France’s pendulum swing to the left jolts a continent’s fault lines

France’s pendulum swing to the left jolts a continent’s fault lines

John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — Tone, tenor, and style separate Nicolas Sarkozy from Francois Hollande as much as clear political ideology divided the two contenders for the French presidency. But sentiments like voter discontent, backlash and anti-austerity describe the mood French voters were in when they elected the Socialist candidate. Francois Hollande’s victory with […]

Collapsing Europe is in crisis and the U.S. bailout option, for once, is not available

Collapsing Europe is in crisis and the U.S. bailout option, for once, is not available

Sol W. Sanders   [See Archive] Despite the fact that Europe is in the Northern Hemisphere, the downward swirl of the euro this month took a reverse direction and started going left — counterclockwise. Maybe it is the first part of the Mayan prediction that gravity will fail later this year and we will all […]

Twilight for two once-great civilizations

Twilight for two once-great civilizations

Jeffrey T. Kuhner France’s decay serves as a warning to America. For centuries, Paris was the cradle of Western civilization. The French, however, have hit hard times. Their country is dying, and most French citizens don’t seem to care. This threatens to be our fate as well. France’s first-round presidential elections were held on Sunday. […]

Sarko, the waffle and the future of France

Sarko, the waffle and the future of France

Wesley Pruden Nothing focuses a politician’s mind like staring at oblivion, and reluctantly contemplating himself at the center of that dark and dreary place. Though it may be too late to save himself, Nicolas Sarkozy is scared contrite and humble, a remarkable precedent for a French president. On the eve of Sunday’s voting, he offered […]