Socialists, communists,anarchists, and assorted leftists dummies throwing temper tantrums in the streets. Could there be a clearer sign that France is finally on the right track politically? It's about time. The left has never had a good idea, and hasn't had a new idea in 70 years. Way to go France. Welcome to the 21st century!

...were little more than a fringe element. A few thousand out of... how many millions in France, exactly?

Either way, I'm going to take a wild guess that if Sego had won and Sarkozy's supporters were rioting, your reaction wouldn't be quite so neutral.

would pick France as to where riots would happen. Try to pass some law or regulation that is viewed as worker give-backs or anti-social net and riots break out regardless of whether it was a good or bad idea. Feeling disaffected by the French government, stage a riot, burn some cars, attack the police. Bottom line, France seems to prefer riots over healthier responses for difficult choices.

In all fairness Sarko wasn't threatening voters that if he didn't win there would be violence (which is what Royal did), which there most likely would not have been. With the Royal-supporters rioting there were only about 300 torched cars that night (on any night in France there are 100 cars torched and the 2005 riots was several thousand per night). Anyone who has visited France on a regular basis has probably seen France's social conditions deteriorating rapidly, and hopefully Sarko wil introduce some law and order (thats what most of the 43% of ghetto-dwellers who voted for Sarko wished for - the ones who were supposedly rioting against his comment that people who randomly burn other peoples cars in protest are "scum"). Not only that but Sarko will allow workers to keep all money they earn over 35 hours a week tax-free (both social and income)! Watch France's productivity jump as the French now have an incentive to be productive! The French should be rioting out of joy!

"This kind of rioting over politics has not been seen in the United States, but it is a scary reminder of what happens when the nation is highly divided. In the past few elections, the votes have been very close, indicating the divide of the country."

No, it is a scary reminder of what happens when a society permits vandalism as some sort of national pastime or simply allows people to destroy property because they "feel" disaffected. As I posted earlier 100 cars per night are torched in France every single day...for no good reason whatsoever. This has nothing to do with a close vote or a divided nation.

"Another factor that could have had influence on the voter turnout in France that could carry over to America is the first candidate that could possibly become the first female president. Royal raised a lot of support in France on the Socialist platform, and garnered attention from women voters (though polls have shown that Sarkozy had more female votes). Could Hillary Clinton gain the same support? While she is the first female candidate that is seriously being considered for the presidency, she does have a reputation that has given her a somewhat negative image (take this as you will)."

Hillary Clinton would gather the same support... she would lose. If European socialist/leftist France rejected a socialist like royal, just imagine what would happen in the decidedly more conservative United States...

"At this point in time, since there are so many possible candidates vying for the Democratic ticket, it’s hard to say that there will be a repeat of the French riots in the United States. But then again, who would have guessed that it would happen in France?"

Anyone who pays attention at all to what happens in France would have guessed, no, known that it would have happen. It happens all the time! That sort of lawless behavior is not tolerated in the US on a regular basis and if it were to happen here, perhaps it would be because a candidate told his/her supporters to....

Do your research before writing an article.