Loose cannons

Loose cannons

Error-prone

"It isn't that we have wicked people trying to screw up, it's that we have a system that's so error-prone that good people working hard are going to make mistakes." — John Hamre, Pentagon official, explaining how the Pentagon has lost some US$28 billion over the last decade, much of it apparently in overpayments to contractors.

Soul mates

"In spirit, we're not that far apart." — US Republican congressional leader Newt Gingrich on his attitude to Democrat President Bill Clinton.

Historical note

"Being head of state is an extremely thankless job." — Bokassa I, former emperor of the Central African Republic, while on trial for infanticide, cannibalism, and torture.

Old news

"They are a bit of old news really, and I think you could safely say we aren't that interested." — A Channel 9 "insider", quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald on why the network would not be offering ex-PM Bob Hawke and Blanche D'Alpuget large payments for exclusive access to their wedding.

Predictable

"Knowing Bob Hawke's form, it will cost a lot of money." — New Idea editor Fiona Wingett on likely charges for covering the Hawke-D'Alpuget wedding.

Phew!

"The National Party will, at all times, ensure that the avalanche of depravity, violence and sex that is cascading over our children through the cinema, videos, television, CDs and now the Internet, is brought to a halt." — NSW National Party leader Ian Armstrong.

From GLW issue 191