"Thank You For The Question, Senator"

For years, nominees for federal offices as well as witnesses appearing before the Senate were advised by their handlers to preface their answers to questions with "Thank you for the question, Senator." Was it be be polite? Not really because they frequently hated answering the questions. The real purpose of that reply was simply to burn up time so they could answer fewer of the questions. As a technique it worked... until recently when Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana absolutely DESTROYED that technique with a simple but obvious reply--- "You're welcome!"

As a result anybody who tries to use that age-old time killer on Senator Kennedy is risking public mockery due to his reply which now induces gales of laughter whenever it is used.