Loose cannons

What kind of degree?

"He told them that his girlfriend was from Port Macquarie but that she was studying at university in Queensland and when she had her degree and had learnt to cook, then he'd marry her." — A National Party official, explaining how the NP candidate for the NSW state seat of Port Macquarie had answered preselection panel's worries about his marital status (26 years old and single).

So rich he must be smart

"They say he's crazy, but he's a billionaire." — A delegate to Ross Perot's US Reform Party convention, which decided to support his campaign for the presidency.

Average billionaire

"I am a very ordinary person of average intelligence, and all of my success has come from surrounding myself with people who are far more intelligent than I am." — Ross Perot, addressing the Reform Party convention.

Agreed

"You don't always necessarily agree with unanimous decisions." — A "senior" NSW National MP on the caucus's unanimous decision to try to renegotiate its coalition with the state Liberals rather than abandon it immediately, as some MPs advocated.

Election fever

"Indonesia's three sanctioned political parties pledged to support President Soeharto and avoid criticism of each other in the run-up to general elections, the official Antara news agency said yesterday." — Sydney Morning Herald, August 22.

Keep them at home

"It's not the Australian way to let people starve on the streets." — The Prime Menzies, John Howard, speaking at a lunch in the grand ballroom of the Sydney Wentworth Hotel.

From GLW issue 244