''Let me be very clear''

It's not just me then.

It'll be football managers next.

'' let me be very clear, says Pochetino, '' Paulinho is a footballer not a refugee we took pity on and offered a chance to play for us''.

For full effect it requires the correct hand movement. The thumb and forefinger are placed together to form an O while raising the other fingers as if creating a shadow puppet The hand then makes a small but sharp downward movement on the word "clear" for extra emphasis

It's funny cause it's true

Why do Montjeu progeny have awkward head carriage? So they can listen.

(Courtesy someone else)

Have pondered this for many years. Coming from a politician it seems to mean something like, "not being clear will make my brilliant policy seem fecal and cost me votes".

When they say let me be clear they are usualy about to waffle or lie.

Farage does a phantom head butt every other word to put his point across.

Did Hitler do that or did he just wobble his head?

weebles wobble

They don't like it up'em.

It's right up there with: "It's the right thing to do"

The most annoying and disingenuous action was when Blair would say 'you know...' Or 'come on....' While wear that c0cky feckin grin......

But I have to say Cameron's double hand finger splay where he makes both hands as big as possible just makes me want to snap each one. God knows if it's a deformity or gout or what but he looks such a divvy.

Let me be very clear…

Gives them an extra 2 seconds of thinking time

Why do Montjeu progeny have awkward head carriage? So they can listen.

tbh far more important issue than the thread itself

Let me be very clear = not sure but I need a bit of time to think

With due respect = you're a to$$er

I'm glad you asked that question = need more thinking time etc

Let me answer that = need more thinking time etc

in fact the list is endless with politician speak.

in fact, most politicians aren't that bright and can't process very quickly (unlike Betfair forumites - our livelihood depends on it)

First school of politcal rhetoric;
Wait for the computer print out to tell you what to say that is the most ambiguous double speak available with which to continue presenting horse5hit as though it was gospel.

Second school of politcal rhetoric;
Put the gaps in sentences in really unusual places to dissuade awkward questions, and never ever put a gap in after giving 'evidence based statistics' that furnish their ideology, skip right along and hope nobody notices.

Cameron actually studied politics as a subject, pmsl what a family letdown he must have been to all those German bankers.

Saying words for the sake of it.

All pervading.

If politicians had their hands tied behind their backs they wouldn't be able to utter a word.

'Listen. Let me be very clear...I've said this before and I'll say it again.

Many will have heard me say it at "The Brighton Conference" and I will now, and always, stand by what I have said......waffle, waffle, waffle

I'm afraid our politicians aren't a patch on their predecessors.

Used to be conviction politicians and while you might not agree with them, they were successful individuals (trade unionists, doctors, teachers, nurses, journalists and businessmen typically) who had clear views.

Nowadays they're professional politicos, usually had no real job, politics in university, then researchers.

As a colleague said to me "we get the politicians we deserve" ... Cleggy, Cameroon and Millipede .... god help us!

It's the politicians verbal tick akin to starting a sentence 'to be honest' but even they haven't got the brass neck to try that one.

Didn't I read that in his big deficit speech this week Ed Miliband said: "I want to be sort of clear about this..."

Ffs, he can't even get the cliches right.  Total amateur unfit for office.