Re: Oracle and Donald Rumsfeld

From: Jonathan Lewis <jonathan_at_jlcomp.demon.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 14:35:59 +0000 (UTC)
Message-ID: <d1uj8e$qcg$1@sparta.btinternet.com>

"Niall Litchfield" <niall.litchfield_at_dial.pipex.com> wrote in message news:1111673507.155604.242450_at_f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>
> Donald Rumsfeld got a lot of flack for his unknown
> unknowns speech, all the criticism of that particular speech that I
> have read illustrates one (or both of two things)
>
> a) that the critic was already a critic of the Bush administration
>
> b) that the idea that a politician might choose to convey a complex
> idea clearly but in appropriately complex language was foreign to them.
>
>
> Jonathan may have a different view of the Rumsfeld speech from myself
> of course, but I saw it as clear and logical. Jonathans use of similar
> ideas is, in my view equally clear and logical.
>

Absolutely.

I remember story being played as some sort of joke in the UK press at the time, which I thought most unreasonable because I understood exactly what he meant, AND he said it in a memorable way.

I think if some style guru, film star, or TV cook had made the same statement it would have been taken as a deep philosophical insight.

Regards

Jonathan Lewis

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