Politics On the Edge
Metadata
- Author: Rory Stewart
- ASIN: B0BXGNMXFK
- ISBN: 0593300343
- Reference: https://amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BXGNMXFK
- Kindle link
Highlights
Our brains have become like the phones in our pockets: flashing, titillating, obsequious, insinuating machines, allergic to depth and seriousness, that tempt us every moment of the day from duty, friends, family and sleep. — location: 442
Most striking was not the failure, but the failure to acknowledge our failure. — location: 478
The hysterical optimism at the highest levels was shadowed by the most profound cynicism on the ground. — location: 481
The clinic that I had resisted creating (‘it is not in our strategic plan’) became the most successful part of the entire project, seeing 27,000 patients a year. — location: 509
Kerry that we needed a surge. — location: 558
Why!
I learnt something more about him. — location: 765
Didnt you already know that!
The particular compound of canniness and ignorance, fluency, misdirected loyalty and awkward dishonesties which made the modern MP, had evolved to survive the demands of the dominant party members, — location: 814
A would-be MP for a London seat explained that she had stood four times. Almost all had given up decently paid jobs, and taken on debt. Each, it seemed, had dedicated hundreds of mornings to pacing streets with their blue rosettes, their afternoons to defending party scandals on local radio, and their evenings to chatting over sizzling sausages with elderly activists. — location: 871
Being a politician is horrible
and trained me by making a dozen bets, on which political figures would be fired, and which would survive. — location: 930
After the meeting I tracked down the Labour MP in her office. I was hurt. ‘Why are you doing this?’ I asked. ‘You know why, Rory.’ ‘No, I don’t. Why?’ ‘You know, Rory.’ I didn’t, don’t, won’ — location: 2384