Sarko vs Sego and the future of Europe

Though you might not think the outcome of the French elections will have any direct affect on this country (and you're right, it won't), I'm convinced it will have a direct affect on whether radical Islam continues to spread and grow throughout Europe. And, although you might think "who cares what happens in France?", I counter, we should care what happens to our friends over in Europe, because whatever happens in Europe will have an indirect and possibly direct affect on this country, down the line. (Remember, we're a global village, dependent upon each other.)

I know there are those who feel that the threat of radical Islam is just an alarmist, overreaction by the conservative hysterics of the world, but it is a reality. Perhaps not an overtly serious one in our lifetime, but it certainly will be in that of our children's, if things don't change. Our lives have already been irreversibly altered by 9/11. The way we travel, what we say, what we do. We are starting to live in fear of offending the sensibilities of a group of overly religious, overly sensitive people who find dogs and pigs abhorrent, and who expect us to conform to their way of life, and that's where I draw the line. It's a major problem that isn't going to disappear simply because we wish it so. This isn't a Tinkerbell predicament that is easily solved by enough people 'thinking' it away. It needs to be dealt with by strong leaders who refuse to cave into the unreasonable whims and demands of Muslim populations that shun western society by refusing to assimilate and become productive members of their host country. The Islamists have a plan, perhaps not a co-ordinated one, but a plan nonetheless, of rebuilding the Caliphate. If you don't believe me, watch the video below, in their own words. And there are hundreds, probably thousands more like this out there. On YouTube, MEMRI TV, and elsewhere on the net.




Like the upcoming U.S. election, the candidates in France are polar opposites on the political spectrum: right versus left. The strongest choice for France is undoubtedly conservative Nicolas Sarkozy, who is trying to change the 'status quo' in the bloated welfare state called France. He wants to implement strong workplace reforms, like upping the 35 hour work week, and not taxing over-time pay, as an incentive for increased work productivity. As Interior Minister, he reacted very strongly against the Muslim Paris riots. He's tough on crime, illegal immigration, drunk driving, wants tougher sentencing laws for repeat offenders. It all sounds great to me, but I'm not French. And it's exactly because of all these changes that he is not much liked by, you guessed it, all those who cleave to the welfare system like leaches to a fat leg.

Madame Segolene "Socialist" Royal, on the other hand, seems to think the status quo is fine, with perhaps some fine-tuning, and pretty much wants to add to the welfare bloat which, of course, is popular with those who don't have the inclination to get out there and work for a living. The French, that I know, are sick and tired of being heavily taxed, and subsidizing those who refuse to assimilate.

So, needless to say, the campaign trail has been down and dirty. No surprise, with so much at stake. (It's probably what we can look forward to in 2008.) Sarkozy has been demonized by the left, and la Royal even stooped so low as to predict a violent backlash if Sarkozy is chosen as Prez:

"It is my responsibility today to alert people to the risk of (his) candidature with regards to the violence and brutality that would be unleashed in the country (if he won)," she said. Pressed on whether there would actually be violence, Royal said: "I think so, I think so," referring specifically to France's volatile suburbs hit by widespread rioting in 2005.

Looks like she is trying to win the vote through fear-mongering and veiled threats. Way to go, Segolene. We know who's going to vote for her.

Although Sarkozy isn't a fan of the Iraq War he is pro-U.S. and pro-West. Royal, with her many diplomatic gaffes, has aligned herself with the likes of Hezbollah by condoning a remark made by Ali Amman (a Lebanese Hezbollah politician) claiming Israel is a Nazi state. In Beijing, she told Chinese officials that France could learn lessons from the Chinese justice system (Ha!). In Canada, she caused an uproar when she claimed she supported the "sovereignty and liberty of Quebec." She later backtracked on some of those comments, but who needs that kind of stupidity as head of state, and if she does become the next French President, my bets are that France, with the largest Muslim population in Europe, will be the first to cave.

At least we have some in Europe who realize the risks involved in having a weak government. Germany, thankfully, picked a strong leader in Angela Merkel, who on a recent trip to Israel (unlike Royal), refused to co-operate with the Palestinian propaganda machine.

I hope for their sakes the French choose the right candidate, and I mean 'right'.