June 8, 2005
HE HAS TO HAVE AT LEAST GIGGLED:
Gallic genius will save France says Villepin (Jon Henley, June 9, 2005, The Guardian)
France's new prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, refused yesterday to push the country down the road towards free-market reform, saying "Gallic genius" would help put back on its feet a "suffering, impatient and angry" nation that has failed to adapt fully to a changing world.
You have to admire the guy for being able to use the phrase in public without pulling a Harvey Korman. Of course, the real test is whether you can say "Gallic military prowess"... Posted by Orrin Judd at June 8, 2005 9:57 PM
OJ:
Until recently, I have not been as negative about the future of the Euro as you have been. However, I think history is about to repeat itself. Remember when Mitterand socialized the banks, baloned the budget, etc., on the theory tht he could build socialism in one country? The franc tanked and he had to back off. If France, Germany and Italy don't get serious about reforming their economies, particularly their rigid labor markets, the Euro is going to get trashed sooner or later. The only question I have is: Will Soros get blamed? Delicious prospect.
Posted by: Dan at June 8, 2005 10:06 PMAs long as those guys are losing money.
Posted by: oj at June 8, 2005 11:09 PMHe wants to create jobs, pay toilets w/an attendant.
Worked for East Germany.
Oh, wait....
Posted by: Sandy P. at June 9, 2005 12:21 AMa changing world
A brave new world in which Saddam Hussein can no longer underwrite the French economy.
On the other hand, there is always Iran, and yes, there is Libya.
A changing world.
Posted by: Barry Meislin at June 9, 2005 4:35 AMA succession of 'Gallic geniuses' is what has brought the French >10% unemployment.
This is basically the same as Jim Callaghan, UK prime minister, stepping off a plane on his return from yet another international conference, arriving in a country plagued by strikes and power cuts, producing the immortal line: "Crisis, what crisis?" This is France's 'Jim Callaghan moment'. The result in the UK was the collapse of the socialist party for a generation.
Of course, as in the case of Mitterand's being forced to backtrack over nationalization and what they might have learned from it, the French never seem to "miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity". Maybe this ability to keep their eyes firmly averted from what economic reality is doing to their living standards is what 'Gallic genius' means.
Posted by: ZF at June 9, 2005 6:56 AMDidn't Gallic genius get them into their present predicament? It sounds like "if we dig faster we'll get out of this hole quicker."
Posted by: Mikey at June 9, 2005 8:43 AMI would feel embarrassed to describe my country as a "suffering, impatient, and angry" nation. I wouldn't feel embarrassed to describe a 2-year old throwing a temper tantrum as suffering, impatient, and angry.
Posted by: John J. Coupal at June 9, 2005 9:57 AMJohn:
I believe you've hit upon the perfect battle cry for the DNC... "We're the suffering, impatient and angry party, and we need you're support."
Posted by: Dave W. at June 9, 2005 1:03 PM