Some U.S. lawmakers want to ban French water, wine and move troops from Germany
It figures that Tom DeLay would be in the middle of this half-assed idea....
WASHINGTON - Some members of Congress are suggesting the United States impose trade sanctions on France and withdraw U.S. troops from Germany to retaliate for opposition to U.S. policies on Iraq, the Washington Post reported Wednesday.
House Speaker Dennis Hastert has told associates he would like to target bottled French mineral water and wine, the paper said."France and Germany are losing credibility by the day and they are, I think, losing status in the world," the Post quoted House Majority Leader Tom DeLay as saying. "They are walking a fine line that is very dangerous."
Hastert has instructed Republican colleagues to determine whether Congress should pass laws that would new impose health standards on bottles of Evian and other French waters, the paper said.
According to the Beverage Marketing Corporation, a U.S. research firm France is the leading exporter of water to the United States and sold 65 million gallons (147 million liters) in 2001.
The Post said the speaker also is exploring whether the United States should require "bright orange warning labels" on French wines that are clarified with bovine blood.
"People should know how the French make their wine, " the Post quoted Hastert spokesman John Feehery as saying.
Gee, if these maroons really want to make an impact, perhaps they could ban the installation of bidets in hotel rooms and ban re-runs of Stalag 13. That'll show those pesky Krauts and Frogs that we mean bidness.
Yeah, we need some more damn laws! What I hope this accomplishes is that people will independently decide to boycott their products. Not bloody likely, and not effective, but it makes me feel better.
[bovine blood???? in wine? *gag*hack*cough* gimme that bottle of Wild Turkey...]
I'm with you on that one, Scott....
Someone hit the "common sense" button....oh..that's right we're talking DeLay here.
nevermind.
I am boycotting French and German products. Food and drink are easy. But we don't manufacture much anymore so one is sort of stuck if you don't buy imports and that rewards China.
It a real pain reading all those tiny labels too.
My Grandfather was French.Fought in WW1. Came to the U.S. and raised his family (my mother). He always told me the French were the whores of the world. Would sell to the worst for false power and cash. The Old British Empire left a legacy of schools, education and public works (see India)....The French left a legacy of bloodshed, disorder,& socialism (see anywhere they were). The classic example of French Democracy was the Guillotine and the Mob. That is why we have a Republic. Truth is France is the birthplace of socialism with the Babeuists, Robespierre, etc. Why do you think Marx, Ho Chi Minh, and others spent time there....We should act as though they don't exist and just work with all the nations around them. As PJ O'Rourke said...The French are only good at planting Trees along the Champs Elysee'...and that is because the Germans like to march in the shade. And if you think Napoleonic France was significant, remember Napoleon wasn't French, he was Corsican.