Bush finds new ally in French candidate

[Joanne98]

By Tom Hundley
Tribune foreign correspondent
Published January 14, 2007
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0701140383jan14,1,2707611.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

PARIS -- Improbable as it sounds today, by the time President Bush is rounding out his final term in office, his closest European ally and new best friend could be the president of France.

Nicolas Sarkozy, who on Sunday will clinch the ruling center-right party's nomination for the presidency, is an unabashed admirer of America. If Sarkozy can hold off Socialist Party candidate Segolene Royal in what is expected to be a tight contest this spring, the sour relations between the U.S. and France will undoubtedly sweeten.


Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who has paid a heavy price in the opinion polls for his chumminess with Bush, already has declared that this will be his final year in office. Gordon Brown, chancellor of the exchequer and Blair's all-but-certain successor, has said he will maintain Britain's "special relationship" with the U.S., but on a personal level the dour Scot is likely to keep his distance from Bush.

"New best friend" might be overstating it a bit, but David Martinon, Sarkozy's foreign policy adviser, says his boss' affection for the U.S. is genuine.

"I see a lot of American diplomats, politicians and journalists these days and I am telling them, yes, Nicolas Sarkozy is a friend of America. He admires American culture. He has no problem with money or success or working hard," Martinon said.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0701140383jan14,1,2707611.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

Look out France. Here comes the fascists!

[Greeby]

1. Let this get some play in France before the election

Knowing that Sarkozy is Shrub's man ought to put Segolene Royal over the top



:loveya:

[Joanne98]

2. That's why I posted this. Let the French know he loves Bush...

BEFORE the election.

[marmar]

3. Vive la Segolene....

Bush's "surge" ought to be Sarkozy's swan song.

[hatrack]

4. I always thought that he and Le Pen would have a lot in common . . .

NT

[IndianaGreen]

5. Sarkozy is the French version of Italy's Silvo Berlusconi

All the fascists of the world are having a love fest!

Vive Royal!

[Joanne98]

8. That's what he sounds like.

[onehandle]

6. "Le Poodle" nt

[Joanne98]

7. Good one LOL!

:)

[BayCityProgressive]

9. Le Nazi Shitbag

God, I hope the French choose the socialist over this pile of horse shit.

[hogwyld]

10. Here's hoping that this little nugget of news

Is enough to put Royal over the top. Save the France we all know and love.