It is an invective, and Berlusconi deserves it. Of course, in Italy these words were either ignored, or attributed to the vast left-wing conspiracy led by world communist newpapers, you know, the Financial Times for instance. It is a sad and dangerous moment for my country, and the lack of a strong, serious, and reliable opposition makes it even more dangerous.

The answer is yes.

And apparently the Italian Mafia is getting close to openly running the entire country now. (As opposed to just the south).

Mr Saramago, please, you such a stunning scholar, just note down this: the correct century to cite is the 19th and not the 18th. Please don't talk about things you don't know. Blind hate is evil: you're ousting yourself.

The correct century is given in the Spanish article - perhaps it got switched in the translation.

it has a funambulesque ability to abuse words

Look for MoDo to "borrow" this gem the next time she writes about Bush.

Berlusconi is a great specimen of a politician to illustrate something about another world leader: On the occasion of George Bush's reelection in 2004, the Daily Mirror in the UK had a front-page with a photo of Bush underlined by the question 'How can 59,054,087 people be so DUMB?', the Guardian headlined its features section with 'Oh, God.', the Tageszeitung, a left-leaning newspaper in Germany, carried the title 'Oops – they did it again'.

Certainly not very polite, and especially the Daily Mirror front-page caused quite a stink in the US. But how the US electorate in 2004 could re-elect George Bush was as incomprehensible to many Europeans as the recent re-election of Silvio Berlusconi is to many non-Italians.

srw1: the US electorate in 2004 could re-elect George Bush ...

how did that turn out for america?

oh right..

worst. president. ever.

The law restricting criticism of a sitting prime minister is being written while Italy sleeps .

Here it is: Charlie at 4:21am. Charlie, instead of going at the heart of the matter, prefers to attack the messenger, accusing him of "blind hatred". The base of Charlie's accusation? A mistake made by the translator in indicating the century. Here is what Samarago wrote: "esos que hicieron de la Italia del siglo XIX". Yes, that's nineteenth for you Charlie. Any other thoughts? What you read as blind hatred I read as deep love, for Italy and for ethics, for honesty and integrity, for dignity and liberty (the real one, not the one of the "partito della libertà"). Please feel free to look at a dictionary if you can't remember the meaning of those words.

Btw, for anybody interested in an audio comedy take down of Berlusconi, I would recommend the June 12 episode of The News Quizz at the BBC.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00kvt89/The_News_Quiz_Series_68_Episode_7/

The Berlusconi part starts about 11.30 into the program.

(The show is also available as a free podcast from iTunes).

Stefano, on Charlie:

Out of 59,054,087 stupid people in 2004, we've got plenty left. Some of them are proud of their stupidity.

Here's a link to the original:

http://caderno.josesaramago.org/2009/06/08/a-coisa-berlusconi/

I think the pun is lost on non-romance speakers. "La Cosa Berlusconi" obviously evokes "La Cosa Nostra", i.e. the Mafia.

Just as we find here in America, so too is there nothing so minionesque as being a thing-minion in Italy, as thing-minions are too inherently stupid to stop electing their chief thing---unqualified for little more than to be cast as an appeasement to the gods into the bowels of Monte Vesuvio---as head-of-state....

Say what you will about the new Italian leader, he has, at least, put sign painters back to work. So lovely to see "Credere, Obbedire, Combattere" across the land of Garibaldi, once again, eh?

So. Benito made the trains run on time and Silvio put painters back to work? I'd say Benito is ahead.

I don't understand the confusion people have sometimes: 'funambulesque' is quite a self-evident word, meaning 'to have qualities reminiscent of a fun ambulance.'

No need to thank me.

Frederika Randall has a more tabloid take on the "thing" over at The Nation website.

Charlie on Stefano.
Per fortuna che ci sei tu a salvare l'Italia. E Saramago, naturalmente. Entrambi non vedevano l'ora.

SRW1, I didn't realize until I read Rick Atkinson's "The Day of Battle" about our horrendous Italian campaign, that Benito had, at least, one redeeming quality. He refused to allow the Nazis to take Jews from Italy. Following his being forced to step down and before his final scenic tour of Lago di Como, the Nazis took control of the Italian government and sent many Jews to their deaths.

Speaking of Atkins, he mentions the many fascist signs of "COC" I referred to supra which the Black Shirts had painted all over both Italy and Sicily. So, with Silvio "Black is back".

Looks like no Serie A trophy is coming to Milan for a very long time. Silvio should either focus on politics or sports, he obviously can't do both . . .

Silvio Berlusconi, January 20, 2009: "Kaka is staying with Milan," Berlusconi said on the program late on Monday. "For Kaka, money isn't everything."

The BBC, June 9: "Real Madrid have completed the signing of Brazilian playmaker Kaka from AC Milan on a six-year deal.

The fee is reported to be about £56m, which would be a new world record in pounds sterling, surpassing the £45.6m Real paid for Zinedine Zidane in 2001.

Kaka, 27, revealed he has joined the Spanish club to help the Italians overcome their financial difficulties.

Silvio Berlusconi, June 4, 2009:"Cristiano Ronaldo? I whispered in his ear and told him that I would like to see him play in Rossoneri colours, and he smiled at me," Berlusconi told Studio Sport."

The Guardian, June 6, 2009: "Manchester United's supporters received the news they had been dreading this morning when the club announced they had accepted an £80m bid from Real Madrid that will make Cristiano Ronaldo the most expensive player in history. The world-record transfer is expected to be finalised before 30 June after United finally accepted that the world footballer of the year was still intent on securing his "dream" move to Madrid."

(1) concerning tightrope walkers; (2) of extravagant imagination, buffoonish oddness, burlesque.)

Burlesque-oni. hehhehheh

kthxbai

Well, Berlusconi just opted to take 3 Gitmo prisoners.

Yep, Berlusconi isn't a great role model. Why so much hate though. Let the Italians decide. Funambulesque is a great word. Doesn't spell check mind you.

berttheclock - actually, the Germans did also sent many Italian civilians to their death after the Italians had gotten rid of Mussolini. It's quite surprising how regularly one can find commemorative plaques in Tuscany for civilians who were executed in acts of retribution.

I don't think Silvio Berlusconi has that much of a coherent political philosophy other than his personal interests, but he obviously also has no compunction to collaborate with the neofascists.

Like many other European countries, Italy would need significant immigration to maintain its population level, but its geographic location means that, together with Spain, Italy forms the front line for the (so far largely illegal) immigration of non-whites from North Africa.

I think to some extent Berlusconi's return to power was driven by a backlash against illegal immigration from Africa. And of course Berlusconi's alliance with the neofascists does not bode well for his government pursuing a reasonable policy via-a-vis that and other issues.

lisaintexas: Yep, Berlusconi isn't a great role model. Why so much hate though?"

Because it's nice to make fun of other countries' presidents for a change.

Speaking of other countries, how the hell does Stephen Harper get to suspend the Canadian parliament to avoid votes of no confidence? What's up with that? God may save the Queen but George Bush acolytes? Not so much.

Charlie:

you are just confirming what I wrote before: some supporters of Berlusconi think that the only way to defend him is to avoid the issues and dismiss every attack as politically motivated. So tell us: what do you think of Berlusconi? Why can't he stick to one version of a story? Why does he deny ever meeting Mills? Do you really think there is a vast left-wing conspiracy? I can't wait to hear your thoughtful comments and analysis.

sleepy_commentator on funambulesque: I like your definition ;-)

Hey, this is turning into a literature class. With vanya highlighting the hidden Cosa Nostra reference and Meanie-meanie refering to the Burlesque-oni wordplay (in the original Spanish it's Berlusconi and funambulseca).

A reader (’Greenrobyn’) has kindly pointed out an error in the translation (and it is an error in the translation, not in Saramago’s original document): Italian unification occurred in the 19th century, and not in the 18th. EcoLogics has updated the document accordingly, please do the same here.

EcoLogics

Stefano,
Sarcasm, bitterness and moans usually lead nowhere : you seem stuck. Wailing on line like a Greek chorus vs Mr Villacertosa, waiting for a deus ex machina sorting everything out is not that sensible. Take it easy with me: the Saramago's "thing" is someone else, not me.

Charlie: you're right, I'm sarcastic, bitter, and moaning, it is so sad. By the way, any chance you will address any issues instead of talking about me?

Stefano,
all this stuff is becoming a bit private, isn't it? perhaps needing more room than this.

Private? I was talking about Berlusconi, I don't know you...