to walk down a busy Parisian street and be handed flyers on candidates for the upcoming election - a little piece of history... As for the photo, I especially love the flowers in the background, and of course no street in Paris would be complete without un petit chien in the background as depicted here! I miss Paris!
ReplyDeletevoter pour moi tout simplement...
ReplyDeleteet passer tous une bonne et belle journée...
Anon: I think it's probably safe to say that Jing knows all that already.
ReplyDeleteMichael, i'm with you! My X goes to Eric.
ReplyDeleteMichael : I hope he can make it to the "final" (sorry for this expression of my opinion, in total respect of others point of view !) but to respond to your comment, FB is not exactly a new face in French politics. He is leader of the UDF for quite a long time now, and among others was education minister 4 years long.
ReplyDeletepolitics aside, I agree with pont girl--I love the flowers and the little yorkie in the background.
ReplyDeleteI'm in for this campaign too; Eric for president!!!
ReplyDeleteWhen he's elected we'll finally get that statue of him that he deserves so much
He would make a very cute president wouldn't he!!!
(am not gonna comment about FB cause it's early monday morning here and although my body's up my mind is still in bed. Love the flowers in tha backgroung though)
I agree with Michael....ERIC FOR PRESIDENT.....He's a man we can trust and has the people at heart. I think Bayrou looks like a more pleasant man than Sarkozy who rarely smiles....always scowling. One only has other's thoughts to make an opinion but "they" insist that Sarkozy has a bad temper and explodes frequently. It is said that Segolene lacks international diplomacy experience. She could get that experience if she were president. Oh well, I can't vote in France, anyway. Eric, I see the poster arrangement as being very clever and interesting.
ReplyDeleteSorry GG, I'm sure you know a whole lot more about French politics than I. My opinion was just about how Sarkozy and Royal have been in the news so much leading up to now, that Bayrou seems to be someone "safe" for one to say they'd vote for him. Again, I bow to your knowledge of French politics above mine.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't notice the Yorkie in the background. The flyer I can see, shows a man who looks like a politician. I am not fond of politics and politicians in general, primarily because we got stung really bad with the current resident of the Whine House, George W. Bush.
ReplyDeleteThanks Eric for always giving us such an interesting glimpse of life in Paris. I really like this photo.
ReplyDeleteMichael : you make me feel uncomfortable. ;o) I didn't mean to teach and I'm sure you know much mor than you pretend !
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of politicians and presidents, has anyone seen this hilarious Bush Speechlist video ?
ReplyDeleteYou can´t miss it!
Hilarious Monica. So cringey at times i could barely watch - or listen! Eeeeeeek.
ReplyDelete>>>I think Bayrou looks like a more pleasant man than Sarkozy who rarely smiles
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha ha. That's why they voted for W over Kerry.
When I look at these politicians (in Fr. or in the States), I think I'd rather vote for the cow on your post 2 days ago. She looks more honest.
ReplyDeleteNah GG...you weren't preaching I know. And no, I don't know enough about French politics to have a strong opinion. I'm like many others...nice smile, boring speech, seems nice...
ReplyDeleteActually GG and everyone, here's who should run for President...SHEILA, on Edwin's KL Daily Photo blog!
ReplyDeleteLOL Michael, I know she´s got your vote, but frankly I´m a bit scared of her...
ReplyDeletehey Michael, I'd have to say I'm with Tomate Farcie on this one :)
ReplyDeleteEric I was going to do my homework and look for more information about F.Bayrou so that I can follow the french politic scenario.
ReplyDeleteBut then the ideia didn´t seem too appealing. I´d rather learn more about it over a cup of coffee in a nice parisian cafe. Actually we could talk about everything but politics! Sounds better doesn´t it?!
We get the government we deserve in a democracy. A pretty smile and emotions are what people vote for, and that's why we get used car salesmen in office who sell us lemons with a slick paint job. Democracy is hard, hard, hard. That's why it's rare. It's easier to govern with a gun, and as long as it's "those other people" who are getting shot (or tortured), well, that's ok.
ReplyDeleteOops, am I expressing an opinion again? I need to stop that...
Monica, that Bush loop was hilarious..sad, though, it was really taken from his (ugh!) speeches to the nation. When will we ever learn. Bush has convinced himself that he is John Wayne incarnate. Swagger and all...
ReplyDeleteDave compares the presidential race to a student council election...hmmmmm. Think on that!
Most politics are boring i agree haxo. In fact, i'll go all out on this one and give my verdict: i don't care.
ReplyDeleteJohnny seems to me we never learn...
ReplyDeleteBTW, Bush is coming to Brazil this week to meet our president and talk about alcohol. No, it's not booze I mean - although both presidents are known for being big fans - they'll discuss ethanol as an alternative source of fuel for cars, which is less hazardous for the environment and already in use here.
Yes Monica, it's very impressive how in Brazil the ethanol example has been quite the talk. I was amazed at how many cars use it there.
ReplyDeleteThe video link was excellent Monica. I hope that I can put food on my family one day too! LOL
"most politics are boring...I don't care"
ReplyDelete"...everyting but politics..."
Yep, it's hard, and when people don't care, we get oil wars and religious wars and chest-thumping wars and people disappear on the way home. Politics is boring until the knock comes on your door, then it suddenly becomes important.
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
from W. B. Yeats' "The Second Coming"
You're right Michael, lots os cars use it here and it's cheaper too!
ReplyDeleteabout the video, I just love the technique of pin pointing idea cards!
Lynn it's actually funny, I was visiting your blog while you were leaving the first message!
ReplyDeleteNathalie, I must say I have no idea of the outcome of this election either. That is what makes it interesting.
Nikon. Well yes. To be a little more specific, the left parties went to the suburbs to urge the population not to vote for Sarkozy. I don't know if it will really make the difference though.
Jing, interesting what anonymous said. I have been told that the fact that China is not a democratic country is not really a concern for most of the Chinese who are more interested in improving their standard of living rather than choosing their politicians. Is that true? If it is I suppose it won't last forever though; political awareness comes with money and education and... exchanges
Michael. You're on drugs! Eric for president LOL! Bayrou is not new AT ALL! But he wants to reconcile the left and the right and people like that because they're fed up with the usual "if the right says black then the left has to say white" and vice versa...
Pont girl. You're so right! That is why I rented a little dog for the occasion, just to put in the background LOL! Seriously I did choose the Fleuriste in the background though.
Terra Vecchia. Ouais, ben justement, parlons-en des élections en Corse...
GG. Are you going to vote for Bayrou?
Monica. A statue now: You too are on drugs LOL!!
Johnny. You too!
Ujima. True. But smiling is part of doing politics now! Mind you at this game, Ségolène Royal wins...
Tomate. LOOOOOOOOOL! I doubt that a cow can do wonders at the head of a country LOL
Michael. Wrong. GG is always preaching! And Sheila is great - especially when she opens her mouth!
Jeff. "It's easier to govern with a gun" so true...
Haxo. So you were in Switzerland right?! Lucky you! Skiing I suppose. We all missed you. But frankly is Swiss politics any better?! I don't think so...
I have to agree with you Jeff.
ReplyDeletePerhaps if more people actually cared...the world would be a better place.
Eric : "GG is always preaching!" T'as de la chance qu'on ne dîne pas ensemble ce soir, je pense que y a pas que le pied de porc qui aurait été tartiné de béarnaise !!!
ReplyDeleteJeff - i suppose i should clarify, i do care generally but just that day, i really didn't anymore. lol. Absolutely agreed we must all show interest and participate otherwise nothing changes. Just being flippant.
ReplyDeletecool shot with the flowers in the back. I think imma vote for Bayrou, he the one that makes the most sense to me, even though i would have never thought same years ago i would actually vote for him or his party... i think a lot of the people intending to vote for him are in my situation by the way.
ReplyDelete