Comments on: French Parliamentary elections update

By: Doug M.

Doug M. — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 16:38:11 +0000

“Of the 190 or so countries in the world, he is considered black in precisely one – the United States, of course.”

That’s not only wrong, it’s pompously wrong.

I can assure you from firsthand experience — if Tiger walked down a street in Japan, he’d be identified not as a fellow Asian, but as a “doo-jin”.

China or Korea, same-same.

Doug M.

By: Don Quijote

Don Quijote — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 16:55:35 +0000

It is disappointing that even a British publication like The Independent falls victim to America’s bizaare definition of race. Barack Obama is only half black.

The vast majority of African-Americans are part European. http://www.genome.org – 624.pdf

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:31:34 +0000

This family history, coupled with a gentle manner and a political message of reconciliation and healing, make Mr Obama one of a select group of blacks – Tiger Woods and Colin Powell are two others that come to mind – who transcend race. Whites do not feel threatened by them. Rather they make Americans feel good about themselves and a society in which this sort of ascent is possible.

It is disappointing that even a British publication like The Independent falls victim to America’s bizaare definition of race. Barack Obama is only half black. For the most part, he was raised by his white maternal grandparents (in Hawaii, one place where America’s normal concept of race does not apply), with his black father playing little role in his life beyond that of semen depositor. Tiger Woods? He’s only one-quarter black, and in fact is half Asian. Of the 190 or so countries in the world, he is considered black in precisely one – the United States, of course.

By: JLS

JLS — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 11:58:44 +0000

I totally agree with the previous post.
Sarkozy has choose people either :
-not belonging to UMP, so no support from the party.
- People unkown
- With little political experience.
All the power will go to Sarkozy/Fillon.
It looks like in 1995 with Chirac/Juppé.

JLS.

By: Snurf

Snurf — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 10:12:36 +0000

One very important caveat that should be added to the above article: this is Nicolas Sarkozy’s government.

He has shuffled and re-shuffled the various ministerial responsibilities, in such a way that it is quite clear the autonomy of the different ministries are now close to zero. In other words, he is the boss, he is in charge and he will decide.

Which means that, heart-warming stories of French success aside, his ministers will be expected to obey and shut up. As M. Chevenement once said: “A minister shuts up and do as he is told, or he quits”. Given the strong personalities of some of these ministers, I expect a couple of them to quit pretty early on. The right may promotes a couple of people from the minorities when it suits its purposes, but I am not so sure these people will stay in place for long.