Macron turns into unlikeable working-class-bashing douche

[Tender Branson]

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/05/emmanuel-macron-sparks-furore-telling-protesting-workers-stop

[mvd10]

Macron really should refrain from making these comments and focus on reforming France (that one time when he called factory workers illiterate was terrible). But I don't really feel sorry for the people ravaging Paris every time the French government tries to reform the labour market (and didn't he mean them by "slackers"?). Anyway, hopefully they'll stop complaining when Macron's flawless beautiful economic reforms help France achieve full employment by the 2020s .

[dead0man]

Were the protesting workers "wreaking havoc"? 

[parochial boy]

He always was one, just can't hide anymore now that everyone hates him

[136or142]

I'm sure people who are much more familiar with French politics than I am will have a better sense of whether my point makes sense, but I think the comparison to the Thatcher government here is not only apt, but is entirely the comparison Macron wants.

As Thatcher said "this lady is not for turning" I think Macron knows that as his economic reforms are being implemented there will be an enormous number of strikes and Macron is deliberately creating an image of a tough, uncaring semi dictatorial leader to show that he won't be intimidated in the face of these strikes and that he no striker should expect him to back down.

Although it took the Falklands War in the U.K to get Thatcher reelected, Thatcher's tough style ultimately paid off in terms of getting her reforms through and in terms of long term electoral success (for her Conservative Party, anyway.)

[JA]

He always was one, just can't hide anymore now that everyone hates him

Yeah, literally nothing about this is new for him. This is why I told people on this forum, back when it was the height of the French election, that I wouldn't have voted for him and that he'd ultimately strengthen the far-right in France.

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[Obama-Biden Democrat]

Ugh cosmopolitan technocrats like him are vile. A lot of Democrats love this guy, I hate to say.

[Beet]

He always was one, just can't hide anymore now that everyone hates him

Yeah, literally nothing about this is new for him. This is why I told people on this forum, back when it was the height of the French election, that I wouldn't have voted for him and that he'd ultimately strengthen the far-right in France.

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Well, if the Left had actually gotten it sh*t together and actually united behind a candidate, they could've actually won, but no, as usual, infighting.

[Mr. Smith]

He always was one, just can't hide anymore now that everyone hates him

Yeah, literally nothing about this is new for him. This is why I told people on this forum, back when it was the height of the French election, that I wouldn't have voted for him and that he'd ultimately strengthen the far-right in France.

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Well, if the Left had actually gotten it sh*t together and actually united behind a candidate, they could've actually won, but no, as usual, infighting.

Infighting was everywhere, that's how Macron got in. And had Hamon somehow dropped out and his supporters given just enough to put Melenchon over the line, the battle would've been a fight against the far-left, which would've strengthened the far-right anyway.

It'd have taken Fillon vs Melenchon, and to get a Melenchon win [somehow] to stop this outcome.

[Beet]

He always was one, just can't hide anymore now that everyone hates him

Yeah, literally nothing about this is new for him. This is why I told people on this forum, back when it was the height of the French election, that I wouldn't have voted for him and that he'd ultimately strengthen the far-right in France.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Well, if the Left had actually gotten it sh*t together and actually united behind a candidate, they could've actually won, but no, as usual, infighting.

Infighting was everywhere, that's how Macron got in. And had Hamon somehow dropped out and his supporters given just enough to put Melenchon over the line, the battle would've been a fight against the far-left, which would've strengthened the far-right anyway.

It'd have taken Fillon vs Melenchon, and to get a Melenchon win [somehow] to stop this outcome.

Melenchon could've defeated Le Pen.

[Former President tack50]

He always was one, just can't hide anymore now that everyone hates him

Yeah, literally nothing about this is new for him. This is why I told people on this forum, back when it was the height of the French election, that I wouldn't have voted for him and that he'd ultimately strengthen the far-right in France.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Well, if the Left had actually gotten it sh*t together and actually united behind a candidate, they could've actually won, but no, as usual, infighting.

Infighting was everywhere, that's how Macron got in. And had Hamon somehow dropped out and his supporters given just enough to put Melenchon over the line, the battle would've been a fight against the far-left, which would've strengthened the far-right anyway.

It'd have taken Fillon vs Melenchon, and to get a Melenchon win [somehow] to stop this outcome.

Melenchon could've defeated Le Pen.

Yeah, iirc Le Pen lost against everyone, and only against Fillon did she have a remote chance (55-45 for Fillon). Against Melenchon polls were predicting 60-40 for him iirc.

[mvd10]

I doubt Mélenchon would have defeated Fillon. Mélenchon led him in the polls, but there wasn't much attention for the possibility as they basically were tied for third in the polls. The entire global establishment probably would rush to Fillon in a Mélenchon vs Fillon match-up because of Mélenchon's EU views, and the stock market would have crashed. I think that might have been enough to push Fillon over the top (and Macron probably would have endorsed Fillon as well). Pensioners voted for Macron en masse because they knew Le Pen's EU plan would screw them (despite agreeing with Le Pen on basically everything else lol). Meanwhile Fillon basically was the pensioners' candidate (dude literally got 45% of people aged 70 or over in the first round) while Mélenchon would be an even worse fit for them.

[President Johnson]

I doubt Mélenchon would have defeated Fillon. Mélenchon led him in the polls, but there wasn't much attention for the possibility as they basically were tied for third in the polls. The entire global establishment probably would rush to Fillon in a Mélenchon vs Fillon match-up because of Mélenchon's EU views, and the stock market would have crashed. I think that might have been enough to push Fillon over the top (and Macron probably would have endorsed Fillon as well). Pensioners voted for Macron en masse because they knew Le Pen's EU plan would screw them (despite agreeing with Le Pen on basically everything else lol). Meanwhile Fillon basically was the pensioners' candidate (dude literally got 45% of people aged 70 or over in the first round) while Mélenchon would be an even worse fit for them.

I agree that Fillon would have won against Melenchon. Some of Le Pen's voters would have defected to Fillon (if not most), because he's conservative and against too much immigration.

[swl]

Macron was in a small town visiting a factory that is firing people. He was received by a group of demonstrators from the labor unions. Some local official told him that there is a another factory 10 kilometers away that is hiring and struggles to find employees.
Macron replied that the demonstrators should look for work there instead of wreaking havoc.

[America Needs R'hllor]

Macron really should refrain from making these comments and focus on reforming France (that one time when he called factory workers illiterate was terrible).

Agreed. This statement was terrible and he really should've given a stronger apology.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

"Turns into"?

I'd rather say he merely showed his true colors.

[Tirnam]

Macron was in a small town visiting a factory that is firing people. He was received by a group of demonstrators from the labor unions. Some local official told him that there is a another factory 10 kilometers away that is hiring and struggles to find employees.
Macron replied that the demonstrators should look for work there instead of wreaking havoc.

Also some of the workers threatened to blow up the factory if all the jobs are not saved.
But even if the behavior of some people is inacceptable that doesn't allow the President to speak like that.

But it seems that it doesn't hurt him, a new poll shows today that he regains some popularity (confirmed by other pollsters since the end of September).

[Figueira]

Maybe I should have Atlas-endorsed Melenchon after all.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Turns? People didn't realize that he was a far right-wing corporatist before? Even Fillon or Le Pen would have been slightly better.

[heatcharger]

Turns? People didn't realize that he was a far right-wing corporatist before? Even Fillon or Le Pen would have been slightly better.

Okay so jfern supporting a far-right nationalist over a centrist is completely predictable, but supporting a corrupt center-right reformist like Fillon over one as well? I cannot say I expected that.

As for what Macron said here, it's in pretty poor taste.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Turns? People didn't realize that he was a far right-wing corporatist before? Even Fillon or Le Pen would have been slightly better.

Okay so jfern supporting a far-right nationalist over a centrist is completely predictable, but supporting a corrupt center-right reformist like Fillon over one as well? I cannot say I expected that.

As for what Macron said here, it's in pretty poor taste.

I support none of the 3 candidates I mentioned. I supported Melenchon and supported Hamon before I saw that Melenchon had a better chance. I would have abstained in any runoff that didn't have one of those 2 candidates.

[heatcharger]

Turns? People didn't realize that he was a far right-wing corporatist before? Even Fillon or Le Pen would have been slightly better.

Okay so jfern supporting a far-right nationalist over a centrist is completely predictable, but supporting a corrupt center-right reformist like Fillon over one as well? I cannot say I expected that.

As for what Macron said here, it's in pretty poor taste.

I support none of the 3 candidates I mentioned. I supported Melenchon and supported Hamon before I saw that Melenchon had a better chance.

Stop obfuscating as usual. You just said:

Even Fillon or Le Pen would have been slightly better.

It's an open-and-shut case. We know you have an affinity for certain right-wingers when necessary.

[mvd10]

Turns? People didn't realize that he was a far right-wing corporatist before? Even Fillon or Le Pen would have been slightly better.

Macron is just a more reformist version of Hollande (Third Way). Fillon would have been (or he would have tried to be) France's Thatcher. Macron wanted to cut spending by 60 billion, Fillon by 100 billion, Macron wanted some labour reforms, Fillon wanted to reduce the labour code from 3400 pages to 150 pages, Macron wanted to keep the 35 hour work week somewhat intact, Fillon wanted to repeal it entirely. Macron promised to cut 120,000 public sector jobs, Fillon wanted to cut 500,000 public sector jobs. And Fillon wanted to slash taxes by 50 billion (40 billion for businesses) while Macron only cuts them by 20 billion. Fillon also was really socially conservative, while Macron is quite liberal on social issues.

It's a shame Fillon turned out to be hilariously corrupt, he truly could have made France great again . I still would have voted for him (I'm a VVD member so I'm kinda used to crooked politicians ).

Anyway, Political Compass also claimed that Macron to the right of Fillon on economic issues, so perhaps that's where his claim comes from.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Anyway, Political Compass also claimed that Macron to the right of Fillon on economic issues, so perhaps that's where his claim comes from.

If so....taking Political Compass seriously. LOL!

[136or142]

I think this graph may go some way to explaining how Macron can be both a liberal while trying to implement some economic policies that are seen as right wing in France.  Although the mix of taxes makes a difference (Denmark has a strong economy) the mainstream economic view is that government spending higher than around 40% of GDP produces a drag on an economy.