python-2.6 compatibility (was Re: [MERGE][trivial] Typo in _is_remote_before's docstring)

[Vincent Ladeuil]

>>>>> "martin" == Martin Pool <mbp at canonical.com> writes:

    martin> Martin Pool has voted approve.
    martin> Status is now: Semi-approved
    martin> Comment:
    martin> Seems useful, thanks, though I believe there might be some more
    martin> substantial changes coming up in this area.

    martin> If you would like another similar though larger project, you
    martin> could try running the test suite under the imminent
    martin> python2.6beta.

I attempted to do that back in November 2007. It has surely
bitrotted but some parts should still be valid.