Registered: Jan 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 13002

There is a remarkable similarity between the map of France showing the political complexion of the country after Jean-Marie Le Pen's triumph in the first round of the presidential elections... and that showing the contagion that infected large areas after the Chernobyl disaster. I think they may be related.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: zanzibar
Posts: 10477

I still don't get the big deal over LePen.

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Registered: Jun 2001
Location: finding the new flesh after killing the old one
Posts: 1981

Bugger le Pen now .. whats the stats on contagion for Burnley phil?

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35669

quote:

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Originally posted by DevilMoon
I still don't get the big deal over LePen.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: zanzibar
Posts: 10477

What I don't get is 100,000+ people protesting daily because someone was voted into the second round of an election. A second round where he will (by all acounts) get trounced.

I understand that it is the first time in a long time that a socialist has not been in the final round, but to have daily protests over it?

We had an analyst come into my work in mid April to discuss different issues that will effect global stability, and the day after the large labor strike in Italy he told us that we should really concentrate on Europe. The face of Europe is changing, there has been a large population shift, several countries have been deluged with illegal immigrants. He also recommend that we keep an eye on power shifts or suprise right or left candiates winning elections. All of which in interesting in the context of my job, and probably explains the Le Pen votes, but doesn't really answer my question.

I guess people feel that they cast protest votes knowing that Jospin would be in the final round anyway, but were upset when he wasn't. I am sure had the Trotskyite won you wouldn't hear so much complaining, especially from the press.

If Pat Robinson came in second in a US election (assuming a conservative won, to make it more like the French example) then you could expect to see a Democratic televangelist in the next election. No kidding.

D

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35669

Europe is pretty sensitive (especially the French and the Germans, I should say) about anything that might look like the beginning of the beginnings of an uprise in fascism. He is a deeply obnoxious politician, espousing forced repatriation of immigrants and their descendents (even if they were born in France), that women should stay in the home (this will reduce unemployment (probably true, if women shouldn't work then they won't be counted on the unemployment figures), and espouses the basic superiority of the white male. He is an obnoxious twat, but remember that people haven't forgotten what Hitler was like; remember that Hitler's rise to power was also rather unlikely.

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Registered: Sep 2001
Location: ........
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quote:

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Originally posted by DevilMoon
I still don't get the big deal over LePen.

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Registered: Jan 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 13002

quote:

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Originally posted by sonja
Bugger le Pen now .. whats the stats on contagion for Burnley phil?

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Registered: Apr 2002
Location: sitting in the waiting room
Posts: 622

quote:

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Originally posted by DevilMoon
What I don't get is 100,000+ people protesting daily because someone was voted into the second round of an election.

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Baba Kueria
Posts: 3146

So, Le Pen lost. That's good, right?

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Registered: May 2001
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quote:

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Originally posted by slight
So, Le Pen lost. That's good, right?

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35669

Tony Blair called it 'a victory for democracy'.

Eh?

Surely any fair election is a 'victory for democracy'? Even in this one where people voted for someone they despised to prevent someone they despised more from achieving power.

Tony Blair is a victory of style over substance.

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: California
Posts: 4252

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Registered: Jan 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 13002

quote:

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Originally posted by Dog Breath
[BIt's obvious! They voted for the far right because that's where they live. Look on the map!
They had no choice, it's the fault of those damn cartographers! [/B]

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