Politique démocratique et hypocrite

The French have a problem with politics; even the term politicien evokes the sordid and untrustworthy; better be un homme politique. Unable to come to terms with the fact that Bush has four more years of leading the planet into disarray, they forget that for their own presidential elections the voters narrowed the candidates down to a crook and a racist, fortunately opting for the former.
Now the debate has turned to the new European constitution where we see a fine example of French democracy at work, as each party splits itself down the middle over whether to be in favour or oppose it. And what are the benefits and disadvantages contained in the new Treaty of Rome? No one knows and no one understands, because as usual it's a battle of intellectual rather than practical debate. No one could legitimately acuse French politicians of being a camel short of a caravan, but aloof and unsympathetic to the everyday concerns of the population, certainly. So if you're looking for another nation where an uneducated bigot who brings economic and diplomatic downfall to his country gets elected on the basis that he has a common touch, look no further than France.