A different take on the Presidential elections...

So it is the long farewell to good old George W Bush and hello to Barack Obama – the problem with George W going is that he always gave us a good giggle by making one or two “gaffs”.

It is therefore good news that we still have Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi who gave a somewhat unconventional welcome to Barack on Thursday when he was visiting Moscow.

At a news conference with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, 72-year-old Berlusconi said Obama's election to the White House was "hailed by world public opinion as the arrival of a messiah." And then added "I will try to help relations between Russia and the United States where a new generation has come to power, and I don't see problems for Medvedev to establish good relations with Obama who is also handsome, young and suntanned."

Berlusconi, who always has a year-round tan, is known in diplomatic circles for making the odd inappropriate remark.

On his first meeting with the Danish Prime Minister in 2002, Berlusconi complimented him with the words: "Rasmussen is not only a great colleague, he's also the best-looking prime minister in Europe." But added "He's so good looking, I'm even thinking of introducing him to my wife."

He caused a rather interesting diplomatic incident in 2005 by suggesting he had charmed Finnish President Tarja Halonen to make sure he had her backing to host the European Food Safety Authority summit, reportedly saying "I had to use all my playboy tactics, even if they have not been used for some time," Helsinki promptly called in the Italian ambassador to explain the comments.

Long live Berlusconi…..