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10:24 October 23rd, 2009

A way to cut down on filibusters?

Posted by: Robert Basler
Tags: Oddly Enough, , ,

Blog Guy, I’ve decided to do my doctoral thesis on the inner workings of the Maldives government. Great idea, huh?

Uh, yeah. I presume your scuba gear is all packed and ready?

Scuba gear? I can’t even swim. Is that a problem?

It might be. It seems they hold their cabinet meetings underwater these days.

They do? Why wasn’t I informed? What is the point of that?

Well, I can’t be bothered to read the photo captions, but if I had to guess I’d say it cuts down on long-winded speeches.

It also saves money by not having to pay staffers to constantly fill officials’ water glasses during meetings.

This is going to really screw up my thesis. You think they’ll keep doing this for long?

I doubt it. The current Maldives President belongs to the We Do Cute Stuff For Media Attention Party, but opposition parties are starting to make their move.

And remind me, what parties are those?

The Great White Shark Party and the Professional Harpooners Party. This could be interesting.

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Above: Maldivian Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Ibrahim Didi signs a declaration calling on countries to cut down carbon dioxide emissions ahead of a major U.N. climate change conference in December, in the Maldives, October 17, 2009. The Maldivian president and ministers held the world’s first underwater cabinet meeting on Saturday, in a symbolic cry for help over rising sea levels that threaten the tropical archipelago’s existence. REUTERS/Maldives Government/Handout

Below: Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed signs a declaration at the cabinet meeting. REUTERS/Maldives Government/Handout

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11 comments so far

Yeah, well…

Wait until the blubber meets the road, eh?

- Posted by tim

I’ve read that during a filibuster, some will go to the extent of wearing diapers. I guess one wouldn’t have to in this situation…ewwwwww!

- Posted by i,robert

I heard their biggest threat is The Portugese Men of War.. a ferocious rogue group going around taking over governments of small countries with scuba diving cabinet members.

Number two threat is a wayward gang of Somali pirates!

- Posted by Phil E Buster

That’s just wow. I mean, like, WOW. I think I would need to jumpstart my brain or something…

- Posted by SilverHakai

Hmm that’s one way to keep a meeting short
hold it underwater!

or maybe someone was too busy to take vacation and go scuba diving…

- Posted by Name

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Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by RtrsOddlyEnough: A way to cut down on filibusters? http://link.reuters.com/qyb65f...

- Posted by uberVU - social comments

And we thought those college degrees in underwater basket weaving were for nothing!

- Posted by dewaltgirl

wouldn’t the papers get soggy and rip when you reach the surface

and what happens when the meeting is held right before lunch time and a school of fish interrupt the meeting?
free lunch?

- Posted by Name

This is cool. I think the idea is creative and captures attention - which was one of the objective.

Way to go, Maldives!!!

- Posted by WinnieKepala

Rising water levels? Heard of displacement? I mean, like Duuhh!

- Posted by Shawn Hendricks

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