*Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Even before he got the job, Westerwelle, who is the leader of the Free Democrats, Chancellor Angela Merkel's junior coalition partner, managed to generate major headlines with a minor gaffe. At his first, post-election press conference, Westerwelle refused to answer a question posed by a BBC journalist in English remarking that when in Germany, one should speak German. To cap it off, he glibly invited the journalist to come and have a "fabulous tea" with him outside of any press conference, at which they could happily speak English together.The linguistic kerfuffle launched a minor political scandal and dozens of magazine and newspaper columns around Europe. Befitting the German penchant for debate, it also spurred hundreds of online arguments about Westerwelle's reaction.But it also raised the question as to whether Westerwelle could speak English at all. And it provided yet another opportunity to lampoon a politician who has become accustomed to being portrayed as the Dan Quayle of German politics.
The linguistic kerfuffle launched a minor political scandal and dozens of magazine and newspaper columns around Europe. Befitting the German penchant for debate, it also spurred hundreds of online arguments about Westerwelle's reaction.
But it also raised the question as to whether Westerwelle could speak English at all. And it provided yet another opportunity to lampoon a politician who has become accustomed to being portrayed as the Dan Quayle of German politics.
Somehow I don't think I'm going to need to answer very many such questions any more. The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman
I admit I admire the, sadly increasingly breached, resistance of french officials to speaking english at press conferences when in France. keep to the Fen Causeway
For years, the world has mocked Germany for its love affair with David Hasselhoff. And, for years, Germans have been hoping that the world would forgive and forget. But now that MTV has invited "the Hoff" to perform in Berlin, just like he did 20 years ago when the Berlin Wall came down, their hopes have been dashed.
Aaaargh! Everyone run!! *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
For years, the world has mocked Germany for its love affair with David Hasselhoff.
Dear Hannah Pilarczyk, The World =/= the USA. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
With harsh words for his old rivals, fondness for his family, and an evasive approach when it comes to discussing Nicolas Sarkozy, the former French president hits the front pages again with the publication of the first volume of his memoirs.
Half way through his five-year presidential term, Nicolas Sarkozy has sank to his lowest poll score since he took office. But analysts see no serious challenger to thwart his bid for re-election in 2012....A meagre 39 percent of French voters declared themselved satisfied with Sarkozy in an IFOP poll released Wednesday, his lowest score since his election in May 2007, while 60 percent were unhappy with him.
...A meagre 39 percent of French voters declared themselved satisfied with Sarkozy in an IFOP poll released Wednesday, his lowest score since his election in May 2007, while 60 percent were unhappy with him.
A Powys butcher has rewritten the rules of etiquette by accepting an honour from the queen with a ballpoint pen behind his ear. William Lloyd Williams was collecting an MBE for services to the meat industry and checked with the palace if it was acceptable to wear the unusual accessory to the ceremony.
A Powys butcher has rewritten the rules of etiquette by accepting an honour from the queen with a ballpoint pen behind his ear.
William Lloyd Williams was collecting an MBE for services to the meat industry and checked with the palace if it was acceptable to wear the unusual accessory to the ceremony.
