http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8367589.stm
A boring Belgian is to become 1st EU president.
Most surprising, I really didn't see that one coming at all :huh:
Tony was robbed.
And Catherine Ashton Foreign Minister, which is probably more important post .
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hs.fi%2Fkuvat%2Fiso_webkuva%2F1135250887917.jpeg&hash=22d1fc2072364b63e696c594659600e2ea0e35b7)
So, Americans, how does one go about getting a residence visa to your country these days?
When will it be Malta's turn? :(
the brits should be happy: he'll be a weak leader which will keep the post itself weak.
And the British tabloids/press, as always, need to learn some manners.
Wouldn't like to run into Catherine Ashton in a dark alley :unsure:
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on November 19, 2009, 03:46:34 PM
Wouldn't like to run into Catherine Ashton in a dark alley :unsure:
Better that then a well-lit area I think... :unsure:
The EU is becoming a caricature of itself.
Quote from: Barrister on November 19, 2009, 03:51:02 PM
Better that then a well-lit area I think... :unsure:
I read that she is a Baroness. My image of Baronesses as having German accents and wearing tight BDSM outfits is forever banished. :(
Quote from: Crazy_Ivan80 on November 19, 2009, 03:42:03 PM
And the British tabloids/press, as always, need to learn some manners.
QFT
Some of the headlines were borderline racist...
Heaven forfend that the gutter press should indulge in a spot of lèse majesté when referring to a Brussels official :D
What did they say/do btw? A quick glance at the Sun and the Daily Mail reveals nothing of particular interest.
:bleeding:
So let me guess: the big guys could not agree who should get this potentially revolutionary position, and thus they gave it to a nobody, who will make the position utterly pointless, then proceeded to make the same with the perhaps even more important FM position, foiling any attempt to make the EU look like an entity to be taken seriously.
Where is the news? :(
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi13.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa299%2FSlayhem%2Fsquirrel.jpg&hash=37b12366a6a674115d4b464448f737500799f14b)
Quote from: Tamas on November 19, 2009, 04:29:59 PM
So let me guess: the big guys could not agree who should get this potentially revolutionary position, and thus they gave it to a nobody, who will make the position utterly pointless, then proceeded to make the same with the perhaps even more important FM position, foiling any attempt to make the EU look like an entity to be taken seriously.
Where is the news? :(
well, not everyone was that enamoured with the new position from the get go. And there's a difference of opinion on how the presidency should function/be viewed between the large and small countries too.
As for the EU to be reformed into an entity taken seriously... times aren't dire enough. People will come around to that when it's nigh on too late... As always <_<
Quote from: Tamas on November 19, 2009, 04:29:59 PM
So let me guess: the big guys could not agree who should get this potentially revolutionary position, and thus they gave it to a nobody, who will make the position utterly pointless, then proceeded to make the same with the perhaps even more important FM position, foiling any attempt to make the EU look like an entity to be taken seriously.
Indeed, another triumph for the Foreign Office :bowler:
It is like instead of making George Washington our first President we elected Lyman Hall.
Quote from: Valmy on November 19, 2009, 04:46:20 PM
It is like instead of making George Washington our first President we elected Lyman Hall.
:mad: I'll remember this slight on Georgia, Texan.
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on November 19, 2009, 03:46:34 PM
Wouldn't like to run into Catherine Ashton in a dark alley :unsure:
I'd prefer it to be dark if I do run into her.
EDIT: I guess it was an obvious one.
A Belgian? Does Belgium even have a national government anymore?
Quote from: Valmy on November 19, 2009, 04:46:20 PM
It is like instead of making George Washington our first President we elected Lyman Hall.
The new wasn't supposed to have George-Washington like position even in the dreams of the most extreme federalists, thought.
He's more, like, President of the United States in Congress Assembled
Merkel always wanted a mediator and backroom dealer as president of the council. Why is that position called "President of the EU" in the press anyway? The EU already has another "President", the president of the commission (Barroso), who heads the actual EU administration. And of course there is the president of the EU parliament, so that's three presidents already. This new post is just the organizer of the upper chamber meetings, so maybe more like a senate president or so.
There is nothing in the Lisbon Treaty to suggest that this new president of the council would be a kind of head of state for the EU. That's something that Sarkozy wanted at first and that the press picked up, but it is not in the treaty.
Quote from: Neil on November 19, 2009, 05:08:48 PM
A Belgian? Does Belgium even have a national government anymore?
They had until now. That guy to be exact. But now they'll have fun picking a new guy. Can only take a year or two. ;)
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on November 19, 2009, 04:36:15 PM
Indeed, another triumph for the Foreign Office :bowler:
They're making a complete pig's breakfast out of the whole thing.
Quote from: Warspite on November 19, 2009, 03:38:25 PM
So, Americans, how does one go about getting a residence visa to your country these days?
Do you have any special skills?
Quote from: Habbaku on November 19, 2009, 04:51:45 PM
Quote from: Valmy on November 19, 2009, 04:46:20 PM
It is like instead of making George Washington our first President we elected Lyman Hall.
:mad: I'll remember this slight on Georgia, Texan.
Oh come now just by remembering somebody as obscure as Lyman Hall I am honoring Georgia.
Quote from: Neil on November 19, 2009, 05:08:48 PM
A Belgian? Does Belgium even have a national government anymore?
Belgians do have a lot of experience in running (or not) an incongruous entity. That makes them a perfect fit for EU.
Quote from: DGuller on November 19, 2009, 05:19:14 PM
Quote from: Neil on November 19, 2009, 05:08:48 PM
A Belgian? Does Belgium even have a national government anymore?
Belgians do have a lot of experience in running (or not) an incongruous entity. That makes them a perfect fit for EU.
I think that is the reason for appointing him and, in general, I agree that such a person is a better choice than a so-called "heavyweight" like Blair. This Lisbon treaty business has been fairly traumatic, a period of quiet consolidation is a good idea IMO.
Quote from: Sahib on November 19, 2009, 05:08:58 PM
Quote from: Valmy on November 19, 2009, 04:46:20 PM
It is like instead of making George Washington our first President we elected Lyman Hall.
The new wasn't supposed to have George-Washington like position even in the dreams of the most extreme federalists, thought.
He's more, like, President of the United States in Congress Assembled
So this guy's more like Peyton Randolph then.
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on November 19, 2009, 05:32:38 PM
So this guy's more like Peyton Randolph then.
Well...we still considered ourselves part of Britain when he was President.
It's nice that he was chosen as president, now all of Europe can enjoy his boring and uneventful style of politics and have all problems buried and repressed like a bad case of childhood abuse.
The real problem is that now we have to get a new prime minister, if they chose that cretin Leterme I'm going to throw a hissy fit.
Also, the baronnes reminds me of those molerats in Fallout 3.
The woman in that picture looks like an orc.
Quote from: Zanza on November 19, 2009, 05:13:04 PM
Quote from: Neil on November 19, 2009, 05:08:48 PM
A Belgian? Does Belgium even have a national government anymore?
They had until now. That guy to be exact. But now they'll have fun picking a new guy. Can only take a year or two. ;)
with luck it'll take forever, meaning that the franco's finally broke the camel's back
Well, so much for the EU Presidency being relevant and independent. :cry:
Quote from: barkdreg on November 19, 2009, 05:34:34 PM
The real problem is that now we have to get a new prime minister, if they chose that cretin Leterme I'm going to throw a hissy fit.
Lol, what will you do? Shout 'NON' all the time like those retards south of the border? :p
It is the fastest way to dismantle this failed nation
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on November 19, 2009, 03:56:25 PM
The EU is becoming a caricature of itself.
Oh it was never going to amount to anything.
Look what Haiku Herman has to say about Languish:
http://haikuherman.eu/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flanguish.org%2Fforums%2Findex.php&x=111&y=33 (http://haikuherman.eu/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flanguish.org%2Fforums%2Findex.php&x=111&y=33)
This is pathetic. If Europe ever wants to be taken seriously then we need to stop appointing low countries' PMs and Foreign Ministers to serious people and get some guys with some clout up there.
I also think if we want to be taken seriously we should avoid people with the name 'van Rumpy' :lol:
Quote from: Sheilbh on November 20, 2009, 08:14:55 AM
I also think if we want to be taken seriously we should avoid people with the name 'van Rumpy' :lol:
I think we can feel assured that at least one group of people are absolutely delighted with the choice of president........British tabloid headline writers :D
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Oh, I don't feel so good. :x
Quote from: Tamas on November 19, 2009, 04:29:59 PM
So let me guess: the big guys could not agree who should get this potentially revolutionary position, and thus they gave it to a nobody, who will make the position utterly pointless, then proceeded to make the same with the perhaps even more important FM position, foiling any attempt to make the EU look like an entity to be taken seriously.
Where is the news? :(
It's like the Holy Roman Empire. :lol:
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on November 19, 2009, 04:36:15 PM
Quote from: Tamas on November 19, 2009, 04:29:59 PM
So let me guess: the big guys could not agree who should get this potentially revolutionary position, and thus they gave it to a nobody, who will make the position utterly pointless, then proceeded to make the same with the perhaps even more important FM position, foiling any attempt to make the EU look like an entity to be taken seriously.
Indeed, another triumph for the Foreign Office :bowler:
yes, Minister. :bowler:
Quote from: Sheilbh on November 20, 2009, 08:14:55 AM
This is pathetic. If Europe ever wants to be taken seriously then we need to stop appointing low countries' PMs and Foreign Ministers to serious people and get some guys with some clout up there.
I also think if we want to be taken seriously we should avoid people with the name 'van Rumpy' :lol:
Same could be said about NATO and appointing Danes.