Berlusconi calls the kettle black

Another one to file under "Only in Berlusconi's Italy". The latest outburst of Il Cavaliere, who should really be nicknamed "Il Buffone", took place yesterday when on an official visit to Athens. He called politicians, in essence, bent thieves who steal their wealth from citizens. Now that is seriously rich from a guy who's probably the dirtiest politician in Europe, and who's only escaped convictions for corruption because Italy's statute of limitations 'timed out' his earlier case. He still has to face corruption charges in Milan, after unsuccessfully trying to force through a bill to make the top 5 political offices (Prime Minister included, naturally) in Italy immune from prosecution, and after many of his henchmen, such as Cesare Previti, have been found guilty and sentenced. The sheer egotism of the guy knows absolutely no bounds. This is the bloke who famously said: "nessuno può paragonarsi con me" (or similar - can't remember the exact quote) - translated as "no-one is my equal".

Sure, politicians are, on the whole, bent self-seeking liars, but for one of the most bent liars of all to say so is hypocrisy of an astonishing order. You just have to laugh...