Category Archives: politics

Sei una merda

Posted on January 24, 2008 by Charles Lambert

http://tv.repubblica.it/flashplayer/player_embed.swfIt doesn’t take that much Italian to understand what this nameless Italian senator (National Alliance, i.e. post-fascist) is shouting at another senator, a certain Dottor Cusumano who has just voted for the coalition to which his party belonged until, let’s … Continue reading →

Posted in italy, politics | 4 Comments

A Chavez story that doesn’t mention Naomi Campbell

Posted on January 23, 2008 by Charles Lambert

There’s a rather odd piece in today’s New York Times about middle and upper class Venezuelans fleeing the country in fear of Chavez, to settle in South Florida. They’re compared in the article to Cuban exiles, on the run from … Continue reading →

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Bananas

Posted on January 22, 2008 by Charles Lambert

As predicted in my last post, Clemente Mastella has withdrawn his three (yes, that’s right, three) senators from the Italian senate, depriving the Prodi government of its majority of two (yes, that’s right, two). The government’s been looking like a … Continue reading →

Posted in berlusconi, corruption, italy, politics, prodi, vatican | 4 Comments

No corruption? No party!

Posted on January 20, 2008 by Charles Lambert

Italian politicians certainly know how to celebrate. Totò Cuffaro, centre right, president of the region of Sicily (see left: modelling a coppola, traditional Sicilian headgear, in a probably mistaken photo-op), was convicted a couple of days ago of having favoured … Continue reading →

Posted in corruption, italy, mafia, politics | 4 Comments

Multitasking

Posted on January 20, 2008 by Charles Lambert

I’ve no doubt Ratzinger had a word to say about family values to the masses gathered today beneath his balcony. He works so much better with a friendly audience, even when they do know most of the jokes. There’s a … Continue reading →

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Papal bull part two

Posted on January 15, 2008 by Charles Lambert

Well, would you believe it? Ratzinger’s decided that his presence at La Sapienza would be ‘inopportune’. It’s hardly the first time his cowardice desire to avoid conflict has overruled his spiritual, and political, responsibilities. Less than a month ago, he … Continue reading →

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Pontification

Posted on January 11, 2008 by Charles Lambert

Ratzinger’s campaign against Italy’s newly-formed Partito Democratico (PD) continues apace. Not content with planting his emotionally warped moles (read, self-mortifying Paola Binetti and the other so-called Teodems – though what they understand of theology or democracy is anybody’s guess) into … Continue reading →

Posted in berlusconi, corruption, italy, politics, pope, rome, vatican | Leave a comment

More of the same old religious shite

Posted on December 18, 2007 by Charles Lambert

It’s barely worth commenting on the fact that the centre-left majority on Rome was yesterday unable to approve either of two motions to grant some sort of legitimacy to civil unions. Neither would have made any difference but, given that … Continue reading →

Posted in bigotry, gay, politics, religion, vatican, very dark cave | 5 Comments

A post for Tyla

Posted on December 14, 2007 by Charles Lambert

This is a post for Tyla, who’s depressed about the run-up to the US presidential elections. As you say, Tyla, “Just answer the question!” In the meantime, I’ll try to keep you amused with my potted accounts of why nothing … Continue reading →

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Chequebook politics

Posted on December 13, 2007 by Charles Lambert

Berlusconi’s famous for the lavish gift he bestows on friends, colleagues, employees, visiting heads of state. He’s fond of inscribed gold watches but anything flashy and expensive will do, so long as it encourages (or rewards) loyalty and impresses his … Continue reading →

Posted in berlusconi, corruption, italy, politics, television | Leave a comment