Loose cannons

Issue 

Election-led recovery

"I live and shop in the area and have done so for 17 years. When I need timber, I go to Hudsons, for hardware it is either BBC, Mitre 10, or any of the hardware shops throughout the area and of course delicatessens, fruit shops, newsagents etc etc." — from an election leaflet of Jack Cassimatis, Liberal candidate for Marrickville in the NSW state election.

Mild wild

"In search of their masculinity, thousands of American men are now attending spear-making workshops, trying to get in touch with their ancient male ancestors. Their teachers recommend they go jogging with their spears, and so they do: modern-day wildmen running around the middle-class suburbs of California." — Sydney Morning Herald, May 25.

Warmth

"There may be a case to be put by Canberra, based on the economic purity of level playing fields ... but the fact remains that the electorate is expecting a warmer, more sympathetic way." — SA Premier John Bannon, shutting the gate about 10 years after the horse bolted.

Competence

"Sure it will be painful, it will be hard — but the public's ready for us to take the hard decisions as long as they are fair and reasonable and they are delivered competently." — Victorian Premier Joan Kirner on her proposed June economic statement, which is expected to slash 15,000 more jobs.

Tear-jerker

"I work very long hours every day so that I'll have time off for football. But Saturday is a work day as well, and the pay is vile. And what they give you in a weekend in a bag to take home — there's always a stack of it." — Bob Hawke on the trials of being prime minister.

They comply

"We expect them [Salvadoran officials] to work toward the elimination of human rights." — US Vice President Dan Quayle.

And amazing

"Who would have predicted ... that Dubcek, who brought the tanks into Czechoslovakia in 1968, is now being proclaimed a hero in Czechoslovakia. Unbelievable." — Dan Quayle, of course.

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