Chirac leaves a bad taste in everyone’s mouth these days, but even in ’95 he was only to be celebrated as a preference to a worse fate, in the way that death by hanging may be preferable to death by flaying. May he rot in prison when he leaves office.

Madelin had this to say about the “Constitution”: “L’ancien ministre de l’Economie a indiqué sur France Info que le 29 mai, il donnerait “a priori un oui de résignation” au traité constitutionnel.” Rather pathetic “yes”, in other words.

There are those more in tune with real libéralisme in France these days than Madelin. Take a look at turgot.org or ifrap.org, for example. Or if you’re looking for one of the august elder statesmen, see here.

“… how is all this related to European referendum?”

It isn’t. It does, however, answer your question: “… what is exactly your point on a Federal judge? Please elaborate.”

Be careful what you ask for. :)

Sulaiman:

The “Federal judge” comment was aimed at the tendency of certain judges, “activist judges”, to bend the Constitution to whatever meaning matches their political will, “legislating from the bench” in essence.

They use phrases such as “Constitutional penumbra” and “living document” to justify the wide reach of their legal interpretations.*

Their opponents are called “strict constructionalists” and believe the only legitimate way to change what the Constitution means is via amendment.

* Except for the Second Amendment — oddly when it comes to “Constitutional penumbras” our right to bear arms is invisible.

What’s going on with the liberals these days ? Back then Madelin was the figurehead.

A French term for a member of the nomenklatura. I prefer the Russian, the Soviet origin of the term gives it a more precise edge.

If there is to be a single state of Europe, with a single constitution, then 1). each country will eventually give up its national identity and 2). there will be no limit on companies, jobs and people moving around and diluting the economic and cultural relationships that each heretofore soverign state has had.

The French nomenklatura, thought nothing of these issues. They assumed that they would be on the horse riding it. Their belief in the superiority and rationality of French culture is unshakeable.

The lower orders are terrified, they have seen the muslim invasion and the crime and social chaos that it has spawned, they know how vulnerable their 35 hour/wk 46 wk/yr sinecures are. They wanted to stand athwart history and yell stop. And they did.

Those of us who are anglo-saxon, and even worse chicago boys, understand that the EU’s real problem is its insufficent liberalism. The French lower orders are as hysterically afraid of liberalism and what it would do them and their culture, as the most millitant islamist. And they are not wrong, although on a human level they want for courage and faith.

But who cares, really? If it means in some general way “conservative who supports Bush and his war and is pro-capitalism”, that is pretty accurate.

All is forgiven for quoting me accurately to a big audience I could never have reached on my own.

As my grandfather used to say, call me what you want, but call me for dinner. Call me what you want, but spread my views — that works, too.

Religio-political identity belongs to the killing fields of the Middle East, not 21st century America.

I pointed out that since I’m not Jewish and have always been a conservative, if one was going to use labels, at least know what you’re talking about.

That term was deliberately chosen to label and discredit you. That term’s been used for a couple of years now and you know what image it’s supposed to create.

…France’s Mainstream Media, however, will always be tainted by this campaign. Rarely has the media been so united in its activism – a yes vote was urged, both blatantly and obliquely, by pretty much every outlet. Some journalists on state television even started a petition to complain about bias – an unprecedented event in French broadcasting. Along with the build up to the invasion of Iraq and the presidential run-off between Jean-Marie Le Pen and Chirac, the referendum will be remembered as a disturbing example of Soviet-style uniformity among France’s supposedly independent press and broadcasters.

The media’s inability to persuade will probably disturb its members more than its uniformity. For six months it has supported the nation’s cultural, political and (a rare one, here) business elite in highlighting the importance of the constitution and France’s position at the heart of Europe. France, for once, didn’t listen. A sobering thought for many editors and broadcasters this morning….

Altavista’s babelfish for free, rough translations, if anyone is interested.

If you really want to get an eyeful, I can’t recommend Rantburg enough.

But you need to know your stuff.

—

So, Lex, she labeled you “neoconservative” right out of the gate, eh?

when one has to name-call, especially since you’re not Jewish, IIRC…..

Oh, well, she’s a “journalist,” she’s bound to get her facts wrong.