Re:Gavin Newsom vetoes SB 1047
by mistrial9 on Monday September 30, 2024 @10:00AM
(#41697177)
worse.. a first-hand quote from inside a California Senate committee hearing chamber.. "Don't speak it if you can nod, and don't nod if you can wink" .. translated, that means that in a contentious situation with others in the room, if allies can signal without speaking the words out loud, that is better.. and if the signal can be hidden, better still.
[ Parent
| on HN ]
This is an old saying in politics and you're misinterpreting it - it's not about signaling to allies, it's about avoiding being held to any particular positions.
You're also missing the first half, "don't write if you can speak, don't speak if you can nod, and don't nod if you can wink." The point is not to commit to anything if you don't have to.