Two faced
"[First deputy PM Anatoly Chubais] is the face of Russia that appeals to important Westerners, who approve of his fluent English, intelligent conversation and his conviction that only the market can keep Russia from the abyss. There is no political figure, however, more despised by the [Russian] masses." -- Carey Scott in the March 10 Australian.
Optimist
"I'm well aware my job is the job of a kamikaze. Fortunately, a kamikaze does not always die instantly." -- Boris Nemtsov, on being appointed as Russian first deputy prime minister with responsibility for social policy.
Private is more efficient
"It is thus reasonable to conclude that the government pays for the hospital twice and [then] gives it away." -- Tony Harris, NSW auditor-general, on the arrangement under which the Port Macquarie Base Hospital was privatised.
Crime wave
"Proportionally more police than members of the public were last year arrested for murder and attempted murder, a quarterly South African Police Service crime report said on [March 4]. The report ... also revealed 100 out of 100,000 police members had been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, compared to 57 out of 100,000 members of the public." -- South African Press Association dispatch.
It means `cutting'
"One of Sydney's most incisive intellects" -- NSW Liberal MLC Dr Marlene Goldsmith, praising ultra-reactionary radio mouth Alan Jones in a letter politely declining his offer to help her gain Senate preselection by using his program to give "a stab or a lift" to other candidates.
Sensitive
"Continuing to blow up the issues of poverty and income gaps without offering a realistic concept for solving them may provoke the sensitivity of our diverse community." -- Indonesian dictator Suharto in an interview with Newsweek, warning journalists against "negative" reporting.
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