The Franchouille cannot abide excellence in the person of an indomitable American (Hat tip: ¡No Pasaran!):

After Lance Armstrong's 6th record Tour de France victory yesterday, France2 TV (State television and keeper of the State Party Line©®™) presented a poll which ranked Lance as France's 3rd most hated sports personality. The main reason given? 'Because he is American'.

Read more cross-eyed French here.

And while Frenchies promote fairy tales about Mr. Armstrong as a dope fiend:

[France's Richard] Virenque, who has won the climbers' polka-dot jersey for a record seventh time, led the Festina team which was kicked off the 1998 Tour for systematic doping but is still hailed as a star by the French.

"[The French] don't know what they want," said Armstrong (US Postal). "What kind of champion do they want? A champion who doesn't work hard and doesn't love his sport?

"But don't boo me and cheer for someone else involved in the biggest doping crisis in the history of sport. That doesn't make sense."

Armstrong, subjected to abuse, spitting and angry gestures throughout the Tour that ended in Paris overnight, said he accepted sledging was a star's lot.

(Hat tip: E-Nough!)

Over at sports.fr they have been serving up reams of Gallic pique. They support poor little Pipo's (scil., Filippo Simeoni) contention that whistleblowing celebrity -- not pedaling -- should guarantee a guy a win. Boo hoo hoo Hoo. And when Mr. Armstrong handily beat the field to win the Tour, oh, sports.fr suggests he did little more than come up from behind his US Postal teammates.

This sourness is not new to Frenchies. French interest in the Tour has steadily waned since 1985, the last time a native son, Bernard Hinault, took the win. But who's to blame? Le Ricain, Armstrong. Last year's complaint:

Armstrong is blamed by many French for sucking the life out of the Tour. Though admired for his strength and stamina, he is resented for his stern professionalism. The French would rather he was a little more playful, like their housewives' favourite, Richard Virenque, who barely has time to pedal between his winks and asides. The fact that Armstrong is not only American, but Texan like the loathed President George W Bush, does not help him.

And if Mr. Armstrong were to wink and win, why, then he would be undeserving because he is frivolous. Well there's no pleasing the French -- as if that was everyone's number one priority.

Not every Frenchman must diminish Mr. Armstrong to enlarge himself or France:

Henri Leconte, a retired French tennis great, wrote a glowing tribute in the daily, "Le Monde," calling Armstrong’s image of being distant and prickly a fabrication of the media.

“He is, above all, absolutely normal,” he wrote. “He is very kind, generous and respectful of others. ... He has his heart in his hand, and his fight against cancer proves it.”

And, Leconte added, “He had the decency to learn French. He loves France.”

The precipitate drop-off in news interest in Mr. Armstrong following his world-class historic win suggests that the only news the press wanted to report was Mr. Armstrong losing. Looks like it's back to calumniating America in the abstract.

[All emphases added.]

Lance's achievement, THIS year, has to stand as one of the great ironies of history. Beating the weasels at their own game on their own turf. Now all we have to do is get Bush re-elected and the victory will be complete.

"Victor, when are you arriving in the US? I see that Spain is again trying to help. Keep the faith, brother!

"NATO agreed Friday to send up to 2,000 Spanish and Italian troops to bolster security for Afghanistan's presidential elections...."

Hi Andy, next 9 of august i will be in Manhattan for three weeks working in BRAVO, hispanic ad agency as a copywriter.
Afterwards i'm going to Savannah to enjoy the warm and lovely deep south for a week eend.

About the troops, don't relay much in it, it's just those fck socialist trying to clean their image after what they did in Irak.
If a place needs troops roght now that place is Irak. Spanish socialist don't believe in USA war against terror.
People of USA, remember this very well, NEVER NEVER relay in spanish socialist, they are much more antiamerican even than french left wing.

Great Victor. Mannhatten to Savannah, that's quite a contrast.

I'm sure you will enjoy both places. If you can, try to hit DC as well....

We are your overlord.

From the land where Jerry Lewis is considered a legend, it is not surprising. The French are the enemies of freedom and of the American people. They did not help us one bit during our Revolution. Our forefathers helped themselves, sacrificing their lives, wealth and sacred honor to form this new country of ours. All the French ever did was send a few "fighters" and an architect named L'Effant. And that's only because they only wanted to annoy the Brits for losing Quebec. Now that Iraq is knocked off the "Axis of Evil", France naturally takes its place.

Pro-Freedom. Pro-Progress. Anti-French-terrorism.

Pro-freedom,

Please do not let your ire at the present country of France dismiss the genuine and helpful assistance that was given to America in her struggle to be free.

For you will sound not unlike the french men and women of today who sneer at the efforts of America's soldiers in WWI and WWII.

Do you want to be as they?
I thought not.

Valerie, Texas

I can understand your concerns. The last thing I want to do is trivialize the American Revolution. However, let's not forget that they (the French) love to think of themselves as morally superior to the rest of the world, so that they would then be immune to any criticism of them.

Here's what we know:

- French navy ships attempted to disrupt our trade not long after independence by taking over a bunch of merchant ships.

- Charles De Gaulle kicked out our military not long after WWII.

- Paris is home of a bunch of anti-U.S. so-called intellectual luminaries who suck up valuable resources by just breathing.

- It is very possible that there are many French government officials and employees who are terrorist sympathizers and are secretly working with terrorists to undermine U.S. interests. It's only a matter of time before a brave investigative reporter will uncover that treasure trove of stuff, although I tend to doubt that, given the ideological leanings of the press corps.

It's not a leap in logic to assume that much of the anti-U.S. terrorist activity could have assistance in France. After all, it was the French who were among those happy about 9/11. Much of French culture is anti-Americanism. I know that to some people it is sickening to say this, and I try to be understanding. But somebody has to say it. It's already in the back of the minds of people who have extensive knowledge of that place. Books have been written about it (Revel's book, in particular).

It can be hard to comtemplate the possibility that a nation you thought to be good is really an enemy. You struggle over whether what you think you know is true or not. However, keep the following in mind: No amount of good we did in the world has stopped the anti-Americans from fomenting their hate and vitriol around the world. Al Qaeda isn't going to stop because we participate in some UN food program in a poor nation. Sometimes, enemies must be faced up to. I don't know if our government is ready to face up to the fact that one of our enemies is one who calls itself a "friend" of ours.

I have a bracelet that my Grandmother gave me. It
has several names but I can't put them together. I believe it has to do with WWII. The names are Lorraine,Paris,Flandre,Normandie,Alsace,Bretagne.
Can you tell me what all these names mean or what they have in common. Thanks so much, Bridgette

Bridgette,

You have posted your query too deep. This thread is, for all intents and purposes, dormant. Try e-mailing the folk at E-Nough! for a hand:

e-nough@e-nough.hmdnsgroup.com

Good luck,
DGB