August 02, 2006

De-Frenched Fries Stripped of "Freedom" Mr. Ney, who was then the chairman of the House Administration Committee, which oversees the cafeterias, gleefully announced the change at the height of anti-French sentiment, when Paris scolded Washington that the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq was premature. "This action today is a small but symbolic effort to show the strong displeasure of many on Capitol Hill with the actions of our so-called ally, France," he said on March 11, 2003. [When asked why the name was changed back to french fries,]. . . "We don't have a comment for your story," said a spokeswoman for Mr. Ney. Lifted from Le Bleu

"The change apparently reflects shifting public attitudes. A Pew Global Attitudes survey in June revealed a sharply different opinion of France from the days at the beginning of the war in Iraq. Fifty-two percent of Americans surveyed now have a favorable impression of France, up from 46 percent last year and 29 percent in May 2003. Before the Iraq war, 79 percent of Americans said they had a favorable opinion of France." Vive le chips!

posted by petebest 18 years ago
  • the belgians will be pleased.
  • The Swiss are still fuckers though.
  • I think Zidane made us realize that the French are just like us. Only better at football freedomball.
  • Three years after House Republicans trumpeted the new names to get back at the French for snubbing the coalition of the willing in Iraq, congressmen don't even want to talk about french fries, which are actually native to Belgium, and toast. Y'know why the "House Republicans" don't wanna talk about their thumb-up-their-ass-renaming of the fries? Because Iraq is a huge fucking nightmare mistake, and they fucked! up! royal! by parroting the Rovian party line and sticking their tongues deep in that oil-and-terror sphincter hole instead of doing their jobs, understanding what was at stake and reining in the PNAC/FauxNews hordes. Toby Keith?! You and the other Beta Tau Guys get out here! The piper wants his two dollars! Accountability anyone? Anyone? No? Responsibi-no? Sure? But we can call them french fries again? Oh good.
  • Don't forget Poland!
  • Quick--how do I trademark and start marketing the "FRANCE WAS RIGHT!" bumper stickers? *dreams of a nice cottage in Nice, cheap good wine, and brooding, smoking women...*
  • Ney wanted this little incident forgotten: Chirac's retort. Truly French, that.
  • "We don't mind making public asses of ourselves with idiotic displays of jingoism, but we draw the line at making publis asses of ourselves by admitting we were wrong about our idiotic displays of jingoism. We've moved on to more important matters. We've decided that 'cereal' sounds too much like 'Syria,' and we've decided to start using the term 'Freedom Flakes.' Oh, wait, we're the Freedom Flakes. Er, I mean, NO COMMENT!"
  • They should rename them "'You were right, I was wrong' Fries"
  • "Ney" is a French name.
  • Self-hater eh?
  • ney-sayer!
  • *golf clap*
  • Monkeyfilter: "I don't care what you call your potatoes."
  • petebest, what, I dread to ask, have you been doing with your golfballs that resulted in the clap?
  • Ah, yes - the famous Marshal Ney, notable for (allegedly) ruining the Battle of Waterloo for the other boys. There is a rumour that he fled to the US, and there was apparently a schoolteachernamed Ney in Carolina who, when drunk, would tell tales of his time leading Napoleon's armies. That is, there was an American called Ney who was a complete cocking fantasist. Can't imagine that ever hapening again.
  • Meh, all my schoolteachers talked of their times leading Napoleon's armies when they were drunk. Which was often. And all the kids would giggle at "Quatre Bras"...
  • All in favor of Bob "Freedom Fries" Ney running for congress again, vote Aye. Opposed? Ney! Heh. Me talk funny.
  • GUILTY! Fucker.
  • Also in the "just because" category, here's a link showing Bob's fat little hands proudly displaying the "Freedom Fries" sign that helped win support for . . . well, it was part of a wave of jingoistic bullshittery before the Iraq invasion anyway. Here's a cute little snippet: The move - following the lead of a North Carolina restaurant - reflects the anti-French sentiment among some lawmakers who feel President Jacques Chirac is betraying the US by opposing its policy on disarming Iraq. heh. "disarming Iraq". Ah. Good times, good times.
  • I wonder if he will be working in the kitchen, in prison. Making fries.
  • They'll be part of NATO on alternate days?
  • 30 Months In Jail Well . . at least the french fries are still free. /obligatory
  • Ah, I had forgotten that one! Didn't they have "patriotic" names for German breeds of dogs, too? Maybe we should start calling hummus "Independence Paste."
  • I am enjoying some Independence Paste right now, as a matter of fact. I'm dunking hunks of Democracy Bread into it.
  • That democracy is a real pain, isn't it?
  • I baked a loaf of Great Patriotic bread last night, along with a Glorious Revolutionary sourdough. All sturdy peasants' and workers' breads infused with Lei-Feng spirit and Long March zeal.
  • TUMFTW
  • Monkeyfilter: Glorious Revolutionary Sourdough
  • From now on, I'm just gonna eat good old American Glory Grits. And nothin' else.