People Features
French President Sarkozy loses it on Lake Winnipesaukee
By Stone Martindale Aug 6, 2007, 16:19 GMT
On the Web
Latest Headlines in People
- 1. UG with Embassy Celebrates 2012 Grammy Nominations Celebration Pictures
- 2. Music Loves Fashion 2012 Grammy Black Tie Edition Celebration Pictures
- 3. Ice-T and Coco Celebrate the Second Season of Ice Loves Coco Pictures
- 4. JWoww Farley 26th Birthday Celebration at Gallery Nightclub in Las Vegas Pictures
- 5. Suzanne Shaw splits from husband
Older Talkback
page: 1
I like a man that knows his mind. Good for him. I like Mr. Sarkosy more now.
When was the last time an American vessel was forcibly boarded by a French commanded man o'war? Mon Dieu! Break out the cutlasses! Aux armes!
Americans don't realize it is insulting to French to take their picture without permission. Paparazzi would be drawn and quartered in France.
It's good that Nicolas Sarkozy stood up for himself and his family; however, his French meant nothing to the two others. Maybe he should learn English being in the US just like he makes it a law to know French when staying in France. If I didn't know French (I'm fluent) and was staying in France for some time, I would make sure I did a service to the country and learn some of the language (even if just enough to get by). That goes for any country I should visit.
Why are americans so lame that when faced with another culture they turn into their real ugly homophobic fanatcal selves.
he's not gay morons, he just want s his privacy,period
Paparazzi suck.
Is there some constitutional reason it's not legal to shoot paparazzi?
Yes, while it is insulting to French elites in France to have their picture taken, they should know that they are no longer in a country where the paparazzi is as considerate. They are nothing but sharks here. It does suck, is rude, and paparazzi should just leave everyone alone when they are with their family and friends doing personal things, but they unfortunately don't.
Sacre Blue! Ze papparazzi are scum! Vas-y mon vieux! Board zem and off with zer heads!
I think the journalists were just doing their job, and being a famous person, he is used to that already. His reaction seems a bit odd, since he knows extremely well how to manage the media and his image - how do you think he get elected ? He's been literally delighted for so many years with paprazzi shots of him and his family just in order to get fame. How come he suddenly changed his attitude ? Sarkozy's reaction simply looks like another politician's image-building operation.
A president with a hothead? Not good for France's future. Hotheads are usally associated with idiots and the uneducated.
Sarkozy is ugly and looks like a retard ... I hate him ... and I hate his soul ... I hope they piss him off so much he gets a heart attack and dies
Was it not France where the popporatzi most likely killed Princess Di? I do not undersatnd how the US Popporatzi is any worse that that in France. In fact I think they are a better breed. Did they not stop and follow his wishes? I think all popporatzi is ugly.
Typical Euro Superiority , kiss the Royal King Queens as* . Some of you people make me sick ....
'Americans don't realize it is insulting to French to take their picture without permission. Paparazzi would be drawn and quartered in France.'
The guys chasing Lady Di through Paris must not have gotten your memo...
Typically French, doesn't surprise me one bit. They all expect everyone to speak French, even if they're visiting another country. Shouldn't be hard even for French to learn some English, most insults only have 4 letters.
Heck happy or mad at least he has an emotion! What did Chirac do beside stay inside curled up in a fetal position?
Who cares if it is offensive to the French if somebody takes their picture without permission? We don't keep a book in our pockets about every insane sensitivity on the planet.
It was HIS responsibility to communicate his issue rationally. I would have decked him, if he approached me in a violent manner and screamed at me.
I guarantee that the American people would make sure that I didn't stay in jail for very long. It would be a clear case of self-defense.
My french isn't perfect but I think he screamed...
'My countrymen are SICK AND TIRED of losing to you Americans and American Teams in the Tour de France year after year! Damn you Discovery Team!!!....and damn you Lance Armstrong!!!'
I completly understand his frustration.
We still only have Fox's feedback: 'Truth is out there'.
Have your say Scully.
They should have knocked his but right out of their boat and into the water. And spit on him for good measure.
LoL.. what a corn. Vule bucu se ase twa - snitches. Haha (dunno wtf that means, heard lil wayne say it). But yea I'm sure they could have decked him with out any wrong doing, he did come on THEIR boat - which I believe is private property, so it's self defense. Poper's don't care when anybody else is annoyed at them for taking flicks, why should they grant his wishes, who the f*ck is he? Go to Canada.
Paparazzi are not journalists!
Quel bled de beauf mdr!!
Aussi subtile que le yatch au lendemain de la 'victoire' ..
I shocked that no one has commented on the fact that the classic film 'What about Bob?' was set at Lake Winnipesaukee.
Perhaps something in the water encourages manic antics.
Le President de France était dans l'état de New Hampshire. On parle là certainement le francais! C'est presque une province du Canada.
Si vous ne parlez pas le francais, vous devez quitter Nouvelle Hampshire.
Evan, I vaguely recall a princess being persued by paparazzi through the streets of Paris...hung, drawn and quartered presumably?
The press should allow the man to relax, get a suntan and maybe catch a few fish. Of all the places in the world President Sarkozy could have chosen to take his family on vacation he decided upon our beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. As a Granite Stater I consider this an honor and suggest that his privacy should be respected. The man came here to get away from his workaday world for a few days. Let him enjoy our abundant natural beauty, sunshine and fresh air.
Why can't we be civil to our visitors? Some days tourists won't come, then we will ask 'why don't they like us?'
I understand Dr. Marvin. A vacation....a vacation from my problems.
Baby steps get on the Paparazzi boat...
Baby steps get on the Paparazzi boat...
Baby steps get on the Paparazzi boat...
I'M SAILING!....I'M SAILING!!!
That was a classic movie...sounds like a fun lake.
...gave Frenchie a chubby.
He's exposed for selling out his countrymen who are, naturally, moving to Linux.
Thanks for the comment Evan,
'Evan Aug 6th, 2007 - 17:37:19'
'Americans don't realize it is insulting to French to take their picture without permission. Paparazzi would be drawn and quartered in France.'
Now where was it that Princess Diana was when she died trying to get away from a pack of rabid paparazzi? Oh, Yeah, France!
Can you blame the man. I'd smack the snot out of anyone taking pictures of my kids in their bathing suits from the bushes (or a boat across the way), but that's just me.
As the saying goes, When in Rome, do as the Romans...
The AP Photog and freelance writer (real American press not PAPARAZZI's) did check in with the security detail prior to being in the area. The French President was lucky he wasn't some Joe American Nascar fan that would of punched his lights out, poured his Budwieser over his head and threw him overboard to let his family embarrissingly pull him out of the drink.
Being a diplomat, he should of known there was a diplomatic way to approach the scenario.
They were way beyond the bouy marking the safe zone. They weren't chasing them like Princess Dianna. They had a Secret Service detail and Marine Police patrolling the perimeter, who should of been made aware of the situation and could of defused the matter at hand by telling them their proximity was making the diplomats uneasy.
In America, if the French president hit any of them, this could of been considered assault but he would of declared diplomatic immunity. Considering in the past the French attitude was to wait to jump into anything, Maybe this is a reflection of the new government...
Of course, no one felt threatened by his bizarre behavior - after all he is French and a Frenchman would be too spineless to actually get physical (except, perhaps with their poodles).
Quelle idée de passer ses vacances dans ce pays de gros beaufs...
if i were a photographer and some lunatic jumped on my boat screaming things i could not understand i would have cleaned his clock. the french president is lucky, can you imagine what would have happened if one of the photagraphers felt threatened and responded accordingly. why didn't the secret service stop him, maybe they wanted to see him make an ass out of himself. all immigrants, illeagal, temporary and all others should learn our laws rules and customs and assimilate.
Well done, mon ami Sarko! I still say the Golden Age of Man is just around the corner (i have been saying this since before the French elections.) Harper is in Canada, Sarkozy in France, Merkel in Germany. If only the Brits will elect Cameron in the UK and Americans come to their senses and embrace Guiliani we will, for once, have five young pragmatic and progressive Conservatives (a la Reagan)who believe in Democracy and hold genuine liking and respect for one another leading the World!! Believe me, folks, the Age of Aquarius is within our grasp. Let's seize the day!!!
What a perplexing problem, how do we protect the world's elite class? Appartently the Secret Service and Marine Patrol were inadequate. What standard should we use, that no trivial matter or person ever be exposed to our planet's rulers? It seems that for this politician, photos are a no-no but I read nothing about throngs of people. Would that be better? Should Americans load up their jet skis and go out for a personal look see? We could organize a picnic and take boat rides out to his place. Later, after the sight seeing, we could break out the desert and everybody can eat cake!
The AP employee should have removed him from his boat and had him charged..... The rude little French man!! Pictures of him being arrested would have been great to see.
Who gives a common rats ass. This is a story?!?!...people are dumb enough to get emotional about THIS story? Guys on vacation, gets a little un-diplomatic when his vacation is temporarily marred by paparazzi. Americans respond: Boo Paparazzi, Boo French. This is news?...really?
What you American folks may not know, is that a law protects private life in France. Sarkozy, whose children we never saw before the day he was made president (normal to us) is holidaying with his family. During his press conference he asked for tranquility, that's why he reacted to those journalists, or should I say paparazzi? There was no sound information in such picts, just intrusion into his private life. French people are pretty sick at this harrassment and I could sum up their reactions by 'leave them quiet'. Foutez leur la paix!!!!!!!!!!
gee, I wish I was on Lake Winnipesaukee right now, having a vacation..
wait, a vacation, what's that?
where you can actually take a week, or two and chill with your family or do nothing?
THATS right, it's that crazy thing European types get to do the ENTIRE month of August, along with not worrying if they get sick or need time off for work..
silly silly me, back to work...make my corporate bosses richer so they can join Sarkozy for a Pernod by the pool...they never miss their seasonal 'vacances' mon dieu, Gstaad and St Barts awaits too...
He showed a lot of restraint as far as I'm concerned. The guys in his trunks with his family after a rough election and these blood suckers seek him out.
What a way to make a buck!
He's a bit nervous for a guy with a nuclear bomb. Very French, he and himself, nothing else.
This is not a problem of cultural misunderstanding. Paparazzi suck whether they are based in the U.S., Europe or anyplace else for that mater. I won't criticize the President's actions at all.
BTY Sam, based on your comment, you suck to...
Have a nice day.
'What About Bob' was filmed in New York State. Richard Dryfuss was in 'Once Around' with Holly Hunter which was filmed here in Wolfeboro. He enjoyed his visit here so much he wanted the lake in 'What About Bob' to be called Lake Winnipesaukee. Fortunately, we in Wolfeboro have a great many 'famous people' visiting here....and living here during the summers. They love it because they are left to enjoy their privacy. We also show respect for those who deserve it and ignore those who don't. Some of the comments made on this blog deserve to be ignored.
page: 1
Your Talkback on this Story