NationStates Jolt Archive

At speaking that is. Prime Minister Taro Aso was well known BEFORE being elected as PM for his verbal gaffs, but two months into it he has:

Misread common Japanese words (Including making up a few new words on the spot)

Said that the current crisis in Japan regarding the lack of doctors is due to doctors "lacking common sense" (This was said, BTW at a meeting with the Japan Medical Association, in other words, a room full of doctors.

Told a room full of mothers at a national PTA conference that parents (particularly mothers) should be disciplined instead of students because it was their fault the students misbehaved.

And after meeting up with some fellow classmates noted that he was the fittest of all his classmates and because these guys are constantly out drinking (This is from a man who it noted for visiting an expensive bar every night), not only is their health poor, but it's costing the government money to treat them and he no longer wants to pay for it. Again, said right in front of them.

Anyone else have some good stupid statements uttered by politicians lately?

That sounds more like verborrheia and REALLY bad opinions than "worse than"...

That sounds more like verborrheia and REALLY bad opinions than "worse than"... I am not surprised by this. At all.

Bush, irregardless of all his failures, is most definitely not the worst politician ever. He managed to get elected twice*. Give the man some credit, people.

*Yeah, yeah. I'm the devil's advocate on this one.

Is it ok to add le to his name? pppfffftttt :)

I remember not so long ago the prime minister of Bavaria on a radio talk show stating that it's perfectly ok to drive after having drunk 2 litres of beer...

That sounds more like verborrheia and REALLY bad opinions than "worse than"...
You missed the "at speaking part" bit, Heikoku. :p

As a fellow American living abroad in Tokyo, while I completely agree that Taro Aso has made a mess of things and deserves the criticism, his view on doctors isn't entirely out of left field. My father heads Siemens-Asahi's medical division and in many cases he has worked with hospital directors that have echoed the same sentiments.

Granted, those comments partially derive from financial concerns, but like any health care system there are always a number of ideas regarding how to go about things.

I will say that Kameda Medical Center in Chiba has a phenomenal restaurant on the top floor and decent surfing across the street. ^^

I remember not so long ago the prime minister of Bavaria on a radio talk show stating that it's perfectly ok to drive after having drunk 2 litres of beer...

That's a perfectly normal attitude for Bavarians. Beer's legally considered a staple food there.

You missed the "at speaking part" bit, Heikoku. :p

Gomen ne. Koko ni wa asa, shichi ji, da yo. (Ima, shichi ji, yonjuukyuu bun. Demo, anata wa wakatta...)

I am not surprised by this. At all.

Bush, irregardless of all his failures, is most definitely not the worst politician ever. He managed to get elected twice*. Give the man some credit, people.

*Yeah, yeah. I'm the devil's advocate on this one.

Regardless of what I believe about Bush, I said Aso wasn't worse, I didn't say BUSH was the worst.

That's a perfectly normal attitude for Bavarians. Beer's legally considered a staple food there.Not true. You'll find Bavarian cops take this even more seriously than in Germany.

That's a perfectly normal attitude for Bavarians. Beer's legally considered a staple food there.

I know, I grew up there.
Which is why I think the most rational stance on the issue is to automatically disqualify anybody with Bavarian ancestry from ever getting a driving license to begin with. ;)

Not true. You'll find Bavarian cops take this even more seriously than in Germany.

I wasn't talking about the police, but the average Bavarian. Those cops must have a reason to take it more seriously than in Germany.

I know, I grew up there.
Which is why I think the most rational stance on the issue is to automatically disqualify anybody with Bavarian ancestry from ever getting a driving license to begin with. ;)

Are the rates of drink driving that bad in Bavaria?

Are the rates of drink driving that bad in Bavaria?

Depends where you are. They tend to be worse in rural areas.
But then again, Ireland tops even that easily... :(

Funnily enough, Aso is the dutch shortform insult for someone who exhibits anti-social behaviour :)

Funnily enough, Aso is the dutch shortform insult for someone who exhibits anti-social behaviour :)

Does it translate as "Asshole"?

-OP Snip-
Haven't the LDP been doing this for the past 50 years?

Does it translate as "Asshole"?Asocial.

Asocial.

Ah, so am I correct in thinking it must be a fairly recent expression?

if misspeaking were the worst of shrubery's sins, he'd be damd near a saint.
yes its cute that many people under stress in positions of power misspeak, and one would hope that they think more clearly then their speaking, though of course there's not guarantee of that either.

well its a nice diversion perhapse, from our planet's real problems, and now back to reality.
(which incidently we CAN solve too, starting with each of us not thinking we're all smarter and wiser then each other, not that i'm claiming innocence either)

Ah, so am I correct in thinking it must be a fairly recent expression?

I'm no entymologist, but that word's been around for as long as I can think.
It's got a similar use to "proll", which is short for "Proletarian". But not in a nice sense.

I know, I grew up there.
Which is why I think the most rational stance on the issue is to automatically disqualify anybody with Bavarian ancestry from ever getting a driving license to begin with. ;)

But I like driving....
=]

I'm no entymologist, but that word's been around for as long as I can think.
It's got a similar use to "proll", which is short for "Proletarian". But not in a nice sense.

Mmm. I see.

But I like driving....
=]

So did Otto Wiesheu, (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Wiesheu#Unfall) apparently...

I'm no entymologist, but that word's been around for as long as I can think.
It's got a similar use to "proll", which is short for "Proletarian". But not in a nice sense.Been around longer. Asocial got its own color coding in concentration camps.

Been around longer. Asocial got its own color coding in concentration camps.

And this ends the Linguistics discussion...

As a fellow American living abroad in Tokyo,
Yea! Someone else in Japan! Sorry about the Tokyo bit though. :tongue:

while I completely agree that Taro Aso has made a mess of things and deserves the criticism, his view on doctors isn't entirely out of left field. My father heads Siemens-Asahi's medical division and in many cases he has worked with hospital directors that have echoed the same sentiments.

Granted, those comments partially derive from financial concerns, but like any health care system there are always a number of ideas regarding how to go about things.

I will say that Kameda Medical Center in Chiba has a phenomenal restaurant on the top floor and decent surfing across the street. ^^
I also admit that I have a small bias given that my father-in-law is a Japanese doctor, but still... To tell a group of people, to their face, that they lack common sense... lacks common sense. ;)


Haven't the LDP been doing this for the past 50 years?
True, but Aso has been especially good at it.

I remember not so long ago the prime minister of Bavaria on a radio talk show stating that it's perfectly ok to drive after having drunk 2 litres of beer...

Do you see something wrong with that?
Come on, it's just beer, not real alcohol...
;)

Surely Silvio Berlusconi. So far this year he has managed to offend women on three occasions as well as the Russians and Barack Obama. One of the few politicians who appears to be worse than Bush in every respect.

Surely Silvio Berlusconi. So far this year he has managed to offend women on three occasions as well as the Russians and Barack Obama. One of the few politicians who appears to be worse than Bush in every respect.Except that if Bush were to run for reelection, he'd likely fail, whereas Berlusconi has pulled it off a number of times...

Ahem... Are you happy to live in a country with a politician worse than Bush? Really?

Snip...
Anyone else have some good stupid statements uttered by politicians lately?

Anyways...
We have Vaclav Klaus as a president... The list of his stupid statements would be too long.
We have Berlusconi as a Prime Minister, do I really have to elaborate on that?

:(

So did Otto Wiesheu, (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Wiesheu#Unfall) apparently...

Why it's in German?

I am not surprised by this. At all.

Bush, irregardless of all his failures, is most definitely not the worst politician ever. He managed to get elected twice*. Give the man some credit, people.

*Yeah, yeah. I'm the devil's advocate on this one.

I can see why you'd think that.

However skilled he may be as a candidate, he is terrible at being a politician. It's like you're saying he'd be a good doctor because he got people to give him good references when he lies on his resume.

Except that if Bush were to run for reelection, he'd likely fail, whereas Berlusconi has pulled it off a number of times...

That's because Bush only has FOX news. Berlusconi has all the media. And in a far more literal sense than Bush does.

Except that if Bush were to run for reelection, he'd likely fail, whereas Berlusconi has pulled it off a number of times...

The number of terms served is not indicative of a politician's quality. In this case its indicative of the politician's control of the media and a lack of suitable alternatives.

Well...

Some minister was working 'hard' in solving the bank crisis in our country. On a Thursday he had a meeting with his fellow ministers, economic gurus and bank people. The next day, on Friday his wife sold for 500,000€ shares of a specific bank in danger. In the weekend the government sold that bank at an underrated value. Share prices were dropping from 5€ to less than 1€.

His wife was trapped. Reactions of the minister in question:

Reaction#1: We didn't sell shares, it's another internet lie.
Reaction#2: We don't have shares of that bank
Reaction#3: My wife sold shares, but I didn't know she did.
Reaction#4: I said to my wife to stay away from these stocks, but now it is proved that she's rarely listening.

The minister is still in charge and the people do not revolt.

Anyone else have some good stupid statements uttered by politicians lately?

Google "Gentilini", "Borghezio", "Umberto Bossi", and our champion "Silvio Berlusconi".

Real life trolls, all of them. A vice-mayor (iirc), a MEP, a minister and a prime minister.

Do you see something wrong with that?
Come on, it's just beer, not real alcohol...
;)

I remember something about a russian waiter offering wine to a customer, because the customer said he didn't drink alcohol when he was offered vodka... :D

Except that if Bush were to run for reelection, he'd likely fail, whereas Berlusconi has pulled it off a number of times...

Actually Berlusconi always failed at being immediately re-elected.

late 1994, Berlusconi cabinet fails confidence and falls, temporary cabinet is formed via a large coalition
spring 1996, Prodi becomes PM.

spring 2006, Berlusconi (PM) loses election and Prodi becomes PM.

There hasn't been a single national election in the last 18 years that elected the same parliamentary majority. We like to change, it seems.

Btw, Berlusconi is probabily the most offensive and vulgar PM in the world.

Actually Berlusconi always failed at being immediately re-elected.But as you point out here
There hasn't been a single national election in the last 18 years that elected the same parliamentary majority. We like to change, it seems.
That's what makes him Italian =P

That's what makes him Italian =P

And what makes us Italians a band of idiots, generally speaking. :(

the thing is, none of these other tonguetied contemporary world leaders happen to control the most powerful killing force on the face of the planet.

that makes them A LOT easier to shrug our sholders and mostly just laugh at.
(presumably, again for the most part, whatever country each of us happens to live in)

the thing is, none of these other tonguetied contemporary world leaders happen to control the most powerful killing force on the face of the planet.


What has the russian nuclear arsenal to do with Bush or Berlusconi?

Anyway, Berlusconi controls TV. That's the real WMD (weapon of mind destruction).

And what makes us Italians a band of idiots, generally speaking. :(

That's why I moved and why I'll, in some occasions, deny having Italian cityzenship. ;)

On the other hand we still have Klaus. :(

What has the russian nuclear arsenal to do with Bush or Berlusconi?

Anyway, Berlusconi controls TV. That's the real WMD (weapon of mind destruction).Weapon of Mass Disinformation more like...

And what makes us Italians a band of idiots, generally speaking. :(I don't know... I mean, sure, corruption is rampant, he's stolen billions (Literally), and and and... But a positive aspect of the whole is that you've a whole flood of actually good material for edgy satire.

You don't get that with actually good governments, and a country without (Gallows) humour is just a sad country :-p

Should we be afraid of Berlusconi with his naked women presenting the news or should we be afraid of types as Bush?

Should we be afraid of Berlusconi with his naked women presenting the news or should we be afraid of types as Bush?For real action, make Berlusconi President of the United States?

Risottia, where are you from?

I like Italy a lot. I visited it many times. Milano, Bolzano, Venetia, La Spezia, Pisa and SPQR!!! Roma

As a fellow American living abroad in Tokyo,

Heh. Welcome to teh NSG Resident Gaijin crew.

while I completely agree that Taro Aso has made a mess of things and deserves the criticism,

Indeed.

his view on doctors isn't entirely out of left field. My father heads Siemens-Asahi's medical division and in many cases he has worked with hospital directors that have echoed the same sentiments.

My regular doc is a smart guy, who keeps up to date, unlike many docs I've seen over the years here, and he regularly says "the Ministry of Health is stupid."

Yea! Someone else in Japan! Sorry about the Tokyo bit though. :tongue:

Yeah, Tokyo's bad. But He could be stuck in some dasai inaka area like Nagano... :P (LOL)

I also admit that I have a small bias given that my father-in-law is a Japanese doctor, but still... To tell a group of people, to their face, that they lack common sense... lacks common sense. ;)

Indeed.

Ahem... Are you happy to live in a country with a politician worse than Bush? Really?

Could be worse - at least NERV and I aren't in Tokyo with the lovely governor Shintaro Ishihara.... (>_<)

Could be worse - at least NERV and I aren't in Tokyo with the lovely governor Shintaro Ishihara.... (>_<)

LOL! Wanna trade with Mayor MUDr. Pavel "Cliffhanger" Bém?

LOL! Wanna trade with Mayor MUDr. Pavel "Cliffhanger" Bém?

I'd gladly send Shintaro "Sankokujin" Ishihara out of country. Hashimoto, here in Osaka, may be a dickhead, but at least he's not an overtly racist asshole.

That's nothing.

The county executive where I live is a horrible public speaker. He actually used the non-word "relationalships" in a speech once. Meanwhile, his wife spoke at an event I attended last year. She's a MUCH better speaker than he is. She's actually a spellbinding speaker. He's anything but.

At speaking that is. Prime Minister Taro Aso was well known BEFORE being elected as PM for his verbal gaffs, but two months into it he has:

Misread common Japanese words (Including making up a few new words on the spot)

Said that the current crisis in Japan regarding the lack of doctors is due to doctors "lacking common sense" (This was said, BTW at a meeting with the Japan Medical Association, in other words, a room full of doctors.

Told a room full of mothers at a national PTA conference that parents (particularly mothers) should be disciplined instead of students because it was their fault the students misbehaved.

And after meeting up with some fellow classmates noted that he was the fittest of all his classmates and because these guys are constantly out drinking (This is from a man who it noted for visiting an expensive bar every night), not only is their health poor, but it's costing the government money to treat them and he no longer wants to pay for it. Again, said right in front of them.

Anyone else have some good stupid statements uttered by politicians lately?


He is a wise man. I agree with what he said.

(Actually, I don't know specifically about the Doctor thing, but since he's spot on with the other two, I assume he his also bang on the money with this).

That's why I moved and why I'll, in some occasions, deny having Italian cityzenship. ;)

That's why when I'm abroad I try not to speak italian. Not even to italians.
Luckily I've already been mistaken for german, russian, swiss, czech, french, and even scottish. People usually can't tell I'm italian, and that's a bonus.

(Anyway, I know you moved per amore ;) you liar... that makes you EXTREMELY italian!)

Weapon of Mass Disinformation more like...

Weapon of Mind Distraction if we want to be kind...

Should we be afraid of Berlusconi with his naked women presenting the news or should we be afraid of types as Bush?

Berlusconi isn't just "naked women presenting the news".

It's showgirls made ministers (google Mara Carfagna). It's police fabricating fake proofs to justify brutal assaults against sleeping people (google G8 Genova 2001). It's state universities being deprived of funds (see Mariastella Gelmini and what prof.Fontanesi of Università Milano Bicocca - hardly an extremist - says). It's cutting down funds for social services like kindergartens. It's the military (the Folgore brigade!) being used as police force. It's mandatory privatisation of municipal aqueducts. It's reductions of commuter train services. It's requesting a green light for violating the 20-20-20 EU environmental target. It's monopoly on TV and advertising, hence control even of most press. It's fascists assaulting the state TV (3 weeks ago) or assaulting students without the police doing anything. It's lack of adequate measures to counter the recession (says Emma Marcegaglia of the Industrials' Union, Confindustria - hardly a communist). It's journalists fired from the state TV because they aren't supportive of the cabinet (see Enzo Biagi).

And, to top it all, it's supporting everything Bush did.

Really: Berlusconi might look "funny" or "local colour" when seen from abroad, but if you live in Italy

Risottia, where are you from?


<- *points left to "location" tag*... In the heart of Berluscaland! :(

I don't know... I mean, sure, corruption is rampant, he's stolen billions (Literally), and and and... But a positive aspect of the whole is that you've a whole flood of actually good material for edgy satire.

I know, but it's hard to get good satire aired lately. La7, the only nationwide TV not controlled by Berlusconi, is about go bankrupt. And some years ago Sabina Guzzanti's satyrical program was shut down by the State TV because, to sum it up, Berlusconi didn't like it. (Btw, Sabina is sister to Corrado Guzzanti, the one of "Fascisti su Marte", quod google!)

I remember a foreign minister of some country - I forgot which - joking about certain president elect's grandparents.

Weapon of Mind Distraction if we want to be kind...But it's Berlusconi. We don't. =D

Funnily enough, Aso is the dutch shortform insult for someone who exhibits anti-social behaviour :)
In my native language, "Aso" means "dog".

At speaking that is. Prime Minister Taro Aso was well known BEFORE being elected as PM for his verbal gaffs, but two months into it he has:

Misread common Japanese words (Including making up a few new words on the spot)

Said that the current crisis in Japan regarding the lack of doctors is due to doctors "lacking common sense" (This was said, BTW at a meeting with the Japan Medical Association, in other words, a room full of doctors.

Told a room full of mothers at a national PTA conference that parents (particularly mothers) should be disciplined instead of students because it was their fault the students misbehaved.

And after meeting up with some fellow classmates noted that he was the fittest of all his classmates and because these guys are constantly out drinking (This is from a man who it noted for visiting an expensive bar every night), not only is their health poor, but it's costing the government money to treat them and he no longer wants to pay for it. Again, said right in front of them.

Anyone else have some good stupid statements uttered by politicians lately?

*snicker* well... for better or for worse maybe he'll inject a little personality into Japanese politics? It's my understanding that his predecessors have been somewhat less than exciting.

Yeah, Tokyo's bad. But He could be stuck in some dasai inaka area like Nagano... :P (LOL)
Oh I'll gladly take Nagano over Tokyo and Osaka any day. The water and air are actually clean, the people nice, I don't have to deal with some 20 million of them, and I think it is HIGHLY telling that during the summer and fall months, you Tokyo and Osaka come rocketing up to Nagano to enjoy our cooler temps and delicious fruits. ;):tongue:

Could be worse - at least NERV and I aren't in Tokyo with the lovely governor Shintaro Ishihara.... (>_<)
Gods above, yes!

*snicker* well... for better or for worse maybe he'll inject a little personality into Japanese politics? It's my understanding that his predecessors have been somewhat less than exciting.
Oh a lot of the other PM have been morons in misspeaking, but Aso does seem to be something special.

Could be worse - at least NERV and I aren't in Tokyo with the lovely governor Shintaro Ishihara.... (>_<)

Read about him. Quite a piece of work, ain't he? Please tell me that nutcase has not a shot in Hell at becoming Prime Minister?

Read about him. Quite a piece of work, ain't he? Please tell me that nutcase has not a shot in Hell at becoming Prime Minister?
At one point in time, yes, yes he did. But, IIRC, he stepped on too many toes and left the Diet to run as governor of Tokyo. He likes that position better he says, mainly because he doesn't have to watch his mouth. But, since he's not a member of the Diet and you have to be one to be elected Prime Minister...

At one point in time, yes, yes he did. But, IIRC, he stepped on too many toes and left the Diet to run as governor of Tokyo. He likes that position better he says, mainly because he doesn't have to watch his mouth. But, since he's not a member of the Diet and you have to be one to be elected Prime Minister...

Good!

Told a room full of mothers at a national PTA conference that parents (particularly mothers) should be disciplined instead of students because it was their fault the students misbehaved.

I could see maybe 'bad timing', but otherwise...

Oh I'll gladly take Nagano over Tokyo and Osaka any day. The water and air are actually clean, the people nice, I don't have to deal with some 20 million of them, and I think it is HIGHLY telling that during the summer and fall months, you Tokyo and Osaka come rocketing up to Nagano to enjoy our cooler temps and delicious fruits. ;):tongue:

:D Country mouse, city mouse... (Maybe should've kept the original typo "country mouse, city moose" - LOL.)

(To paraphrase WC Fields, it was the economic downturn of 93/4 that drove me from Shinshu to Osaka...)

Gods above, yes!

Thought so. Our "beloved" Hashimoto may be bad, but at least he ain't Ishihara.

Oh a lot of the other PM have been morons in misspeaking, but Aso does seem to be something special.

He's giving Mori a run for his money for sure.... And thats's a hell of a hard row to hoe!

Read about him. Quite a piece of work, ain't he? Please tell me that nutcase has not a shot in Hell at becoming Prime Minister?

He hasn't got a shot in hades... :D

At one point in time, yes, yes he did. But, IIRC, he stepped on too many toes and left the Diet to run as governor of Tokyo. He likes that position better he says, mainly because he doesn't have to watch his mouth. But, since he's not a member of the Diet and you have to be one to be elected Prime Minister...

Exactamundo! Fortunately Governor -> President isn't the steeping stone in Japan as it's been lately in the states.