Time for some Buttiglione content

How have blogs been handling the European Parliament's refusal of the new Commission? It seems the kind of story ideally suited to Blogistan; texty, partisan and containing a time element. Oh yes, and ever so slightly geeky. Yesterday, Henry of Crooked Timber predicted a lasting boost in Parliamentary power and the possible end of the rule that keeps the EP from rejecting individual commissioners, but also argued that the prospect of parliamentary trouble might give the Commission President greater leverage with national governments in picking the commission. Mind you, he also has this to say:

"In political science jargon, he's now the equivalent of a "COG" in a "two level game""

What did I tell you? Just a tad geekocentric? His dear colleague John Quiggin pointed out the apparent lack of national fault lines in the EP's response, here. Where the comments thread will also tell you that Buttiglione is a "gay porn star name". Hmmm....maybe I preferred geeky.

Over on the right, EURSOC is very angry about what it sees as "anti-Catholic discrimination". Strangely, there is no mention of the other 3 commissioners the EP rejected - a Hungarian socialist (incompetence), a Dutch liberal (conflicted), and a Latvian Green(eurosceptic shade) (alleged financial irregularity). Funny that.

Eamonn Fitzgerald's response is very odd indeed, and the Fistful of Euros crew are reliable as usual. Real blogging - means following up your stuff.

Edit - mind you, Crooked's nonstandard characters are annoying.