Berlusconi Is Going, Going...Almost Gone

It could be that in the years ahead every Italian alive in the strange years of Silvio Berlusconi, as both his nation's leading media mogul and dominant political figure, will take a certain pride in being able to tell the tale. Grandchildren will gather round. Historians will debate the significant moments and, for years hence, be dishing out new details. And, for generations, there will be the aftereffects of the catharsis of his fall. Nixon for Americans will be a pale shade of villainy compared to Berlusconi for the Italians.

Anyway, it does appear that this week is, finally, the beginning of the end.

True, this man's run has seemed to have reasonably ended more times than any politician in any democracy. No politician has ever been so surrounded by ridicule, legal problems, and scandal, and survived so long. And, this isn't survival merely by trickery and corruption, but survival based on the remarkable tolerance, even awe, possible love, of a hefty majority of his countrymen.

Still. There is always an end. And it really does seem to be here. Continue reading on newser.com