Thursday, September 01, 2011

busted

silvio berlusconi has had a remarkable run as the teflon prime minister. because of the chronic disarray of his opposition and the fact that berlusconi owns almost the entire italian media, he has managed to be the longest serving P.M. in modern italian history notwithstanding an endless stream of scandals. but this one really takes the cake. silvio has been caught on tape saying:
In a few months, I'm getting out to mind my own fucking business, from somewhere else, and so I'm leaving this shitty country of which I'm sickened.
yes, paying for sex with an underage girl is worse than anything he can say on a recorded phone conversation. but berlusconi already seems to be weathering that storm. how can the head of state possibly survive both that and being caught referring to the country he governs as "shitty" and promising to emigrate? can you imagine the reaction if obama were recorded saying something like that?

and yet, i would still give him a 50-50 chance of pulling through. but honestly, if the italians keep him this time, they will put up with anything.

(via MatthewB on FB)