Sem papas na língua - no papes in the tongue

Our Crusoe tent in Manchester by the sea
Originally uploaded by pmdcsb.

Our neighbour Gabrieli, the gubernatorial candidate, speaks clearly: "Yes, I support same-sex marriage. And no, I strongly oppose the proposed constitutional amendment. Same-sex couples deserve all of the rights and responsibilities of marriage as heterosexual couples, and I will strongly oppose any proposals that seek to limit this right." Even in MA this is strong speak, and makes our other neighbour, John Kerry, look even lamer. Poor guy, he is actually very nice! a better man than the campaigner.

Across the ocean, Ségolène Royal takes on the male ENA-dominated unchangeing barons of the french politics: "L'audace de Mme Royal est réelle. Elle se moque des tabous, parle sans langue de bois et avance des propositions de nature à hérisser une partie de ses amis politiques. Elle a esquissé une doctrine de fermeté qui bouscule les conceptions habituelles de la gauche. Elle a engagé le combat avec le chef de file de la droite, Nicolas Sarkozy, sur le terrain favori de ce dernier : la sécurité et l'autorité." Et en plus elle est mignonne.

Here's hoping politics will rise to the challenges.