"I Got Into the Habbit of Paying for Boys" says French Minister, Still Popular

[derspiess]

Did that fucking hat appear over your head?

At least it's not a red wig with 2 braids.

[Caliga]

There's ricain, amerloque or états-unien in some circles

Thanks for the info! 

[Ed Anger]

Did that fucking hat appear over your head?

At least it's not a red wig with 2 braids.

Hot.

[Duque de Bragança]

Again, I fail to see how being more tolerant to our politicians' personal foibles - and thus opening politics for more people, who are not afraid of entering politics because of their political opponents dragging out personal details of their lives - is a symptom of "cultural shackles of autocracy and authoritarianism". This comes especially humorous considering you are talking about France.

France is highly deferential to political authority - hence a political system based on an elected dictator.
The French penchant for violent insurrection is the exception that proves the rule.  Because political authority is presumptively legitimate, serious resistance to such authority has a tendency to be channelled toward illegal acts, as opposed to resistance within the system.

Elected Dictator is Mitterrand-like 
The French President has less powers than the US President in fact. Only Sarkozy to some extents tries to emulate the US way of governing.

And no, France is not highly deferential of political authority  You must be mixing up Frankreich mit Frankfurt:D

[Valmy]

There's ricain, amerloque or états-unien in some circles

Amerloque is a good one!

[The Minsky Moment]

The French President has less powers than the US President in fact.

A simple comparison of constitutional powers illustrates that is not so.  Every power the US president has the French president also has. However, the French president can also dissolve the legislature and appoint the PM; in extremis, he can suspend the Constitution and rule by decree. 

Looking beyond the plain constitutional text, the US is characterized by strong separation powers, with a very powerful legislative branch and a federal judiciary armed with the power of judicial review.  The equivalent French branches are not as powerful.  The US President also controls only federal institutions, and the powers of the federal government are limited both by law and tradition.  The French system lacks a similar check on centralized authority.

And no, France is not highly deferential of political authority  You must be mixing up Frankreich mit Frankfurt:D

Au contraire.  The Germans are still naturally deferential but their postwar political institutions disperse power, primarily through federalism.  France of course remains one of the most centralized polities in Europe.

[viper37]

Uhm we have already discussed that and I posted this story and a follow up. He says he used the term "boys" to mean young men, which is not that incredible, seeing how straight men refer to women they fuck (especially prostitutes) as "girls" too.

Every time you manage to get me to like you, you come up with a shit like that that reminds me you are a retard. 

He was asked the question more directly, if he paid for minors, and he never answered, he remained evasive, probably on purpose, to sell more books.  Who care if all your ennemies buy your book?  They're still paying for it.

However, I do believe he should resign from his position.

[Faeelin]

Still, Marti's right. As Spitzer shows, American politicians are fine so long as they only sleep with female prostitutes.

[derspiess]

Still, Marti's right. As Spitzer shows, American politicians are fine so long as they only sleep with female prostitutes.

Ehm, Spitzer was forced to resign

[Valmy]

Ehm, Spitzer was forced to resign

[Duque de Bragança]

The French President has less powers than the US President in fact.

A simple comparison of constitutional powers illustrates that is not so.  Every power the US president has the French president also has. However, the French president can also dissolve the legislature and appoint the PM; in extremis, he can suspend the Constitution and rule by decree. 

There's no PM in the US since the President combines both powers. As for suspending the Constitution, it's true but it has only been once and I just don't see Sarkozy using it anytime soon unless REAL REAL trouble begins. Some constitutional reforms were made recently giving more power to the Parlement.
Dissolving the legislature is a real power? Well, ask Chirac and Villepin: double-edged sword...

Looking beyond the plain constitutional text, the US is characterized by strong separation powers, with a very powerful legislative branch and a federal judiciary armed with the power of judicial review.  The equivalent French branches are not as powerful.  The US President also controls only federal institutions, and the powers of the federal government are limited both by law and tradition.  The French system lacks a similar check on centralized authority.

Centralised Authority emanates from the ENA bureaucracy too, not only from the President which change every 5 or 10 years Far more powerful than Haute Cour, Cour Constitutionnelle and Cour des Comptes unfortunately

And no, France is not highly deferential of political authority  You must be mixing up Frankreich mit Frankfurt:D

Au contraire.  The Germans are still naturally deferential but their postwar political institutions disperse power, primarily through federalism.  France of course remains one of the most centralized polities in Europe.

Décentralisation is slowly making progress but then it was originally designed by de Gaulle for a referendum where people said no to De Gaulle instead of giving their opinion about the plan...
Wish it was the same in Portugal where regionalisação is dead:(
Of course, France isn't going to be federal the way the US is for obvious reasons.

Both US and French regimes are presidentialist, major differences rely on the federal aspect of the US above all.

[The Minsky Moment]

There's no PM in the US since the President combines both powers.

Not so.  All legislative powers reside in Congress.  The closest thing to a PM would be the Speaker of the House. read Article II of the US constitution- you may be surprised by the limited nature of presidential powers under the US system.

In France, except for the various interludes of cohabitation, the PM is often just a disposible political tool of the President.  Or a favored protege who is protected so long as he is scrupulously loyal.

As for suspending the Constitution, it's true but it has only been once and I just don't see Sarkozy using it anytime soon unless REAL REAL trouble begins . . .
Dissolving the legislature is a real power?

A power need not be exercised directly in order to have impact.

[Faeelin]

Still, Marti's right. As Spitzer shows, American politicians are fine so long as they only sleep with female prostitutes.

Ehm, Spitzer was forced to resign

I was being sarcastic. 

[Martinus]

The closest thing to a PM would be the Speaker of the House. 

Now you are just being facetious. That's so blatantly untrue I have to conclude you are either joking or someone has hacked your account.

[alfred russel]

Still, Marti's right. As Spitzer shows, American politicians are fine so long as they only sleep with female prostitutes.

That was really just the coup de grace on a terrible governor. Barney Frank and David Vitter may be better examples.

I doubt either would have survived a similar scandal involving Thai "boys" or "girls".