Ad astra per aspera
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Early Thursday morning the European Parliament and EU member states finally reached a deal over a long-delayed telecoms package when MEPs dropped their opposition to French-style internet `three-strikes' laws aimed at illegal internet downloaders. In a major reversal of the parliament's position for much of the last year, MEPs in behind-closed-doors negotiations with the Council of Ministers, representing the member states, embraced new language in a compromise text that no longer requires that only judicial authorities be allowed to cut off internet access. The deal is a major reversal of the parliament's position for much of the last year Rather than requiring that a judge alone be the authority to order a severing of the internet connection, the compromise text reads that only a "prior fair and impartial procedure"is necessary, a phrasing that is sufficiently ambiguous that has allowed both sides to claim a win. The Greens, who had led the battle against internet cut-off in the parliament, called the result a clear victory.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Early Thursday morning the European Parliament and EU member states finally reached a deal over a long-delayed telecoms package when MEPs dropped their opposition to French-style internet `three-strikes' laws aimed at illegal internet downloaders.
In a major reversal of the parliament's position for much of the last year, MEPs in behind-closed-doors negotiations with the Council of Ministers, representing the member states, embraced new language in a compromise text that no longer requires that only judicial authorities be allowed to cut off internet access.
The deal is a major reversal of the parliament's position for much of the last year
Rather than requiring that a judge alone be the authority to order a severing of the internet connection, the compromise text reads that only a "prior fair and impartial procedure"is necessary, a phrasing that is sufficiently ambiguous that has allowed both sides to claim a win.
The Greens, who had led the battle against internet cut-off in the parliament, called the result a clear victory.
Rama Yade, the popular French cabinet minister, has been told to "shut your gob or resign" by colleagues after criticising Nicolas Sarkozy and government policy. Cabinet ministers have branded Miss Yade, 32, a "spoiled child" and she now faces being ousted in a reshuffle. The outspoken, Senegalese-born politician - once hailed by the president as France's Condoleezza Rice, the former black American secretary of state - has been frozen out of the cabinet for serial insubordination. Miss Yade now faces going the same way as Rachida Dati, the other star symbol of Mr Sarkozy's politically and ethnically diverse "rainbow" cabinet.
Cabinet ministers have branded Miss Yade, 32, a "spoiled child" and she now faces being ousted in a reshuffle.
The outspoken, Senegalese-born politician - once hailed by the president as France's Condoleezza Rice, the former black American secretary of state - has been frozen out of the cabinet for serial insubordination.
Miss Yade now faces going the same way as Rachida Dati, the other star symbol of Mr Sarkozy's politically and ethnically diverse "rainbow" cabinet.
But this assumes that the decision to include a certain ethnic/gender mix in a large team will compromise the quality of the team, which is not the case. En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma
That may or may not be a valid argument against specific ethnic quotas, but what does it have to do with the case of Dati? *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
The spin is that Yade was chosen to fill some sort of ethnic slot, which may or may not be true and may or may not be relevant to the tensions with the rest of the cabinet. Nobody is appointed minister for just one reason. En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma
Governments are always based on "quotas": representing the relative power of the various political clans within the ruling party. En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma
If that is true, it only makes it worse for her -and that may be Starvid's meaning:
When someone is appointed as an ethnic quota (or gender, or age), he will be expected to act as such. That is, as a token.
Yade was appointed as the token black. Not just to the government but to all of her previous political positions (OK, as the token pretty young woman as well, UMP being very short of them). In that respect, ANY show of actual personality was always going to be seen as out of character. Ability would be frowned upon as well. "Few can believe that suffering, especially by others, is in vain. - Galbraith"
Tokenism or quotas may not be ideal, but if the persons appointed are in fact competent, there's much less of a problem, and people will get used to having government members of different genders, ethnicity, etc. But if the competent token is expected to behave as just a token, competence isn't even a requisite.
(This said, Rama Yade has acted out a fair amount...)
For all of the nonsense talked about democracy, realpolitik is about both national and personal prestige. The EU has been undermining this by not being a nation state, and by not having a single charismatic leader. This disturbs the upper levels of power because it seems unnatural to them.
One of the quieter European successes has been an occasional fondness for politicians who are colourless and bland, but also informed and relatively competent.
This compares favourably with the strutting machismo and overwhelming charisma that's usually expected of leaders, in lieu of expertise, insight, experience, or relevant qualifications.
Democracy isn't possible until politics moves beyond style and focusses on substance.
In the meantime, tokenism is a form of trophy politics - the token politician is owned by their leader, which is why they're expected to behave.
I don't see the tokenism as the problem - because it's the model for most politics. Tokenism shows it up and makes it more obvious. But it's no different in principle to NuLab's history of top-down dictatorship, where cabinet ministers were expected to do PR for No 10's decisions, and not indulge in free thinking.
Likewise for the other minions of Sarkozy, Burlesconi, Bush, Reagan, Thatcher, and all of our usual favourites.
I disagree. She could fully well have been appointed as a competent minister (although she was rather light in my view -but then so were several other ministers).
The problem is not that she was appointed being an attractive black woman. It was that, from her very first step into politics, she was appointed AS a pretty black woman. Her abilities or lack thereof never even made it into the equation. Therefore, she was not expected to act like her opinions mattered.
On the other hand, you could have a pretty black womand appointed as minister because she is competent. In that case you would expect her to speak her mind, but not to have her picture appear regularly in fashion magazines, because the good looks would only be a coincidence. Of course, for that you would need to have a different person in the Elysée palace. "Few can believe that suffering, especially by others, is in vain. - Galbraith"
Presumably because ministers should be selected for their ability
Funny. :)
A renegotiation of EU institutions to suit the Conservatives if they win power is "out of the question" and London risks isolation if it makes such demands, France's minister for Europe said today. The Conservatives have given up on the idea of putting the European Union's Lisbon Treaty to a referendum, but pledged to seek the return of some powers from Brussels to London."It is out of the question to reopen negotiations on the treaty," said Pierre Lellouche, France's secretary of state for European Affairs, on the sidelines of a news conference by President Nicolas Sarkozy."That would require agreement from the 26 other EU members and I don't think for a single minute that will be possible. It was so hard and took so long (to agree on Lisbon) that these institutions are here to stay, probably for decades," he said.
A renegotiation of EU institutions to suit the Conservatives if they win power is "out of the question" and London risks isolation if it makes such demands, France's minister for Europe said today.
The Conservatives have given up on the idea of putting the European Union's Lisbon Treaty to a referendum, but pledged to seek the return of some powers from Brussels to London.
"It is out of the question to reopen negotiations on the treaty," said Pierre Lellouche, France's secretary of state for European Affairs, on the sidelines of a news conference by President Nicolas Sarkozy.
"That would require agreement from the 26 other EU members and I don't think for a single minute that will be possible. It was so hard and took so long (to agree on Lisbon) that these institutions are here to stay, probably for decades," he said.
The Conservatives were accused by the French government tonight of "castrating" Britain's position within the EU by adopting an "autistic" approach that would take Britain off the radar.Speaking to the Guardian, Pierre Lellouche, France's Europe minister, described as "pathetic" the Tories' EU plans announced today, warning they would not succeed "for a minute".Giving vent to frustration across the EU, which has so far only been expressed in private, Lellouche - who said he was reflecting Nicolas Sarkozy's "sadness and regret" - accused William Hague, the shadow foreign secretary, of a "bizarre autism" in their discussions.
The Conservatives were accused by the French government tonight of "castrating" Britain's position within the EU by adopting an "autistic" approach that would take Britain off the radar.
Speaking to the Guardian, Pierre Lellouche, France's Europe minister, described as "pathetic" the Tories' EU plans announced today, warning they would not succeed "for a minute".
Giving vent to frustration across the EU, which has so far only been expressed in private, Lellouche - who said he was reflecting Nicolas Sarkozy's "sadness and regret" - accused William Hague, the shadow foreign secretary, of a "bizarre autism" in their discussions.
The Tories said a backlash from Europe "won't make a difference" today as David Cameron was accused by a leading French minister of "castrating" Britain's influence in Brussels. The Conservative leader yesterday promised to try to wrest back powers from the European Union after ditching his pledge to hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
The Tories said a backlash from Europe "won't make a difference" today as David Cameron was accused by a leading French minister of "castrating" Britain's influence in Brussels.
The Conservative leader yesterday promised to try to wrest back powers from the European Union after ditching his pledge to hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
Life is gonna get interesting. I might be seeking a european bolthole if these fools follow through on their insanity. keep to the Fen Causeway
The insanity is for real. But if the Tory-tubbies are already this incoherent, their first round is going to be a suicidal TV drama of violence and cat scratching.
What worries me is the prospect of someone like 'Call me Stalin' Hannan getting the top job after a bloodletting, once Dave gets the Tubbies elected.
I'm not sure how solid CallMeDave's power base is. Judging by the short half life of 'leaders' like Hague, and the other one whose name everyone has forgotten already - not very.
But he risks splitting the party to do it. Right now they prefer the prospect of power to bloodletting, but people like Hannan aren't really housetrained enough to stay on the leash for long.
If I can stay my outrage at what the tories will do to Britain, I might enjoy the next few years as both labour and tory party rips themselves to shreds. keep to the Fen Causeway
Cameron bowed to the inevitable. There will not be a referendum about 'Lisbon', he said in London on Wednesday. He defended the reversal with the fact that such a plebiscite would be futile under the current circumstances. "If we wasted everyone's time and taxpayer's money on a referendum that had no effect, I do not think the British people would thank us for it." Instead he promised to fight for the repatriation of powers that previous governments have handed over to Brussels. He wants to renew opt-outs (with regard to social legalisation and the EU charter of rights) and establish new ones (on criminal justice). He also wants to prohibit, by law, the transfer of any power to the EU without a referendum. Protest from euro-sceptics within the party was unexpectedly limited. MEP Daniel Hannan, an arch sceptic, did say he will resign from his post to dedicate himself to campaign for a referendum. But apart from that, protests within the party was limited to anonymous comments in the corridors of the House of Commons. Political commentators say many Tories realise they should not waste their first serious opportunity of regaining power with new quarrels about Europe.
Instead he promised to fight for the repatriation of powers that previous governments have handed over to Brussels. He wants to renew opt-outs (with regard to social legalisation and the EU charter of rights) and establish new ones (on criminal justice). He also wants to prohibit, by law, the transfer of any power to the EU without a referendum.
Protest from euro-sceptics within the party was unexpectedly limited. MEP Daniel Hannan, an arch sceptic, did say he will resign from his post to dedicate himself to campaign for a referendum. But apart from that, protests within the party was limited to anonymous comments in the corridors of the House of Commons. Political commentators say many Tories realise they should not waste their first serious opportunity of regaining power with new quarrels about Europe.
My sense is that, now that the Sun has huffed, puffed and surrendered on Europe, the Mail's heart isn't in it. "Cameron's big EU climbdown" (surely the word is "betrayal" or "treason" in Mail-speak?) was confined to pages 14 and 15. Sometimes you have to retreat from an unholdable Dunkirk. [...] Dave's six-point plan for protecting British sovereignty from the fantasy of a federal Europe will waste a lot of time and win a few concessions that will have to be paid for with concessions elsewhere. It's called negotiation. We've been here so often before; we all know the moves. Yes, the EU does encroach on all sorts of things, though nowhere near as much as the Eurosceptic analysis insists. It has certainly intervened this week in ways that ought to help create a more competitive British banking sector - so helpfully that George Osborne has welcomed the commission's move and said it was his idea first. [...] Cameron says he does not want a fight with the EU. I believe him; he's not daft. He wants the EU to be an association of member states, not a federal state - which it isn't. From banking to Basra, Britain has usually gone its own sweet way under Labour - as it did under the Tories. Brussels interferes chiefly in open market matters, under the treaty Margaret Thatcher signed, the Single European Act of 1986, the one the Hannans and Carswells never include in their lists of wicked referendum-free treaties Britain signed.
[...]
Dave's six-point plan for protecting British sovereignty from the fantasy of a federal Europe will waste a lot of time and win a few concessions that will have to be paid for with concessions elsewhere. It's called negotiation.
We've been here so often before; we all know the moves. Yes, the EU does encroach on all sorts of things, though nowhere near as much as the Eurosceptic analysis insists.
It has certainly intervened this week in ways that ought to help create a more competitive British banking sector - so helpfully that George Osborne has welcomed the commission's move and said it was his idea first.
Cameron says he does not want a fight with the EU. I believe him; he's not daft. He wants the EU to be an association of member states, not a federal state - which it isn't. From banking to Basra, Britain has usually gone its own sweet way under Labour - as it did under the Tories.
Brussels interferes chiefly in open market matters, under the treaty Margaret Thatcher signed, the Single European Act of 1986, the one the Hannans and Carswells never include in their lists of wicked referendum-free treaties Britain signed.
The postal workers union dramatically called off a third round of postal strikes due to start tomorrow after reaching an "interim" peace deal with management at Royal Mail. The postal executive of the Communications Workers Union agreed unanimously to postpone further industrial action while further talks took place under the umbrella of the arbitration service Acas.The Christmas post now looks secure and Lord Mandelson beat Royal Mail itself to putting out a statement welcoming the news and expressing confidence the negotiating "wrinkles" could soon be ironed out.
The postal workers union dramatically called off a third round of postal strikes due to start tomorrow after reaching an "interim" peace deal with management at Royal Mail. The postal executive of the Communications Workers Union agreed unanimously to postpone further industrial action while further talks took place under the umbrella of the arbitration service Acas.
The Christmas post now looks secure and Lord Mandelson beat Royal Mail itself to putting out a statement welcoming the news and expressing confidence the negotiating "wrinkles" could soon be ironed out.
A fresh wave of postal strikes was dramatically called off tonight just hours before the latest walkouts were due to start. Sources told the Press Association that 24-hour national stoppages due to be held tomorrow and next Monday would not go ahead after a deal was agreed to end a long-running row over jobs, pay and pensions.
A fresh wave of postal strikes was dramatically called off tonight just hours before the latest walkouts were due to start.
Sources told the Press Association that 24-hour national stoppages due to be held tomorrow and next Monday would not go ahead after a deal was agreed to end a long-running row over jobs, pay and pensions.
Investigators today said they had solved one of Russia's most notorious killings and had arrested two far-right activists for the murders of the human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov and the journalist Anastasia Baburova.Markelov - a friend of the assassinated journalist Anna Politkovskaya - and Baburova were gunned down in January in central Moscow. They had been walking towards the metro when a hitman shot Markelov in the back of the head. Baburova may have tried to grab the assassin and was also shot, dying in hospital.Today Russia's federal security service (FSB) named their killers as Eugenia Khasis, 24, and Nikita Tikhonov, 29. While Khasis appears to have no previous convictions, Tikhonov is a veteran neo-Nazi activist wanted in connection with the murder of an anti-fascist campaigner.
Investigators today said they had solved one of Russia's most notorious killings and had arrested two far-right activists for the murders of the human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov and the journalist Anastasia Baburova.
Markelov - a friend of the assassinated journalist Anna Politkovskaya - and Baburova were gunned down in January in central Moscow. They had been walking towards the metro when a hitman shot Markelov in the back of the head. Baburova may have tried to grab the assassin and was also shot, dying in hospital.
Today Russia's federal security service (FSB) named their killers as Eugenia Khasis, 24, and Nikita Tikhonov, 29. While Khasis appears to have no previous convictions, Tikhonov is a veteran neo-Nazi activist wanted in connection with the murder of an anti-fascist campaigner.
Mladá fronta Dnes: neo-Nazis planned terrorist attacks The daily Mladá fronta Dnes reported Thursday it had uncovered a group of right-wing extremists planning terrorist attacks on various targets in the Czech Republic. According to the paper, the planned attacks included kidnappings of ideological enemies and police officers, as well as an attack on a power station. The group reportedly included some 30 individuals being trained in anonymity in hand-to-hand combat by professional soldiers. Police have declined to comment on the matter. In late October, police carried out a series of raids on individuals involved in fascist movements across the country. Mladá fronta cites the organised crime department of the Czech police as saying they have been monitoring the group in question on suspicion of terrorism.
The daily Mladá fronta Dnes reported Thursday it had uncovered a group of right-wing extremists planning terrorist attacks on various targets in the Czech Republic. According to the paper, the planned attacks included kidnappings of ideological enemies and police officers, as well as an attack on a power station. The group reportedly included some 30 individuals being trained in anonymity in hand-to-hand combat by professional soldiers. Police have declined to comment on the matter. In late October, police carried out a series of raids on individuals involved in fascist movements across the country. Mladá fronta cites the organised crime department of the Czech police as saying they have been monitoring the group in question on suspicion of terrorism.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - EU military chiefs are nervous that their advice will not carry the same weight once the new Lisbon Treaty is in place and that the planned diplomatic service will not contain enough experienced military personnel. Europe's chiefs of defence gathered in Brussels on Wednesday (4 November) to review all military operations under the EU flag and to witness the handover of power from outgoing EU military committee chair, Frenchman Henri Bentegeat, to Sweden's Hakan Syren.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - EU military chiefs are nervous that their advice will not carry the same weight once the new Lisbon Treaty is in place and that the planned diplomatic service will not contain enough experienced military personnel.
Europe's chiefs of defence gathered in Brussels on Wednesday (4 November) to review all military operations under the EU flag and to witness the handover of power from outgoing EU military committee chair, Frenchman Henri Bentegeat, to Sweden's Hakan Syren.
Somebody with a uniform fetish needs to be fired. keep to the Fen Causeway
the planned diplomatic service will not contain enough experienced military personnel.
Maybee im missing some detail thats obvious to Serious people, but, erm, dont we want say, people with skills in things like talking to people, working as diplomats, rather than people whise primary skills lie in shooting, stabbing and blowing up their neighbouring human beings? Surely one ot the biggest arguments in Diplomacy is "If we dont sort this out like reasonable people, then we have to resort to the knuckle dragging lumpswho we keep in the cupboard at the back for when things get stupid, and they break the crockery and mess up the garden, so best if we can talk it out first" So you keep the miliatry away from the negotiating tables unless its really necessary. Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
Once in force on 1 December, the Lisbon Treaty will merge the current military planning unit with a civilian one and fold all operational and planning divisions into the diplomatic service, due to be fully up and running by 2012. The military chiefs will no longer report to the rotating EU presidency, but directly to the new EU foreign minister, who will also be a vice-president of the European Commission. The EU's future top diplomat - British foreign secretary David Miliband is still favourite to get the job - will also have the power to propose missions abroad and to "ensure co-ordination of the civilian and military aspects" of these missions. The military chiefs said they want to maintain the "high professionalism" and "rigour" of their structure, and to make sure their advice is still taken into account once they are part of the large new diplomatic service, known formally as the European External Action Service (EEAS).
Once in force on 1 December, the Lisbon Treaty will merge the current military planning unit with a civilian one and fold all operational and planning divisions into the diplomatic service, due to be fully up and running by 2012.
The military chiefs will no longer report to the rotating EU presidency, but directly to the new EU foreign minister, who will also be a vice-president of the European Commission.
The EU's future top diplomat - British foreign secretary David Miliband is still favourite to get the job - will also have the power to propose missions abroad and to "ensure co-ordination of the civilian and military aspects" of these missions.
The military chiefs said they want to maintain the "high professionalism" and "rigour" of their structure, and to make sure their advice is still taken into account once they are part of the large new diplomatic service, known formally as the European External Action Service (EEAS).
Concern trolling. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Sweden and Finland have given approval for Russia to build a controversial gas pipeline through their waters in the Baltic Sea. Swedish environment minister Andreas Carlgren on Thursday (5 November) explained that a 23-month-long assessment cleared the project of potential harm to seabed munition dumps, bird-breeding and shipping.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Sweden and Finland have given approval for Russia to build a controversial gas pipeline through their waters in the Baltic Sea.
Swedish environment minister Andreas Carlgren on Thursday (5 November) explained that a 23-month-long assessment cleared the project of potential harm to seabed munition dumps, bird-breeding and shipping.
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - A plan by Russian-German consortium Nord Stream to build a gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea cleared two major hurdles on Thursday as Sweden and Finland signed off on construction in their waters. Nord Stream has raised fears both among environmental groups, who are worried about the impact on the Baltic Sea, and countries such as Poland, Ukraine and the Baltic states which view the project as a threat to their energy security.
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - A plan by Russian-German consortium Nord Stream to build a gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea cleared two major hurdles on Thursday as Sweden and Finland signed off on construction in their waters.
Nord Stream has raised fears both among environmental groups, who are worried about the impact on the Baltic Sea, and countries such as Poland, Ukraine and the Baltic states which view the project as a threat to their energy security.
At the same time, the government has overruled our EPA and banned a company from drilling for oil in the Swedish part of the Baltic. For "environmental" reasons. Meanwhile they approve a 1200 km long dual undersea pipeline, in spite of enviro-whining.
My country is ruled by idiots. Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.
PM to take signed Lisbon treaty to Rome next Friday Prime Minister Jan Fischer will take the signed Lisbon treaty to Rome next Friday, whereby the ratification process by the Czech Republic will be completed, a government spokesman told the ctk news agency on Thursday. Prime Minister Fischer is due to pay a two-day visit to the Vatican and will use the opportunity to take the treaty to Rome in person, the spokesman said. The Czech Republic is the last country to complete ratification of the Lisbon treaty which is due to take effect on December 1.
Prime Minister Jan Fischer will take the signed Lisbon treaty to Rome next Friday, whereby the ratification process by the Czech Republic will be completed, a government spokesman told the ctk news agency on Thursday. Prime Minister Fischer is due to pay a two-day visit to the Vatican and will use the opportunity to take the treaty to Rome in person, the spokesman said. The Czech Republic is the last country to complete ratification of the Lisbon treaty which is due to take effect on December 1.
[My emphasis] *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Controversy over opt-out Social Democrat senators have slammed the government for negotiating an opt-out to the Charter of Fundamental Rights attached to the Lisbon treaty without Parliament's approval. In a stormy session of the upper chamber, Senate deputy chairwoman Alena Gajdušková of the Social Democrats said it was not the Lisbon treaty but the Czech government which was undermining the country's sovereignty by overstepping its mandate in this matter. Minister for European Affairs Štefan Fůle strongly rejected the accusations saying that the government had acted fully within its mandate. He said that the heads of the upper and lower chamber had both been present at the government session devoted to the Lisbon treaty and had not voiced any reservations with regard to the government's strategy. The opt-out granted to the Czech Republic is to be attached to the next EU accession treaty and is thus not expected to come into force for several years. The Social Democrats have said they will try to prevent it coming into force. Tuesday's fierce two-hour debate in the Senate is indicative of the controversy surrounding the opt-out which was adopted at the eleventh hour as a last minute concession to President Vaclav Klaus.
Social Democrat senators have slammed the government for negotiating an opt-out to the Charter of Fundamental Rights attached to the Lisbon treaty without Parliament's approval. In a stormy session of the upper chamber, Senate deputy chairwoman Alena Gajdušková of the Social Democrats said it was not the Lisbon treaty but the Czech government which was undermining the country's sovereignty by overstepping its mandate in this matter. Minister for European Affairs Štefan Fůle strongly rejected the accusations saying that the government had acted fully within its mandate. He said that the heads of the upper and lower chamber had both been present at the government session devoted to the Lisbon treaty and had not voiced any reservations with regard to the government's strategy.
The opt-out granted to the Czech Republic is to be attached to the next EU accession treaty and is thus not expected to come into force for several years. The Social Democrats have said they will try to prevent it coming into force. Tuesday's fierce two-hour debate in the Senate is indicative of the controversy surrounding the opt-out which was adopted at the eleventh hour as a last minute concession to President Vaclav Klaus.
LOL. I wish there was more reporting in the Western media of local opposition reactions to the idiocies of Klaus, Kaczyński &other buffoons in high offices here. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
