Getting it right in the US seems nearly impossible, but one will hope that voters there can still see value in decency and block the return of the Clintons. Obama's rhetoric is smoother than Hillary's lies. Europeans believe our children will sleep better with him at the helm there. Now if only the French can depose the Neocon they elected ten months ago. The upcoming municipal elections will put firm measure to their dissatisfaction. Sarkozy and Hillary share much, including the same support pockets along with Bush-McCain: AIPAC.

take your foreign opinion and STICK IT bub

Decency?

What precisely do you, a European, offer for the U.S. to vote as you please?

Is it your support for a complementary monetary policy? (Collusion with the U.S. or China?)

Open trade? (e.g. legalizing (E.U. created) genetically modified foods? More lawsuits/tax on natural monopolies?)

We will listen when you explain the clear benefit between "getting it right in the US" and "European children sleeping better".

Until then, we'll just have to go with our (U.S.) intuition that economic innovation is to be trusted over politics.

Good luck with your own politicians.

It is refreshing to see that there are those who still take the word decency seriously. Nonetheless, the anti-European sentiments expressed by two posters whom seem likely to be Clinton supporters would not be expected from the Obama side.

Re: the comment on OGM food, there seems to be a misunderstanding on the part choozyguy: OGM food product is something the US has tried for years to impose on Europe, particularly the EU, of which Switzerland is not a member. Nonetheless, we would be forced to succumb to it both by our geography and blowing winds if the US strategy os banking on their Neocon in Paris succeeds. Fortunately, Michel Barnier, the erudite French agricultural minister, seems to be trying to manage his master on behalf of the integrity of French and European agor-alimentary interests and integrity. Not all OGM product is essentially evil, but the sight of disproportionate Americans disembarking at European airports unnerves consumers here.

hommesuisse: Getting it right in the US seems nearly impossible, but one will hope that voters there can still see value in decency and block the return of the Clintons. Obama's rhetoric is smoother than Hillary's lies. Europeans believe our children will sleep better with him at the helm there. Now if only the French can depose the Neocon they elected ten months ago. The upcoming municipal elections will put firm measure to their dissatisfaction. Sarkozy and Hillary share much, including the same support pockets along with Bush-McCain: AIPAC. I love Europe. I was under the impression that Europe was more pragmatic and "sophisticated" than us puritanical Americans and not so concerned with decency/dogmatism (which is also why I dig them). Europe's historical legacy is rife with sexual infidelity, blood-lust, imperialism, and, in some cases, sheer insanity, amongst its political leaders (whether monarchical, fascisistic, or democratic). On the other hand, Europe also touts brilliant-but-ambivalent works of philosophy, incredible works of art and architecture (inspired by suffering and the dialectic that informs our mortal coil), and the ability to wear all of humanity's worst impulses on its sleeves with pride. Plus the coffee and beer--yummmmm!

So this post;s appeal for "decency" threw me off a bit. Then I read it for what it is. Please. If we're going to discuss "decency" and AIPAC, I'm going to pull an Obama and say: if it weren't for European "decency" coupled with broad U.N. support, AIPAC would not need American support because it, and Israel, would not exist.

How strange that Sarkozy ran on the same "change" message as Obama. I guess he couldn't live up to his promise. That's neither here nor there, our domestic approval ratings will be left up to our own public. But I'm not sure why Obama's presence in the White House will help you sleep at night. Knowing what you know about Obama's foreign policy approach, can you explain this in more detail?

>>Mercadia. I suggest you look up the word decency in an adult dictionary, as your schoolgirl one has failed you.

Decency refers to "conformity to the recognised standards of propriety, good taste, modesty (as in form or speech), worthiness, honour". "Sex" is not mentioned in the definition in my English dictionary.

The context in which I used it draws from the famous quotation of a lawyer at the McCarthy hearings when he asked the mendacious senator, "Sir, have you no decency?"

As for the Clinton's sexual noise, part of Mrs Clinton's experience was in organising the lies that seemed intended to protect her husband, but more clearly now were designed to protect her. She was the one who saw opportunity in prurience. She cost your government much money, and all around the world we had to explain some rather nasty, unsexual things to our children about your society.

With this result, we will hope for a surprise and see Mr Obama recast his race as an independent. America will not thrive under thsi lady; nor does Mr McCain seem likely to do anything more than empower the monied SUV classes at the expense of your growing underclasses. Mrs Clinton works for her clients. Her clients today are her AIPAC funders, hegemonic multinational corporations, Hollywood, telecoms, and the Cuban American Federation which she recognises as the de facto government in exile.

She carries nothing more than Wikipedia-level knowledge of any issue; she has never demonstrated an interest in principle. That is where my question of her decency begins.

As for me, I must turn away now from the US. It is called "decoupling" on this side and it is now the name of departments and task force in the largest banks here. Life is too short and convent-school politics can hold no more place in it.

My schoolgirl dictionary? I love it. French people are so cute when they try to speak English (I'm assuming you're French and not just incredibly pretentious...sometimes, considering that France produced Lacan and Lyotard...it's difficult to tell between the two).

You see, in English, one definition of "modesty" is sexual propriety (or prudery, depending). Maybe you should look into more than just your English dictionary to grasp the meaning of words (or stop expediently projecting (i.e. overgeneralizing) in order to make your points. It weakens your argument.

You are so arrogant. It's astounding that you think you understand what someone else knows (or anything about American politics, period). Honestly, who do you think you are?

Your simple grasp of the way the world functions, your overly moral take on the day to day business of running an entire country (let alone one that is democratic and capitalist) is ridiculous, and your understanding of American political history, let alone the Monica Lewinsky scandal, is...to put it nicely...limited (and confused!).

In one breath you claim that Hillary Clinton cost us money organizing "lies" to protect her husband (what? when? how?!), and somehow she was to blame for her husband's infidelity (what? when? how?!).

If anyone wasted a lot of money, it was Kenneth Starr and his G.H.W. Bush cronies. They investigated and investigated and investigated, wasted tons and tons of tax dollars trying to dig up dirt, and all they got was a blow job (and a ridiculously sexy report that became a best seller). This only adds to the irony of your post because you just complained about Sarkozy as a "NeoCon," and you can't seem to get a grasp on how you feel about "convent-school" politics. Why don't you admit that your just being a hypocrit here?

This thread, coupled with your previous (incredibly funny) suggestion that I vote for Obama because I'm turned on by his 'manly odor,' suggests to me that you're a sexually ambiguous (or sexually insecure), pseudointellectual socialist, who might have very strong personal feelings about improving the social position of French Muslims (which is fine, I'm for improving the social position of any oppressed social group).

And to make matters even funnier, you didn't even answer my question about Obama's foreign policy stance. Or are you just banking on the fact that he's not white and not female as some indication of something?

Yes, turn away from the U.S., we have no room for your opinion here. Decouple, dear boy, decouple.

Many of the responses you have received on this blog make your point.

Proud Americans, including myself, must step back and see ourselves as we appear to the world today. While it is true that this country has often offered the best in ideas and opportunities in the past -- we have recently lost the high ground.

Patriotism is not rooting for the home team, it is believing in making your home reflective of the highest values.

You are right in an important respect -- there is no substitute for decency in the moment. The Clintons have not represented this value and her recent primary advertising has confirmed that Senator Clinton places ambition above decency.

@ hommesuisse:

Bienvenue, mon ami!

Don't let the xenophobes discourage you. The Jeffersonian "decent respect for the opinions of mankind" isn't universally shared in this country. Especially by our current leaders. We are the poorer for that.

Obama '08!

>>Mercadia--It's been a long day of travel and I can only laugh at much of your response. I have not researched my previous post to you, but I do not think I have used the words (or thought of) Obama's "manly odor". After today, he may consider bottling it, but the market here is very competitive and his would not have that unique a market niche.

I admit I do recall being provocative with you a few days back, but "manly odor". Did I really?

The word decent has roots in French, so I think I can feel confident in challenging again your limited use of the term. As for Lyotard, his new book ça va mal finir (this will end badly) betrays his long friendship with and support for Sarkozy with more arrogance as my posts. We are not taught to mince our words here like schoolgirls there. We can also be sexist and I suspect sexism will have new life there.

Your glorified office-clerk's description of government and governance as an administrative mish-mash devoid of ideas and leadership, if uttered, would ensure your early exit from ENA here.

Sadly, you are representative of much that I find is wrong in the US. I vote with my money as do many who share my view. We are out of the US.

btw--I am not a Muslim and my criticism of AIPAC extends only to Likudites. Look at France's political elite, and you will see we have the largest Jewish representation in the world outside of Israel leading our institutions. Yet we do not have the incessant discourse on Jewishness that dominates your social landscape. Apart from our new president, who is one day Jewish, another a lapsed Catholic taking medals from the Pope, with whom he is discussing real estate deals. Lately, he seems to think his chances with TomCruise may be better now that he has Carla notched into his belt. Even the Franc-Maçons have denounced him publicly for putting the Republic's principles at risk.

We have our hands full here and it was a mediatised, Neocon-inspired (Richard Perle lived in Paris for several months while advising Sarkozy) presidential campaign only ten months ago. Today, 70 percent of the population regrets the result. Ségolène was such a weak candidate that many have suggested she may have been a Neocon device. Yet she is gearing up for another run in four years.

hommesuisse:

>>Mercadia--It's been a long day of travel and I can only laugh at much of your response. I have not researched my previous post to you, but I do not think I have used the words (or thought of) Obama's "manly odor". After today, he may consider bottling it, but the market here is very competitive and his would not have that unique a market niche.

I admit I do recall being provocative with you a few days back, but "manly odor". Did I really?

Yes.

And you keep repeating the word "schoolgirls." Why not "schoolboys?" I would say it was sexist, but I think it's probably more indicative of a masterbatory fetish inspired by an addiction to Japanese pornography. Otherwise, I can't even imagine where you're drawing support to use the word "schoolgirls" as if it symbolizes something.

And, instead of arguing, why don't you take yourself at your own word? If you're so busy, if France is such a mess, why not pay attention to your own country?

And if that is, as I believe, utter BS, why not answer the original question I posed to you a few posts ago?

<<mercadia

Your sexual comments lower the bar here, but you must be an American woman, so I'll leave it where it is.

As for France, it is across a lake, but of interest to me just the same. Civic life in Switzerland remains a standard to envy; it used to pale in comparison with civic achievements in the US. Not so for a very long time.

You imply that foreigners should stay out of your discussions. Many here think the US and its companies should stay out of our lives and particularly out of the lives that they show so little respect for.

As for 'schoolgirls', I use the term deliberately. Every parent considers the same-sex school possibility/decision. There is a good reason. Boys and girls behave differently in groups from the earliest ages. It is a myth that these differences disappear. My issue is with the abuse of the myth as is too often seen amongst packs of American 'political' women. In all of literature, there has never been a heroine or a lover who had not been a rebel in her convent school. Weirdos like schoolgirls; men like women.

As one who has had occasion to know the US, I feel somewhat compelled to participate. Nonetheless, I am increasingly of the thought that blogging is neither good for one's health or effective politically. I favour representative democracy and have no faith in a direct one.

Adieu!

I think trying to judge a politician's "decency" is just as ridiculous as trying to determine their moral judgement from the color of their suits and the skill of their speechwriter.

Only a few generations ago, in this country, it was considered a matter of "decency" for certain ethnic minorities to eat, drink and refresh themselves in separate and lackluster facilities, while it was "indecent" to protest against this treatment. I would hope that we wouldn't stoop to judging candidates on qualities that can't be accurately assessed until you know them personally. Sorry, but public speaking, especially in politics, is not an accurate way to figure out what their policies will mean - you need to study the nuts and bolts of a person's biography, their actual policy stances and their record of voting versus the give-and-take of a political system - otherwise you are just taking random public statements out of context and making them fit whatever point you wanted to make.

Well, when Bill Clinton suggests that Barack Obama is just another Jesse Jackson, I don't need to read Bill's biography to assess his decency. And when Hillary Clinton lets the remark slide without an apology to Obama, I take note of that too.