[bestcigsnick]

Do you honestly think that Italians expect their politicians to have "conservative values? Or that they care?

Where was Berlusconi's mea culpa? His apology? His speech to the Italian public with his wife by his side?

That stuff don't happen here. Do you really think Italians are shocked?

As I've pointed out... as Luca has pointed out... as any journalist covering this issue who knows Italy: it's just not a big issue. OF COURSE Berlusconi is a hypocrite, Do you think Italians think differently?

After the "scandal" broke, his poll numbers went UP!

---

Berlusconi promising to put family values at the centre of his campaign (a true quote):

Speaking at his party's convention in Sardinia on January 28, 2006, "Thank you dear Father Massimiliano, I'll try not to let you down and I promise you two and a half months of complete sexual abstinence until April 9 [election]"

--

Asked to explain how Italy managed to get the support of its biggest competitor over the EU Food Authority dispute, he said:

"I used all my playboy skills and courted the Finnish President."

--

At the Brussels summit, at the end of Italy's EU presidency, in December 2003:

"Let's talk about football and women." (Turning to four-times-married German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder.) "Gerhard, why don't you start?"

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Mr Berlusconi's aides said he knew nothing about allegedly paying young women to attend parties:

"To think that Berlusconi needs to pay 2,000 euros (£1,700) a girl, for her to go with him, seems to me a bit much," said his lawyer, Niccolo Ghedini.

"I think he could have great quantities of them for free"

--

My favorite:

Italian President Silvio Berlusconi on his wife's claim he "consorted with minors".

"I don't think there is any way of reconciling our marriage and she should be publicly apologizing to me.
This is the third time she has done something like this during an election campaign and this time it is too much."

--

On Italian secretaries (comments made at the New York stock exchange):
"Italy is now a great country to invest in... today we have fewer communists and those who are still there deny having been one.
Another reason to invest in Italy is that we have beautiful secretaries... superb girls."




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[neonasafluni]

Do you honestly think that Italians expect their politicians to have "conservative values? Or that they care? Silvio seems to think some of them do, since that's his shtick.

Where was Berlusconi's mea culpa? His apology? His speech to the Italian public with his wife by his side? He just denies everything, of course, and his wife now hates him so I doubt she'd be by his side for anything.

OF COURSE Berlusconi is a hypocrite It doesn't bother you in his case, yet somehow bugs you enough in the Sanford case that you spoke about the hypocrisy being the thing that bugged you. So, apparently you're a hypocrite too and you all deserve each other.

[SypeKifef]

"I will try to meet your expectations, and I promise from now on, two-and-a-half months of absolute sexual abstinence, until [election day on] 9 April." Well, no one ever accused him of lacking a sense of humor. Making jokes is of course a good way to diffuse awkwardness.

[Dabdklwu]

Message to both you gents:

Judge not lest ye be judged.

[Wheldcobchoto]

Making jokes is of course a good way to diffuse awkwardness.

Yeah, ol' awkward, social misfit Berlusconi. LOL.

The guy gets himself spray-tanned every morning. I don't think he suffers from awkwardness.

[LymnInvinny]

Also: It's not easy for Americans to understand but there is a part of the Italian psyche that shuns democracy. Too many Americans assume that the rest of the world thinks exactly as they do.

Berlusconi is mostly off the radar in the US press. The majority of negative coverage seems to originate in Europe, particularly in the UK and France, where L'Express labelled him the Buffoon of Europe

[houkbsdov]

And with the Italian press... especially La Repubblica and L'Espresso.

But the important part of my quote you quoted "It's not easy for Americans to understand but there is a part of the Italian psyche that shuns democracy." is one of the keys to understanding why Berlusconi does not suffer so much from things that might be a scandal in other countries. This "shunning of Democracy" is not praise BTW... but a damning of the society. Italy had Fascism which some still look on with nostalgia... it had a Communist party aligned with the Communist block. It had a King. Democracy is a new concept.

--

[Imagimifouxum]

Yes, it was awkward for him having to go out and refute what his wife was saying. The natural outcome... some awkward humor.

It would be awkward for any 72 year old to have to deny charges of sleeping with a minor to the world; save your dumb sarcasm for another (inevitable) post. His conduct and humor are known to be awkward by most people...he lacks social grace, displays inappropriate behavior...his gaffes are so numerous, so yes, awkward is a great word for him.

[Inettypofonee]

A "cafone" is not awkward.

Yes, it was awkward for him having to go out and refute what his wife was saying.

Wha? Midtown... believe me... you don't get it... this is Italy... this is Berlusconi... he made that comment with gusto.

[pymnConyelell]

I know the hook...this is Italy, this is Italy, this is Italy...write a song already.