What trait would you rather have the leader of your country to have?

[Richard Hakluyt]

Charming.

[The Brain]

Confirmed Bachelor.

[Sheilbh]

Charming.

I think it's revealing that even with world leaders that's still how he's thinking.  The seediness of his life - at least from what's coming out before the trial - is just unbelievable.  It's such a shame Italy actually matters at the moment.

[The Larch]

Charming.

I think it's revealing that even with world leaders that's still how he's thinking.  The seediness of his life - at least from what's coming out before the trial - is just unbelievable.  It's such a shame Italy actually matters at the moment.

Are you still surprised about seedy revelations from Berlusconi? He's never hid the way he thinks, even if he's polite-ish about it in public, and even so he's already have some notorious insights out.

[Sheilbh]

Are you still surprised about seedy revelations from Berlusconi? He's never hid the way he thinks, even if he's polite-ish about it in public, and even so he's already have some notorious insights out.

I used to think he was sleazy in an embarassing, awkward but quite funny and fundamentally harmless way.  But a 70 year old man hiring hundreds of strippers, having affairs with 17 year old and all the rest of the bunga bunga allegations are just sleazy in a sleazy way. 

[Admiral Yi]

Pragmatism in response to changing circumstances. 

The problem is pragmatism gets a bad name from politicians who are pragmatic in response to polls. 

This.

[The Larch]

Are you still surprised about seedy revelations from Berlusconi? He's never hid the way he thinks, even if he's polite-ish about it in public, and even so he's already have some notorious insights out.

I used to think he was sleazy in an embarassing, awkward but quite funny and fundamentally harmless way.  But a 70 year old man hiring hundreds of strippers, having affairs with 17 year old and all the rest of the bunga bunga allegations are just sleazy in a sleazy way.

Well, all that has been know since the last couple of years, hardly breaking news. Apparently his parties were already being talked about by the Milanese high society, in a hush-hush kind of way, since the 80s.

[Zanza]

Have you heard Berlusconi's wiretaped opinion of Merkel?
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/angela-merkel-undermined-by-outspoken-mps-2354986.html

I am sure Merkel doesn't give a fuck what he thinks about her sexiness.

[Eddie Teach]

the 74-year-old Prime Minister, who three years ago caused a diplomatic incident by describing US President Barack Obama as "suntanned".

He's lucky Italy is still on the map! 

[Slargos]

An over-indulgence in pragmatism renders democracy more pointless than it already is since the leader can run on whatever platform he cares to as long as he plays to populism during the elections and the population has a short enough memory.
Sort of like with Sarkozy.
I would rather the man I elected to do the job he promised, actually does it.

[Valmy]

It entirely depends on what those ideals are 

[Viking]

When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?

I wish Kerry had used that when "W" accused him of flip floppery.

[Martinus]

When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?

I wish Kerry had used that when "W" accused him of flip floppery.

Only a homo would change his mind like that.

[Martinus]

An over-indulgence in pragmatism renders democracy more pointless than it already is since the leader can run on whatever platform he cares to as long as he plays to populism during the elections and the population has a short enough memory.
Sort of like with Sarkozy.
I would rather the man I elected to do the job he promised, actually does it.

I think one of the misconceptions of democracy is that it is about people electing whomever they want to rule them. It's about removing unpopular people from power through bloodless means.

[Valmy]

When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?

I wish Kerry had used that when "W" accused him of flip floppery.

Only a homo would change his mind like that.

My God man