Monday, March 26, 2007

Ursula 'n' Condi: Compare 'n' Contrast


Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, left, welcomes her counterpart from the Czech Republic Karel Schwarzenberg for talks at the foreign ministry in Vienna, on Monday, March 26, 2007. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)


That's our Ursula this morning, breezy as a Breck Girl (complete with a sassy hair flip!) as she meets her Czech counterpart. See, when your policy is competence, work is fun! I wonder why Condi hasn't ever tried this approach? Things are so much more fun, duh, when the whole world doesn't hate you.

And make no mistake: people luv Ursula! What did she do yesterday? Why, she held an open house! Can you imagine? Seriously, can you imagine Condi throwing an open house at the State Department and inviting the local children and serving them cake? No? And yet that was the scene yesterday in Ursulaland:


Austria's Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, center, cuts a cake on the open day at the Ministry for European and International Affairs in Vienna, Austria, Sunday March 25, 2007. (AP Photo/Hans Punz)


How long can this blog continue before changing the subtitle to "I keep track of Ursula's scarves so you don't have to"? Hey, at least I have my exit strategy prepared for 2008, if you know what I mean!

Anyway, so how was Condi's weekend compared to Ursula's special party day? I mean, she went on a trip and everything. As usual, a picture is worth 1,000 words:


U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (L) listens to a media question next to Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit during a news conference in Aswan, some 1,200 km (746 miles) south of Cairo, March 25, 2007. Egypt said on Sunday Arab states were ready to negotiate with Israel if the Jewish state accepts their 2002 peace initiative as a starting point. (Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)


Hmmm... maybe Condi should move to Austria? It seems like diplomacy is way more fun there.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

The funny thing is "Happy Birthday Europe", in english on the cake.

Condi's look is easier to understand if you notice the Egyptian next to her is assiduously picking his nose...

Anonymous said...

Wow, that first picture is definitely from Throwback Jersey Day. Ursula is a giant Breck girl from the 1960's and the Czech FM is a maitre d' from an I Love Lucy episode.

Also, she's been covering up a lot in recent pictures like maybe she put on a few winter pounds. Now it's spring and she's wearing white slacks, the wardrobe of the physically confident worldwide.

As for the cutting the cake picture, I have only two words: Hanz Punz.

beezie said...

Ow! Condi's scowl is making my ovaries shrivel. Long live Ursula!

Anonymous said...

Who can turn the world on with her smile?
Who can take a nothing day and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile?

Well it's 'U-Girl' and you should know it, with each glance and every little movement you show it.

Love is all around no need to waste it.
You can have the world why don't you take it?
You're going to make it afterrrr aaaallllll!

Anonymous said...

given the acceleration in the de-composition of the bush administration, wise money is already taking into consideration; a reverse clampit move, entailing gonzo, cheney, rice and laura all loading up, and sashay-ing to the source of their bubbling crude, Hades that is, pointy pichforks and movie stars. Best prepare for an All Ursala, All the time format. For my part, I welcome, embrace and kiss the knees of that future with fervor, devotion, and just a hint of european union lust.

z7q2 said...

No wonder the good Dr. is looking away scowling, that Gheit guy is PICKING HIS NOSE, at a new conference no less.

But what do I know, maybe that's acceptable in Egypt.

z7q2 said...

NEWS conference, pardon my typo.

And congratulations on the exit strategy! I expect after the denouement, seats at Condi speaking arrangements will be fetching upwards of $1,000, and photo ops will be few and far between. Can't run a photoblog on slim pickin's like that. And I for sure don't expect Hillary or that Pelosi lady to pick up the slack, they are quite weak in the fashion department, unless you're into seafoam and tangerine.

Lulu Maude said...

Let's put Ursula on a yacht, Condi on a garbage scow.

Lulu Maude said...

Let's put Ursula on a yacht, Condi on a garbage scow.

samael7 said...

*swoons*
She's a Glamazon Queen, and she knows it! U-go-Girl!
<3<3<3

Anonymous said...

Ursula! I think I'm in love....

Anonymous said...

"And yet that was the scene yesterday in Ursulaland:"

Shouldn't that be Urslandia?

Anonymous said...

I meant Ursalandia

Fran / Blue Gal said...

The reason I don't come here more often is, when I read this stuff I laugh so hard my eyes water and I think I'm gonna lose a contact.

Now you know.

Anonymous said...

the dude in the back is clearly scratching his upper lip or holding back a sneeze - you foreigner hating morons


Sparkle Pony ROCKS!

drew in sf said...

I followed the Klingon Condi link (or, rabbit hole) from your current post and came across this most wonderful quote you dropped 3-1/2 yrs ago: "when your policy is competence, work is fun." I'm a few weeks away from taking a long-ish break from reality to go do some intensive writing, and this sums up the opposite of a sentiment that I am interested in writing about. That was a nice little trip to Serendip!