Berlusconi headed to the slammer

[tcaudilllg]

The self-styled dictator's days of freedom are numbered.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/16/wo...e/16italy.html

It's justice. As surely as he silently eroded the freedom and security of Italians, now he will just as surely see his own freedom steadily erode as Italians take back control of their destiny.

[1981slater]

What's wrong with banging hot women?

[FDG]

Tcaud, are you gay? We love our president!

[1981slater]

Yes! I demand a Campione of Velinas

[1981slater]

Super eeeego

Super eeeeego

Oe oe oeeeeeeee

[Creepy-bg]

Tcaud, are you gay? We love our president!

[1981slater]

Il Cavaliere!

[FDG]

Mi consenta, cribbio!

[tcaudilllg]

Tcaud, are you gay? We love our president!

Your president, or your boss...?

[FDG]

Oh yeah, I forgot I'm a member of the parliament.

[somavision]

The self-styled dictator's days of freedom are numbered.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/16/wo...e/16italy.html

It's justice. As surely as he silently eroded the freedom and security of Italians, now he will just as surely see his own freedom steadily erode as Italians take back control of their destiny.

This man is free to bang hookers, as is the right of every Italian. He also has the freedom to bang hookers to young to legally bang and then lie about as every other Italian is free to do. He is free to be corrupt, reckless and a bit of a cock, as every other Italian is free to be.

Under Berlusconi Italians are free to be Italians, to be mocked, disapproved of pitied and admired.

I very much doubt after everything he has servived that he will go anywhere near a jail cell, he might be forced to stand down, however I wouldn't count on it.

[tcaudilllg]

Oh he'll go down. And he's not a politician -- he's a dictator.

Term limits for the highest office matter. They are a critical weakening function of the office.

[somavision]

Oh he'll go down. And he's not a politician -- he's a dictator.

Term limits for the highest office matter. They are a critical weakening function of the office.

Perhaos it would be more accurate to state that he operates in the grey inbetween. Your certainty on his fate interests me, what do you think it is about this case that is so different from all the others? And how can you be so certain that a conviction will follow, both parties deny having sex and no witnesses have come forward to confirm that intercourse took place, that is despite all the other irregular behaviour surrounding the case.

[FDG]

Anyway, over the years many trials have cumulated above B's shoulders. The rate of arrival seems to be worsening (getting faster). There is way too much discontent among the populace, plus he seems to be more and more out of control. I believe there might be a hint of Alzheimer disease lurking behind the scenes, given that he's 75 and he hasn't been living an healthy life during the last 20 years. The whole picture is getting worse and worse day by day.

[tcaudilllg]

Perhaos it would be more accurate to state that he operates in the grey inbetween. Your certainty on his fate interests me, what do you think it is about this case that is so different from all the others? And how can you be so certain that a conviction will follow, both parties deny having sex and no witnesses have come forward to confirm that intercourse took place, that is despite all the other irregular behaviour surrounding the case.

Because of the speed with which the judge ordered a trial. This represents agreement among the judges that he needs to go, meaning the intelligentsia of the nation has also determined he's going. The judges lean on academics for advice; their opinions reflect academic consensus.

No one man should be that powerful. It'd be one thing if he was representing something bigger than himself, but like Mubarak, he's lost touch.

Now for an example of a man who hasn't lost touch (and may never), consider Muammar Gaddafi.

But yeah the Italian gov. is gonna try Berlusconi repeatedly until he's gone, one way or the other. That guy is insanely powerful: I hear he owns like 40% of Italian media. What does it mean when a guy controls not only your freedom, but also your paycheck?

[somavision]

Because of the speed with which the judge ordered a trial. This represents agreement among the judges that he needs to go, meaning the intelligentsia of the nation has also determined he's going. The judges lean on academics for advice; their opinions reflect academic consensus.

No one man should be that powerful. It'd be one thing if he was representing something bigger than himself, but like Mubarak, he's lost touch.

Now for an example of a man who hasn't lost touch (and may never), consider Muammar Gaddafi.

But yeah the Italian gov. is gonna try Berlusconi repeatedly until he's gone, one way or the other. That guy is insanely powerful: I hear he owns like 40% of Italian media. What does it mean when a guy controls not only your freedom, but also your paycheck?

An early trial date is interesting, however in itself this doesn't guarantee a conviction, let alone a prison sentance. Berlusconi has been bought before many trial judges and walked away. This time may be different and I wouldn't be surprised if he was forced from office, but he's still popular in Italy, especially with men, I wouldn't count your chickens before they've hatched.