Jack is doing dandy.

Paradoxically, just as Jack quits, his positives skyrocket into the high oxygen-thin twenties -- the highest in our tracking, 29% -- and his no-confidence numbers all but disappear at 69%. Extrapolating these tremendous gains into a potential candidacy, had Jack chosen to give it a go, well, he might've culled a full 6%-7% of the vote as an eliminated candidate in the 1er tour.

QUESTION:

"Do you have confidence, some confidence, not much confidence, or no confidence in Jack Chirac to solve the problems that currently arise in France?"

THE LOVE COMES TOO LATE
The Closer Jack's Exit, The Greater The Love

Unable to sell bon-papa Jack, unable to create an international crisis (and here and here) from which France would beg him to stay and smooth down, Jack was left to carefully weigh the enormous pleasure of banjaxing Sarko's candidacy against the personal embarrassment of his polling some 80 points lower than last election. As these sorts of things go with Jack, the high principle of self won out over the passing pleasure of cutting a little political throat.

Ah, to think, had Jack only quit earlier -- say, in 1997 -- why he might be polling in the heady 30s today. But as they say, it is in hindsight that France is betrayed.

Follow the incredible -- inspiring! -- low-to-highish-low ascent of Jack over the past several months here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

PFFT (What is this?): Assez bien ! ½ | Rayonnement français 0