Comments on: 90 minutes to convince - where 12 months have not http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/90-minutes-to-convince-where-12-months-have-not/ Tim King on French politics Sat, 17 May 2008 05:14:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Tim http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/90-minutes-to-convince-where-12-months-have-not/#comment-40856 Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:59:34 +0000 http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/90-minutes-to-convince-where-12-months-have-not/#comment-40856 What strikes me as odd is that someone says "Yes I've made mistakes", but then instead of saying" and so here's my new programme revised in the light of those mistakes" says "nevertheless I shall carry on as before". He did say that some details will change: he will sanction those ministers who step out of line. But his policies remain. Then the next day down in Monte Carlo he re-opens the Mediterranean Union theme which a) was never mentioned in the TV debate and b) had been settled when he agreed with Angela Merkel to water it down to a piece of EU (i.e. not French) business. Merely as an up-date on the post, for those who do not know: the viewing figures for the interview were almost half (62%) what they were for Sarkozy's previous big TV intervention in November: 11.7 million instead of nearly 19. That seems to be me very indicative: since his re-marriage a lot of people have lost interest in him. Saturday's opinion poll suggests that only 36% of those who did watch were convinced by his arguments. Up till now he's never been better than when his back's to the wall - but even that talent seems to be deserting him now. What strikes me as odd is that someone says “Yes I’ve made mistakes”, but then instead of saying” and so here’s my new programme revised in the light of those mistakes” says “nevertheless I shall carry on as before”. He did say that some details will change: he will sanction those ministers who step out of line. But his policies remain. Then the next day down in Monte Carlo he re-opens the Mediterranean Union theme which a) was never mentioned in the TV debate and b) had been settled when he agreed with Angela Merkel to water it down to a piece of EU (i.e. not French) business.

Merely as an up-date on the post, for those who do not know: the viewing figures for the interview were almost half (62%) what they were for Sarkozy’s previous big TV intervention in November: 11.7 million instead of nearly 19. That seems to be me very indicative: since his re-marriage a lot of people have lost interest in him. Saturday’s opinion poll suggests that only 36% of those who did watch were convinced by his arguments. Up till now he’s never been better than when his back’s to the wall - but even that talent seems to be deserting him now.

]]> by: Craig McGinty http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/90-minutes-to-convince-where-12-months-have-not/#comment-40561 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:54:04 +0000 http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/90-minutes-to-convince-where-12-months-have-not/#comment-40561 Must agree that the 'performance' from the mainstream media was pitiful, thank goodness there are at least some questioning voices amongst the French media like Rue89, Canard Enchaine and MediaPart. Must agree that the ‘performance’ from the mainstream media was pitiful, thank goodness there are at least some questioning voices amongst the French media like Rue89, Canard Enchaine and MediaPart.

]]> by: J'ai pas de titre http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/90-minutes-to-convince-where-12-months-have-not/#comment-40554 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:19:22 +0000 http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/90-minutes-to-convince-where-12-months-have-not/#comment-40554 I guess if the headlines focus on Sarkozy's apologies, it is because this particular president is not really known for apologizing. But it is a smokescreen in my opinion. He can do that kind of things for 2 hours. Remember his debate with Ségolène Royal. There, he also suppressed all his bad manners during the debate. They came back even more exacerbated when it was over. I guess if the headlines focus on Sarkozy’s apologies, it is because this particular president is not really known for apologizing. But it is a smokescreen in my opinion. He can do that kind of things for 2 hours. Remember his debate with Ségolène Royal. There, he also suppressed all his bad manners during the debate. They came back even more exacerbated when it was over.

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