'We love America,' Sarkozy tells Congress

Source: afp



'We love America,' Sarkozy tells Congress

by Philippe Alfroy 10 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy hailed the friendship between France and the United States and paid tribute to American sacrifices in World War II, in a rare address Wednesday to the US Congress.


"Since the United States first appeared on the world scene, our two peoples, the French and the American people, have always been friends," Sarkozy said, as he emphatically drew a veil on years of cross-Atlantic tensions sparked by the Iraq war.

He received lengthy and warm applause as he arrived for a joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and his address was met by several standing ovations as he heaped praise on the United States.

"We may have differences, we may disagree on things, we may even have arguments, as in many families," he said, "but in times of difficulty, in times of hardship, one stands true to one's friends, one stands shoulder to shoulder with them, one supports them, and one helps them.".......

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071107/wl_afp/usfrancepolitics_071107171938;_ylt=Avp7lfGHR_AV_e.ndG6z.HGs0NUE

---

I listened to his speech--or some of it. He did hit the right bush key words of liberty and democracy and freedom a lot.

Bush will listen to him -- especially about Pakistan. Sarkozy shares the free market philosophy of the Bushies. So they will hopefully trust him. But, surely Sarkozy is more intelligent than our government in D.C. I don't know enough about his economic ideas to say whether I agree or disagree with him, but he seems to be well informed and must be brilliant to have worked his way up in France. It takes an extraordinarily outstanding person to do what he has done. He is impatient but, what a mind. Maybe he will be able to help the world at this time.

Mon dieu!

I truly doubt that France as a whole, or as individual Frenchmen, give any thought to the US and its slaves and masters, except to try to stay out of range.

Of course, Sarkozy is an aspiring Master, so he personally may love what W has done to remodel the land of the free and the home of the brave, but he'd be alone in that. Well, maybe Harper in Canada would agree. There are a few free nations with aspiring dictators left in this world. But most of the world is already Bushwhacked or the local equivalent.

France, Canada, the U.K., Germany, Australia, Mexico, and so on.

I guess Italy, Spain, Poland, and Japan aren't as Bush-friendly anymore at the top, but the list is growing smaller...

(Neo)Cons (parentheses because: they "try" to hide it as much as they can...) R in a "contained" minority...

It's just the center (currently "weak" Liberal) and the left (New Democratic Party), if you add them together, end up a majority.

The realists (center + left) are "divided" in two... which, for the time being, confine them in the opposition.

Not real Bush-friendly there, if you would take the time to ask a majority of Canadian taxpayers.

Gays & Lesbians can marry, and all citizens have (for most of the time: FREE) healthcare coverage...

See?

I should think they see the situation we're in. If they don't, they're seeing what they want to see, not the situation as it is.

Sarkozy PRAISED THE AMERICA OF WASHINGTON AND LAFAYETTE

he said that it was THIS AMERICA, THE FOUNDING FATHERS AMERICA that we love

he never praised Bush's America

he got 10 standing ovations from a DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS

even Republicans stood when he said that America should take the lead in the fight against global warming.

but no no

Sarko no good

I don't defend him to any price. But was he President of the US, he would make
Hillary look like a neocon.

Iran atomic weapons ... staying the course in Afghanistan (that other disaster) ... Washington/LaFayette ... did he mention his desire to bring France back into NATO after 40 some years?

The only America Sarkozy loves is Bush's America. That's the only America he knows.

:sarcasm:

right wing fiend

The two of them both constantly evoked the friendship of Lafayette and Washington, our common heritage, White crosses all over French soil where Americans are buried, etc. Very innocuous, but actually quite truthful: France gave us our liberty, we gave France theirs back in 1944.

Their cheese is better. Their women dress better and la Marsaillaise is one hell of a national anthem. Peugots are OK cars, and I love me some escargot and lust for Viognier.

Now, if they would only get Royal in office in 6 years. . .

They currently have one of the best (if not THE best) universal healthcare system in the world.

HRC should take notes...

DK already did. :thumbsup:

even spoke?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7083339.stm

According to the poll which was conducted by the Paris-based research company BVA, the popularity of the head of state has fallen from 57 percent in September to 55 percent this month.

The number of people who do not approve of the president has increased from 33 percent to 37 percent during the same period, according to the same source.

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90777/6290073.html

Clinton was treated well when he visited.

What puzzles me the most however is why Sarkozy thinks they should be humble for having the insight to oppose a disasterous war?

And how can he possibly stay so damn popular in France?

Lord knows any self-respecting person would.

:rofl:

http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNewsAndPR/idUSN0753028720071107

This was probably the most significant thing Sarkozy said in he last two days. In reality the French like many other EU countries particular in the south of Europe are under the cosh as the value of the EURO climbs. The sad truth is that Sarkozy has only a limited influence on the value of the European currency since the interest rate policy of the European Central bank under Trichet is dominated by inflation hawks who have the backing of Angela Merkel. As always it is the Germans who ultimately call the economic and political shots in the EU.