The Italy Conundrum

Why does a nation with deep roots in the Renaissance, the seat of so much culture and history persist in having a political culture so thoroughly debased and such thoroughly wretched cretins as its leaders:

Italians never quite know whether to laugh or cry at Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi But many reacted with incredulity and outrage after the prime minister, visiting Moscow on Thursday, amiably called the first African-American president-elect in United States history “young, handsome and suntanned.” Mr. Berlusconi made the remark while meeting President Dmitri A. Medvedev of Russia, saying that Senator Barack Obama’s good looks, his youth and his so-called suntan were “all the qualities” for Mr. Medvedev and the future president to “develop a good working relationship.”

What truly puzzles me is the fact that this is the third time Berlusconi has led the government. His critics comments are dead on:

Many Italian newspapers gave the comment nearly as much front-page attention as Mr. Obama’s victory itself. The journalist Curzio Maltese wrote in the center-left La Repubblica that “bookmakers wouldn’t even take bets” on how long it would take for Mr. Berlusconi to let slip another of his famous gaffes. “Mr. Berlusconi never fails to live up to our worst expectations.”

Mr. Maltese added that just when Mr. Obama’s victory was “inspiring billions of people” to consider “democracy, the most extraordinary triumph of humanity after centuries of bloodshed and intolerance,” Mr. Berlusconi instead contributed “a miserable, vulgar and racist remark, for which he didn’t even have the courage to take responsibility or the dignity to apologize.”

As much as I love the sights, food and culture in Italy, it has to be the most dysfunctional democracy in Western Europe. There is some good news in all this:

Yet Mr. Berlusconi’s latest gaffe seemed to tap into a deep well of anger at him, which is at least as strong as his high approval ratings. A brief report on NYTimes.com about the comment drew nearly 1,600 responses, most from upset Italians.

I feel your pain. There is a cure for this: vote him out at your next opportunity. Send him packing. We just sent a message to the party of one of the worst presidents in our nation's history. Trust me: you can do the same.