has always been consistently pro-European, and aware of the necessity for France to behave as a decent European in order to have the credibility to lead. It's one of the things I like about Bayrou's run - at least there is a clear pro-European voice.

Note though that current French commissioner Jacques Barrot has totally sold out to the neolibs on transportation and macroeconomic policies.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

funny, i was going to mention that...i saw that too, and he came across very very well, grounded, matter-of-fact, and sound on policies.

after seeing that i can see why he has a goodish chance, as his tone and lack of hype were reassuringly middle-of-the road, especially next to the increasingly rabid sarko.

i still root for royal, but he would be a huge upgrade after chirac, imo.

'The history of public debt is full of irony. It rarely follows our ideas of order and justice.' Thomas Piketty