[summer]

José María Rida, a Spanish diplomat, said the events of September 11, and the reaction in the US, have made it more acceptable to voice anti-Arab sentiments in France, and have therefore given Mr Le Pen more freedom to harden his campaign against immigration from North Africa.

9-11 is the reason why I think Le Pen may actually surprise everyone and win it in May. His anti-immigration policies may be seen by voters as the way to keep terrorists out of France.

[NeoCaveman]

"In a stable democracy, there should be the alternatives of right and left. But when the only options are the right and the extreme right, then something is very seriously wrong."

Aww too bad.... LMAO at this Euro-weenie.

[Wphile]

I can't believe the European press is spinning this as "anti-Arab." So frickin' typical. Good Lord, maybe it has to do with just plain old economics. Perhaps the Germans don't like 11 - 20% unemployment. Sheesh...we b*itch when it gets to 6% here!! Maybe the Europeans are finally awakening to the fact that being run by a bunch of 'greens' isn't in the best interest of their respective countries, let alone Europe.

Looks like the press in Europe is as bad as the US. Yes, it is always about race. Gimme a break.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

the events of September 11, and the reaction in the US, have made it more acceptable to voice anti-Arab sentiments in France. . . the perception that Europe was moving away from the US on issues such as immigration and religious tolerance.

One nuclear bomb in a US city and our reaction will make that of the Europeans and LePen look like moderation.

[Dog Gone]

In Washington, political analysts suggested the rise of the far-right in France would reinforce the perception that Europe was moving away from the US on issues such as immigration and religious tolerance.

I don't understand this comment at all. If Europe moved right, it would be more like the US.

Maybe they are associating the far right with anti-semitism, which could be true, but the leftists in Europe are very vocal in their disdain for Israel.

[teeman8r]

i hate the french

[lafroste]

But when the only options are the right and the extreme right, then something is very seriously wrong."

Well, now I'm confused. How can the defeat of a socialist be construed as a defeat of the right by the "extreme right"? Does being politically "right" or "left" have a different connotation in Euro-land? (OTOH I know we are right, and that our idealogical opponents will be left in the ash heap of history)

[crystalk]

Talk about clueless in London!

This guy says the right turn will take Europe FARTHER AWAY FROM THE USA AND ITS POSITION!

What planet does this author live on? There is rejoicing over this in the White House even as we speak, next thing you know M. LePen will be invited to the Ranch.

This is what could bring the US and Europe back together for a good crusade against Islam!

And with Israel and India aboard.

On second thought, I HAVE to be right because the Eurotrash, Euroweenies and Eurolefties that have been in control there for 57 years...have separated us so far that ANYTHING, including M. LePen, will bring us closer together.

[RobbyS]

Re: #1. Everything will depend on turn out. It was down by about 10% in this election. If the left supports Chirac as the know evil and there is more Arab violence before June, then it could cost them the Parliament. The French MAY (But they stubbornly clings to out-dated anti-colonialist attitudes) finally realize that the more Arabs there are in France, the worse things are going to get.

[Ipberg]

This guarrantees Chirac's re-election president which suits me just fine. The next question is whether the French voter will boot the Socialists into the opposition benches too?

[Spar]

Ivo Daalder the pro bombing of Yugoslavia cheerleader of the Clinton-Albright shame years.

The Third Way globalist intervention was killed in Kosovo. Yugoslavian resistance stuck a stake in its heart.

[rightwing2]

BUMP!

[Joe Boucher]

summer, I don't think the folks in france have been scared enough yet to reverse the immigration policy they and we have. Once they do become engaged it will be too late.

[1234]

per a recent thread: FRANCE is "crawling w/ 5,000,000 arabs". this is approx. 11% of pop.. of course LE PEN's message has relevance-the country's society is being diluted for the worse, and the threat is ominous.

[Great Dane]

But when the only options are the right and the extreme right, then something is very seriously wrong."

Boy, did he say a mouthful, took them long enough to realize the populations in Europe are fed up.

[The Old Hoosier]

A lot of leftists will sit on their hands in the run-off. Some may even vote Le Pen in spite. But I think Chirac will still get 60 percent, at least.

[BellStar]

Well....yeah.....It was Euro based Arabs who blew up the World Trade Center Parking Garage and a few years later Flew into the World Trade Center on 9/11/01.

[vance]

LePen is an anti Semite. Just what Europe does not need now. On the other hand the socialists are tired and corrupt. Their so-called message is bankrupt. What is needed is a conservative-type, entrepenurial candidate with something new to say. Europe is bogged down in boring ideologies. Dangerous, too.

[monkeyshine]

Le Pen will lose by 80% I think. No leftist in his left mind would ever vote for Le Pen (and it will be hard for him to vote for Chirac). The French take their politics way too seriously.

This is French politics, and the defeat of Jospin does not indicate a shift to the right at all. I don't know the exact numbers, but between Chirac Le Pen they don't even have 50% of the electorate. French politics is so fractionalized and splintered, that Chirac with 19% and Le Pen with 16% made the top 2... while Jospin had to share his votes with many other leftists, and ended up losing. It's kind of like Gore losing some key states thanks to Nader.

[OldFriend]

In other words, the pipples are no longer amused!!!

[Youngblood]

LePen is a racist scumbag. This is the man who complained that there were several blacks and one man of Algerian descent (Zinedine Zidane, the best player on the planet) on the French national football team who are current World and European champions. However, it raises some serious questions about the failure of the mainstream parties to address the problems of crime and immigration that people would turn to LePen in such numbers. It would be interesting to see the EU reaction on the unlikely ocasion that LePen wins. They weren't too happy with Austria after Jorg Haider's successes.