Politicians.
They take a fair bit of flak.
But take the content of what they are actually saying out of the equation (counter intuitive and difficult, I know) and one can but marvel at their conviction, competence and composure.
It goes against the grain (and isn’t very fashionable) but I am going to pay our political leaders some credit.
It’s really difficult to do but forget about the wild claims (particularly about HIV patients) and the more spurious promises (tuition fees anyone?) and concentrate not on what they are saying but how they are saying it and it is impossible not be impressed.
It’s very fashionable to pan our politicians for every missed word every last hesitation or stumble and there was nobody hoping for a live car-crash performance more than me but it didn’t happen.
Quite the opposite.
In fact, our political leaders are extraordinary individuals.
How many of us (no matter how much we are paid) would have the composure required for the rigours involved in the leaders debate?
How many of us can honestly say we would be ready to head back out on the stump just a few hours later?
How many of us could memorise and deliver opening and closing statements with the kind of aplomb shown by the seven leaders?
The answer to all of the above is not very many.
We may detest what comes out of their mouths and I fully admit ignoring the content of what they are saying is just a tad bizarre but if you can take the “what” out of the equation and concentrate on how they are saying it one can but marvel at these fine specimens of mankind (or at least something like that).
Sickening stuff but true.
And that’s the first and last nice thing I’ll say about any politicians between now and May 7.