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Samizdata quote of the day

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A person has only so much time allotted to him, and I hate to waste it reading tripe. I suppose that’s why I rarely listen to politicians’ speeches – why waste time that could be better spent scratching my ass?

– commenter veryretired

February 10th, 2008 |

9 comments to Samizdata quote of the day

  • Acad Ronin
    February 10, 2008 at 2:55 am

    Outstanding. I will happily use that myself as it articulates something I have felt for a long time, but never put into words.

  • R. Richard Schweitzer
    February 10, 2008 at 3:38 am

    Generally on target – BUT WAIT

    There may be something to learn (probably not what is being “taught”).

    Politicians (as well as lots of others) are trying to create or manipulate the perceptions we have of them. So what they say and do for those objectives can give us clues as to how they perceive us (particularly in relation to themselves).

  • veryretired
    February 10, 2008 at 5:30 am

    My tuchis and I are flattered—I think.

    I guess it’s a good thing I skipped the line about what I was doing with my other hand.

    Rim shot!

  • Alisa
    February 10, 2008 at 6:39 am

    A very good point, RRS. I do make a point of occasionally listening to politicians, (just as I do of periodically visiting the dentist). I tend to scratch my head when listen to them. On the other hand…

  • TomG
    February 10, 2008 at 9:32 am

    By the time I’ve heard a politician speak, any news they had to proffer is old hat – having heard all of the analysis and commentary out the ying yang from pundits and journalists (witness the State of the Union addresses, where we know play-by-play what’s coming in the speech) … it becomes nothing more than just entertainment, observing the style, and clever wording perhaps, by which it’s conveyed. So I have to agree with veryretired – and scratching definitely has an immediate desired effect, unlike any promises made for public consumption.

  • a.sommer
    February 10, 2008 at 10:35 am

    (witness the State of the Union addresses, where we know play-by-play what’s coming in the speech)

    Well, yes. The speech is released to the media several hours before the President delivers it.

    It would be nice if this practice ended, if only to illustrate how little intelligence and wit our media class possesses.

  • permanentexpat
    February 10, 2008 at 11:21 am

    Having survived a fairly long & hard working life I do agree with ‘veryretired’……….
    Currently, I follow the observation of Bertrand Russell:

    “The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.”

  • TomG
    February 10, 2008 at 11:47 am

    “Well, yes. The speech is released to the media several hours before the President delivers it.”

    Thanks – my point being that it becomes not more than a read script upon its actual delivery … only further exacerbating the lack of spontaneity and frankness in the entire political arena (though I have to say that the banter and heated exchanges I’ve seen occur in the two Houses of Parliament across the pond are so much more colourful)

  • Jacob
    February 10, 2008 at 12:25 pm

    Wouldn’t it be better if all political speeches and campaigning were prohibitted ?

    We could get all the info we need from the web.
    Political campaigns are such a colosal waste of time and money…

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