” 70 percent of farmers voted no, despite the fact that France is the largest recipient of European Union farm subsidies – $11.7 billion euros in 2004, or one-fifth of the Union’s agricultural budget.

Public-sector and blue-collar workers and the unemployed, all low-pay groups vulnerable in a country with more than 10 percent unemployment, voted no by large margins, between 60 and 79 percent.

Although most of the Socialist Party hierarchy lobbied in favor of the constitution, 56 percent of Socialist voters rejected it. On the political extremes, 98 percent of the Communist Party and 93 percent of the extreme right National Front voted no.

Paris and Lyon, France’s two biggest cities, and pro-European regions like Alsace, Brittany and the Loire Valley voted yes, while rural France and smaller cities and towns voted no. Most surprisingly, 55 percent of young people from the ages of 18 to 25 rejected the constitution, underscoring the lack of trust in the future of France.”

Chirac’s presumed political wisdom has to be questioned after this report from the Times.

“De Villepin is considered the front-runner, but he is not liked by much of the French political establishment, including deputies in Parliament, who consider him distant from the people and complain that he does not bother to consult them.

A CSA opinion poll for France 3 television showed that Mr. Sarkozy, the most popular politician on the right, was the public’s choice with 25 percent of voters wanting him to become prime minister. Only 11 percent favor Mr. De Villepin.”

Ah yes! Gallant little Belgium.

Comes the day, I believe they’ll be sprouting all over Brussels.

Of course you know it was all America’s fault,the French who had fought in the American revolutionary War went back home to find that they were in a far worse social position than those living in America.In France they were still serfs.

Copuld the guillotine be located in Brussels, not the same I know,but handier?

Dateline – Paris – 2008

A modern day Madame LaFarge sat placidly knitting in the shadow of the guillotine as the tumbrel bearing Chirac and DeVillepin approached the Place de Concorde…

What a frisson of anticipation is created just in thinking of Paris in 1789.

The EU was designed by 19th century men to solve an early 20th century problem.There is not the remotest chance of there ever being another war like WWI or WWII in Europe,unless the Russians decided to roll over a feeble EU.The world has changed immeasurabley since the time of Monnet and Schuman,the middlec lasses are much larger,unless they can be coopted or bribed they will not stand for an elite controlling the every deyail of their lives,socialism or no.It is all so very 1789.

1.) Raffarin out, de Villepin in.

2.) Chirac on TV Tuesday to address the nation.

3.) A generally positive spin despite the “non” vote. The French elites proclaiming “we vote again in 2006 or 7.”

4.) French “non” vote is anti globalisation, anti free market.

Quick Smart Ass American Analysis:

1.) De Villepin has not been elected to office EVER. Poets don’t shake hands.

2.) Blah, blah, oui, non, blah, blah, moi, moi.

3.) Has anyone heard about democracy? These referendums do not go into extra innings.

4.) France can just seal off its borders and not let in the outside world to achieve a closed market economy. Silly unrealistic Sorbonne Left Bank musing.

…predicted France would become more euro-sceptical and a “prickly negotiating partner” in the decisions facing Europe this year, including the start of membership talks with Turkey.”

Become??