Posted on 04/10/2006 8:27:06 AM PDT by dead
ROME - It may be vulgar, it may be rude, but a word deriving from the slang for testicles has taken on a life of its own in Italy's rough-and-tumble election campaign.
What began as a slur by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi against supporters of his rival Romano Prodi, the word now figures on opposition posters, T-shirts, and even the lips of straight-laced senior citizens.
Ever since Berlusconi branded anyone who would support the opposition as coglione - translated variously in English as "bloody idiot," "dickhead" or "moron" - they have sassed back, with the slogan "I'm a coglione" sprouting up everywhere.
"Berlusconi's the coglione," said 71-year-old Mara Ferri at the start of Prodi's final election rally in Rome's Piazza del Popolo.
"He thinks he can stay on as the boss of Italy, but we won't be part of his business. We want a clean and honest Italy. I'm prepared to pay higher taxes to see the back of him."
Railway worker Luigi Cifa agreed: "If being a coglione means wanting to pay higher taxes and respecting the law, then I'm a coglione."
His wife Tiziana, a postal employee, chimed in: "Today it's a point of pride to be a coglione."
Posters could be seen in the square with the rhyming slogan "Better to be a coglione than to vote for Berlusconi".
Sapa-AFP
For the record, we have a very large Italian-American community here in New Jersey.
Dead, you took the words right out of my mouth. He is a coglione.
This is straight out of the DNC playbook. "Vote for me, and I'll raise your taxes."
"If you'd rather drive out for a beer with Ted Kennedy than go huntin' with Dick Cheney, you might be a coglione."
"Italians admit to being idiots"
That would make Italians smarter than Democrats. At least they recognize they have a problem!
Soon to be added to the FReeper lexicon right before DUmmie and Moonbat.
"....But I thought that, that when it was your time, that you would be the one to hold the string. Senator Coglione; Governor Coglione."
"wanting to pay higher taxes and respecting the law"
Wanting to pay taxes? Wow, at least this dude admits it! What a privilege, uh?
Never mind the sure sign of sheeple - "respecting" the law - no matter how mindless or tyrannical it is. I thought commies loved opposing the law? Naaaahhhhh
(Whatchutalkinbout, Wilis?) :-)
Wow. I will have to remember this one the next time someone says that politics in America is just mud-slinging. Our politicians got nothin' on the Italians.
According to the Oxford World's Classics translation, it means, "O what a misfortune to be without balls!"
ROFL... Oy Vey...
i coglioni, le palle = ... .....
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