I'm willing to keep an open mind unless the future French president gets a grant to train showgirls for the Moulin Rouge and the future UK president gets a grant to train talentless no-marks to be pop singers.
Love this bit from the article:
Love this bit from the article:
180 hours of theory for parading around in a bikini?
Depends on who you listen to; on the one hand the position is little more than a glorified chairperson with one helluva expense account, on the other it's totalitarianism gone mad!BobK said:
According to the website of the Italian presidency, the president presides...
a_unique_person
Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning
Well, any hope the EU had of overthrowing the US in any terms just went out the door with the promotion of Berlusconi to EU President. He is the biggest owner of Italian TV stations, which he used to get himself elected to President of Italy.
Flo
Illuminator
BillyTK said:
and what makes you think the current president doesn't ?
Jon_in_london
Illuminator
- Joined
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Oh and by the way, he just pissed off the germans by calling on of their diplomats a nazi deathcamp guard.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3040714.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3040714.stm
LillyThePink
Muse
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Yeah, but it's a ratings winner!! 
*lol* I can't believe they are expecting him to apologise - it makes GREAT news if he won't....and they can't do much about it either (except take their bikes in, I suppose)
Standby for more EU faux pas in the next 6 months....
*lol* I can't believe they are expecting him to apologise - it makes GREAT news if he won't....and they can't do much about it either (except take their bikes in, I suppose)Standby for more EU faux pas in the next 6 months....
aerocontrols
Illuminator
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- 3,444
a_unique_person said:
Is this a joke? It makes me laugh...
I'm just wondering if I'm laughing with you or not.
MattJ
ZeeGerman
Graduate Poster
aerocontrols said:
Well, I don't know about the first part - the one about overthrowing the US - that must be a joke because we certainly have more pressing problems to solve. One of those is that the second part - Berlusconi controlling most of Italy's media - is true
He is also busily changing Italian law to keep his ass out of trouble.
But then, he's president of the council for 6 months, so what.
Zee
a_unique_person said:
The Presidency of EU goes to a different country-member every 6 months. The order is alphabetical.It was Greece until yesterday, now is Italy's turn. The PM of the country that holds the presidency , becomes president, so none really promoted Berlusconi...
He knows how to get dressed though ...
He is one of the most elegant europeans.To avoid confusing Australian and US posters.
The EU presidency can in no way be compared to the system in the US. The country holding the presidency is meant to expedite the EU political agenda and can emphasise certain aspects of that agenda at the expense of others but no special political powers are given to the holder.
Interestingly the President of the European Commission is another Italian, Romano Prodi, a bitter political enemy of Berlusconi.
Berlusconi is a corrupt, charming, political lightweight who likes to be liked. He is unlikely to do much harm.
.................
........( Edited to add word Australian before US in line 1 )............
The EU presidency can in no way be compared to the system in the US. The country holding the presidency is meant to expedite the EU political agenda and can emphasise certain aspects of that agenda at the expense of others but no special political powers are given to the holder.
Interestingly the President of the European Commission is another Italian, Romano Prodi, a bitter political enemy of Berlusconi.
Berlusconi is a corrupt, charming, political lightweight who likes to be liked. He is unlikely to do much harm.
.................
........( Edited to add word Australian before US in line 1 )............
aerocontrols
Illuminator
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Nikk said:
Maybe you should have said Australian posters. This American was already aware of your info.
I'm sure AUP will appreciate it, however.
ZeeGerman said:
Well, I don't know about the first part - the one about overthrowing the US - that must be a joke because we certainly have more pressing problems to solve. One of those is that the second part - Berlusconi controlling most of Italy's media - is true
The first part of what AUP said is funny on its face.
The second part of what he said is indeed true, yet I find it amusing that he seems to believe that it is somehow related to the first part. In fact, he seems to be arguing that the first part is true because of the second.
MattJ
aerocontrols
Illuminator
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Nikk said:
offending?
No, not really. You're quite right that the functioning of the EU pseudo-state is somewhat unknown to most Americans. (Most Europeans as well, if I recall some recent poll results correctly.
I didn't take offense, really...
Ok, maybe a little
Shane Costello
Graduate Poster
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So why is it OK for a German social democrat to compare Bush to Hitler, but when Berlusconi compares a German Social Democrat to a minor cog in the Nazi murder machine there's uproar?
Sauce for the goose, sauce for the gander surely?
Sauce for the goose, sauce for the gander surely?
ZeeGerman
Graduate Poster
Shane Costello said:
Who said it's OK? She lost her office over it after all.
Zee