Saturday, May 05, 2007

Ségolène's long weekend

"The Passion of Joan of Arc" - Carl Theodore Dreyer (1928)
David Seaton's News Links
It looks pretty grim for Ségolène right now. The only surprise would be if there is a "hidden" vote.

Imagine how difficult it would be for any poll taker to interview a statistically significant number of Arab corner boys... What if they all turn out to vote?

Win or lose Sarkozy may have created his own monster. Any cynical conservative (that is not an oxymoron) would probably be much happier to have young French Muslims riot periodically and burn a lot of parked cars (rich folks don't park in the street) than have les beur turn out en masse to vote as a block.

It is said that Muslims now make up 10% of the French population. French Muslims, their parents and grandparents come from many different countries of origin and speak many different dialects and come in many colors.
Giving a political focus to that demographic weight is not easy... However Sarkozy's referring to them as "scum" and promising to pressure hose them off the street like so much dog poop may have done the trick.

If they do feel the power of their vote now and in the coming legislative elections this summer, then the political map of France will have changed forever and so will Europe's relation to the Muslim world from here on out. DS

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