World-wide Vote for the next US President?

[jrandom]

The French are a pragmatic people with enough knowledge of history to know that their day would come...

I think just about EVERYBODY in this thread so far has displayed a certain amount of programmed prejudice and mis-informed assumption.

Perhaps we could just set up a roster for borrowing my abovementioned book, and then get back to Bush-bashing.

[Hoon]

Did you guys know that when King George 1st (daddy bush) was in charge
Dick Cheney was Sec of Defence,
He Orderd Colin Powell to draw up plans to Nuke Baghdad
I would hate to see him in charge

Did you know that George Bush Snr was in a meeting with Osama Bin Ladens half brother on the morning of Sept 11th? It is speculated that Bin Ladens Oil Rich Saudi family have invested millions into George Bushs Oil companies, hence the reason Bush safely ushered 24 members of Bin ladens family out of the US 2 days after 9/11.

Its all about the oil!! George Bush Snr was after it and now so is his son.

[riffer]

That's a bit harsh! How many times have the French "surrendered" in the manner you outline? Once, perhaps? And what choice did they have when faced with the German onslaught? I guess they could have put up some token resistance and had their cities bombed flat as a result. The French are a pragmatic people with enough knowledge of history to know that their day would come...

Interestingly, when Google first got big about 7 years ago I typed my name into it (as you do) to see what would come up.

Turns out I had a namesake who was a pivotal figure in the Jewish Community in Paris, who had the unmitigated gall to try and persuade the local people to rise up against the German actions just before the war started.

Unfortunately for him, when the Germans arrived he, his wife and children, were all strung up for their troubles...

[jrandom]

Interestingly, when Google first got big about 7 years ago I typed my name into it (as you do) to see what would come up.

My most interesting namesake appears to be the head of marketing from some poncy jewellery design outfit in Brazil.

Funnily enough, I think he's my third (or thereabouts) cousin. I have no idea whether he knows that he has relatives in this part of the Southern Hemisphere.

[MikeL]

I think just about EVERYBODY in this thread so far has displayed a certain amount of programmed prejudice and mis-informed assumption.

It's very disappointing to see the sad old anti-French stereotypes trotted out time after time. British dislike of the French is deeply ingrained (and reciprocated) for quite understandable historical reasons, but it would be good to put aside prejudices and look at the facts a bit more objectively. The French situation in 1939 was militarily and politically complex enough not to warrant the easy accusation of cowardly capitulation. Let's not forget the fact that had Germany proved superior our textbooks would now be referring to the patriotic Mosely and the traitor Churchill...

[jrandom]

The French situation in 1939 was militarily and politically complex enough not to warrant the easy accusation of cowardly capitulation.

Once again, drawing from Mr Churchill's history, and as already commented on here, by 1939 the French had little or no choice in the matter.

The *British* were, in fact, primarily responsible for that situation, due to their strenuous efforts towards disarmament of the Allies over the 20 years prior.

[Hitcher]

(Hobby horse waits patiently for apology to the French people for "surrender monkey" comment)

[jrandom]

(Hobby horse waits patiently for apology to the French people for "surrender monkey" comment)

"Nous avons la ligne de Maginot, et trois cents types différents de fromage! Nous sommes invincibles!"

[Hitcher]

"Nous avons la ligne de Maginot, et trois cents types différents de fromage! Nous sommes invincibles!"

"Parlez franglais et le monde is votre oyster!"

[Coldkiwi]

France, perhaps. Maybe.

I'm not going to have a big detailed thrash about it here; suffice to say, I think you could stand to be better informed.

I'll probably splash out soon and actually *buy* the copy of WC's book that I've been sneaking off to Borders to read for the last few weekends. Wanna borrow it once I'm done? He has a very readable turn of phrase.

aww J, thats a bit dissapointing given the old french humour threadcomments you made!

I'd love to borrow it. I've heard WC was quite the naughty boy in many ways.. I'd be interested to hear his views.

[Coldkiwi]

It's very disappointing to see the sad old anti-French stereotypes trotted out time after time. British dislike of the French is deeply ingrained (and reciprocated) for quite understandable historical reasons, but it would be good to put aside prejudices and look at the facts a bit more objectively. The French situation in 1939 was militarily and politically complex enough not to warrant the easy accusation of cowardly capitulation. Let's not forget the fact that had Germany proved superior our textbooks would now be referring to the patriotic Mosely and the traitor Churchill...

Mike, you do remember posting this right?

And BTW before you get so smug about Anglo-Saxon military prowess, do you really think Britain would have held out against Nazi Germany indefinitely if the Yanks hadn't entered the war, and got the bomb first?

i'm getting mixed messages from you boys! Needless to say, I'm mainly dissappointed that I can't even have a light hearted go at the french without an apology being demanded! (unless you're French Hitcher, in which case I will back off... otherwise they're fair game)

methinks Political Correctness is getting WAAAAAY out of hand in this country

[Coldkiwi]

Try this link CK

ahhhh! interesting reading! (no wonder America has some unique social issues)

From reading that, Gerald Ford clearly seems to qualify as a 'bad man'. But he doesn't seem to come across as stupid. Crooked as a dogs hing leg, quite possibly! I still reckon Dubya has the title

[Coldkiwi]

Perhaps we could just set up a roster for borrowing my abovementioned book, and then get back to Bush-bashing.

the sad part is, its all true!

[Kickaha]

nonetheless, France and Britain would've both been lost to the Germans in ww2 if the americans had not joined in. The French, after all, are the cheese eating surrender monkeys of the world!

Well France was lost but only temporarily and even if the US hadn't entered the war in Europe I doubt Britain would have been successfully invaded as there was a bit of a distraction involving Russia going on.

[jrandom]

aww J, thats a bit dissapointing given the old french humour thread comments you made!

My comments were intentionally tongue-in-cheek, there.

And I really must admit to learning quite a bit from a few hours spent reading the details of what actually went on. I now have an Opinion on the sociopolitical precursors to WW2.

I'd love to borrow it.

I'll PM you when I own it and have finished chewing in a week or two's time.

I've heard WC was quite the naughty boy in many ways.. I'd be interested to hear his views.

Well, it *is* more of a history than an autobiography. Quite factual, not much invective or opinion. It's about the war, not the author.