Paris Calling

Light entries?

I'm blogging very lightly lately because I'm freelancing for a French news organization right now and pontificating unreservedly about news and the French election in particular, when you're officially a journalist, is a tad inappropriate, especially around an election as tight and divisive as this one.

Once things settle a bit, I'll get back to the blogging board!

'American' in Paris

In three weeks, the French go to the polls.

Has everything been said that needs to be said in this campaign? Are Sarkozy, Segolene, Bayrou or anyone else going to do something that will really surprise us and change the equation?

It's hard to imagine. And the headlines in the French press are beginning to look a bit tired... I'm even tired.

The three leaders have pretty much run all over the ideology map. Extreme and combative one moment, moderate and cosy the next. As soon as an opening is made, the other candidate is immediately there to meet it.

In other words (and I hope you're sitting down), it's very much an "American" campaign.

Because no matter what anyone says, there is no ideology guiding this one. It's a personality contest, a referendum on who is going to lead France into the great unknown. A Berlusconi-lite in Sarkozy or a modern Anne d'Autriche in Segolene Royal.

So which one will it be?

Pepsi, Coke (or maybe RC Cola)?