Posted on 05/25/2004 12:12:37 PM PDT by quidnunc
France's U.S. Embassy blasted Gov. Bill Owens on Monday for "unfortunate and ill-informed" jokes about the French.
Keynoting Saturday at the Michigan Republican Party Convention, Owens quipped, "You know why they planted those big trees along the boulevard in Paris? So the invading armies could march in the shade."
And, he continued, "You know why the new French navy has glass-bottom boats? So it can see the old French navy."
C'est dommage, responded Nathalie Loiseau of the French Embassy in Washington. She admonished Colorado's two-term governor for "uselessly practicing French bashing for the purpose of playing politics." Owens delivered his riffs to a crowd of 2,000 Michigan Republicans after contrasting President Bush's leadership with that of likely Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry. Kerry, he said, "would wait for a permission slip to be filled out by the United Nations and initialed by France" before rebuilding Iraq.
Owens was unavailable Monday to explain his bon mots against the French.
Communications director Sean Duffy said the governor "has been very concerned about European and other nations who have been not only unsupportive, but actively antagonistic in the conduct and the run-up to the Iraq war."
"He was pointing out how America has sacrificed for other nations. So, historically, he was trying to point out that America has done a lot for France," he continued.
Concerns about Owens' jokes are "kind of bewildering," Duffy added, "because he had a standing ovation in the hall."
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at denverpost.com ...
Get over it.
The tongue is sharper than the sword. That's why the french were so offended.......
BTW, French Doors are the least secure doors in the building industry.........
Why in the hell did he say he was sorry? Does ANYONE in the GOP have a backbone??
C'est la Guerre, et Fermez la Bouche, replied Old Sarge of the United States Army.
I guess only the French were offended.
Q: How many Frenchmen does it take to defend Paris?
A: Nobody knows, it's never been tried.
Q. Why don't they have fireworks at Euro Disney?
A. Because every time they shoot them off, the French try to surrender.
Q. Why did the French plant trees along the Champs Elysees?
A. So the Germans could march in the shade.
Q: How many gears does a French tank have?
A: 4 reverse and 1 forward, in case the enemy attacks from the rear.
Q: How can you identify a French Infantryman?
A: Sunburned armpits.
Q. What's the difference between Frenchmen and toast?
A. You can make soldiers out of toast.
Q. What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up?
A. The Army.
France has neither winter nor summer nor morals. Apart from these drawbacks it is a fine country. France has usually been governed by prostitutes." —Mark Twain
"I would rather have a German division in front of me than a French one behind me." —General George S. Patton
"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion." —Norman Schwartzkopf
"We can stand here like the French, or we can do something about it." —Marge Simpson
"As far as I'm concerned, war always means failure." —Jacques Chirac, President of France
"As far as France is concerned, you're right." —Rush Limbaugh
"The only time France wants us to go to war is when the German Army is sitting in Paris sipping coffee." —Regis Philbin
"The French are a smallish, monkey-looking bunch and not dressed any better, on average, than the citizens of Baltimore. True, you can sit outside in Paris and drink little cups of coffee, but why this is more stylish than sitting inside and drinking large glasses of whiskey I don't know." —P.J O'Rourke (1989)
"You know, the French remind me a little bit of an aging actress of the 1940s who was still trying to dine out on her looks but doesn't have the face for it." —John McCain, U.S. Senator from Arizona
"They've taken their own precautions against Al Qaeda. To prepare for an attack, each Frenchman is urged to keep duct tape, a white flag, and a three-day supply of mistresses in the house." —Argus Hamilton
"The only way the French are going in is if we tell them we found truffles in Iraq." —Dennis Miller
"I would call the French scumbags, but that, of course, would be a disservice to bags filled with scum. I say we invade Iraq, then invade Chirac." —Dennis Miller
"You know why the French don't want to bomb Saddam Hussein? Because he hates America, he loves mistresses and wears a beret. He IS French, people." —Conan O'Brien
"I don't know why people are surprised that France won't help us get Saddam out of Iraq. After all, France wouldn't help us get the Germans out of France!" —Jay Leno
"The last time the French asked for 'more proof,' it came marching into Paris under a German flag." —David Letterman
How many Frenchmen does it take to change a light bulb?
One. He holds the bulb and all of Europe revolves around him.
An old saying: Raise your right hand if you like the French.... Raise both hands if you are French.
"C'est la Guerre, et Fermez la Bouche" = That's war, and shut your mouth.
(Native Louisianian, at your service!)
Never saw much use for learning French. If I ever go back there it will be with an armored column..... and then they'll need to know English.
Yeah, but how many of those jokes could be true!
For sale - original issue French military rifles. Never fired, dropped only once.
Why assume it was playing politics? I bash the French for pure enjoyment.
Um, where in the article did it say Owens, or anyone, said he was sorry? It said he wasn't available for comment.
This is War, so Shut your Mouth!
He apologized? This article doesn't reflect that.
LMAO!
All classic jokes...especially Letterman's!
The only thing wrong with those jokes is that they're OLD !
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