I would be pleasantly surprised by that as I expect Le Pen to pull this out like Trump.Barring a catastrophe, Macron should win this handily.
Trying to draw parallels between Macron-Le Pen and Clinton-Trump (or Brexit) makes little sense. Obviously anything could happen and she could win but the situation isn't comparable. Brexit/Trump were slight underdogs, while Le Pen really needs a miracle.I would be pleasantly surprised by that as I expect Le Pen to pull this out like Trump.
Depends on where in France. In Toulon (with LOTS of Maghreb immigrants), FN is not poison. In 2015, the FN did well in the far south and the (post-)industrial northeast.Le Pen has stepped down from the leadership post of the Front National. Probably a Hail Mary. She knows the FN name is poison among mainstream voters.
I would be astounded, and, FWIW, I wasn't astounded when Trump won. I always saw it as a possibility. I don't really see LePen as a possibility, even if the Islamists try to help things along with more attacks...Depends on where in France. In Toulon (with LOTS of Maghreb immigrants), FN is not poison. In 2015, the FN did well in the far south and the (post-)industrial northeast.
But I agree with your assessment overall. The left in France (and the general French population) makes the left in the US look like a bunch of panty-wastes. They've got communists in the Senate for Pete's sake.
I would not bet much on Le Pen winning round 2.
In some areas they do well, but I wouldn't be entirely shocked if Le Pen loses in a margin similar to her father. This is a move to distance her name from the FN, hoping to pick some mainstream voters. Good luck with that, as the Le Pen name is intrinsically tied to the FN.Depends on where in France. In Toulon (with LOTS of Maghreb immigrants), FN is not poison. In 2015, the FN did well in the far south and the (post-)industrial northeast.
They operate on a very different paradigm over there. Our far left would probably be a centrist party to them, and phrases like right-wing liberal are not oxymorons.But I agree with your assessment overall. The left in France (and the general French population) makes the left in the US look like a bunch of panty-wastes. They've got communists in the Senate for Pete's sake.
I would not bet much on Le Pen winning round 2.
Yah, when I told my French friends Sanders had "absolutely zero chance of winning" the presidency they asked why - he's fairly centrist by their standards.They operate on a very different paradigm over there. Our far left would probably be a centrist party to them, and phrases like right-wing liberal are not oxymorons.
The difference between the US and France .... Americans had a revolution due to (in large part relatively small) British taxation. The French protest in the streets to beg for higher taxes.Yah, when I told my French friends Sanders had "absolutely zero chance of winning" the presidency they asked why - he's fairly centrist by their standards.
well, that and they don't take kindly to being offered cakeThe difference between the US and France .... Americans had a revolution due to (in large part relatively small) British taxation. The French protest in the streets to beg for higher taxes.
They have a different world view than most Americans. Neither is better, just different. They value community, sharing wealth for the betterment of society, etc, while we Americans tend to lean more towards individualism. Neither are absolutes.The difference between the US and France .... Americans had a revolution due to (in large part relatively small) British taxation. The French protest in the streets to beg for higher taxes.
Even the most beautiful chocolate cake from a kitchen with pretty easily avoidable health code violations?well, that and they don't take kindly to being offered cake
and they can cook like nobody's businessThey have a different world view than most Americans. Neither is better, just different. They value community, sharing wealth for the betterment of society, etc, while we Americans tend to lean more towards individualism. Neither are absolutes.
And for the record, the French Revolution was similar to our own.
My wife loves to cook. First gift I ever bought her was Julia Child's The Art of French Cooking. I outdid myself there. The good vibes continue to this day. :cool2:and they can cook like nobody's business
I think Burke would have been surprised by that assessment.And for the record, the French Revolution was similar to our own.
They certainly do love their collectivism and all the government waste that comes with it, and they are welcome to that foolishness.They have a different world view than most Americans. Neither is better, just different. They value community, sharing wealth for the betterment of society, etc, while we Americans tend to lean more towards individualism. Neither are absolutes.
Well, the big difference is that the Americans were fighting for the rights that they should have had as British subjects - representative government, free-ish markets, etc. In this sense, the American experience was not a revolution. We weren't looking to completely overthrow the social order. The French did not have democratic traditions at the time. They were fighting for something they never had by trying to overthrow the monarchy, the nobility, and even the Church. The lack of transition is usually dangerous. The result was not an American or British style government. They got the Reign of Terror. And then they got Napoleon. Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France is a good critique of the French revolution.And for the record, the French Revolution was similar to our own.