Loose cannons

Reassuring

lctext = "As it stands, the Lucas Heights reactor does not have an effective regulator, cannot be prosecuted for breaching standards or operational conditions — even if it did so deliberately — and is under no obligation to compensate the victims of accidental discharges of radiation." — Report by environmental barrister Tim Robertson on the experimental reactor near Sydney.

Sneaky

lctext = "From less than a handful of female swimmers ranked among the top 25 in the various women's events in 1991, the Chinese had 24 in 1992. In 1993 they had 96." — Sydney Morning Herald, September 13.

Who's a boof head?

lctext = "Who knows? There's always a danger." — The Dan Quayle of the southern hemisphere, Victorian Liberal Premier Jeff Kennett, asked about reports he was considering shifting to federal parliament.

Jester

lctext = "I often use, in jest, the sort of phrase that you can't be a little bit pregnant. You are either pregnant or you're not; you are either raped or you're not." — Jeff Kennett impersonating Alexander Downer in response to the recent Supreme Court ruling in the case that claimed the rape was not grave.

Bad investment

lctext = "It's a pathetic party at every level. Who wants to give money to a loser?" — A chief executive of a large finance company on the federal Liberal Party, quoted in the September 12 Financial Review.

Survival of the stupidest

lctext = "The banks have been fleecing the home loan market to make up for their own stupidity in the 1980s ... they've been making enormous profits." — Akis Haralabopolous, chief economist for GIO Australia.

From GLW issue 160