France's no longer ruling socialists have done some psychoanalysis of the new leader, and it's amusing to say the least.
PARIS (Reuters) - France's Socialist party on Friday accused Nicolas Sarkozy of suffering from "small man syndrome," saying this explained why the shorter-than-average president had proclaimed his reforms the biggest in decades.
The Socialists, who are still trying to recover from their double defeat in presidential and parliamentary elections earlier this year, have sharply criticized pension, social and civil service reforms Sarkozy announced this week.
Referring to Sarkozy's comments on Thursday that he was preparing "the biggest reform of the social model since the Liberation (of France)," Socialist spokesman Benoit Hamon said:
"In psychoanalysis, this is what you call the syndrome of the small man who considers that everything he does is bigger than anything that has ever happened," he told reporters.
"With Nicolas Sarkozy, all he does, all he touches, he considers it to be the greatest. In reality, we have never witnessed such a step backwards since the Liberation. On the social issue, as well as on immigration," Hamon said.
Just as in the United States, France's left seems to be incapable of considering a difference of political philosophy as anything less than either a personality disorder, rank stupidity, or the mark of evil. Let me give them a hint. There is plenty of thought on both sides of the political spectrum. Such derogatory labeling of your opponents, rather than demonstrating their flaws, demonstrates yours. If you can't attack the program, attack the messenger.
