France Elects Conservative President; Freedom Fries For Everyone

The big political news of the weekend was the French presidential election (with an envious 85% turnout rate). Conservative candidate Nicolas Sarkozy won the very close race, pledging in victory to be a uniter, not a divider.

Hopefully any similiarities between France's new leader and our own begins and ends there.

His reform package contains the usual conservative go-tos... 'promising to loosen rigid labor laws, trim fat from the public service, cut taxes and wage war on unemployment.' Etc. The first three (and maybe the fourth?) haven't exactly worked out for our country, but maybe they polish turds better in France.

But Sarkozy also said in victory that "a great nation like the United States has the duty to not create obstacles in the struggle against global warming." A reminder that conservatism in Europe is not as insane as American's warped brand.

At the least, the right's kneejerk anti-Europeanism may disappear for a few days.