Sarkozy deftly steals the clothes of the disorganized French Left

*I knew perfectly well that he was going to do this, but actually watching him do it in real life is just kinda awesome.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,590276,00.html

Link: In Sarkozy's Shadow: A Facelift for France's Socialists - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International.

(...)

Ideologically trapped between the siren calls of the radical left and the liberal appeals of the "Democratic Movement" of centrist François Bayrou, the Socialists are in a deep identity crisis. Not even the financial crisis and ensuing economic downturn have awakened the party foot soldiers. In fact, Sarkozy has even managed to poach the slogans of the left. While the president considers the partial nationalization of banks, promises subsidized jobs and announces his plan to "reshape capitalism," the opposition is paralyzed, isolated and out of touch.

To make matters worse, because the party's center has grown silent, the heavyweights are taking every opportunity to draw attention to themselves. But instead of a clear course, the air has been filled with contradictory statements and proposals. "The comrades are fed up with constant strife," says one prominent Paris Socialist....

((("Anyone but Segolene." It's pathetic.)))
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article5162690.ece

(((Meanwhile, Sarkozy in Washington:)))

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97035563

(((Moronic French right still doesn't get what Sarkozy is doing.
They're bewildered. No wonder the guy steals their oxygen.
He's without a peer-competitor in either party.)))

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article5162679.ece

"Bewildered supporters of Nicolas Sarkozy, the centre-right French president, are wondering what to do. Should they blame the global financial crisis or the influence of Carla Bruni, his glamorous wife, for what sounds like a lurch to the political left?

Rarely does a day pass without “Sarko” displaying signs of an ideological rethink. He has attacked “fat cats” and the “dictatorship of the market”. He declared that “laissez-faire capitalism is over” and has called for a cap on executive pay and an end to “golden parachutes”.

"The transformation is striking given that Sarkozy, famed for his “zero tolerance” policing as interior minister, was once derided on the left as a dangerous right-winger..."