Hehe, Romano Prodi is the former head of the European Commission, the legislative branch of the EU. He's been succeeded by José Manuel Barroso a year ago or something. So yeah he's had a European career before moving back to Italian politics.

And yeah, you won't hear me say that the international media didn't heavily prefer Kerry over Bush during the presidential elections; but I think in that case it was because Bush' foreign policy was (and is) a disaster. For a country the size and as influential as the US that's a very big problem. I think it's been a while since an American president has been as universially disliked as Bush. Some hardliners like to blame that on the media and jealousy, and while they no doubt play a role they're just part of the picture. Bush is disliked because he sucks, period. Previous American presidents did a LOT better internationally.

Anyway....you're right about the media liking to make things black and white, of course. I tend to think that in Berlusconi's case it's completely justified tho. I've seen more believable presidents in South America and North Africa.

Not true. Prodi was up before those votes were counted.

As for contrasting the two leaders.

Prodi:

Twice came under investigation for alleged corruption while he was head of IRI.

Berlusconi:

- 13 criminal cases against Berlusconi so far.
- Total anulled (thanks to 10 year expiration law) prison sentence time to date = 61 months.

Famous video of when Berlusconi offended the EU while his term as EU president. (In Italian)

Berlusconi claiming that in China, they boil babies and use them as fertiliser.

Berlusconi bending over for Bush

His interviewing skills on TV. Body Language for you that dont know Italian.

Benigni: "I dont want to talk about politics, i want to talk about Berlusconi" LOL

Luxembourg PM mocks Berlusca

Theres just so much of this stuff!

Prodi was the toothless president of the European Commision. To be honest I don't have much faith in him, but at least he's just incompetent, not corrupt and incompetent like Berlusconi. How did those people ever get an empire?

EDIT: missed the two last posts.

By trouncing all over the lesser barbarian lands. But now, Italians are the barbarians.

Man, Begnini is hyperactive freak. But fun to see and hear.

I can understand some Italian, but he speaks so fast it's hard...has a clear accent tho.

He's a legend.

If find he speaks very clearly even though he has a slight accent of the "Napoletano".

Fred.

Hmm .. is your name really Fred?

If so I only noticed this now, excuse me if i missed something .
We had a guy named Rolf and we called him Flor etc. so i should have seen it coming.

pevil = livep
mole = elom
rinox = xonir
..

doesn't seem to apply on them

Meh .. i'm busy doing schoolwork (making exams), it's crap i tell you.

My god, ive been writing so many emails today i did that automatically. (and the fact that im wearing nothing other than my boxers might have subconsciously caused me to "expose" myself).

My identity is revealed, after X years, the encryption has been decyphered. Mind you, if you would have click on "email" below, you would've had my surname too.



I'd better go put some clothes on...

Hehe, Fred is a rather strange choice of name for someone born of Italian parents, wouldn't you agree?

Indeed it is. But i was born in the UK, and they werent too fond of all things Italian at the time. Its actually Frederick, which i German, but who wants to be called Frederick?

Someone in charge of a German fetish website?


But I see your point on the lack of lovin' for all things Italy at the time.

Fred....hmmm. I'd probably go by Rick. Or Derick. Or Frick. Yea, Frick is pretty cool.

im gonna tip-ex over my passport and write, Frick.