FRANCE

There has been much sane commentary on the collapse of the EU constitution in France. I’m happy, because I am not a believer in a politically unified Europe, although I’m a strong supporter of free trade and free movement on the European continent. I’m happy also because it means that Britain will be less isolated and free from a deeper union. But a little realism is in order. The reason the French voted against the constitution is primarily because they fear an open market, a global economy and a free economy. Yes, this was a protest against the results of the current policies – economic stagnation. But it was also a vote to intensify the current policies, not reverse them. The vote makes economic reforms harder not easier; and will probably mean even worse times for the euro-area economy. This isn’t good for Europe, for the prospect of Angela Merkel’s reforms in Germany, and for the U.S. Chirac lost in part because he wasn’t anti-Anglo-American enough. Every day, I feel more amazed at what Margaret Thatcher achieved for Britain. Without her, Britain would be in the same state as France: deadlocked in decline with no one bold enough to shake the whole system up. She made all the difference.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL FOR KERRY: Why is an ostensibly independent human rights group allowing its officials to contribute to political campaigns? Mike Petrelis has the details.

EMAIL OF THE DAY: “We already have a perfect historical analog for your support of non-reciprocal Geneva adherence – the fact that the the US stuck to the Geneva rules in its treatment of Japanese POWs, despite the fact that Imperial Japan not only refused to reciprocate but treated our POWs in the vilest ways imaginable. There would, no doubt, have been widespread public support among the American people for reciprocal mistreatment of Japanese POWs – but the Roosevelt Administration refused to do so for one simple reason: we wanted Japan afterwards to be a peaceful, non-occupied nation, and mistreating their POWs was not the way to accomplish this. This factor is even more important in the War Against Megaterrorism — we can hardly occupy the entire Moslem world, even briefly — but the self-indulgent dimwits currently running the government refuse to see this, and we will all end up paying for it.”

GOD’S PHONE COMPANY: Some wonderful telemarketing tapes can be listened to here, with callers urging listeners to switch to “Christian” telephone companies, if they object to same-sex marriage. The religious right doesn’t sleep. If a company allows domestic partnerships, or if it supports the ACLU or gay rights groups, they need to be boycotted. Money quote: “Together, you and I will destroy the gays.” “Exactly.” Feel the love of Jesus.