Loose cannons

And kneecapping

"Egyptian archaeology and the US primary campaigns in 1952." — NSW Labor leader Bob Carr on what he and ALP federal president Barry Jones discussed in a telephone conversation after Jones said on national television that the federal party might have to intervene in NSW because of the state branch's $10 million debt.

Open arms

"You would have to be crazy not to let [Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation] walk in with open arms." — Michael Egan, NSW ALP finance spokesperson on his wish to give Murdoch the Sydney Showground for a film studio.

Vote S&M

"The party for a hurting Australia" — NSW election slogan of Fred Nile's Call to Australia.

Karl would be delighted

"There aren't many aspects of Marxist thought which appeal to me, but there is one. Marx believed that economics was the sub-structure of society." — Former Liberal leader and current Bulletin columnist Alexander Downer, in its March 28 issue.

History note

"I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in . I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street ... I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-12. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras 'right' for American fruit companies in 1903 ... I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three city districts. We Marines operated on three continents." — US Marine Corps Major General Smedley D. Butler.

From GLW issue 181