nearly every other European leader (and Italian politician) was scoring cheap political points by attacking him as a reckless cowboy
You say "scoring cheap political points", I say "speaking the truth", let's call the whole thing off. posted by orange swan at 7:59 AM on July 10 [2 favorites]
Assuming he's still alive, I'm convinced that nobody misses Bush more than Osama Bin Laden. posted by Faint of Butt at 8:01 AM on July 10 [6 favorites]
I miss Bush. Obama really doesn't provide the same endless laughs. posted by gman at 8:02 AM on July 10
Dick Cheney probably misses the cover he had for a while. And the major CEOs may have had a bad twinge there for a bit, but are probably safe (with the hopeful exception of the insurance industry). posted by DU at 8:06 AM on July 10
Kind of simplistic thinking, don't you think?
Nobody in a position of power, gives away political support for free or without some sort of strings attached. Besides, politicians are good at working toward compromise and finding solutions, no matter who their partner is.
So, kind of a dumb list. posted by KokuRyu at 8:07 AM on July 10
Besides, politicians are good at working toward compromise and finding solutions, no matter who their partner is.
Who can forget the diplomacy displayed when Bush and Saddam Hussein, despite their disagreements, worked closely together to dispel the confusion surrounding any WMDs that Iraq may have had as well as the role Iraq played in 9/11? posted by DU at 8:10 AM on July 10 [7 favorites]
I miss Bush. Obama really doesn't provide the same endless laughs.
We still have Sarah Palin, and she's even better grist for the snark mill. I think it's the best of both worlds, really. posted by orange swan at 8:14 AM on July 10
Nobody in a position of power, gives away political support for free or without some sort of strings attached.
Well, I think the point that Chávez likely misses Bush to kick around in his speeches is a good one, and your point really doesn't address it. Seriously, Chávez looooooved talking about Bush. posted by mr_roboto at 8:15 AM on July 10
Besides, politicians are good at working toward compromise and finding solutions, no matter who their partner is.
Unless, of course, their 'partner' happens to have an inferior military. posted by gman at 8:18 AM on July 10
Bush called the Italian leader a "man of sincerity and principle."
Jeez, have Berlusconi as your best political friend is like having Ann Coulter as your shoulder to cry on. (Good way of having an eye out actually...) posted by i_cola at 8:26 AM on July 10
Foreign Policy: it's like Cracked for politics! posted by Nelson at 8:29 AM on July 10 [1 favorite]
Do we have any footage of Bush and Palin speaking to each other? I could only imagine the stupidity that would be flowing in that conversation... posted by educatedslacker at 8:31 AM on July 10 [1 favorite]
And one who's breathing a sigh of relief. posted by mazola at 8:44 AM on July 10
Do we have any footage of Bush and Palin speaking to each other? I could only imagine the stupidity that would be flowing in that conversation...
posted by educatedslacker at 8:31 AM on July 10 [+] [!]
Nice to Hugo Chavez in there. Poor guy no longer has a broad and stupid target to fling his shit at and it's always a bit messy when shit misses its mark. posted by philip-random at 9:44 AM on July 10
Not having Bush to wave in peoples faces has caused more than a little trouble for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as well. posted by Artw at 9:52 AM on July 10
...as Pollomacho mentioned. posted by Artw at 9:53 AM on July 10
I read the list and think...couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of people (with, perhaps, the exception of Álvaro Uribe). posted by Skeptic at 10:07 AM on July 10
What's his get-out? posted by Artw at 10:09 AM on July 10
harper hates obama because he wins the dominance game every time. nothing makes me happier than to see poweful men wilt when obama plants his hand preemptively on their shoulders. posted by klanawa at 10:11 AM on July 10
This article was worth it just for the information that Hugo Chávez has a talk show called Aló Presidente, which "continues until Chávez is ready to stop, so the program often lasts about five hours." posted by Iridic at 10:12 AM on July 10
when obama plants his hand preemptively on their shoulders
I miss Bush. The 70s were awesome years for porn. Boo to Brazilians. posted by Astro Zombie at 10:31 AM on July 10 [3 favorites]
I realize it is possible to read my last comment as a series of non-sequiturs, and would thank you to do so. posted by Astro Zombie at 10:32 AM on July 10 [3 favorites]
Also, Berlusconi also committed an early gaffe with Obama, also calling the African-American president "young, handsome, and also tanned." There are also reports that U.S.-Italian relations have also cooled somewhat and that the Obama administration is also irritated by Berlusconi's close relations with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and also Libyan leader Muammar el-Qaddafi. The United States also supports expanding the Group of Eight or also consolidating its European members, also a move that is also likely to also irritate Italy, which also depends on G-8 membership for international legitimacy, also. posted by Dumsnill at 10:50 AM on July 10
You can most definitely add Stephen Harper to that list.
Stephen Harper misses all world leaders. By about two minutes. posted by srboisvert at 11:55 AM on July 10 [2 favorites]
"young, handsome, and also tanned."
For most people that would be a complement. posted by gyc at 12:01 PM on July 10
Stephen Harper's government backs the military coup in Honduras. Obama's doesn't. Bush? posted by CCBC at 12:55 PM on July 10
Tanning is what you do to hides to make them into leather. "Tanned" is a euphemism for "leathery-skinned and predisposed to skin cancer." I think it's a bit of a stretch to call that a compliment. posted by explosion at 1:09 PM on July 10
Hey, at least Poland got something for their ridiculous support for Bush. What did Blair's horrendous pandering net us? A big plate of fuck all. posted by Artw at 2:20 PM on July 10
That's Hugo "Crackers from Caracas" Chavez. posted by Pronoiac at 2:21 PM on July 10
Tanning is what you do to hides to make them into leather. "Tanned" is a euphemism for "leathery-skinned and predisposed to skin cancer." I think it's a bit of a stretch to call that a compliment.
Is this a Canadian thing? That's not how the word is used in the US.
Anyway, the word Berlusconi actually used was "bronzato" (he's Italian, remember?). This word is etymologically related to the alloy bronze; i.e. Berlusconi said that Obama was "bronzed". It definitely has complimentary overtones, and if you take a look at Berlusconi himself, you'll see immediately that the man appreciates a nice bronzing... posted by mr_roboto at 2:33 PM on July 10
Holy shit; it strikes me that I just wrote a comment that might be seen to be defending Silvio Berlusconi. Let just make it clear: the man is in every way indefensible. posted by mr_roboto at 2:34 PM on July 10 [1 favorite]
"young, handsome, and also tanned."
For most people that would be a complement.
I certainly feel that a young, handsome and tanned man would complement me. In return I would compliment him by telling him he's young, handsome and tanned. posted by orange swan at 4:47 PM on July 10
Foreign Policy: it's like Cracked for politics!
Sadly it seems to be heading more and more in this direction in a bid to drive up readership. Sadly, I can read a lot of poorly thought-out editorial anywhere. It's the qualified in depth-stuff that's hard to find. posted by smoke at 5:07 PM on July 10
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You say "scoring cheap political points", I say "speaking the truth", let's call the whole thing off.
posted by orange swan at 7:59 AM on July 10 [2 favorites]