Italy Votes Massively Against Constitutional "Reform" Criticized for Empowering Government and the Establishment; Many See Tea Leaves for Possible Italian Exit from EU

The referendum was about reforms to Italy's government. I honestly don't know what those reforms were and I'm not sure a non-Italian would care much about them.

Update: Zombie reports the "reforms" were thus:

The "reforms" were basically this:
Currently, the Italian Senate has significant power to guide national policy. The reforms were to remove that power and grant it solely to the president -- essentially giving him dictatorial powers. Since the current president was pro-EU and pro-immigration and a classic "establishment" type, the people didn't want his power increased.

The reforms were opposed by anti-establishment, populist parties who claimed the reforms were badly drafted, would result in gathering more power into government hands, and would empower the ruling elite.

Italy's president, Mario Renzi, had gone all-in in support of the reforms and declared that he would take a failure as a vote of no confidence in his leadership. True to his word, he resigned after his reforms were voted heavily down.

The impulse to reject the reforms (or "reforms") is therefore being taken as a strong hint that Italy's populist moment may result in a vote to leave the EU -- if the nation's mood is anti-establishment and anti-centralization-of-government power, it seems likely the nation's mood is also against the EU.

What was clear, said Stefano Stefanini, who served as a diplomatic adviser to Giorgio Napolitano, a former Italian president, was that the vote was "a test of strength of the anti-Europe and anti-establishment forces in Italy."
Mr. Stefanini said Mr. Renzi's departure could embolden parties feeding on economic frustration, loss of national identity, anger at Brussels and a desire to break with the post-World War II belief that Italy's economic and national security interests were better served within an alliance of liberal democracies. The vote showed that Italy "is reverting to a willingness to go it alone as a nation-state," Mr. Stefanini said.

The primary beneficiary of Mr. Renzi’s defeat is Italy's anti-establishment Five Star Movement, a party that advocates a referendum to determine whether Italy should give up the euro.

See also this gif of the WSJ's front page, particularly the second big headline about the upcoming 2017 elections in Europe, and how many nations are about to have gigantic votes amidst unease about the euro and a revolt against a Brussels-mandated inrush of immigrants.

Wow: An Italian actress who promised to give a blow-jay to those who voted no on the reforms says she's a "Donna di parolas" -- a woman of her word.

She's announced tour dates of the cities she'll be visiting and giving pompas (blowjobs) to those who promised to vote "No."

BTW, I never mentioned this before, but I promised to vote No on the Italian referendum too. It may have slipped your minds, but I'm sure now you remember me making that promise and will back me up on this in, say, an Italian court, if it comes to that.

Posted by: Ace at 01:08 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Keep this in mind: Renzi's government was the THIRD in a row in Italy which was. not. elected.

Scary stuff, eh?

Posted by: RondinellaMamma at December 06, 2016 01:10 PM (oQQwD)

2 This post should be Italicized.

Posted by: Tami at December 06, 2016 01:11 PM (Enq6K)

3 Oh, and First!

(does this make me a Prima Donna?)

Posted by: RondinellaMamma at December 06, 2016 01:11 PM (oQQwD)

4 3
Oh, and First!

(does this make me a Prima Donna?)

Posted by: RondinellaMamma at December 06, 2016 01:11 PM (oQQwD)

To be exact.....Prima Donna Mamma.

Posted by: Tami at December 06, 2016 01:12 PM (Enq6K)

5 I have summoned The Others.

Posted by: johnd01 at December 06, 2016 01:15 PM (ukNFU)

6 Italy is a very moral Country!

Posted by: Old Man in Whorehouse at December 06, 2016 01:15 PM (MQZBa)

7 I like the article about the wingsuit test pilot. He can't get life insurance. He is asked why he does it:

"Dude, I fly."

Posted by: blaster at December 06, 2016 01:16 PM (0+824)

8 Willowed in the last thread:

205 The Interview:

Trump Tower, NYC. The Golden Scalp Weasel sits in on a meeting.

"Ivanka, I thought you were interviewing all of the minor characters in this series."
"Daddy, this one creeps me out. And his pelt smells terrible."
A young Ewok, no older than 29 shakes his golden hobo cull. "Yub, yub!"
"Oh ho! I remember this one. Scratched my limo, had a ride on the front of the RV. A real good sport. What can I do for you, little furball?"
"Yub, yub! Yub!"
A position in the administration? Why should I hire you?"
"Yub yub yub!"
"I don't hire everybody I talk to. I give a lot of people a hearing without agreeing. Makes most of them feel better to get things off of their chests."
"Yub?"
"Really. Just listening to people who are upset or think they know something and they get relieved and go away. a few become persistent nutters, but I can deal with those bigly."
"Yub. Yub yub. Yub?"
"Open Federal lands to hobo hunting? I don't see why not. With a Republican in the White House the homeless problem will show up again. Hey, how about you help me on the southern border, could use your mad skills down there."

Posted by: *Mikey NTH - Give the Gift of Griping with a Fine Perfidious Present from the Outrage Outlet! at December 06, 2016 01:16 PM (hLRSq)

9 ... with "all due respect"; the only people who care about EU, are rich tourists...

Posted by: pahound at December 06, 2016 01:16 PM (cGo5H)

10 Can Italy afford to leave the EU?

Based on the economic info I'd read (granted, this is several years old), I was under the impression that Italy wasn't much better off than Greece, in that they really needed the EU to bail them out of their terrible economic position.

Unless leaving actually means that they get to go back to their own currency, let it devalue until they can pay their debts, which I guess is the responsible thing to do, but I thought it was the European spirit to have Germany do the economic work for them.

I dunno, I don't understand this very well.

Posted by: joe, living dangerously at December 06, 2016 01:16 PM (ygsT+)

11 It would appear most of the world is fairly fed up with the global bum that is the EU which sucks resources dry and emboldens terrorist activity. Other than that, day all good.

Now, what in the bloody hell is going on with these recounts and the so-called faithless electors?

Posted by: groovemetal at December 06, 2016 01:16 PM (GZSAO)

12 Ace:

"The referendum was about reforms to Italy's government. I honestly don't know what those reforms were and I'm not sure a non-Italian would care much about them."

The "reforms" were basically this:

Currently, the Italian Senate has significant power to guide national policy. The reforms were to remove that power and grant it solely to the president -- essentially giving him dictatorial powers. Since the current president was pro-EU and pro-immigration and a classic "establishment" type, the people didn't want his power increased.

Posted by: zombie at December 06, 2016 01:17 PM (jBuUi)

13 I saw Steffano Steffanini open for Tommy Tutone back in 81!

Posted by: garrett at December 06, 2016 01:17 PM (MQZBa)

14
From what I read, one grain of salt, the reforms basically allowed the govt to thieve directly from citizens bank accts. Not sure it would have been used that way though. But the big banks all wanted it to pass, so take that as you will.

As an aside, I see Merkel all of a sudden is for a burka ban now that she is up for re-election. These people are such lying opportunists.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at December 06, 2016 01:17 PM (ODxAs)

15
Wingsuit test pilot defies physics, has trouble getting life insurance.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 06, 2016 01:18 PM (IqV8l)

16 Good!

Seems like Rome is experiencing all sorts of immigrant-related violence and vandalism. It's not like ISIS has said they're targeting the Vatican or anything. Oh, wait...

Posted by: Lizzy at December 06, 2016 01:18 PM (NOIQH)

17 Sire, sire, the peasants are revolting!

Posted by: My Ridiculously Circuitous Plan at December 06, 2016 01:18 PM (EIB5Y)

18 ...867-9201

Posted by: pahound at December 06, 2016 01:18 PM (cGo5H)

19 Italexit doesn't have the same ring.

Italexit? Itexit? Iexit?

Posted by: joe, living dangerously at December 06, 2016 01:18 PM (ygsT+)

20 I like Italy and always enjoyed their food. Back in the 60's ate in the Italian Navy's galley and was very impressed. The steel trays had a round bottom spot for a wineglass, a wineglass which could not stand on a flat surface, so no pilferage. Genius!

Posted by: Eromero at December 06, 2016 01:18 PM (zLDYs)

21 "The vote showed that Italy "is reverting to a willingness to go it alone as a nation-state," Mr. Stefanini said."

Angela Merkel has done what no one thought possible. She is making it respectable to openly have nationalist sentiment in a western European nation.

Posted by: *Mikey NTH - Give the Gift of Griping with a Fine Perfidious Present from the Outrage Outlet! at December 06, 2016 01:18 PM (hLRSq)

22 17
Sire, sire, the peasants are revolting!

Posted by: My Ridiculously Circuitous Plan at December 06, 2016 01:18 PM (EIB5Y)

You said it. They stink on ice.

Posted by: Tami at December 06, 2016 01:19 PM (Enq6K)

23 ...yay

Posted by: pahound at December 06, 2016 01:19 PM (cGo5H)

24 There is a clause in the EU agreement that says that refugees can claim residency in the first state they land in.

Take a look at a map of Italy and it's relationship to countries in Northern Africa and the ME. They are getting inundated with "refugees" and there is a lot of anger over this issue.

And then there's the whole Italians tend to be lazy and demand enormous benefits that the rest of the EU is getting tired of covering. I don't see them staying in the EU for much longer.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 06, 2016 01:19 PM (/tuJf)

25 So:

Is Trump merely surfing the populist wave sweeping the world - -or did Trump CAUSE the populist wave?

Since the Brexit vote and the success of populist parties in places like Denmark and Iceland and the Netherlands all PRECEDED Trump's victory, sadly I must conclude that he is surfing the wave, not causing it. But his big immense personal charisma definitely made the wave bigger!

Posted by: zombie at December 06, 2016 01:20 PM (jBuUi)

26 Italexit doesn't have the same ring.

Italexit? Itexit? Iexit?

Quitaly

Posted by: blaster at December 06, 2016 01:20 PM (0+824)

27 I will offer this one more time:

Itlalian exit would be the "Ital-uscita"

Not as wonderful as an Aus-Fahrt, but good enough.

Posted by: Kindltot at December 06, 2016 01:20 PM (yLUuz)

28 Would Italy be allowed to leave the EU though? I'm looking over at the UK and it seems like they're doing everything they can to stop Brexit from happening. Tony Blair is involved now I hear. I can't believe it took Brexit for me to realize what a giant piece of shit that guy is.

Posted by: Independent George at December 06, 2016 01:20 PM (BDZWU)

29 Italexit? Itexit? Iexit?

Posted by: Guinea Gone? at December 06, 2016 01:20 PM (BrQrN)

30 "Italexit? Itexit? Iexit?"

Ita-leave.

Posted by: *Mikey NTH - Give the Gift of Griping with a Fine Perfidious Present from the Outrage Outlet! at December 06, 2016 01:21 PM (hLRSq)

31 19. Quitaly. Not mine - think it was an 'ette.

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at December 06, 2016 01:21 PM (zZnsY)

32 Is Trump merely surfing the populist wave sweeping the world - -or did Trump CAUSE the populist wave?

Posted by: zombie at December 06, 2016 01:20 PM (jBuUi)

It's a feedback loop. People who previously didn't realize that their actual beliefs and desires were feasible are starting to realize that they are. And the more support, the more people jump on board.

Posted by: joe, living dangerously at December 06, 2016 01:21 PM (ygsT+)

33 "Tripoli boat people"- what are you shooting for?

Posted by: pahound at December 06, 2016 01:21 PM (cGo5H)

34 Leave the EU, get a blowie.

http://tinyurl.com/jkv9oww

Posted by: josephistan at December 06, 2016 01:21 PM (7HtZB)

35 Looks like a lot of Interesting Italians will be available for Dinner, soon.

Posted by: garrett at December 06, 2016 01:22 PM (MQZBa)

36 Without the Euro, the Deutsche Mark would appreciate and make it harder for the likes of Siemens to sell into the rest of Europe and to the World. Northern Italy -- which is good at making things -- suffers because of this.

Posted by: Ignoramus at December 06, 2016 01:22 PM (SIY7D)

37
Can't believe this post wasn't all in italics.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at December 06, 2016 01:22 PM (ODxAs)

38 It's a feedback loop. People who previously didn't realize that their actual beliefs and desires were feasible are starting to realize that they are. And the more support, the more people jump on board.

Are you not entertained?

Posted by: Maximus Preferencus Cascadius at December 06, 2016 01:22 PM (BrQrN)

39 Petraeus is damaged goods.
Jettison him.

Will Italy bring back the lire and those 20,000 lire notes?

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at December 06, 2016 01:23 PM (8iiMU)

40 Maybe the S and the PQR are going their separate ways.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at December 06, 2016 01:23 PM (8ZskC)

41 But his big immense personal charisma definitely made the wave bigger!
____________________________________________

Immense?
Slightly bigger than medium?

Posted by: IP at December 06, 2016 01:23 PM (MlLtD)

42 Heh. He said Siemens.

Posted by: Joe Biden at December 06, 2016 01:23 PM (8ZskC)

43 ...wife (italian-american) always wanted to see Rome...

Posted by: pahound at December 06, 2016 01:23 PM (cGo5H)

44 >> Is Trump merely surfing the populist wave sweeping the world - -or did Trump CAUSE the populist wave?

Surfing. This phenomena has been going on around the world for a number of years in different ways. Trump was smart enough to harness it as his platform.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 06, 2016 01:23 PM (/tuJf)

45 Doesn't Italy need German money? If so, more power to them for voting to stand on their own feet.

Posted by: Grump928(C) goes Biden at December 06, 2016 01:23 PM (0F67M)

46 Nowhere in that NYT link is there an explanation of what the proposed reforms actually were?

Posted by: Curmudgeon at December 06, 2016 01:24 PM (ujg0T)

47 >>>The steel trays had a round bottom spot for a wineglass, a wineglass which could not stand on a flat surface, so no pilferage. Genius!

unless you just also steal the tray

btw, who steals a wineglass?

Posted by: ace at December 06, 2016 01:24 PM (8rNrN)

48 Italexit doesn't have the same ring.

Italexit? Itexit? Iexit?

Exitaly.

Posted by: rickb223 at December 06, 2016 01:24 PM (VtwaX)

49
Spaggexit.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at December 06, 2016 01:24 PM (ODxAs)

50 Clearly, the ~~women's~~ Italians' vote against ~~Hillary~~ Renzi is because those ~~women~~ Italians are anti-~~women~~ Italian.

Posted by: Madonna at December 06, 2016 01:24 PM (4AVeu)

51 It's a Western Spring.

Posted by: josephistan at December 06, 2016 01:24 PM (7HtZB)

52 Everyone in Europe wants Germany to pay their bills, but when Germany started bailing out Greece, they also (not entirely unreasonably) wanted to force certain reforms in Greece, and the Greeks began hollering about "Nazis" and "invasion" and making swastika / WW2 references.

At some point, normal people get squeezed enough or fed up enough that they don't particularly care about trade policies and refugees and currencies the way bankers and elites do. Even if it hurts them in some ways, it'll save them in others -- and hurt the elites far worse.

Sometimes you take what you can get.

Posted by: sunny-dee at December 06, 2016 01:24 PM (QAOZh)

53 [i\]Currently, the Italian Senate has significant power to guide national policy. The reforms were to remove that power and grant it solely to the president -- essentially giving him dictatorial powers.

I approve these reforms.

Clara, now cut me down!

Posted by: Benito Mussolini at December 06, 2016 01:24 PM (8ZskC)

54 Italy is the sick man of Europe. Along with Spain, Bulgaria, Albania and a host of small countries nobody knows about.

They are starting to make noises about a second Marshall Plan paid for by the Krauts. Good luck with that.

Posted by: Headless Body of Agnew at December 06, 2016 01:25 PM (FtrY1)

55 If memory serves, the chief reform had to do with making that in-prison yoga pic Amanda Knox posed for (standing on head, underwear w/camel toe) be the national flag of Italy.

Posted by: Sharkman at December 06, 2016 01:25 PM (CS7jF)

56 It's a Yule Tide!

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 06, 2016 01:25 PM (IqV8l)

57

Italy has been hit hard by waves of muslim immigrants, from the sea.

As soon as they see land the muslims destroy and sink their boats, knowing the coast guard is required to rescue them. Once on land they apply for asylum. Its a game

Posted by: ThunderB at December 06, 2016 01:25 PM (HeqT8)

58 They are starting to make noises about a second Marshall Plan paid for by the Krauts. Good luck with that.

Historically, German aid has arrived by Panzer division.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at December 06, 2016 01:26 PM (8ZskC)

59 Barack will be available soon. He can definitely save the Italians. He finds them very interesting.

Posted by: Michelle Obama at December 06, 2016 01:26 PM (DrC22)

60 Italy is the sick man of Europe. Along with Spain, Bulgaria, Albania and a host of small countries nobody knows about.

Elbonia.

Posted by: rickb223 at December 06, 2016 01:26 PM (VtwaX)

61 Italy: The nation that barely beat the Ethiopians.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at December 06, 2016 01:27 PM (8ZskC)

62 Heh. He said Siemens.
--------------------
IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE ANOTHER WORD.

Posted by: BEN ROETHLISBERGER at December 06, 2016 01:27 PM (xeeHA)

63 Yeah, the immigrants aren't going anywhere but the fact that the elites were just fine with having them in the first place would piss me off too. Just about the only way the Italians are going to stanch the flow of blood is to bail out of the EU, go over to rigorous border enforcement, and start tossing out criminal aliens. Oh, and bring back the lira, it was more artistic than the Euro anyway.

Posted by: joncelli, Longbow Afficianado and Phalangist at December 06, 2016 01:27 PM (RD7QR)

64 Leave the EU, get a blowie.

http://tinyurl.com/jkv9oww
Posted by: josephistan at December 06, 2016 01:21 PM (7HtZB)

She has some freaky eyebrows.

Posted by: Cecile Richards at December 06, 2016 01:27 PM (8nWyX)

65 >>>45 Doesn't Italy need German money? If so, more power to them for voting to stand on their own feet.

they do but Germany meant it when they said they would insist on Nordic monetary rigor. The Mediterranean/Gallic countries simply can't go along with that.

I think the Northern countries (Germany, Netherlands) imagined their permanently-in-cash-crisis southern cousins would eventually buy into Germanic monetary rigor. The southern countries (and France) meanwhile counted on the idea that they would continue their freespending ways, BUT they'd do so with Germany's low interest rates and occasionally subsidized/bailed-out by Germany.

Neither side really agreed on this critical point. Both sides though the other would eventually give in. Neither has changed their habits, though.

thus the union was always built on a weak foundation which was doomed to collapse a couple of decades into the future.

i'm surprised it lasted this long.

Posted by: ace at December 06, 2016 01:27 PM (8rNrN)

66 ...paid for by , us-"fundamentally transformed" , dontcha know....

Posted by: pahound at December 06, 2016 01:27 PM (cGo5H)

67
Historically, German aid has arrived by Panzer division.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero)

Back when they actually had some.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 06, 2016 01:27 PM (IqV8l)

68 It's time to think outside the box. Italy should sell Sicily to Disney.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at December 06, 2016 01:28 PM (8ZskC)

69
"Ho un telefono e una penna"

Not so fast, hombre.

Posted by: the littl shyning man at December 06, 2016 01:28 PM (U6f54)

70 Can Italy afford to leave the EU?
.............

I'd like to help. Will they sell me Sara Varone?

Posted by: wth at December 06, 2016 01:28 PM (HgMAr)

71 Btw, weren't there allegations that Austria's vote last week was rigged?

Posted by: Grump928(C) goes Biden at December 06, 2016 01:28 PM (0F67M)

72 And a proximate cause is the Smart Grrrl Power of Hillary, Samantha, Susan and Barrack applied to Libya.

Posted by: Ignoramus at December 06, 2016 01:28 PM (SIY7D)

73
btw, who steals a wineglass?

Italians.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at December 06, 2016 01:28 PM (ODxAs)

74 Italy: The nation that barely beat the Ethiopians.
-------------
They DID lose to them in the late 1800's.

Posted by: Moron Pundit at December 06, 2016 01:29 PM (xeeHA)

75 Uh oh. Ace has been tearing it up on Twitter re: how much he hates the TV series 'Westworld'. Expect a 10,000 word review later on today.

Posted by: OregonMuse at December 06, 2016 01:29 PM (n8tHU)

76 ...maybe an "italian foundation"?

Posted by: pahound at December 06, 2016 01:29 PM (cGo5H)

77 I have been saying this since the 1980s: Italy needs an national crisis so we accept waves of Italian refugees.

Particularly those female refugees between the ages of 18 and 28 who yearn to breath free -- and drink wine.

Posted by: Adirondack Patriot at December 06, 2016 01:29 PM (4AVeu)

78
Neither side really agreed on this critical point. Both sides though the other would eventually give in. Neither has changed their habits, though.

thus the union was always built on a weak foundation which was doomed to collapse a couple of decades into the future.

i'm surprised it lasted this long.

Posted by: ace at December 06, 2016 01:27 PM (8rNrN)

Germany married an Italian stripper and expected her to not spend his money. Big mistake.

Posted by: Colorado Alex In Exile at December 06, 2016 01:29 PM (FYrz1)

79 64 Leave the EU, get a blowie.

http://tinyurl.com/jkv9oww
Posted by: josephistan at December 06, 2016 01:21 PM (7HtZB)

She has some freaky eyebrows.
Posted by: Cecile Richards at December 06, 2016 01:27 PM (8nWyX)

You don't have to look at her eye... yeah, I guess you kinda do.

Posted by: josephistan at December 06, 2016 01:29 PM (7HtZB)

80 Italy. The nation that has had a thousand different governments since the end of the war. The only common thread in all of them is a heavy dependence on socialism.

Posted by: Soona at December 06, 2016 01:30 PM (Fmupd)

81 Italexit doesn't have the same ring.

Italexit? Itexit? Iexit?

******

Pasta la vista!

Posted by: Muldoon, private citizen engaged in political satire at December 06, 2016 01:30 PM (lHb9q)

82 Posted by: pahound at December 06, 2016 01:16 PM (cGo5H)

Some of us have family in Italy and are concerned about their welfare.

When Italy ditched the lira in favor of the euro, so many middle class families suffered. The Italians have been grumbling about the EU for a long time. Now with the refugees being forced down their throats, they're done.

Italians have had to experience homelessness while refugees get the government housing that was originally intended for citizens. They've been told to shut up while praying the rosary - in church- because the refugees who lived upstairs were offended.

It goes on and on and on.

Posted by: kallisto at December 06, 2016 01:30 PM (jkmtt)

83 maybe an "italian foundation"?

Like Pisa?

Posted by: rickb223 at December 06, 2016 01:30 PM (VtwaX)

84
Italexit? Itexit? Iexit?
Posted by: joe, living dangerously at December 06, 2016 01:18 PM (ygsT+)

Wopexit

Posted by: Deplorable Male Logic at December 06, 2016 01:30 PM (lKyWE)

85 It's been all downhill since Hadrian.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at December 06, 2016 01:30 PM (8ZskC)

86 "The referendum was about reforms to Italy's government. I honestly don't know what those reforms were and I'm not sure a non-Italian would care much about them."

Hey, here's something: How's about the Italicans take away the power of judges to go around railroading innocent American students, just because they're young and pretty and have sex and appear to smirk at times when you don't like it.

Posted by: BurtTC at December 06, 2016 01:30 PM (TOk1P)

87 Italian Actress doing the Madona BJ tour of italy for anyone that voted No.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/hkb9m2m

Link to Breitbart

Posted by: Buzzsaw at December 06, 2016 01:31 PM (tf9Ne)

88 btw, who steals a wineglass?

Indeed. I just swill from the screw-top bottle.

Posted by: Grump928(C) goes Biden at December 06, 2016 01:31 PM (0F67M)

89 ...just as a target...

Posted by: pahound at December 06, 2016 01:31 PM (cGo5H)

90
Italy is the sick man of Europe. Along with Spain, Bulgaria, Albania and a host of small countries nobody knows about.

Elbonia.

Freedonia

Posted by: Rufus T. Firefly at December 06, 2016 01:31 PM (IqV8l)

91 >>The steel trays had a round bottom spot for a wineglass, a wineglass which could not stand on a flat surface, so no pilferage. Genius!

Looks at bottom of glass.

Drains it.

Sets it upside down on top of the speaker.

Posted by: garrett at December 06, 2016 01:31 PM (MQZBa)

92
Basically in the EU, there are some people (countries) paying welfare to other people (countries). And we all know what welfare does to those receiving it.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at December 06, 2016 01:31 PM (ODxAs)

93 Germany married an Italian stripper and expected her to not spend his money. Big mistake.
Posted by: Colorado Alex In Exile at December 06, 2016 01:29 PM (FYrz1)

Yeah, but Germany kept bringing over nasty houseguests.

Posted by: josephistan at December 06, 2016 01:32 PM (7HtZB)

94 Italians have had to experience homelessness while refugees get the government housing that was originally intended for citizens. They've been told to shut up while praying the rosary - in church- because the refugees who lived upstairs were offended.

It goes on and on and on.
Posted by: kallisto

Remind them of the banner at the top of this page.
They will have to decide when that time is.

Posted by: rickb223 at December 06, 2016 01:32 PM (VtwaX)

95 Wopexit

DagoOut.

Posted by: Grump928(C) goes Biden at December 06, 2016 01:32 PM (0F67M)

96 By the way, that Kurt Schlicter article linked in the sidebar is luscious.

Posted by: bluebell at December 06, 2016 01:32 PM (sBOL1)

97 Is Trump merely surfing the populist wave sweeping the world - -or did Trump CAUSE the populist wave?
Since the Brexit vote and the success of populist parties in places like Denmark and Iceland and the Netherlands all PRECEDED Trump's victory, sadly I must conclude that he is surfing the wave, not causing it. But his big immense personal charisma definitely made the wave bigger!
Posted by: zombie at December 06, 2016 01:20 PM (jBuUi)

There's a third possibility, and the one I think is most apposite: Trump is neither the cause, nor the effect, but rather the American manifestation of worldwide disgust with and repudiation of the globalist leftist prescription.

It's like saying does a dropping barometer cause rain? No. Does rain cause a dropping barometer? No. Both rain and a dropping barometer are consequences of a common cause: an impinging low pressure system.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at December 06, 2016 01:32 PM (SRKgf)

98 Nowhere in that NYT link is there an explanation of what the proposed reforms actually were?
=====Executive summary: Italians didn't want to be ruled by Germany and Brussels. Heh.

Posted by: mustbequantum at December 06, 2016 01:32 PM (MIKMs)

99 Fuck everything. Just, fuck everything.

Posted by: Insomniac at December 06, 2016 01:32 PM (0mRoj)

100 36 Without the Euro, the Deutsche Mark would appreciate and make it harder for the likes of Siemens to sell into the rest of Europe and to the World. Northern Italy -- which is good at making things -- suffers because of this.
Posted by: Ignoramus at December 06, 2016 01:22 PM (SIY7D)

There is big anti-Germany sentiment in Southern Italy. The South is heavily dependent on the economy of agriculture ( the return to agriculture is a means of creating much needed jobs for Italian youth.) and they are being destroyed by the rules of the EU. Germany has orchestrated laws against growing certain autochthonus foodstuffs/grains as well as flooded the market with cheap imported produce from Africa. As far as the South is concerned: Germany IS the EU.

Posted by: RondinellaMamma at December 06, 2016 01:32 PM (oQQwD)

101 I added the pompa tour article.

Thanks for that!

Posted by: ace at December 06, 2016 01:33 PM (8rNrN)

102 >>>BTW, I never mentioned this before, but I promised to vote No on the Italian referendum too. It may have slipped your minds, but I'm sure now you remember me making that promise

I saw it in the recent Employee Newsletter.

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at December 06, 2016 01:33 PM (voOPb)

103 99
Fuck everything. Just, fuck everything.

Posted by: Insomniac at December 06, 2016 01:32 PM (0mRoj)

You ok?!

Posted by: Tami at December 06, 2016 01:33 PM (Enq6K)

104 88 btw, who steals a wineglass?

Indeed. I just swill from the screw-top bottle.

Plunger valve on the box.......

Posted by: rickb223 at December 06, 2016 01:33 PM (VtwaX)

105 Funny, someone with more morals than Madonna in our country, who promised something similar and then backed off... no doubt to the delight of many.

Posted by: GuyfromNH at December 06, 2016 01:34 PM (5zfq1)

106 ...EU was a "cute" concept; a thousand yrs of fighting- just like the US; only, different....

Posted by: pahound at December 06, 2016 01:34 PM (cGo5H)

107 Last year sometime in December I remember telling my husband 2016 is going to be an interesting year...it's not been interesting, it has been remarkable. I cannot even imagine what 2017 will bring with the Trump administration and the French elections.

Posted by: IC at December 06, 2016 01:35 PM (a0IVu)

108 There's a third possibility, and the one I think is most apposite: Trump is neither the cause, nor the effect, but rather the American manifestation of worldwide disgust with and repudiation of the globalist leftist prescription.

It's like saying does a dropping barometer cause rain? No. Does rain cause a dropping barometer? No. Both rain and a dropping barometer are consequences of a common cause: an impinging low pressure system.
Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara

Ding din ding!

Posted by: rickb223 at December 06, 2016 01:35 PM (VtwaX)

109 One Man, One Vote, One Blowjob

Catchy

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at December 06, 2016 01:35 PM (8ZskC)

110 60 Italy is the sick man of Europe. Along with Spain, Bulgaria, Albania and a host of small countries nobody knows about.

Elbonia.
__________________________

What about Freedonia?

All Hail Freedonia!

Posted by: Rufus T. Firefly at December 06, 2016 01:35 PM (4AVeu)

111 Posted by: Insomniac at December 06, 2016 01:32 PM (0mRoj)

You ok?!
Posted by: Tami at December 06, 2016 01:33 PM (Enq6K)

Not really. You ever have one of those moments where some stupid, obnoxious little thing happens, but it's the straw that broke the camel's back, and everything that's had you angry, stressed, miserable and scared that you thought you had under control just comes gushing out?

Yeah. That. I'm just so fucking sick of it all.

Posted by: Insomniac at December 06, 2016 01:35 PM (0mRoj)

112 OT: Red Sox acquire Chris Sale from White Sox.

Posted by: tu3031 at December 06, 2016 01:36 PM (qJhUV)

113
Italy is trying to figure out how to light a match.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPtjyqgZAUk

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at December 06, 2016 01:36 PM (ODxAs)

114 I will open up my home to accept Italian refugees. Preferably from Milan.

And refugees from Denmark.

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at December 06, 2016 01:36 PM (n3MnG)

115 After Amanda Knox you'd go to Italy? I'm impressed.

Posted by: moon over vermont at December 06, 2016 01:36 PM (kUmUV)

116 Italy's going to give the EU 'the boot'.

Posted by: Muldoon, private citizen engaged in political satire at December 06, 2016 01:36 PM (lHb9q)

117 just like the US

Yep. As if people in California spoke a different language than in Minnesota. Wait ...

Posted by: Grump928(C) at December 06, 2016 01:36 PM (0F67M)

118 97
Is Trump merely surfing the populist wave sweeping the world - -or did Trump CAUSE the populist wave?

Since the Brexit vote and the success of populist parties in places
like Denmark and Iceland and the Netherlands all PRECEDED Trump's
victory, sadly I must conclude that he is surfing the wave, not causing
it. But his big immense personal charisma definitely made the wave
bigger!

Posted by: zombie at December 06, 2016 01:20 PM (jBuUi)

There's a third possibility, and the one I think is most apposite:
Trump is neither the cause, nor the effect, but rather the American
manifestation of worldwide disgust with and repudiation of the globalist
leftist prescription.

It's like saying does a dropping barometer cause rain? No. Does rain
cause a dropping barometer? No. Both rain and a dropping barometer are
consequences of a common cause: an impinging low pressure system.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at December 06, 2016 01:32 PM (SRKgf)

Basically - correllation does not equal causation.

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at December 06, 2016 01:36 PM (jxbfJ)

119 Italexit doesn't have the same ring.

Italexit? Itexit? Iexit?
----------

I go, you go, we go, dago

Posted by: Chi - #FreeCthulhu at December 06, 2016 01:36 PM (FjBU6)

120 >>Ding din ding!

Rin ting tin!

Posted by: Caliban at December 06, 2016 01:37 PM (DrC22)

121 I thought ace was a yes on the Italian referendum. A hard yes.

Posted by: Dr Spank at December 06, 2016 01:37 PM (4e+hS)

122 One Man, One Vote, One Blowjob

Catchy
Posted by: Cicero

Giving or receiving? Because ''tis better to receive......

Posted by: rickb223 at December 06, 2016 01:37 PM (VtwaX)

123 Remind them of the banner at the top of this page.
They will have to decide when that time is.

Posted by: rickb223 at December 06, 2016 01:32 PM (VtwaX)

The guys that are screwing you over usually have large houses with plenty of room for manspreading.

Just thought I'd mention that.

Posted by: *Mikey NTH - Give the Gift of Griping with a Fine Perfidious Present from the Outrage Outlet! at December 06, 2016 01:37 PM (hLRSq)

124 Nowhere in that NYT link is there an explanation of what the proposed reforms actually were?

Posted by: Curmudgeon at December 06, 2016 01:24 PM (ujg0T)

Because the proposed reforms actually were a McGuffin. It is not important to know what they are, just that the NYT said the rejection was bad. That's all you need to know.

Posted by: blaster at December 06, 2016 01:37 PM (0+824)

125 Italy is now the number 1 country in the EU for refugees from all over northern Africa and the Middle East.

http://tinyurl.com/hgzteef

Italy has a population of about 60 million people. In just two years they have taken in over 300,000 of these refugees. That would be the equivalent of about 1.5 million here. At this shows no signs of slowing down let alone stopping.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 06, 2016 01:37 PM (/tuJf)

126 A blowjob tour. They do things differently over there.

Posted by: josephistan at December 06, 2016 01:37 PM (7HtZB)

127 i'm surprised it lasted this long.

Posted by: ace at December 06, 2016 01:27 PM (8rNrN)

Me too. I lived in Europe at the time the EU was founded, and my wife and I were giving odds on how long it would last.

Ultimate goal: unification into one country? Please.
A dozen countries with as many languages and different cultures and ethnicities, with the only common feature that they'd been at war with each continuously throughout recorded history except during the Pax Romana and the Pax Americana? Sure, they'll kiss and make up.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at December 06, 2016 01:37 PM (SRKgf)

128 "There is big anti-Germany sentiment in Southern Italy."

Good point.

Maybe the ideal system to manage hundreds of millions of people would be to devolve most government onto a more local level, instead of concentrating it into an unaccountable centralized beauracracy. But where to find a precedent?

Posted by: Ignoramus at December 06, 2016 01:38 PM (SIY7D)

129 Pasta la vista!

Posted by: Muldoon, private citizen engaged in political satire at December 06, 2016 01:30 PM

*golf clap*

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at December 06, 2016 01:38 PM (kDUMP)

130 Not really. You ever have one of those moments where
some stupid, obnoxious little thing happens, but it's the straw that
broke the camel's back, and everything that's had you angry, stressed,
miserable and scared that you thought you had under control just comes
gushing out?

Yeah. That. I'm just so fucking sick of it all.

Posted by: Insomniac at December 06, 2016 01:35 PM (0mRoj)

Yep. Yesterday as a matter of fact.

Today is better. I pray tomorrow is better for you too.

Posted by: Tami at December 06, 2016 01:38 PM (Enq6K)

131 It's like saying does a dropping barometer cause rain? No. Does rain cause a dropping barometer? No. Both rain and a dropping barometer are consequences of a common cause: an impinging low pressure system.

*****

I was told there would be no meteorology.

Posted by: Muldoon, private citizen engaged in political satire at December 06, 2016 01:38 PM (lHb9q)

132 99 Fuck everything. Just, fuck everything.

Now there's a man that gets it.

Posted by: ScoggDog at December 06, 2016 01:38 PM (z9btZ)

133 Italy's going to give the EU 'the boot'.

ISWYDT

Posted by: rickb223 at December 06, 2016 01:38 PM (VtwaX)

134 Yep, they say 'no' to more immigrants

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=e43_1479914309

Posted by: Lizzy at December 06, 2016 01:38 PM (NOIQH)

135 Basically - correlation does not equal causation.

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at December 06, 2016 01:36 PM (jxbfJ)

Exactly. Causation with either polarity.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at December 06, 2016 01:39 PM (SRKgf)

136 What completely baffles me is the massive amount of time and energy the "betters" a la the elite spend trying to understand this populist movement. All that is needed is for them to spend some time in front of the mirror looking at themselves and pondering their actions since they took office.

They caused it. In their quest for power, wealth, visits with Hollywood and whatever else drives them, they have forgotten the people. They shall reap what they sow.

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at December 06, 2016 01:39 PM (jxbfJ)

137 Rufus T. Firefly: "I suggest that we give him ten years in Levenworth, or eleven years in Twelveworth."

Chicolini: "I'll tell you what I do. I'll take five and ten in Woolworth."

Posted by: Duck Soup at December 06, 2016 01:39 PM (4AVeu)

138 79
64 Leave the EU, get a blowie.

http://tinyurl.com/jkv9oww

Posted by: josephistan at December 06, 2016 01:21 PM (7HtZB)

"The European Union suffered another blow today..."

You gotta love the Sun!!

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at December 06, 2016 01:40 PM (8iiMU)

139 "There is big anti-Germany sentiment in Southern Italy."

And, let's face it, everywhere else too.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at December 06, 2016 01:40 PM (SRKgf)

140 in re: the The Sun article on the Italian actress, there's this link on the sidebar there:

CATCH OF THE DAY The erotic carp calendar you never knew you needed is here in time for Christmas

I guess they know their target market, because I must admit I did in fact never know that I needed an erotic carp calendar. Did anyone else know that erotic carp calendars were needed? Was there a meeting I missed or something?

Posted by: Cecile Richards at December 06, 2016 01:40 PM (8nWyX)

141 Today is better. I pray tomorrow is better for you too.
Posted by: Tami at December 06, 2016 01:38 PM (Enq6K)

Thank you. I hope so. I've been hanging on by a very thin, fraying end for quite a while.

Posted by: Insomniac at December 06, 2016 01:40 PM (0mRoj)

142
"There is big anti-Germany sentiment in Southern Italy."
Good point. Maybe the ideal system to manage hundreds of millions of people
would be to devolve most government onto a more local level, instead of
concentrating it into an unaccountable centralized beauracracy. But
where to find a precedent? Posted by: Ignoramus at December 06, 2016 01:38 PM (SIY7D)
=====
Switzerland is not a member of EU.

Posted by: mustbequantum at December 06, 2016 01:40 PM (MIKMs)

143 122 One Man, One Vote, One Blowjob

Catchy
Posted by: Cicero

Giving or receiving? Because ''tis better to receive......
Posted by: rickb223
---------------

Wearing your crocs?
Don't look down...

Posted by: Chi - #FreeCthulhu at December 06, 2016 01:41 PM (FjBU6)

144 Basically - correlation does not equal causation.

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at December 06, 2016 01:36 PM (jxbfJ)

Exactly. Causation with either polarity.
Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara

I'm positively negative.

Posted by: rickb223 at December 06, 2016 01:41 PM (VtwaX)

145 ...there's the Revolutionary War; and the Revolution-i'm fascinated-

Posted by: pahound at December 06, 2016 01:41 PM (cGo5H)

146 "There is big anti-Germany sentiment in Southern Italy."

And, let's face it, everywhere else too.

Especially in Berlin.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at December 06, 2016 01:41 PM (0F67M)

147 132 99 Fuck everything. Just, fuck everything.

Now there's a man that gets it.
Posted by: ScoggDog at December 06, 2016 01:38 PM (z9btZ)

It comes at a very steep price.

Posted by: Insomniac at December 06, 2016 01:42 PM (0mRoj)

148 Italy is the sick man of Europe. Along with Spain, Bulgaria, Albania and a host of small countries nobody knows about.

I thought Greece was the sick man of Europe these days.

Posted by: OregonMuse at December 06, 2016 01:42 PM (n8tHU)

149 So is "Nordic monetary rigor" something you pay a tall woman named Helga for? Asking for a friend.

Posted by: joncelli, Longbow Afficianado and Phalangist at December 06, 2016 01:42 PM (RD7QR)

150 Turkey has consumption.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at December 06, 2016 01:42 PM (0F67M)

151 "There is big anti-Germany sentiment in Southern Italy."

And, let's face it, everywhere else too.

Especially in Berlin.

And France. And Belgium. And Poland. And .....

Posted by: rickb223 at December 06, 2016 01:43 PM (VtwaX)

152 148 Italy is the sick man of Europe. Along with Spain, Bulgaria, Albania and a host of small countries nobody knows about.

I thought Greece was the sick man of Europe these days.
Posted by: OregonMuse at December 06, 2016 01:42 PM (n8tHU)

Portugal, Italy, Greece, Spain.

Posted by: Insomniac at December 06, 2016 01:43 PM (0mRoj)

153 For Insomniac:

http://tinypic.com/r/o2pev/9

Posted by: Chi - #FreeCthulhu at December 06, 2016 01:43 PM (FjBU6)

154 So is "Nordic monetary rigor" something you pay a tall woman named Helga for? Asking for a friend.

Ask for the Happy Ending.

Posted by: rickb223 at December 06, 2016 01:43 PM (VtwaX)

155 Me too. I lived in Europe at the time the EU was founded, and my wife and I were giving odds on how long it would last.

I think it was in National Lampoon back when it was funny, but there was a bit that after the reunification of Germany, they changed the sign over Auschwitz from Never Again to Not for a Very Long Time

Posted by: blaster at December 06, 2016 01:44 PM (0+824)

156 And Merkel comes out against the burkha.

That's your bed bitch. Lay in it.

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at December 06, 2016 01:44 PM (/D5Lf)

157 I thought Russia was the sick man of Europe. Or maybe I'm thinking of enigmatic.

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at December 06, 2016 01:44 PM (n3MnG)

158 106 ...EU was a "cute" concept; a thousand yrs of fighting- just like the US; only, different....
Posted by: pahound at December 06, 2016 01:34 PM (cGo5H)

I remember back in the 80s that little turd Lester Thurow claiming that the future would belong to the EU, that it would be the new superpower that would be a counterweight to the US and the USSR, and dwarf both of them in power.

Another economist with shit for brains. Yeah, I know it's what you WANTED to have happen, but how does reality's ass taste, Lester?

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at December 06, 2016 01:44 PM (SRKgf)

159 Ask for the Happy Ending.

that involves switches.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at December 06, 2016 01:44 PM (0F67M)

160 OT: Red Sox acquire Chris Sale from White Sox.

Posted by: tu3031 at December 06, 2016 01:36 PM (qJhUV)

Boo.

Price and Sale.

I guess it's all about the money.

Posted by: BurtTC at December 06, 2016 01:44 PM (TOk1P)

161 Certainly if Merkel was running for Prime Minister of the EU she'd lose, no? But that's her de facto position.

I still don't understand how the Germans keep her in office.

Posted by: Ignoramus at December 06, 2016 01:44 PM (SIY7D)

162 And France. And Belgium. And Poland. And .....

Posted by: rickb223 at December 06, 2016 01:43 PM (VtwaX)

Unfortunately, Austria didn't get the email.

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at December 06, 2016 01:44 PM (jxbfJ)

163 Just saw that Thurow went to his reward in March. Ah well.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at December 06, 2016 01:45 PM (SRKgf)

164 To some extent Italy is kind of a microcosm of the EU. It is true it is one of the PIIGS countries that are generally net recipients of EU transfer payments from the northern members.

But Italy itself is divided between its traditionally prosperous northern part and its traditionally economically weak southern part. From time to time there are noises in favor of secession from political movements in the north to try to throw off the burden of carrying the south.

I would guess that in a referendum the north would vote against staying in the EU and the south in favor.

Posted by: Scalia's Ghost at December 06, 2016 01:45 PM (hA1V+)

165 Is this their pizzagate?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 06, 2016 01:45 PM (IqV8l)

166 It comes at a very steep price.

Bah ... don't be so dramatic. Livin' still beats dyin' ... if for no other reason than you might hold out long enough to piss in the bastards eyes.

Heard from you interviews ? Put your shit up on LinkedIn yet ?

Posted by: ScoggDog at December 06, 2016 01:45 PM (z9btZ)

167 The Sox's trading of Sale opens up a roster spot for Obama. He'll be looking for work next year.

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at December 06, 2016 01:45 PM (n3MnG)

168 Italian actress scarily looks like that boy who is the new face of Covergirl.

Posted by: blaster at December 06, 2016 01:46 PM (0+824)

169 Okay sure, I could get behind this http://bit.ly/2hdxEzg

Posted by: Grump928(C) at December 06, 2016 01:48 PM (0F67M)

170 the little dirty foot vixen.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at December 06, 2016 01:48 PM (0F67M)

171 Not really. You ever have one of those moments where some stupid, obnoxious little thing happens, but it's the straw that broke the camel's back, and everything that's had you angry, stressed, miserable and scared that you thought you had under control just comes gushing out?

Yeah. That. I'm just so fucking sick of it all.

Posted by: Insomniac at December 06, 2016 01:35 PM (0mRoj)

You've got my phone number from previous e-mails, Brother. Call me if you need to talk it through. Sometimes that helps.

Posted by: Sharkman at December 06, 2016 01:48 PM (CS7jF)

172 124 Nowhere in that NYT link is there an explanation of what the proposed reforms actually were?

Posted by: Curmudgeon at December 06, 2016 01:24 PM (ujg0T)

Because the proposed reforms actually were a McGuffin. It is not important to know what they are, just that the NYT said the rejection was bad. That's all you need to know.
Posted by: blaster at December 06, 2016 01:37 PM (0+824)

All the news that's fit to print! :-P

And they wonder why we stop subscribing.

Posted by: Curmudgeon at December 06, 2016 01:49 PM (ujg0T)

173 Paola/Paolo

???

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at December 06, 2016 01:49 PM (/D5Lf)

174 Wow: An Italian actress who promised to give a blow-jay to those who voted no on the reforms says she's a "Donna di parolas" -- a woman of her word.

She's announced tour dates of the cities she'll be visiting and giving pompas (blowjobs) to those who promised to vote "No."

---

She's just doing jobs that stateists won't

Posted by: buzzsaw90 at December 06, 2016 01:49 PM (h/uSM)

175 Bruschetta Bukkake

Posted by: wth at December 06, 2016 01:49 PM (HgMAr)

176 ...you know what pisses me off about "pizzagate"? How many dead? Dumb-ass shoots a gun into the floor-realizes, he's stupid... pizza-lives matter...

Posted by: pahound at December 06, 2016 01:50 PM (cGo5H)

177 And then there's the whole Italians tend to be lazy
and demand enormous benefits that the rest of the EU is getting tired of
covering. I don't see them staying in the EU for much longer.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 06, 2016 01:19 PM (/tuJf)
Hey! WTF. We're not like the Greeks! Those summa' bitches are lazy. or the Spanish with their siesta in the middle of the day.*slurps spaghetti, sprays sauce on wine stained guinea T, farts, wipes mouth with arm, pours more wine*Oh and raaacist.

Posted by: Cannibal Bob at December 06, 2016 01:50 PM (AGr9E)

178 >>Hey! WTF. We're not like the Greeks! Those summa' bitches are lazy. or the Spanish with their siesta in the middle of the day.*slurps spaghetti, sprays sauce on wine stained guinea T, farts, wipes mouth with arm, pours more wine*Oh and raaacist.

You're an American. But trying to do business in Italy is a farking nightmare.

The entire country is pretty much closed for the month of August.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 06, 2016 01:52 PM (/tuJf)

179 157 I thought Russia was the sick man of Europe. Or maybe I'm thinking of enigmatic.
Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at December 06, 2016 01:44 PM (n3MnG)

The original "sick man of Europe", the country for whom that phrase was invented, was Turkey. Although lately Mark Steyn has been calling Europe the sick man of Europe.

Posted by: OregonMuse at December 06, 2016 01:52 PM (n8tHU)

180 Paris is closed for August, alot of europe is

Posted by: ThunderB at December 06, 2016 01:53 PM (HeqT8)

181 I will say this for the Italian PM, he can see the tea leaves on the referendum and is promising to step down. Unlike the US dems who just dig in their heels more...

Yes I'm looking at you, botox granny and libs how refusing to move to Canuckistan.

Posted by: LizLem at December 06, 2016 01:53 PM (hvf9s)

182 I suggest we send both Andrew and Chris Cuomo back to Italy in exchange for Italian actress Caterina Murino.

Posted by: Adirondack Patriot at December 06, 2016 01:53 PM (4AVeu)

183 >>>She's just doing jobs that stateists won't
Posted by: buzzsaw90 at December 06, 2016 01:49 PM (h/uSM)

And Madonna too!

Posted by: LizLem at December 06, 2016 01:54 PM (hvf9s)

184 ...cuckoldistan

Posted by: pahound at December 06, 2016 01:54 PM (cGo5H)

185

Where is Hillaey.

SNL had a funny bit that she was Bigfoot

Posted by: ThunderB at December 06, 2016 01:54 PM (HeqT8)

186 Until Monaco exhumes Grace Kelly and sends her to the US for a proper Hollywood burial, Europe remains under a curse.

Posted by: Headless Body of Agnew at December 06, 2016 01:55 PM (FtrY1)

187 153 For Insomniac:

http://tinypic.com/r/o2pev/9
Posted by: Chi - #FreeCthulhu at December 06, 2016 01:43 PM (FjBU6)

I managed a weak smirk. Best I can do right now.

Posted by: Insomniac at December 06, 2016 01:55 PM (DeZs2)

188 124 Nowhere in that NYT link is there an explanation of what the proposed reforms actually were?

---

doesn't matter.

Reform = Good

we'll let you know what's in it after they pass it.

Posted by: NYT at December 06, 2016 01:55 PM (h/uSM)

189 I thought Russia was the sick man of Europe. Or maybe I'm thinking of enigmatic.

Enema of Europe?

Posted by: rickb223 at December 06, 2016 01:56 PM (VtwaX)

190 They were rejecting austerity i thought

Posted by: ThunderB at December 06, 2016 01:56 PM (HeqT8)

191 178
>>Hey! WTF. We're not like the Greeks! Those summa' bitches are
lazy. or the Spanish with their siesta in the middle of the day.*slurps
spaghetti, sprays sauce on wine stained guinea T, farts, wipes mouth
with arm, pours more wine*Oh and raaacist.

You're an American. But trying to do business in Italy is a farking nightmare.

The entire country is pretty much closed for the month of August.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 06, 2016 01:52 PM (/tuJf)
Yea, (you know) the 'tips' will kill you. just getting a phone installed can take months and many 'tips.' Even large companies actually hire a consultant to grease the wheels. Knew a guy from here and met him in Rome on a trip one time. He set up laundromats. Tough sledding.

Posted by: Cannibal Bob at December 06, 2016 01:56 PM (AGr9E)

192 Posted by: Sharkman at December 06, 2016 01:48 PM (CS7jF)

I might. I'm feeling very overwhelmed lately.

Posted by: Insomniac at December 06, 2016 01:57 PM (DeZs2)

193
What was the actual vote tally, because I don't want sloppy one-millionths.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at December 06, 2016 01:57 PM (ODxAs)

194 OT but Obama apparently made a deal with Australia - they take in 2500 Christian refugees and we take in thousands of Muslim refugees.

Posted by: IC at December 06, 2016 01:57 PM (a0IVu)

195 I managed a weak smirk. Best I can do right now.
Posted by: Insomniac
--------------

That'll do for now.

You've got the email addy. Like the Sharkman said, use it - as you see fit, of course.
To brighter days...

Posted by: Chi - #FreeCthulhu at December 06, 2016 01:57 PM (FjBU6)

196 in the food thread discussion of chicken fingers the other day i recommended pollo milanesa (chicken milanese), a breaded and pan fried chicken filet on a bed of greens.

i should have mentioned that it's best to make that a paillard of chicken breast (beaten or flattened) and added that you can top the dish with a sprinkle of chopped tomatoes ala the traditional presentation.

grazie mille!

prego!

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at December 06, 2016 01:57 PM (WTSFk)

197 >>Yea, (you know) the 'tips' will kill you. just getting a phone installed can take months and many 'tips.' Even large companies actually hire a consultant to grease the wheels. Knew a guy from here and met him in Rome on a trip one time. He set up laundromats. Tough sledding.

The really crappy part was it was always hard for me to justify a trip to Italy, and who doesn't want to go to Italy? Well, Italy before.

The influx of refugees is really changing the character of the country. I can't blame the citizens for being pissed at the EU for making them the dumping ground for a ton of refugees. And there seems to be nothing they can do about it short of leaving the EU.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 06, 2016 01:59 PM (/tuJf)

198 >>OT but Obama apparently made a deal with Australia - they take in 2500
Christian refugees and we take in thousands of Muslim refugees.

*facepalm*

January 20th can't get here soon enough!

Posted by: Lizzy at December 06, 2016 01:59 PM (NOIQH)

199 I had serious doubts about the EU as it took shape from the EEC, and that was based mainly on the historical and cultural issues. I didn't have the sophistication at the time to appreciate the economic frictions and handcuffs were being created. A full basket of fail just waiting for a final straw.

Posted by: Keith at December 06, 2016 01:59 PM (USf3s)

200 Yep. As if people in California spoke a different language than in Minnesota. Wait ...

...Oh ya, ya betcha.

...Si.

Posted by: mikeski at December 06, 2016 01:59 PM (lO+tS)

201
Ten words useful to morons.

merriam-webster.com

http://preview.tinyurl.com/hndonr8

Posted by: Ill Willie at December 06, 2016 02:00 PM (AszEs)

202 Obama apparently made a deal with Australia - they take in 2500 Christian refugees and we take in thousands of Muslim refugees.

To Obama and Jarret, this is #WINNING !

Posted by: McCool at December 06, 2016 02:01 PM (TQxRy)

203 It doesn't matter who is the sick man of Europe because of their superior health care!

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 06, 2016 02:02 PM (IqV8l)

204 Wow, this is a real blow to the EU. They are just suffering so many blows. Ace, I'm sure you will rise to the occasion and give us the blow by blow until the situation explains in a fountain of semen.

Ah crap, went too far.

Posted by: Fred Savage at December 06, 2016 02:02 PM (ahjJt)

205 OT but Obama apparently made a deal with Australia -
they take in 2500 Christian refugees and we take in thousands of Muslim
refugees.
Posted by: IC at December 06, 2016 01:57 PM (a0IVu)

If only there anything we could do to stop it. Please donate for 2018!

Posted by: GOPe at December 06, 2016 02:02 PM (EIB5Y)

206 186 Until Monaco exhumes Grace Kelly and sends her to the US for a proper Hollywood burial, Europe remains under a curse.
______________________

Anyone up for a little Operation Monaco Freedom?

It's about time we invade a country with women who are worth dying for.

Then we can occupy Monaco for three or four decades to ensure free and fair elections. We will fight to ensure that the beaches of Monaco are safe for democracy -- and supermodels.

Posted by: Adirondack Patriot at December 06, 2016 02:03 PM (4AVeu)

207 BTW, I never mentioned this before, but I promised to vote No on the Italian referendum too. It may have slipped your minds, but I'm sure now you remember me making that promise and will back me up on this in, say, an Italian court, if it comes to that.
Posted by Ace

To each his own but I'd avoid the sloppy secundo.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at December 06, 2016 02:03 PM (1G5R8)

208 Italian women are great places to hide the wienie.

Posted by: R. DUKE at December 06, 2016 02:03 PM (ONH2e)

209 >> I never mentioned this before, but I promised to vote No on the Italian referendum too. It may have slipped your minds, but I'm sure now you remember me making that promise and will back me up on this in, say, an Italian court, if it comes to that.

Who will they get to play Ace in the Hallmark Movie of the Trial now that he's too fit for Zach Galifinakis to land the role?

Posted by: garrett at December 06, 2016 02:04 PM (MQZBa)

210 OT but Obama apparently made a deal with Australia - they take in 2500 Christian refugees and we take in thousands of Muslim refugees.

Posted by: IC at December 06, 2016 01:57 PM (a0IVu)

Of course he did. Just what we need are more of those peace loving types who will never go on homicidal rampages.

Posted by: TheQuietMan at December 06, 2016 02:04 PM (493sH)

211 If only there anything we could do to stop it. Please donate for 2018!

Posted by: GOPe at December 06, 2016 02:02 PM (EIB5Y)
Snort; bastards will probably use the money to throw a welcoming party.

Posted by: IC at December 06, 2016 02:04 PM (a0IVu)

212 ...also, in the discussion of tomato sauces, in my description of the inimitable marcella hazan's version, always use san marzano canned tomatoes (it really makes a difference) and use unsweetened butter, salt to taste and simmer for anywhere between 45 minutes to an hour, as you wish.

buon appetito!

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at December 06, 2016 02:04 PM (WTSFk)

213 "BTW, I never mentioned this before, but I promised to vote No on the Italian referendum too. It may have slipped your minds, but I'm sure now you remember me making that promise and will back me up on this in, say, an Italian court, if it comes to that."

Ace, the Horde will defend you to the last drop of your blood.

Posted by: *Mikey NTH - Give the Gift of Griping with a Fine Perfidious Present from the Outrage Outlet! at December 06, 2016 02:04 PM (hLRSq)

214 Grandma always said, "There's no slut like an Italian slut.".

Posted by: garrett at December 06, 2016 02:04 PM (MQZBa)

215 174 Wow: An Italian actress who promised to give a blow-jay to those who voted no on the reforms says she's a "Donna di parolas" -- a woman of her word.

She's announced tour dates of the cities she'll be visiting and giving pompas (blowjobs) to those who promised to vote "No."

-------------

I, too, was a very big supporter of the no vote. Also, I'm Spartacus.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at December 06, 2016 02:05 PM (kTF2Z)

216 Is this their pizzagate?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 06, 2016 01:45 PM (IqV8l)

Whenever I see this, I crave a pepperoni and mushroom with extra cheese.
I also crave a photoshop of an actual pizza gate. I picture it as the entrance to a beautiful garden, surrounded by a picket fence.

Posted by: Miley, Duchess of the DSR at December 06, 2016 02:05 PM (tHwdc)

217 Italy won't leave the EU, they're one of the nations that survives by draining Germany and France of funds.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at December 06, 2016 02:06 PM (39g3+)

218 Eat more pineapple youse guys! Atsa good boy. Ciao.

Posted by: Paola Saulina at December 06, 2016 02:06 PM (JO9+V)

219 >* clang *<

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at December 06, 2016 02:06 PM (WTSFk)

220 >>I picture it as the entrance to a beautiful garden, surrounded by a picket fence.

With snakes and baby's heads on a bed of lettuce.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 06, 2016 02:06 PM (/tuJf)

221 Brexit isn't that big a deal because Britain kept the pound and thus was never fully into today's EU.

It may be impossible for a large country like Italy to leave in an orderly fashion. e.g. think of all the long-term contracts denominated in Euro

Posted by: Ignoramus at December 06, 2016 02:06 PM (SIY7D)

222 >>She's announced tour dates of the cities she'll be visiting and giving pompas (blowjobs) to those who promised to vote "No."

Just pompas?

No Bung-Bunga?

Posted by: garrett at December 06, 2016 02:06 PM (MQZBa)

223 Bah ... don't be so dramatic. Livin' still beats dyin' ... if for no other reason than you might hold out long enough to piss in the bastards eyes.

Heard from you interviews ? Put your shit up on LinkedIn yet ?
Posted by: ScoggDog at December 06, 2016 01:45 PM (z9btZ)

I've not been convinced of that since I was, oh, about 7 years old. Interviews are still question marks. If nothing comes of them, off to LinkedIn I go.

Posted by: Insomniac at December 06, 2016 02:07 PM (DeZs2)

224 I might. I'm feeling very overwhelmed lately.

Posted by: Insomniac at December 06, 2016 01:57 PM (DeZs2)

Do.

Posted by: Sharkman at December 06, 2016 02:07 PM (CS7jF)

225 Damn, sockFail and a typo in the same post...

Posted by: garrett at December 06, 2016 02:08 PM (MQZBa)

226 That actress doesn't look demented at all, no way.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at December 06, 2016 02:09 PM (39g3+)

227 Well that actress is certainly bringing the circus to town, now who has the bread?

Posted by: Anna Puma at December 06, 2016 02:10 PM (RPdO5)

228 Anyone up for a little Operation Monaco Freedom?

It's about time we invade a country with women who are worth dying for.

Then we can occupy Monaco for three or four decades to ensure free and fair elections. We will fight to ensure that the beaches of Monaco are safe for democracy -- and supermodels.

Posted by: Adirondack Patriot at December 06, 2016 02:03 PM (4AVeu)

I can see the landing craft landing on the topless beaches ...

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at December 06, 2016 02:10 PM (SRKgf)

229 This is how I picture the thing with the Italian actress will go:

https://youtu.be/LXhRoY-Utxo

Posted by: Independent George at December 06, 2016 02:11 PM (9+vx7)

230 217 Italy won't leave the EU, they're one of the nations that survives by draining Germany and France of funds.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at December 06, 2016 02:06 PM (39g3+)

I believe France is also helping to drain Germany of funds.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at December 06, 2016 02:11 PM (SRKgf)

231 She's gonna be the hardest working woman in show business.

Posted by: JEM at December 06, 2016 02:11 PM (TppKb)

232 OT again but if it pans out...Softbank of Japan has agreed to invest 50 billion here, creating 50,000 jobs

Per Trumps twitter. This man has been busy.

Posted by: IC at December 06, 2016 02:12 PM (a0IVu)

233 I can see the landing craft landing on the topless beaches ...

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at December 06, 2016 02:10 PM (SRKgf)

I'm hit...they got tanning lotion all over me. Medic!!!

Posted by: TheQuietMan at December 06, 2016 02:12 PM (493sH)

234 Veni, Vidi, Vice.

I came, I saw, the blowjob.

Posted by: General Zod at December 06, 2016 02:12 PM (Bdeb0)

235 No American should ever go anywhere near an Italian court voluntarily, Ace. Take my word for this.

Posted by: Amanda Knox at December 06, 2016 02:13 PM (S2VsH)

236 233 I can see the landing craft landing on the topless beaches ...
Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at December 06, 2016 02:10 PM (SRKgf)
I'm hit...they got tanning lotion all over me. Medic!!!
Posted by: TheQuietMan at December 06, 2016 02:12 PM (493sH)

Officer on comms: "Sir, we're stuck here on the beaches, and can't get the men to advance inland."

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at December 06, 2016 02:13 PM (SRKgf)

237 194: Obama lost Rock, Paper , Scissors again!?!

Posted by: LASue, now even more deplorable at December 06, 2016 02:13 PM (R2dMB)

238 >>I'm hit...they got tanning lotion all over me. Medic!!!

That's not tanning lotion.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 06, 2016 02:13 PM (/tuJf)

239

I thought the rule was "don't stick your dick in crazy"

What if she bites?

Posted by: ThunderB at December 06, 2016 02:14 PM (HeqT8)

240 Btw, the post above is not someone socking me. I had to post the link from my phone because my work has really locked down access to YouTube. *grumbles*

Posted by: Independent George at December 06, 2016 02:14 PM (BDZWU)

241 With snakes and baby's heads on a bed of lettuce.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 06, 2016 02:06 PM (/tuJf)

I prefer my snakes on a plane.

Posted by: Miley, Duchess of the DSR at December 06, 2016 02:14 PM (tHwdc)

242 Ew ew ew

Ace better wash her mouth out with valu rite first!

Posted by: Deplorable votermom @vm on Gab at December 06, 2016 02:15 PM (Om16U)

243 229 This is how I picture the thing with the Italian actress will go:

https://youtu.be/LXhRoY-Utxo
Posted by: Independent George
--------------------

Egads!
Is that Willem Defoe in a leather skirt & a bad wig?

Posted by: Chi - #FreeCthulhu at December 06, 2016 02:15 PM (FjBU6)

244 Lodging dedicated to housing 150 refugees, when 576 Italian locals are in need of accomodation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr5XadC6O-w

Posted by: kallisto at December 06, 2016 02:16 PM (jkmtt)

245 Chi, thought that was Debbie Washes-Her-Schlitz....

Posted by: Anna Puma at December 06, 2016 02:17 PM (RPdO5)

246 DO SHE BITE!>?

Posted by: AL SHARPTON at December 06, 2016 02:17 PM (MQZBa)

247 I donno Ace, that actress looks kind of freaky, even if she is Italian.

Posted by: washrivergal at December 06, 2016 02:17 PM (CFc5L)

248 Appropriate cartoon, for some definitions of appropriate, for this thread?

http://www.ufunk.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/hugleikur-dagsson-pop-hits-52.jpg

Posted by: Anna Puma at December 06, 2016 02:18 PM (RPdO5)

249 ExItalia

Posted by: The Deplorable Boomer Redneque at December 06, 2016 02:19 PM (OOOEU)

250 Too beaucoup!

Posted by: Paola Saulina at December 06, 2016 02:19 PM (JO9+V)

251 Wait, we don't get to pick the Italian Actress?

Bartiromo is an Italian name, right?

Posted by: garrett at December 06, 2016 02:20 PM (MQZBa)

252 Senator Palpatine may seize this opportunity to invoke martial law.

Posted by: V the K at December 06, 2016 02:20 PM (O7MnT)

253 Shes Greek

Posted by: ThunderB at December 06, 2016 02:21 PM (HeqT8)

254 If that actress looked like Sophia Loren in her younger days, airline tickets to Rome would be sold out in under an hour I reckon.

Posted by: IC at December 06, 2016 02:21 PM (a0IVu)

255 >> Shes Greek

This day keeps getting better and better.

Posted by: garrett at December 06, 2016 02:22 PM (MQZBa)

256 247
I donno Ace, that actress looks kind of freaky, even if she is Italian.

Posted by: washrivergal at December 06, 2016 02:17 PM (CFc5L)

And guys, you should never stick your xxx into crazy.

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at December 06, 2016 02:22 PM (jxbfJ)

257 255
>> Shes Greek

This day keeps getting better and better.

Posted by: garrett at December 06, 2016 02:22 PM (MQZBa)

That mean she does butt stuff?

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at December 06, 2016 02:22 PM (jxbfJ)

258 Greek?

So that's not yogurt?

Posted by: Anna Puma at December 06, 2016 02:23 PM (RPdO5)

259 Quitaly
Posted by: blaster at December 06, 2016 01:20 PM (0+824)

Damn! I hadn't made it down to 26 yet. Good one!

Posted by: The Deplorable Boomer Redneque at December 06, 2016 02:23 PM (OOOEU)

260 And guys, you should never stick your xxx into crazy.
Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at December 06, 2016 02:22 PM (jxbfJ)
====

We tell 'em, but do they listen?

Posted by: washrivergal at December 06, 2016 02:24 PM (CFc5L)

261 Well. I think we settled the root of "pompatus" now.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, keeper of the Deplorable Unicode Character at December 06, 2016 02:24 PM (9krrF)

262 I saw her at Paradise Island in the Bahamas once. Shes got a big can

Posted by: ThunderB at December 06, 2016 02:24 PM (HeqT8)

263 232 OT again but if it pans out...Softbank of Japan has agreed to invest 50 billion here, creating 50,000 jobs

Per Trumps twitter. This man has been busy.
Posted by: IC at December 06, 2016 02:12 PM (a0IVu)

The Art of the Deal, baby.

No deal is too big, no limelight too bright.

Posted by: WisRich at December 06, 2016 02:24 PM (hdpay)

264 Italeave?

Posted by: Vance at December 06, 2016 02:25 PM (baCC+)

265 " Obama apparently made a deal with Australia - they take in 2500 Christian refugees and we take in thousands of Muslim refugees.
"

As Europe showed us, those are not refugees, they are recruits for the left's free shit army. Wikileaks showed Hillary knew the refugees in Germany were not fit for work, could not even be trained to work. It is all scam, part of the scam is to make people think they are helping refugees, and achieving some socialist "multi-culti nirvana".

That young girl murdered by a Muslim was daughter of some Eurocrat, and he collected for the Muslim "intifada" at her funeral. Her is apparently in some deep leftist trance, inflicted on so many for so long.

Soros/globalists ... need to break down western civilization, to insert their regime. The people are finally saying NO ... is it too late for Europe? They need to reconstitute their nation states, and evict a LOT of the invading army. Same in the US, though the "Hispanics" are less violent. Still better if they all go home.

Posted by: illiniwek at December 06, 2016 02:25 PM (pS/eA)

266 ExItalia

Posted by: The Deplorable Boomer Redneque

French version should be "Exeunt".

Posted by: Brother Cavil, keeper of the Deplorable Unicode Character at December 06, 2016 02:25 PM (9krrF)

267
>> Shes Greek

And shes bearing gifts

Posted by: Deplorable Male Logic at December 06, 2016 02:26 PM (lKyWE)

268 And if you put the same reforms to a vote here there would be a direct correlation to FAB voters

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at December 06, 2016 02:26 PM (dnWSK)

269 Soros/globalists ... need to break down western civilization, to insert their regime. The people are finally saying NO ... is it too late for Europe? They need to reconstitute their nation states, and evict a LOT of the invading army. Same in the US, though the "Hispanics" are less violent. Still better if they all go home.

Posted by: illiniwek

A daydream: The US must return in arms to Europe, this time to liberate it from its own governments and their refugee/mercenary thugs.

Stranger things have happened.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, keeper of the Deplorable Unicode Character at December 06, 2016 02:27 PM (9krrF)

270 And stop eating asparagus!!

Posted by: Paola Saulina at December 06, 2016 02:27 PM (JO9+V)

271 >> Shes Greek

And shes bearing gifts>>>

Probably has Trojans too.

Posted by: Buzzsaw at December 06, 2016 02:28 PM (tf9Ne)

272 Trump on Facebook, just now:

Masa (SoftBank) of Japan has agreed to invest $50 billion in the U.S. toward businesses and 50,000 new jobs. Masa said he would never do this had we (Trump) not won the election!

Posted by: WhatWhatWhat? at December 06, 2016 02:28 PM (ul9CR)

273 15
Wingsuit test pilot defies physics, has trouble getting life insurance.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 06, 2016 01:18 PM (IqV8l)

The reason he can't get insurance is because of physics. And statistics.

Posted by: West at December 06, 2016 02:28 PM (1Rgee)

274 Many years ago when I was taking comparative international politics, I had to do a presentation on how the Italian government works. My presentation started with "This is the best I can figure it out but, honestly, I have no idea." My professor interjected with "yeah, the Italians don't either."

Posted by: alexthechick - rrraaawwwrrr at December 06, 2016 02:28 PM (mf5HN)

275 those two ladies in the Sun's calendar for September....

they remembered the carp but forgot their tops; interesting, yes?

Posted by: Billy Occam at December 06, 2016 02:28 PM (ihtYN)

276 If you get a link to visit the website "Mommas and Pompas", don't click it.

Posted by: Roy at December 06, 2016 02:29 PM (VndSC)

277 Posted by: alexthechick - rrraaawwwrrr at December 06, 2016 02:28 PM (mf5HN)

+++

LOL.

Posted by: washrivergal at December 06, 2016 02:29 PM (CFc5L)

278 269
A daydream: The US must return in arms to Europe, this time to liberate it from its own governments and their refugee/mercenary thugs.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, keeper of the Deplorable Unicode Character at December 06, 2016 02:27 PM (9krrF)

Who's going to liberate us from our own government?

Posted by: rickl at December 06, 2016 02:29 PM (zoehZ)

279 260 And guys, you should never stick your xxx into crazy.
Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at December 06, 2016 02:22 PM (jxbfJ)
====

We tell 'em, but do they listen?
Posted by: washrivergal at December 06, 2016 02:24 PM (CFc5L)

Problem is you frequently find out after the fact.

Posted by: Insomniac at December 06, 2016 02:29 PM (0mRoj)

280 Trump on Facebook, just now:

Masa (SoftBank) of Japan has agreed to invest $50 billion in the U.S. toward businesses and 50,000 new jobs. Masa said he would never do this had we (Trump) not won the election!

Pro tip: Go long on Preparation H.

Posted by: rickb223 at December 06, 2016 02:29 PM (VtwaX)

281 Many years ago when I was taking comparative international politics, I had to do a presentation on how the Italian government works. My presentation started with "This is the best I can figure it out but, honestly, I have no idea." My professor interjected with "yeah, the Italians don't either."
Posted by: alexthechick - rrraaawwwrrr

The closest answer I ever saw was Heinlein musing that it may be due to them eating a 'continental breakfast'. Them and the French.

Posted by: Blue Hen at December 06, 2016 02:30 PM (326rv)

282 271 >> Shes Greek

And shes bearing gifts>>>

Probably has Trojans too.
Posted by: Buzzsaw at December 06, 2016 02:28 PM (tf9Ne)

Horse sized.

Posted by: Insomniac at December 06, 2016 02:30 PM (0mRoj)

283 Pro tip: Go long on Preparation H.

Because it's solar power?

As long as Trump doesn't expect we the taxpayers to subsidize it, I have no problem with it.

Posted by: WhatWhatWhat? at December 06, 2016 02:31 PM (ul9CR)

284 I would like to add this book to the wish list.

http://www.baen.com/the-black-wolves-of-boston-earc.html

Posted by: Anna Puma at December 06, 2016 02:32 PM (RPdO5)

285 Shes Greek

And shes bearing gifts

Yeah, exactly.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at December 06, 2016 02:32 PM (39g3+)

286 I do loves me some tiramisu.

Posted by: jsg at December 06, 2016 02:33 PM (gs8be)

287 +++

LOL.
Posted by: washrivergal at December 06, 2016 02:29 PM (CFc5L)

At the time I did it, they had been something like 50+ governments in 40 odd years.

I was all ummmm they get bored and vote them out and then vote new people in and then there's porn stars? Idk.

Posted by: alexthechick - rrraaawwwrrr at December 06, 2016 02:33 PM (mf5HN)

288 Eventually the smaller nation states like Italy, Greece (yes, the Southern Med. countries ) and others will need money. Instead of fiscal discipline, which they seem to be incapable of or willing to exercise, Merkel will demand that they take a substantial quota of the problem-child Muslim refugees.

Posted by: gracepc at December 06, 2016 02:33 PM (OU4q6)

289 A daydream: The US must return in arms to Europe, this time to liberate it from its own governments and their refugee/mercenary thugs.

Stranger things have happened.

Posted by: Brother Cavil

Rarely is liberty valued when given. A people must fight and die for their own sake if it is to have any value.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at December 06, 2016 02:33 PM (1G5R8)

290 Willowed in last thread.

Both Podestas are super-creepy. It's Tony Podesta that has the icky art collection.

If
a police crime scene sketch resembles you that is a one in a million
chance. If two crime scene sketches resemble you and your brother who
looks little or nothing like you - that is a one in a trillion chance.
If both of you were also thousands of miles away from home and only
three and a half miles away from the crime scene while staying at the
mansion of a known pedophile at the time of the crime - that is a one in
a Quintilian chance that it is all a coincidence.

http://tinyurl.com/j79phpy

Posted by: An Observation at December 06, 2016 02:33 PM (swnN1)

291 Who's going to liberate us from our own government?

Posted by: rickl

It's a daydream. Steps are skipped. Including the ones where robot troops are deployed by the US controlled by humans in the field as a force multiplier.

Also, the parts concerning pre-surgery Jennifer Connelly may be a touch sketchy.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, keeper of the Deplorable Unicode Character at December 06, 2016 02:34 PM (9krrF)

292 I too promised to vote no in the Italian referendum.

Posted by: steevy at December 06, 2016 02:35 PM (r/0kC)

293 Pro tip: Go long on Preparation H.

Because it's solar power?

Because the SJW's will be butthurt. Regardless.

Posted by: rickb223 at December 06, 2016 02:35 PM (VtwaX)

294 280 Trump on Facebook, just now:

Masa (SoftBank) of Japan has agreed to invest $50 billion in the U.S. toward businesses and 50,000 new jobs. Masa said he would never do this had we (Trump) not won the election!

--

The schaden is a bonering again.

Posted by: Deplorable votermom @vm on Gab at December 06, 2016 02:35 PM (Om16U)

295 the Greeks make Italians look industrious

( see, you're comparing very disorganized and lazy people to disorganized and lazy people )

Posted by: Billy Occam at December 06, 2016 02:36 PM (ihtYN)

296 Many years ago when I was taking comparative international politics, I had to do a presentation on how the Italian government works. My presentation started with "This is the best I can figure it out but, honestly, I have no idea." My professor interjected with "yeah, the Italians don't either."
Posted by: alexthechick - rrraaawwwrrr

The Brits are kind notorious for this too, due to a reliance on tradition and unspoken rules that never got codified anywhere...

Posted by: Brother Cavil, keeper of the Deplorable Unicode Character at December 06, 2016 02:36 PM (9krrF)

297 Posted by: alexthechick - rrraaawwwrrr at December 06, 2016 02:28 PM (mf5HN)

There's the Yellislature, the Paralysisacracy, the Dramadent, the Prime Mistresses, and Nap Time.

Posted by: *Mikey NTH - Give the Gift of Griping with a Fine Perfidious Present from the Outrage Outlet! at December 06, 2016 02:37 PM (hLRSq)

298 With Italy, its been 72 years since they switched sides in WWII and they've had .. what.. 90 governments since then?

FIAT does not only apply to Italian cars.

Posted by: Anna Puma at December 06, 2016 02:37 PM (RPdO5)

299 O/T: Wisconsin Recount

Latest update from WI.

Big swing in recount!

With 60% of count in (and no, Grammy Winger, nothing from Dane County yet), Trumps' gain of 28 votes in the recount has evaporated and moved to a plus 2 for Hillary.

Posted by: WisRich at December 06, 2016 02:37 PM (hdpay)

300 Some of the premises above aren't quite right.

Why doesn't Germany leave the EU if all the other members are such moochers?

Germany needs the EU too. Without the Euro, the Deutsche Mark would appreciate and make it harder for the likes of Siemens to sell into the rest of Europe and to the World.

Posted by: Ignoramus at December 06, 2016 02:38 PM (SIY7D)

301 Masa (SoftBank) of Japan has agreed to invest $50 billion in the U.S.
toward businesses and 50,000 new jobs. Masa said he would never do this
had we (Trump) not won the election!

Hmmm. Something something 1979 Carter Iran 444 days something something election something Reagan hostages released.

Posted by: Count de Monet at December 06, 2016 02:39 PM (JO9+V)

302 Yo!

Posted by: Yo! at December 06, 2016 02:40 PM (GwIKd)

303
Masa (SoftBank) of Japan has agreed to invest $50 billion in the U.S.

Ain't workin' for no Masa!

Posted by: Black Lives Matter at December 06, 2016 02:41 PM (IqV8l)

304 There's motherfucking snakes in this motherfucking toilet!

https://pjmedia.com/instapundit/251110/

Posted by: steevy at December 06, 2016 02:41 PM (r/0kC)

305
294 280 Trump on Facebook, just now:

Masa (SoftBank) of Japan has agreed to invest $50 billion in the U.S. toward businesses and 50,000 new jobs. Masa said he would never do this had we (Trump) not won the election!
--
The schaden is a bonering again.

What is so delicious about these actions to keep jobs and businesses here is that they are happening while TFG is still in office and he has conspicuously avoided pursuing such activities in favor of throw graft $$$ to his buddies in "green energy ventures".

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Gob-Smacked Rage Monkeys (Suck It, NR!) at December 06, 2016 02:42 PM (fOgSR)

306 301 Masa (SoftBank) of Japan has agreed to invest $50 billion in the U.S.
toward businesses and 50,000 new jobs. Masa said he would never do this
had we (Trump) not won the election!

If I was a foreign bank I certainly wouldn't invest capital in the US under a Hillary regime. No way.

Posted by: Insomniac at December 06, 2016 02:42 PM (0mRoj)

307 If it wasn't for the Greeks, our flaming blocks of cheese technology would be woefully lacking.

Opa!

Posted by: garrett at December 06, 2016 02:43 PM (MQZBa)

308 BTW, I never mentioned this before, but I promised to vote No on the Italian referendum too. It may have slipped your minds, but I'm sure now you remember me making that promise and will back me up on this in, say, an Italian court, if it comes to that.

Posted by: Ace at 01:08 PM

During the whole Amanda Knox affair, did you notice that the pix of the Italian courtrooms had a large crucifix behind the judge? Just sayin.'

Posted by: Fr. Guido Sarducci at December 06, 2016 02:43 PM (joFoi)

309
the Greeks make Italians look industrious

That Captain Corelli movie with Nic Cage as an eye-tie was so-so.

Posted by: Count de Monet at December 06, 2016 02:43 PM (JO9+V)

310
301 Hmmm. Something something 1979 Carter Iran 444 days something something election something Reagan hostages released.
Posted by: Count de Monet at December 06, 2016 02:39 PM (JO9+V)

Mike Pence
SR-71 Blackbird
Overseas flights
Some assembly required...

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Gob-Smacked Rage Monkeys (Suck It, NR!) at December 06, 2016 02:43 PM (fOgSR)

311 >>Trumps' gain of 28 votes in the recount has evaporated and moved to a plus 2 for Hillary.

So. You're saying there's a chance?

Posted by: Hillary Clinton at December 06, 2016 02:44 PM (MQZBa)

312 Lester Thurow was one of those people who are wrong about everything but never lose their credibility and continue to be influential.

A magazine once had the idea of an American House of Lords for people like that. Jaime Gorlick is a more recent example.

Posted by: Kodos the Executioner at December 06, 2016 02:44 PM (2+nGV)

313 Unless leaving actually means that they get to go back to their own currency, let it devalue until they can pay their debts, which I guess is the responsible thing to do, but I thought it was the European spirit to have Germany do the economic work for them.

I dunno, I don't understand this very well.
Posted by: joe, living dangerously at December 06, 2016 01:16 PM (ygsT+)

Getting out from the Euro would help Italy immensely and seeing the disaster that is Greece has probably encouraged the Italians to get out from under Germany's thumb. The problem is that being under the Euro helps Germany sell German goods but it kills weaker economies like Italy. The fantasy was that after a bunch of loans, financial aid, etc. the Med. states like Italy would somehow become productive like Germany. Yeah, not going to happen. Italy isn't a total basket case because northern Italy is actually decent economically.

Posted by: WOPR - Nationalist at December 06, 2016 02:44 PM (J70i0)

314 312 Lester Thurow was one of those people who are wrong about everything but never lose their credibility and continue to be influential.

A magazine once had the idea of an American House of Lords for people like that. Jaime Gorlick is a more recent example.
Posted by: Kodos the Executioner at December 06, 2016 02:44 PM (2+nGV)

Paul Krugman belongs there.

Posted by: Insomniac at December 06, 2016 02:44 PM (0mRoj)

315 With 60% of count in (and no, Grammy Winger, nothing from Dane County yet), Trumps' gain of 28 votes in the recount has evaporated and moved to a plus 2 for Hillary.

Only 54 more years to go to overtake Trump!

Posted by: rickb223 at December 06, 2016 02:45 PM (VtwaX)

316 BREAKING : Trump Path to Victory Narrows

Posted by: MSNBC at December 06, 2016 02:45 PM (MQZBa)

317 316 BREAKING : Trump Path to Victory Narrows
Posted by: MSNBC at December 06, 2016 02:45 PM (MQZBa)

LOL

Posted by: WisRich at December 06, 2016 02:46 PM (hdpay)

318 The Italian government is confusing to all people who expect results other than high drama, low drama, paparazzi fuel, and scandalous mistresses. When viewed in the proper way it is remarkably effective - i.e., it does nothing of importance, loudly, with much hand-waving.

Posted by: *Mikey NTH - Give the Gift of Griping with a Fine Perfidious Present from the Outrage Outlet! at December 06, 2016 02:48 PM (hLRSq)

319 If I back you up in Italian court, we're both going to be accused of demonic sex game crimes a la Amanda Knox.

Posted by: wte9 at December 06, 2016 02:49 PM (xYr9U)

320 Breaking News in the RU goat story -

One of the fraternities suspended by Radford University for
allegations that a goat was mistreated acknowledged in a statement
Tuesday that there was an off-campus incident with a goat.

The statement was posted on the Pi Lambda Phi Facebook
page, saying that some members of the fraternity posed for pictures with
the goat Saturday.

The fraternity said the goat was not harmed or
mistreated. The fraternity says they tried to help police locate the
animal and owner, but were unable to do so.
>>>

more news as it happens in this fascinating caper

Posted by: Count de Monet at December 06, 2016 02:50 PM (JO9+V)

321 320 "The muslim brother got a little...excited"

Posted by: steevy at December 06, 2016 02:51 PM (r/0kC)

322 it was more artistic than the Euro anyway.
Posted by: joncelli, Longbow Afficianado and Phalangist at December 06, 2016 01:27 PM (RD7QR)

The Euro couldn't be artistic because putting on anything from one country ticked everyone else off. I remember they had some tentative designs with windows and someone figured out which windows which set off a wave of people being upset.

Posted by: WOPR - Nationalist at December 06, 2016 02:52 PM (J70i0)

323 Well its obvious to everyone with two brain cells to rub together that Trump is going to be way better for trade and business than Hillary would be, by far. She'd take the misery Obama started and auger it in even harder.

I am certain Trump will face some serious economic troubles his first year, especially with petulant lefties trying to sabotage things before they are out of the white house, but I think the economy may dig its self out, depending a great deal on his decisions while in office.

Its amazing the difference a president can make in terms of economics and world stability. Having a strong guy who makes the bad guys calm down can really change the feel in the world. Having someone who works with rather than against business and the economy can make a big difference.

I am guessing there are a lot of businesses out there that were waiting to see who won before making any decisions. Lots of them who would like to expand and grow but would not under Hillary. Lots of them who had ideas that they were sitting on and capital they were holding while Obama is in office that they'll look into using now.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at December 06, 2016 02:52 PM (39g3+)

324 I think one of the reform amendments that really killed it was the one to adopt Olive Garden as the official restaurant of Italy .

Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at December 06, 2016 02:52 PM (lPDqu)

325 The schaden is a bonering again.
Ask not for whom the schaden bones, it bones for thee.

Posted by: Ernest Boningway at December 06, 2016 02:53 PM (eXSOZ)

326 One of the fraternities suspended by Radford University for
allegations that a goat was mistreated acknowledged in a statement Tuesday that there was an off-campus incident with a goat.

Fucking Achmed!

Posted by: rickb223 at December 06, 2016 02:53 PM (VtwaX)

327 A pompas tour ?, no way. I wonder if it means something else in Italian, like a fruit or a type of goat cheese or something

Posted by: runner at December 06, 2016 02:53 PM (c6/9Q)

328 She gives "but first, you will blow me" a little extra oomph. Morons will be arriving by the plane load.

Posted by: torabora at December 06, 2016 02:54 PM (g3Fe0)

329 Noob

Posted by: CSMBigBird at December 06, 2016 02:54 PM (jsWA8)

330 I was actually in Italy last year -- twice. Both in touristed areas and nontouristed areas, small towns and large. The number of African and North-African immigrants has grown exponentially since the last time I was there, over a decade ago. Everywhere you go, seemingly, are dodgy-looking (and often frankly sinister) immigrants either lounging around or lurking in the shadows or trying to sell trinkets or begging or something. I could see why the italians have started to get upset.

Posted by: zombie at December 06, 2016 02:54 PM (jBuUi)

331 the Greeks make Italians look industrious

( see, you're comparing very disorganized and lazy people to disorganized and lazy people )
Posted by: Billy Occam at December 06, 2016 02:36 PM (ihtYN)

How does the joke go, you want Italian food and German efficiency and you get Italian efficiency and German food?

Posted by: alexthechick - rrraaawwwrrr at December 06, 2016 02:54 PM (mf5HN)

332 320----more news as it happens in this fascinating caper

Posted by: Count de Monet at December 06, 2016 02:50 PM (JO9+V)
-------------------------

For those (normal) people who are Latin-deprived, may I point out that "caper/capri)" is the Latin word for goat?!?

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at December 06, 2016 02:54 PM (Nox3c)

333 Sorry you feel that way, Insomniac. Looking for work these days is so frustrating and unrewarding and it spills over into other areas.
Of course, once you get a job it's no picnic either...
http://tinyurl.com/zdtylyk

Posted by: vivi at December 06, 2016 02:55 PM (11H2y)

334 Posted by: Count de Monet at December 06, 2016 02:50 PM (JO9+V)

Pi Lambda?
A goat, and no sheep?

Oooohhh, they DID have shepherd's pie last night.....

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at December 06, 2016 02:56 PM (8iiMU)

335 I am guessing there are a lot of businesses out there that were waiting to see who won before making any decisions. Lots of them who would like to expand and grow but would not under Hillary. Lots of them who had ideas that they were sitting on and capital they were holding while Obama is in office that they'll look into using now.

Businesses are sitting on so much money right now due to uncertainty.

Posted by: rickb223 at December 06, 2016 02:56 PM (VtwaX)

336 Whenever I see this, I crave a pepperoni and mushroom with extra cheese.
I also crave a photoshop of an actual pizza gate. I picture it as the entrance to a beautiful garden, surrounded by a picket fence.

Posted by: Miley, Duchess of the DSR at December 06, 2016 02:05 PM (tHwdc)

Ahhh, now I am thinking about how much it would cost to have an Uber driver pick up a pie from Woodstock's Pizza in Corvallis, Or and drive it up to me in Seattle. Best pizza on Earth.

Sigh, it's been 31 years since I've had one of those. Damnit!

Posted by: Sharkman at December 06, 2016 02:57 PM (CS7jF)

337 BREAKING : Trump Path to Victory Narrows
Posted by: MSNBC

Stories like these are important for us all, especially for those who have money......which I want. Won't you please give a little time, and a shit ton of cash for my tilt at the windmill of voter oppression? Only you can prevent hobo fires....for me.

Posted by: Jill Stein and the death march of dimes at December 06, 2016 02:57 PM (326rv)

338 I hate to be pedant, but this is important. Renzi is not the president of Italy, he's the prime minister. Italy is a parliamentary republic, although it has a Senate as well as the "commons". The president in such systems roughly plays the role of king in systems like the Brits.

The reforms were going to weaken the Senate among other things.

The president is largely ceremonial head of state. The head of government is the PM. And that's who resigned.

Posted by: publius (not Breitbart publius) at December 06, 2016 02:58 PM (DW+jj)

339 Ahhh, now I am thinking about how much it would cost to have an Uber driver pick up a pie from Woodstock's Pizza in Corvallis, Or and drive it up to me in Seattle. Best pizza on Earth.

Sigh, it's been 31 years since I've had one of those. Damnit!
Posted by: Sharkman

I've seen west coast pizza. you all put pineapple and other crap on it. Being from New York originally, I'll stick to that style (real).

Posted by: Blue Hen at December 06, 2016 02:59 PM (326rv)

340 Businesses are sitting on so much money right now due to uncertainty.

Posted by: rickb223 at December 06, 2016 02:56 PM (VtwaX)

Trump should announce that he's cutting capital gains taxes to a rate lower than all of our foreign competitors.

Posted by: Sharkman at December 06, 2016 02:59 PM (CS7jF)

341
It may be impossible for a large country like Italy to leave in an orderly fashion. e.g. think of all the long-term contracts denominated in Euro

Posted by: Ignoramus at December 06, 2016 02:06 PM (SIY7D)

No, they will do the opposite of what they did to adopt the Euro, they announce there is a new currency, call it the New Lira or whatever, and the official exchange rate is x per Euro, you have two months to exchange at that rate, after that the banks will charge an exchange fee of N%.
No obligation to change it all, you can always go to Austria or Germany to use them.

This is more liberal that all the previous exchanges in the last 100 years. Remember, in Europe they decommission issues of currency regularly to keep citizens from keeping it under the bed or otherwise holding it unaccountable.

If they are smart they will back the new Lira with more than the good faith and honor of the Italian state, however.

Posted by: Kindltot at December 06, 2016 03:00 PM (yLUuz)

342 Masa (SoftBank) of Japan has agreed to invest $50 billion in the U.S.
toward businesses and 50,000 new jobs. Masa said he would never do this
had we (Trump) not won the election!

_____________________________________

As a life long republican and member of the chamber of commerce,, this is a disturbing development...

Posted by: Bill Wynn (the real one,, swearsies) at December 06, 2016 03:02 PM (HSmrB)

343 I think one of the reform amendments that really killed it was the one
to adopt Olive Garden as the official restaurant of Italy .

Olive Garden is to Italian food as Taco Bell is to Mexican food.

Posted by: An Observation at December 06, 2016 03:03 PM (swnN1)

344 Heaven is where the police are British, the cooks are French, the mechanics German, the lovers Italian and it's all organised by the Swiss. Hell is where the chefs are British, the mechanics French, the lover's Swiss, the police German and it's all organised by the Italians.

Posted by: West at December 06, 2016 03:07 PM (1Rgee)

345 How does the joke go, you want Italian food and German efficiency and you get Italian efficiency and German food?
Posted by: alexthechick - rrraaawwwrrr at December 06, 2016 02:54 PM (mf5HN)

You've never tried my schitznel, nein? Served precisely at 6!

Posted by: Frau Schmidt at December 06, 2016 03:08 PM (joFoi)

346
I've seen west coast pizza. you all put pineapple and other crap on
it. Being from New York originally, I'll stick to that style (real).

Once you have tried DC style pizza you realize the rest lack spirit in their cooking.

Posted by: John and Tony Podesta at December 06, 2016 03:09 PM (swnN1)

347 Hell is where the chefs are British, the mechanics French, the lover's Swiss, the police German and it's all organised by the Italians.

Posted by: West at December 06, 2016 03:07 PM (1Rgee)

The German Infantryman's Prayer:

Oh God, grant us the morale of the British, the Elan of the French, the Winter gear of the Russians, the resupply of the Americans, and the Italians as a foe.

Posted by: Kindltot at December 06, 2016 03:09 PM (yLUuz)

348 That Italian actress isn't going to have any teeth left.

Posted by: An Observation at December 06, 2016 03:11 PM (swnN1)

349 "No, they will do the opposite of what they did to adopt the Euro,"

Don't see this being simple. Outstanding Euros are a kind of debt. What share does Italy assume? Can't see your new Lira being stable. It'll likely depreciate, with lots of knock-on effects.

Posted by: Ignoramus at December 06, 2016 03:21 PM (SIY7D)

350 http://tinyurl.com/Italianbankingcrisis

This came out before the election and like all the others this election year. It's all about how central government banks and central government are good for the economy. Will they finally be proven right?

Posted by: Charles at December 06, 2016 03:38 PM (n6IP/)

351 Like a good Italian Democrat, I voted no at least 10 times, maybe more.

Posted by: oddnot at December 06, 2016 04:23 PM (g1MTt)

352 Trump is Time 2016 Person of the Year

(not kidding)

Posted by: Deplorable votermom @vm on Gab at December 07, 2016 08:13 AM (Om16U)

353 I so glad I vota no on di referendum.

Posted by: braininahat at December 07, 2016 11:19 AM (6d6pQ)

Processing 0.05, elapsed 0.0554 seconds.
15 queries taking 0.0202 seconds, 362 records returned.
Page size 178 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.8 beta.