Triumph of the Shrill

How could Nicolas Sarkozy make himself seem even smaller than usual – holding a rally with the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower looming over him is a sure-fire way to ram home his stature.  Despite his gigantic ego, his pint-sized height is appropriate as he scrabbles around in the dirt for National Front voters to align with his UMP supporters.  The choreographed political exercise today possibly aims to impress the French far-right with Leni Riefenstahl-grandeur but is, essentially, pip-squeak Sarkozy squawking “May Day! May Day! Help me someone, anyone.”