(Hmm. That would make a good name for a podcast… 1)
In a Wall St Journal article, fantastically titled ‘In Vino Veritas’ 2, P. J. O’Rourke makes a modest proposal:
So let’s pass a law: Before any politician makes a speech, gives an interview or answers questions shouted by the press corps, he or she has to have a snootfull. Several highballs should do it. We don’t want them three sheets to the wind. We just want them to be like the fellow on the next barstool, who got a slight jump on happy hour and wants you to hear all his big ideas.
Wouldn’t politics be so much more straightforward — so much more honest — if every press conference went on like this glorious shambles from Nicolas Sarkozy?
We’d not be short of entertainment, either. In an equally fantastically headlined blogpost, the UK Telegraph offers a delightful anecdote about Harold Wilson’s foreign secretary, George Brown. The perpetually sodden Brown receives the following response when he asks a vision of beauty in a red silk dress to dance:
I must refuse for three reasons. First, this is not a dance but the national anthem. Second, you are clearly drunk. And third, I am the Cardinal Archbishop of Lima.
What do you think? Let us know and give us something to talk about next episode!
- Which politicians have you seen drunk?
- Which would you like to see drunk?
- What policies could be enacted to encourage pollies to drink?
Links to videos, pictures and audio are very welcome too! Let us know your thoughts in the comments on this post, on the #VinoCast Twitter hashtag, or by using our Contact page or the e-mail address given on the show!
Notes:
- And, of course it did. Discerning fans of amusing, ranty, skeptical, newsy podcast will recall it was the original name of Citizen Radio, hosted by journalist Allison Kilkenny and her husband, standup comedian Jamie Kilstein. For bonus lulz, check out Dave The Happy Singer’s interview with Jamie Kilstein! ↩
- Hey, that would make a great name for a podcast, too! ↩













Our voiceover artist Ian Gordon (