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 Broken Promises From the Divider in ChiefPosted on Jul 9, 2007By E.J. Dionne WASHINGTON—Nicolas Sarkozy was a divisive figure during his campaign for the French presidency, but he’s governing as a uniter, not a divider. George W. Bush ran for president in 2000 promising to ease partisan divisions. He has left our politics a wreck of recrimination, anger and polarization. This weekend, the contrast between Sarkozy and Bush could not have been more conspicuous. From France came word that the center-right president was urging the International Monetary Fund to name Dominique Strauss-Kahn as its managing director. There is no exact American metaphor, but imagine if Bush had pushed for a prominent liberal Democrat—Al Gore or John Kerry, perhaps—to be head of the World Bank. Imagine further that the president had seriously consulted with his political adversaries. Advertisement Sarkozy brushed off Strauss-Kahn’s political affiliation. “Should I deprive France of his candidacy because he is a Socialist?” he was quoted as saying, according to The Associated Press. “How could I be the president of all the French if I reasoned like that?” Cynics say that Sarkozy is trying to weaken the opposition by co-opting some of its best leaders. (He appointed a Socialist as foreign minister.) Francois Hollande, the first secretary of the Socialist Party, said Sunday that Sarkozy is always looking for a new “maneuver” and wondered if his interest in the Strauss-Kahn appointment was primarily about domestic politics. Hollande is right to be skeptical—of course there’s political benefit to Sarkozy in what he’s doing. But seen from the perspective of a sullen, immobilized Washington, Sarkozy’s strategy of reaching out is inspirational. And what of Bush? He chose the post-July 4 weekend to give one of the cheapest, most partisan weekly radio addresses. “Democrats are failing in their responsibility to make tough decisions and spend the people’s money wisely,” Bush said. “This moment is a test.” Those are hollow words from a president who squandered a huge budget surplus. He didn’t seem to mind when the Republican-led Congress let earmarks go wild and couldn’t even get its budget work done last year. Yet here was Bush, accusing Democrats of embracing “the failed tax-and-spend policies of the past,” thus embracing the past’s most dreary rhetoric. And White House spokesman Tony Fratto piled on by blaming the Democratic-controlled Congress for the death of the immigration bill. “We saw this with immigration, and we’re seeing it with some other issues, where Congress is having an inability to take on major challenges,” Fratto said. Fratto did not mention that three-quarters of the senators from Bush’s own party voted to block his immigration bill, while more than two-thirds of the Democrats voted to allow it to move forward. Whose “inability” was that? Bush will be president until Jan. 20, 2009. Are we doomed to 18 months of drift? Instead of sounding like a Republican political consultant, Bush might try to sound like a president who understands that power in Washington—and opinion in the country—shifted after the 2006 elections. The president’s best interest, and the nation’s, would be better served if Bush heeded Sen. Richard Lugar’s call for a new bipartisan approach to Iraq, as some White House advisers are reportedly considering. And instead of offering campaign-trail rhetoric on budget issues, the president could negotiate seriously with Congress. He may still have enough power to fight the Democrats to a standstill and drag their popularity down. But where would that leave us 18 months from now? “I’ve learned you cannot lead by dividing people,” a presidential hopeful said in a June 12, 1999, speech in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, announcing his candidacy. “This country is hungry for a new style of campaign. Positive. Hopeful. Inclusive. A campaign that attracts new faces and new voices. A campaign that unites all Americans toward a better tomorrow.” Forget impeachment. Given how Bush has governed for most of his presidency, can one of those trial lawyers he loathes sue him for product misrepresentation? I suppose Bush’s lawyers would defend him by saying that in 1999, he was talking only about his campaign, not how he’d govern. Still, Sarkozy, the most pro-American French president in a long time, seems to have taken Bush’s earlier words to heart. The 2007 Bush might usefully sit down with Sarkozy over a nice plate of freedom fries to figure out how to do it himself.
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Why Obama’s Strategy Won’t Succeed
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By ocjim, July 11, 2007 at 4:52 pm #
Six years of lies from W. is no revelation. There is no leader more deserving of impeachment than W. Just to name one of the many negatives of W, how much time and money and how many lives have been wasted because too many Americans haven’t had the strength of conviction to know that BushCo would be, is and has been a disaster from the very beginning.
Report thisBy sarahappy, July 11, 2007 at 12:33 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
EJ Dionne compares the incomparable. Naboleon, as he is known in France, is a very clever (short-sighted) politician. Appointing vain members of the PS to prominent (but powerless) positions (their cabinet directors are all hardliners from the right diktatorship), he accelerates the implosion of the PS (Socialist Party - not really Socialist) that began under Jospin (the last decent politician). When Jospin (in fact Holland & the Caviar-PS) refused the 15% Green Party Victory & other non-rightwing parties’ victories, their arrogance peaked. This caused massive resentment against the PS by those who are its historic base.
Jospin lost the first round of the presidential race because of that arrogance! But Holland et al & their love for their comfortable life style, were in fact comforted. Great salary, benefits, no responsibility.
Since then, it has been all downhill for the PS. Culminating in the nomination of one of the most inept right-wing caviar PS for President. That gadget did not fool people enough elect a hypocrite. (For 7 years she refused to PAY HER EMPLOYEES. She was condemned and her appeals thrown out of court.) Arrogance & myopia. A “socialist” cannot NOT PAY her employees. And then “that” wanted to represent the workers! Holland, her husband, screwed around while she tried to seduce the French in her odious, arrogant style.
Prior to the recent elections, The people voted AGAINST the right wing parties. 1-They voted massively AGAINST the right thus for the PS in the European Representatives elections. 2- They voted AGAINST the right and thus 99% PS in the Regional Elections. 3-The people voted against the EU treaty ripoff (anti worker/consumer, double-talked as “constitution”). 4-Corsica voted against Naboleon’s referendum.
These election results prove one undeniable fact. In France, where 95% of the votes are still paper-ballot cast into transparent urns, scrutinized by several dozen eyes, every vote is counted-though the right would love Bush electronic-voting.
There are many cases of voter fraud. Listings are falsified. Several right-wing politicians have been condemned for their actions. But it takes 10 years to go through the courts. Don’t forget that in Europe, ONLY FRANCE has Court Condemned politicians who serve as Ministers (Barnier & Juppé, to name only two).
Politicians cumulate powers: Naboleon is prezzident and a “conseillé général” (a state senator).
By flattering the ex-“leaders” of the PS (dandy Kouchner with his sack of rice on his back, Dandy Jack Lang who sleeps with the media companies, Strauss-Kahn, Vedrine,) and the defectors of the PS (several) he has left a pile of rubble to self-implode. Holland is at the head of an indecisive, no-program group of comfortably positioned, humonguously salaried with expense accounts, privileges and NO RESPONSIBILITY.
Will another party arise to the hopes and desires of those that voted traditionally PS? Can the splinter groups come together as twice before (1981 & 1988) ? Not if Holland and his ex have anything to do with it.
Naboleon is intelligent and shrewd. He is also a danger to democracy and the working class. The tax cuts he is giving to the top 0.01% of the population = 14 Billion Euros… This will be offset by raising the sales tax on basic commodities to 24.6% (highest in EU). New taxes have been introduced on anything to do with computers. That money is to be partially redistributed to his friends in show business.
This IS Bush philosophy. And now he wants France to go to Irak!
Don’t be misled. In pure French Tradition, the people will take to the streets, taxed to death, jobs sent overseas. No political party to challenge the corporate France. Nabo created a Ministry of National Identity - remind you of WW2? Are we heading towards deportations (not “just ‘illegal’ immigrants”) and other horrors from our past?
Report thisBy DennisD, July 10, 2007 at 11:04 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Bu$h League to France, how much further can we f**king fall without hitting rock bottom.
Report this#85536 by THOMAS BILLIS - I agree except that the Founders probably couldn’t have ever conceived of a time when the people of this country would take such little interest in it as to allow the scumbags we have now running it to get away with what they’re doing without hanging them for treason.
The power does really belong to the people but they actually have to give a shit to use it. Whoever thinks that cleaning out the stable in DC every 2,4 or 6 years happens by just throwing fresh straw on the same old shit will change anything is sadly mistaken.
By John C. Bonser, July 10, 2007 at 8:04 pm #
This Administration has governed with malice and untruths. However, it has gotten away with such evil with a great PR machine.
The “decider” has a lazy mind, is very self centered, and consistently needs praise.
Now we must begin to look beyond Bush.
Report thisBy Todd, July 10, 2007 at 7:22 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
“Could anyone with a straight face say that in the six years of this republican congress that they have put aside party politics for the good of the nation.”
Please, it is no difference which party runs any branch of the government, they always put party politics, manuevering and political posturing first, and the good of our nation second.
Think critically people, don’t just sound like a blithering moron.
Report thisBy rage, July 10, 2007 at 12:33 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
The difference here is a brain. Sarkozy has one that allows him the privilege of reason and sanity. Our two-time unelected little jug-eared twit is a literal idiot handpuppet who is regularly fisted by his own dad and DICK Vader.
Report thisBy Inherit The Wind, July 10, 2007 at 11:45 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Pitiful that our politics have fallen SO low that we have to look to France to see effective politicians capable of bipartisan leadership.
France, which has managed to screw up it’s foreign relations consistently from 1870 to the present with only two brief windows by Aristide Briand in the 20’s and Robert Schuman in the 40’s and 50’s.
I have amended my opinion…in the last few months George W. Bush has shown me that he is not one of the worst Presidents ever, competing with James Buchannan and John Tyler, but, is now, simply the worst President ever, by a long shot. Totally incompetent at anything resembling leadership. Totally corrupt. Totally without morals. Totally willing to destroy the Constitution for power. A total traitor to his nation, who professes to “love America” while doing everything he can to destroy what makes it special and a beacon to the world.
Report thisBy Leefeller, July 10, 2007 at 11:04 am #
Making the world cannon fodder for special interests, do they place bets at the White House to see who is wrong? Back slapping cronyism pulling the strings, how many will die today, tomorrow and in the next 18 months. Irrelevant, congress, rule of law, the Constitution and most of all the people. Bush carries out his master plan. Yes, we the irrelevant people will show the White House who is boss in 18 months, when it will start over again.
Report thisBy THOMAS BILLIS, July 10, 2007 at 6:22 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
I do not blame Bush for all the troubles of his administration.James Madison I think said we have idiot proofed the government.Well he thought that no matter which party controlled Congress that they would rise above party politics and think of the good of the nation.Could anyone with a straight face say that in the six years of this republican congress that they have put aside party politics for the good of the nation.
Report thisBy NotSoFast, July 10, 2007 at 5:11 am #
I don’t think we should wish Bush were more politically savvy like Sarkozy. Just as I’m glad he wasn’t articulate like Blair. He’s done so much damage to the nation thus far that I’m willing to suffer him another 18 mos as stubborn and partisan as ever. It would be more powerful than any impeachment to let him remain a blot on the religious right. Let them groan under the weight of legitimizing this oaf with each new subpoena. Keep those 4 million voting Bible thumpers at home. Now, if only there were a good liberal candidate.
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