The quotemaster at qotd.org, G. Armour Van Horn (who signs his introductory comments "Van") has given some hints before of having libertarian leanings. He’s suspicious of government in general, has expressed a past appreciation of Ayn Rand (with the standard disclaimers), and has a fondness for Thomas Jefferson. I’ve never sensed anything radical about him, however. Until this morning.

Today’s mailing was the first hint, the first subtle sign of blasphemy against our secular religion.

Today’s introductory comments begin, "I no longer participate in politics directly…"

Sound familiar?

Here’s the whole message:

I no longer participate in politics directly, but for months now I’ve been drawn to watching the presidential race with much the same fascination a bystander might evidence at the scene of a multiple-vehicle road accident. Alas, things appear to be getting ugly, I thought a little cynicism from the ages would be in order. Note that one of our contributors, newsman Edward R. Murrow, was born a century ago today.

Today’s Quotes:

• "The politicians were talking themselves red, white, and blue in the face."

  – Clare Boothe Luce, 1902–1987

• "Three groups spend other people’s money: children, thieves, politicians. All three need supervision."

  – Dick Armey

• "The politician in my country seeks votes, affection, and respect, in that order…. With few notable exceptions, they are simply men who want to be loved."

  – Edward R. Murrow, 1908–1965

• "The trouble with this country is that there are too many politicians who believe, with a conviction based on experience, that you can fool all of the people all of the time."

  – Franklin P. Adams, 1881–1960

• "The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed – and hence clamorous to be led to safety – by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary."

  – Henry Louis Mencken, 1880–1956

• "My choice early in life was either to be a piano–player in a whorehouse or a politician. And to tell the truth, there’s hardly any difference."

  – Harry S Truman, 1884–1972