>>Honest politician somehow does not fit my world view.
>
>They come along once in a while. I have not heard anything scummy about Angela Merkel, for instance. (Maybe I just don't get enough German political news).

She drew how many lines that would not be crossed ? Currently pre-election the wording is "she does not see a new haircut" (not her fault if her eyesight is poor) and finance minister tells that "private investors will not expirience a new haircut" (nearly no greek bonds left in private hands, but a big bulge in the ECB). But you are right, currently germany is not lying habitually (Guttenberg leaving for good because of swindled Doctorate might have been a nice medicine...), even if NSA having praised BND and others in the past is making the ice thin - but direct opposition cannot make much of it, as some of them were in the picture when in big coaliton.

>And I am still disappointed that Olympia Snowe chose not to run for reelection here because she thought the political process was so broken. She didn't even belong to my party but I wish we had 100 Senators like her.
>
>Here in Illinois scummy politicians are the rule. The best thing you can say about Illinois politics is that Louisiana may be worse.

Was not trying to put the US down - when Bill survived the female hoopla before becoming prez, my appreciation for the US in fact rose a bit higher, as in my POV such things should not matter in tabloid manner. Before him another candidate was scuttled... So why not let him use the same evasive tactics needed in diplomacy when describing private matters ? At least he was tactful enough not to describe it as trying to bleach her teeth or something else...