Words Dept.: entry

What I tell them is nine-tenths bullshit and one-tenth selected facts.

- Stephen Carter, recently appointed chief of strategy to Gordon Brown, while chief operating officer of NTL in 2001. Alleged in a class-action lawsuit filed in New York.

This quote appears on page four of today’s Observer. Meanwhile, on page five is another quote from someone who clearly adheres to the “Carter principle”.

Europe is not a question of left or right, but a question of the future or the past, of strength or weakness… It’s about today versus yesterday. Less about politics and more about a state of mind; open as opposed to closed.

- Tony Blair, speaking in Paris, launching his campaign to become president of the EU.

Actually, on reflection, that’s probably ten-tenths bullshit. Well done, Tony. Still got it, never lost it.