Cablegate: Media Reaction Report - Nomination of New Supreme
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
211029Z Jul 05
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 005057
SIPDIS
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR FR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION REPORT - NOMINATION OF NEW SUPREME
COURT JUSTICE
PARIS - THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2005
(A) SUBJECTS COVERED IN TODAY'S REPORT:
NOMINATION OF NEW SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
(B) SUMMARY OF COVERAGE:
RUMOR OF A HOSTILE TAKEOVER OF THE FRENCH FOOD GIANT DANONE BY
PEPSICO CONTINUES TO BE THE PRINCIPAL SUBJECT FOR ELECTRONIC
AND PRINT MEDIA TODAY. ECONOMIC RIGHT-OF-CENTER LES ECHOS
CARRIES AN EXTENSIVE INTERVIEW OF DANONE'S CEO AND DAILIES
NOTE THAT AT A PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY PRIME MINISTER DE
VILLEPIN CALLED DANONE ONE OF FRANCE'S "INDUSTRIAL TREASURES.
WHOSE INTERESTS WE MUST DEFEND."
THE NOMINATION OF JOHN ROBERTS TO REPLACE SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR
ON THE SUPREME COURT IS WIDELY REPORTED AND IS THE FRONT PAGE
STORY IN CATHOLIC LA CROIX: "THE SUPREME COURT: GEORGE BUSH'S
WAGER." ROBERTS IS GENERALLY DESCRIBED AS A "MODERATE"
CONSERVATIVE BY THE FRENCH PRESS WHOSE NOMINATION "DELIGHTS
GEORGE W. BUSH'S SUPPORTERS AND HAS TAKEN HIS ADVERSARIES
ABACK" (RIGHT-OF-CENTER LE FIGARO)(SEE PART C)
THE FORMATION OF THE NEW LEBANESE GOVERNMENT RECEIVES SOME
COVERAGE WITH CATHOLIC DAILY LA CROIX NOTING THAT _gTHE
PRESENCE OF A MEMBER OF HEZBOLLAH IN THE NEW GOVERNMENT
IRRITATES WASHINGTON AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS SAID THAT IT
WILL HAVE NO DEALINGS WITH MOHAMMED FNEISH, THE NEW ENERGY AND
WATER MINISTER._h
(C) SUPPORTING TEXT/BLOCK QUOTES:
NOMINATION OF NEW SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
"BUSH NOMINATES A CONSERVATIVE TO THE SUPREME COURT"
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT PHILIPPE GELIE IN RIGHT-OF-CENTER LE
FIGARO (07/21): "BUSH REVIEWED ALL OF THE POSSIBLE CANDIDATES
FOR THE JOB BUT JOHN ROBERTS STOOD OUT FROM THE CROWD. TWO
DAYS EARLIER, HE PULLED A HUGE THORN OUT OF THE PRESIDENT'S
FOOT BY GIVING THE GREEN LIGHT FOR THE CREATION OF A MILITARY
TRIBUNAL TO TRY PRISONERS AT GUANTANAMO."
"BUSH NOMINATES A MODERATE CONSERVATIVE TO THE SUPREME COURT"
GILLES BIASSETTE AND OLIVIER DE PINS IN CATHOLIC LA CROIX
(07/21): "THE NOMINATION OF A NEW SUPREME COURT JUSTICE TO
REPLACE SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR MARKS A DECISIVE MOMENT IN THE
HISTORY OF THE U.S. DETERMINING AS IT DOES THE ORIENTATION ON
A NUMBER OF THE 21ST CENTURY'S KEY ISSUES AFFECTING AMERICANS:
BIOETHICS, FAMILY, RELIGION. FOR THE CHRISTIAN RIGHTWING, JOHN
ROBERTS IS THE MAN OF THE HOUR AND THEY HAVE PINNED ALL OF
THEIR HOPES ON HIM TO PUSH RIGHTWING CHRISTIAN VALUES BACK TO
THE FOREFRONT. WILL THE SUPPOSED WAR PITTING `BLUE' AMERICA
AGAINST `RED' AMERICA FINALLY TAKE PLACE? NOT SO CERTAIN. IN
FACT THE CHOICE OF ROBERTS IS A CLEVER ONE. BECAUSE HIS
OPINION ON THE ISSUES IS NOT WELL-KNOWN, DEMOCRATS HAVE LITTLE
TO SNORT AT AND HAVE SO FAR REACTED RATHER CAUTIOUSLY TO HIS
NOMINATION."
"AN ALLY OF BUSH AT THE SUPREME COURT"
THOMAS CANTELOUBE IN POPULAR RIGHT-OF-CENTER LE PARISIEN
(07/21): "ONCE AGAIN GEORGE BUSH HAS DISAPPOINTED MODERATES
WHO WERE HOPING FOR A MORE CONSENSUAL CHOICE ON HIS PART.
INSTEAD GEORGE BUSH CHOSE A MAN WHO LOOKS LIKE HIM: WHITE, IN
HIS FIFTIES, SCHOOLED IN NEW ENGLAND AND DECIDEDLY
CONSERVATIVE. ALL OF THOSE WHO, IN THE LAST WEEKS, WAGERED ON
THE NOMINATION OF A CENTRIST, A WOMAN OR, FOR THE FIRST TIME
AN HISPANIC ON THE SUPREME COURT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BACK DOWN
TO EARTH."
"BUSH CHOOSES A MODERATE CONSERVATIVE FOR THE SUPREME COURT"
CORINE LESNES IN LEFT-OF-CENTER LE MONDE (07/21): "TO DISPEL
THE POLITICAL SCANDAL THAT HANGS OVER WASHINGTON CONCERNING
HIS ADVISOR KARL ROVE. GEORGE BUSH DECIDED TO PROCEED WITH THE
NOMINATION OF THE NEW SUPREME COURT JUSTICE EARLIER THAN
PLANNED. AFTER THIS, IT ONLY TOOK HALF A DAY FOR KARL ROVE'S
FACE TO DISAPPEAR FROM FRONT-PAGES TO BE REPLACED WITH THE
QUESTION THAT IS ON EVERYONE'S MIND: WILL BUSH CHOOSE A
NOMINEE WHO CAN UNITE OR DIVIDE THE COUNTRY? HISTORY HAS SHOWN
THAT DESPITE THE FACT THAT 7 OF THE 9 SUPREME COURT JUSTICES
WERE NOMINATED BY CONSERVATIVE PRESIDENTS THEY WERE ABLE TO
MAKE DECISIONS THAT WERE NOT NECESSARILY POPULAR AMONG THE
AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE RIGHT." STAPLETON