Eternal and infernal, politics is false promises based on false premises, and false choices based on false voices; while politicians are euphonious phonies, impostors who posture, bandits backed by pundits, and back-stabbers disguised as
backslappers. As the circus maximus of politics, elections are a tug of war between the left and right, with the center of the rope wrapped around the public's neck.
Remember the
backslappers who are lauding you now are the very ones who were kicking you when you were down - barely a year ago.
Antona loathes
backslappers, so I'll say this quietly (because he only half loathes me): he has arguably done more than any other single professional, through those he has trained and inspired, to turn round the food fortunes of a British city.
Meanwhile, real artists and craftsmen are ignored by the establishment which seems to consist of mutual
backslappers awarding each other prizes.
Despite what he and his
backslappers may insist, 30 years living the good life in Paris is not punishment.
This week we are on Hainan Island, one of the big tourist spots, and Liang will be weighed down by
backslappers, which may not do his chances of notching a quick follow-up any good.
Surrounded by TV crews, radio mikes, and
backslappers anxious to shake the hand that shook Australia, it seems a long way from the Shotley Bridge club when older brother Peter was the best cricketer in the family.
But these days many of those former
backslappers have not been as accommodating.
"Other people have other skills, interpersonal maybe, or [they're]
backslappers, or whatever they do," he once said.
Rather than yet another in the constant stream of puff pieces, academic
backslappers and posturing ("Aren't we just so darned politically enlightened?") features, here are matters a director and producer can actually incorporate into his or her conceptual foundations on the entire process of presenting a stage production.
Schumacher's face in Australia was a picture, sucking passively on an ice-lolly, largely ignored by the
backslappers and photographers as they pursued Irvine down the paddock.
PINKERTON: Well, okay, that's one plan, to take a bunch of natural
backslappers and whip them into a warrior-like frenzy.
And imagine seeing "the disappointment and fury in the faces of the
backslappers, when suddenly the plasticine fell away revealing my iron skeleton from Wilno" (CH 70).
United Left Alliance TD Clare Daly said the Government was using the Dail to host a "
backslappers convention for itself ".
Fame and fortune have deserted him, as have the
backslappers and hangers-on when he was twice world champion.
