Shard

True. Although surnames count for something.

MillieF

I don't think 42 is old? It's a baby in politics....they've just voted in their 'youngest' premier in Italy and he's 39.

I hope the world won't hold the gaffs against me that I made at 42! Give him time...if they ever let me vote here, he will get my X...I think. Yes a surname might help, but the old boy network on the opposition is equally limiting.

scrubbedexpat091

I agree, its not old in politics at all. My grandfather didn't even start his political career until almost 40.

In the US, one cannot even run for certain office until 30-35 years old, so 40 would be just the start for many careers.

I am having trouble finding if Canada has any age restrictions on MP's or the Prime Minister.

jimf

I never said he was old, only that he wasn't young. He is middle aged. That kind of thing would be run of the mill for student politics.

Shard

Also he doesn't seem to have achieve much in his forty odd years considering he's aiming at PM.

Martin the cdn expat

Comparing Italy to Canada.. Oh God, please no..

It is worth mentioning that Renzi help oust the previous PM, and was
appointed, not elected.




His own surname is symbolic of the very old boy network, desperate
to regain power at any cost.



I agree with Colchar, Garneau should have been selected.
The Cons would have been baffled beyond belief, nothing for them to go after.

Martin the cdn expat

18 and a citizen to sit in the House.

Not even required to win an election to sit as an MP. But for the party selecting the PM, to choose someone who can't sit in the House is virtually impossible.

MillieF

Now I think about it, Ford and Berlusconi have both left a somewhat comparable mark...oh I remember....one of those countries has affordable cheese, good wine and great film directors....big difference right there!

dbd33

I'm slogging through a biography of Berlusconi, "The Sack of Rome", it's not well written but he seems to have been a charismatic figure, a man who saw his chances and took them well. He changed his country dramatically, though few would say it was for the better. He's self-made, for whatever that's worth. All of which, as Godwin might note, was true of Hitler. He likes to put it about and, even still, he likes young girls. He has long term connections to some of the world's more sinister figures in organised crime.

Ford is a suburban man. He inherited a lot of money and spent some on drugs, in the course of that he met some immigrant drug dealers. He's famously drunk and stoned so it seems improbable that his sexual preferences are of any consequence. He's enjoyed fifteen minutes of being a figure of fun around the world but hasn't achieved or changed anything, neither has he held nor influenced high office even in his backwater country. He's just a buffoon on the television, another Don Cherry.

I think it rather insulting to Berlusconi, a shit of the highest order, a shit on the world stage, to compare him to Ford; Berlusconi achievement is that he grabbed control of a country's media and used it to sucessfully propel his financial and political ambitions. Ford's achievement is that he's one of the less pleasant fat men in Etobicoke.

orly

Don knows what he's talking about. A true hockey brain.

dbd33

A former iced hockey player, I understand, and yet a man with the physique of Rob Ford.

Novocastrian

Rather good that. I'm never sure if karma is acceptable to you.

<Just nod>

caretaker

Don Cherry did play hockey in the NHL and the AHL, but only became well known as a
coach. Ford and Cherry have the same number of arms and legs, etc, but otherwise share no common physical traits that I can see, Ford being obviously obese.

dbd33

All karma welcome, ta. I'm more of a receiver than a giver though.

dbd33

You don't think Cherry has a gut on him? Er, ok, but I'd have said he's roly-poly, he has the look of a landlord.