The Royalists and the Sarkoboys (and girls)
France has said "Non" to the far-rightist Jean-Marie Le Pen and, as was widely predicted, has chosen a between the centre-right candidate Nicolas Sarkozy and the Socialist Segolene Royal in the second round of their presidential elections on 6 May. Mr Le Pen appeared undeterred -- rhetorically at any rate -- even though the electorate has overwhelmingly rejectedthe National Front leader's "zero immigration" stance.
This, like so many other French elections, was dominated by identity poltics. We, of course, know a thing or two about that sort of thing in Northern Ireland.
The final stage of the French presidential election takes place on May 6, two days before the restoration of devolution in Northern Ireland. The British and Irish prime ministers on devolution day. That will be an extraordinary moment in Irish political history. Will it also be the "handshake moment", when we see Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness reach out to each other across the Assembly chamber? If, as I expect, we do see that historic handshake on devolution day, it will be extremely difficult for any homegrown political cynics to claim, dismissively, "Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose".
Comments
I hope your prediction comes true and we finally see that handshake. At that point, Paisley will have nothing to lose and everything to gain from it.
I agree with David. For what it's worth, I'd encourage Paisley that the handshake is the right thing to do and the means by which he'll leave the best kind of legacy as a leader in Northern Ireland.
Congratulations to the French people for having the good sense to say Goodbye to Le Pen. His racist politics are a disgrace. Let#s hope we soo see the American electorate say goodbye to the Republicans, who have dragged America's reputation throught the mud in recent years.
well said gerald. bring on US regime change.
I think the French made a bad mistake. They should have voted in their true national hero whom they all agree is someone they have looked up to for a very long time. I'm talking of course about their American idol, Jerry Lewis. They can never seem to get enough of him. He could have run on a campaign slogan using one of his most famous lines; "HEY LADY!" A couple of his telethons and their financial woes would have all but disappeared.
Speaking about disappearing, it hardly really matters who is put in charge of rearranging the deck chairs as Le Titanique goes under. Well, at least the band can play Le Marseillaise one last time for old times sake. Psst, hey, NI, how about a chorous of Row Row Row Your Boat :-)
The Royalists and the Sarkoyboys (and girls) ???????
I woke up in the morning and spied upon the wall,
The roaches and the bedbugs were having a game of ball,
The score was 19-20, the roaches were ahead,
The bedbugs hit a homerun and knocked me out of bed.
eeny, meeny, meeny, miney, mo Catch a rebel, rebel by his toe
And if he hollers, hollers, hollers, let him go,
Singin' hey boys, row them, hey boys, row them boats.
It was midnight in the alley, not a trolley car in sight,
I stepped into the drugstore to get myself light,
The man behind the counter was a lady, old and gray,
Who used to peddle shoestrings on the road to Mandolay.
eeny, meeny, meeny, miney, mo Catch a rebel, rebel by his toe
And if he hollers, hollers, hollers, let him go,
Singin' hey boys, row them, hey boys, row them boats.
I agree with Davy Oxo.
I feel dirty.
SG
Mark, whatever you are smoking, give it up, "Dude". As Barbara Bush once put it: JUST SAY NO!
"...with many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse!"