http://www.politics.za.net/articles/2007/02/15/mbeki-praises-leon-in-parliament en-us 40 Third world country. First world politics. That&#8217;s not a joke headline, Thabo Mbeki actually <a href="http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&#38;click_id=13&#38;art_id=nw20070215153128264C469438">praised Tony Leon&#8217;s opposition leadership</a> in Parliament. It&#8217;s not the <a href="http://www.politics.za.net/articles/read/140">first time</a> he&#8217;s done so. <blockquote> <p>From where I sit, I would never have the courage to argue that he served merely as a Chihuahua, because, indeed, he has the bark of a bull terrier.</p> </blockquote> <p>Granted this is because Leon is retiring so it&#8217;s all backslapping and handshakes all round.</p> <strong>Update:</strong> Here&#8217;s a quote from Thabo Mbeki directed at Leon to illustrate the <a href="http://politics.za.net/articles/2006/06/08/oh-snap">usual discourse</a> between them. <blockquote> <p>I was indeed pleased to note the fact that Honourable Members truly respected his (Leon’s) right to state his views by containing their heckling, making it possible for all of us to hear what he had to say, regardless of its merits.</p> </blockquote> Thu, 15 Feb 2007 13:16:00 -0600 urn:uuid:6e9d1f34122fedce31ad98b185291c47 Farrel http://www.politics.za.net/articles/2007/02/15/mbeki-praises-leon-in-parliament DA The Executive