Comments on: Mr Berlusconi!

Mr Berlusconi!

wilful — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 19:02:39 -0800

Silvio Berlusconi humps a meter maid. Ubiquitous youtube link.

By: wilful

wilful — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 19:03:31 -0800

I mean, the guy's the Italian Prime Minister! During an election! What totally inappropriate behaviour.

By: smcniven

smcniven — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 19:05:30 -0800

Eagerly awaiting Stephen Harper doing this to a Mountie.

By: thrako

thrako — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 19:09:01 -0800

..but he doesn't boil babies

By: loquacious

loquacious — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 19:10:50 -0800

Am I the only one who read the title as "Steve Buscemi humps a meter maid"?

By: loquacious

loquacious — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 19:11:22 -0800

I'm frankly kind of disappointed. I demand video of Steve Buscemi humping something. Anything.

By: Alison

Alison — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 19:12:20 -0800

I totally did, loquacious. I was a little disappointed when I clicked the link.

By: furtive

furtive — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 19:13:54 -0800

What a creep.

By: b1tr0t

b1tr0t — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 19:18:40 -0800

I mean, the guy's the Italian Prime Minister! During an election! What totally inappropriate behaviour. Hey, try to show a little more respect to other cultures! runs out to buy a copy of the Lets Go guide to Italian Meter Maids

By: wilful

wilful — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 19:27:12 -0800

Am I the only one who read the title as "Steve Buscemi humps a meter maid"? Um, the Italian Prime Minister is probably slightly more well known and important in the world than a B-grade actor. Not that I want to have a go at Steve Buscemi, but it's kinda weird to think that people would be more interested in him than in the Italian PM.

By: Relay

Relay — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 19:32:00 -0800

Olberman has been showing this a lot. The question is: is that the REAL Silvio Berlusconi?

By: TheGoldenOne

TheGoldenOne — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 19:36:37 -0800

So casual. She never knew what hit her. Burlusconi truly is the master of the stealth hump.

By: aladfar

aladfar — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 19:44:37 -0800

Berlusconi is so outwardly inappropriate and borderline insane that he's almost likable . . . But then I remember the trials a friend of mine had to go through to get her PhD over there. She dealt with sexual harassment and inappropriate advances constantly. The sort of stuff that would get American professors fired. I suspect that Italian voters won't find this particularly upsetting. They're used to this kind of bravado and machismo. I suspect it actually makes him look better in some ways. Sadly, we're just the opposite here in the states. Truly egregious behavior and contempt for the constitution goes unheeded while a little cigar poking between consenting adults results in impeachment.

By: allen.spaulding

allen.spaulding — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 19:45:08 -0800

the fact that Italy is in the EU and Turkey isn't still boggles my mind.

By: cavalier

cavalier — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 19:46:21 -0800

What aladfar said. Italian men are boys and the country expects that*. * - I cannot possibly speak for an entire country of people, only my perception and impression of friends and family who have lived there.

By: ZenMasterThis

ZenMasterThis — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 19:49:25 -0800

Eagerly awaiting Stephen Harper doing this to a Mountie. Hey, why do you think they call 'em mounties, eh?

By: tweak

tweak — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 20:31:23 -0800

Olberman has been showing this a lot. Who?

By: hototogisu

hototogisu — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 20:33:46 -0800

Olbermann?

By: gubo

gubo — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 20:35:42 -0800

What's with all the bald bodyguards?

By: hototogisu

hototogisu — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 20:39:05 -0800

They're to keep all of Steve Buscemi's fans away.

By: Astro Zombie

Astro Zombie — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 20:43:44 -0800

Few can resist the charms of Lovely Rita.

By: CynicalKnight

CynicalKnight — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 20:48:23 -0800

To describe that as a stunning work of art does not begin to do it justice. Our brave Italian public servant servant indeed should be proud of the small role she played in yet another facet of this pocket fascist du jour. To Italy as a nation - keep patience; you can't appreciate the highs unless you've hit the lows.

By: Skygazer

Skygazer — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 20:51:36 -0800

As an Italian, I just don't get this. If that's actually him he's even more grotesque than I originally thought. Aladfar: They're used to this kind of bravado and machismo. I suspect it actually makes him look better in some ways. You need to explain that. Cavalier: What aladfar said. Italian men are boys and the country expects that*. * - I cannot possibly speak for an entire country of people, Than maybe you shouldn't.

By: gordie

gordie — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 20:59:18 -0800

Astro Zombie has always been, and remains, my favorite poster.

By: craniac

craniac — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 21:01:53 -0800

Berlusconi should not be confused with Bellucci. [sobs]

By: gordie

gordie — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 21:03:56 -0800

I mean, poster slash commenter. Hell, nevermind. i'm going back to lurking.

By: mdn

mdn — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 21:14:45 -0800

Sadly, we're just the opposite here in the states. acceptance of consensual sex is one thing. This does not fall under that category. If he'd have done that to me, he'd have gotten an elbow strike to the gut... The attitude generally promotes the idea that men are men, and are women are things to fuck. Like that comment about Bush in his little penis-pouched outfit "winning every woman's vote", I am mostly just amazed that some men really do think this way. Maybe some women do too, but - i dunno. It is just bizarre. I just hope the italian response is a little more outraged than the frat boy jokes 'round here.

By: Alvy Ampersand

Alvy Ampersand — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 21:19:04 -0800

That's nothing, I saw an Italian guy hork up a loogie and spit yesterday. On the freakin' bus, for Monica Belluci's sake!

By: kokogiak

kokogiak — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 21:20:52 -0800

Could very well be from this movie: http://www.byebyeberlusconi.de/, as this other youtube Berlusconi clip is.

By: pompomtom

pompomtom — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 21:34:08 -0800

You know Wilful, if you're having trouble finding porn online, you can ask for help...

By: insomnia_lj

insomnia_lj — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 21:54:16 -0800

"Eagerly awaiting Stephen Harper doing this to a Mountie." That would make Harper a Mounter, right?!

By: Falconetti

Falconetti — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 21:59:25 -0800

Skygazer- I am Italian-American and Cavalier and Aldafar are mostly correct, also based on my experience with relatives, Italy, and people I know who live or have lived in Italy. Its not a secret that Italian men act like entitled pigs sometimes. You sound like my uncle who thinks everyone is racist against Italians. Fuckin' merigons!

By: StickyCarpet

StickyCarpet — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 22:12:04 -0800

I love the way he spies her over there, does a slight take, pivots on his heel, and makes a beeline.

By: aladfar

aladfar — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 22:26:26 -0800

Skygazer: I shouldn't allow the impressions of a few to speak for a nation of people. However, based on conversations with a few Italians (I'm 50% Italian myself), I've come to believe that, in the aggregate, the Italian public is more tolerant of this type of behavior than are Americans. As such, he'll probably be able to get away with this. Whereas: were any American politician, regardless of party, to do the same (and it was captured on video), they'd be out in a heartbeat.

By: Skygazer

Skygazer — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 22:35:12 -0800

"Entitled pigs" can be found the world over. What I take issue with are the generalizations, especially the suggestion that Italians would somehow find such dumbass behavior, if it is actually Berlusconi, acceptable because it shows "machismo". That, to be perfectly frank is a load of horseshit.

By: wilful

wilful — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 22:45:32 -0800

Well, on the assumption that the video is real, that suggestion will be borne out by the evidence. If it's a major political scandal and his votes disappear through the floor then you're right. Whereas if it's only a minor contretemps and he's still politically viable, then I think it does show that Italians have a very different attitude to that sort of behaviour. Linked to machismo by little boys that never grew up. The idea that any anglo prime minister or president would ever be caught even thinking of doing that, however entitled they may be, is absurd.

By: Alvy Ampersand

Alvy Ampersand — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 22:50:43 -0800

Please. I know a fullblooded, proud as hell 1st generation Italian-Canadian girl who freely admits that many of her countrymen have earned 'that' reputation. Add to that the fact that Europeans are more tolerant of sexual chicanery - and have a much more healthy attitude to sexuality in general, and... well, I don't have a point, other than a high horse is a lonely perch upon which to sit. Oh, and Monica Belluci is supa-hawt.

By: jokeefe

jokeefe — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 23:00:57 -0800

Is it just me, or has this really been the Worst Day of Metafilter Ever?

By: Zinger

Zinger — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 23:31:05 -0800

I don't know which will scar me more... the Berlusconi video itself, the thought of Steve Buscemi doing the same thing, or the image of Steven Harper and a Mountie.

By: romakimmy

romakimmy — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 04:11:34 -0800

It's not him. Vigilesse don't wear hats like that and this was debunked about a week ago in the Italian blogsphere as coming from the film kokogiak linked to above. I suspect that Italian voters won't find this particularly upsetting. I suspect that is a load of horseshit, but I'm just an American living here so I'll let the real Italians comment (paging funambulist, matteo e elpapacito). With 11 days to go until elections, if this had been a true video the media (both partisian sides of it) would have been editorializing left, right & center. I find the stereotyping of Italians in this thread way off base though, as stereotypes are wont to be.

By: ClarissaWAM

ClarissaWAM — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 04:13:12 -0800

kokogiak said: Could very well be from this movie: http://www.byebyeberlusconi.de/ It is indeed, as researched/proven in this article (German, date 24 March). Sorry I don't have the time to translate. basically the people from the production company said they'd shot these scenes, didn't include them in the movie, and they have nooo idea how they could have leaked *wink wink*)

By: hoverboards don't work on water

hoverboards don't work on water — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 04:15:41 -0800

If Steve Buscemi wants to hump meter maids, that's fine by me. It's his media monopoly I take issue with.

By: matteo

matteo — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 04:47:24 -0800

what romakimmy said, it's not him. also, this is a shit post, 30 seconds on Google tell you that it's fake. but then, MetaFark reigns, so. I also see that this thread's poster lives, appropriately, in the "Home of the Gullible"

By: funambulist

funambulist — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 05:08:06 -0800

It's an actor, not him and no, even in the land of entitled pigs* this is not the kind of thing that'd be tolerated or applauded, not even if it was Rocco Siffredi off duty. *like all stereotypes, contains an initial grain of truth covered by a silicone-inflated blobby mass of generalisation As a parody though it's not too bad is it. Kind of metaphorical of what he's done to the country.

By: aladfar

aladfar — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 07:36:53 -0800

I said: I suspect that Italian voters won't find this particularly upsetting. They're used to this kind of bravado and machismo. In hindsight, I realize that this was a terribly stereotypical and, to use the term that's already come up twice "horseshit" thing to say. I stand suitably chastened. Still, I think it's safe to say that the attitude depicted in the video might be tolerated to a greater extent in Italy than it would in the United States.

By: funambulist

funambulist — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 08:01:53 -0800

aladfar, to a certain extent that's true for a certain part of the population, of the kind who'd also shout racist slogans at a football match, and insofar as political discourse, a lot more outrageous stuff is tolerated than elsewhere in Europe, but... a prime minister humping a meter maid in public, and the woman smiling back, not least... all caught on camera and not a word of it in the media? come on, really. It was so obviously a fake. The film-makers here took B's penchant for idiotic megalomania and blunders and just caricatured it by imagining a much more outrageous instance than anything he ever did (well, at least in this department, not in the political one, in that respect he did worse). It's rather funny in that sense. It's funny/sad that anyone took it seriously and even draw conclusions about the whole 60 million strong population of a country. Oh well.

By: Skygazer

Skygazer — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 08:07:26 -0800

Thanks aladfar. I think we're in agreement now though, that it's an actor and whether it was scripted or inspired improvisation, it is a pretty brilliant (and dead on) bit of political satire.

By: Timberman

Timberman — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 08:26:13 -0800

By: funambulist

funambulist — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 08:59:37 -0800

Everyone who didn't vote for him is more than just embarassed and it's not just an image thing, it's about the actual politics. But what Skygazer was responding to is something else.

By: Baby_Balrog

Baby_Balrog — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 09:06:18 -0800

"contains an initial grain of truth covered by a silicone-inflated blobby mass of generalisation" AUGH god - noo! /tears out eyes all over again

By: Pollomacho

Pollomacho — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 09:12:41 -0800

When is he going to start having people call him Duce? It's only a matter of time.

By: aladfar

aladfar — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 10:46:54 -0800

Oh, I get that it's a fake though I was definitely taken in at first. Perhaps part of the reason it seemed plausible (at least to some) has to do with the perceptions/stereotypes of Italian men that we've been talking about on the side.

By: Substrata

Substrata — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 11:53:40 -0800

Maurizio Antonini

By: taursir

taursir — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 12:45:49 -0800

Finally we see his playboy tactics at work. Should we be impressed?

By: MiltonRandKalman

MiltonRandKalman — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 13:34:52 -0800

what a piaga.

By: Skygazer

Skygazer — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 10:34:58 -0800

Skygazer, the fact that Burlusconi has been elected to office in Italy is in itself a sweeping generalization about Italy. I think the real issue is that you're just embarrassed that your country has such a jackass as a leader. posted by Timberman at 11:26 AM EST on March 30 [!] Timberman, your powers of perception are amazing. You should have your own psychic hotline. The only reason I don't give you the verbal spanking you deserve for turning this into a personal issue is that someone with such a nice dog obviously can't be that big of a dick. Who the hell wouldn't be embarrassed by Berlusconi? I'm also deeply embarrassed by the president of the United States. We're I've lived for most of my life.

By: funambulist

funambulist — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 07:38:54 -0800

It gets worse... worse still... worst of all (the bullshit tax cut promise). There is hope yet.