| France has provided the American voters many | | | | where people are increasingly receptive to judging |
| lessons in how starkly contrasting candidates, | | | | in relative terms. |
| failed policies of high taxes and overregulation and | | | | The other corner was occupied by Madame Royal |
| "scum" immigrants who regularly challenge their | | | | who, like liberal American politicians, campaigned |
| host nation's culture, can inspire record turnouts | | | | by fear and castigation. To her and her followers, |
| of over eighty five percent of a population. In the | | | | cutting welfare benefits, imposing immigration |
| most important election of a generation, French | | | | restrictions, introducing competitive economic |
| men and women marched to the polls to redirect | | | | measures and putting forth the idea that human |
| the future of France. | | | | beings were capable of 36 hours of work per |
| The citizens had a real choice. They faced two | | | | week was draconian. |
| candidates with differing present and future | | | | The voters disagreed. |
| visions of a proud country who was on the verge | | | | Out of vogue are thirty five hour work weeks, |
| of losing its grandeur. | | | | unmanageable and unaffordable taxes, demanding |
| Small businesses were suffocated in a system | | | | and draining immigrants and an economy ill |
| that punished growth while workers were | | | | equipped to compete. In its place are paired down |
| penalized for laboring beyond thirty five hours and | | | | policies aimed at pragmatism and economic |
| families were watching their rich culture yield to a | | | | growth. |
| prehistoric yet conquering one. | | | | In her concession speech, without mentioning her |
| In one corner stood Sarkozy, a determined realist | | | | opponent's name once, she professed her hopes |
| intent on implementing practical proposals to | | | | of a peaceful transition without riots. But, like |
| restore the French economy to its perceived | | | | many American civil rights activists before her, |
| rightful place in the lead pack of economic powers. | | | | she had utilized the tired riot instigator. By warning |
| His proposals targeted personal tax reductions, | | | | against them, she was subliminally inspiring them. |
| eliminating the thirty five hour work week and | | | | Most importantly, these elections showed the |
| reforming a system that punished small | | | | failures of leftist policies. With a conservative in |
| businesses for each measure of their growth. | | | | government in both France and Germany , |
| The other aspect of his candidacy possibly | | | | Europe has shown a willingness to abandon the |
| eclipsed his economic program which was his | | | | failed ideology that guarantees everything while |
| gritty resolve in preserving French culture in the | | | | accomplishing nothing. |
| face of the threat of radical Islam which had | | | | The question becomes, will Americans have to |
| spread throughout France's extensive immigrant | | | | experience failed immigration, bitter culture |
| community. He was fierce in confronting its | | | | divisions and labor unions with too much power to |
| menace and politically incorrect in characterizing its | | | | recognize the necessity of a conservative |
| followers. Sarkozy views the world in absolutes | | | | government? |