Comments on: Kudos to French PM

By: calendar girl

calendar girl — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:33:37 +0000

Agree wholeheartedly with tvb, PaulL and GPT1 – the French PM’s apology was gracious over a matter that had been ramped well beyond its true significance.

In my view the premier award for hype goes to Wellington’s Mayor who pontificated for the best part of a week about damage to Wellington’s “brand” and New Zealand’s “brand’. Pseudo business-speak adds nothing to my limited regard for her leadership and communication skills.

By: Ratbiter

Ratbiter — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:42:38 +0000

“I hope [French PM Francois Fillon] tears the French Rugby Union a new orifice…”

Ah yes, that’s the game of Rugby for you. An outlet for our most macho to express their guilty, suppressed homo-eroticism since Eighteen-forty-whenever it was.

I doubt the French PM carries a lot of clout with the French Rugby Football Union however…?

By: GPT1

GPT1 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:48:06 +0000

I think it was close to inevitable. As I understand it Key had apologised for the assault – rightly or wrongly it was a ‘diplomatic incident’. It does seem a bit silly that a PM has to apologise for the silliness of a rugby player but I guess nations are represented by their sporting teams (and politicians are always keen for some reflected glory) and since when did life make sense? An apology graciously accepted. Time to move on.

By: Ratbiter

Ratbiter — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:41:05 +0000

At least there’s one good French bastard.

By: NOt1tocommentoften

NOt1tocommentoften — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:22:30 +0000

Ross – yes the French PM did resign. It is well documented. There are letters that were published.

By: backster

backster — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:59:02 +0000

TVB…….I agree lets move on.

By: PaulL

PaulL — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:55:20 +0000

In the scheme of things, it was a great apology. Getting an apology at all from the French PM is far better than the most grovelling apology imaginable from the French Rugby Union. I think it was a very honourable thing for him to do – he didn’t have to.

Agree it would be nice to get a proper apology for the Rainbow Warrior affair, but then again, an apology will make no difference on that one anyway.

By: tvb

tvb — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:53:18 +0000

The Embassy got involved. The Mayor got involved, it became blown way out of proportion. This is the least the French could do. The incident is very mysterious, now the poor chap is found in a river. Leave him alone, time to move on.

By: MikeG

MikeG — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:30:50 +0000

It was a crap apology – he only apologises for Bastareaud’s actions, not the cover-up by other players and team management.

By: niooki

niooki — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:29:13 +0000

“unexpected”… The PM only apologized because John Key did it before…

By: philu

philu — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:26:30 +0000

i think there is a stronger case for them to be made to apologise for decades of benchmark-settingly-dire french pop-music..

(and won’t someone think of the geese..?..)

phil(whoar.co.nz)

By: Ross Nixon

Ross Nixon — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:22:03 +0000

Can anyone confirm whether the French PM ever apologised for the Rainbow Warrior bombing (that was approved at the highest levels)?

By: philu

philu — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:21:51 +0000

that’s very ‘wise’ of you..wreck..

phil(whoar.co.nz)

By: wreck1080

wreck1080 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:15:18 +0000

I feel a bit sorry for the guy.

He is just 20, barely out of school. He was likely embarrassed about the incident and naively thought he was making a little white lie. Maybe he never even expected it to go outside the team?

The main failure is with the French management who should have put a lid on this before it became public.

While what he said was wrong, I think you have to take into account his youthful naivety.

After all, can anyone say they never said anything stupid without thinking of the consequences.

By: bringbackthebiff

bringbackthebiff — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:05:50 +0000

Yes Philu and the airforce too, oh wait a minute, Hulun Cluck already did that

By: philu

philu — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:00:33 +0000

so..we can stand-down/mothball the frigate..?..again..?

phil(whoar.co.nz)