Down town Orléans, right where the Rosbifs called out for Fish and Chips. You can still see the ketchup.
So how is Ségo doing? As you can read in the newspapers she has made quite a few ‘gaffes’, especially on foreign policy. Though there are so many, one starts to suspect it's a strategy. Surprisingly she seems to be turning the corner.
Of course the opinion polls are showing her with a small deficit to Sarko, but it remains small and if she can recover credibility then she can still win.
Probably the biggest coup was the Canard Enchainé information on the Renseignements general. This is the French KGB who had investigated a colleague of Ségo. It did not look too nasty of itself. The French are tolerant of the RG because they have a pretty realistic opinion as to what the world is like. They prefer having these types of snoopers, with accompanying strong arm tactics, to the attacks on the New York World Trade Centre and a war in Iraq. Nevertheless there is a difference between acknowledging their shady existence and being associated with them on the front pages. It makes Sarko look a bit nasty. Unfortunately for him, he went after a greeny rather than some business type. Bad memories of Mitterand's Greenpeace fiasco in New Zealand. It also gives him a problem with his resignation from the interior ministry. If he resigns now it will look as if he was pushed, if he stays there is plenty more room for ‘bavures’.
Sarko also looks nasty because of the Dehan incident. Imitating the prime minister of Quebec and Ségo saying that the French would be happy to give Corsica its independence. Nobody contests it is true, in general people think the place is more trouble than it’s worth. Besides people who live on islands are trouble makers. But it is not the sort of thing presidential candidates should say. Nevertheless the socialists are managing to make it look like dirty tricks from Sarko rather Ségo’s incompetence. Not so easy to have a go at a lady!!!
Ségo’s off in the Antilles saying that she is happy to be away from the rough and tumble of politics in the metropolitain. “C’est dur”!!!. Pesky women for you, when they are winning they fight and when they start losing they run to the teacher. But of course it's fair tactics. Nobody was born yesterday.
Her relationship with Hollande will probably run and run. It looks like their ‘partnership’ is pretty rocky. Hollande has certainly not been too much of a gentleman so far. One suspects that her kids were born by immaculate conception and she’s not too cuddly between the sheets, or at least not with Hollande. Where has Hollande been getting his little ‘gâteries’? Still Sarko is studiously avoiding that territory, where he probably has a pretty patchy record as well. The French press as usual is also steering clear of ‘personal’ questions. Come on now, give the gallery a bit of fun!!!
Oh yes policy is off at the moment.