World English Dictionary
politician (ˌpɒlɪˈtɪʃən)

— n
1. a person actively engaged in politics, esp a full-time professional member of a deliberative assembly
2. a person who is experienced or skilled in the art or science of politics, government, or administration; statesman
3. derogatory chiefly ( US ) a person who engages in politics out of a wish for personal gain, as realized by holding a public office
We seem only able to elect mainly the third kind...

HL Mencken is way too insightful in the ways of human nature, and way too witty expressing those insights, for our painfully dull and obvious time, but he sure said and wrote some great things.