AP: Polish Leader Appoints Twin Brother PM

[Eugene]

Polish Leader Appoints Twin Brother PM


Monday July 10, 2006 1:46 PM

AP Photo XCS151

By RYAN LUCAS

Associated Press Writer

WARSAW, Poland (AP) - President Lech Kaczynski appointed his identical twin brother
Jaroslaw as the new prime minister, the presidential Web site said. Prime Minister
Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz and his government formally resigned earlier in the day,
paving the way for Jaroslaw Kaczynski to form a new government.

His resignation came in a meeting with the president two days after the governing Law
and Justice party decided to replace him with party chairman Jaroslaw Kaczynski.

"I thanked him for his very good governing," Lech Kaczynski said in a brief statement
after a 45-minute meeting with Marcinkiewicz at the presidential palace.

<snip>

Marcinkiewicz departed amid reports of disagreements between him and Jaroslaw Kaczynski,
who was widely regarded as the power behind the scenes of the outgoing government.
The rift was reportedly growing recently over conflicting views of Poland's economic policy.

<snip>

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5941573...

[UTUSN]

1. and merriment ensues n/t

[closeupready]

2. There's a joke in this story somehow.

Someone help me here...

[kenny blankenship]

3. The answer is "three"

but only two if they're twins.

[closeupready]

5. ROFL! Exactly.

[RCinBrooklyn]

4. Rescinds appointment when he realizes he just appointed a bedroom mirror.

[Threedifferentones]

6. Wow

Wow

[CHIMO]

7. Poland's President Names Twin Brother PM

Poland's President Names Twin Brother PM

The brothers are former activists in the Solidarity movement that helped topple communist rule in 1989-90. Both ran on a pledge to fight the cronyism that has since flourished, a message Jaroslaw stressed during brief remarks at the presidential palace.

http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/feeds/ap/2006/07/10...

[Moderator]

8. k

[Robbien]

9. Poland‘s president names identical twin brother Prime Minister

WARSAW, Poland (AP) - The president of Poland appointed his identical twin as prime minister Monday, putting the country's most powerful jobs in the hands of 57-year-olds with virtually the same round faces, silver crops of hair and conservative outlooks.

President Lech Kaczynski formally appointed his brother Jaroslaw, a lawyer, member of parliament and chairman of the governing Law and Justice party, during an evening ceremony in an opulent hall of chandeliers and marble columns at the presidential palace. As they shook hands, the two were hard to tell apart, except for Lech's black suit and his brother's grey one.

. . .

The brothers are former activists in the Solidarity movement that helped topple communist rule in 1989-90. Critics say Jaroslaw is obsessed with his conviction that former communists still lurk in all corners of the public administration and private business.

The image of Jaroslaw dominating the duo was reinforced by Lech's remark to his brother right after winning the presidency: "Mr. Chairman: mission accomplished!"

As prime minister, Jaroslaw Kaczynski will run the government's day-to-day affairs and try to get laws through parliament. As president, his twin has a more ceremonial role but also wields significant powers, including the right to veto legislation and approve military missions such as Poland's deployment in Iraq.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2006/07/10/1677983-ap...

[kurth]

10. They need to wear name badges

"HI. MY NAME IS__"

[blonndee]

11. I bet there's really just one guy

who wants to have both positions.

[Kellanved]

12. It was just a matter of time

After the election, they didn't dare to do it, but it was clear that the intention was there. The real problem is that the new Prime Minister is considered insane by most of Europe.

[htuttle]

13. In other news, The Onion reported that it will close it doors after today

"I just can't make reality any funnier than it is, anymore," said Publisher Emeritus T. Herman Zweibel.

[bling bling]

17. You want to see something REALLY scary??

I went over to the Onion to see if what you posted was true and they only have archived stuff online right now. For fun, I looked at the 2001 archive, look at this:


Bush: 'Our Long National Nightmare Of Peace And Prosperity Is Finally Over'
January 17, 2001 | Issue 37•01

WASHINGTON, DC–Mere days from assuming the presidency and closing the door on eight years of Bill Clinton, president-elect George W. Bush assured the nation in a televised address Tuesday that "our long national nightmare of peace and prosperity is finally over."
time has come to put all of that behind us."

...During the 40-minute speech, Bush also promised to bring an end to the severe war drought that plagued the nation under Clinton, assuring citizens that the U.S. will engage in at least one Gulf War-level armed conflict in the next four years.

...Turning to the subject of the environment, Bush said he will do whatever it takes to undo the tremendous damage not done by the Clinton Administration to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

..."Soon, with John Ashcroft's help, we will move out of the Dark Ages and into a more enlightened time when a woman will be free to think long and hard before trying to fight her way past throngs of protesters blocking her entrance to an abortion clinic," Bush said. "We as a nation can look forward to lots and lots of babies."

Continued Bush: "John Ashcroft will be invaluable in healing the terrible wedge President Clinton drove between church and state."

...The speech was met with overwhelming approval from Republican leaders.

"Finally, the horrific misrule of the Democrats has been brought to a close," House Majority Leader Dennis Hastert (R-IL) told reporters. "Under Bush, we can all look forward to military aggression, deregulation of dangerous, greedy industries, and the defunding of vital domestic social-service programs upon which millions depend. Mercifully, we can now say goodbye to the awful nightmare that was Clinton's America."



© Copyright 2006, Onion, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Onion is not intended for readers under 18 years of age.

[goclark]

14. Bet they are best buddies with Victor Ashe nt

[w4rma]

15. You can't make this stuff up. (nt)

[Vidar]

16. This'll probably encourage Bush to get the whole family circus involved.