Question: If President George W. Bush has made Europe such a hotbed of anti-Americanism, why did the pro-U.S. Sarkozy just win election to lead France’s government, after the generally-pro-American Merkel won a similar victory a year or two back in Germany? Huh??? Could it be that the American left was wrong? Bush has his faults, many of them, and they have been outlined at length in many of my columns. But his steadfastness can, over time, earn respect — and certainly, his free-marker principles, which were heartily embraced by Sarkozy, continue to have appeal when championed by a persuasive leader.

Meanwhile, if France has seen the error of its ways enough to elect Sarkozy in an election with a huge turnout, well, then, for the first time in years, we should all shout with joy: Vive La France!!!