"I always wanted to get into politics, but I was never light enough to make the team"

Art Buchwald’s witty remark about politics offers a clever satire on the nature of political involvement and the type of people typically seen thriving in that field. By referencing the idea of not being "light enough to make the team", Buchwald draws a parallel between sports and politics, humorously suggesting that just as athletes must meet certain physical standards to qualify for a team, politicians are often expected to possess, or to don, a particular philosophical or ethical "lightness". This "lightness" can be interpreted as a lack of burden from moral weight, guilt, or perhaps an absence of deeply held principles that might hinder someone from adjusting to the fluctuating demands and compromises of political life.

The quip also underscores a common perception that successful politicians may need to be "light" on specifics, heavy truths, or unwavering convictions in order to maneuver within the complicated landscape of governance and public relations. They often engage in spin, diplomatic ambiguity, and rhetorical agility, suggesting that adaptability and ease with shades of gray are sometimes more valuable than uncompromising ideals. Buchwald's joke thus accentuates the cynicism some observers feel about politics: that it rewards those who are unburdened by the gravitas of integrity or the weight of scruples.

Additionally, the idiom plays with the notion of physical selection in sports, implying that if politics were truly a competitive team effort based on merit, different "body types", here, metaphorically speaking, different sorts of personalities and ethical bearings, would be required. Buchwald’s implication that he’s “not light enough” suggests that his personal qualities, perhaps a conscience weighed down by sincerity or a satirist’s commitment to truth, would be a disadvantage amid the buoyant, slippery culture of politics. Ultimately, his humor invites us to reflect on the paradox that politics, a field theoretically grounded in weighty decisions and leadership, sometimes prioritizes a featherweight touch over heft.