Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Quote of the week…
Goes to erstwhile Slugger commenter Darth Rumsfeld (and picked up by Lindy McDowell in today’s Belfast Telegraph) for this little gem on the resignation of Ian Paisley Junior:
must be the first time someone in politics has resigned to spend less time with his family.....
Mick Fealty @ 07:39 PM
According to a Slugger post some days ago this is a Paxmanism, though it must be admitted that great thoughts can occur simultaneously though independently. But as Rummers scandously and groundlessly accused me of ‘sectarianism’ only the other day I shall groundlessly accuse him of plagiarism.
Posted by on Feb 20, 2008 @ 07:55 PMWe should treat it as a question… we’ll punt to the Newsnight team (and Mr Rumsfeld) and see how it comes out in the wash…
Posted by on Feb 20, 2008 @ 08:01 PM“Twenty years ago, 11 out of the 13 Kuwaiti government ministers were members of the ruling Al-Sabah family. The proportion has fallen, but is still sufficiently high – five out of 16 – to give rise to jokes about the minister who resigned to spend less time with his family.” 26 May 2003
Posted by on Feb 20, 2008 @ 08:27 PMStop trying to put Darth down.
It was apt and it was funny.Posted by on Feb 20, 2008 @ 08:38 PMI’m afraid it was used on Newsnight during the demise of Derek Conway too :-)
Posted by on Feb 20, 2008 @ 09:14 PMPicked up by Lindy McDowell
I hope you are happy to have that on your Tombstone Darth!
Posted by on Feb 20, 2008 @ 09:19 PMWell, whatever the originality or lack thereof, I laughed - thanks darth.
Posted by on Feb 20, 2008 @ 11:14 PMIIRC, darth admitted as much to the origin. Still a cracker.
Only disappointed that there haven’t been more Paisley Jr jokes. However, the floor is open!
Posted by on Feb 21, 2008 @ 01:02 AMBG, you shouldn’t mock the Man from Ballyknock
Posted by on Feb 21, 2008 @ 11:50 AM“Picked up by Lindy McDowell
I hope you are happy to have that on your Tombstone Darth!”
Er, closely followed by “Thumped by Jim McDowell”
no doubt.
Incidentally, given that there is a persistent campaign to misidentify me on slugger, I suppose the fact that Lindy- unlike me- is from Limavady would add to the rumour.And if I inadvertently plagiarised Paxo- who I never watch- then no doubt he’ll hunt me down like a dog, once he has got a pair of M&S;pants that fit him comfortably.
Sammy, don’t give groundless allegations a moment’s thought- without them slugger would be virtually silent…If I did plagiarise, it would be by plundering the legendary putdowns of F E “Galloper” Smith, who once said in response a judge’s comment “ I’ve listened to your argument for 20 minutes and I’m none the wiser”. “Perhaps not my Lord, but you are better informed”. Now that’s quality abuse.
Posted by on Feb 21, 2008 @ 12:32 PM” inadvertently plagiarised ”
Oxymoron surely, Darth. Plagiarism is deliberate is it not?
I had a good chuckle, thanks.
Posted by on Feb 21, 2008 @ 03:53 PMAlso from F E Smith:
Judge: Are you trying to show contempt for this court, Mr Smith?
Smith: No, My Lord. I am attempting to conceal it.Posted by on Feb 21, 2008 @ 05:24 PMNever heard of him, but that was funny. So I wikiquoted this:
Smith (to witness): So, you were as drunk as a judge?
Judge (interjecting): You mean as drunk as a lord?
Smith: Yes, My Lord.Posted by on Feb 21, 2008 @ 05:30 PMSmith was a forgotten political giant who essentially drank his career away. He was contemptuous of those less brilliant than himself, but could never escape scandal, such as the probable death of a mistress in a botched abortion- hence Baldwin’s response “better than second class characters” when Smith called the cabinet from which he had been omitted “second class brains”
In 1912 he was at Carson’s side during the UVF rallies and was nicknamed Galloper, because he acted as his outrider. Later of course he savagely turned on Carson during the debate in the House of Lords on the Government of Ireland Bill describing Carson’s speech ( in which he claimed the tories had used him and Ulster) as “immature even from the lips of a hysterical schoolgirl”
On hearing a labour cabinet minister complain that he “‘ad an ‘eadache” Smith once suggested that he needed a couple of aspirates
On appearing in court he was once accused by a judge of being ignorant, and replied “ actually we both are, but your lordship can’t help it”
He accused his friend Churchill of spending all day thinking up his impromptu speechesF E Smith- proof that you can succeed being a bastard if you’re a clever one.
What a pity Junior didn’t take note…Posted by on Feb 22, 2008 @ 11:03 AM
