Loose cannons

100-0 rule?

"We don't have a 60-40 rule operating at any of the state conferences of the Liberal Party. We don't have 10, 20, 30, 40 or any percentage of votes allocated to business interests. But we do, very importantly, we have a broad sympathy with the philosophy of the business community of Australia. We don't always agree with you and you won't always like what we do. But we are a party that is committed to the cause of competitive capitalism" — Prime Menzies John Howard addressing a business lunch in Perth, July 19.

Between his ears

"And can I just point out to you that you don't have to live in the bush occasionally to lose service with your mobile phones. There's a black spot somewhere in Kirribilli, I can tell you, in Sydney" — Prime Menzies discussing the sale of Telstra on Perth radio, July 18.

The world's in safe hands

"You know, the threats we face are real. I mean, it is real. I like to remind people that I'm an early morning guy. I get to the Oval Office about — oh, generally about 6.50am or so. It's not a very long commute. And I sit at the great desk that other presidents have used — Teddy and Frank and — I can call them that, since — and Spot the dog comes in with me, and I read a threat assessment" — US President George "The Crusader" Bush, July 10.

War is peace

"There's a lot of war talk these days, as there should be, but it's all aimed at making sure the world is peaceful" — "Crusader" Bush speaking at Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, on July 18.

The economy's in safe hands

"I'm constantly amazed that anybody cares what I do" — US treasury secretary Paul O'Neill, the Bush administration's main voice on economic issues, quoted in the New York Times, July 21.

From Green Left Weekly, July 31, 2002.

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From GLW issue 502