Loose cannons

Work for whom?

"It's more productive to work behind the scenes than grandstand with rhetoric." — Former foreign minister Gareth Evans, replying to remarks by Laurie Brereton about the ALP's record on East Timor.

Not really

"It was the biggest act of bastardry I ever did." — Gough Whitlam on his forcing Jim Cope to resign as parliamentary speaker in 1975.

Danger

"[Bill Clinton] has taken the soul out of the Democratic Party. The danger now is that it will appear that we don't care about ethics and values, and that isn't true." — A US Democratic senator, worried about side effects of an impeachment acquittal.

Jealousy

"While ever you have people who are jealous of the success of others, you are going to have criticism that guidelines aren't tight enough." — Prime Menzies John Howard, watering down his conflict of interest guidelines for ministers.

Yes, yes, yes

"Do we really want to frighten away from parliamentary life a bloke who's accumulated a few assets? Do you really want a parliament that is bereft of entrepreneurs? Do we want a parliament that's got no businessmen and women?" — John Howard, defending the softer conflict of interest guidelines.

Pig ignorant

"It is a tactical move that has nothing to do with the election campaign. I don't even know where the electoral boundaries are." — A NSW police superintendent, asked about the shifting of nine Highway Patrol police into the electorate where police minister Paul Whelan is standing.

From GLW issue 349