Comments on: Samizdata quote of the day

By: Paul Marks

Paul Marks — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:14:31 +0000

Senator Benton (“Bullion Benton”) was asked about the late President Jackson.

“I shot him once – a great man”.

Was the reply.

By: Rich Rostrom

Rich Rostrom — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 05:01:10 +0000

Drunkeness – a problem, but not if he has it under control. (Churchill despite his reputation was not a heavy drinker. He would put a splash of whiskey into a glass of cracked ice and suck on it for hours. Ted Kennedy was known for getting blind drunk – and then showing up at the office cold sober the next day. And “The [Canadian] people would prefer John A. [Macdonald] drunk to George Brown sober.”)

Philandering – Does he have it under control? A discreet mistress is one thing; screwing any woman who holds still is another. JFK and Bill Clinton were reckless and completely irresponsible.

Duelling – could be an appropriate response to a personal attack.

Wife-beating – Completely unforgivable. It is sadistic bullying. (One odd impact of wife-beating in recent years. Obama won the Democrat nomination for US Senator from Illinois when his chief opponent imploded over revelations that he had assaulted his ex-wife. She was his second wife, definitely the sort of trophy bimbo a rich man often marries second. The most damaging aspect of the story was that it publicized the fact that he married the woman – who was arguably a crazy bitch – twice.)

By: guy herbert

guy herbert — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 09:28:30 +0000

Pitt the Younger – Drunk
Duke of Wellington – Philanderer
Lloyd George – Philanderer
Winston Churchill – Drunk (with a severe mental illness).

Seems a pity to exclude talent on that basis.

By: Renminbi

Renminbi — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 06:15:05 +0000

Maybe I’m thick,but what politicians is he talking about?

By: Jackie D

Jackie D — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 17:22:49 +0000

Is it really a revelation that politics attracts raging narcissists for whom anything in aid of their own wants is justifiable, and who use substances to avoid reality?

By: Johnathan Pearce

Johnathan Pearce — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:53:15 +0000

Laird, fair point!

Bear in mind, though, that some of those guys deliberately sought to provoke someone, and then hoped to kill. The army in the UK started to get annoyed at officers killing one another over women, card gambling debts, etc.

By: mike

mike — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:17:18 +0000

“Don’t trust someone who never drinks thet have things to hide.”

But getting drunk means you’ll have things to find – e.g. the letter “y”… (only joshing!)

By: Laird

Laird — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 14:29:13 +0000

“Duelists”? In the same category as “fools, frauds and con-artists”? Frankly, I’d like to see the return of formal duels. We’d have a much more civil society.

By: Jobrag

Jobrag — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 13:36:10 +0000

Don’t trust someone who never drinks thet have things to hide.