In the parisian metro, yesterday, I was given a leaflet in support of Lyndon LaRouche, who says he is a candidate for the democrats for 2004 elections.
This very demagogic paper surprised me - from what I had heard, I thought LaRouche was more a rightist activist than a democrat. This seems to be confirmed by various sites (http://selectsmart.com/president/LaRouche.html)
Do you know him ? What do you think of this guy ?

I had some leftists try and brainwash me towards this fool the other day as i visited my wife on the campus where she works. these idiots were teling me that my grandfather would be alive today if we had supported unions in the 40's, I laughed at her and walked away. Pure demagogery.

Good question, astra...

He's been around fer a while, so I'd try Googlin' his name... He's a strange one fer sure... And don't necessarily be fooled by his pretentions... he could be out ta damage a particular political foe by PRETENDIN' ta be a SUPPORTER of that political foe...

Such things DO happen from time ta time... Burr, it's gettin' cold... gotta go now... :)

What does "LaRouche" mean in French?

Nothing. it sounds french and probably is from frnech origin but means nothing.

"La mouche" would be "the fly" and "La bouche" "the mouth", anyway.

Interesting. A lot of names get mangled when they come across the ocean.

I always thought LaRouche was a nutty right-winger guy as well. I was under the impression that he hung out in the wilderness with a giant cache of weaponry waiting for the best time to take down the U.S. government. Maybe he's changed his strategy.

In fact it seems that La Rouche has a network of supporters in Europe too. He is linked with populist and far right crooks, but who try to appear as left wing moderates.

The more I learn about the guy, the less I like him. He seems to be fond of conspiracy theories, antisemitic, linked to Farrakhan, revisionist…

I still wonder why he addresses the french public in his leaflet about the american election.

Keep us in-the-know about whatcha find, astra... I would never have guessed Larouche is tryin' to wow audiences in Europe with his particular... incite... (I seemta remember years ago he did time in jail, and often mentioned such things as the Queen of England bein' involved in the world drug trade... Much of what he says sounds pretty kooky, but... I always listen and try ta check it out... )

Meanwhile, as ta whether he could really be a Democrat... well, yep, maybe... Hey, George Wallace wuz a Democrat, too... So, we gotta look out fer questionable characters in ALL political parties...

Again, thanks fer keepin' us posted... :)

In fact it seems he has tried on several occasions to use the democrat party as an electoral support but now has been banned. He created his own neo-fascist party a few years ago, the American Workers Party or something like that.

The leaflet he gave in Paris was particularly clever. He presents himself as "the candidate of Europe to the American elections" and then explains that America is becoming a dangerous military dictature and that he is the last chance of stopping Bush and his team, comparing him to Hitler in 1933 !
This is clever, because he relies on the massive anti-war feeling in France. But I still do not see his point.
I do not like Bush and I am anti-war, but I think the last need we need in France is a populist who uses irrationnal fears to widen the gap between Europe and the USA.

Thanks much, Astra, fer stayin' on this guy... I'm countin' on ya ta keep us in the know... Are any French folks warmin' up ta him as far as ya can tell? I don't have a clue as ta why he's all the way over there stirrin' things up, but he (and his handlers?) obviously have somethin' in mind...

I'll be checkin' back here from time ta time ta see whatever you can dig up on this mysterious fellow...

Thanks again...

of course a loser like this is a big hit in france, and can only say these things over there, if he did it here he would regret it. What a spineless scumbag, going to france to bash Bush and the USA, seems like a lot of leftists feel free to do that in Europe, but when they come back here they seem to be remarlably reserved.

Well, Trav, we DO seem ta be makin' a LITTLE bit a progress... we agree that we'd, uh, Maginot... I mean imagine, oh, he's upta SOMETHIN' not quite right... Lookin' fer political support in FRANCE?!?

De Gaulle of dat guy!!!

what in gods name are you blathering about????? Just type and say it for crying out loud!

Larouche be givin' us BOTH bad vibes!!! I... shudder... ta think about it... ;)

Apart from these tracts I have read or seen nothing from that guy here. If he wants to become famous in France he still has to work a lot.

Wow - there's something to strive for -- being famous in France.