While commentators in America are still analysing what exactly went wrong with the Kerry campaign, or indeed what went right with the Bush campaign, most politicians here have opted for the cautious approach when trying to extrapolate specific lessons for Italy. Most, but not all. There are some who have been keen to pull the political moral out of the magician’s hat, as if the American elections were merely a proxy or practice run for Italy’s next general election [due in 2006, though as likely to be in 2005].

Silvio Berlusconi, barely concealing his delight, took the opportunity to lecture the Italian left on the politics of demonization. “There’s a lot to be learned from this election – he told La Repubblica – they [the left] have to understand that no one wins by demonizing their opponent the way that the press and media did with Bush”[1]. Handy for a man who would like to keep his personal conflicts of interest out of the limelight, but he failed to take into account the fact that to a large extent George W.’s election victory was firmly founded on a demonisation of John Kerry -witness the skilfull proliferation of the ‘flip-flopper’ title for Kerry. Bush’s victory has certainly provided Berlusconi with a temporary respite from his political problems (dissapointing European Election results, the loss of key seats, the Buttiglione fiasco, a stagnant economy and fractious coalition partners). Appropriately enough, Berlusconi is pushing ahead, against advice from left, right and centre, with proposed tax cuts