Re: Bigger than you might think. The system in France, which Chirac supports, is very socialist by American standards,...
Indeed. To put it bluntly, I'd say that in France, as in most of Europe, the political landscape boasts one big Leftist party (usually the Socialist) alongside one big Rightist party (the UMP in France, the Partido Popular in Spain, Tories in Britain, CDU in Germany,...). Next there're fringe political parties that can't hope of ever entering the government unless as coalition partners. In the US, on the other hand, voters have a choice between one big Rightist party, the Democratic (center-right) party and... a FAR-Rightist party, the GOP.
That can be the only explanation why Dems. like Kerry are considered right of center when viewing a total political spectrum.
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