i want to begin with steven erlanger and talk about this case. you've been writing about it for the "new york times" and the "herald tribune". this question. is the french reaction to this different than the u.s. reaction? >> it is certainly. i mean partly because of the renown of dominique strauss-kahn partly because he's a famous global french figure. people feel he's been treated with a degree of extra humiliation. but people are also embarrassed that such an important french figure finds himself in jail, in chains for what were is alleged to be an extremely tawdry crime. so it's embarrassing nationally, but there's also a feeling that new york justice is going out of its way to bring him down and to humiliate him. >> rose: dominique, this has to surprise you. what does it mean in terms of french politics now if he's not going to be the nominee of the socialist party? >> well, it means a new departure. it means that all the cards have been reshuffled. i mean, he was the favorite of the public opinion poll. to see the man who was groomed, so to