Sorry About That 'Political Dilettante' Part, Mr. Prime Minister

Six months to go and the wheels seem to be seriously wobbling on the Bush administration. First, the White House had to apologize to South Korea for announcing prematurely that President Bush would be visiting that country in conjunction with his trip to the Olympics in Beijing.

Then at the G-8 summit in Japan yesterday, the administration apologized to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi for handing out a bio of him to reporters that said he is "a political dilettante who gained high office only through use of his considerable influence on the national media." This was a major political gaffe, defined by columnist Michael Kinsley as when a politician -- or, in this case, the White House -- tells the truth.

Even worse, White House spokesman Tony Fratto, in a letter, had to apologize to all of Italy for the bio's reference to Berlusconi as "one of the most controversial leaders in the history of a country known for governmental corruption and vice." Dio Mio!

"This very unfortunate mistake," Fratto said, occurred when Berlusconi's profile was copied from a Web site called Encyclopedia of World Biography.

Berlusconi says the frequent accusations of corruption have cost him hundreds of millions in legal fees. In fact, he's on trial now for allegedly bribing a British lawyer to lie in one case, Bloomberg News reported, and there's another proceeding on a tax-fraud rap.

Let Them Eat Kelp-Flavoured Beef

Speaking of the G-8 summit, much concern has been expressed over there over worldwide food shortages and the fear of starvation among the poor in many parts of the globe.

But according to the London Daily Mail, the "Working Lunch" menu at the summit included: "White asparagus and truffle soup; Chaud-froid of Kegani crab; Almond oil foam and tapenade; Peach compote, ice cream and raspberry coulis." Your wine selection includes a Chateau Grillet 2005, a lovely vintage at $125 a bottle, according to wine-searcher.com. (Apparently it helps get the work done.)

The non-working dinner menu included: "Corn and caviar; Smoked salmon and sea urchin; Winter lily bulb and summer savoury; Kelp-flavoured beef and asparagus; Boiled prawn with tosazu vinegar jelly; Fried goby fish with soy sauce and sugar, Hairy crab bisque soup; Grilled bighand thornyhead fish with pepper sauce; Milk-fed lamb flavoured with herbs and mustard and roast lamb with cepes and black truffle" and something called a "G8 'Fantasy' dessert." (Sorry, no Loop contest to guess what that is.)

Wines included a Ridge California Monte Bello 1997, which ranges from around $125 to $180, and of course, Tokaji Esszencia 1999, a Hungarian dessert wine that averages about $500 per half-liter.

Departing Shot

Even death could not deter Jesse Helms, the late Republican senator from North Carolina, from giving one last slap -- or perhaps it was self-inflicted? -- to his liberal media nemeses, in this case, the New York Times. The Gray Lady's Sunday correction box included this:

An article today in Sunday Business about missed opportunities to reduce America's dependence on imported oil refers to a 1990 effort by Senator Jesse Helms, Republican of North Carolina, to block higher mileage requirements for vehicles and notes that Mr. Helms did not return calls seeking comment. The section went to press on Thursday, before Mr. Helms's death Friday morning.

Well, the Times was at least gracious in admitting error. Not like Helms was going to sue or anything.