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Lunch » Tags » Books » Reviews » Political Babble: The 1,000 Dumbest Things Ever Said by Politicians

Political Babble: The 1,000 Dumbest Things Ever Said by Politicians

1 rating: 1.0

A book by David Olive

A treasury of the often silly, offensive, arrogant things politicians have said on the record, including Reagan's comment that ""Trees cause more pollution than automobiles"" and others.

Tags: Books

Author: David Olive

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc

1 review about Political Babble: The 1,000 Dumbest Things...

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KIND OF A FUN LITTLE BOOK TO LEAF THROUGH

Jun 23, 2010

by TheAncientReader
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More

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In many ways this small, fully loaded book of 246 pages is an absolute delight to read. Reading the comments of various politicians down through the years, collected in a nice workable format, is quite enlightening. It is also a good way to get some laughs; well actually, quite a few laughs. On the other hand, many of the quips and bytes recorded in these pages are quit upsetting in that the people who said them in unguarded moments or off the "top of their heads" are the people who have and are leading us.

"Many people have left their jobs for the more profitable one of selling apples." So said Herbert Hoover on hearing that the IASS, finding themselves with an apple surplus, had decided to sell them on credit to jobless men who resold them on street corners for 5 cents each.

This is scary and shows just how out of touch old Herbert was.

The author has gathered quotes from various world leaders, American, England, France, Germany, Russia and more. Some of the quotes are funny, some sad, some bewildering...as it "what on earth was the man thinking" type of bewilderment.

"A tree is a tree. How many more do you need to look at?" California governor Ronald Reagan in 1996, opposing expansion of California's Redwoods Park.

Now while some of these statements by these statesmen and women are amusing, incredulous and my goodness, stupid, it must be remembered that these people are under scrutiny almost constantly and often times working under extreme pressure. As you read the book, try to imagine yourself wired 24/7 and see if you would fare any better.

It should also be noted that the vast majority of the quotes used in this work are from politicians and world leaders, both past and present, who were of a very conservative bent. George Bush, Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, Dan Quayle, Pat Buchanan, et al. These people did not fare very well. There is not much doubt as to the author's political leanings here. I am sorry, but it has been my experience that liberals are just as likely to put there foot in their mouth as conservatives.

I should also admit that I personally was not able to see what was so stupid about some of the quotes used in this work.

"Yes, I am. And you're ugly. But tomorrow I'll be sober." Winston Churchill to a woman who complained that he was drunk.

To be honest, I wish I would have said that...on several occasions.

I suppose the "dumbest" element goes into play depending upon what side of the political spectrum you inhabit.

All in all, this is a nice little book. I cannot give it all that much credit though as the author has taken the easy way out many times, i.e. using numerous quotes form George Bush and Dan Quayle is like shooting fish in a barrel. I suppose that those of a conservative persuasion would find this work less entertaining than those of a liberal.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

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