Paris Lights: Everyone Wants a Sarkozy

By Nidra Poller, PJM Paris Editor

The Paris Blues column has become Paris Lights, as an utterly new presidential style is electrifying the nation with high spirited optimism and bold strokes such as naming Bernard Kouchner, founder of Doctors without Borders, as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Almost overnight France moves from object of contempt to a role model for the Western world.

18th Week in progress - Thompson, Richardson continue to ride high in 17th Week - Vote once a week - Get a Widget for you site Over 115,000 votes have been cast in the weekly PAJAMAS MEDIA PRESIDENTIAL STRAW POLL. The eighteenth week has officially begun.

DON’T FORGET: You can put the poll on your website or blog with our free voting widget and become a precinct in the Pajamas Media Straw Poll. Learn how the readers of your site are voting and compare it the the total.

What If We Don't Say "I Do": Amy Alkon would like to see the institution of marriage get a divorce from the government. (Advice Goddess)

Live in New York on Saturday Night ... Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for … Jimmeee Carter! (Armavirumque)

It's Not That Easy Being Green: Shrek the Third may be raking in the bucks, but a look through the blogosphere finds fans disappointed, as are the critics….

Top Five Political Video Clips This Week: (The Blue State)

And the Snappy Comeback Award Goes To... Republican National Committee spokeswoman Amber Wilkerson.

Former President Jimmy Carter declared, “I think as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world, this administration has been the worst in history,” Carter told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in an interview promoting his new audiobook series, “Sunday Mornings in Plains,” a collection of weekly Bible lessons.

Wilkerson zinged back: “Apparently, Sunday mornings in Plains for former President Carter includes hurling reckless accusations at your fellow man.”

"Please Pray For My Town... Everyone Thought This Town Was Safe" That’s what a stunned resident of Moscow, Idaho writes on his MySpace blog after law enforcement officers stormed the church where a shooter hid after wounding three in a courthouse ambush and found the body of the likely gunman and another man. (AP/Breitbart)

Lebanese Army Battles Palestinian al-Qaida allies: Lebanese forces clashed with militants from the Fatah Islam militant group — which has alleged links to al- Qaida — in the northern city of Tripoli and at an adjacent Palestinian refugee camp. The fighting injured 19 soldiers and 14 police officers, report security officials said, and camp residents say at least 12 civilians were killed or wounded.

Full report and analysis at From Beirut to the Beltway. Emotional venting at Lebanese Blogger Forum. “I am fed up! Surrounded by an enemy for a southern neighbor, and a pest of brotherhood on our northern and eastern border, we just needed creepy guests in the Palestinian Camps to make our life perfect!”

Where's The Beef? Not in the Candy Bar Anymore: The great British chocolate scandal is settling down after vegetarians and folks who keep kosher were outraged to discover animal products were being used in Mars Bars, Snickers, and Twix. (BBC)

The Unbelievable Truth (ers):

So here’s how it went down — on Fox News, John Gibson and Michelle Malkin accuse Ron Paul of catching the 9/11 Truther Virus. Andrew Sullivan cries foul, calling it a ‘smear’

David Weigel at Hit and Run, backs him up, with video evidence of Paul interacting with Truthers (shown above) and charges that Malkin misrepresented Paul.

Malkin responds, making some corrections to her statements in her description of the video, but standing by her basic argument, that Paul has an indelible “Truther-y stain.” She thinks the video proves her point.

Meanwhile, LGF’s Charles Johnson unveils a new poll specially designed for Ron Paul supporters. Johnson and Tammy Bruce discussed the whole brou-ha-ha on Bruce’s radio show. Charles had the funniest line: “I think Paul’s campaign slogan should be ‘Ron Paul: Because Lyndon LaRouche Isn’t Running!” Hot Air has the audio.

Are You Safe? A former Volunteer notes Vladimir Putin feared the Peace Corps was a spy agency.