<The first impressions I got got were:1) Parrikar is a smart cookie.>[Mervyn Lobo]
Mervyn -- I came across on TV (on a local channel) what appeared to be the interview in the subject heading. Caught only about 30 minutes of it until the tape/CD got stuck or something. What seems to be a "smart cookie" in your terminology may be due to an analytical brain coupled with a motor mouth. This probably flourishes in Goa where there may be more than a fair share of gullible people. I should say that I am not casting any personal aspersions whatsoever and I am completely open to correction by you.
