Final Word from Thursday, March 20, 2008
Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg seems to have a man crush on Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek. That's when a heterosexual man takes a strong platonic liking to another man. Not just once, but twice, Schwarzenberg has praised Kalousek to high heaven in the national media. Most recently, he told LN that Kalousek is the biggest Mr. Fix It in the government and has things to teach even an old-timer like him. But whatever good Kalousek is doing behind the scenes, the public doesn't see it. His approval rating, according to STEM, is in the dumps (32%). His latest double-talk about the list of Czech account-holders at LGT Bank of Liechtenstein raises the usual suspicions about just how honorable his true intentions are. But then again, doubt of this kind is exactly the reason to make anyone with assets tucked away in foreign banks and trusts - like Schwarzenberg - want to butter up Mr. Fix It.[Czech Republic Lidové noviny KDU-ČSL]
Glossary of difficult words
to kiss up to someone - to behave sycophantically toward someone in order to obtain something; to fawn on someone;
Mr. Fix It - someone who knows how to resolve problems;
to praise someone to high heaven - to praise someone abundantly;
old-timer - a person who has been around a long time;
STEM - Kalousek’s rating of 32% makes him No. 14 on the list of politicians who are rated; Schwarzenberg is No. 2, with a 53% rating;
in the dumps - in a sorry state;
double-talk - deliberately ambiguous language;
to tuck something away - to store something in a secure or inconspicuous place;
to butter someone up - to flatter or otherwise ingratiate oneself to someone.