Sarkozy: French press should taken a lesson from Judith Miller

[PeteyPirate]

A feud over press freedom boils over in France

PARIS: First, President Nicolas Sarkozy's party accused Agence France-Presse of "censorship" for not publishing one of its press releases. Ten days later, the government suggested that the news agency create a service dedicated to publishing press releases.

Press freedom has long been an uneasy subject in France, a country where many newspapers rely on government subsidies and where defense contractors control large swaths of the print and broadcast media.

But the latest episode in a simmering standoff between Sarkozy and French journalists has led to an unusually drawn-out and public confrontation.

"It's rather amusing, even for France," that the government accuses the media of censorship, Pierre Louette, chief executive of AFP, said in an interview by telephone Monday.

 

[Ace]

Now Moddy is going to follow suit and demand the local papers publish his women's squash releases verbatim.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

Stenography rules!

 

[Guy_Incognito]

Off topic, but I find it amusing that back when Bush was popular (hard to remember), the big complaint was that we are losing standing & respect in Europe. Now, his approval rating is in the toilet, and just about every major continental European country has elected a right of center (by their standards) Bush ally.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

Off topic, but I find it amusing that back when Bush was popular (hard to remember), the big complaint was that we are losing standing & respect in Europe. Now, his approval rating is in the toilet, and just about every major continental European country has elected a right of center (by their standards) Bush ally.

The old-time European left has always been off the charts (certainly by U. S. standards), right? What's happening is not an unpalatable reaction.

 

[Boomer7]

Off topic, but I find it amusing that back when Bush was popular (hard to remember), the big complaint was that we are losing standing & respect in Europe. Now, his approval rating is in the toilet, and just about every major continental European country has elected a right of center (by their standards) Bush ally.

Uh, Chirac was right of center by their standards, too.

 

[PeteyPirate]

Also, off topic, but this morning I heard a radio report about the social revolution in France in 1968. I was floored that the people were able to muster the collective will to change their government substantially in a period of four weeks without violence breaking out. The result of that action isn't the best for France today, but I still think it's amazing that they were able to pull it off.

 

[Guy_Incognito]

Off topic, but I find it amusing that back when Bush was popular (hard to remember), the big complaint was that we are losing standing & respect in Europe. Now, his approval rating is in the toilet, and just about every major continental European country has elected a right of center (by their standards) Bush ally.

Uh, Chirac was right of center by their standards, too.

But was a major Bush-hater. Point: They are moving right, and towards Bush & the war as we (the American public) move away from it.

 

[PeteyPirate]

Off topic, but I find it amusing that back when Bush was popular (hard to remember), the big complaint was that we are losing standing & respect in Europe. Now, his approval rating is in the toilet, and just about every major continental European country has elected a right of center (by their standards) Bush ally.

Uh, Chirac was right of center by their standards, too.

But was a major Bush-hater. Point: They are moving right, and towards Bush & the war as we (the American public) move away from it.

Who is starting to just now get excited about the Iraq War?

 

[Guy_Incognito]

Off topic, but I find it amusing that back when Bush was popular (hard to remember), the big complaint was that we are losing standing & respect in Europe. Now, his approval rating is in the toilet, and just about every major continental European country has elected a right of center (by their standards) Bush ally.

Uh, Chirac was right of center by their standards, too.

But was a major Bush-hater. Point: They are moving right, and towards Bush & the war as we (the American public) move away from it.

Who is starting to just now get excited about the Iraq War?

Not what I said. France, Germany & Spain for example have all voted for governments who are cooperating rather than obstructing the war. I find that interesting, as the American electorate seems to go in the other direction.

 

[dooley_womack1]

Surely you're not saying those elections were referenda on Bush.

 

[Guy_Incognito]

Surely you're not saying those elections were referenda on Bush.

Nope, but I think it was some sort of factor. Just saying I think it's an interesting turn of events, and that the calls of Bush flushing American goodwill down the toilet may have been wrong.

 

[dooley_womack1]

Oh, the French are as crabby toward us as ever, and how Spain feels about us is as irrelevant as ever.

 

[Guy_Incognito]

Oh, the French are as crabby toward us as ever.

The shopkeepers? I'm sure. The government? Absolutely not.

 

[dooley_womack1]

Tell you what, get back to me as soon as any other country starts participating to the extent England did. Otherwise, mere incremental slop to make the superpower ally a little happier.

 

[Guy_Incognito]

Tell you what, get back to me as soon as any other country starts participating to the extent England did. Otherwise, mere incremental slop to make the superpower ally a little happier.

Just sayin

 

[alleyallen]

Tell you what, get back to me as soon as any other country starts participating to the extent England did. Otherwise, mere incremental slop to make the superpower ally a little happier.

Just sayin

It's not sayin' much, though. These supposed Bush-leaning new governments haven't leaned far enough to actually do anything in terms of sending troops.

 

[GB-Hack]

Surely you're not saying those elections were referenda on Bush.

Nope, but I think it was some sort of factor. Just saying I think it's an interesting turn of events, and that the calls of Bush flushing American goodwill down the toilet may have been wrong.

And I think you're way off base in estimating the United States importance in overseas elections. There is still very little goodwill towards the current presidency from foreign nations.

The main reason foreign leaders come to the U.S., like Sarkozy or Gordon Brown of Britain, is so the countries people can feel they are still important in the world, and have a strong relationship and the ear of the western superpower.

As Brown said after meeting all three presidential candidates last month: "I am confident that having talked to the three candidates the special relationship between our countries is strong and secure and valued by them."

It's all about maintaining the image of being important on the world stage to the people back home.

 

[Guy_Incognito]

Surely you're not saying those elections were referenda on Bush.

Nope, but I think it was some sort of factor. Just saying I think it's an interesting turn of events, and that the calls of Bush flushing American goodwill down the toilet may have been wrong.

And I think you're way off base in estimating the United States importance in overseas elections. There is still very little goodwill towards the current presidency from foreign nations.

The main reason foreign leaders come to the U.S., like Sarkozy or Gordon Brown of Britain, is so the countries people can feel they are still important in the world, and have a strong relationship and the ear of the western superpower.

As Brown said after meeting all three presidential candidates last month: "I am confident that having talked to the three candidates the special relationship between our countries is strong and secure and valued by them."

It's all about maintaining the image of being important on the world stage to the people back home.

You're probably right about Brown. Merkel, Sarkozy & the spainish guy I think all legitimately like & respect him & the ideas behind (if not the execution of) the war.

 

[GB-Hack]

You mean this Sarkozy?

On February 28, in his most important foreign policy speech to date, Sarkozy barely strayed from the Chirac line. He started by praising Chirac for his leadership on matters of foreign policy, including his "lucidity" in keeping France from entering the war in Iraq, which he called a "historic mistake." When a journalist asked him about his Atlantist reputation, Sarkozy challenged her to "find one text or broadcast where he supported George Bush's actions in Iraq." Speaking about relations with the United States, Sarkozy stated in a very Chirac-like style that France would not be submissive, and he asked his "American friends to let us be free, free to be their friends."