tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9077113549693847021.post2876691641427134948..comments2008-03-17T00:14:19.859-04:00Comments on French Politics: A Dispiriting Victory for the LeftArthur Goldhammerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09634231576951069721noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9077113549693847021.post-60564873919108601282008-03-17T00:14:00.000-04:002008-03-17T00:14:00.000-04:00I have to contradict you here Gregory. It is impos...I have to contradict you here Gregory. It is impossible for the Senate to swing to the left in the fall, if only because only a third of it is renewed then.And the system is so tiered and complicated that every leftist victory is diluted.But it is more than likely the left will increase its presence in the Senate and the Senatorial elections to watch are in three years where it will start gettingBenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12733045998459276672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9077113549693847021.post-51714009444847949202008-03-16T21:51:00.000-04:002008-03-16T21:51:00.000-04:00Another reasons to see this as a significant win f...Another reasons to see this as a significant win for the Left -- the additional departmental councils and municipal councils under its control may be able to swing the senate to the left in the fall.gregory brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18134369477938162419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9077113549693847021.post-89667172032874409582008-03-16T20:41:00.000-04:002008-03-16T20:41:00.000-04:00Btw, my "balls" comment was a remark about the lac...Btw, my "balls" comment was a remark about the lack of courage of Socialist leaders when it comes to original thinking and bold stances on issues.It was not a sexist jab at Ms Royal.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12733045998459276672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9077113549693847021.post-15968088457871824452008-03-16T19:40:00.000-04:002008-03-16T19:40:00.000-04:00ARt, I suspect you posted this early in the evenin...ARt, I suspect you posted this early in the evening. The Left picked up several other major cities, gained seats in the Paris city council, and didn't really "lose" Marseilles in the sense that a UMP incumbent won. As for turnout, two things to keep in mind -- turnout was low in a lot of places where the races were not in doubt, and I read at least one comment (albeit early in the evening) that gregory brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18134369477938162419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9077113549693847021.post-57176302159920195132008-03-16T19:11:00.000-04:002008-03-16T19:11:00.000-04:00【 Japanese opinion of Tibet problem 】Nazis Germany...【 Japanese opinion of Tibet problem 】Nazis Germany in the middle of the 20th century has acquired international confidence by holding the Olympics. This history tries to be repeated by a Chinese government now. The slaughter that a Chinese army is doing in Tibet resembles the act where Nazis Germany went to the Jew closely. Therefore, we Japanese do not support participation in Beijing Olympics Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9077113549693847021.post-14909767657281636792008-03-16T18:13:00.000-04:002008-03-16T18:13:00.000-04:00I don't think "dispiriting" is the right word at a...I don't think "dispiriting" is the right word at all.The PS has won between 30 and 40 new cities and Marseille (and arguably the 5th arrondissement) are the only high-profile semi-surprising disappointments.I had to laugh listening to the UMP surrogates spinning tonight though. While they all very disciplined and gave the same series of talking points, one of those was that "People are getting Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12733045998459276672noreply@blogger.com