If you can stand the insipidity of Leslie Stahl, watch the CBS “60 Minutes” piece on Nicolas Sarkozy (click image to watch video), which tries hard to be a hit piece, but fails. What comes through is a man who is almost American in his approach to government, economics and life. It hasn’t gone unnoticed in France, where he is called “Sarko ‘Americain.” He makes the point in this interview that he likes all things American and admires the country because it gives opportunity to everyone. Amazingly, this has not affected his polls.
My sons were in Paris a couple of weeks ago and found none of the anti-American sentiment and Gaullist snobbishness that has been the hallmark of that city for 50 years. Instead they found friendly, optimistic people willing to help two 20-something Amis with only a rudimentary knowledge of the language. Clearly, change is afoot.
UPDATE: Stahl whines about “tension in the room.”
