Limited comprehension
“This goes beyond our comprehension.” US Democrat member of Congress John Tierney of Massachusetts, commenting on an investigation that found that half the contractors moving supplies for the US military in Afghanistan were paying protection money to the Taliban.
Yoyo economy
“Markets go up and down.” – White House spokesperson Jay Carney, after the Dow Jones stock price index lost 4.3% in a single day.
Reality need not apply
“Most of them massively overstate their self worth, and have little appreciation of the real world, particularly now, because their lives have been absorbed since youth in political machination.” – Ross Fitzgerald, emeritus professor of history and politics at Griffith University, on Australian prime ministers and premiers.
Was one expected?
“From the perspective of ocean drilling [for oil] and climate, it’s hard to see a difference between this administration and the last one.” Brendan Cummings, senior counsel at the Centre for Biological Diversity, on United States presidents George II and George III.
Borrow from whom?
“The US government has to come to terms with the painful fact that the good old days when it could just borrow its way out of messes of its own making are finally gone.” – Chinese news agency Xinhua.
Necessary needs and unnecessary needs
“There is no need to unnecessarily press the panic button.” – India’s finance minister, Pranab Mukherjee, on the latest financial panic.
PM of la-la
“He should stop living in la-la land. If he was doing his job right, this wouldn’t be happening.” – British teenager Jake Parkinson, responding to a speech by Prime Minister David Cameron on the riots in London and other cities.
Friends bought and paid for
“Blessings are showered upon us by legislators in Washington who feel compelled to protect us, much as if we were spotted owls or some other endangered species. It’s nice to have friends in high places.” – Warren Buffett, the second richest person in the USA, on the fact that US billionaires are taxed less than ordinary working people.
Please send mine now
BHP’s “full-year net profit amounts to about $1000 for each Australian ...” – Sydney Morning Herald, August 24.