The Ministry of Silly Talks?
Matthew d'Ancona 12:08pm
Hugo has a terrific lead item in his Times column: namely that John Cleese is offering his speech-writing services to Barack Obama. Having had the amazing opportunity to co-write a short script with the great man years ago, I can heartily recommend him to the Senator for Illinois. And one can only wonder where such a collaboration might lead.
Imagine how Basily Fawlty would have dealt with the Jeremiah Wright furore: “Don’t mention the pastor – I mentioned it once, but I think I got away with it!” Or, more probably, a discourse on the Audacity of Despair. And is it too much to ask that the Democrat contender would offer to set up a Federal Bureau of Silly Walks? Or that he might refer to Hillary as an ex-candidate – she has ceased to be?
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Lance Diatessaron
April 9th, 2008 12:28pmA slightly more arcane reference, but, once incumbent, Mr Obama might find, like the famous highwayman Dennis Moore, that "this re-distribution of wealth is tricker than I thought."
KB
April 9th, 2008 1:44pmDidn't he use to help out the SDP? With Cleese by his side, Obama can look forward to a political career as glittering as that of Bill Rodgers.
London Calling
April 9th, 2008 5:46pmScene One
John Cleese is lying on therapist lounger, whilst Barack Obama is seated nearby feverishly taking down notes as John speaks...
John:
"Whatever you do, don't mention your Black, or that your white, or that your a Man, and invent a twin brother to deal with Pastor problem, I know,call him Osama, that should do it"
Verity
April 9th, 2008 6:49pmObama, when Cleese doesn't seem to encapsulate a thought he's trying to get across: It doesn't work.
Cleese: Yes it does.
Obama: No, it doesn't.
Cleese: Yes it does.
Obama: Look! I didn't come here for an argument.
Cleese: Yes you did.
Obama: No I didn't.
Cleese: I'm telling you that you did.
Obama: You've spent this entire half hour contradicting every single thing I say.
Cleese: No, I haven't.
Obama: Yes you have.
Tiberius
April 10th, 2008 8:26pmI should think Cleese will emphasize to Barack that Hillary is not Polly, and so he cannot call her a cloth-eared bint.