Cross-posted at European Tribune
I'm sorry I don't have enough time to really do a good diary on this; I'm just expanding a bit on a comment I posted in the open thread. I just wanted to let everyone know that Berlusconi will be addressing the U.S. Congress in a joint session at 11 a.m. EST. It will be on C-Span.
I can't believe he's getting this present from BushCo during the run-up to the Italian general elections on April 9th-10th!
With just six weeks until Italy's election on April 9, analysts said Berlusconi's trip would provide him "wall-to-wall" media coverage back home and raise his credibility among voters.
"Berlusconi is in the midst of a massive effort to attract attention to his candidacy. He is on television every night and there is no better way to focus media attention on him than a visit to the United States," said Charles Kupchan, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.
(...)
Berlusconi is set to give a speech to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, an honor rarely bestowed on foreign leaders and likely to raise his profile in Italy.
And (the icing on the cake), get this (same link):
During his visit, Berlusconi will also be given an Intrepid Freedom Award, which in past years has gone to former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan.
The "Intrepid Freedom Award"??!! What's that???
Aaaaggghhhh!!!! I want to puke, puke, PUKE!!!!
Needless to say, the center-left coalition is up in arms over this blatant election campaign publicity masquerading as "prestige" and "news".
I'm feeling more and more desperate. Will we ever be able to get rid of these people??? They just keep buttressing each other up -- even between different countries. :-(((