BS: G20 will solve the crisis--odds?

Subject: BS: G20 will solve the crisis--odds?
From: Peace
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 09:32 PM

"By The Canadian Press

LONDON - Never mind finding consensus on fixing the global economy - the G20 can't seem to get it together for a group photo.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was an unexpected no-show Thursday at the initial "family photo" of Group of 20 leaders. But that was just the start. The whole routine - which actually included leaders from more than 20 countries - was restaged about an hour later.

This time, however, it was Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who were absent.

The photo imbroglio became the talk of the summit, with breathless foreign media quizzing their Canadian counterparts about British reports that Harper was "in the loo" when the first photo was taken.

For the record, incensed Canadian officials insisted the prime minister was being briefed at the time on the draft G20 communique. No explanation of the absence of the colourful and controversial Berlusconi was immediately offered.

As for the Indonesian president, it appeared to take some time for the leaders to ascertain precisely who all was missing when a head count revealed the group was two members short.

Once the mystery was solved and the photo shoot concluded, the leaders got back to the task at hand: figuring out ways to improve global financial regulation, including accounting transparency.

There was no plan for a third attempt at the group shot; a Harper spokesman insisted the leaders were consumed with discussing the troubled world economy.

"I don't think their priority was photo-ops," said Dimitri Soudas, who made a point of noting that the BBC had retracted its claim of a mis-timed Harper bathroom break. "

Subject: RE: BS: G20 will solve the crisis--odds?
From: bobad
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 09:35 PM

Someone must have told Harper to piss off and he took it literally.

Subject: RE: BS: G20 will solve the crisis--odds?
From: Peace
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 09:36 PM

Why was he being 'briefed' in the can? Does his wife know?

Subject: RE: BS: G20 will solve the crisis--odds?
From: Peace
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 09:37 PM

(Course, he coulda been being debriefed.)


What are they DOING there?

Subject: RE: BS: G20 will solve the crisis--odds?
From: Beer
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 09:38 PM

Good one Bobad.

Subject: RE: BS: G20 will solve the crisis--odds?
From: Beer
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 09:39 PM

Spending our money I guess.

Subject: RE: BS: G20 will solve the crisis--odds?
From: bobad
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 09:42 PM

As for the probability of this show to solve anything, I agree with the Germans and French that more regulation is the way to go as opposed to the US who hold that throwing a ton of money at the problem will get the economy over the speed bump then we'll get back to the same old.

Subject: RE: BS: G20 will solve the crisis--odds?
From: number 6
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 09:56 PM

I also agree with Bobad.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: G20 will solve the crisis--odds?
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 08:32 PM

Jeez!! We're in debt!..I know, let's borrow more!!
It reminds me of a gambler with an addiction...he's lost a lot of money, at the casino, and so he keeps borrowing from everyone, to keep feeding the machines...just in case, he might win it all back!!... Then comes the long depressed ride home!!!! "....if only I had stopped when I was only down a little.."

Subject: RE: BS: G20 will solve the crisis--odds?
From: Rog Peek
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 03:27 PM

I don't know where Burlesconi was but I can guess what he was doing: this?

Rog

Subject: RE: BS: G20 will solve the crisis--odds?
From: Peace
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 03:32 PM

Keriste.

Trade you a hard center for a soft center.

Subject: RE: BS: G20 will solve the crisis--odds?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 03:44 PM

I gather market reactions are now, as a result, on the UK coming out of recession first (ie as I said, GB right and Merkel and Sarkosi wrong) and the Spaniards are still in trouble as their entire economy is geared to construction, which will not lift off until after a boom starts (axiomatic).

Some interesting asides -

The price of US backing for GB was our poodle status in colonial invasions - which France ahs bucked --oo-er.

Prince Philip still has an admirable sense of humour (the "can you tell them apart" gag).

Someone seriously needs to tell Michell Obama that you do not cuddle a reigning soverign - wars have started for less.

Mrs Piggy put a fine put-down on Berlusconi. Overdue...