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EU chief Barroso backs down (getting to know real Europe)

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EU chief Barroso backs down (getting to know real Europe)

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Old Oct 27th 2004, 1:09 am
  #1  
Earl
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Posts: n/a
Default EU chief Barroso backs down (getting to know real Europe)

EU chief Barroso backs down


By Gareth Harding
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL

Strasbourg, France, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Facing a defeat by EU lawmakers
Wednesday, European Commission President-designate Jose-Manuel Barroso
delayed a vote on his incoming executive team.

****

Basically the EU parliament did not want a effectively
representative for the Vatican on the commission,
particular a Catholic Conservative who recently
used the "sin" word with regard to homosexuals.

This will be embarrassing to the Pope and Berlusconi. Poland
is also involved in the combine with Opus Dei and the blessing
of the Pope to get "God" and "Christianity" mentioned
in the new European Constitution. This current battle is mostly
over Buttiglione but underlines the secular nature of the
European Parliament. In trying to stress only Christianity will
make the older Gods angry, Toutatis will not be pleased and Thor
will thunder his objection across the land. G W Bush, watch out.

So far, if a victory, it is important for progressive forces (and
anti-Bush!)
in the EU Parliament. There is a move to increase the power of the
Parliament which has little, and combat the dictatorship of the
bureaucrats in Brussels. I might add Washington to the list of cities
which are distrusted.

So as in the US, the culture wars rage here but the battle is unequal,
the progressive forces are way ahead.

Earl

**

October 27, 2004

Buttiglione wanted to 'be somebody in Europe'
By Philippe Naughton, Times Online

Rocco Buttiglione, a devout Catholic, is close to the Pope (Vincent
Kessler)

When he was offered the chance to become Italy's candidate for the
European Commission in July, Rocco Buttiglione was understandably
proud. "I may be a nobody in Italy, but in Europe I am someone," he
told the Milan newspaper, Corriere de la Sera .

Today in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Signor Buttiglione
certainly was someone. He was the ghost at the feast, the butt of all
the jokes as MEPs celebrated victory over José Manuel Durão Barroso,
the incoming European Commission President.

Only an hour before MEPs were due to vote on Senhor Barroso's line-up
of commissioners, and facing certain defeat, the former Portuguese
Prime Minister was forced to announce that he was withdrawing his
entire team and no vote would needed.

The man at the centre of the storm sat in stony silence, staring
angrily at the cheering MEPs ranked in front of him. It was a dramatic
end to a very short career in European politics.

A right-winger with strong Catholic credentials - he is a close friend
of the Pope and is even said to have written some of his papal
encyclicals - Signor Buttiglione was considered a surprise choice for
Italy's single post on the commission.

But in Silvio Berlusconi's coalition Government he had served as
Minister for Europe, so at least he should have known what to expect.

When it came to Signor Buttiglione's nomination hearing two weeks ago
for the post of justice commissioner, left-wingers in the European
Parliament were lying in wait, ready to turn his Catholic beliefs back
against him.

Quizzed about his attitude to homosexuality, Signor Buttiglione told
MEPs: "Many things may be considered immoral which should not be
prohibited."

He added: "I may think that homosexuality is a sin, and this has no
effect on politics, unless I say that homosexuality is a crime."

When asked why he was opposed to gay marriages, he said that "the
family exists to allow women to have children and be protected by
their husbands."

Signor Buttiglione tried to clarify his beliefs, telling the MEPs:
"The state has no right to stick its nose into these things and nobody
can be discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation...
this stands in the Charter of Human Rights, this stands in the
Constitution and I have pledged to defend this constitution."

However he couched it, the damage was done. Describing homosexuality
as a sin was a sin in itself for the Parliament's liberal majority,
especially coming from the person whose portfolio was to include
fighting discrimination and promoting human rights in the 25 EU member
states.

Signor Buttiglione, an urbane professor of politics and philosophy,
knew as well as anyone the power and meaning of his words, but refused
to compromise on his religious beliefs. "If I said that I loved
children they would accuse me of being a paedophile," he said later of
his treatment at the hands of MEPs.

Still, the 56-year-old father of four refused to restrain himself,
telling a conference in Italy last week: "Children who don't have a
father but only a mother are children of a mother who is not very
good."

Clemente Mastella, a former Berlusconi minister now in opposition,
said that the polyglot professor had only himself to blame:
"Buttiglione speaks too many languages. If he spoke a little less, he
wouldn't say such eccentric and indefensible things."

What happens next is far from clear. Italian newspapers reported this
morning that Signor Buttiglione, 56, received a telephone call from
Signor Berlusconi yesterday in which the Italian Prime Minister asked
him to resign as a commissioner even before his appointment. Signor
Buttiglione refused.

Although Signor Berlusconi is lining up possible replacements,
including Franco Frattini, the Foreign Minister, he can ill afford to
sack his candidate if he refuses to go quietly - not just because it
would look bad politically to sack a man for his Catholic beliefs, but
because he still needs the support of Signor Buttiglione's Christian
Democrats to govern.

EU leaders are due to meet in Rome on Friday for the formal signature
of the European Constitution, and may well meet early to find a
solution to the crisis. The negotiations are expected to take several
weeks.

So far, Signor Buttiglione has refused to be part of any compromise
solution. As he wrote in a letter to Senhor Barroso: "The only thing I
cannot do is to change my principles against my conscience for
political convenience."

*
 
Old Oct 27th 2004, 1:58 am
  #2  
The Reids
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: EU chief Barroso backs down (getting to know real Europe)

Following up to Earl

    >This will be embarrassing to the Pope and Berlusconi.

Excellent!

    >Poland is also involved in the combine with Opus Dei and the blessing
    >of the Pope to get "God" and "Christianity" mentioned
    >in the new European Constitution.

That angle has not been mentioned on BBC news here, interesting.

    >This current battle is mostly
    >over Buttiglione but underlines the secular nature of the
    >European Parliament. In trying to stress only Christianity will
    >make the older Gods angry, Toutatis will not be pleased and Thor
    >will thunder his objection across the land. G W Bush, watch out.
    >So far, if a victory, it is important for progressive forces (and
    >anti-Bush!)
    >in the EU Parliament. There is a move to increase the power of the
    >Parliament which has little, and combat the dictatorship of the
    >bureaucrats in Brussels.

about time.

    >I might add Washington to the list of cities
    >which are distrusted.
    >So as in the US, the culture wars rage here but the battle is unequal,
    >the progressive forces are way ahead.

are you saying progressive anti Bush forces are ahead in the US?
--
Mike Reid
Wasdale-Thames path-London-photos "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" <-- you can email us@ this site
Eat-walk-Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" <-- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap
 
Old Oct 27th 2004, 2:39 am
  #3  
Earl Evleth
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: EU chief Barroso backs down (getting to know real Europe)

in article [email protected], The Reids at
[email protected] wrote on 27/10/04 15:58:

    >> So as in the US, the culture wars rage here but the battle is unequal,
    >> the progressive forces are way ahead.
    >
    > are you saying progressive anti Bush forces are ahead in the US?
    > --

I meant in Europe. In the US, about 50-50.

Earl
 
Old Oct 27th 2004, 6:17 am
  #4  
Emilia
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: EU chief Barroso backs down (getting to know real Europe)

Well, I'm embarrased for little Barroso.
There I was all proud of our export.
Now I don't even want him back home.




[email protected] (Earl) wrote in
news:[email protected] om:

    > EU chief Barroso backs down
    >
    >
    > By Gareth Harding
    > UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
    >
    > Strasbourg, France, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Facing a defeat by EU lawmakers
    > Wednesday, European Commission President-designate Jose-Manuel Barroso
    > delayed a vote on his incoming executive team.
    >
    > ****
    >
    > Basically the EU parliament did not want a effectively
    > representative for the Vatican on the commission,
    > particular a Catholic Conservative who recently
    > used the "sin" word with regard to homosexuals.
    >
    > This will be embarrassing to the Pope and Berlusconi. Poland
    > is also involved in the combine with Opus Dei and the blessing
    > of the Pope to get "God" and "Christianity" mentioned
    > in the new European Constitution. This current battle is mostly
    > over Buttiglione but underlines the secular nature of the
    > European Parliament. In trying to stress only Christianity will
    > make the older Gods angry, Toutatis will not be pleased and Thor
    > will thunder his objection across the land. G W Bush, watch out.
    >
    > So far, if a victory, it is important for progressive forces (and
    > anti-Bush!)
    > in the EU Parliament. There is a move to increase the power of the
    > Parliament which has little, and combat the dictatorship of the
    > bureaucrats in Brussels. I might add Washington to the list of cities
    > which are distrusted.
    >
    > So as in the US, the culture wars rage here but the battle is unequal,
    > the progressive forces are way ahead.
    >
    > Earl
    >
    > **
    >
    > October 27, 2004
    >
    > Buttiglione wanted to 'be somebody in Europe'
    > By Philippe Naughton, Times Online
    >
    > Rocco Buttiglione, a devout Catholic, is close to the Pope (Vincent
    > Kessler)
    >
    > When he was offered the chance to become Italy's candidate for the
    > European Commission in July, Rocco Buttiglione was understandably
    > proud. "I may be a nobody in Italy, but in Europe I am someone," he
    > told the Milan newspaper, Corriere de la Sera .
    >
    > Today in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Signor Buttiglione
    > certainly was someone. He was the ghost at the feast, the butt of all
    > the jokes as MEPs celebrated victory over José Manuel Durão Barroso,
    > the incoming European Commission President.
    >
    > Only an hour before MEPs were due to vote on Senhor Barroso's line-up
    > of commissioners, and facing certain defeat, the former Portuguese
    > Prime Minister was forced to announce that he was withdrawing his
    > entire team and no vote would needed.
    >
    > The man at the centre of the storm sat in stony silence, staring
    > angrily at the cheering MEPs ranked in front of him. It was a dramatic
    > end to a very short career in European politics.
    >
    > A right-winger with strong Catholic credentials - he is a close friend
    > of the Pope and is even said to have written some of his papal
    > encyclicals - Signor Buttiglione was considered a surprise choice for
    > Italy's single post on the commission.
    >
    > But in Silvio Berlusconi's coalition Government he had served as
    > Minister for Europe, so at least he should have known what to expect.
    >
    > When it came to Signor Buttiglione's nomination hearing two weeks ago
    > for the post of justice commissioner, left-wingers in the European
    > Parliament were lying in wait, ready to turn his Catholic beliefs back
    > against him.
    >
    > Quizzed about his attitude to homosexuality, Signor Buttiglione told
    > MEPs: "Many things may be considered immoral which should not be
    > prohibited."
    >
    > He added: "I may think that homosexuality is a sin, and this has no
    > effect on politics, unless I say that homosexuality is a crime."
    >
    > When asked why he was opposed to gay marriages, he said that "the
    > family exists to allow women to have children and be protected by
    > their husbands."
    >
    > Signor Buttiglione tried to clarify his beliefs, telling the MEPs:
    > "The state has no right to stick its nose into these things and nobody
    > can be discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation...
    > this stands in the Charter of Human Rights, this stands in the
    > Constitution and I have pledged to defend this constitution."
    >
    > However he couched it, the damage was done. Describing homosexuality
    > as a sin was a sin in itself for the Parliament's liberal majority,
    > especially coming from the person whose portfolio was to include
    > fighting discrimination and promoting human rights in the 25 EU member
    > states.
    >
    > Signor Buttiglione, an urbane professor of politics and philosophy,
    > knew as well as anyone the power and meaning of his words, but refused
    > to compromise on his religious beliefs. "If I said that I loved
    > children they would accuse me of being a paedophile," he said later of
    > his treatment at the hands of MEPs.
    >
    > Still, the 56-year-old father of four refused to restrain himself,
    > telling a conference in Italy last week: "Children who don't have a
    > father but only a mother are children of a mother who is not very
    > good."
    >
    > Clemente Mastella, a former Berlusconi minister now in opposition,
    > said that the polyglot professor had only himself to blame:
    > "Buttiglione speaks too many languages. If he spoke a little less, he
    > wouldn't say such eccentric and indefensible things."
    >
    > What happens next is far from clear. Italian newspapers reported this
    > morning that Signor Buttiglione, 56, received a telephone call from
    > Signor Berlusconi yesterday in which the Italian Prime Minister asked
    > him to resign as a commissioner even before his appointment. Signor
    > Buttiglione refused.
    >
    > Although Signor Berlusconi is lining up possible replacements,
    > including Franco Frattini, the Foreign Minister, he can ill afford to
    > sack his candidate if he refuses to go quietly - not just because it
    > would look bad politically to sack a man for his Catholic beliefs, but
    > because he still needs the support of Signor Buttiglione's Christian
    > Democrats to govern.
    >
    > EU leaders are due to meet in Rome on Friday for the formal signature
    > of the European Constitution, and may well meet early to find a
    > solution to the crisis. The negotiations are expected to take several
    > weeks.
    >
    > So far, Signor Buttiglione has refused to be part of any compromise
    > solution. As he wrote in a letter to Senhor Barroso: "The only thing I
    > cannot do is to change my principles against my conscience for
    > political convenience."
    >
    > *
 
Old Nov 1st 2004, 1:16 am
  #5  
Pmlt
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: EU chief Barroso backs down (getting to know real Europe)

On 27 Oct 2004 06:09:15 -0700, [email protected] (Earl) wrote:

    >EU chief Barroso backs down


Thanks to the European Commission, Portugal got rid of a terrible
prime minister.
Thanks to that,the European Commission is in trouble during the coming
years.
 
Old Nov 1st 2004, 10:53 pm
  #6  
Arkadya
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: EU chief Barroso backs down (getting to know real Europe)

    >Thanks to the European Commission, Portugal got rid of a terrible
    >prime minister.
    >Thanks to that,the European Commission is in trouble during the coming
    >years.

First Barroso was a great prime minister. Second and I mean this sincerly F the
European Commission.
Never Forgive, Never Forget
9-11-01
 
Old Nov 2nd 2004, 8:49 am
  #7  
Sjoerd
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: EU chief Barroso backs down (getting to know real Europe)

"ARKADYA" <[email protected]> schreef in bericht
news:[email protected]...
    > F the European Commission.
    > Never Forgive, Never Forget

Forgive the European Commission or Forget the European Commission?

Sjoerd
 
Old Nov 2nd 2004, 9:02 am
  #8  
Arkadya
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: EU chief Barroso backs down (getting to know real Europe)

    >Forgive the European Commission or Forget the European Commission?

neither, **** the European commision, hows that
Never Forgive, Never Forget
9-11-01
 
Old Nov 2nd 2004, 9:06 am
  #9  
Sjoerd
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: EU chief Barroso backs down (getting to know real Europe)

"ARKADYA" <[email protected]> schreef in bericht
news:[email protected]...
    > neither, **** the European commision, hows that

I am sure most members of the European Commission enjoy a good **** once in
a while.

Sjoerd
 
Old Nov 2nd 2004, 9:11 am
  #10  
Arkadya
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: EU chief Barroso backs down (getting to know real Europe)

    >I am sure most members of the European Commission enjoy a good **** once in
    >a while.
    >Sjoerd

Im sure they are mostly Gay so they would be the ****ees in this case. I know
most Euro trash swings that way
Never Forgive, Never Forget
9-11-01
 
Old Nov 2nd 2004, 9:26 am
  #11  
Bill Moore
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: EU chief Barroso backs down (getting to know real Europe)

In article <[email protected]>,
Sjoerd <[email protected]> wrote:
    >"ARKADYA" <[email protected]> schreef in bericht
    >news:[email protected]...
    >> neither, **** the European commision, hows that
    >I am sure most members of the European Commission enjoy a good **** once in
    >a while.

Unlike the latest loudmouth genius to grace us with his presence,
who appears to be sorely in need of one.
 
Old Nov 2nd 2004, 9:52 am
  #12  
Lennart Petersen
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: EU chief Barroso backs down (getting to know real Europe)

"ARKADYA" <[email protected]> skrev i meddelandet
news:[email protected]...
    > >I am sure most members of the European Commission enjoy a good **** once
    > >in
    >>a while.
    >>Sjoerd
    > Im sure they are mostly Gay so they would be the ****ees in this case. I
    > know
    > most Euro trash swings that way
Personal experience of course.
 
Old Nov 2nd 2004, 10:35 am
  #13  
Pmlt
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: EU chief Barroso backs down (getting to know real Europe)

On 02 Nov 2004 11:53:32 GMT, [email protected] (ARKADYA) wrote:


    >First Barroso was a great prime minister. Second and I mean this sincerly F the
    >European Commission.

Great prime minister, hem? Wanna keep him?
 

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