The thug (and capital ) won

The thug won in France. I guess this is not surprising given Royal's chaotic campaign. She acted too often like she did not really know what she was running for or why. She wanted people to vote for her out of fear of Sarkozy. Fear alone, however, does not a platform make.

On German news last night the word about Sarkozy was "work, work, work." He wants France to work again. He wants to do away with the 35 hour work week, to limit the effectiveness of public sector strikes, make it easier to release people from jobs, etc., etc., etc. Commentators speak of him as the Maggie Thatcher of France.

And the Socialist Party now? The papers are full of stories about how the Socialists must change and become a Social-Democrat party like that in other European countries. This means ridding themselves of their socialist agenda and embracing liberal capitalism.