# Move Over Clinton; Now There's Berlusconi! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 12, 2009, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-clinton-now-theres-berlusconi/509769 "2009-09-12T01:00:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-clinton-now-theres-berlusconi/509769/1 "2009-09-12T01:00:35Z")
I can’t even _imagine_ how a story [like this](http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601092&sid=asm3P3dMEXO0) would fly in America: > [@](#): > > Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said alleged prostitutes who visited his home were members of his fan club and a pleasure to have around because of their beauty. Dude. I thought I overheard a radio program that put the number of prostitutes at EIGHTY. Maybe someone knows the actual number. However, somebody else-apparently a partisan- was paying them all, and poor Berlusconi, duped by all the acting, is not after all accused of hiring prostitutes. It was all a big mistake 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-clinton-now-theres-berlusconi/509769/2 "2009-09-12T01:27:23Z")
Well, he _is_ doing his part to keep prostitution off the streets. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-clinton-now-theres-berlusconi/509769/3 "2009-09-12T03:18:31Z")
Berlescuosi is a bastard and unlike JFK who at least was a good President Berlescuosi ain’t a good PM. He ought to be excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church and thus forced to go to His Holiness the Pope’s retreat in the Alps and beg for forgiveness like the Holy Roman Emperor a thousand years before. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-clinton-now-theres-berlusconi/509769/4 "2009-09-12T05:05:05Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > Berlescuosi is a bastard and unlike JFK who at least was a good President Berlescuosi ain’t a good PM. He ought to be excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church and thus forced to go to His Holiness the Pope’s retreat in the Alps and beg for forgiveness like the Holy Roman Emperor a thousand years before. Yeah, that’s how we behave today. In other news, what a sleazeball. Anyone surprised? Anyone care? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-clinton-now-theres-berlusconi/509769/5 "2009-09-12T05:19:28Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > Yeah, that’s how we behave today. > In other news, what a sleazeball. Anyone surprised? Anyone care? I would only care if the guys that furnished the prostitutes got some political and/or economic favors in return. And I think the provability of that is not 0. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-clinton-now-theres-berlusconi/509769/6 "2009-09-12T09:12:51Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > I would only care if the guys that furnished the prostitutes got some political and/or economic favors in return. Berlusconi is almost bizarrely corrupt, the sex stuff is definitely the least of his crimes, even if he was receiving sex for political favors. Supposedly he maintains power because he controls most of the Italian media, but even with that I don’t really understand why the Italians keep him in office (or out of jail). ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-clinton-now-theres-berlusconi/509769/7 "2009-09-12T09:18:02Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > Berlescuosi is a bastard and unlike JFK who at least was a good President Berlescuosi ain’t a good PM. Maybe you should tell the Italians who keep electing him? Or would they perhaps be in a better position to judge because, you know, they live there? ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-clinton-now-theres-berlusconi/509769/8 "2009-09-12T10:35:57Z")
Meh. As long as all the women consented I really don’t have any problems at all. Well, unless public funds were used but still, comparatively minor while still bad. But I really don’t care any more or less if a politician embezzles funds for a BMW versus blowjobs. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-clinton-now-theres-berlusconi/509769/9 "2009-09-12T11:31:30Z")
Why do we even pretend to care about any politicians sex life or any other aspect of their private life. How does it matter? Berlusconi is forever sticking his foot in his mouth as a political leader and that would seem more important then what he does with his dick in his private time. He is an elected leader, when the Italian’s think he is wrong for their country they will say that with their votes. I don’t give a shit about my PM’s personal sex life but should it turn out he likes hookers then that’s his thing. I wasn’t going to vote for him anyway 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-clinton-now-theres-berlusconi/509769/10 "2009-09-12T13:01:15Z")
This is Europe. Nobody gives a damn about a politician love or sex-life. Berlusconi is fucking young hot chicks and picking up whores. Good for him. Would probably feature in the positive column in my book. If you want to pit Berlusconi you better come up with something more substantial. There’s plenty to pick from. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-clinton-now-theres-berlusconi/509769/11 "2009-09-12T13:06:22Z")
> [@calm\_kiwi](#): > > Why do we even pretend to care about any politicians sex life or any other aspect of their private life. How does it matter? Well, I do think it matters if the sex is being used as a bribe. And I think it matters if they are the sort who lecture everyone else about their bedroom habits and try to pass laws on the matter. And it matters if coercion is involved. But outside of that I don’t care; it’s not my business. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-clinton-now-theres-berlusconi/509769/12 "2009-09-12T13:46:50Z")
Why does Clinton have to move over? He didn’t have to \*pay \*for his women, like Berlusconi apparently does despite all his money. Of course, the ones hr got for free weren’t Grade A Prime, either. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-clinton-now-theres-berlusconi/509769/13 "2009-09-12T14:52:51Z")
BTW, is prostitution legal in Italy? ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-clinton-now-theres-berlusconi/509769/14 "2009-09-12T15:03:02Z")
Errr yeah, not exactly news this side of the pond. Everybody knows Berlusconi is a sleazeball, possibly involved with the Mafia, probably racist and decidedly not a nice guy. [QUOTE=Curtis LeMay] BTW, is prostitution legal in Italy? [/QUOTE] Yes and no. Individual prostitution is legal, but organized prostitution (brothels, pimps etc…) isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-clinton-now-theres-berlusconi/509769/15 "2009-09-12T15:23:51Z")
If Berlescuosi is so corrupt why hasn’t he been removed from office? Oh, only if Garibaldi or even Julius Caeser or Sulla could take control. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-clinton-now-theres-berlusconi/509769/16 "2009-09-12T16:23:23Z")
Who would remove him from office? The biggest piece of Parliament is his guys. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-clinton-now-theres-berlusconi/509769/17 "2009-09-12T16:37:11Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Who would remove him from office? The biggest piece of Parliament is his guys. And the opposition politicians trying to remove him have no cleaner hands than he does. Italian politics has always been a cesspool of corruption yet the Italians seem to thrive on it so buona fortuna to them. I sometimes think it’s healthier in a way than the stiff-necked, puritanical and oh-so-hypocritical mess that we call politics. ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-clinton-now-theres-berlusconi/509769/18 "2009-09-12T18:24:04Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Why does Clinton have to move over? He didn’t have to \*pay \*for his women, like Berlusconi apparently does despite all his money. > > Of course, the ones hr got for free weren’t Grade A Prime, either. > [@Reuters](#): > > “Never in my life, not even once, have I had to pay for a sexual encounter,” Berlusconi said. “And I’ll tell you why: for someone who loves to conquer, the greatest joy is the conquest, so I ask, ‘if you pay, what joy can there be?’” [http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE5894RC20090910](http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE5894RC20090910) Not saying I believe that quote, but as a PM I guess he can get quite a lot of women for free when he wants to - and he apparently does. ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-clinton-now-theres-berlusconi/509769/19 "2009-09-12T20:14:56Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > If Berlescuosi is so corrupt why hasn’t he been removed from office? Oh, only if Garibaldi or even Julius Caeser or Sulla could take control. He’s not been removed because democracy is not perfect; tons of corrupt and crooked politicians the world over have held on to democratic office. > [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > Oh, only if Garibaldi or even Julius Caeser or Sulla could take control. They’re dead. And by the way: B E R L U S C O N I not Berlescuosi ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-clinton-now-theres-berlusconi/509769/20 "2009-09-12T21:21:03Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > but even with that I don’t really understand why the Italians keep him in office (or out of jail). IIRC, the only reason that he’s not in jail right now is that the Italian parliament passed a law making the president immune from prosecution. :eek: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-clinton-now-theres-berlusconi/509769.md?page=2)