Man who attacked Berlusconi gains hero status in Italy

[bemildred]

A 28-year-old bricklayer has gained cult status among ordinary Italians after he threw a camera tripod at the prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, on New Year's Eve, leaving him with a bruise at the back of his head.

Roberto dal Bosco told journalists he could not stop himself when he saw Berlusconi out for an impromptu walk-about in Rome's Piazza Navona square.

Ordinary Italians have seized on the bricklayer as a Che Guevara of their times, celebrating his act with a flurry of tripod related jokes, doctored Internet images, e-mails and songs.

"Half of Italy would have liked to do what did, maybe worse," wrote one Web site fan, according to Corriere della Sera newspaper.

Taipei Times

[Flagg]

1. Italy rules !

Except for those neo facists in office.

[rooboy]

2. Bravo!!! n/t

[Judi Lynn]

3. B-b-b-but Berlusconi seems like such a sweet man, doesn't he?

Why else would our own pResident court his friendship?

[Sydnie]

5. They both look like they could use a good enema! n/t

[sam sarrha]

7. Caption: I hate it when he slaps me and calls me Bitch..

:nopity:
What does this photo tell you..???!!!!

[beam me up scottie]

8. LMFAO !

They both could use a tripod upside the head, IMO.
UhOh, here come the SS guys, it's been nice knowing you guys....

[Richard Steele]

19. LMAO! I actually did a spit-take, Sam S!

I was trying to think of a caption for that photo; you beat me to it!

Anyone know how to get coffee OUT of a keyboard?

[parkia00]

9. An Evil Twin?

Does anyone here think he looks soo much like Mussolini. Even they way he walks, talks and his overall stance!

[goforit]

20. What a pair of sorry looking mobsters!!!

[LynnTheDem]

4. ROTFLMAO!!!

Italians aren't very happy with Berlusconi for "spreading democracy" in Iraq by "doing the dictator" in Italy, ignoring the wishes of the very vast majority of Italians who opposed bush's invasion of Iraq.

[jmcgowanjm]

6. Berlusconi has got to be pissed

A billionaire PM upstaged by a mere bricklayer.

[beam me up scottie]

10. Hmm, what would I like to throw at the back of junior's head, people?

I guess this is why all of *'s audiences must be pre-screened to keep normal people away from him.

[TomClash]

11. La Forza e guasto!

[David__77]

12. A fine example of working class struggle!

I applaud the actions of this fine representative of the Italian peoples' aspirations.

[daleo]

13. My local paper said Berlusconi has forgiven this man

And that the man in question said the tripod "slipped" when he was trying to impress a woman. Quite a spin, that one. Berlusconi must have decided he needed to portray a softer image if this guy was becoming a folk hero.

[candle_bright]

14. I don't think this is funny

I don't think physically attacking elected officials should be celebrated as an appropriate form of protest.

[othermeans]

16. Wasn't Hitler an elected official? Mussolini? nt

[TolstoyAndy]

17. It's the only way to get their attention

Repukes, Dems, all ignore us here and go ahead and have their wars,
vote Patriot Act, consolidate the media, poison the planet, etc.

No different in Italy, except that they had a much more massive presence (per capita)
on their streets telling their little dictator where he could shove his war
(and his other policies).

Berlusconi is at least as hated in Italy as Bush is here.

If our "elected" officials really took their orders from the people,
they wouldn't have to worry about being attacked.
If they were really public servants and not tools enriching themselves
and their cronies, they would be respected.

[GOPBasher]

15. Good job! Now I hope they vote that right wing scumbag OUT.

[goforit]

18. LOL!!!.........Karma at its finest!!!

[Joe Chi Minh]

21. A once great English footballer

called Gascoigne, or more commonly, "Gazza", played for a while for a top Italian club, and won quite a cult following among the Italians, particularly the youth. As an old England manager once said, "the boy's as daft as a brush!"

He liked nothing better in his spare time than going fishing in some quiet spot by a river - unless it was drinking with his mates - unfortunately, as that became pretty much his downfall. Always playing practical jokes on his team-mates, the soul of high spirits and hilarity, he was also popular with the team, too.

However, comporting himself before the public, or perhaps more particularly the media, in a conventionally adult and kind of seemly sort of way, was not one of his strong points.

When asked by a journalist his opinion of some Scandinavian team, he just let out a loud burp into the microphone. Asked what he would like to say to them, he simply replied, "F*ck off"!

Well, of course, the paragons of two of the most deeply revered professions in our societies (not), journalists and the politicians, went to town on him, excoriating his vile behaviour. And the most vociferous critic of all in the Italian parliament was a fascist.

I couldn't get hold of Gazza on the phone, or I would have suggested that he tell our our fascist friend publically that what he did might not have been acceptable in polite society... well, any almost society, really... but it seemed to him a whole lot better than pouring bottles of cod liver oil down the throats of old-age pensioners, because they chose not vote for Mussolini and his fascist party. Something the fascists I believe were notorious for at the time.

But it just shows you how at the higher echelons of society, its denizens need to be as careful to avoid the multitudinous population of elephants in their living-room, as they do to the performance of anything else of a more positive nature.

Incidentally, I believe Berlusconi used to be a singer, and quite fancied himself as another Frank Sinatra.

[devilgrrl]

22. "Piazza Navona square?"

It happen at Piazza Navona (Navona Square)... pictured here: