Final Word from Friday, December 30, 2005
As the year came to a close, the government's token market-oriented economist resigned, complaining that the country was lurching toward authoritarian rule. Of course we mean Andrei Illarionov in Russia, not Martin Jahn in the CR. And the CR's most-famous person appeared on CNN to tell a heart-warming tale of coming back from near-death. Of course we mean supermodel Petra Němcová, not super ČSSD man Jiří Paroubek. And the CR's most infamous person told Czechs that they're fat and need to do something about it. Of course we mean lean David Rath, not pudgy Paroubek, who normally takes offense when people insult his wife. And Paroubek gave an interview without making a single insulting remark about the media. Of course we mean Mrs. Paroubek, not her husband. And Klaus said it was a very good year. Of course he was being nostalgic about 1995 or so, not the Paroubek year of 2005. [Czech Republic President Václav Klaus prime minister Zuzana Paroubková]