Stardate 20020423.1910

(Captain's log): Well, the leftist elite in Europe got quite a shock on Sunday, but it's coming to terms with it. We just have to be patient and understanding, that's all.

At first there was denial; claims that Le Pen's showing was mainly the result of people making frivolous protest votes. After all, they couldn't really believe in that stuff, could they?

Then you got anger: How could good Frenchmen actually vote for a racist fascist like Le Pen?

Now they're trying to make a deal: a lot of voters must have voted for Le Pen for a reason, and we better find out what they want and give them some of it.

Acceptance of a fundamental shift in European politics will come, folks. We just have to be patient and understanding. They're our friends; we have to give them time to cope.