Sego-mania

As predicted, Ségolène Royal won the Socialist Party presidential nomination in France. In the 3-way race she got over 60% of the vote, which we call a thumpin' around here.
In April Ségolène will face a not-yet-determined candidate from the right, most likely Nicolas Sarkozy (boo!).
I think our girl is going to pull this one off and become the first female president of France! Mind you, the French president, unlike in many other parliamentary democracies, wields considerable power. Basically the Prime Minister is more legislative and the President is more executive (which is both oversimplifying and self-evident). Can you imagine? France and Germany both run by women...
The polls right now seem to have Royal and Sarkozy running about even, but I think that will change. I know almost nothing, so you know, don't believe me or anything, but I think (if I may generalize) the French like big ideas and romantic leaders. There has been something of a void since Mitterrand died, and just as there was a Generation Mitterrand, there is a yearning for a Generation Royal - something bold to be a part of, even if the boldness really consists of fairly watered-down socialism.