Babysitting Brown must be a nightmare. Apart from his personal comportment there is the delusional state about the United Kingdom economy he labours under. Holding the six month Presidency of the European Union, sitting the baby falls to President Sarkozy of France.
The President has had to put up with Brown kissing Madame Sarkozy full on the mouth, eyes closed, lips licked and pursed, on the world stage of the steps of 10 Downing Street. He has had to beg for the 'British' Prime Minister to be admitted to discussions of the European Union on how to deal with current financial and economic problems, only to be mortified by Brown's bombast and aggression in expounding his policies and role as saviour of the world. He has had to bite his tongue as Brown has rubbished his rapprochement with Russia over the Russo-Georgian conflict, with only the later sensible EU and NATO decisions to console him - with perhaps an ironic nod from Russia that they understand his 'British Brown' problem.
And now he must come to London for a Global Europe Summit, called by - yes, of course, Gordon Brown - and has been told by Germany that he's on his own, Chancellor Merkel really has an economy and a country to tend to.
As Brown shrieks for a global response to a global problem that started in America (some ally, Brown), President Sarkozy instigates a 23 billion euro package that will be applied as and where needed. More or less what Germany did, and Italy, and Poland, with much of it already allocated before in any case. Brown threw three times that at a failing, de-mutualised northern English (or should that be North British?) building society over a year ago.
But Europe cannot let the UK go under; even the nuclear waste disposal arrangements for the French are worth the coping with Brown. And there is an awful lot of oil and gas in undeveloped, untouched fields off the Scottish coast. Not to mention a population of 60 million just dying to get the plastic out and running through the readers again, with a Leader quite insanely uncomprehending enough to try and get that for them. Certainly it's a long shot, but he just might persuade (or threaten) some kind of domestic and foreign investment back into his mad maw.
Anyway, it is a consoling thought that this must be positively the last time, before Mr Sarkozy can get back to talking with the grown-ups in Germany and Russia. Then it's Václav Klaus, the Czech President 's turn to visit the madhouse.
President Professor Dr Klaus is a fine hyper-liberal economist who is not enamoured of closer European union, nor of Europe-wide economic governance. Humouring the sick man of Europe may be coming to an end.
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Nothing could be more timely than the arrival of Professor Dr Klaus during the twelve days of Christmas, bearing gifts for those of us who have behaved ourselves - economically financially and otherwise.
And those who have not, C, might find only coal in their stockings, not sweeties and toys.
I want a shotgun in my stocking. Please.
Also, Mr. Klaus does not subscribe to the Global Warming religion.
However, have a look here to see how he is treated by the "colleagues":
http://eureferendum.blogspot.com/2008/12/which-ones-democrat.html
An almost unbelievable display of rudeness and arrogance, even by French standards, would you not say?
12.59. Thank you for the reference. For those who rarely follow references up I print it in full below, I hope EU Referendum will not mind.
President Vaclav Klaus is both utterly honest and hard as iron. Dismissed from his university post by the communist authorities in pre-Transition days. When faced with Soviet pressure over oil in early 1991 he said he would do without it rather than pay such a price - and did.
Here he is facing European Union insults from the usual suspects:
"Excerpts from the transcript of a meeting between Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic, and members of the Conference of the Presidents of the European Parliament, Friday 5 December 2008, Prague Castle.
Daniel Cohn-Bendit MEP: I brought you a flag, which - as we heard - you have everywhere here at the Prague Castle. It is the flag of the European Union, so I will place it here in front of you.
It will be a tough Presidency. The Czech Republic will have to deal with the work directive and climate package. EU climate package represents less than what our fraction would wish for. It will be necessary to hold on to the minimum of that. I am certain that the climate change represents not only a risk, but also a danger for the future development of the planet. My view is based on scientific views and majority approval of the EP and I know you disagree with me. You can believe what you want, I don't believe, I know that global warming is a reality.
Lisbon Treaty: I don't care about your opinions on it. I want to know what you are going to do if the Czech Chamber of Deputies and the Senate approve it. Will you respect the will of the representatives of the people? You will have to sign it.
I want you to explain to me what is the level of your friendship with Mr Ganley from Ireland. How can you meet a person whose funding is unclear? You are not supposed to meet him in your function. It is a man whose finances come from problematic sources and he wants to use them to be funding his election campaign into the EP.
President Vaclav Klaus: I must say that nobody has talked to me in such a style and tone for the past 6 years. You are not on the barricades in Paris here. I thought that these manners ended for us 18 years ago but I see I was wrong. I would not dare to ask how the activities of the Greens are funded. If you are concerned about a rational discussion in this half an hour, which we have, please give the floor to someone else, Mr Chairman.
EU Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering: No, we have plenty of time. My colleague will continue, because anyone from the members of the EP can ask you whatever he likes. (to Cohn-Bendit:) Please continue.
President Vaclav Klaus: This is incredible. I have never experienced anything like this before.
Daniel Cohn-Bendit: Because you have not experienced me..
Pesident Vaclav Klaus: This is incredible.
Daniel Cohn-Bendit: We have always had good talks with President Havel. And what will you tell me about your attitude towards the anti-discrimination law? I will gladly inform you about our funding.
Hans-Gert Pöttering: Brian Crowley, please.
Brian Crowley MEP: I am from Ireland and I am a member of a party in government. All his life my father fought against the British domination. Many of my relatives lost their lives. That is why I dare to say that the Irish wish for the Lisbon Treaty. It was an insult, Mr. President, to me and to the Irish people what you said during your state visit to Ireland. It was an insult that you met Declan Ganley, a man with no elected mandate. This man has not proven the sources from which his campaign was funded. I just want to inform you what the Irish felt. I wish you that you get the programme of your Presidency through and you will get through what European citizens want to see.
President Vaclav Klaus: Thank you for this experience which I gained from this meeting. I did not think anything like this is possible and have not experienced anything like this for the past 19 years. I thought it was a matter of the past that we live in democracy, but it is post-democracy, really, which rules the EU.
You mentioned the European values. The most important value is freedom and democracy. The citizens of the EU member states are concerned about freedom and democracy, above all. But democracy and freedom are losing ground in the EU today. It is necessary to strive for them and fight for them.
I would like to emphasize, above all, what most citizens of the Czech Republic feel, that for us the EU membership has no alternative. It was me who submitted the EU application in the year 1996 and who signed the Accession treaty in 2003. But the arrangements within the EU have many alternatives. To take one of them as sacrosanct, untouchable, about which it is not possible to doubt or criticize it, is against the very nature of Europe.
As for the Lisbon Treaty, I would like to mention that it is not ratified in Germany either. The Constitutional Treaty, which was basically the same as the Lisbon Treaty, was refused in referendums in other two countries. If Mr. Crowley speaks of an insult to the Irish people, then I must say that the biggest insult to the Irish people is not to accept the result of the Irish referendum. In Ireland I met somebody who represents a majority in his country. You, Mr. Crowley, represent a view which is in minority in Ireland. That is a tangible result of the referendum.
Brian Crowley MEP: With all respect, Mr. President, you will not tell me what the Irish think. As an Irishman, I know it best.
President Vaclav Klaus: I do not speculate about what the Irish think. I state the only measurable data which were proved by the referendum.
In our country the Lisbon Treaty is not ratified because our parliament has not decided on it yet. It is not the President's fault. Let's wait for the decision of both Chambers of the Parliament, that is the current phase of the ratification process in which the President plays no role whatsoever. I cannot sign the Treaty today, it is not on my table, it is up to the parliament to decide about it now. My role will come after the eventual approval of the Treaty in the Parliament. . .
...
Hans-Gert Pöttering: ... In the conclusion - and I want to leave this room in good terms - I would like to say that it is more than unacceptable, if you compare us, compare us with the Soviet Union. We are all deeply rooted in our countries and our constituencies. We are concerned about freedom and reconciliation in Europe, we are good willing, not naïve.
President Vaclav Klaus: I did not compare you with the Soviet Union, I did not mention the word[s] "Soviet Union". I only said that I have not experienced such an atmosphere, such style of debate in the past 19 years in the Czech Republic, really."
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