Ego thy name is Silvio

One surely has to have self confidence to seek high office in these troubled times, leadership is no place for those who are fearful nor for those unsure of themselves. But after a certain point, self confidence can take you a level you may not wish to reach, that of the farcical target.

Which brings us to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Silvio is a fellow that seemingly has not met a microphone he doesn’t like. And must surely be a one man industry for Italy’s comedy scene.

It was only a few weeks ago the Berlusconi, no doubt much to the relief of Italian women everywhere, swore of sex until after his election campaign was completed in May.

Last week with apparently some free time now on his hands, Silvio did some deep thinking and decided that his legacy in Rome, was similar to that of Napoleon’s, suggesting that he is a true leader among men. Small in stature, large in ego, lacking much in modesty.

As if he hadn’t stroked his ego enough by now, today’s latest revelation takes Silvio’s ego to a whole new ethereal level. Berlusconi has had tongues wagging all day, after his pronouncement that he is like Christ, as in Jesus Christ only begotten son.

It’s a declaration that should pretty well guarantee him the title of most ridiculed politician for 2006 and there was such a deep talent pool this year too. It's too bad to see such a promising crop out of the running so early in the season.

None the less, as the leftist MP Guiseppe Giuletit put it quite succinctly about Berlusconi's claims; "According to information that I have, God the Father and the rest of Jesus’s family did not take this very well."

If Silvio really wants to research the idea, here's a wonderful companion piece from PBS in America, it will give him the background necessary to decide if he's actually in the same league as a certain revered figure of Christianity.

While Berlusconi catches up on his reading and counts down the days til the election in April, he can contemplate if his strategy of self deification will result in enough votes for a majority government.

But in the end, only one vote will really count, that of the Big Guy upstairs wondering why anyone would think that his son would hang around with such a fool as this.