Silvio, Encore

To his credit, Italian PM Berlusconi promised to give at least four of his 12 cabinet posts to women when he returned to office in 2008, Mara Carfagna (above, right), a former Miss Italy contestant who we are used to seeing, ahem, differently and now the Minister for Family. Stefania Prestigiacomo given the European Affairs portfolio after serving as Minister for Equal Opportunities. Unlike Belosconi's other tarts, at least Stefania qualified having been elected to the House of Representatives as member of the Forza Italia party in 1994. Fortunately for her, she is also hot in a swim suit otherwise, what career? All of this worth noting because the faux tanned PM today setting forth his agenda for the European Parliament (from his yacht in Naples Bay) whilst under considerable pressure regarding his fantasy island in the Mediterranean. Here, sensible reader, he flies high-class call girls and under-aged women who call him "Papi" - paying them handsomely, it would appear. He denies all this, of course, though photographs and tape recordings from former model/actress/escort Patrizia D'addario may confirm Belusconi recruited her at least twice for adult entertainment - she notes BTW that Siliva an animal in bad "he does not sleep." Not bad for a 72 year-old weasel and at least he's not in our face and all family-values like some US politicians we've gotten to know too well. For this reason, and unlike those same dufus American politicos, Silvio maintains his popularity - 66% by his reckoning, though down from 77% last month he admits. Isn't the quote "Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones?" Silvio knows this, even if he may and should be stripped of his power.