Al Gore is famous for shoe eating. Seems that every time he makes a statement, something happens in the world and he ends up sticking both feet in his mouth. You can almost predict the news and world events by what Al says. Now, Joe Biden has pulled a "Gore." Last week, he commented that the world has no respect and no confidence in America, that because of President Bush's policies and "disastrous" handling of Iraq and the economy, America could not be held in regard. The world, clearly, according to Biden, has lost confidence in the United States.
So, what could this possibly have to do with the election results in France? Lots, actually. Consider:
Under Chirac, France could never be considered a friend to the United States. It was Chirac, after all, who fed information to Saddam Hussein regarding America's war plan, prior to the invasion. He also illegally established, along with Russia, the largest monetary contracts with Iraq, in direct violation of U.N. sanctions. Segolene Royal, if elected, would have surely followed in his footsteps as the next French Socialist Bush-hater. Well, she lost. Nicolas Sarkozy, a Conservative and vocal supporter of America, won, which means only this: The previous hateful voice in France came from Chirac and his power elite. With this election, the PEOPLE of France have spoken in support of needed change and in support of America and conservatism.
With the change of political direction in France, the movement toward conservatism is growing, not waning, worldwide. Consider the fact that Germany recently elected Angela Merkel, who some refer to as "the German Thatcher." Germany and France were two of the strongest detractors of the United States' efforts in the war on terror. Australia, a staunch supporter of the Coalition effort, was predicted to oust John Howard to send the world a message: "America and the Coalition are wrong!" He won in a landslide. Canada, too, seems to have moved from its very liberal stance to a far more moderate one in the wake of its last elections.
There are a couple other points worth making:
Part of the Royal defeat was the fact that women did not support her. This ought to be a message to Hillary: Don't assume, like you did with blacks, that you automatically get the "female vote." Rather, it seems that that voting block is becoming ever more conservative.
Segolene Royal, on the eve of the election and in order to create a sense of fear, warned that if Sarkozy won the election, there would be riots. The fact that she was right only proves one thing: When liberals don't get their way, they're the first to get violent. They are like children who get told "no" by a parent.
Perhaps the greatest lesson of all is this: The most aggressive, spiteful haters of America are not the French people, the German people or the Canadian people.
The greatest America-haters are liberal Americans.
Tim Hirota