It's impossible to get an unrehearsed answer from a polished politician on the first try.

But probation is not the proper punishment for a polished politician who betrayed the public trust when he accepted bribes from a developer.

Any pretext at his being a polished politician was completely gone now, but it could have been an incredible act.

But where a polished natural politician has many gears, Sarkozy has only one: high.

Mr. Hendrix, 54, is a career civil servant, tall and lanky, a polished politician making hay with Mr. Kilpatrick's shortcomings.

"She's not a polished politician but she's confident, has a clear message and is well received."

Forbes was a polished politician and knew the ins and outs of the trade, eventually training future Cleveland mayor, Michael R. White.

The people she has met, she said, want a real person, not a polished politician.

He was both an extraordinarily well polished politician and a astute investigator.

But he was still the old competent campaigner, the polished politician.