http://www.corriere.it/politica/08_ottobre_13/casabianc...a-00144f02aabc.shtml

Berlusconi: “History will tell that George W. Bush has been a great president of the United States. He’s a man of great principles, great ideals, great vision”.

Bush: “I’ve got an excellent relationship with Berlusconi, and a genuine respect for him. I appreciate his friendship and his wisdom”.

OMG! Just says it all really!

I watched that live this afternoon. Pretty comical.
BTW, I was joking with my barber about an old informercial for color-matched spray paint that guys spray on their bald spot. My barber said Berlu uses that stuff on the top of his head. I examined it during the Rose Garden joint statement, and I think it does seem a bit lacquerish. Does anyone know if it's true?

Bill, you're much more adept than me: I came across a photo series in the Times of London of sartorial booboos by high-ranking pols, and there was Berlu in a head-scarf, I mean do-rag! If you can pull it up, it would be perfect here: between lacquering I guess?

I remember the headscarf..... bandanna whatever, I can't remember the reason for it now, other than stupidity, but I do remember the UK press had a field day!

quote:

Originally posted by alyson:
but I do remember the UK press had a field day!

Yes, as if UK journos needed a bandana for their sarcasm levelled at all things Italian. Sour grapes.

Anyway I think what you're referring to was a bandana to cover a hair transplant and the occasion was Blair visiting him in Sardinia.

quote:

Originally posted by alyson:
I remember the headscarf..... bandanna whatever, I can't remember the reason for it now, other than stupidity, but I do remember the UK press had a field day!

This one?

He'd just had it primered and was keeping it dust-free before having it shot with lacquer the next morning.

Ok, shiny happy people, ok, you’re right.
But the title of this thread is FreakS. What about targeting the other one as well?
Ours is a joke, but yours is daft – and a danger to the world.

P.S. Hope Echelon is absent-minded at the moment, or this will earn me a rectal inspection next time I enter the US....

This message has been edited. Last edited by: JAPrufrock,

He's leaving in 3 months (not that I'm counting). We're more worried about his heir apparent.

quote:

Originally posted by alyson:
I remember the headscarf..... bandanna whatever, I can't remember the reason for it now, other than stupidity, but I do remember the UK press had a field day!

Actally he was undergoing further 'hair transplants' which, as it turns out, seem to have been very successful:



and here we have his 'buddy' explaining that he gave it a 'tug' and it's NOT a wig!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Carole B.,

What country do those flags belong to? Haven't seen them before.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill 2:
What country do those flags belong to? Haven't seen them before.

They're your neighbours Bill...

Top: Slovenia

Bottom: Slovakia

Interesting- why are Slovenia and Slovakia's flags attached to Bush's picture?

I've only driven over to Slovenia once (Lake Bled) 5 or 6 years ago. I don't know Croatia or Serbia's flag either. Austria's I can recognize. <shrug>

Dear Prufrock

You have a strange opinion of how you imagine most British / Americans to be.

Most Brits and Americans do not have a fare voting system so when Blair or Bush get into government its usually with less than 50% of the public that voted for them so they (and their subsequent actions) do not reflect the voters. When Blair wanted to go into Iraq over 60% of the British were not in agreement. So he went on television to demonstrate that Sadam had nuclear weapons (backed up by satellite) to make his invasion in Iraq more plausible. Yes Blair was dangerous. But I didnt vote for him, I wouldnt vote conservative either, what choices are there? Bear in mind also that the general public of the Uk is very multi cultural and doesnt reflect the society that existed when there was the British empire. My father is from Belfast (and catholic) however, I am entirely grateful to him that he decided to move to England and that I grew up there and not in Belfast and many friends who are from Indian or Pakistani families are also glad that they didnt grow up in India/Pakistan where life is hard.

Its true British papers critise Italy but mostly the Italian government (which is justified, but they also critise the British government too), there's rarely personal critisism of Italians and "anything italian" as people - in fact its quite the opposite. Most British, especially those who are quite well off believe the Italians to be more cultured and stylish than them and think that absolutely anything Italian is synonymous with quality. When I came here I had a very high inflated opinion of Italy but this has slowly been eroded during my stay and I have been able to see things more realistically (more like Gomorra than la dolce vita... when I arrived I lived in a small town in Tuscany I now live in Tor Bella Monaca a bad suburb to the east of Rome). I guess when you think the Brits loath everything italian you're actually reflecting your own views of Italy. I can understand that. After 10 years here I find it hard to find anything positive at all but then thats my fault and probably doesnt reflect the actual reality (which is conditioned heavily by where you live, work and who you mix with). I held the same negative opinions about some aspects of the uk society (binge drinking, pub crawls, baby gangs, high level of violence)when I left to come here, but now I am able to see some of the more positive aspects of the UK which before I was unable to see.

Its very dangerous to brand whole populations surely this is how war and intollerance comes about. However it is quite justified to critise people like Berluska, Bush, Blair etc

Good response Kat67. It is a shame you cannot get your father describe what living in fear, with prejuidice and intolerance, is really like.

Okay - I don't like Bush, I didn't like Blair and I despise Brown. Berlosconi I only know from when I lived in the UK last time he was in power - never lived here until now, while he was in power, but I know, like the others he is a dangerous man in world politics. To call them Freaks is perhaps juvenile, hence the response from other posters, including myself, about headgear. If you seriously want to discuss these dangerous, devious men, don't call them Freaks. From a British perspective you are asking for us to poke fun and make them look foolish, not look at them for what they really are. However, distracting us from their potential by calling them Freaks is an effective way to brush aside any issues we may have with their eventual effect on this world.

You can't have it all ways JAP. Either this is a fun thread or you want a serious discussion about these people. Calling them Freaks isn't going to attract serious comment!

This was meant as a fun thread.
I chose the word “Freaks” on purpose, meaning to hint at the little theatre these two drinking buddies had staged for the tv and for a gullible audience.
I also think the general tone of my posts was obvious - rectal examinations included. I thought the other geezer, the one with a monkey face, deserved his fair share of sneering, and I wrote it.


I have no issue whatsoever with (almost) any of you, so please let’s just keep this well below boiling point.
True, I’ve suggested the fact that British media don’t let any occasion go by for making sarcastic remarks about the Continent in general and France and Italy in particular, but as I wrote in another thread (an I believe alyson remembers this) I commented with “well, that’s Britain for you” and added a smiley. I also added that I’m an online Guardian reader, probably the best European newspaper and that I often see the point you Brits make and more often than not I end up talking your stance.

There could be endless banter on UK vs Italy – and there’s been a lot: teenage pregnancy, tanks and gears, lack of taste, unreliability, flying plastic chairs, mama’s boys, all this would end up in the mixer.
I don’t want any of this. Been there, done that. Boring.

So, if you can, I beg you to take any possible remark I might make in the future about England and the English media as made in a jocular way, or in an “echoing” sarcastic way, NEVER in a nasty or bad way. If you have enemies, this one is not one of them.


As I wrote in another UK forum, I’m “anti-Italian” more than any Brit can be. Come to think of it, no Brit ever voted for Berlusconi, so what issue should I ever have with you – apart from football, that is?

quote:

Its very dangerous to brand whole populations surely this is how war and intollerance comes about.

You're absolutely right Kat. I've tried reasoning with him before about this "national character" prejudice without success.

I think you've pinpointed the issue here:

quote:

I guess when you think the Brits loath everything italian you're actually reflecting your own views of Italy.

Our friend seems to feel inferior to Brits and Americans, and subsequently projects his feelings onto those two nationalities. Alternatively he lashes out at them in defense.

I doubt that trying to explain this on a forum will result in an "Ah ha!" moment, but it does make it easier to understand where he's coming from.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill 2:
Interesting- why are Slovenia and Slovakia's flags attached to Bush's picture?

I've only driven over to Slovenia once (Lake Bled) 5 or 6 years ago. I don't know Croatia or Serbia's flag either. Austria's I can recognize. <shrug>

>Here's> how come.....

Sounds similar to some of our board members who believe Roma and Romanian are synonymous.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill 2:
Sounds similar to some of our board members who believe Roma and Romanian are synonymous.

and Rom and Romanians for that matter!

Rom = Romany (gypsy).
Not the same thing as a Romanian at all!

I rarely take JAP's comments to be anti or superior. I think he is trying to provoke, but in the way people do to try and get a discussion going. I do take exception to him sometimes, but then I do to Bill2 as well. In many ways you are similar beasts. You both like to debate, but a forum is a tricky arena, as body language is left out of the equation and we can't see smiles, grimaces or anger! Can we call a truce guys? I, mostly, enjoy what both of you have to say, but the snipes are those of school boys! I already have one of those, I come on here to escape it!

I was being serious Alyson, as I believe Kat was. I don't consider Kat's post sniping, nor my own.