More festive season kudos

I want to nominate the following statement of Australian Prime Minister John Howard as a leading contender for the 2006 prize for Most Meaningless Statement by a Head of Government.

“I wouldn’t have any objection, none whatsoever. I’m serious, quite serious,” Mr Howard said when asked if he would want [a nuclear power station next door to where he lives].

Coming from someone who will never ever have to live next door to a nuclear power station, this would have to be a dazzling contender for the prize – even in a strong field populated by many of his own past utterances, and those of his good buddy, US President George W Bush.

I’d also like to nominate the journalists, who recorded that pearl without bursting into uncontrolled laughter, for the 2006 prize for Unmoved Stoicism in the Face of Absurdity.