On Thu, 1 Sep 2005 13:26:00 +0200, Montesquiou wrote:

But, on the contrary with the champion
of the 80's, Lance Armstrong recently declared to have some political
ambitions. This case is thus not only the occasion for him to show his
political opinions (he was seen with George W. Bush at Crawford), and to cut
the sport links which seemed to link him with France, to join this category
of political agitators who, on both sides of the Atlantic, disappoint much
more than they gather, and poison the relations between Paris and
Washington. One would undoubtedly have hoped better from a former sportsman.

Barthélémy Courmont is a researcher of the IRIS (Institute of International
and Strategic Research). He recently wrote "the wounded empire : Washington
facing with asymmetry", Montreal, PUQ, 2005 and "America of Bush: stakes of
a reelection", Paris, CVMag, 2005.

The above makes this hogwash. Whatever Lance Armstrong's true
political leanings, making a brief appearance with the President at a
non-political photo op means nothing. There are entire teams from
various universities that your researcher has decided can only go into
politics as Republicans. Amazingly enough, we even have ultra-liberal
politicians that are members of our JCC that have attended White House
dinners. What to make of that?

Whatever his merits in other areas, your researcher is an ass when it
comes to U.S. politics.

And his objectiveness is on full display with taking a causal comment
or two about possibly running for office in the future and making that
into Lance Armstrong being a 'political agitator'. It is low grade
hogwash.

Curtis L. Russell
Odenton, MD (USA)
Just someone on two wheels...