Calling Melenchon âfar-leftâ betrays the authorâs âcentristâ views. Is it âfar-leftâ to want increased environmental protections? Is it âfar-leftâ to offer an alternative to both the far-right (and I think itâs perfectly justified to call the FN that) and the neo-liberal policies of Macron? Is it âfar-leftâ to oppose the anti-democratic maneuvering of Macronâs decrees?
And then thereâs this:
Macron says the change is needed so France can compete in the global economy. Opponents say he is dismantling the French lifestyle.
Oh, those silly far-left opponents of progress! Donât they know that itâs inevitable that France, despite having one of the most productive work forces in the world, has to join the global race to the bottom, in order to stay alive? Letâs get rid of those silly 6 week vacations, and the 35 hour work week. Why donât they just accept it, like American workers do: we love no mandatory vacation, no paid family medical leave, and 50 hour work weeks. Itâs inevitable, so you they might as get used to it!
I would call the Socialist party the left wing of French Politics. He was part of the left of the socialist party, before founding his own party 10 years ago, call the left party, and then the left front. Yeah, I think it is fair to call him the far-left within french politics. Much as it would be fair to Bernie the far left of American politics.
The Socialists have been trending right for a few years, much like the Labour Party had been. Would you call Maurice Valls a lefty? Thatâs why they sucked air in the last election.
Fascinating to compare Macron the golden boy and Trump the pariah. Macronâs popularity has dropped like a stone to 30%, while trump has managed to hold steady on around 40%+. I would have said the opposition to trump is more vociferous than Macron, but I think thatâs only true internationally - the anti-Macron riots in France have been pretty bad.
Macronâs August Harris Poll #'s is at 37%
538âs cumulative #'s has Trump at 39.4% and Gallupâs three day has Trump at 37%.
Right. But it isnât august anymore, inversion. His latest poll numbers are now at 30%. I assume that is just a mistake on your part rather than a deliberate attempt to mislead.
touche
Macron still has a solid majority in the National Assembly and doesnât even face local elections for several years. Meanwhile, the economy is recovering, the unions are divided and his parliamentary opposition is in tatters.
Want to compare that outlook to Trumpâs?
Getting sick of the French not giving Macron a chance. They are so darn impatient and always b*tching. I am French and sometimes it just pisses me off. The far left just had a socialist president who they demonized as well.
Oh thatâs a whole different matter. Macronâs also facing a potentially massive general strike grinding the country to a halt. And heâs less popular than trump
As to the outlook is for 2018 for the repubs, I think way too early to tell. Certainly some donât think itâs anywhere near as rosy for the Dems as you seem to think
/this is the problem with the far left. They will bitch nonstop about whoever is in power. Thatâs their real function - not electing leaders, but bitching about the leaders everyone else elects.
I do think Trump got a (maybe short-lived) ratings boost by reaching out to Dems. Partisan gridlock is perhaps the biggest common gripe that U.S. voters have expressed to pollsters.
Heâs less popular in France.
Even if G-C was tossed to the side, Trumpâs collective problems will still be a lot larger than Macronâs.
heâs attacking those folks, but heyâŚ
from that article
âPeople do think heâs bringing about change, so itâs hard to say he hasnât kept his promises,â said Democratic pollster Celinda Lake.
Iâm willing to wager a six pack of sodas that none of those folks can name the changes that Trump has bought to the swamp.
In focus groups, most participants say theyâre still impressed with Trumpâs business background and tend to give him credit for the improving economy. The window is closing, but theyâre still inclined to give him a chance to succeed.
same, because should that tax reform package head to the crapper, its going to be amazing to read about Trump voters still being willing to give him a chance.
More than that, no single Democratic attack on the president is sticking â not on his temperament, his lack of accomplishments or the deals heâs touted that have turned out to be less than advertised, like the presidentâs claim that he would keep Carrier from shutting down its Indianapolis plant and moving production to Mexico.
Yet heâs at 39%.
Participants in battleground-state focus groups said they see that rate as relatively high and the issue in general as being mostly about redistributing money to the poor.
âeconomic anxietyâ
granted, but hereâs the thing: this is a guy who is supposedly inexperienced in politics, new to Washington and is supposedly a change agent; and yet he has one of the best NatSec teams around him (when he uses then properly) and he has an astute VP in Pence, but he canât get to 45% to save his political life.
He has rely on the political version of the âWorldâs Cutest Tag Teamâ, because the guys who he has entrusted to get the job done, canât really manage their caucuses votes.
n yetâŚ
I didnât say his ratings were good. I said they got a boost, which may be short lived, by reaching out to Dems. Two completely different things. You were quibbling over how low they were and whether or not theyâd gone down more. I was putting some perspective on that.
The public hates gridlock whether or not they perceive it as their own fault. They generally donât, however, see it as their fault. They see it as the other guyâs fault. Why? Because theyâre human beings and thatâs what human beings do.
Macronâs big thing going for him was that he wasnât the establishment and he wasnât Le Pen. Weâll see whether this pulls him back.
Do you think that is whatâs happening un US with berniecrats??? I see they are still as rabid as ever and some kind of purity is expected from the candidates that they support. The only candidate is SandersâŚthey are blinded by him. No question, itâs the cult of personality which is dangerous on either side.
I certainly think it is.
Itâs also indicative of what tore Venezuela apart. If you set the far left against the far right it doesnât work.
Oh, FFS, Comparing France and the US to Venezuela, or MĂŠlenchon and Sanders to Maduro, is silly.
Yes! It has to be a cult of personality, and must have nothing to do with policies. And what´s really scary is that he´s the most popular pol in America; even 16 Senators have drunk the progressive zombie kool aid by endorsing Medicare for all. And you know who first proposed Medicare for all? Do you? Why, that noted Bolshevik, FDR, that´s who!!!
The creeping Red Menace is upon us!! We´re DOOMED!