Why does the Coalition choose to live in an imaginary world?

Because it suits Coalition members to do so. Why do so many of those in the MSM choose to crawl into that imaginary world with the Coalition? Because it suits them too.

The refuge the Coalition and its supporters have taken in their make-believe world has reached pathological proportions. They give the impression they believe the fantasies and myths they have themselves woven, that they have become addicted to them. It goes back a long way, and they show no sign of recovery. Addictive personalities know that while recognition of their condition is challenging, cure depends on it.

There are so many examples of the mythical world of Tony Abbott and his colleagues that we don’t have to go back all that far to see the telltale signs.

Remember the global financial crisis? What crisis, Coalition members recited in unison? What crisis, echoed News Limited? Joe Hockey talked about ‘the recession we never had’ as if it was a figment of economists’ imagination. ‘What recession’ he asked. For those with failing memory, or those who simply cannot accommodate uncomfortable facts, in 2008 the world suffered the largest financial downturn since the Great Depression of the thirties. The Rudd Government acted swiftly, following the Ken Henry dictum, ‘go early, go hard, go households’. A stimulus package was devised and implemented swiftly: a rapid injection of cash payments, followed by programs such as the Home Insulation Program and the Building the Education Revolution program, designed to stimulate the construction industry and support local businesses, while replacing aging school infrastructure or adding to it, followed by a more unhurried roll out of bigger infrastructure projects. It had the desired effect of avoiding recession here, keeping workers in employment and stimulating retail trade.

But in its make-believe bubble, the Coalition scarcely recognized the peril we faced, the potential it presented for massive unemployment, and the danger it posed to business. It criticized the Government’s actions. Malcolm Turnbull, in his Woodford Festival address last month, flagellated the Government for saying that the Coalition had voted against the stimulus package, insisting it had voted for it. In an address on truth in politics, it was curious that Turnbull chose to tell only half the truth. The Coalition had voted for the smaller first tranche but against the larger second. In the bubble that Turnbull lives with his Coalition colleagues, he apparently believes what he says. That is the problem.

Australia not only survived the global downturn, but also prospered, standing head and shoulders among comparable nations. It evoked words of high praise for its management of our economy during the GFC from the IMF, the World Bank and economists worldwide; our Treasurer Wayne Swan received the Euromoney Magazine’s award of the ‘world’s finance minister of the year’. Yet Joe Hockey and Tony Abbott were out there denying that Swan had done anything out of the ordinary. Why, because the GFC hardly existed here! Whenever they emerged from their bubble to travel overseas, they thumped their chests with pride at the state of our economy, but back home they tell anyone who will listen how poor it is, how mismanaged it is by an incompetent Government that has no idea how to manage money, which is heavily into reckless spending, debt and deficit. They are still at it. Although completely contrary to the facts of the economy, they drew many in the MSM into their fantasy world to sing in unison from their song-sheet, and in the process convinced many in the public likewise, a public that still ranks the Coalition above Labor in the management of the economy, and trusts it more to manage any future GFC. It is one thing to live in an imaginary world oneself, but to suck others in is reprehensible.

The fantasy continues to this day. Even now Joe Hockey hammers the Government because it borrowed money to stimulate the economy, although it is now in the process of repaying it and steadily reducing the deficit. He talks as if there was no need for the borrowing; there was no crisis to be averted, no economic disaster to be avoided. He is still on the ‘reckless spending’, ‘debt and deficit’, ‘Swan will never bring in a surplus budget’ bandwagon, as if none of what the Government did was necessary at all. It was all a bad dream that really needed no action, but in the throes of a nightmare the Government ‘panicked’ and recklessly reacted leaving us bereft and in monumental debt, spending a million dollars a day in interest. Joe Hockey would have us believe the myth that the economy and our finances are in a desperate state, when every rational economist, here and overseas, tells us the opposite.

Recently, the fund manager of BlackRock, an investment company that holds $US3.7 trillion worldwide in government bonds, in his latest update of sovereign risk, ranked Australian government bonds as the world's seventh least risky, up from 10th least risky three months ago, adding that no other nation has managed to jump three places in the latest survey. Although the finding is at odds with a claim made by Joe Hockey last August that Labor was "adversely impacting Australia's sovereign risk profile", Hockey still disagrees. BlackRock's Australian head of fixed income, Steve Miller, insisted that Australia's position was "exceedingly strong" and strengthening, but Hockey still differs. Facts are irrelevant to him in his fantasyland.

Joe lives happily in his mythical world of make believe, talking down the economy because it suits him, because it suits his narrative. He surely can’t believe his fantasies. Only the delusional could. So he simply tells lies to suit his and his colleagues’ political purposes.

Lying has been par for the course for a long while for the Coalition. It created a make-believe world around the HIP, where it declared Minister Garratt was guilty of ‘industrial manslaughter’ when four workers died installing ceiling insulation, all of which were subsequently found to have succumbed because of poor industrial safety practices. But in the Coalition's imaginary world Garratt might as well have killed them by his own neglect. News Limited screamed in harmony.

The BER was over 97% successful according to three official reports by Brad Orgill, but in the Coalition’s fantasy world, in its imaginary bubble, it was a monumental disaster, a shocking example of Labor’s profligate waste and mismanagement, with schools and parents united in opposition to this intrusion into their hallowed precincts. Julia Gillard Memorial Halls were the subject of ridicule, yet Coalition members turned up at the openings to catch a little of the reflected admiration and praise that flowed on those occasions. They emerged from their fantasy world long enough to enjoy real world recognition for a good job well done, even although they had opposed the BER all the way. The Australian newspaper, Australia’s preeminent mythmaker, eagerly followed the Coalition into its make-believe world, publishing column after column, month after month, purportedly exposing the ‘waste and mismanagement’. We hear little from that paper of the BER now because its anti-BER campaign has served its purpose – it has drawn many voters onto the BER fantasy island to sing the ‘waste and mismanagement’ song reflexly on cue. Don’t be surprised though by the reprise that will come election time.

Perhaps the most grotesque world of make believe was the one constructed by Tony Abbott with the sycophantic Greg Hunt bringing up the rear, who insisted that the evil carbon tax, ‘a tax built on a lie’, would force prices up and up and up, costing the housewife a fortune every time she opened her fridge or turned to her traditional task of ironing. Barnaby Joyce told us all that lamb roasts would cost $100. Whole industries and towns would be wiped out, and countless workers thrown on the dole queue.

The Coalition had plenty of support from News Limited, which painted sad pictures of struggling families on $150,000 a year facing untold financial stress under the carbon tax. How many voters were sucked into that bubble of make believe we shall never know, but the unpopularity of the carbon tax showed up time and again in opinion polls.

Now of course, over seven months after a price on carbon began, more and more realize they were conned. They now know that Abbott, Hunt, Joyce, Hockey and Co. sucked them into an imaginary mythical world replete with demons and dragons breathing fire. The carbon tax, like the Medusa, had a hideous face disfigured by all manner of venomous snakes to strike down our citizens. Now that they have awoken, the people realize it was just a bad dream, for some even a nightmare, that vanished with the dawn. Many now realize that this dream world, this bizarre fantasy, was a deliberately constructed product of strategic planners in the Coalition and at News Limited, for which they will pay the price for their deception, for their deliberate ‘calling wolf’. You can fool people only some of the time. While Michelle Grattan struggled to give Abbott even the tiniest slap on the wrist for ‘over-egging’ the effects of the carbon tax; many voters will not struggle planting their boot where it hurts most.

Another fantasy that Abbott and Hunt created is the Coalition’s Direct Action Plan to combat climate change. Although it will cost each household $1,300 a year, a fact almost buried by our MSM, they expect the people to crawl into the imaginary world they have constructed where 20 million trees will be planted, on semi-arid land (because farmers need all the arable land to grow food and fibre), where by definition water is scarce, by Abbott’s 15,000 strong Green Army, which will need to be recruited, deployed, housed in semi-arid environments, and of course paid. No mention is ever made of the logistics of such an exercise in a nation where labour is in short supply. It is pure fantasy. No respectable economist endorses the scheme, and environmentalists assert that it will take at least five years before growing trees could become effective carbon sinks. Yet, the MSM scarcely utters a word of condemnation for this make believe scheme, not even a word of caution. The public is allowed, even encouraged to walk into the Abbott/Hunt fantasyland of a Direct Action Plan as if it is real, as if it can work. It is a myth. They are relying on its name, and the feeling of plausibility that it evokes, to convince the people it is real. But it is fiction, deliberately planned fiction. Hunt has recently added to the fantasy by saying it is ‘inconceivable’ that Labor would not support the Coalition in abolishing the carbon tax, should Labor lose in 2013.

If you think that my accusation that the Coalition and its fellow travelers live in an imaginary world is insufficiently contemporary, reflect on Joe Hockey’s recent comments about Labor’s concession that it might not be able to meet its planned budget surplus. Why might this be so? Even the disinterested must know that the prices for iron ore, coal, and gas have come off their peak, that demand from big buyers such as China has fallen, and that as a result revenue from mining has fallen far below expectations, expectations based on estimates made years previously.

Yet Joe Hockey, talking from his imaginary world where he avoids acknowledging that anything has changed, would have us believe that lower commodity prices and diminished sales are illusory and therefore ought to have no effect on revenue. At least he hopes, as does his leader, that we will believe that piece of make-believe and swallow his line that failing to reach a surplus is just another ‘broken promise’, and a ‘solemnly made one’ to boot. Hockey’s charade continued all this week in QT, where he tabled copies of hundreds of instances where a surplus had been promised, although it had been pointed out by the PM in her NPC address, and repeatedly in answers to questions, the economic facts underlying her change of tack. Wayne Swan marvelled that Hockey and the Coalition could be in such denial of these facts, could live in their ‘alternative universe’ where such facts are of no consequence, and could not understand that Labor considered it sounder economically to protect jobs and foster growth than seek a surplus at their cost.

Hockey avoids reality. Competing as he does with his leader for the title of mythmaker-in-chief, he retreats into his own fantasyland where the only facts allowed in are the ones he finds convenient; the inconvenient ones are dispersed in a puff of blue smoke at the tip of his magic inconvenient-fact wand. His intent is simply to lampoon the Government and his counterpart, to reinforce the ‘Labor can’t manage money’ myth, and to add ‘another Labor lie’ to the Coalition’s long list.

Hockey even had the temerity to insist that the recent lowering of interest rates was a sign that the economy was tanking, this from a man who has boasted endlessly that interest rates will always be lower under a Coalition government. He walks into his own fantasyland where low interest rates under Labor are bad, but under the Coalition are good. As Humpty Dumpty would have said: ‘Interest rates can mean whatever I want them to mean’.

In their fantasy worlds, Abbott and Hockey admit no bouquets for the Gillard Government’s many reforms and accomplishments, but, like squirrels hoarding for winter, are able to accommodate any number of brickbats to hurl at the Government. Anything that might be used to demean the PM or her Government is stored for future use. Even on the occasion of Julia Gillard visiting her recently widowed mother for Christmas was used by Hockey to demean her as gutless for not returning to Canberra to make the deficit announcement.

Yet, he and his Coalition colleagues seem able to airbrush away any suggestion that there has been a conspiracy to imperil the elected government in what is now termed ‘Ashbygate'. The Coalition fantasyland disallows admission to anything that is damaging to it.

This piece asserts that the Coalition, its prime spokesmen on matters economic, Abbott, Hockey, Cormann, and Joyce, and its many sycophantic media journalists, live in an imaginary world that Coalition strategists construct in order to run a narrative that is consistently negative to the Gillard Government.

I hope this piece will establish a mindset among readers about what is really happening, rather than what the largely compliant media would have us believe. We need to go into 'politics 2013' aware of how the public is being conned, over and over again, with myth after myth. Realizing that most voters are disinterested in politics and many disgusted with the political play they have seen for two years now, knowing how messages need to be simple and plausible even if dishonest, Coalition strategists construct plausible, even attractive imaginary worlds, fantasylands into which they lure the incautious and the disinterested to soak up the fantasy, to convince the unthinking that at every step, with every move, the Gillard Government is a disaster, an ongoing failure from which recovery is impossible.

But these strategists, these political figures, these columnists are not stupid. They are intelligent and cunning. So the question that begs an answer is: ‘Do they really believe this crap?’ If they do, they are delusional and ought to be on medication. If they don’t, they are unmitigated liars determined to deceive the people of Australia and con them into voting Coalition. The latter alternative more aptly fits the bill.


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10/02/2013Folks Should you wonder why such a title has been given to this piece, reflect on QT in the first week of this parliamentary year. There we saw the Coalition, and particularly Joe Hockey, lambasting the Government, Julia Gillard and Wayne Swan over its retreat from a budget surplus in 2013. They behaved as if nothing had changed to warrant such a retreat. Speaking from their fantasy world, they roundly condemned the Government for not keeping its ‘solemn promise’, made three hundred times according to Hockey, to bring in a surplus. A photocopied pile of the promises was produced to accentuate the Government’s misdemeanour, a pile that Hockey could scarcely lift. This piece highlights the fantasy world in which the Coalition deliberately lives, along with its sycophantic media allies, spinning lies and distortions it hopes the gullible will swallow. The Fifth Estate needs to expose the deception at every turn.

Truth Seeker

10/02/2013Ad, great piece as usual, well thought out and put together :-) sadly it is all too true, including the complicit nature of the MSM, which I notice Abbott is withdrawing from, cancelling his regular spin fest on the Today show on Fridays. His minders must be crapping themselves at the thought of seven months of trying to control his off the cuff brain farts and death stares. And speaking of them living in fantasy land, I have just posted my poem "The Abbott of Oz" , for those who missed it the first time, or would like to revisit it, which fits in very well with the theme of this fine post :-) :-) http://truthseekersmusings.wordpress.com/ Cheers :-) :-) :-)

Catching up

11/02/2013Good post. Fits in what many of the young were saying on last weeks Q and A, that they felt there was a disconnect in politics. Sadly some seemed to think the fault laid with Labor. One young lady did attack Pyne, saying along the line of there you go, answering questions from a script. We want to hear what you have to say, not that. Maybe there is a chance of change, I believe many are now realising what they are being told, does not compute with the reality around them. I believe we will see much more of that rabbit run rabbit in the near future. Mr. Abbott will have to start answering questions. When that happens, he will either freeze or flee.

Woodypear

11/02/2013Great piece! What I don't understand is why the Labor politicians don't attack the media? It's not as if to do so would put them in a worse light than they are already being afforded. The media needs to be pulled up more publicly. I also think a shame file on journalists who allow this injustice to continue would be valuable.

John Pollock

11/02/2013The journalists in this country do what their bosses tell them to do and their bosses want a Coalition Government because it suits them. Truth has long been a casualty of this campaign.never

Lyn

11/02/2013TODAY’S LINKS Enduring ideas by @awelder Abbott can't even be positive about own policies. http://andrewelder.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/enduring-ideas.html Caretaker mode and the ABC, by @ngungun, ABC taking lead from often ignorant print media http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/politics/caretaker-mode-and-the-abc/ An Open Letter to Tony Abbott by @Vic_Rollison you’ve been getting a free run in mainstream media http://victoriarollison.com/2013/02/09/an-open-letter-to-tony-abbott/ In whose opinion? by @MigloCW, Their opinions have replaced the news. http://theaimn.com/2013/02/11/in-whose-opinion/ The shameful reason why I can't bring myself to vote for the Liberals by Noely , @YaThinkN http://yathink.com.au/article-display/the-shameful-reason-why-i-cant-bring-myself-to-vote How trolls, haters, death threats and ‘your wrong’ is making the Left stronger – by 99 by @turnleft2013 http://turnleft2013.wordpress.com/2013/02/09/how-trolls-haters-death-threats-and-your-wrong-is-making- Michelle Grattan’s best work is yet to come by @margokingston1, I’ve loved her and hated her over the years http://australiansforhonestpolitics.wordpress.com/2013/02/09/michelles-grattans-best-work-is-yet-to-come/ Will Australia follow America’s lead? by @MigloCWTony Abbott is a person who is out of touch, http://theaimn.com/2013/02/10/will-australia-follow-americas-lead/ Smash and Destroy. by @YosefAlbric, head kicking political thug as ‘Leader’ http://yosefalbric.wordpress.com/2013/02/09/smash-and-destroy/ Swan’s touching faith in Treasury by rchirgwin, @AusVotes2013, Mr Swan has let Treasury “Yes Minister” him http://ausvotes2013.com/2013/02/09/swans-touching-faith-in-treasury/ Tony Abbott will definitely stop the NBN rollout @PolAnimalAus stop appearing on Channel 9 Breakfast TV http://polanimal.com.au/wp/2013/02/10/251/ Skewed. Why Labor is finally rounding on super tax breaks by @1petermartin 1 per cent of workforce rake in between them astounding $2 billion http://www.petermartin.com.au/ Odds on @watermelon_man,kerfuffle arose over doping and match fixing http://davidhortonsblog.com/2013/02/10/odds-on-2/ The truth about Tony Abbott and the election about trust @phonytonyabbott, Tony Abbott lied to the Australian people he claimed http://www.phonytonyabbott.com/blog/the-truth-about-tony-abbott-and-the-election-about-trust Compassion fatigue and the NHS @TaraNipe, story after story of failures in NHS care, http://tnipe.wordpress.com/2013/02/10/compassion-fatigue-and-the-nhs/ A fresh start to an important political year by Michelle Grattan, certain desperation on both sides, have soured debate. http://theconversation.edu.au/a-fresh-start-to-an-important-political-year-12118 The Abbott of Oz by Truth Seeker,Because of the misogynist things he does 
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11/02/2013LYN'S DAILY LINKS updated: http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/page/LYNS-DAILY-LINKS.aspx

Pappinbarra Fox

11/02/2013An interesting approach to an age old problem Ad. Thank you for taking the time to present it from a different angle. The problem as I see it and to which you point at the end of your article is for the population at large to see the LOTO tactics for what they are and then to actually care about it! There are really at least two ways of viewing the LOTO strategy (if it can be called that - suggests a laid out plan but I do not think that is actually the case). The first, enunciated on this site many times, is that the LOTO believed that he could force the independents to change their minds about supporting the government very early in the new term. He continued that strategy even when it appeared that his desire was not going to be fulfilled. The short term strategy really meant that he could say anything but it would be for such a short period that no-one would care once he was on the treasury benches. This elasticisation of a short term strategy into a long term method of operation morphed into the fantasy land you so cogently describe. This is the second "strategy" - not so much a strategy as a failure to modify the method of operation when the short term goal failed so abysmally. So he just kept doing the same things when the changed circumstances called for a different approach. The PM by nominating the election date so far ahead forced LOTO to think about changing his strategy - and he may have briefly but he actually believes that his first short term strategy was a success (another delusion)and so he lapsed back into that method of operation. SNAFU. Now he seems to be running scared - dodging media (his best friends in the whole wide world/whirled. It will be interesting to see how this develops and whether the population at large can be led to see the LOTO SNAFU for what it actually is. Here's hoping.

jaycee

11/02/2013An interesting snippet of info this morning is that leonore Taylor and Katherine Murphy have both jumped ship from fairfax to join the new Guardian Aust'. It tell me that there is massive discontent in the rank and file journos' in the MSM.

Ken

11/02/2013Ad Back in the days of the insulation scheme when there were claims that it was [u]causing[/u] more fires, Possum did his usual brilliant statistical analysis to show that the number of roof fires actually decreased. One hypothesis for that was that faulty wiring was being identified because of the insulation program. The whole LNP approach is based on slogans regardless of facts.

Tom of Melbourne

11/02/2013Ad Astra, I normally post brief points here, but your rant is contains so many errors of fact, they need to be corrected. It’s bizarre that you could be so ignorant of basic facts. [b].1 The GFC[/b] Intelligent economists know that Australia’s economy was tied to the new China, rather than the old economies of the northern hemisphere. [b]While China’s growth remained strong, Australia would avoid the worst of the downturn.[/b] China’s growth didn’t slip below 7%. Swan overreacted and loaded future generations up with unnecessary debt. Swan specifically developed the “stimulus” on the basis of his forecast on unemployment. [b]Swan forecast 10.5% unemployment[/b] and used this as the basis for the “stimulus. [b]He predicted that even with the stimulus unemployment would reach 8.5%. Even when it became clear the unemployment would hardly reach half is forecast rate, Swan continued the stimulus, unchanged[/b] therefore loading up future generations up with more debt than the economic circumstances required. When the economic circumstances changed, Swan didn’t change his policy settings. [b]2. The HIP[/b] The government specifically chose to stimulate an industry with a poor safety record. It chose to bring in a range of new entrants, overlook shonky operators. [b]Anyone with industry knowledge knows that the attraction of easy government funds, low skills and poor regulation is a safety disaster waiting to happen. [/b] The government chose this path, and the safety consequences followed. [b]3. The BER[/b] Billions and billions spent with the big contractors who just filtered the work to smaller contractors after taking their 6% management fee. That’s about a $billion+ in specifically non value adding management fees. It’s a pass through charge. Then there’s about a billion spent in building “performing arts centres and tennis courts and “mini amphitheatres” in the most wealthy private schools. [b]4. The Carbon Tax The FACT is that the policy structure Gillard has introduce bears no resemblance to that which she took to the election[/b] • No community consensus • No community forum • Promised no change before 30 June 2013 • No carbon tax Which of her commitments on carbon abatement did Gillard actually keep? [b]5. The Surplus[/b] Sensible economists don’t specifically focus on a small surplus or a small deficit. But [b]Swan and Gillard made specific and unequivocal commitments to deliver one.[/b] Don’t bother to blame the Liberals for their stupidity. [b]Other[/b] [b]There are a range of specific inexcusable policy failure of this government, but Ad Astra, you gloss over them[/b] – the cruel treatment of asylum seekers springs to mind. Remember 3 reasons Gillard knifed Rudd? • Asylum seekers • MRRT • Carbon abatement policy Which of her excuses has she successfully addressed?

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11/02/2013ToM To use a well-worn aphorism: [i]“You are entitled to your own opinion, but not to your own facts”.[/i] The ‘facts’ you quote do not coincide with the evidence. [b]They constitute your view of the evidence. They enshrine your biases.[/b] As you will claim that my view does likewise, look at what the professionals say. They are the ones upon whom I rely. This piece is about the Coalition living in an imaginary world. The only relevance of the asylum issue to this theme would be that the Coalition imagines that a return to the Howard era policy will stop the boats. Arguing or disputing this would require divining the future, making a prediction. I have tried to stick to the verifiable evidence. The ‘policy failures’ of the Labor Government that you refer to with every post you make are not germane to this piece, but we know you cannot resist referring to them again and again. Finally, if what I have written is a ‘rant’, is what you have written likewise?

Jason

11/02/2013Ad could you turn on the crap detector and cut ToM's poor offering as it contains the same five rants that he carries on about every day. They've been answered on more than one occasion and if he doesn't understand now he never will. They only whinge he has forgotten is Wilkie which has also be answered. ToM get some new material or a new audience!

Tom of Melbourne

11/02/2013Ad Astra, these are facts. You raised each issue in your lead; I’m only following the points. • Swan predicated his stimulus on 10.5% unemployment. He didn’t change his policy settings when it became clear that it was going nowhere near this. • If he had responded with a moderation in the stimulus, we would have less debt. • Billions were spent in management fees to big contractors. A billion in building unnecessary facilities in wealthy private schools. All that did was put the mother’s club a few years ahead of their fund raising activities. • Safety and quality problems inevitably follow the entry of a range of new, inexperienced contractors in an industry that is growing exponentially – the government caused the boom in home insulation. You might note that the BER didn’t have the same quality and safety problems – because it relied on experienced contractors. • The fact is that Gillard’s carbon policy is nothing like the one she took to the election, and rather than just dismiss the 4 planks of her 2010 commitment, how about addressing them? • The government foolishly made specific commitments about the deficit. They are entitled to cop all the flack that comes their way for breaking their word. …and yours is a “rant”, because of all the emotive and derogatory language used.

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11/02/2013Jason There is only one value in allowing ToM's contributions - they give us insight into the thought processes of those who detest Julia Gillard and her Government, and everything it does or says. They tell us what they believe, how they interpret the evidence, how they argue their case, how they cherry pick facts to suit their argument, and how they will not be convinced by counter arguments. It is frustrating to debate someone whose mind is made up, who will not be persuaded away from their entrenched beliefs, who will not give credence to verifiable evidence. They are however a 'reality check' for those of us who value evidence, and applaud logical reasoning and well argued conclusions. They occupy a different universe. And they have a vote! ToM knows from past experience that abusive comment and personal innuendo and irrelevant tirades are not permitted, and will be deleted by the automatic crap detector.

Lyn

11/02/2013Good Morning Ad and Everybody, Thankyou for another wonderful article, “Why Does The Coalition Live in an Imaginary World”. I agree with every last word you have written, “make-believe world has reached pathological proportions”. The Coalition thought they would be in Government by now and would have escaped scrutiny. Of course don’t forget the” born to rule” syndrome along with ADD. They have been so busy running around the Country, bad mouthing the Government, that they didn’t bother to plan any reasons why they should be elected. Ad I agree with Jason, enough of Tom is enough, since when is he the Editor, or the Judge and Jury of TPS anyway. he says: posts brief points here, well they add up to a thousand Winging, Whining, Annoying, Pathetic, Stupid, Repetitious, miserable nonsense, his posts make me sick. Jaycee @ 08:40 AM thankyou for your interesting information re Lenore & Katharine. Two more Fairfax political writers jump by Michael Body, The Herald Sun. Taylor is hired as the online venture’s political editor and Murphy as deputy political editor for the digital edition of the UK newspaper in Australia. A press release confirmed Guardian Australia will “launch in the coming weeks”. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/two-more-fairfax-political-writers-jump/story-e6frf7jo-1226575161457 Marian Dalton ‏@crazyjane13 Abbott now presenting his bill to increase penalties for misuse of union funds. No politics in the timing here. Smile:)Smile:)Smile:)Smile:)

2353

11/02/2013Jason, this is possibly why other well known LNP apologists have been recently visiting. As you have correctly indicated, Troll from Melbourne doesn't bring new information or adds to the current discussion in any way. Personally I would hate to live on a daily basis with the negativity and lack of original thought demonstrated by the usual three apologists (who despite protests to the contrary still have not demonstrated they are not on the payroll of any right wing organisation). AA, thank you for the post - it is a damning indication of the lack of any alternative the LNP represents. My concern is that when the ALP wins the September election, the "rusted on" LNP supporters aided and abetted by a complicit media will not accept the outcome - leading to further destabilisation of the standard of behaviour and debate in this country. Just look at the response to Obama's relection by the right wing of the Republican Party for "inspiration".

Ad astra

11/02/2013Jason ToM’s response to my comment illustrates my points: He criticizes Wayne Swan for not adjusting his stimulus package when the predicted unemployment rate did not occur, but fails to see that the unemployment rate did not reach the predicted level [b]because[/b] of the stimulus package. Predicted unacceptable outcome + corrective action = acceptable outcome. This is the basic process in curative medicine. ToM either does not understand this, or finds the model inconvenient to his case. He asserts that if there were less stimulus there would be less debt. Of course there would be less debt, but there would be more unemployment, more in the building industry out or work, more businesses failing or going to the wall, and slowing economic activity. There would less school infrastructure, a million fewer ceilings insulated, greater energy use as a result and higher household cost for electricity. Take your pick. Swan picked stimulus and all the benefits that flowed from it. ToM, and the Coalition, would have picked much less stimulus and suffered the adverse economic and societal consequences. ToM lives in the same world as the Coalition. He raises safety and quality problems. No one is denying that had the stimulus been applied in a more leisurely way with much more supervisory oversight there would have been fewer of these. But that ignores the essence of the stimulus – that it be applied quickly. To dilly dally would have achieved a poorer economic response. Presumably if ToM had been in charge of the stimulus it would have been much less, if at all, and would have been applied at a much slower rate. Would it have had the desirable economic and societal effect that the Labor stimulus had, one acknowledged worldwide as brilliant by economists and governments alike? ToM, and of course the Coalition, do not accept these assessments – they believe they could have done better. Evidence, even from experts, is irrelevant when it collides with cherished beliefs. Regarding the surplus, if Wayne Swan had advance data that showed it would prove to be either impossible or damaging to the economy, he would have taken a different approach, but he didn’t have that data. He had the best that was available, and only that is a reasonable basis for decision-making. The retrospectoscope is a powerful instrument through which ToM views the world and is thereby able unfailingly to find fault with everything PMJG and he Government has done or said. Although this piece is about the Coalition living in an imaginary world, ToM raises the carbon tax issue, again. Jason, we just have to be patient with his repetitive utterances, utterances he makes no matter what the topic. I usually don’t bother to respond to ToM, but as he seemed to be trying to argue his case, I did so this morning. As I can now see, there is no point, nothing has been gained, so I won’t bother any further. When he categorizes my writing as a ‘rant’ because, in his view, I have used ‘emotive and derogatory language’, it looks like the pot calling the kettle black.

Gravel

11/02/2013Ad Astra Another excellent topic. Why is it we can see all this, but no one in the MSM or general public can see it? Truth Seeker I tried to respond on your site but had difficulties, anyhow great job. :-)

Catching up

11/02/2013Tom, maybe they could have gotten away with spending less during the GFC. We will never know. Overspending, in itself is far better than the underspending. It we underspent, the stimulus would not have worked. To work, it had to be placed in the hands of those who had no choice to spend, quickly. Most of the latter spending was on target outcomes, All very worthy in themselves. Saying that, debt at this time is not a problem. The soundness of the economy is about much more than debt and deficits. We do not have a debt problem. We are moving back to surplus. Labor attempted to move to surplus to fast. Might have got away with that action, if the global economy and ore prices had not deteriorated. All the other economic indicators are good.

LadyInRed

11/02/2013Ad astra I really liked this piece especially where it pointed out the reality of the GFC & the strategy of the coalition & I agree with your "alternate universe" and being sucked in to it. However, I do believe Hockey using the surplus guarantee is a debarcle of Labor's own making, & it is legitimate for the coalition to use it. I don't like having to listen to it but I can see why they are using it to hammer JG and Swann over the head. They took too long to walk away from it. I hope they can keep working on the 'happy to take a political hit - the ecopnomy is too important' mantra. Just read Grattan's first piece on The Conversation. Have to say the standard of the comments have improved ten fold. She just can't stay away from KRudd and intends to continue her coverage of the 'noise'. We shall see. http://theconversation.edu.au/a-fresh-start-to-an-important-political-year-12118

LadyInRed

11/02/2013I should also have added I am happy to see that Joe Hockey and the coalition are also blindly falling into the surplus trap. But I fear they won't walk away from it and that IS going to hurt big time.

Michael

11/02/2013The thing the Coalition loves most about their imaginary world is that they imagine no-one else has a functioning memory. Today in Parliament Abbott announced that he and his Coalition are the best friends Australian workers have. In 2005 another silly little man span out the same line of BS... and went on to lose the next Federal election. http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/workers-await-an-answer-from-their-best-friend/2005/08/10/1123353386914.html You see, Conservatives actually believe the rest of us are stooooopid! We are... but only in their imaginary world.

LadyInRed

11/02/2013Jason re: Grattan spooked by hung parliament. I had a conversation with Margo Kingston regarding her comment. Apparently Margo feels that [i]Michelle wanted to order political chaos by knowing who was in charge. Hung Parliament meant multiple power sources, disturbing. [/i] I'll leave you to digest that. If true - it does explain a lot.

Tom of Melbourne

11/02/2013The economic argument is simple. Swan forecast that Australia would suffer a more significant downturn that it did in the Asian economic crisis -[b]he got it wrong[/b] If he had understood that Australia’s economy is dependent on China’s, not US or Europe, he might have come up with something more accurate. But [b]Swan had another chance[/b], when all the signs pointed to a mild downturn here, [b]Swan didn’t even bother to adjust his program.[/b] Argue all you like, frown on such commentary, or wish the world was different, but they are facts that people here simply find inconvenient. …and a strong economy didn’t save Howard from the wrath of the electorate, you shouldn’t expect it to save Gillard and Swan.

Catching up

11/02/2013Tom, do you realize, you are arguing about issues that occurred under a previous government, years ago. What has that got to do, with what is happening today.

Jason

11/02/2013ToM, Swan Forecast! Treasury forecast more like.

Pikiranku

11/02/2013Brilliant post, AA! One of your best. Very cogently argued. When QT is finished - can't miss that! - I'll come back and read it again.

bob macalba

11/02/2013Ad, Good post as usual sifting out the facts from fantasy, it really annoys the crap out of the trolls and suchlike when faced with facts, and thats always a good thing, sometime in the future this whole period will be fully scrutinized and some peoples role in all this will be noted in history forever, a dark stain on their integrity and character..journos,politicians,crapjocks,interest groups[IPA etc] . Its all out there to haunt them, you cant re-write history in this day and age not with all this information at hand, looking forward to the days.. cheers a few stats from blizzard whacking North America http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/state-state-northeast-snowstorm-18459733

Catching up

11/02/2013It is a forecast, or if one likes a projection, not a promise, as it is now portrayed.

Catching up

11/02/2013Sorry PS Treasury projections.

2353

11/02/2013Lets do a comparison - one side believes in middle class welfare payments that the country can't afford long term rather than infrastructure versus the other side that lets the country effectively escape from the GFC and provides new public and private infrastructure. Who is better at looking after the country's interests? It's a no-brainer. And slightly off topic - the LNP obviously aren't students of history either - most times a political party plays the small target they lose badly. Look at the NSW & Queensland Labor Governments versus Rudd in 2007.

2353

11/02/2013It's nice to see parts of the media might be getting the point. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/opinion/politics/the-big-paradox-of-2013-20130210-2e6g6.html [quote]There is a paradox at the heart of Labor's current woes. It may be politically weak, but Labor in fact has a solid case for re-election. On any objective measure, the Rudd-Gillard governments have been good governments. They have been competent economic managers. They have achieved significant legislative reforms. And while they have had their missteps, no government is immune from error or miscalculation. Advertisement Let's look at the evidence. The economy continues to grow at 3 per cent, and for the 22nd consecutive year. Unemployment remains at 5 per cent. Compare this with the economic trauma in Europe or the sluggish recovery in the US. Labor can claim credit for our rude economic health. Without its stimulus package in response to the global financial crisis, we would likely be in a different place. Beyond this, there has been the establishment of a carbon price, the building of a national broadband network, the beginnings of a National Disability Insurance Scheme. Not to mention the introduction of paid parental leave and plain packaging on cigarettes. Julia Gillard had a point when she told journalists last year to look at the legislative scoreboard. That much of this has been done by a minority government, in the face of a relentlessly negative opposition, only adds to the achievement.[/quote]

Sir Ian Crisp

11/02/2013[quote][i]If you decide to disseminate this post by activating the ‘Disseminate this post’ option in the shaded panel at the foot or top of this piece, it will be sent to the following pre-selected Federal parliamentarians, in alphabetical order: Tony Abbott, Eric Abetz, Adam Bandt, Julie Bishop, David Bradbury, George Brandis, Greg Combet, Mathias Cormann, Craig Emerson, Peter Garratt, Julia Gillard, Joe Hockey, Greg Hunt, Robert Oakeshott, Christopher Pyne, Andrew Robb, Bill Shorten, Arthur Sinodinos, Tony Smith, Wayne Swan, Warren Truss, Malcolm Turnbull, Tony Windsor, Penny Wong and Nick Xenophon.[/i][/quote] Thank you Ad Astra for the chance to ‘disseminate’ your work. I sent an email to the people on your list and I apologised to Peter GARRETT whose surname was mangled by whoever compiled the list of people who might be interested in the blatherings of Ad Astra. I told them that Ad Astra, environmentalist, physician, sage, author of pap, ALP myrmidon, and meteorologist often wrote articles based on opinion and lacking any forethought. I received several replies and the term ‘delusions of grandeur’ was mentioned more than once.

LadyInRed

11/02/2013Gosh ToM I hope that our economic future is not as you say enitrely dependent on China. Because of course it isn't, and its is ignorant of you to say so, and I would think that the many very successful exporters in this nation also dissagree with you. We export a lot more than just minerals.

Jason

11/02/2013Sir Ian, "I received several replies and the term ‘delusions of grandeur’ was mentioned more than once" Funny you say that! I get the same response when I've asked the "Shadow Ministers" for costed policy detail.

Michael

11/02/2013Sir Ian, Re your post above, perhaps you might like to "disseminate" the responses you claim to have received which you also claim include the phrase "delusions of grandeur". In the interests of transparency and honesty.

Catching up

11/02/2013Not that one does not trust. Would also like to see copies of the replies. My experiences of acknowledgement from sites such as Abbott's is two or three days. They point out in the acknowledgements, this is because Abbott does not have the staff to reply quicker.

Ad astra

11/02/2013John Pollock I think this may be your first visit, so welcome to [i]The Political Sword[/i] family. Do come again. You are right about most journalists in this country. Some are escaping to write for overseas media.

Ad astra

11/02/2013Truth Seeker, Catching up, Woodypear, Pappinbarra Fox, Ken, Lyn, 2353, Gravel, LadyinRed, Michael, Pikiranku, bob macalba, jaycee Thank you for your kind remarks and helpful comments. One has only to listen to QT today to have confirmed that the Coalition is living in an imaginary world. Today they were on about the mining tax shortfall and of course the ‘surplus’, again. It’s as if none of the adverse economic events have ever happened in their world of make believe. Of course they know better and have decided that the electorate will swallow their disingenuous utterances, and judging from today’s Essential Report, they will believe they are on the right track. So we can expect more of the same.

paul walter

11/02/2013The only thing that puzzles me is that the Abbott opposition is even the running, let alone just in front. It was one of Adastra's really good ones, this thread starter. although it could be that, just finally finishing Mungo McCallum's "Poll Dancing", on the 2007 election, that my memory of the last decade has been well refreshed enough for this essay to ring bells.

LadyInRed

11/02/2013[i]instead of declaring war on these wealthy people (sic....miners) and accusing them of being evil and in control of the Coalition, the ALP should demonstrate how they made these people into what they are and without the policies of the Hawke and Keating governments, the cooperation of the union movement and the policies that saved Australia from recession during the Global Financial Crisis in 2008 and 2009, these people wouldn’t be anywhere near as wealthy as they are today! As Paul Keating once said in a conversation with Malcolm Turnbull in 2008 “I made you rich!” [/i] http://gordonsthoughts.wordpress.com/2013/02/07/policy-exemplifies-values-connection-authenticity-trust-and-identity/ It's an interesting read. I do sometimes wish the ALP just went about talking about our real values instead of eluding to them. Is it because as soon as you talk like that you get called a commie or a socailist?

Marilyn

11/02/2013One of the Australian's journos. threatened to sue me for libel after I posted on Crikey that the buildings were beautful additions to the schools and he didn't like being called a liar. They continually used the fantasy of the tuck shop in Toomelah as an example, now that tuck shop shrank everytime they wrote the story so I called them on it. I actually took a tour with my daughter of schools large and small in the Barossa Valley to find the waste, I found wonderful class rooms, halls, play grounds with decent equipment, great covered play areas used for town functions and so on. Over 1.1 million homes are insulated and saving the recipients money because the majority of good workers outweighed the tiny number of shonks. The NBN is coming to my region as I speak, I can't wait for it. Digital TV is wonderful, clear vision and pictures for the first time is a joy to behold. Dirty emissions have reduced by 9% since the carbon tax and my bills went up long before the carbon tax so the gangs of corporate thieves could gold plate the wires against a few days of peak demand. Where both major parties fail is on human and civil rights for everyone and not just themselves and their mates.

DMW

11/02/2013ToM @ 1:52 PM [i]Swan forecast that Australia would suffer a more significant downturn that it did in the Asian economic crisis -[b]he got it wrong[/b][/i] There is a nuance that doesn't suit your propostion so it may be difficult to accept: Swan did NOT forecast ... he conveyed to us the forecasts of Treasury and the RBA. Treasury, with input from the RBA, provided advice to the treasurer who, it appears, accepted the advice and acted on it. We do not live in an alternate history world but let's play 'what-if' anyway: [i]What if Swan had ignored the advice and done nothing because he did not want to go into debt? What if you, a family member or a friend had lost their job? Would you have been critical of Swan for not saving their job by not going into debt?[/i] ToM, no matter what, all you seem to want is your piece of [b]grumble pie [/b] and I suspect you are one of those people who are never happy unless they are unhappy. It must be a conundrum of a life you lead.

DMW

11/02/2013Hi Marilyn, thanks for the 'on the ground' report from the Barossa Valley. Did you perchance take a note of how many coalition MHR's or Senators had their names embossed on the brass plaques commemorating the opening of the facilities? Fair bet more than would have claimed credit for having the facilities built. Btw, this: [b]The story of Mustafa[/b] @ Independent Australia http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/australian-identity/new-australians/the-story-of-mustafa/ broke my heart and caused so much anger it took three or four goes to read it. Good bit of 'reporting' there, keep up the good fight :)

LadyInRed

11/02/2013DMW - I think you hit the nail on the head. [i]ToM, no matter what, all you seem to want is your piece of grumble pie and I suspect you are one of those people who are never happy unless they are unhappy. It must be a conundrum of a life you lead.[/i] I'll add - and he is forever looking for a connection with others even if its not a good fit.

Ad astra

11/02/2013Marilyn Thank you for your informative comment about the positive outcomes of some Government initiatives that you have experienced, ones neither the Coalition nor your journalist correspondent wish to acknowledge.

Ad astra

11/02/2013DMW Well said.

Ad astra

11/02/2013Sir Ian How generous of you to disseminate this post and by so doing endorse its content. Thank you for detecting the ‘Garratt’ error, now corrected to ‘Garrett’ – Yes, Sir!

janice

11/02/2013Marilyn, I very nearly didn't read your comment but I am so glad I did not by-pass it. It is so good to read clear and positive remarks about the achievements of this government which, despite the negative criticism from the opposition benches endeavouring to steep the whole lot into the failure file, people appreciate and enjoy. The concerns you, and many others, hold regarding human rights issues are important and worthy but these issues will never ever be resolved by angry discourse, or abusing a government which does what it can within the constraints of juggling the diverse views of the whole of the nation and governing for all of them. In the end, it is by education and a softly, softly approach that change occurs and is accepted. Nothing is achieved by a government which tries to bring about change by bullying behaviour which is seen as arrogance, so that the electorate chucks them out of office the first chance it gets. Gently, gently with patience and reason is the way to go Marilyn and you will be heard. :)

bob macalba

11/02/2013For ToM and sic, this should bring a tear to your eyes, your battle cry http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEaKX9YYHiQ too close to home?

bob macalba

11/02/2013Marilyn..ditto what janice said, remember 'softly softly cathchee monkey' looking forward to not having to scroll past. cheers

bob macalba

11/02/2013Labor here in Oz, pay attention to this, the younger vote http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/11/us/politics/in-montana-young-liberal-and-open-to-big-government.html?hpw&_r=0

bilko

11/02/2013AA with you 100% of the way, as I read through the points it turn my stomach, how they can look in the mirror and not feel diminished is beyond me. But then they will try anything to get into government just remember the Dismissal I cannot and I was not politically active then. The question is how to combat it as the MSM on mass do not listen for any number of reasons. My proposal is that during QT in both houses, is that the Government backbenchers ask questions on other solutions to our problems where the respective ministers get up and RIDICULE the noalitions policies starting with "direct action" then "Stimulus proposals" and so on. Ridicule is a very effective weapon that will show them up plus list all of them who plead for the NBN, turned up at the BER openings after voting against them. Put these points in the ALP election handout material and just keep hammering them right up to the election.

Todd

11/02/2013great article. the libs and their media mates lie so often its hard to single any one particular lie out as being the worst but in my eyes it was their disgusting performance aided by news limited over the BER. how a program that was 97% successful despite having to be implemented quickly and helped keep thousands of workers off the dole queue during the worst economic downturn in decades can be viewed as a failure is beyond belief if not for the fact that the media chose that 'narrative' to help their political cause. i think that the thing that really pissed the libs and their cheerleaders off was not some beat up over waste and mismanagement but rather their blackhearted view on public education. i mean how dare public school kids enjoy an undercover area or modern library when some elite schools have to cope with only single digit rowing sheds and polo fielda!

Ad astra

11/02/2013paul walter, bilko, Todd Thank you for your positive remarks about this piece, and for your additional comments. It is exasperating to witness the disingenuousness of the Coalition and their media compatriots. It leaves one open-mouthed at their audacity, their willingness to lie, deceive, and misinform in order to gain power. They surely can’t believe their own spin; they are not stupid. So it boils down to lying, pure and simple.

KHTAGH

11/02/2013AA How do you do it. You are a beacon of light in the darkness of spite & bile from the LOTO. You articulate what all of us have running around in our heads nearly sending us mad, the lightning rod of sanity in this yr of electoral turmoil. Marilyn I offer you my sincerest apology for any remarks I have made about you in past posts. Please accept my apologies, I did say once that your are a very articulate & intelligent writer, I was right. I have notice a definite change in your approach in a lot of other sites as well. Honey works much better.

2353

11/02/2013Marilyn - nice comment. May there be many more. And the idea of seeing how many BER Projects opened by a Federal LNP Politician would be eyeopening. THe local ones were opened by an ALP MP, I've checked :)

Tom of Melbourne

11/02/2013DMW, I’ll have you know that I’m a very witty and erudite conversationalist. Greatly admired by all friends and acquaintances. But I see no reason to extend this benefit to most of the types who gravitate here. It’s a site that despises diversity of opinion despite its pretensions. My only objective is to occasionally point out the hopeless inaccuracies written here. Ad Astra's piece today contains just too many, I only corrected a few of the headline ones.

Ken

11/02/2013bilko agree entirely. I was only reminded the other day of Fraser's cmapaign phrase against Hawke that people would have to keep their money under their beds if Labor was elected. Hawke's response was along the lines that there was no room under the bed because the "reds" were already there. Ridiculing the other side with humour is a very effective way to go and I only hope a few more of the Government can learn that trait. While Australians can appreciate a serious leader, a bit of wry banter can be just as effective!

DMW

11/02/2013ToM, pointing out supposed inaccuracies using inaccurate statements rather defeats your purpose tho' As to you being [i]a very witty and erudite conversationalist [/i] please drop me an invite to one of your gatherings so I can see how you measure up :)

Ken

11/02/2013One thing I have noted is what is now missing from the LNP slogans. While they are on and on about the debt, they haven't reintroduced the debt truck and, interestingly, I haven't heard in a long while that "interest rates will always be lower under a Coalition government". The fact that they seem to have abandoned that one at least indicates a small recognition of reality and they are being forced to change their slogans. But I must admit they keep coming up with new ones - I wonder who their writer is? It would be fascinating to go back and check some of their earlier slogans and see how many still survive.

jaycee

11/02/2013"DMW, I’ll have you know that I’m a very witty and erudite conversationalist. Greatly admired by all friends and acquaintances."....yes, that's right, there was this other French guy who also could fart the French national anthem!

Tom of Melbourne

11/02/2013[i] using inaccurate statements[/i] What… calling it Swan’s forecast? I’m afraid that’s pretty lame criticism. Swan claimed the entire package, and Swan didn’t change his economic settings when the forecast proved to be so inaccurate. As a result we have more debt than the economic circumstances required. I think Australia’s debt has increased fourfold in 6 years - that’s a very steep increase.

Ad astra

11/02/2013KHTAGH Thank you for your supportive and encouraging comment. There are so few in the MSM that gives credence to PM Gillard and her Government. Someone must. Wasn’t it good though to read Tim Soutphommasane’s article this morning in [i]Brisbane Times[/i]: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/opinion/politics/the-big-paradox-of-2013-20130210-2e6g6.html Such articles are too few, too far between. I hope the advent of [i]The Guardian[/i] in Australian media will give another more balanced outlet. I see Lenore Taylor is leaving Fairfax to join it.

Catching up

11/02/2013Tom, do yourself a favour. Watch Four Corners. Is this what you want for this country.

bob macalba

11/02/2013Was he trying to warn us against an Abbort govt? warning the fools what it would be like? http://www.metacafe.com/watch/2549920/bob_marley_and_the_wailers_time_will_tell_kaya_version/ jah would never give the power to a bald head cheers

Sir Ian Crisp

11/02/2013[quote][i]Sir Ian, Re your post above, perhaps you might like to "disseminate" the responses you claim to have received which you also claim include the phrase "delusions of grandeur". In the interests of transparency and honesty. Michael [/i][/quote] Michael, I would like to ‘disseminate’ the responses but alas they are just like the evanescence of a Wayne Swan budget surplus; here one moment and then nothing. I’ll check the ALP “Book of Excuses” to see how I can explain it any better. I don’t believe that Marilyn was the person who added comments in this thread. The comments contained no expletives so obviously Marilyn was not the author.

TalkTurkey

11/02/2013Any Tweeps, please try to send a tweet to #qanda demanding Brough Ashby Pyne Doane Lewis et al COME CLEAN on #ASHBYGATE!

Jason

11/02/2013Sir Ian Crisp " I’ll check the ALP “Book of Excuses” to see how I can explain it any better" No need to I found the page! it said follow Sir Ian Crips lead and Lie and if that doesn't work lie again. When that fails just lie

jaycee

11/02/2013Ah!...I see Sir Ian has to consult a "book of excuses"...always loves a "book" does our gamblin' man! You like a bet, Ian...what's the bet your mate Anthony A. shoots his mouth off before the month is out?....3/1? 5/1? 10/1?..ON?

Jason

11/02/2013Capstan Say what you like! use your skills and find me then tell me! Put up or shut up!

jaycee

11/02/2013"lefty luvvies" "addie" "toodles"...!!!?? Is this person an extension of a "Little Britain" joke-line?

jaycee

11/02/2013Surely someone knows of a war going on somewhere where we can send this "hero"?

Casablanca

11/02/2013Wow! Pope Benedict resigns, effective 28 February, 2013 at 20.00 hrs, AEST. Queen Beatrice tendered her resignation recently. Who next?

Jason

11/02/2013A VATICAN spokesperson has confirmed Pope Benedict XVI will resign on February 28, making him the first Pope to do so since 1415. The 85-year-old Pope announced his decision in Latin during a meeting of Vatican cardinals. http://www.news.com.au/world/pope-in-shock-resignation-says-vatican/story-fndir2ev-1226575738886

Jason

11/02/2013jaycee, Mock away no one gives a toss about Capstan and his service in the salvation army or the green army or was it the mud army during the QLD floods

AngryBee

11/02/2013Did my eyes and ears deceive me, or did Tony Jones just give that sorry excuse for a shadow AG, a moderately hard time over LOTO's media no-show policy.. I had just woken up from a long doze so missed the first 40mins, was I dreaming..? Did Brandis really just say we should use all of TA's past statements to judge what sort of PM he's make..? 'Cause that's leaving TA WIDE open! It seemed placing Corrine next to Brandis was excellent, gave her a close target to ridicule. Also seemed like more anti-LieNP twitters were put to air also this week. Can someone tell me if its worth watching the whole show on iview, or was the last 15 minutes an abberation..?

KHTAGH

11/02/2013AngryBee worth it for once

Jason

11/02/2013Capstan, Keep putting that glass jaw out there!When I see your comrades from the salvation army selling war cry at the pub on Friday I'll buy a copy and put some lose change in the collection box.

AngryBee

11/02/2013Thanks Knee High, I will iview with my lunch tomorrow - for once Q+A won't give me indigestion. I was wondering, since we are seeing some very minor changes in attitude to LOTO in msm, whether some in msm last couple of years were just making mischief/being bullies because the Govt was perceived as weak and an easy target, and now that election is looming they are looking at LieNP and TA more closely. It could also be with The Guardian Aus version launching in a few weeks (yay), the msm hacks are about to be shown up as the biased incompetent fools we know they are.. Whatever the reason, let hope the slight and random changing of msm attitudes becomes a growing trend, not just a blip!

Casablanca

11/02/2013Hey Jason, I beat you by 4 mins on that Papal Bull!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_bull

Jason

11/02/2013LIR, But I was distracted by some tamborine waving fool! Sorry!

jane

12/02/2013Ad astra, a great post as usual, encompassing all that is rotten in the state of Liardom and their facilitators in the msm. ToM, who are the "intelligent" economists you refer to? Certainly not ones with an international reputation for excellence. Ad astra is right, unemployment did not reach the forecast 8-10% because of the stimulus, but it may well have if the stimulus was cut short. As it happened, it didn't reach the predicted figures which were no doubt a worst case scenario, but so what? Hindsight is a wonderful thing Do you honestly think Swan should have just ignored the possibility of double digit unemployment? We know the Liars were quite prepared to do so, but all that proves is they don't give a toss about anyone except the rich. Frankly, if it takes a bit of debt to avoid high unemployment and the wreckage it causes, I don't care. Better that than the alternative. And please don't keep repeating that old furphy about our children having to pay off the debt. It's nonsense and you know it is. And still with the crap that Gillard single handedly "knifed" Rudd. You know very well that it is impossible for one person to remove the leader of a political party; it is determined by a vote of the caucus, so please stop insulting our intelligence, with this nonsense. It may be possible in an alternate reality, but not in this one. And despite all your fond wishes, his colleagues resoundingly confirmed their 2009 decision. You can't change their decision or their opinion of Rudd, no matter how much you keep flogging the deceased nag.

Ad astra reply

12/02/2013Jane Thank you for your kind remarks. I agree with what you say.

bob macalba

12/02/2013what do you call a pope who retires? ex Benedict...... it took only minutes before that joke was out there shit.. my first word on re-captcha....'philistines'..

KHTAGH

12/02/2013AA Time for a total ban maybe, is it possible? can he be blocked, I check TPS on a very regular basis & I would prefer not to have to scroll his crap, his abuse of you & other people here is beyond the pale, first thing in the morning & last thing of a night, just so crapstain gets his jollies off with his bile being posted.

Michael

12/02/2013Capstan does what his 'name' means - spins on one immovable spot.

Ad astra

12/02/2013KHTAGH I think Capstan may have left us. Let's see if he has any other tricks up his sleeve.

bob macalba

12/02/2013Ad normally i scroll the troll, but totally agree with KHTAGH on this particular nutters crap, it is over the top, a coward with access to the net, i dont mind a bit of argy bargy but this wally is just crass, a sick individual, and did i mention a coward

Pappinbarra Fox

12/02/2013[quote]Wow! Pope Benedict resigns, effective 28 February, 2013 at 20.00 hrs, AEST. Queen Beatrice tendered her resignation recently. Who next? Casablanca [/quote] Why our current LOTO of course, Do it Tones, do it NOW!! Fall on your sword - for the good of the nation. Benedict eggs did it for the good of the kirk you too can follow his lead. Do it Do it NOW.

TalkTurkey

12/02/2013Grasshopper *Crapstain* LOL!

Lyn

12/02/2013TODAY’S LINKS The NDIS: What even is it and why do we need it @mrtiedt, most Liberal Premiers refused to buy in http://ausvotes2013.com/2013/02/11/the-ndis-what-even-is-it-and-why-do-we-need-it/ Beware of scammers asking for NDIS fees Hon Jan McLucas, not be seeking fees from anyone http://jennymacklin.fahcsia.gov.au/node/2230 Do as I say, … by @btckr , Barrie doesn’t provide any details either http://truthinmediaresourcecentre.wordpress.com/2013/02/11/do-as-i-say/ Independent media must take Fairfax’s place @margokingston1, the ABC comes under enormous threat http://australiansforhonestpolitics.wordpress.com/2013/02/11/independent-media-must-take-fairfaxs-place/ The Invisible Man by @MigloCW , carry on like a crazed baboon during Question Time http://cafewhispers.wordpress.com/2013/02/11/the-invisible-man/ Careless political words by Sarah Burnside, http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/politics/careless-political-words/ Abbott’s unchanging front bench will change Australia by Barry Everingham. be very careful on polling day http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/politics/abbotts-unchanging-front-bench-will-change-australia/ Losing the narrative, @KingsTribune self-perpetuating boys’ club domination http://kingstribune.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=1719:losing-the-narrative&Itemid=375 Outrageous slur appears on ABC News website @abcgonetohell outrageous slur against the Prime Minister http://abcgonetohell.net/2013/02/11/706/ Labor sticks by MRRT despite low revenue by David Twomey criticising Gov.“Just shut up,” Senator Evans said http://econews.com.au/news-to-sustain-our-world/labor-sticks-by-mrrt-despite-low-revenue/ And the Voters go “Tweet” by @attardmon, Twitter particularly sensitive about political issues http://thehoopla.com.au/election-13-same/ Will data decide the next Prime Minister? by Richard McLaren. 16 million Australians are now online http://mumbrella.com.au/will-data-decide-the-next-prime-minister-138260 PM announces extension of work place plan for new parents , By Tracy Watkins , extend Australia's flexible work laws to http://www.theguardian.com.au/story/1290837/pm-announces-extension-of-work-place-plan-for-new-parents/?cs=12 Criminal Law: Mal Brough and AshbyGate @BowlerBarrister brought himself within umbrella of QLD Criminal Code http://marshallchambers.weebly.com/1/post/2013/02/criminal-law-mal-brough-and-ashbygate.html NBN Multicast: Australia's TV distribution revolution by Richard Chirgwin, http://www.abc.net.au/technology/articles/2013/02/11/3687398.htm Can Sydney Green The Grid? by Justin Field and Norman Thompson, http://newmatilda.com/2013/02/11/can-sydney-green-grid No, says Julie Bishop, you can’t have it all! Actually, that all depends, says Julie Bishop, by Angela Priestly you can’t have it all! Actually, that all depends. http://www.womensagenda.com.au/talking-about/editor-s-agenda/no-says-julie-bishop-you-cant-have-it- Packer goes public: How to make your pitch perfect by @KathWalters build a public persona and win public sympathy. http://www.leadingcompany.com.au/strategy/packer-goes-public-how-to-make-your-pitch-perfect/201302113649 Today’s Front Pages Australia Newspaper Front Pages for 12 February 2013 http://www.frontpagestoday.co.uk/index.cfm?PaperCountry=Australia

Ad astra

12/02/2013LYN'S DAILY LINKS updated: http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/page/LYNS-DAILY-LINKS.aspx

Janet (Jan @j4gypsy)

12/02/2013 Ad, in awe, as always. A brilliant deconstruction of how the imaginary world works. I think the ‘why’ of the imaginary world is in your line ‘a deliberately constructed product of strategic planners in the Coalition and at News Limited’. As you say about Hockey, they lie for political ends. And lie and lie. This article, widely disseminated, will help to make the political intent of the lying more obvious. Ad: also thank you so much for sending jaycee the email address and thank you for getting the crap detector working again. Much appreciated. Knee High: Bravo for emailing the PM with your address to nation idea. Did you get a proforma or an individual response? Gravel and Bob M: thanks for the ‘wanderer’ wishes. I would indeed like to report back on a bit of ‘vox popping’ as I wander through various areas in NSW, SA an d Vic. There are drawbacks in voxpop reflections, though: conversations with those who only ever pull information from the fourth estate, even if left leaning, are likely to be negative for the govt. (for all the reasons Ad’s latest piece defines!) The task is to (maybe gently) challenge and question in any conversation on the political – to bring in the rational link between values/policies/facts and outcomes. One has to have an understanding of these at the fingertips though, to engage in any conversation. Would like to come back to that thought in a wee while. But it is a delight! to have Marilyn’s direct reporting of the outcomes of BER in the Barossa. If vox popping can contain evidence of outcomes against the lies, then we're getting more of what we need to hear and repeat. DMW: Have sent you a DM. Arriving the Wamboin area today. – off Sutton Road. [b]A little Twitterati[/b] [i]The Megaphone Geek ‏@geeksrulz[/i] BREAKING: Australia's First Female Prime Minister outlasts Michelle Grattan and the Pope. Who will be next? #auspol #ExBenedict [i]SirLeslieHammondQC ‏@LeslieHammondQC[/i] Pope resigns - sign of Gillard's poor judgement... [i]Nick Andrew ‏@elronxenu[/i] God announces immediate restructuring; planetary branch office to close indefinitely. [i]Kiera ‏@KieraGorden[/i] Pretty sure Steve Lewis was told of the Pope's resignation last night.#ExBenedict [i]Bridget O'Flynn ‏@BridgetOFlynn[/i] Last time Twitter could make jokes about a Pope resigning was in 1415. Love watching real history being made. [i]Peter Hinton ‏@peterjhinton[/i] I see. A National Broadband Network is stupid. A Tropical Tax Zone is a "big bold idea". Got it. Thanks. #qanda [i]Noely ‏@YaThinkN[/i] Anyone else noticed that all the IPA boys sort of have the same white clean cut look? Secretly bred in a bunker somewhere? #QandA [b]Even less Twitterverse[/b] [i]Kate ‏@Kat4e4[/i] Why Gillard Labor Might Win: http://www.ellistabletalk.com/2013/02/10/why-gillard-labor-might-win/ … It will of course help if she reinstates single parents payments. Cos that's bad Policy [i]Penny Allman-Payne ‏@PJAllmanPayne[/i] And the news on Labor and the environment doesn't get any better, with Labor's plans to hand back federal... http://fb.me/2MqR6IbQ0 [i]Margaret Clark ‏@MargaretClark12[/i] Clever video. Why even climate sceptics should support action on climate change. Try it on your pet sceptics http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=zORv8wwiadQ&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DzORv8wwiadQ … [i]Natasha Mitchell ‏@natashamitchell[/i] This is happening in Australia. The rental affordability crisis is really that. A genuine crisis. Real. Now. http://bit.ly/WZiRdM @4corners [i]Stephen Feneley ‏@feneleyandco[/i] @JaneTribune echoing what many politically engaged folk think about the #Canberra press gallery http://kingstribune.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=1719:losing-the-narrative&Itemid=375 … #MSM #election #media [i]Chris Barrett ‏@selga55[/i] Because he is a self serving idiot with no regard for the party Kevin Rudd's antics hard to follow http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/party-games-antics-hard-to-follow/story-e6frerdf-1226574889172?sv=b5bce1ab2f3441efd41a739eb497f3b4#.UReOR_xUVWE.twitter … via@couriermail [i]David Marler ‏@Qldaah[/i] #auspol #qldpol #AusVotes #NDIS has its roots in Aus2020 summit.I had a chat with my local MP @KRuddMP abt that: http://ht.ly/hzW0I [i]Space Kidette ‏@SpaceKidette[/i] Labor finally sights the super monsterhttp://www.canberratimes.com.au/opinion/politics/labor-finally-sights-the-super-monster-20130208-2e3jq.html … via @canberratimes [i]Mark Whalan ‏@MWhalan[/i] Please read and RT http://www.smh.com.au/business/carbon-economy/rising-risk-prices-out-new-coalfired-plants-report-20130207-2e0s4.html … Pivot point on 100% renewable has been reached!

Jason

12/02/2013Ad, You don't see many articles like this! TONY Abbott, the action man of the surf, the cycle, the quad-bike and the pulsing fire hose, seems to be running scared. In fact, when it comes to any form of close scrutiny, the bloke is making himself such a small target he'd be hard to spot even clad in one of his presumably vast collection of high-vis work vests. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/timid-tony-abbott-tenders-tiny-target/story-e6freon6-1226575659257

Ad astra

12/02/2013Hi Lyn Thank you again for your fine set of links and for your kind comments about this piece. I see that it takes a Papal resignation, a sports drug scandal, or ICAC to get the Government off the Front Pages. PMJG must be relieved to not be in the MSM sights for a while. The [i]IA[/i] article: [i]Careless political words[/i] is a gem: http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/politics/careless-political-words/ It is acutely relevant to this piece, which describes how the Coalition uses words deliberately to promulgate its deception about the state of our nation and how it is being managed by PM Gillard and her Government. The classic example quoted is Joe Hockey’s Humpty Dumpty utterances about interest rates. I enjoyed playing the video clip of Humpty Dumpty explaining to Alice how he uses words, and how he gives them any meaning he desires. Coalition minders seem adept at assembling words, slogans and catchphrases that Coalition heavyweights repeat on cue at doorstops, where probing is usually absent. It is what has kept them in the race, but how well will it serve them when we approach the final furlongs?

bob macalba

12/02/2013new political party, and i dont know what to think, http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/national/new-political-party-rise-up-australia-wants-muslim-intake-cuts/story-fndo1gb8-1226575716789 ps.. seeing as its next weeks paper it might be worth looking for any lotto results

bob macalba

12/02/2013The election of a lifetime, game on for abbort and Gillard http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=14681

Ad astra

12/02/2013Janet Thank you for your complimentary remarks. Yes, I believe that deception is a deliberate Coalition strategy. Whatever else we think about Coalition members or their minders and strategists, we must never believe they are stupid. They are clever and cunning, and will give us more of the same, convinced, as they are, that they are on the right track that leads to The Lodge. Thank you too for another batch of interesting Twitterati. I was taken particularly by Peter Hannam’s [i]Rising risk prices out new coal-fired plants[/i], an article Tony Abbott and Greg Hunt ought to read, but I expect they will not, as their coal mining masters bellow in their ears, drowning out anything that questions the future of coal. http://www.smh.com.au/business/carbon-economy/rising-risk-prices-out-new-coalfired-plants-report-20130207-2e0s4.html Capstan seems to have faded away, but let’s not underestimate the capacity of such irritants to return like an annoying rash. Time will tell.

Ad astra

12/02/2013Jason That was an interesting piece by Paul Syvret, whom I have observed is much less enamoured of the would-be PM than most of his colleagues. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/timid-tony-abbott-tenders-tiny-target/story-e6freon6-1226575659257 I sense that ‘Abbott’s Retreat’ is increasingly irritating the media. It was noticeable last night on [i]Q&A[/i] that Tony Jones was annoyed at Abbott’s reluctance to appear on his show, and on serious long interviews on the ABC. He reacted forcefully to the noticeably vigorous defence of Abbott by George Brandis and the IPA’s James Paterson. The audience applauded Jones’ reaction, and the acerbic asides of Corinne Grant. I predict Abbott’s so-called ‘small target strategy’ will backfire on him and the Coalition. The media has been tolerant of his evasive behaviour for a long while now, but even complaint journalists have their limits. They need stories in their increasingly high-pressure environment and will soon react angrily if Abbott continues to be evasive.

Casablanca

12/02/2013[b]Excellent article about Tiny Target Tony. [/b] Join Paul Syvret at noon today to discuss this issue. Could be interesting. paul.syvret@news.com.au http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/timid-tony-abbott-tenders-tiny-target/story-e6freon6-1226575659257

Ad astra

12/02/2013bob macalba Danny Nalliah has an established reputation with his ‘Catch the Fire Ministries’. That he used climate denier ‘Lord Monckton’ to speak at his launch speaks volumes about Nalliah’s radical views. He won’t get far, but will attract nutters, and if one can judge from those attending the launch, ‘normal looking’ people, somehow attracted to his racist views.

Ad astra

12/02/2013AngryBee I think you will find the replay of [i]Q&A[/i] fascinating. The pro-Abbott, anti-Gillard stance that we have seen in the past was not present last night. The media and the public seem to be slowly waking up to Abbott’s hollowness; the awakening began to appear last night on [i]Q&A[/i].

DoodlePoodle

12/02/2013[quote]But in its make-believe bubble, the Coalition scarcely recognized the peril we faced, the potential it presented for massive unemployment, and the danger it posed to business. It criticized the Government’s actions. Malcolm Turnbull, in his Woodford Festival address last month, flagellated the Government for saying that the Coalition had voted against the stimulus package, insisting it had voted for it. In an address on truth in politics, it was curious that Turnbull chose to tell only half the truth. The Coalition had voted for the smaller first tranche but against the larger second. In the bubble that Turnbull lives with his Coalition colleagues, he apparently believes what he says. That is the problem.[/quote] Another great article AA. I wonder if any of the Nopposition watched Four Corners last night. I wonder if they reflected on what could have happened but for the swift action of the ALP. Whether the voters were thankful that the unemployment problems in USA are not a fact of life here. Why worry about a surplus - we all talk about saving money for a rainy day and the GFC was that rainy day.

Ad astra

12/02/2013 Doodle Poodle Thank you for your generous compliment. I too wonder what Coalition supporters felt about [i]Four Corners[/i] last night. Did they consider the possibility that the same level of unemployment, homelessness and poverty that occurred in the US, might have occurred here had the Government not implemented its stimulus strategy? I suspect that would not even have crossed their mind. I thought that edition of [i]Four Corners[/i] was the saddest I have seen for a long, long while, exposing as it did the homelessness, the unemployment, even of well qualified people, the abject poverty, the distress of parents, the family turmoil resulting from living in cramped motel rooms, or in crowded vehicles in car parks, or even under overpass bridges, the separation of wife and husband as the latter sought work far away, the frustration of trying to complete job applications while being harassed by young children, the menial, poorly paid tasks some had to endure, the awful diet that was forced upon families by poverty, the emotional and mental stress, day after day, month after month, year after year. It brought back to me distressing memories of my early years during the Great Depression where homeless men came regularly to our home asking for a feed, which they always received. My first job aspiration was to be a builder, to build homes for these men. We ought to be so grateful that Australia avoided the extremes that we saw last night, so grateful that the Government preferred to go into debt to sustain employment and business and the Australian economy, when the Opposition would have done the opposite. Yet the Coalition has the temerity, the hide to crucify the Government for its job-saving, business-saving, economy-saving actions. It’s no wonder that Labor supporters are so angry, so frustrated with the disingenuous behaviour of the Coalition, with its lack of concern for working people and small business and for the health of our economy, as it relentlessly pursues its self interest, its quest for power.

LadyInRed

12/02/2013I too saw that 4 corners program It was the sadest and the most depressing thing I have seen in such a long time. There is no safety net, none. This is a message that has to get out there. Conservative government brought it about & its left to a social government to try to sort the mess, without any extra, in fatc less taxes. Capitalise the profits and socialise the losses. And still we see the uber rich unwilling to part with their dollars to pay legimitate taxes. Unbelievable. I don't want to live in a society like that. Ultra conservative governments - who'd want one? Who would actively put one in government other than people who have been hoodwinked by a complicit media. Agree Q&A was better last night people willing to put TAbbott under scrutiny - good to see.

Michael

12/02/2013Abbott has gone truly 'troppo'. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-12/abbott-imposes-travel-ban-on-coalition-mps/4514362 Here Abbott tells Coalition parliamentarians that they can't leave Australia for any reason because Labor might call an election at a moment's notice. You can fly back from London under thirty hours, Ulan Bator maybe forty... The voters in any given electorate will hold it against their Coalition member if he's two (Hell, let's get spooked as Tough Tony, three, or even, shiver, four days) late to kick off their re-election activities???? This is from the man hiding IN Australia. Seriously, I mean, seriously, how would an idiot like this bloke run a government, run a country, with piss-ant stupidity like this the standard for orders from the top?

Michael

12/02/2013Perhaps the following list explains why the Coalition gets away with so much BS. The least commented article of the top ten, found here http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/politicians-and-journalists-in-lockstep-on-march-of-idiocy-20130206-2dyoo.html where Coalition/mainstream press shenanigans are well and truly aired, seems to have elicited "ho hum" from the so-called 'thinking spreadsheet readers'. Australia is going to dumb-vote itself into a Federal government with a collective IQ the waist-size of Abbott's Speedos. Most commented articles, Fairfax Press, listed in SMH Feb 12 2013 * Articles 1. What? No children? Fending off the final female taboo 586 comments 2. The big paradox of 2013 556 comments 3. Tortured justifications for brutality in hunt for Osama bin Laden 448 comments 4. The real Tony: bona fide top bloke or wolf in sheep's clothing? 403 comments 5. Tropical tax zone plan destined to be a grand failure 399 comments 6. Labor plans tax rise for highest super earners 333 comments 7. Pregnant women who smoke are easy targets for the morality police 297 comments 8. Parliament's air of uncertainty as nerves are rattled 239 comments 9. Katter's world causing cluster headaches ... 200 comments 10. Politicians and journalists in lockstep on march of idiocy... 194 comments

TalkTurkey

12/02/2013Ad astra You shine the clear light of Truth on these crabbed people. There is not really anything to add to what you say about them. Except perhaps that, being of a decent disposition yourself, you may have under-estimated - or anyway under-emphasized - the degree of malevolence many of them evince. It is akin to road-rage, hatred made flesh. We would have reason to be very afraid, were we not daunted by the coming fight by dint of our leadership and our economy, our comradeship and our new means of spreading truthful information in seconds. But our enemies are mighty, and unrelenting, living in their self-unquestioned fantasy of being Born~to~Rule Better~than~Yousers. Religiosity compounds their arrogance. The mainstream media supports them, being largely [i]of[/i] them (or thinking themselves so anyway). And Big Money is their base. That is why The Political Sword and other simpatico sites, Twitter and Facebook are so vital. Our power is in our shared knowledge and our burgeoning ability to call the Abborttians and their sycophants on their lies. Anyway here's a Tweet, (might've been Gypsied already, I think, but I bounced off Twitter, mais whatever) it's Bob Ellis at his better. (Because one day I'm'a write a little about his [i]worse! heh heh.)[/i] [i]From Kanga Pops‏@KangaCourt2 @TonyAbbottMHR @JoeHockey RT @davrosz: Ratsinger's resignation spells the end for the Mad Monk, says Bob Ellis. http://tinyurl.com/bwwl44j[/i] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A few days ago I mentioned having been blocked by Margo Kingston on Twitter and I said I'd explain it a bit better. Right, there's la Grattan just leaving The Age behind her (no pun intended :)), and MK writes a glowing endorsement of her abilities and how she'll be so great in her new role journalising junior journalists at some uni or other (I think). Well several others wrote contradictory responses, saying they thought she's been (wtte) RW bigoted and shallow in the last few years. One in particular opined that Grattan would turn the young journalists wtte tabloidal nasty and stupid. (I don't remember the words btw but I don't think I'm distorting the gist much.) MK retorted to that one that she had been mentored by Grattan herself, and that [i]she[/i] wasn't stupid, etc. And that was where I commented, and I told MK that yes that was the problem, Grattan [i]used to be [/i]OK but she had (I said) become rancid as (a certain unpleasant sounding substance I won't repeat because to do so would be a breach of faith with MK. But I'm sticking to my term *rancid*.) Anyway very shortly MK tweeted me saying she had blocked me because I had offended her. So I said sorry for having offended her and that I thought she herself was ace, and that I was just really infuriated by the MSM on behalf of my country, and that I held Grattan well up among those I hold responsible. (All in a couple of Tweets!) But be sure, my Sorry was unequivocal and sincere. She unblocked me forthwith with the admonition that it was my last chance. For which I applauded her. I'd have done the same thing in reversed positions ... not that that is possible atm, because I've never blocked anyone. Anyway the [i]kicker[/i] was that quite a few other people wrote in independently to MK saying very much the same thing I had, perhaps not quite so colourfully but with every bit as much sincerity and gravity. And several people followed me for it, I love that when I earn it by saying something that rings bells with others. Anyway I do see Margo Kingston as being very useful to us, Tory or no, because Truth and Facts are independent of opinion, and the ones she is concerned with relate to #Ashbygate as are we. She has the respect and contacts to make her comments sting, (and I had said so before the above events happened, as well as doing so since.) She is certainly productive! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I've been blocked by only a few people, I don't know why for hardly any of them but that's their prerogative ... But I DO object to being blocked by ABC24! And I seem to be an orphan in that - and I think it's orphal! :)

Catching up

12/02/2013Sis anyone noticed, those families living in cars with their babies, where middle class. Not uneducated, lazy individuals. That is what was so terrifying about the show.

Catching up

12/02/2013I heard a comment, that pointed out, what protects us from poverty, is a job.

Ad astra

12/02/2013Michael Abbott’s injunction looks like a panic reaction. Why would he fear an early election after PM Gillard has announced a September 14 date? Is paranoia affecting clear thinking? Yet, while he wants his troops around, [b]he]/b] wants to hide – for seven months! The more Abbott hides, the more suspicion will surround him, the more journalists will be bursting to get under his skin. I’m not surprised by the results of the Fairfax survey. Talk Turkey Thank you again for your ever-present support. The malevolence of the Coalition, of which you speak, lurks just under the surface, not obvious to his media sycophants, but when it erupts, all hell will break loose as these journalists realize they have been conned for years. The Bob Ellis article: [i]Ratsinger’s resignation spells the end for the Mad Monk[/i] is astonishing. I can’t follow Ellis’ reasoning, but will look on with interest. http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/politics/ratsingers-resignation-spells-the-end-for-the-mad-monk/ Catching up You are right – the people featured on [i]Four Corners[/i] were not the down and out.

LadyInRed

12/02/2013Catching up No-one deserves to have to live in a car, regardless of education.

jaycee

12/02/2013AA. as I was raised in the Catholic Doctrine (I refuse to call it faith) I know exactly what Ellis is saying...it is poetic flow, a damnation of the baying, salivating dogs of war!..a curse on the entire institution.

LadyInRed

12/02/2013I believe you are off a wandering Jan & we wont be hearing as much from you. Have a lovely time and thanks so much for your contribution its been truly welcomed.

paul walter

12/02/2013I think the pope deserves a pat on the back for realising and admitting some thing none of his predecessors have been able to do , namely that an old man of eighty five is not the strongest option for the top job in an organisation whose thinking and actions can affect hundreds of millions of people. And if one hidebound tradition can be finally discarded maybe the door will be opened for the pitching out of more obsolete thinking, such as with contraception.

KHTAGH

12/02/2013Jan Only automated reply so far.

Lyn

12/02/2013Hi Ad and Everybody, Ad did you notice today in Question Time, Coalition questions were all deliberately creating deception. I’m saying to myself that’s a stupid question and then I realized they are doing exactly what you said. Ad you said:- [i]It is acutely relevant to this piece, which describes how the Coalition uses words deliberately to promulgate its deception about the state of our nation. [/i] Glad you enjoyed the Independent article, so did I. Careless political words is a gem: www.independentaustralia.net/.../ Janet take care on that gypsy run won’t you. (just joking about Gypsy run). Thankyou for your fabulous work, but we know that’s not all, you said you will be dropping in on TPS.

bob macalba

12/02/2013Love this sort of stuff, it just blows me away http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/video/2013/feb/11/how-big-universe-sand-video1 'dog' certainly was busy those six days before he buggered himself out

42 long

12/02/2013A good conceptual explanation. God made ALL of that just to put us on one tiny speck, just to praise him. Wow!' The abrahamic religions serve one purpose and that is to give us an idea how people lived some 4,000 Years ago, the old testament particularly. To use the words from there to calculate the age of world, ( some 6,000 years) would seem somewhat foolish, but many do. Perhaps someone should ask what our aspiring PM thinks, as to the age of the universe. He does his best to vilify "scientists". ( A very concerning action).. Perhaps "burning WITCHES" is what he dreams of

2353

12/02/2013Having read Bob Ellis' article twice - it's a rant. He does predict a "black" Pope by Easter, which if he's correct will ensure a lot of double standards (or recanting) by a lot of racists. In a lot of ways, I hope he's correct and the "black" Pope brings the Catholic Church creaking into at least the 20th Century. The sad thing (having worked for an arm of the Catholic Church for a while) is that there are a large number of Catholic Clergy (male and female) working their butts off to make a better world - and to an extent succeeding without being judgemental.

Tom of Melbourne

12/02/2013Ad Astra – [i]” We ought to be so grateful that Australia avoided the extremes that we saw last night, so grateful that the Government preferred to go into debt to sustain employment and business and the Australian economy,{/i}” I recall that every job created was at a cost of $200,000. Is that responsible expenditure, when the government was so clearly about 60% out in its forecast. At what point does this form of government expenditure become wasteful? Honesty, loading up future generations with increased debt because Swan politically locked himself into a stimulus isn’t sound public policy.

Catching up

12/02/2013Yes, ToM. The amount does not count. What happened, the money stayed in the economy, going around and around. People remained in work. They were able to continuing spending, keeping others in work. The nation's budget does not work, like your personal budget. History shows, that each economic down turn, that results in unemployment, it yakes much longedr and much more money to get them back to work. Keeping people in work, results in the saving money in the long run. It is a little like that old saying, a stitch in time, saves nine. Yes, ToM, it was worth every dollar spent.

bob macalba

12/02/2013Crapstain for you http://atheism.about.com/od/benedictxvi/i/RatzingerNazi.htm

jane

12/02/2013So Capstan's a practising Catholic a loonie and a complete wanker. So what, we all know that. I also would have thought good old Capstan would be into pedophile protection along with his/hers/its hero, Liealot. To sum up, Capstan, if you can count which I seriously doubt, there are 7+ billion humans destroying this planet. Those of us on the left reckon that's about 3.5bn too many and some have made the choice not to continue overpopulating our poor little planet. The rest of us have made a conscious decision to limit our families, so that our descendents will not be subject to the wars, famine and deprivation caused by irresponsible idiots like Capstan doing their best to ruin their children's and grand children's lives. I know we lefties feel rather shocked that Capstan has openly confessed to his/her/its disregard for the welfare of his/her/its descendents. But then what else can you expect from a barracker? Self absorbed, self obsessed, spawning children without regard to their welfare. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUspLVStPbk

2353

12/02/2013No Jane - it's all made up. What really frustrates them is that they know their taunts are ineffective. Don't feed the trolls.

Ad astra

13/02/2013LYN'S DAILY LINKS updated: www.thepoliticalsword.com/.../...-DAILY-LINKS.aspx Folks, while we are having technical problems, go to LYN'S DAILY LINKS to read TODAY'S LINKS.

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13/02/2013test

Lyn

13/02/2013TODAY’S LINKS The Show Must Go On, by @madwixxy “Thomson The Musical” still further to run in its season http://wixxyleaks.com/2013/02/12/the-show-must-go-on/ The election of a lifetime, @EVERALDATLARGE, Gillard has survived the most vicious personal vendettas worst-behaved Parliament of my 81 years of life http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=14681 Why The Mining Tax Won't Pay The Bills, by @beneltham, armies of lobbyists to twist the political economy http://newmatilda.com/2013/02/12/why-mining-tax-wont-pay-bills Abbott imposes travel ban on Coalition MPs by @Simon_Cullen , be prepared for an election at any time. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-12/abbott-imposes-travel-ban-on-coalition-mps/4514362 Labor spins its wheels on the mining tax by @BernardKeane, tangled knot the Coalition has wrapped itself into http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/02/12/keane-labor-spins-its-wheels-on-the-mining-tax/ States royalties likely to be in Fed’s sights as flaws aplenty emerge in mining tax , @AinsleyElbra, loophole which allows the states to increase royalties http://theconversation.edu.au/states-royalties-likely-to-be-in-feds-sights-as-flaws-aplen Ratsinger’s resignation spells the end for the Mad Monk by Bob Ellis, @davrosz, Either way he is finished.You wait and see. http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/politics/ratsingers-resignation-spells-th Conservatives Wanted by @MigloCW, in MSM is simple no lefties allowed http://theaimn.com/2013/02/12/conservatives-wanted/ Would you like WorkChoices with that? Tony Abbott Supersizing exploitation by @Turnleft2013 http://turnleft2013.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/would-you-like-workchoices-with-that- The Bottom Line, by Bob Ellis, the Murdoch polls tell big lies and the Age Herald Polls the truth, http://www.ellistabletalk.com/2013/02/11/the-bottom-line/ A graphical view of what happens in parliament by @davispg, http://ausvotes2013.com/2013/02/11/a-graphical-view-of-what-happens-in-parliament/ Timid Tony Abbott tenders tiny target By Critical Thinking, “Opposition strategy appears to be aimed at shielding Abbott http://saynototony.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/timid-tony-abbott-tenders-tiny-target/ Eleventy-nomics, Brough, Ashbygate Trifecta – Proof MSM should not always be a dirty word, @YaThinkN http://yathink.com.au/article-display/eleventy-nomics-brough-ashbygate-trifecta--proof-msm- Linnell to The Australian’s journos: I’ll get to your job applications soon loss-making newspaper, The Australian, http://mumbrella.com.au/linnell-to-the-australians-journos-ill-get-to-your-job-applications-soon-138982 Mainstream Media Thanks God For Australian Sporting Scan by @knarfnamduh serious questions and our MSM? http://deknarf.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/graphic-manipulations-21-mainstream-media-thanks-god- Think we’re about to burn and pillage the Tarkine? Think again by @DamienCWalker, Milne reached deep into her Vitriol Hat to describe Burke’s http://ausvotes2013.com/2013/02/12/think-were-about-to-burn-and-pillage-the-tarkine-think-again/ The little book of big Liberal lies by @MigloCW 90% of these claims were lifted from Murdoch media sites http://cafewhispers.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/the-little-book-of-big-liberal-lies/ Keep Australia Australian, by @gabriellechan, There are1,500 members of Rise Up across Australia http://thehoopla.com.au/australia-what/ Google Fiber Lighting The Way For Our NBN by @mwyres people are demanding the NBN as soon as possible. http://michaelwyres.com/2013/02/google-fiber-lighting-the-way-for-our-nbn/ That Damned Reclusive Liberal! by patriciawa, Action Man Abbott……. is running scared. http://polliepomes.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/that-damned-reclusive-liberal/ Today’s Front Pages Australia Newspaper Front Pages for 13 February 2013 http://www.frontpagestoday.co.uk/index.cfm?PaperCountry=Australia

Lyn

13/02/2013Hi Ad, You did it you did, clever you, thankyou. :):):):):):)

Michael

13/02/2013The calm commonsense of Ross Gittins, who lives in a far from imaginary world, can be found here: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/more-to-life-than-going-along-with-big-bosses-20130212-2eb0c.html He even has a 'right now, this is what I look like' photograph at the top of his column. Unlike the imagined, and desperately failing efforts of some other public figures, g'day fair dinkum Tony, to disguise their appearance.

Lyn

13/02/2013Hi Ad, Here is Bushfire Bill talking about Michelle Grattan, same old reporting: 99% percent of her comments negative, says BB:- Bushfire ‏@BushfireBill Coke Bottles Grattan @ The Conversation learning the hard way: having an #auspol "conversation" is a 2-way street http://pbxmastragics.com/2013/02/09/kleptocracy-for-beginners/comment-page-12/#comment-17420 …

Ad astra

13/02/2013Hi Lyn Thanks for your links, which are now staying where you put them, and for your BB link. I doubt if Michelle Grattan will be able to change her style or her attitude, or abandon her biasses as she writes on [i]The Conversation[/i]. She seems to be embedded in MSM concrete and unaware that she is writing for a different audience, one that will respond with passion and intelligent rebuttal when she gives them 'more of the same'.

DMW

13/02/2013Good Morning All, the gypsy caravan just rolled past my front door and then made a pit stop. (Jan @j4gypsy)is doing well and is full of beans and says hi to everyone. The caravan has now rolled on. Thanks Jan for sharing a coffee break and the delightful chat :)

DMW

13/02/2013Hmmm, doesn't time fly when you having fun ... Good [u]Afternoon[/u] All and then what I said above :)

Ad astra

13/02/2013Folks Barack Obama is about to give his 'State of the Union' address on ABC 24.

Tom of Melbourne

13/02/2013[i]” Coke Bottles Grattan[/i]” Isn’t it just so very hilarious when people poke fun at things like their impairments and physical characteristics to make a political point!! Congratulations – this stuff is quality commentary at its best.

Jason

13/02/2013ToM, If you have a problem with Bushfire Bill's description of Michelle Grattan, perhaps you might like to show some spine and take it up with him! You will find him over at http://pbxmastragics.com/2013/02/09/kleptocracy-for-beginners/

Tom of Melbourne

13/02/2013Well Jason, the was published on this site as recommended reading. So thanks for the suggestion, but I don't follow every blog around. If a comment is republished here, I think it is inviting the discussion here.

Jason

13/02/2013ToM, And you in your Mr Magoo style only read the headline which was enough for you to become outraged as usual! Though with your political insight of late, you could probably be called coke bottles as well.

DMW

13/02/2013I enjoyed reading this article by Rodney E. Lever @ Independant Austrlia : [b]Greatest Australian prime ministers[/b] http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/politics/greatest-australian-prime-ministers/ I don't totally agree with Rodney's view but it is a gpod primer on PM's past. The more interesting thing is the first two comments. A short one from Marilyn and a response by BedfordD I think BD understands one of my dictum's that [i]All politics is personal* [/i] and offers a very constructive way of handling 'contentious' issues. Excellent food for thought and action. * I need some re-edumification 'All politics is/are personal' Hmm is seems correct are sounds better to me - English what a strange but beautiful concoction of a language you are

MWS

13/02/2013"Our ABC" just had a tweet from ABC Religion & Ethics: @ABCReligion: Hmm, just tuned in to #QT to catch the PM doing her condescending primary school teacher impersonation. #auspol” Followed by: @ABCReligion: Turnbull: "the Prime Minister's circumnavigation of the globe of irrelevance" ... brilliant #QT Apparently the @ABCReligion twitter account is "staffed" (their word not mine) by Scott Stephens, Religion & Ethics Editor for ABC Online. Dunno about the "religion" part, but "ethics" surely precludes using taxpayers resources to promote personal bias! Doesn't Scott Stephens have a personal twitter account instead?

42 long

13/02/2013When you think the abc is BAD it just keeps getting worse. Can't Fran Kelly stop talking over everybody? She gets an interesting person on and all we get is her opinions ( or advice) She is missing her vocation if she is that clever. I also though Jonathon Holmes was a bit "crawly" over the Jon Fiane admonishement. The MSM "BULLY" the abc into submission. You can get the Murdoch view in plenty of places . Surely the abc can be a lone voice for a bit of the left view. Left thinking people are being "Mc Carthyised" In this country at the moment in a big way. It is not a crime to have left leaning concepts... YET!!!. Being an atheist will be illegal. Ask Tony how old the world is... That would be interesting.

Ad astra

13/02/2013Folks What an inspiring piece or oratory was Barack Obama’s State of the Union address. If you missed it, it is here: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/02/state-of-the-union-2013-president-barack-obamas-speech-transcript-text-87550.html?hp=t3_3 When you look at it, note the expressions on the face of Republican John Boehner (Speaker of the United States House of Representatives) on Obama’s right. VP Joe Biden is on Obama’s left. Boehner sat stony faced during much of the address, and declined to clap at almost all Obama’s education initiatives. His facial expressions highlighted starkly what Obama is up against. Others thought the same: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/340533/boehners-face-says-it-all-not-fan-sotu-andrew-johnson http://mashable.com/2013/02/12/john-boehner-grumpy-cat/

lawriejay

13/02/2013Very little is ever said about one of the most important decisions in late 2009 - the decision by Rudd to guarantee bank deposits. At that time I had, what for me was, a significant amount of savings in a Term Deposit that came up for renewal in mid January 2010, I had discussed with my wife the probability that we would withdraw the savings and bury them in the back yard, based on what was going on all over the world with banks going belly up, I was consumed with trepidation. As it turned out I got 8% for five years courtesy StGeorge bank now with two years to go.

Pikiranku

13/02/2013Peter Hannam's article, which Lyn linked to this morning (thanks, as always, Lyn!) offers another illustration of Labor's forward-thinking: "The demand for electricity continues to trend lower ... The signal is most clear in South Australia ... You've got 20% coming from wind, and a high level of PV now driving a big chunk of demand out of the middle of the day. ... South Australia is a fascinating experiment" - Professor Mike Sandiford, Director of the Melbourne Energy Institute. Mike Rann's government was installing PV panels on the roofs of schools and government offices and encouraging wind power generation when the governments of the other, wealthier states all thought it was too expensive and too hard. Now South Australia leads the country in renewable generation of electricity, is in fact streets ahead. Labor - the progressives and visionaries, the quiet achievers.

Patriciawa

13/02/2013[b]That Damned Reclusive Liberal![/b] We seek you here, we seek you there. We journos seek you everywhere. Crook? You can’t be! You’re never unwell! Come off it, Tony! Come out and tell! But no, you aren’t allowed out to speak Ex tempore where you’re so weak. So Peta’s got you under cover. We’re patient though, we’ll wait, we’ll hover. We’ll seek you here, we’ll seek you there! We journos’ll hunt you everywhere! The word is out. We’ll soon get a bell, We’ll track you down. We know your smell. Tony, call us! Give us a story! Come on! Tell it! Make sure it’s gory! Answer our questions. Don’t cut us short. Don’t get sulky and act spoil sport. We’ve sought you here, We’ve sought you there. Till now we’ve sought you everywhere! We’re nearly all Murdoch’s personnel, Our main job is to give Gillard hell. We know your plans could all head south If you should put your foot in mouth. So our questions now will be prepared. Come on Tony, you can’t still be scared! Hello Lyn, Ad Astra, TT and all other Swordsters! I'm fully restored and my hand was liberated yesterday from its nasty heavy white casing. So I celebrated with this pome and post at http://polliepomes.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/that-damned-reclusive-liberal/ - and then rushed here to post it like old times and found I couldn't! But miraculously Lyn's Links made it through this morning's technical difficulties and life was restored to old times again in that sense at least. But I knew that life wasn't ever going to be the same in another sense, and I've known that for quite a while, particularly during the last of these six weeks of limited use of my left hand. Now I know MWS and AA both advised me to type and use it as much as possible, but somehow a deeper part of me decided to take advantage of this alibi for more limited writing activity. At first I used it as an excuse for my writer's block over several weeks and then discovered that I had been given an opportunity to change pace and do things differently. I've continued coming here and to my other favorite sites like the Cafe to read every day and I have commented occasionally and written a bit, but it really did hurt! I heeded AA, and then my specialist who agreed with him, about movement but I did different kinds of exercises for my hand while out walking or even while watching telly with Tacker. So without the writing I had time to focus not just on reading beloved blogs but I got back in to more private notes. Posting about politics and the unexpected success with the pomes had consumed so much energy and time and now I realized that several years had passed since I'd opened up some files. Suddenly I became aware that it's possible to reach an advanced age with much unfinished business lying to hand and perhaps little time left in which to complete it. So now that I can write easily again I have decided to focus on that private stuff. While staying in touch with you all through reading your articles and comments I will only work on pomes and posts which refuse not to be written. Maybe as the election approaches there will be more and more urgency there. Who knows? Nasking has changed - lovely to see him here from time to time again. Talk Turkey has changed his focus too and branched out to wider and more effective publication on Twitter for example, but I'm going more private for a while. The electronic stuff is all beyond me anyway, so having Lyn and others disperse my stuff around the blogosphere has been great and will be much appreciated until the day I can focus on learning texting and the like for myself! As well I think Lyn and all of you would agree, as Miglo does too that Truth Seeker has recently been doing a great job of posting satirical verse around here. I'm sure there'll be days that TT and I and others come out and try to compete or joust with him but he's very impressive, isn't he? It's lovely to be able to write pain free even if I'm not back in the same old way. If I say little please be assured I am not just lurking occasionally, rather I'm paying flying visits every day and appreciating you all as much as ever.

Janet (Jan @j4gypsy)

13/02/2013G'day peeps (from Boorowa!) LiR: wandering, but not gone, am I. (For more than six months of a year am on the move or nomading). Will be contributing Twitterstiff a few days per week (and playing on Twitter, too), as the lovely yellow tweetiebird also explained yesterday. Thank you though for the kindest of thoughts and wishes. Patriciawa: how lovely that you have the cast off and away! (I remember the moment of such release, too :-)) DMW and other TPSers who have put up a hand and offered a pitstop, a yack and a coffee as I meander from Newcastle to Adelaide on this part of the gypsy run - thank you. A sheer delight to make real people out of ethereal ones :-). Today's Twitterstuff: [b]Twitterati[/b] [i]Malcolm Farnsworth ‏@mfarnsworth[/i] Ladbrokes has Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiak Turkson of Ghana at 5/2 to be the next Pope. [i]The White House ‏@whitehouse[/i] President Obama: "After years of talking about it, we are finally poised to control our own energy future." #CleanEnergy #JobsNow#SOTU [i]Stephen Koukoulas ‏@TheKouk[/i] ASX200 has "wiped on" $266 billion since 1 July when carbon price and mining tax started. Nice lift in wealth, nice boost to super. [i]George Megalogenis ‏@GMegalogenis[/i] Cancelling ALP's tax-free threshold change drags many low-paid mums back into tax system. Not sure @TonyAbbottMHR has thought this through. [i]Mari R ‏@randlight[/i] Just heard Tony Windsor point out the the NBN costs far less than the government sold Telstra for. So true and who sold Telstra? [i]Craig Emerson MP ‏@CraigEmersonMP[/i] .@AmandaARJones @koala09 Hockey is now back to where he was Friday: if Libs win the 9-12% super increase will be scrapped! #qt#auspol [i]ManO'Steel(town) ‏@berkeleyboy[/i] Greg Combet: "When it comes to climate change, Tony Abbott's a bullshit artist..." - artist? #auspol #hometruths [i]David Horton ‏@watermelon_man[/i] Here's a question Tony Abbott - has there ever been a worse Opposition than yours in Australian history? [i]Mathew Inkson ‏@imathew[/i] Labor's red, Liberal's blue, Greens are green… Nats are, too. Indies are grey, Dems yellow, betcha glad I'm your fellow.#electionvalentines [b]Twitterverse[/b] [i]Misha Schubert ‏@mishaschubert[/i] Echoes of Australia's great moment in '67 in the House today.@RecogniseAU #recognise http://m.smh.com.au/national/almost-50-years-on-the-dream-burns-still-20130212-2eb6a.html … [i]SBS News ‏@SBSNews[/i] PM says Australia's priorities are similar to those highlighted by#Obama, but Aussie economy is in better position http://bit.ly/VTGzVg [i]les victor ‏@otiose94[/i] Julian #Assange takes first step in Australia #Senate runhttp://zite.to/WHYgLl #auspol #ausvotes #election13 [i]Lyn Bender ‏@Lynestel[/i] Ben Pobjie Very funny A Modern #Pope For Modern Times --http://tinyurl.com/auhg4nn #newmatilda [i]Geoff Pearson ‏@GCobber99[/i] As Victorian Police slowly work their way through over 40 boxes of evidence in their investigation into Kathy Jacksonhttp://wixxyleaks.com/2013/02/12/the-show-must-go-on/ … [i]Marie Ryan ‏@cybahound[/i] . @ABCMarkScott responds to (predictably self interested) criticism of the ABC in The Australian. http://about.abc.net.au/press-releases/setting-the-record-straight/ … DTN Australia ‏@DTNAustralia DTN Australia: Gillard defends her record: Prime Minister Julia Gillard says her government has secured a clean-energy future http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/gillard-defends-her-record-20130213-2ecxv.html [i]shaun carter ‏@ShaunCarter70[/i] http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/02/13/mythbusting-on-abbott-and-the-media-but-who-asked-the-questions/ … Same number, different difficulty factor. Gillard prefers the ABC, TAbbott, Bolt. hmmm. Expand [i]Ray Marx ‏@marxdeane[/i] Qld's new lobbyists rules http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-13/flegg-calls-qlds-new-lobbyists-rules-a-circus/4516774 … #QldpolMinisters, like Ros Bates will have to declare speaking at future lobbyists lunches [i]Andrew Leigh ‏@ALeighMP[/i] Apparently I've been talking a lot this yearhttp://talkingheads.theglobalmail.org/most-vocal/year:2013+house:0+party:Liberals,Labor,Greens,National … [i]Matt Cowgill ‏@MattCowgill[/i] Here's an interesting, detailed decomposition of the change in workforce participation in Aus between 2000 & 2010:http://www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/research/_pdf/migrants-account-unexpected-rise-labour-force-rate-aus-2000-2010.pdf … [i]Asher Wolf ‏@Asher_Wolf[/i] If you haven't read @piecritic's FOI on data retention and the#natsecinquiry, do it now. http://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/documents_relating_to_data_reten … [i]Mark Colvin ‏@Colvinius[/i] MT @myanmarmonitor: Burma's democratic transition: Doomed to stall (via @AJEnglish). Link: http://aje.me/12KFd6x [i]occupiedpalestine ‏@occpal[/i] Grotesque impunity while continuing settling: Netanyahu reaffirms commitment to 'two states' ahead of Obama visithttp://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/5220-netanyahu-reaffirms-commitment-to-two-states-ahead-of-obama-visit …

James Adelaide

13/02/2013‘We see (the media bias), no-one else’ was Gravel’s lament, and Ad Astra and Casablanca posted similar despairing, or at least dispirited comments. But, we are not the only ones who can see it. After torrents of complaints from we, 5th Estaters, the rise of the internet, and possibly the immenent arrival of the Guardian, the MSM is starting to re-find its testicles. A couple of us above have commented how the MSM is slowly turning, producing surprising results, such as actual journalism. One of the most forthright (inasmuch as he pulled no punches) questioning the coalition is the frequently quoted article by Paul Syvret http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/timid-tony-abbott-tenders-tiny-target/comments-e6freon6-1226575659257?pg=3 I posted my analysis of Syvret’s story in the Courier Mail (http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/politics/jacksonville-42-craig-thomson-in-the-land-of-shock-jock/. ) In short: Progressive comments 112 Conservative comments 80 Other 22 Total 212 MurdochWorld™ used to run 75% to 80% anti Gillard and Anti-government comments, so much so that I was sure they were editing positive ones out. My failure to get published in MurdochWorld™ supports this idea. It is a pretty pass when the Moderators cannot even run 50/50 on this Syvret comment stream. Even in MurdochWorld™, there are those who have woken up…

Sir Ian Crisp

13/02/2013[quote][i] [...] As it turned out I got 8% for five years courtesy StGeorge bank now with two years to go. lawriejay [/i][/quote] And shame on you. We here at TPS frown on those in our society who are driven by cupidity. At TPS we would rather rejoice in the knowledge that you withdrew your life savings and gave it all away to the poor. Shame on you.

Lyn

13/02/2013Janet, Gee it’s great to see you on TPS. Thankyou for telling us about your trip & checking in here, you are such an interesting person. Energetic, vibrant and enthusiastic. Yes it is wonderful to actually see & talk to a cyber friend makes one nearly cry doesn’t it, such a nice feeling. Your twitterverse is fantastic as normal. Thankyou for keeping us informed. We do appreciate you very much. Thankyou also for all your help you have given me. Re-tweets, tweets, together we can do it, TPS is a wonderful platform. Your support is "GOLD" Another thankyou to Ad Astra for providing a cyber home for us, a place to voice our opinions. :):):):):)

Gravel

13/02/2013Patriciawa So pleased to read your hand has been released from jail. :-) Although I for one will miss your regular comments, I am pleased to have found new enthusiasm for older projects. Keep smiling and reading. :-) Wow, I miss a day and half here and you have all been very busy beavers. Thanks for all the links, tidbits and extra information. James Adelaide That was an interesting lot of stats there, will be interested if you come up with some more.

Ad astra

13/02/2013Hi Lyn You are right – it is good to have Janet with us with her interesting Twitterati, even while on tour. Along with your links, we have an outstanding source of up-to-date information to enlighten. We are blessed. Thanks to you both. Patriciawa I’m glad your wrist has been freed up so you can write your delightful pomes, and what an apt one this one is. You will find your manual dexterity and mobility improving steadily now that your wrist has been released from its prison. We look forward to more of your wisdom. Pikiranku Isn’t it gratifying to see electricity use falling, more renewables providing it, and carbon pollution diminishing. Yet Abbott, Hunt and Co will give no recognition to the potency of the carbon tax. lawriejay You are right; the bank guarantee is seldom mentioned as a factor in avoiding recession. It ought to be.

James Adelaide

13/02/2013Further to the media waking up: PM (ABC Radio) tonight was odd. No 'the coalition says’, instead a 3-4 minute interview with the relevant Federal minister, allowing him to put his case, and pulling him up when he left a hole or gap in his argument. I thought I was transported back 10-20 years ago, to when journalists respectfully asked ministers real policy questions and respectfully took them to pieces on the facts if required. Very nice. I await AM tomorrow. I obsess about the media because I can cope with a political party telling lies: it is in their DNA. What I cannot take is the media letting them do it. Another possible reason the MSM is turning is that Abbot has himself broken the media game rules. During the last two years, every day saw a fluoro vest, a factory and a story for the Media. Now, Abbott is in hiding. Some think it is fear of saying the ‘wrong’ thing (a fair call), but I am leaning towards the awful makeover revealed at the press club. http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/politics/tony-abbotts-makeover/ If the wrinkles were done in 20 small applications over many months, it might have worked, but all in one go, it looked out of place. Add to that, the MSM’s obsession with Gillard’s glasses, and lack of interest in Abbot’s makeover, and people notice.. To the press, hiding is worse than making a goose of yourself . No leaks is bad enough (Gillard), but no copy at all (Abbott)? It is as if the MSM are saying ‘With a stupid stunt a day, we can forgive little things like policies, but IGNORE US? July last year was a long time ago. That was Abbott’s deadline. Plan A was to buff and bluster himself into a minority change of government, using the carbon tax. Plan B appears to have been Mr Positive, but that got too hard for Tony to act his part. If the makeover was intended as plan C, it has morphed into an unintended Plan D: total absence from the air waves, to avoid ridicule for how he now looks. I have commented before how Gillard’s numbers rise in the absence of media coverage. Will Abbott’s likewise rise? Also, I detect Hubris (overweening pride). Abbott has warned his party not to be complacent, MurdochWorld™ has added the memes: ‘Labor has already lost the election’ and ‘Labor will only need a phone booth after the election’. I tried to cite ‘Tony Abbot will keep his election promises’, 15 out of 17 comments disagreed, but various versions now on the net only cite 1 and 3 comments. An ‘18 seat wipeout’ was predicted from a survey in 54 ‘marginal’ seats (I only count 40) http://www.afr.com/p/national/voters_to_send_labor_packing_poll_QgcNuka9pqeaeGsMxQtjOJ, but that assumes a uniform 5% swing in every Labor seat with a 5% margin. see Anthony Green’s pedulum. http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2013/01/2013-federal-election-pendulum.html The figures quoted around the MSM are rubbery, and I can only count 11 seats to be lost in the MSM stories (can’t read AFR: firewall). This ‘18 seat wipeout’ view appears to rely on two propositions: : that all the swings will be where they are needed to change seats (I remember Beazley getting a massive swing in safe seats: electorally useless). : that conservatives will lose no seats. LNP hold 22 seats with under 5% margin, and 10 under 2%, Labor hold 8 seat under 2%. I live in Boothby (equal 4th most marginal: 0.6%) and I think we are going to finally shift Southcott (18 years in Parliament and he still can’t string a sentence together..). I wonder who we will put in, probably Labor. Annabell Digance (Lab) got close last time, and the demographics of the area are steadily shifting.

Lyn

13/02/2013Hi Patricia, Thankyou for your wonderful pome and your post @ 5.52pm. Exciting news about your wrist, & lovely to read your work, you had lots of re-tweets this morning. I can understand how you feel, but we never want to lose contact with you, so you need to say hello now and again. Julia cleaned Abbott up in Parliament yesterday and again today, as a matter of fact she made him look stupid, I thought. Bernhard Accola ‏ Someone like @JuliaGillard only comes along once every 50 years; her Prime Ministership historic & will be celebrated http://twitpic.com/c37djc YGMX ‏@ygmx YGMX ‏ PresidentObama calls for a price on carbon. PM Gillard's Labor Government lead world. LNPmorons http://bit.ly/XJx64s :):):)

DMW

13/02/2013An interesting and possibly important read @ The Conversation: [b]The paucity of information overload[/b] [i]It might not be a front line issue, but media policy is a significant election year debate. Communications Minister Stephen Conroy is still committed to bringing a submission to cabinet in coming weeks or months, despite a long delay caused by differences within the government between those who would like a robust approach following the Finkelstein Inquiry and others, including the Prime Minister, who do not want to upset the media companies. The debate has also been heightened by the cost cutting and staff shedding by the major media organisations, Fairfax and News Limited, and by the imminent entry of The Guardian into the Australian market. This week Professor Robert Picard, from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford, gave a grim assessment of the difficulty for the public of obtaining quality information in the age of information overload.[/i] http://theconversation.edu.au/the-paucity-of-information-overload-12203 Some thoughtful and thought provoking stuff in this article. Oh, by the way, the article's author is a 'newbie' @ The Conversation, Michelle Grattan. Don't let that turn you off.

jaycee

13/02/2013In the end, the major risk for Labor in the burbs is the left-over Howard battlers...now the swinging bogan voters...they hate every thing from intellectual elites to scientific facts...but in the end they have mostly empty pockets so will most likely follow the money! And we can encourage Bob Katter to steal as many LNP. Qld. seats as possible....and the way he has gone down to country Vic. tonight on 7.30..he can possibly steal a few there too! More power to "Balmy Bob".

jaycee

13/02/2013Now THAT'S a debate I'd like to see..: Bob Katter vs. Tony Abbott.... bring it on Aunty!!

jaycee

13/02/2013Actually, I bet Katter would slaughter Tabbott!!...not with rational debate but with colourful honesty (of a kind).

DMW

13/02/2013Over the last few weeks I have had a few conversations about how [i]Politics is Personal[/i] Candidates and parties have more chance of winning when people can relate to them at a personal level. Whether it is meeting the candidate having a freind or colleague relate something personal about the candidate some form of 'connection' is required. Not sure if it is 'serendipitous' or 'synchronous' but this landed in my news feed in the last few hours: [b]Yes, personal contact really does make a difference (but it needs to be targeted)[/b] [i]Despite the (still) prevailing orthodoxy that election strategies are a matter of well-timed policy announcements, media management and “feeding the chooks”, and focus-grouped television ads, the fact is that personal contact is the most effective way to change someone’s voting intention. A while back, I had a discussion with someone who posited that political campaigns made carefully calculated judgements about the mix of campaigning — how much television, direct mail, phone canvassing, door knocking and radio, etc — based on a formula to maximise impact and vote. Unfortunately, endless research and insider accounts of elections suggest that the reality is more akin of alchemy than chemistry.[/i] http://alexwhite.org/2013/02/yes-personal-contact-really-does-make-a-difference-but-it-needs-to-be-targeted/ A note to the treasuer: all the talk in the world about how 'you' saved 'us' from financial armeggedon while seemly true just ain't gonna cut it until you can make it personal to me and my family. Disclaimer: there are also pitfalls in the 'personal' that can backfire big time which may be a topic for another day.

Cuppa

14/02/2013[i]Now THAT'S a debate I'd like to see..: Bob Katter vs. Tony Abbott.... bring it on Aunty!![/i] Lol, imagine the dilemma Their ABC would face. Which conservative to favour?? They'd be torn!

jane

14/02/2013[quote]Did they consider the possibility that the same level of unemployment, homelessness and poverty that occurred in the US, might have occurred here had the Government not implemented its stimulus strategy? I suspect that would not even have crossed their mind.[/quote] Ad astra, I suspect that if it has crossed what passes for a barracker's mind, it would be the same carping nitpicking mindset expressed by ToM. Patricia, very happy that your wrist has been released from prison, but sad that you're cutting back on commenting and pome writing. But I suppose sometimes you just need down time. James Adelaide, let's hope that waste of space, Southall is given the flick. Another one is Prissy. In 2010, it looked like he might get the boot he so richly deserves, only to survive. Because we survived the GFC with such minimal impact, the barrackers and ToMs assume that the government over reacted and could have just sat on their hands and have achieved the same result, by handing out tax breaks to the wealthy. They all refuse to acknowledge that we narrowly escaped the same ghastly outcome as Europe and the US because of timely and targetted action by the Rudd government. Instead they pretend that the GFC either didn't happen at all or that there was some sort of invisible barrier preventing it from affecting this country. We now know that the government was extremely fearful that whatever action they took, it may not have been sufficient to avert economic disaster. They also made the fateful decision not to reveal to the public how touch and go the situation was. In hindsight, it probably would have been better to have spooked the public as it would have stymied the subsequent and continuing campaign of lies and smear conducted by the Liars and their sycophants. It was also very disappointing that the Rudd government failed to vigorously defend the BER And HIP. I started to have my first twinges of doubt about Kevin Rudd when he let the Liars get away with castigating Peter Garrett's handling of HIP, even going so far as using Coward's Castle to brand him a murderer. And then confirming their lies by demoting Garrett. Can anyone imagine another PM allowing one of their Ministers to be treated so appallingly without uttering a word? That alone makes me believe that the decision to remove Rudd was correct and frankly it surprises me that Tom, for example, whose hatred for Gillard seems to stem from her so-called disloyalty, excuses it in Rudd.

TalkTurkey

14/02/2013Dam I just lost another post. James Adelaide DMW and Patricia will all be delighted to know that I replied to all your posts. :( Bugger.

42 long

14/02/2013Jane , agree with all of that except the idea to tell the public how dire their situation was. This would have sent the spending remedy into reverse. Confidence was necessary to keep things moving. How much has the manufactured "scare" and negativity by the LieNP done to damage the australian economy? Labor government has always acknowledged the part played by the business community in keeping their workers on. Contrast this to the behaviour of the Mining companies who shed their workers quick time. Rudd's failure to support Garrett. ( effectively leaving him out on a limb after the discusting allegations by the Rotten Abbott mob. I can never support Rudd. He has too much baggage and self promoting tendencies. Turnbull called for his resignation every second day with some justification at times. He fails to act in the best interests of the current government and ensure the best chance of Abbott being defeated, by actually white-anting Gillard. He's GOOD friends with Bishop J, which is fine if there is no collusion. Recall the Bishop question about "Bogan ville" (RUDD's term for the Lodge when Gillard went there) at QT in the parliament. With friends like Kevin You don't need enemies

Lyn

14/02/2013TODAY’S LINKS Mythbusting on Abbott and the media, but who asked the questions? by @BernardKeane Abbott also avoids the ABC like the plague http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/02/13/mythbusting-on-abbott-and-the-media-but-who-asked-the-questions/ Greatest Australian prime ministers, by @ngungun internet television will play a greater part than newspapers http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/politics/greatest-australian-prime-ministers/ Crusader Monckton, by @JohnQuiggin2, His ‘Loony Lord M’ character, owing a lot to Screaming http://johnquiggin.com/2013/02/13/crusader-monckton/ They’ve done it again! @btckr , ABC’s online staff has insulted the Prime Minister http://truthinmediaresourcecentre.wordpress.com/2013/02/13/theyve-done-it-again/ Damned if you do, damned if you don’t by @btckr, Australia’s political journalists have been accused of http://truthinmediaresourcecentre.wordpress.com/2013/02/13/damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-dont/ The Mad Monk and Monckton's mates by Tristan Edis, Liberal Party needs to be very careful who Tony Abbott is getting http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/mad-monk-and-moncktons-mates What I've taken 39 years to learn by @1RossGittins this year will be my 39th federal budget http://www.rossgittins.com/2013/02/what-ive-taken-39-years-to-learn.html Australian minimum wages, by @MattCowgill , http://mattcowgill.wordpress.com/2013/02/13/australian-minimum-wages/ Don’t be invisible. Be stupid instead by @MigloCW , Be ready, be visible and be in Australia http://cafewhispers.wordpress.com/2013/02/13/dont-be-invisible-be-stupid-instead/ FRIED RICE: Greensparty fears Assange run in Victoria by vexnews It will be an interesting death-wrestle. http://www.vexnews.com/2013/02/fried-rice-greensparty-fears-assange-run-in-victoria/ Tony Abbott, hypnotising the Masses by @turnleft2013, cheapskate hypnotist in a rundown circus http://turnleft2013.wordpress.com/2013/02/13/tony-abbott-hypnotising-the-masses/ Fairfax cancels Guardian copy-usage agreement stories from The Guardian will no longer appear in print http://mumbrella.com.au/fairfax-cancels-guardian-copy-sharing-agreement-139289 Election ad period not under way by @AdNews an ‘election period’ has not yet commenced." http://www.adnews.com.au/adnews/election-ad-period-not-under-way An exclusive from the pond about yet another lizard Oz exclusive by Dorothy Parker, the Chris Ulhmann days ended the habit - http://loonpond.blogspot.com.au/ Australia shares rise to highest close since Sept 2008, CBA leads by Thuy Ong, http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/13/markets-australia-stocks-idUSL4 I am @geekrulz I am my own person using poor man’s megaphone The Twitter http://australiansforhonestpolitics.wordpress.com/2013/02/13/i-am-geekrulz/comment-page-1/#comments Today’s Front Pages Australia Newspaper Front Pages for 14 February 2013 http://www.frontpagestoday.co.uk/index.cfm?PaperCountry=Australia

Ad astra

14/02/2013LYN'S DAILY LINKS updated: http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/page/LYNS-DAILY-LINKS.aspx

Michael

14/02/2013If you needed further confirmation that the Coalition lives in an imaginary world, here http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/dams-idea-shows-vision-hunt/story-fn3dxiwe-1226577601416 Greg "you can't just make it up as you go along" Hunt confirms that he and his fellow Coalitioneers are seeing things. Very very expensive things. With as much chance of anyone ever seeing them in concrete and water storage as anyone ever seeing Abbott's cabal deliver anything other than hot air and excuses.

Gravel

14/02/2013jane and 42 long Well said. Each point you have made couldn't be clearer to those of us who can see what happened, and also what is happening now. James Adelaide I didn't expect any more of your good stuff this quickly, thank you.

Michael

14/02/2013Here http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-14/green-the-facts-wont-speak-for-themselves/4517146 Jonathan Green, writing about the travails of the Gillard government, is actually writing a preview of Abbott's Coalition in government should they win... smoke. Mirrors. And nowhere to hide, because Opposition gives the cynical a broad canvas to splash any old shit on. Government? You have to run the country, and keep it out of the shit. The Coalition can chuck it from outside. Can they keep it off us if they get inside?

Pappinbarra Fox

14/02/2013Michael at 8.35 [quote]the media preference for accusation over accuracy, for sensation over sense.[/quote] This quote from Greens Blog, which you reference, is really apt. And well designed - turns out he is a wordsmith as well as a numbers man.

Ad astra

14/02/2013Hi Lyn Thank you for your links, which make such absorbing reading. It was interesting to read Bernard Keane’s account of Tony Abbott’s media appearances, which in number compare reasonably with Julia Gillard’s, but in substance pale into insignificance. He chooses benign interviewers, venues where the journalists are inexperienced, and situations where he can walk away when the going gets tough. This morning he had a ‘soft’ interview on 774 ABC Melbourne radio, the first in six months. For reasons his listeners cannot understand, Jon Faine did not put him under pressure, allowing him to trot out his slogans, clichés, and rehearsed answers in what was a ‘nothing’ interview. Michael The Jonathan Green article was revealing, and depressing, expressing as it did the belief that facts, reasoning and accomplishments in government counted for little in the mind of the electorate, but that impressions did, impressions that the Coalition has been successful in creating. It has created impressions of incompetence: ‘pink batts’; waste and mismanagement: the BER; and ‘broken promises’ in abundance. Green’s thesis suggests that it is these impressions that will bring about election outcomes rather than a sound appraisal of accomplishments in governance, and a careful evaluation of plans for the next term. If this is so, it is a sad reflection on the state of politics in this nation, and the mindset of the electorate.

LadyInRed

14/02/2013Ad astra I fear that much of the electorate thinks the way Jonathan Green suggests..... at the moment. That's why the actual campaign is sooooo important. That is the time the Labor candidates have to get out there and sell. A problem exists with MSM if they continue their relentless negativity against the ALP then that makes it very difficult to counteract. Common mantra out there when you say anything about politics is "she is a liar" " can't stand her" "she is a joke" "a pox on both houses". I try to conteract these with - so how does 'she is a liar' which is a matter of spin versus truth, affect you in your daily life? At work where work choices is no longer an issue? When you pay your mortgage with rates that have never been lower? With an economy that's growing rather than shrinking as it is in Europe & the US, did the school kids bonus help? Libs are getting rid of it. Tax free thresh-hold......and if you can manage to get those things out before they hurl abuse at you, you are doing well. Whether you like Gillard's jackets, her glasses, the way she speaks, whether you think she lied over a carbon price that in the scheme of things hasn't affected your daily life one jot, but has the potential to change this country for the better, its how the policies affect your life that matter. On a day to day basis its the policies you have to live with. The problem with average Australians is they haven't had it real tough for a long time. They foolishly think there is very little difference bewteen the two sides. Where that may have been the case in the past it is not the case now. Howard reigned when times were great, and cash splashes hid their ineptitude to use money for public infrastructure. We haven't had a conservative government for quite some time when times were not so great and the public purse is shrinking. What people need to realise is a conservative government will slash & burn a budget of its social programs (and jobs) before going after big business, miners & people with money who dodge paying taxes, and try to get money off ordinary citizens first. The costings of the coalition will be very interesting, if they ever release them. Watch how fast the MSM turn on them if it looks Newmanesque, because people do not like Can't-do up here in Qld. Well I'm hoping they will turn.

DMW

14/02/2013Hi Ad, [i]The Jonathan Green article was revealing, and depressing, expressing as it did the belief that facts, reasoning and accomplishments in government counted for little in the mind of the electorate, but that impressions did ...[/i] A silly question but, the 'facts' suggest it is an appropriate day to ask and discuss: Have you ever fallen in love? There is the factual answer of either yes or no and very few other 'facts' about falling in love. You might be able to recall the day/date and where you were when it happened. Maybe at a real stretch what the weather was like and whether you were wearing your 'lucky underpants' that day. Falling in love is a totally emotional thing, fact free, yet it determines a major course of our life. We don't remember the 'facts' we do remember, and live, the feelings. We are a walking, talking bundles of emotions. Human 'beings' not human 'doings' whose lives are run mostly by responses to our feelings even if we attempt to ignore our feelings. Ignoring our feelings is of course a response. Note the emotional response in your comment i.e. [i]depressing [/i] That response will more likely help you recall the article than the facts in it. Who we vote for is more of an emotional response than a fact based response as much as the scientific and analytical side of us would like to pretend otherwise and so creating a story that I can relate to on a personal level and creates an emotional connection is more likely persuade me one way or the other than a mountain of cold hard facts. So back to falling in love, The fact that it is St Valentine's Day may encourage some to declare their love but it will be the emotions that win the day not the day itself. By the way I do recall one of the days I fell in love it was at around 11:30 pm on 10 December 1977 and because of the date I can recall a fair bit about what I did that day. So I can recall some facts about that day but I still remember more vividly the feeling and how it has affected the rest of my life.

Tom of Melbourne

14/02/2013[i]” This morning he had a ‘soft’ interview on 774 ABC Melbourne radio, the first in six months.”[/i] On the other hand we have the “interview” Fran Kelly did with Wayne Swan, it was hardly an interview, Fran merely facilitated a series of statements by Swan. Swan is a serious blustering blunderer. He represents all the characteristics in a politician that causes people to switch off politicians. [i]” It has created impressions of incompetence: ‘pink batts’; waste and mismanagement: the BER; and ‘broken promises’ in abundance.”[/i] As I have pointed out, when a government specifically stimulates a poorly regulated industry and deliberately encourages a range of new, inexperienced entrants with the attraction of quick government funds, it is a recipe for poor quality & safety. That’s what happened with the billions $$$ spent on “pick batts” installation, then billions $$$$ on removal. BER – a billion on management fees (just for passing on contracts to local subcontractors), a billion on “performing arts centres” and the like for wealthy private schools, and a full 3% of schools didn’t even like the facilities they got for FREE! All that adds up to plenty of serious waste.

jaycee

14/02/2013Tom..you go on and on and on and on and on and on about the batts/Ber bullshit that demonstrates (no, that's too big and too qualified a word)....SHOWS what sort of complete fool you are. No ifs or buts...a complete , sad, hopeless, gutless and useless fool....just go and vote for the fascists and have done with it...you'll get your thirty pieces of silver, you'll kiss the cheek of betrayal and then you can go do your last act of Judas.....it's the fate of the traitor.

Tom of Melbourne

14/02/2013I believe jaycee may be Wayne Swan. Both appear to be- • semiliterate, • incoherent in debate • inclined to resort to abuse • disinclined to deal with facts • full of bluster and bulls**t • stupid

2353

14/02/2013Jaycee, the Troll from Melbourne has been told time and time again the economic reasoning and justification for the GFC rescue package. Obviously s/he is [quote]semiliterate, • incoherent in debate • inclined to resort to abuse • disinclined to deal with facts • full of bluster and bulls**t • stupid [/quote]

DMW

14/02/20132353, is disgust an emotional response? ToM is 'very disgusted' and very emotionally attached to his point of view. No amount of facts will overcome/outweigh his emotions/feelings.

Tom of Melbourne

14/02/2013[i]“the economic reasoning and justification for the GFC rescue package” [/i] Right, let’s deal with the facts (again). Swan – • Accepted a treasury forecast of 10.5% unemployment • Developed stimulus to keep the rate at 8.5% • Kept stimulus in place when unemployment rate was declining, and clearly not going to reach 8.5% • Kept spending on stimulation, at the very time the Reserve Bank was increasing interest rates to take the heat/expansion out of the economy. It is particularly inefficient to have monetary and fiscal policy pulling the economy in different directions. • Admitted he maintained the stimulus for political rather than economic reasons. • Limited the policy and spending options for the future generation by loading them up with unnecessary debt. One of the economic nongs here might explain which of the above is factually incorrect.

KHTAGH

14/02/2013Just a slight side road detour here, when will the farmers & the majority of people in this country wake up to what the 2 big food chains are doing? I never & I mean never spend a single cent in either of the 2 large supermarket chains. If I cant get it in my IGA I don't buy it simple, occasionally I have asked for a product not on the shelves, they will actually get it in for you. Try doing that in a major outlet, they will look at you like you have 3 heads. 2 yrs ago when they introduced the $1.00/ltr milk they said "this will only be for 12 months" We can now see how much truth was in that, no outrage on the farmers behalf means they will just leave it as it is. Now you scan your own food, more cutting of overheads, then they will tell you outlandish statements like on ABC24 today, "We employ the majority of people in the retail sector in this country". Only because they cant get a machine to do it. Long term goals of this policy is to drive as many milk farmers out of business at the same time, therefore driving the price of dairy farms as low as absolutely possible due to supply & demand, this will stop new investors buying any of these farms. Once the market has reach a sufficiently low level west farmers will swoop in & buy the lot for a song, they will then put some poor down in the mouth farmer in to run it for them, pay him $20 grand a yr to do so. They will have a monopoly & then you watch the price go up to $3.00/ltr over night. Their aim is to have as much as physically possible of the produce in this country controlled by themselves from paddock to plate (home brands), so they are the ONLY people to make money out of the entire rural industry in Australia. Mark my words THIS WILL HAPPEN! No governments are going to stop them of either persuasions. It is not just food either, they are in control of a majority of hardware as well, their aim is to control if not the entire cash flow through society as much as monopolisations allow. When they achieve it imagine the political power they will then wield, then you will see things like what Gina is doing up north "we don't want to pay tax like the plebs, we want that money to go to our share holders". We are truly in trouble in this country, with Abbortt at the wheel it will happen twice as fast. There is a reason I'm becoming self sufficient in all aspects of life food 95%, power I'll know next month, I want to control where I spend my $'s what few I have & not be dictated to through monopolies of self interest. Where you spend your $'s & how you vote are the only real free choices we have left, one of those is being removed in front of your eyes. Mad Katter's tea party might be the big spanner in the works come the election this yr. Are we seeing the right wing vote splintering in several different directions with new parties crawling out from under various rocks? End of rant.

LadyInRed

14/02/2013KHTAGH There is a minimum wage in this country. I do believe we need a minimum price, for milk producers. Its such an essential food source. Its a nonsense to say this is a bonus for consumers. Since when is it a bonus for one human being to sit on the throat of another to save a dollar? I only buy organic milk, have done for a long time now, but I realise for many this is not an option because of the price.

MWS

14/02/2013Apparently Coalition voters have changed their minds according to the latest survey of consumer confidence. The article linked below suggests that the shift in confidence is due to changed attitudes regarding the "carbon price." I wonder where they got the idea that the "carbon price" would be so bad? Because the Coalition [b]was talking down the economy![/b] Perhaps they will not believe Abbott in future - Whyalla is still on the map, the world hasn't ended and the carbon price has actually lowered electricity demand without "python squeezing" the economy. And now we have the latest damn-fooled idea from Abbott. http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/coalition-voters-underpin-surge-in-confidence-20130213-2edhm.html

LadyInRed

14/02/2013The GFC. It was real. We missed it. Money circulated around the community. Some disaggree with how it was circulated but make no mistake it was the circulation of money that kept us out of it. So be glad we did. The alternative would be thousands upon thousands of people homeless, assets lost, lives ruined. If you want to debate this ToM - then debate it with me. The difference with the type of debate you want to have is one based on dollars spent. The type of values on this site is focused on the saving of peoples lives and families that include vulnerable children that the stimulus ultimately saved from the scrap heap. So you call me a nong at your peril. Go on try and call me a nong. I dare you. I put my values against yours any day.

Tom of Melbourne

14/02/2013Lady in Red - it’s simple, if the government wastes money on pink batts and “performing arts centres” for wealthy private schools, it has less to spend on [i]actual[/i] public interest projects, like hospitals, facilities in indigenous communities, computers for schools that don’t have them. How public funds are allocated reflect values, and waste limits efficient allocation of resources to maximise public benefit. Swan was wasteful, and politicised the stimulus – that’s a fact.

Bacchus

14/02/2013"[quote]Swan was wasteful, and politicised the stimulus[/quote]" I see your "pet" still hasn't mastered the difference between fact and opinion :D

Tom of Melbourne

14/02/2013Bacchus, Swan has said he maintained the stimulus for reasons other than economic ones. While I'm usually sceptical about any comment he utters, I believe him on this But you might advise which of the facts I listed is incorrect.

janice

14/02/2013KHTAGH, Now don't ask me what I was listening to or when because that information has left my memory bank. However, I heard a rural lady (speaking for her group) call for their idea to be considered by governments, that all supermarkets and retailers be forced to add the "Farm Gate Price" on their price tags. This lady said that the consumer is completely unaware how little farmers are paid for their product. For instance, when someone buys a piece of pumpkin @ $2.?? per kilo, they should be able to see that the farmer received the princely sum of 35c per kilo. I would add as well, that when someone buys a kilo of almost meatless soup bones @ $6 per kilo, a T-bone @ $15 - $18 per kilo, that person might be amazed to discover that the farm gate price for the whole beast was $1.60 - $2.15 per kilo. Of course, even then the consumer would not be aware of the costs of production which the farmer has to get out of that low farm gate price and still hope he might end up with a few cents for his own living costs. It really beats me why most farmers are rabid conservatives. Why are they not out there screaming blue murder and asking for a reasonable price for the product they produce?

LadyInRed

14/02/2013No ToM that's an opinion. The people who worked on those projects all the industries that benefitted from those projects and yes the many schools that got long needed infrastructure might not agree with you and neither do I. But I do note you have toned down your rhetoric for which I am grateful.

Catching up

14/02/2013Inquiries. More than one, found the Pink Batt scheme 97% efficient. Under the scheme, there were lower fires, caused by poor wiring. The scheme introduced safety guidelines for the industry for the first time, in it's 50 or 60 year history. Four bosses for breaking the law, that led to four deaths. Over one million homes insulated, leading to big savings in power, both summer and winter. lets have more such wasteful schemes. Bought into this century.

LadyInRed

14/02/2013KHTAGH I would like to award you with the 'cranky pants' award for today for your 1:54pm 'rant'. It was a rant on behalf of some of [b]the[/b] most hardest working people in this country, the farmers. This award has you sporting a 'blue singlet' which you can beautify to your liking, please feel free to add large gold chains, chunky chokers, sparkles (I like sparkles), whatever you like, but I like sparkles....no pressure...for the sparkles that is. You can wear a checked flannel shirt if it is chill, over the blue singlet, not under because that would look stupid. The checks can be anysize or colour.

DMW

14/02/2013ToM @ 3:18 PM [i]Swan was wasteful, and politicised the stimulus – that’s a fact.[/i] @ 3:41 PM [i]... Swan has said he maintained the stimulus for reasons other than economic ones.[/i] You have obviously studied every aspect of the stimulus packages long and hard and gone over everything with the original fine toothed comb. Time to put up and there is no wriggle room here. Please provide actual quotes from any of Treasury, the Dept. of Finance or The Auditor General that clearly shows which parts of the stimulus packages were 'wasteful'. Please provide the evidence that Swan in particular politicised the stimulus and supply the actual words Swan used that have caused you to write the second quote. No quotes from the opposition will be allowed, nor quotes from commentators only verifiable sources which would include excerpts from Hansard. Be a man ToM, be brave, front up with the evidence rather than incessant assertion and innuendo.

Tom of Melbourne

14/02/2013I’m sorry DMW, bu I’m not trawling through the internet to find the quote from Swan. When the economy had shown resilience, Swan was questioned about winding back the stimulus, he replied to the effect of – “people are expecting these facilities and you can’t stop them now”. You’ll have to accept that I’m quite happy to reply on the run, but I’m not getting myself into a research loop just because you request it.

MWS

14/02/2013Tim Dunlop's latest: [quote]To put it most simply: the problem isn't the audience and their complaining. It's that, despite all the complaining - a lot of it serious, measured and valid - little ever changes. We still get endless leadership speculation based on self-interested leaks; we get mindless he said/she said narratives that substitute "balance" for analysis, equal time for equal worth; we get endless goalpost shifting where, for example, the government is urged in the name of good economics to abandon a surplus and then is accused of breaking a promise when they do; or Tony Abbott is berated for playing small-target politics but is then mocked for even thinking about plans to develop new cities in northern Australia; we get endless articles about how people's perception of the economy doesn't match the robust reality with never a self-reflective thought about where people get their information from in the first place.[/quote] http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4518748.html

LadyInRed

14/02/2013[i] "Many credible economists agree that ripping the stimulus out early would mean even higher unemployment and leave business in the lurch," the treasurer said in a weekly economic note. Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/stimulus-will-stay-until-nation-fully-recovers-swan-20090906-fcor.html#ixzz2KqdLqgO9[/i] http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1127406/appropriate-to-maintain-stimulus-swan-says I did some trawling. Couldn't find anything. And I think given how the media love, absolutely love a Swann put down, or gaffe. I feel if he did say somwthing like the stimulus is being kept on for political reasons as suggested it would have been front page news. Hence I think this might be a ToM furphy.

Sir Ian Crisp

14/02/2013It seems to me that the ALP's enemy is not Mr Um-Err-Ahh. The ALP's real enemy is the bird of paradise whose political carcass is swinging in the breeze and that breeze is becoming mephetic for the boys and girls in the ALP. Who will step forward and cut the carcass of the bird of paradise down?

NormanK

14/02/2013ToM You really are a pain in the bum. I have provided these details to you in full on two previous occasions and in the form of a link to the original post on one other. You have not responded with one word on any of those occasions. So let's play the game one more time. Put up or shut up. Beginning of extract. A recent conversation on The Political Sword turned to the efficacy of the Labor government's stimulus programmes, with particular emphasis on whether they were too big and lasted too long. One contention is that Treasurer over-reacted, exaggerating the perceived threat and by allowing the stimulus to run past the peak of the crisis he negligently placed upward pressure on inflation, overheating the economy and forcing the Reserve Bank to increase interest rates to cool things down. Treasury's predictions of the possible hit to employment has also been questioned. 

I thought it might be interesting to find out what the Governor of the RBA at the time, Glenn Stevens felt were the primary motivators for the rate cuts in the first instance and then subsequent rate rises as the risk to our economy abated. I was given unprecedented access to his diary notes and he graciously agreed for me to use these extracts. 

 So, here then are the thoughts of Mr Glenn Stevens, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia during the events surrounding the GFC, the movements in the cash rate and what, if any, effect fiscal policy may have had on the RBA's actions. 

September 2008 pre-GFC - the first rate cut (7.25% - 0.25% = 7.00%) 
[quote]Given the opposing forces at work, considerable uncertainty has surrounded the outlook for demand and inflation. On balance, however, it is looking more likely that household demand will remain subdued and overall economic growth slow over the period ahead. 
********** 
Weighing up the available domestic and international information, the Board judged that there was now scope for monetary policy to become less restrictive.[/quote] 
 www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2008/mr-08-14.html 

 October 2008 onset of GFC - the second rate cut (7.00% - 1.00% = 6.00%) 
 [quote]Conditions in international financial markets took a significant turn for the worse in September. Large-scale financial failures in several major countries were accompanied by serious dislocation in interbank markets and heightened instability in other markets, including sharp falls in share prices. 
 ********** 
Economic activity in the major countries is also weakening, and [b]evidence is accumulating of a significant moderation in growth in Australia’s trading partners in Asia[/b]. 
The recent deterioration in prospects for global growth, together with much more difficult market conditions even for creditworthy borrowers, now present the risk that demand and output could be significantly weaker than earlier expected.[/quote] www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2008/mr-08-20.html 

 November 2008 early GFC - the third rate cut (6.00% - 0.75% = 5.25%) 
[quote]International economic data have continued to point to significant weakness in the major industrial economies, and there have been further signs that China and other parts of the developing world are slowing as well. These conditions have contributed to further falls in world commodity prices. 
In Australia, the overall path of economic activity appears until recently to have been close to what the Board had expected, with a needed moderation in demand occurring after a period of earlier strength. Recent reductions in borrowing rates, the depreciation of the exchange rate and the fiscal stimulus announced in October will work to assist growth in the period ahead, but deteriorating international conditions and falling commodity prices will have a dampening influence. On balance, it appears likely that spending and activity will be weaker than earlier expected.[/quote] 
www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2008/mr-08-25.html 

December 2008 - the fourth rate cut (5.25% - 1.00% = 4.25%) 
 [quote]Weighing up the international and domestic developments of recent months, the Board judged that a further significant reduction in the cash rate was warranted now, to take monetary policy to an expansionary setting. 
********** 
There has now been a major easing in monetary policy over the past few months.  Together with the spending measures announced by the Government, and a large fall in the Australian dollar exchange rate, significant policy stimulus will be supporting demand over the year ahead.[/quote] 
www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2009/mr-09-28.html 

February 2009 - the fourth rate cut (4.25% - 1.00% = 3.25%) 
 [quote]There was a significant deterioration in world economic conditions late in 2008. The effects on household and business confidence of the financial turmoil following Lehman’s collapse, and continuing strains on major financial institutions, saw a significant downturn in demand around the world. As a result, the major advanced economies contracted sharply in the December quarter, as did a number of emerging market economies. [b]The Chinese economy, though still growing, has slowed markedly[/b]. 
********** 
Economic conditions in Australia have also been affected, though less than in other advanced economies. Australia’s financial system remains in a strong condition and large interest rate reductions over recent months have been passed through in substantial measure to end borrowers. Nonetheless, the combination of last year’s financial turmoil, a severe global downturn and substantial falls in commodity prices has had a significant dampening effect on confidence, and therefore on prospects for growth in demand.[/quote] 
 www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2009/mr-09-01.html 

March 2009 - unchanged (3.25%) 
 [quote]Recent data confirm that the world economy has remained very weak following the sharp decline in demand that occurred late last year. 
********** 
In response to that outlook, there has already been a major change in both monetary and fiscal policy. Market and [b]mortgage rates are at very low levels by historical standards[/b] and business loan rates are below recent averages, reducing debt-servicing burdens considerably. Together with the substantial fiscal initiatives, the cumulative decline in interest rates will provide significant support to domestic demand over the period ahead. On this basis, notwithstanding evident economic weakness at present, the Board judged that the stance of monetary policy was appropriate for the moment.[/quote] 
 www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2009/mr-09-05.html 

 April 2009 - the fifth rate cut (3.25% - 0.25% = 3.00%) [quote]
Recent information from abroad indicates that the contraction in the global economy continued during the first few months of this year, and most assessments of the near-term outlook have been further marked down. Considerable economic policy stimulus is in train in most countries, the full effects of which are not yet discernible, but which should help contain the downturn over the rest of the year. There are tentative signs of stabilisation in several countries, including China, though it is too early yet to judge how durable these will prove to be.[/quote] 
 www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2009/mr-09-06.html 

 May 2009 - unchanged (3.00%) 
[quote]The Australian economy contracted in the latter part of 2008, and this has continued in 2009 to date, with both domestic and international demand weaker. [b]Capacity utilisation has fallen back to about average levels, and will decline further over the rest of the year. With demand for labour weakening, growth in labour costs will probably also fall.[/b] 
********** 
 The stance of monetary policy, together with the substantial fiscal initiatives, will provide significant support to domestic demand over the period ahead.[/quote] 
www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2009/mr-09-08.html 

August 2009 - unchanged (3.00%) [quote]Economic conditions in Australia have been [b]stronger than expected a few months ago[/b], with both consumer spending and exports notable for their resilience. Measures of confidence have recovered a good deal of ground. This suggests that the risk of a severe contraction in the Australian economy has abated. The most likely outcome in the near term is a period of sluggish output, with consumer spending likely to slow somewhat and investment remaining weak.[/quote] 
www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2009/mr-09-16.html 

September 2009 - unchanged (3.00%) 
 [quote]Economic conditions in Australia have been stronger than expected, with consumer spending, exports and business investment notable for their resilience. 
********** [b]
Unemployment has not, to this point, risen as far as had been expected.[/b] Weaker demand for labour, evident in a decline in hours worked, nonetheless has seen a moderation in labour costs.[/quote] 
 www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2009/mr-09-19.html 

October 2009 - the first rate rise (3.00% + 0.25% = 3.25%) 
 [quote]Economic conditions in Australia have been stronger than expected and measures of confidence have recovered.  Some spending has probably been brought forward by the various policy initiatives. As those effects diminish, these areas of demand may soften somewhat. Some types of capital spending are likely to be held back for a while by financing constraints, but it now appears that private investment will not be as weak as earlier expected. Medium-term prospects for investment appear, moreover, to be strengthening. Higher dwelling activity and public infrastructure spending is also starting to provide more support to spending. Overall, growth through 2010 looks likely to be close to trend. 
 ********** 
 In late 2008 and early 2009, the cash rate was lowered quickly, to a very low level, in expectation of very weak economic conditions and [b]a recognition that considerable downside risks existed[/b]. [b]That basis for such a low interest rate setting has now passed, however[/b]. With growth likely to be close to trend over the year ahead, inflation close to target and the risk of serious economic contraction in Australia now having passed, the Board’s view is that it is now prudent to begin gradually lessening the stimulus provided by monetary policy. This will work to increase the sustainability of growth in economic activity and keep inflation consistent with the target over the years ahead.[/quote] 
www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2009/mr-09-23.html 

 November 2009 - the second rate rise (3.25% + 0.25% = 3.5%) 
 [quote]Over the past year, the Australian economy has performed better than was widely expected. While activity contracted around the turn of the year – as it did in all advanced economies – a range of indicators, including private-sector surveys and information from the Bank’s liaison program, suggest that the economy has expanded at a moderate pace over the past six months or so. 
www.rba.gov.au/.../dom-eco-cond.html 

Inflationary pressures continue to moderate, consistent with the slowdown in the domestic economy, although in underlying terms inflation remains relatively high. Wage growth slowed significantly over the first half of 2009, and upstream price pressures are subdued. The recent appreciation of the exchange rate is also starting to exert downward pressure on inflation in the tradables sector of the economy, and inflation expectations are broadly consistent with the Bank’s medium-term inflation target.[/quote] 
 www.rba.gov.au/.../price-wage-dev.html 

[quote]As discussed in earlier chapters, the recent flow of data suggests that the domestic economy is growing, benefiting from the rebound in growth in Asia, the stimulus delivered by fiscal and monetary policies, and strong growth in the population and capital stock ..... 
In year-average terms, GDP growth is expected to be around 1½ per cent in 2009/10, 3 per cent in 2010/11 and 3½ per cent in 2011/12. These forecasts have been prepared using the technical assumption that the cash rate increases gradually.[/quote] 
 www.rba.gov.au/.../eco-outlook.html 

[quote]The general improvement in the economic data and the decline in risk aversion have seen most equity markets record strong gains over recent months. 
********** 
These outcomes are better than those thought likely earlier in the year and forecasts for global growth have been revised up, with growth in Australia’s trading partners expected to be close to trend in 2010. [b]The large downside risks that were evident six months ago have also diminished. Significant risks, nevertheless, remain[/b]. 
 ********** 
Economic conditions in Australia have also been stronger than expected. In contrast to other developed economies, the Australian economy is estimated to have expanded, albeit modestly, over the first half of the year and recent data suggest that this expansion has continued into the second half. [b]Confidence has improved and spending has been supported by stimulatory settings for both monetary and fiscal policy.[/b] The Australian economy has also benefited from the strong bounce-back in Asia, particularly in China, with export volumes remaining broadly unchanged during a period in which global trade fell markedly.[/quote] 
 www.rba.gov.au/.../intro.html 

 December 2009 - the third rate rise (3.5% + 0.25% = 3.75%) 
 [quote]The effects of the early stages of the fiscal stimulus on consumer demand are fading, but public infrastructure spending is starting to provide more impetus to demand. Prospects for ongoing expansion of private demand, including business investment, have been strengthening. There have been some early signs of an improvement in labour market conditions. [b]The rate of unemployment is now likely to peak at a considerably lower level than earlier expected[/b]. 
 ********** 
 With the risk of serious economic contraction in Australia having passed, the Board has moved at recent meetings [b]to lessen gradually the degree of monetary stimulus[/b] that was put in place when the outlook appeared to be much weaker.[/quote] 
 www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2009/mr-09-28.html 

 February 2010 - unchanged (3.75%) [quote]
Interest rates to most borrowers nonetheless remain lower than average. If economic conditions evolve broadly as expected, the Board considers it likely that monetary policy will, over time, need to be adjusted further in order to ensure that inflation remains consistent with the target over the medium term.[/quote] 
www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2010/mr-10-02.html 

 March 2010 - the fourth rate rise (3.75% + 0.25% = 4.00%) 
 [quote]Interest rates to most borrowers nonetheless remain lower than average. The Board judges that with growth likely to be close to trend and inflation close to target over the coming year, it is appropriate for interest rates to be closer to average.[/quote] 
 www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2010/mr-10-04.html 

April 2010 - fifth rate rise (4.00% + 0.25% = 4.25%) 
 [quote]Interest rates to most borrowers nonetheless have been somewhat lower than average. The Board judges that with growth likely to be around trend and inflation close to target over the coming year, it is appropriate for interest rates to be closer to average. Today’s decision is a further step in that process.[/quote] 
www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2010/mr-10-06.html 

 May 2010 - sixth rate rise (4.25% + 0.25% = 4.5%) [quote]
.......... the Board has been adjusting the cash rate towards levels that would be consistent with interest rates to borrowers being close to the average experience over the past decade or more. The Board expects that, as a result of today’s decision, rates for most borrowers will be around average levels. This represents a significant adjustment from the very expansionary settings reached a year ago.[/quote] 
www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2010/mr-10-07.html 

June through October 2010 - unchanged 4.5% 

November 2010 - seventh rate rise (4.5% + 0.25% = 4.75%) 
[quote]Information on the Australian economy indicates growth around trend over the past year. Public spending was prominent in driving aggregate demand for several quarters but this impact is now lessening. 
********** 
For some time, the Board has held the stance of monetary policy steady, which has resulted in interest rates to borrowers being close to their average of the past decade.[/quote] 
 www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2010/mr-10-26.html 

 December 2010 through October 2011 - unchanged 4.75% 

November 2011 - first rate cut (4.75% - 0.25%  = 4.5%) 
 [quote]Over the past year, the Board has maintained a mildly restrictive stance of monetary policy, in view of its concerns about inflation. With overall growth moderate, inflation now likely to be close to target and confidence subdued outside the resources sector, the Board concluded that a more neutral stance of monetary policy would now be consistent with achieving sustainable growth and 2–3 per cent inflation over time.[/quote] 
 www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2011/mr-11-24.html 


Some readers may be surprised to see that during the period where the government's fiscal stimulus was starting to wind back and the cash rate was returning to normal there was no mention of the economy over-heating or the risk of inflation soaring out of control. If we are to believe Mr Stevens, it was a very orderly transition to what the RBA considers to be 'normal, average' settings. In fact, so balanced were the economic settings that the Board saw fit to maintain the cash rate at a steady level for 11 consecutive months. 

It is also worth noting that the RBA's forecasts for increases in the level of unemployment at the height of the crisis proved to be somewhat pessimistic in hindsight although they were in line with Treasury forecasts. End of extract. DMW has asked your for direct evidence of Wayne Swan saying that the stimulus was purely political. That is not my recollection and I second the motion that you table a direct quote from a credible source. While you are at it, please provide one credible source of evidence that the economy over-heated during this period. Did the cost of doing building work escalate due to lack of labour and material? No. Did wages blow-out due to a shortage of skilled labour competing for an abundance of jobs? No. Did inflation begin to spike due to over-stimulation of the economy by the public sector? No. Did interest rates rise to levels beyond recent trends because the RBA was concerned about over-stimulus? No. However. Did the building industry which was already in a down-turn, crash and burn because of the GFC? No. Have any significant economists who don't have Liberal Party affiliations come out and offered criticism that matches in tone the praise heaped upon the Australian government by Nobel winning economist Professor Joseph Stiglitz who said: [i]I did actually study quite a bit the Australian package, and my impression was that it was the best - one of the best-designed of all the advanced industrial countries. When the crisis struck, you have to understand no-one was sure how deep, how long it would be. There was that moment of panic. Rightfully so, because the whole financial system was on the verge of collapse. In that context, what you need to act is decisively. If you don't act decisively, you could get the collapse. It's a one-sided risk. ***** If you hadn't spent the money, there would have been waste. The waste would have been the fact that the economy would have been weak, there would have been a gap between what the economy could have produced and what it actually produced - that's waste. You would have had high unemployment, you would have had capital assets not fully utilised - that's waste. So your choice was one form of waste verses another form of waste. And so it's a judgment of what is the way to minimise the waste. No perfection here. And what your government did was exactly right. So, Australia had the shortest and shallowest of the downturns of the advanced industrial countries. And, ah, your recovery actually preceded the - in some sense, China. So there was a sense in which you can't just say Australia recovered because of China. Your preventive action, you might say pre-emptive action, prevented the downturn while things got turned around in Asia, and they still have not gotten turned around in Europe and America.[/i] http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2010/s2965891.htm You have one statistic that you are clinging to like a drowning man and your entire argument (I'm being generous) is based on that statistic.

Janet (Jan @j4gypsy)

14/02/2013 G’day from Boorowa, still and again. Wow, thank you NormanK for that extraordinary revisiting of responses. 'Tho it does forever bemuse me that anyone responds to what seems deliberate baiting. But who is a wandering gypsy to wonder :-)? In response to earlier posts: Suspect DMW’s ‘story’ concept is Jonathan Green’s ‘narrative’, the one that those of us who support the Gillard Government wish it could get together and ‘tell’ in such a way as to touch the personal understanding of the political in all of us. I also think LiR’s approach -- ‘I try to counteract these [common anti-ALP mantras] with - so how does 'she is a liar' which is a matter of spin versus truth, affect you in your daily life?’ -- offers a critical way to engage with those who hold such views. DMW (and who’d ‘a thunk he’d turn out to be such an ol’ romantic :-)) might say that any view held with such passion can’t be changed. My own experience is that passions and feelings can indeed be informed by factual information and therefore challenged and changed by providing corrections of some kinds to misinformation or disinformation. Sometimes change might come through ‘other’ information that still isn’t wholly ‘factual’, also (back to Green in some ways). A different thought: if Faine’s T’Abbott interview (which I didn’t hear) was ‘soft’ it strongly suggests that Abbott would only do it on the basis of an agreement with Mark Scott that that’s what he would get from Faine. It feels horribly like Abbott wielding power (via Scott) over an ABC staff member and inflicting direct punishment on Faine. I had cold shivers when hearing about this interview … Anyways … a bit from today’s Twitter-scene … [b]Twitterati:[/b] [i]Bernard Keane ‏@BernardKeane[/i] BREAKING: Coalition to replace $38b NBN with $30b waterborne message service [i]Robert Oakeshott MP ‏@OakeyMP[/i] On farm water efficiency a much better investment for communities than 50 large scale dams.Bradfield Project was nice idea,wrong in practice [i]Mike Stuchbery ‏@MikeRStuchbery[/i] To save water and stop floods... we'll just put it all in buckets! Yes, excellent idea, Mr Abbott! [i]David Horton ‏@watermelon_man[/i] Pity, is it not, that Abbott's Coalition models its environmental policies on Rome's policy for Carthage? [i]Craig Emerson MP ‏@CraigEmersonMP[/i] Stock market breaks through 5000 barrier; best since before GFC. Consumer confidence surges. Not much of a wrecking ball, that carbon price. [i]Peter Garrett AM MP ‏@PGarrettMP[/i] Lots of questions about school computers. I have written to education ministers and non-govt schools advising of next round of payments. [i]Cranky Frog ‏@FrogCranky[/i] Been incredibly frustrating trying 2 get th impact of CSG acknowledged in CollectiveUrbanConsciousness. Need 2 understand it will affect all [i]krONik ‏@krONik[/i] How long can @4Corners hold off Tweeple power and resist Ashby/Brough/Slipper? #AUSpol https://twitter.com/krONik/status/299082481020309504 … [i]Peter Foster ‏@PeterFosterALP[/i] I think Australia needs to get over Rudd challenging the Labor Party leadership - PM Gillard is doing a top job. Media needs a cold shower! [i]Luke Pearson ‏@LukeLPearson[/i] Thoughts?! MT @paddygibson rate of removal of Aboriginal children is far higher today than during Stolen Gen time #iXchat [i]Jo ‏@jot_au[/i] See Wayne when you use big words like " intersection" it goes right over their heads, just say STOP THE PROMISES! Ffs Fran you can do better [i]RubyRainbow ‏@ColouredView[/i] Barnaby Joyce calls for upgrade of Overland Telegraph as Nats seek to modernise communications in Australias' north.#voyageofthedammed [i]Tao de Haas ‏@TaodeHaas[/i] @geeksrulz a journalist got annoyed with me for suggesting the ABC had been hijacked so I say it again, ABC has been hijacked by the right [b]Twitterverse:[/b] [i]National Times ‏@NationalTimesAU[/i] Thought bubbles belie Coalition's 'ready to govern' claim, writes Lenore Taylor http://www.nationaltimes.com.au/opinion/politics/thought-bubbles-belie-coalitions-ready-to-govern-claim-20130214-2eei6.html … [i]TheFinnigans天地有道人无道 ‏@Thefinnigans[/i] Obama's win in 2012 debunked "The Medium Is the Message" misguidedly peddled here http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-14/green-the-facts-wont-speak-for-themselves/4517146 … - Let's do likewise here in Sept [i]Aussie ‏@AussiePlease[/i] http://www.roymorgan.com/news/polls/2013/4864/ … Very interesting #auspol [i]Dennis Atkins ‏@dwabriz[/i] An interesting K Rudd theory pops up #auspol #insidershttp://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/party-games-madness-no-theres-method/story-e6frerc6-1226577412688 … [i]Jewel Topsfield ‏@JewelTopsfield[/i] Baillieu gov asks retired principals and casual relief teachers to work as strike breakers http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/call-for-strike-breakers-to-keep-schools-open-20130213-2ecn1.html … via @henriettacook [i]david ewart ‏@davidbewart[/i] http://www.nationaltimes.com.au/opinion/political-news/gillards-school-plan-a-costly-failure-20130213-2edbi.html … this liberal framing hide the truth which is that the program is on track [i]Stephen Koukoulas ‏@TheKouk[/i] My Business Spectator column today: Obama rides the US around the corner http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Obama-state-of-the-union-US-economy-jobs-stock-mar-pd20130214-4VR54?OpenDocument&emcontent_spectators …@businessspec [i]Mr Denmore ‏@MrDenmore[/i] How the Gillard govt, in a rush to settle with big miners, got diddled on the MRRT. Good analysis by @1petermartinhttp://www.smh.com.au/opinion/-2edhg.html … [i]Frank Keany ‏@redneckninja[/i] Front page of the Tele - Abbott plan to build 100 dams. Could it be similar to this idea back in 2011? http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/tony-abbotts-plan-for-northern-foodbowl/story-fn59niix- [i]ManO'Steel(town) ‏@berkeleyboy[/i] Tony Abbott is VERY selective about interviews he posts on his website - here's one he forgot http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXhbg80E2JE …#LNP #auspol #carwreck [i]Possum Comitatus ‏@Pollytics[/i] Pictures from inside one of Australia's tent city internment camps - the ones we send kids to http://bit.ly/Z9ua5P [i]Aboriginal Health ‏@NACCHOAustralia[/i] ABORIGINAL HEALTH MOB:GROG NT:John Paterson CEO AMSANT Darwin Fantastic response to Chris Graham article CRIKEY http://blogs.crikey.com.au/croakey/2013/02/13/why-we-support-measures-to-control-the-supply-of-alcohol-aboriginal-medical-services-alliance-nt/ … [i]Possum Comitatus ‏@Pollytics[/i] An excellent look at how the Australian public relates to the mining industry http://bit.ly/X4pQAG [i]Think Big ‏@Thought4rce[/i] End the scourge of workplace bullying. Start by sacking Ray Hadley.http://m.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/hadley-suspension-row-the-shows-not-over-until-singo-sings-20130213-2edf5.html … #OhRay [i]Mr Denmore ‏@MrDenmore[/i] Great idea! News app lets readers subscribe to specific journalistshttp://www.journalism.co.uk/a552079 via @journalismnews [i]John Pratt ‏@Jackthelad1947[/i] Dire need of a political fix. Politics & corruption go hand in hand.#auspol Greed us killing us. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/opinion/-2ed6i.html …

LadyInRed

14/02/2013WOW Combet let Abbott have it - called him a BS artist over carbon pricing. On our ABC - go Greg. I have to award a second 'cranky pants' award.

jaycee

14/02/2013Sir Ian Crisp ponders the conumdrum of chance...: "...'ToBee' or not 'ToBee'....Hmmm..I think I'll take 'That Is The Question' at 5/1 on!.....I say!..Mr. Bookie!!"

Janet (Jan @j4gypsy)

14/02/2013 While LiR is handing out cranky pants awards that make us smile and keep us cheery (couldn't agree more with both today's choices :-)) take a moment and read this just-posted blog post from David Horton, and then cheer up heaps further peoples: http://davidhortonsblog.com/2013/02/14/yes-prime-minister/

Bacchus

14/02/2013They mock him here, They mock him there Those bloggers mock him everywhere! Is he in liberal? Is he a pom? That damned boorish Melbourne ToM?

Pikiranku

14/02/2013LiR You touched on something this morning that I've been thinking about for a while: "That's why the actual campaign is sooooo important. That is the time the Labor candidates have to get out there and sell." Why aren't candidates out there already? Why wait until the election campaign? It's generally agreed that personal contact is the most effective way to win people's trust and support. Remember what Maxine McKew achieved in 2007 - mainly by sheer hard work, wearing out shoe-leather, knocking on doors, making herself known to people, making personal contact. And she didn't just do it for a few weeks before election day. It's infuriating when Labor back-benchers background the MSM, bag Julia, criticise party policy. All because they're afraid of losing their jobs. They seem to expect to be able to sit back and let Julia and the leadership team carry them to victory. Why don't they get off their rear-ends and work to help themselves? And the Party. Maybe tramping the streets and getting out in shopping centres should be considered part of the job. All year round, not just at election time.

2353

14/02/2013DMW @ 1.09 pm. Yes. Disgust is an emotion. LiR @ 4.29pm. I didn't expect you to find what Troll from Melbourne claims - because it probably isn't there. Typical conservative plan - throw mud, repeat it a few times and expect it to be accepted as truth. S/he should know that on this site, someone will correctly request attribution. NormanK. Lovely to see you back (I hope your situation has improved to the extent it won't be a fleeting visit). A nice factual discussion on the Government's reaction to the GFC. If any one wants to see the alternative they should watch last Monday night's 4 Corners either on ABC 24 or iView. Pikiranku - The local ALP MP is out campaigning (as is the hopefully 2 time loser from the LNP).

KHTAGH

14/02/2013LadyInRed I wear it with pride, to be placed in this illustrious list of recipients at TPS is a high point of the month.

LadyInRed

14/02/2013KHTAGH You are welcome. A well deserved win.

Ad astra

14/02/2013NormanK It's so good to see you back. What a magnificent chronology of RBA decisions you have given us! It is contributions like that one that make [i]TPS[/i] such an interesting place to visit. I hope you can return soon. We will await ToM's response with bated breath.

Ad astra

14/02/2013Janet You are tireless; still able to give us your always-interesting Twitterati although on tour. Thank you so much.

jaycee

14/02/2013Well..as they say..: "A saint must suffer"....and you are correct in that you are doing a crap job (of it!). Say!...I know it may be considered second best, but since you seem to be a creature of "habit".....I don't know...second career, perhaps?

KHTAGH

14/02/2013 Janice [quote]It really beats me why most farmers are rabid conservatives. [/quote] Id say because at one stage they were actually well off? Generational farming too, father Liberal, so are the next generation.

jaycee

14/02/2013Khtagh....Most farmers are from small communities..probably born into them...such communities have an existing heirarchy that places each in their respective place...they may have personal hates and feuds and even despise some other members...BUT...if or when an outside threat comes into the community (personal, political or social) they unite against it..each individual, lacking a worldly confidence has no solid footing but is fixed in the matrix of all...so take on one, you take on all!....conservatism in action.

Ad astra

14/02/2013DMW While acknowledging the merit of your thesis that emotion plays a greater part in the decisions electors make than do facts and logic, the task of politicians is to present voters with more cogent reasons than emotional reasons why they ought to vote for them. I suppose the smart strategy is to couple fact, reason and emotion, a strategy that brings success in educational endeavours. What we are witnessing is positive facts and persuasive logic being successfully countered by negative emotions. Many, if not most of these emotions have been generated by Coalition sloganeering: ‘pink batts’, ‘waste and mismanagement’, ‘debt and deficit’, ‘broken promises’, ‘Juliar’, and so on. Many commentators heap praise on the Coalition for their ‘brilliant’ success in this regard, despite the verifiable fact that most of the slogans are disingenuous in the extreme. The media has a perverted view of what a ‘good’ Opposition is, and what a ‘clever’ Opposition does. The current Opposition fits this view and thereby attracts the media’s acclamation. The thought that actual performance, actual benefits bestowed on the people of Australia seem to count for so little, and that these desirable outcomes are subservient to negative emotions implanted by the Opposition and the compliant media, does depress me. That is my emotional response.

LadyInRed

14/02/2013I think farmers are voting Nationals, believing the Nats actually have a say in making policy. Jan that article was very interesting. I think the PM might be a bit like me with regards to her courting the religious right. Being an atheist she would be hounded out of parliament if she did a single thing that was remotely like the thinking of an atheist. So, it would be fine for Kevin to vote for gay marriage, he would be seen as a progresive christian. But to be an atheist and say yes I want gay marriage.....I just think it would be a bridge too far.

Tom of Melbourne

14/02/2013Norman K, no one is debating that there was a downturn, and personally, I rely on my own expression and logic rather than lengthy cut and pastes. Interestingly there is nothing in any of that material that demonstrates that any of the points I’ve made is incorrect – • Swan was out by about 40% in the unemployment forecast • He tipped 10.5%, and 8.5% with the stimulus • He based the stimulus on this level of unemployment • The stimulus remained while the RB was raising interest rates • He has politicised stimulus • He has also politicised the demand for a balanced budget • He didn’t understand the residual strength of our major trading partner

TalkTurkey

15/02/2013Hi Swordsfolks. First, NormanK, it is wonderful to see you back. I hope that all is well with you and that we may see you here often again. In sympathy with our Gypsy Rover I do not grace our few deliberate jeerers with so much as one line actually directed to them, let alone such as your comprehensive destruction of this one's endless bile-spitting, but you do shine a light on just how effective our two consecutive Labor Governments have been. As soon as the MSM gives Labor just a little more oxygen - and it is happening, largely due to pressure from the 5th Estate - we will explode the methane-rich brainfarts of the Abborttians. As one wag on Twitter put it: (wtte) [i]The ludicrous notion of all these dams-(never)-to-be in Ginatalia is only arsepirational ...[/i] Patricia, so pleased for you to have shed that unwelcome exoskeleton! You must feel like one more feather and you'll fly! So: [i]What's the difference between a bird with two wings and a bird with one wing? * (answer below) [/i] DMW you said I need some re-edumification 'All politics is/are personal' Hmm is seems correct are sounds better to me - English what a strange but beautiful concoction of a language you are 'Politics' like 'Mathematics' and 'Physics' is not a plural, it is a subject, it is singular, so of course "Politics is personal" is the correct form. So which of these is/are grammatically correct? - Yolk of egg is white Yolks of egg are white Yolks of eggs are white Yolk of eggs is white [b]I BET no-one gets the right answer![/b] [i]Or if anyone does get it right, I further bet it's for the wrong reasons [/i](I expect some people to have a try. Don't let me down!) James Adelaide, lovely to see a local Crowie writing here, and what an introduction you have provided! I know the Boothby electorate well, I'm in Steve Georganas' electorate of Hindmarsh which has a border in common, and I know even better the neighboring electorate of Kingston, held for Labor 1983-96 by my brother Gordon. I think the lovely Mandy Rishworth will be safe there - if not Labor would be doomed anyway I would think - and Hindmarsh is quite safe, so chances are I'll spend more time helping in Boothby, which we might have scored in 2007 with Nicole Cornes had the local Party not done a terrible job of mentoring her in the first few days of the campaign. Might see you there eh, beavering away for the Party! I've nearly caught up to what I said last night and lost to the Cosmos just prior to posting. It never feels so good though. :( So I'm'a post this without replying to all the other people, Ad astra has already I think, Thanks Ad & Lyn & Jan, and everybody, hang in, don't get discouraged by crap journalism and cunningly worded polls, the Fighting 5th Estate is shaking the MSM to its roots, and that is what we most need to do. It is they, not we, who should be dismayed at the prospect of the future. * It's a matter of a pinion. Now, please answer the question about EGGS!

jane

15/02/2013Great comment Norman K and I hope we'll see lots more. WRT ToM, I think we're beating our heads against a brick wall. ToM has little respect for the likes of Glen Stevens and Stiglitz because they don't support his prejudice wrt Wayne Swan. He keeps wittering on about Swan accepting Treasury's predicted unemployment figures and slagging Swan off because unemployment didn't reach the predicted level. But of course we know he's being very disingenuous, if not dishonest, in his "outrage". A prediction is in essence an educated guess about future events using information from the past and the here and now, but there will always be things which do not get factored in because they are so far outside the expected, like the Qld floods in 2010-2011. And who expected a repeat performance this summer? Now we know that ToM is apparently clairvoyant, but most of us are not. As I said before, hindsight is a wonderful thing. If Treasury and Swan had the gift of clairvoyance, no doubt their predictions would have been different, but as they aren't clairvoyant, they had to use the information they had at the time. LIR @5.25pm, I think Combet has let Liealot have the bullshit spray before. Can't recall wrt what or when-maybe NBN. I was surprised as Combet has always seemed a bit straight laced.

TalkTurkey

15/02/2013Guess who this is for! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E_30G0bkX0

jaycee

15/02/2013A little bit of backgrounding...Both ToM and Capstan are contributors to a Religious/racist/right-wing blog called "lian Hall's Sand Pit".....they come to sites like these under a nom de plume to do nothing but disrupt. They have no intention of objective debate, but keep moving the goal posts to maintain that disruption to the conversation thread. It is a right-wing tactic to steer public discussion away from the opp'n to the perceived govt' waste. They are bullshit, they are trash, they are traitors who ought to be deleted at first glance so as to allow the threads to develope toward a positive "vibe"... As for "capstan's" military cred'..I suspect the only time he has stood to attn' was after an overdose of viagra! And as for Tom.....just your standard F-wit!

jaycee

15/02/2013P.s....It's not us posters who are their target, but the many more lurkers who come to these sites to gather info..so they are operating with an objective to spread Liberal propaganda.

lyn

15/02/2013TODAY’S LINKS Dog Bites Man News, @MrDenmore, partisans presenting opinion as fact http://thefailedestate.blogspot.com.au/ Both Sides Of The Planet’s Big Green Smackdown @MikeSeccombe, Coalition either deny climate change outright or oppose http://powerhouse.theglobalmail.org/both-sides-of-the-planets-big-green-smackdown/ Peter Slipper on Australian media, democracy and IA @davrosz , use independent media as much as possible http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/politics/peter-slipper-on-australian-media- We need more criticism of the media, not less by @timdunlop, mindless he said/she said narratives http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4518748.html Wonkworld vs the Mediaverse by @donattroppo, Facts are no match for a compelling narrative, says Jonathan Green http://clubtroppo.com.au/2013/02/14/wonkworld-vs-the-mediaverse/ Tony Abbott the little Australian mouthpiece for USA’s Tea Party climate denialists by Christina MacPherson http://nuclearnewsaustralia.wordpress.com/2013/02/14/tony-abbott-the-little-australian-mouthpiece- Ask For Answers by @madwixxy , response from Michael Smith. http://wixxyleaks.com/2013/02/14/ask-for-answers/ DAMS LEAK @NickFeik, create impressions but commit to nothing http://www.themonthly.com.au/politicoz Get over the dam phobiaTony Abbott Adam Carroll, across the country fanciful & barking mad http://www.whitsundaytimes.com.au/news/leaked-paper-reveals-coalitions- Tony Abbott Damming Up the Country By @Mothincarnate, ridiculous plans so people have something to deconstruct http://newanthropocene.wordpress.com/2013/02/14/abbott-damming-up-the-country/ The plan to build 100 dams by Townsville blog, plan will not deliver ordinary people anything http://townsvilleblog.wordpress.com/2013/02/14/the-plan-to-build-100-dams/ Abbott backs plans to build more dams, @Simon_Cullen , Mr Abbott has had three leaks in three weeks http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-14/abbott-backs-plans-to-build-more-dams/4518150 Speculating Poll Dating @sarah_capper, always be someone or some group unhappy http://australiansforhonestpolitics.wordpress.com/category/authors/sarah-capper/ Grattan’s abrupt exit ends idealist’s dream @margokingston1, Grattan workaholic fanatically devoted to journalism http://australiansforhonestpolitics.wordpress.com/2013/02/14/grattans-abrupt-exit-ends- Careless political words @SarahEBurnside, Opp. Leader appears to have adopted approach of Humpty Dumpty http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=14689 No names, please @MigloCW those pathetic headlining bullshit stories http://cafewhispers.wordpress.com/2013/02/14/no-names-please/ Where's my mining boom!!! by Gordon, spent $22 million on advertising campaign http://gordonsthoughts.wordpress.com/2013/02/13/wheres-my-mining-boom/ State of the Union: climate change action is a domestic concern by Katherine Lake, for the sake of our children and our future”. https://theconversation.edu.au/state-of-the-union-climate-change-action-is- Necessity is the Mother of All… by @mrtiedt, Never fear! AusVotes is here to tell you http://ausvotes2013.com/2013/02/14/necessity-is-the-mother-of-all/ Confidence. Now even Coalition voters feel good by @1petermartin http://www.petermartin.com.au/ In Twitterspace No-one Can (Actually) Hear You Scream. by @leftocentre, No-one’s the font of all knowledge. http://whiticisms.net/2013/02/14/in-twitterspace-no-one-can-actually-hear-you-scream/ Yes Prime Minister, by @watermelon_man subject to more personal abuse, vilification, hatred, death threats, than all of her predecessors put together. http://davidhortonsblog.com/ Today’s Front Pages Australia Newspaper Front Pages for 15 February http://www.frontpagestoday.co.uk/index.cfm?PaperCountry=Australia

Ad astra

15/02/2013LYN'S DAILY LINKS updated: http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/page/LYNS-DAILY-LINKS.aspx

Pappinbarra Fox

15/02/2013TT, I( am mildly bemused [quote]So which of these is/are grammatically correct? - Yolk of egg is white Yolks of egg are white Yolks of eggs are white Yolk of eggs is white [/quote] Which one of the over 35 grammars that have been concoted to describe english usage do you think applies or that we should apply to this question? Depending on the grammar you choose any one of them could be correct, grammatically if not logically. Although I do not know the colour of all eggs species'yokes I allow that there might be some that are white. Why don't you ask a difficult question.

Ad astra

15/02/2013TT At the risk of putting my foot in it with your 'egg test', biologically not one of the propositions is correct as yolks are yellow (although PF allows that in some species yolks may be white). Grammatically all are correct. But having stuck my head out I stand ready to be corrected.

2353

15/02/2013DMW & AA - I think you have a point there. Politics is suggesting to the population that they individually would be better off if the party advertising was in power and implenting their "vision" thing. Therefore, politics is personal and like it or not "waste & mismanagement" etc have gained traction. It's advertising - think of "thinks go better", "good onya Mum", "Football meat pies (etc)", "put a tiger in your tank" plus a whole lot of regional variations that you remember long after the campaign has been withdrawn. The LNP doesn't have to prove their assertion, the assertion is the proof. The ALP needs to develop a campaign with similar power to the Workchoices advertising to counteract the slogans of the LNP. And by the way, who can forget the first real glossy political advertising in Australia - "It's time". TT - The yolk of an egg is clear before heat treatment. Probably not the right answer, but at least I had a go!

Ad astra

15/02/2013Hi Lyn I couldn’t resist reading Mr Denmore before getting breakfast. As usual, he hits the nail on the head with his [i]Dog bites man news[/i]: http://thefailedestate.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/dog-bites-man-news.html . I thought these paragraphs summed up the problem with the MSM nicely: [i]”So we have a situation where the capacity for 'news' is growing exponentially as the resources to create 'news' shrink at similar rates. What do you think happens? First, opinion replaces analysis. Second, PR fodder, bogus surveys, shared content and minimalist wire content replace branded news. Third, the voices of journalists are replaced by public actors and partisans presenting opinion as fact. Finally, the commercial and ideological interests of the media outlet are represented as news.”[/i] How true! And this morning we hear that circulation of News Limited and Fairfax papers has dropped substantially, again. The situation, of which Mr Denmore writes, will only worsen. Oh dear! I’ll read the rest of your links later.

Tom of Melbourne

15/02/2013Jane, I’m no clairvoyant, but Swan is now using the Keynes line about his dishonesty on the deficit – “when the facts change, I change my mind, what do you do?”. While Swan has repeated this several times recently, it was a line used on him when he continued to spend, spend, spend while the economy was showing plenty of resilience. Swan blunders and bulls**ts, he is possibly the most stupid person I can recall to become Treasurer. …and Jaycee again just makes it up – [i]” A little bit of backgrounding...Both ToM and Capstan are contributors to a Religious/racist/right-wing blog called "lian Hall's Sand Pit".....[/i] I don’t even know what that is, I’ve never contributed there, and Jaycee just proves he’s a liar!

Pappinbarra Fox

15/02/2013TT PS - a lot of different species produce eggs - snakes, insects fish etc so in all likelihood there are probably a range of colours but sort of clear is probably quite common. Sometimes eggs have more than one yolk. Sometimes eggs have no yolks. But with eggs Benedict the yolk is on him. OK OK that was crass and uncalled for and probably peurile too. Mea culpa mea culpa mea maxima culpa.

ladyinred

15/02/2013Probably wrong but egg yolks are yellow or orange if you have your own chooks

jaycee

15/02/2013ToM..in keeping w/liberal policy, YOU prove you don't contribute to right-wing blogs!....

Truth Seeker

15/02/2013Hey swordsters, I watched Abbott this morning on the ABC, spreading his usual diatribe to what I think was a business lobby (not sure), and never cease to be amazed by the hypocrisy and effrontery of the man (?). He lies and misrepresents with impunity, and while he continues to spout his three word slogans, I have come up with one of my own "Stop the Abbott" , Just posted http://truthseekersmusings.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/stop-the-abbott/ Cheers :-) :-)

Tom of Melbourne

15/02/2013Jaycee, you just make up the crap as you go. You’ve suggested- • I’m paid to blog • There are multiple people posting as me • I post at some blog that I don’t even follow …all without any proof at all. You’re a bulls**t artist, and your comments prove it.

KHTAGH

15/02/2013LIR Yes mine are orange, that why people line up for them, lots of greens, also PF all double yokes are infertile can't hatch, I think it is a pretty standard design, yokes tend to always be yellow, even reptilian are yellow my suspicion is that it has to do with the proteins involved in the yoke basic building blocks.

Bacchus

15/02/2013[quote]"So which of these is/are grammatically correct?"[/quote] I'll have a go TT. All of your examples are grammatically correct. "Yolk" or "yolks" is the subject, so the verb must match the subject. The [b]yolk[/b] of any number of eggs [b]is[/b] pink with purple polka dots. The [b]yolks[/b] of a single or multiple eggs [b]are[/b] the same colour.

Pappinbarra Fox

15/02/2013I don't think fish eggs' yolks are yellow Knee High

jaycee

15/02/2013"By his own words is he condemmed"... "I’m sorry DMW, bu I’m not trawling through the internet to find the quote from Swan....." "You’ll have to accept that I’m quite happy to reply on the run, but I’m not getting myself into a research loop just because you request it." Oh the cruel, cruel injustice of it all!!! Tom..guilty by accusation..by your own words..YOUR OWN WORDS! : no proof needed!

jaycee

15/02/2013AA. for god's sake, delete the simpleton...I'm sure you are only letting him on for some sort of medical experiment, but by jingo...!

Jason

15/02/2013jaycee, Poor old ToM demands you provide evidence of your claims yet when asked to do the same he replies "I’m not getting myself into a research loop just because you request it."

Ad astra

15/02/2013[b]Folks How many times have I urged you to ignore ToM? I have lost count. Every time someone responds, it encourages him to come back. NormanK made a valiant, well-documented attempt to explain to ToM his point of view and why he was taking it, but what difference did it make to ToM? None at all. I enjoyed NormanK's post and learned from it. I am glad he made it as it informed the rest of us even if ToM declined to learn from it. ToM will go round in circles for ever, so long as you engage with him. If that irritates you, don't engage. I am not prepared to delete his posts while they are polite, even though his facts might be inaccurate or his argument and reasoning bizzare, but will delete any post from ToM, or anyone else, if it is abusive of other bloggers, personally insulting or overly provocative. And I will delete any response to such a post that is also abusive, insulting or provocative. Such responses serve only to perpetrate the offence. CAN WE ALL TRY FOR THE NEXT WEEK TO NOT RESPOND TO ToM OR HIS ILK, AND IF HE/THEY CONTINUES TO POST COMMENTS, SCROLL OVER THEM WITHOUT READING THEM. HAVING READ MANY OF THEM, BE ASSURED THERE WILL BE NOTHING THERE WORTH READING. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME[/b]

DMW

15/02/2013Good Morning Ad, [i]... the smart strategy is to couple fact, reason and emotion, a strategy that brings success in educational endeavours.[/i] Absolutely spot on and although you don't state it the implication is 'make it personal to the student (voter)'. Good and great educators and leaders are able to speak to a group and to make every individual feel like they are the one the leader is talking to. It is an art and a skill. I take your points about they way the opposition parties have been operating and the media treatment of the whole game and while there would be some bits at the edges I could debate I basically agree with what you wrote. Fear is one of the most powerful motivators, fear of loss, fear of the unknown or the boogeyman (reds under the bed) and other often unfounded fears. The use of fear can be seen starkly in one particular policy area where one group is fanning (unfounded) fears, another group is attempting to calm or lessen the fear and a third group is using some facts and another powerful motivator, shame. (Yes, it is Asylum Seeker policy). LadyInRed @ February 14. 2013 11:52 AM, illustrated one way of 'making it personal': [i]... so how does 'she is a liar' ... affect you in your daily life?[/i] which is a great way of opening up a conversation to bring in some facts (maybe not figures as a lot of people are frightened by numbers) and relate them to people's life as they live it day to day. Good one LIR :) A thought on 'negative' emotions. It is whole other discussion but I am wary of using positive or negative when describing emotions. They are just emotions. Fear can be 'positive' and the emotion of fear helps keep us alive in some instances like the fear of the tiger. There is lot more about the personal and relating to people about shared values and they way we look at the world but to square the circle in essence [i]Politics is Personal[/i]

LadyInRed

15/02/2013DMW Just had a conversation with someone who is actually going to vote Labor use the "she is a liar" on me. I used the 'how does that affect you in your daily life'? When you go to the doctor and walk out the door without paying a cent (a Labor policy), when you retire and collect your super (a Labor initiative), when you go to the supermarket, the bank, pay your mortgage? A full 20 miniutes of passionate truth. When I said she was tough, example when everyone was against her she stuck to her word to the independents to introduce a carbon price, he said she was obstinate.......what if a woman stays the course now its obstinacy? Shot holes in all the arguments, it looked like swiss cheese. The Asians are polluting the planet, I'm not so sure about climate change anymore.....scientific evidence is not faith, when you go to the doctore its science that you trust in....so science is OK when it suits you..... blah blah blah .........it was exhausting. I was battling every and I mean every furphy, every piece of factually distorted nonsence ever put out. I might award myself the boganista 'cranky pants' award. Let me think a blue singlet, I have a lovely chunky Mimco neckless that will go very nicely, some sparkles around the bottom. I think I'll wear it with a nice red check flannel shirt, over the blue singlet, not under because that would look ....well quite stupid really. But I am willing to award a second 'cranky pants' award if something stands out. That little laugh has really helped.

Tom of Melbourne

15/02/2013Yes, don’t reply…[b]because this is a site that claims to put politicians and commentators to the verbal sword[/b] When Ad Astra starts to show balance and a commitment to his stated purpose, I’ll stop posting. But until then, I’ll continue to occasionally point out the regular hypocrisy here. --------------- …and Norman K’s cut & pastes/reply did nothing to refute the factual points I made, so why argue with him? He just posted a series of testimonials, which shed no light on the inaccurate forecasts that underpinned the stimulus in the first place.

jaycee

15/02/2013Ad Astra...While I value and accept your reasoning about trolls, I feel you are falling into the same old trap of "polite persuasion" towards recalcitrant offenders. The Left-Wing of politics..at least since the fall of Joe Stalin..has this un-nerving fault of over-discussing the faux-concerns and opinions of worthless, stupid right-wing provocateurs. Sure...if the intent is for a reasoned debate...bring it on...we have many times demonstrated such willingness. But the troll in question will not debate..you yourself have tried...we all have...he is of no worth in that field and as I have demonstrated yet again, he has no ethics or morality when he does post... So sure..you are the boss and we certainly must adhere to blog policy and I will not even think to challenge the proven skills, wisdom and patience you exhibit....but I do offer my limited learning in suggesting Tom be permanently deleted or at least until this "phoney election" cycle is over. Perhaps he will volunteer to absent himself as a penance for his most recent accusative blunder...if for nothing but only out of shame......mea culpa, mea culpa...

DMW

15/02/2013TT, thanks for the re-edumification. You erased my niggling doubt. A technical point on your question: [i]So which of these is/are grammatically correct? - Yolk of egg is white Yolks of egg are white Yolks of eggs are white Yolk of eggs is white[/i] You didn't ask if any of the statements were factual. So, to be pedantic, the colour is irrelevant :) I would strike out two & four merely as they mix the plural and singular. For the first I would more likely have written 'The yolk of an egg is white' So I am going for 'Yolks of eggs are white', and I bet I am wrong :)

Ad astra

15/02/2013jaycee When ToM is polite, so long as he offers opinions, no matter how wacky, I feel disinclined to delete his comments. I glance through them to be sure they are not abusive or insulting to others here, and as he knows, I delete them if they are. Otherwise I ignore what he writes, and scarcely ever respond, as when I have, no change of behaviour has occurred. As an educator who believes that 'education is a change of behaviour as a result of experience', when behaviour remains static or worsens, nothing positive has been achieved. There is a limit to trying, as all educators know.

jaycee

15/02/2013Fair enough, AA. But I am still inclined, in the case of such nuisances, to apply such education as I once witnessed on a building site where a particular theiving and scabby individual was confronted and given a good, solid, memorable "working class education". BUT!...as the Irish would say : "May there be a warm hearth and a quality whisky awaiting your soul in heaven!"

DMW

15/02/2013LiR @ 11:14 AM It is a bit like wrestling with slippery eels isn't it? (Why did a certain commenter just pop into mind - but I will leave that alone :) ) These sorts of discussions are most likely best had with the people who probably voted Labor in the past and are now wavering or leaning the other way. They can often be 'tilted' back and then with a bit of 'sand-bagging' be kept on the right, err correct, side of the wall. LiR, you are a treasure, keep up the good fight.

LadyInRed

15/02/2013oooh DMW I quite like being a treasure. Thank you. And don't forget a treasure sporting the boganista blue singlet 'cranky pants' award. Even if I did award it to myself I feel a acceptance speech is called for. I would like to thank my mum & dad for having me, my education for asisting me in making the many good choices, which brought me joy, & not so good ones which I learned and awful lot from and in the end found just as valuable if a little painful.

DMW

15/02/2013LiR, what a good 'speech', for a moment I thought you were accepting an Academy Award :P Sometimes 'love hurts', and with time and with a bit of hind(in)sight those hurtful moments do provide the most valuable and even valued lessons :)

2353

15/02/2013C'mon ALP - here's your campaign mantra. Abbott is Newman/O'Farrell/Ballieu/Barnett on steroids. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-15/abbott-reaffirms-commitment-to-public-service-cuts/4521142 [quote]Mr Abbott says a Coalition government would "trim" the public service, arguing there are now 20,000 more public servants now than there were five years ago. His comments prompted a swift response from acting Treasurer Penny Wong, who has described Mr Abbott as a "policy lightweight". "He spouts platitudes and aspirations and offers nothing that will support Australian families," Senator Wong said in a statement. "Tony Abbott has confirmed he would cuts jobs, services and support to Australian families. "The Coalition has admitted it needs to make $70 billion in budget cuts and now it's clear they plan to make cuts aimed squarely at hard working Australian families.[/quote]

LadyInRed

15/02/2013DMW The 'cranky pants' award may not be the Academy equivalent but I believe it is getting to be known as (...heard of as....some poeple have heard of it), around the traps as a pretty (...well fairly.....um kinda,) prestigious award. Lets all agree at the very least its a jolly good laugh. bob macalba twice winner of the cranky pants award, onya bob!. I believe Jane is also a two time recipient, well done Jane. Michael, jaycee, Ken have also won and know the extreme priviledge of sporting the bogan or boganista blue singlet....and checked flannel shirt, worn over not under (because quite frankly that would look ridiculous) the blue singlet.

LadyInRed

15/02/2013oooops sorry KHTAGH our most recent recipient, aside from myself, and possibly that doesn't count since I awarded it to myself. I think I might have to keep a register but that would take some of the fun out of it. But never-the-less KHTAGH I am guessing look particularly gorgeous wearing a blue singlet.

DMW

15/02/2013Lady In Blue, prestigious indeed

bob macalba

15/02/2013LiR Been busy but lurking and totally agree all worthy recipients, remember folks 'anger is an energy' Lyn and Janet..lots to digest, thankyou TT..your always a champion for the good guys[and good in general] cheers Ad..let him stay, we just have to ignore him till he starts being fair dinkum lots folk i havent mentioned who have linked or commented, all good stuff big thanks cheers all

Tom of Melbourne

15/02/2013Here’s a speech that would ensure re-election of the ALP government- [i]“Men and women of Australia, I am here today as your Prime Minister to put the past behind us, to express my personal regret that many of the actions we promised weren’t fulfilled. You have every right to be disappointed, and I am committing to serve you honestly, with integrity. If there is a commitment that I am unable to fulfil, I commit to facing you, and explaining this, without resort to excuses. (then announce new commitments and initiatives for 14 more minutes)[/i] [b]…of course the speech would have to be delivered by the person the electorate prefers as Prime Minister – Kevin Rudd)[/b]

Tom of Melbourne

15/02/2013I recant all my previous posts. I have been wrong. I have lied. I am sorry. No really I am and this is my first post that I have not been paid to write. Can you find it in your hearts to forgive an irrascible scoundrel? Please do so.

MWS

15/02/2013You don't need to "trawl the internet" to find a direct quote. Just enclose the word string between quotation marks when you use Google or any other search engine. If you can't find the direct quote by doing this, then the quote probably doesn't exist.

jaycee

15/02/2013I owe everyone a sincere apology. ToM is right about the economy and about the dishonesty of Swan and Gillard.

Gillian

15/02/2013I'd just like to add a word in favour of tolerating different views, especially views that are different from one's own. If your aim is to have a broad and meaningful discussion, you need to encourage different views - including views that disagree with your own. If you want a club of like minds then by all means heap insult on anyone who sees the world differently. If you expect to persuade everyone that you are right and they are wrong then you're living in a fantasy bubble. Personally, I find that many opportunities to understand each other are lost when we try to persuade each other. I can try put my point of view without expecting you to ever agree. So why do we dismiss people when we can't persuade them we are right and they are wrong? Finally, I question the way some people here are using the term 'troll'. People who express different views politely are not trolls. People you can't persuade to change their views are not trolls. They are people. According to defintion, the meaning of an internet troll hinges on intent. "In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion."

Tom of Melbourne

15/02/2013OK you got me I posed as Jaycee in his last post. It was really me.

Gillian

15/02/2013So, Tom, the question is - what is your intent in participating here?

Tom of Melbourne

15/02/2013malfeasance nothing more nothing less was my intent but I have seen the light and now crave forgiveness. Will you forgive me Gill?

Gillian

15/02/2013Not Gill, Tom. Never Gill. Gills are what fish have. So, then you are a troll after all. Ah well. Time to push the 'ignore' button.

Tom of Melbourne

15/02/2013Actually Gillian, you will be able to identify my remarks (as distinct from a sock puppet), because- • I spell correctly • Use grammar • Provide coherent comments • Don’t lapse into lazy abuse of those with a different opinion • Reply reasonably and respectfully when people take the trouble of behaving in that manner to me. I find it is the intellectually lazy that use “troll” and tell everyone that they “intend to scroll” or “have scrolled”.

jaycee

15/02/2013The troll is lain Hall..and he is using his knowledge of Wordpress forum systems to work his way around the site.

Tom of Melbourne

15/02/2013If only they would simply "scroll" without feeling the need to announce this to everyone.

James Adelaide

15/02/20132353, that 20,000! Tony Abbott (Federal) thinks there are 20,000 too many Public Servants Campbell Newman (Qld) seeks to sack 20,000 public servants Isobel Redmond (formerly SA) wanted to sack 20,000. Did I miss the '20,000 planning meeting' where it was agreed to sack 20,000 whenever and where ever one could?

Frank

15/02/2013The Coalition and the media are basking in the light of one Newspoll that came along during the natural disaster in Victoria and Queensland. Therefore many could not be interviewed. Note well that when Labor gets a good poll it's a "rogue poll". But this poll tells it all, say the media and Coalition. They are now back on their hobbyhorse spruiking a Rudd comeback and managing to convince some within our own ranks that this is a possibility. If he gets back they will go back to flaying him alive. We also forget that Gillard is still favoured by Labor voters, and she's tough as nails.

James Adelaide

15/02/2013An observation about Abbott’s ‘northern plan’ and ‘100 dams’. I will leave out the obvious point that they both come from Gina’s thinktank. The 100 dams proves that Abbott is stuck in the 1950s, which was the last time Australia placed its trust in dams for economic prosperity. The northern plan, however is stuck in the 19th century. It looked good to contemporaries of Burke and Wills, but closer inspection of the landscape, soil rainfall, drainage, extremes of wet and dry which test both humans and animals and the pests, led to reappraisals. Like the Darwin to Adelaide rail line, if developing the north had been economically and socially feasible, it would have been done by now. It is also interesting that in MurdochWorld™, the Adelaide to Darwin railway is ‘nation building infrastructure’, while the NBN is waste of money. I see the railway as strategically valuable (it would have been very useful in 1942), but hopelessly uneconomic. Every time it rains, the track is washed away. It was built poorly, on the cheap, it is frequently damaged, and it performs a market purpose which can be better achieved by ship. A ship can carry cargo from Adelaide to Darwin, possibly a bit slower than the railway, but must be cheaper because it has no track to maintain. I see the NBN as upgrading our copper network. Yes, okay, it replaces copper, but it is built to fit in with and so be part of the copper network. Our copper network was first introduced in the 1870s. Created to carry to carry telegraph signals, t has been updated and expanded, first for voice phone, then fax data. The current need to push data around the internet requires a better medium. While copper has been useful, it still works by still the same transmission of electricity through copper. Transmitting by light seems so much more modern.

LadyInRed

15/02/2013On topic. [i]Opposition Leader Tony Abbott claims there will be an "instantaneous adrenaline charge" to the national economy if the Coalition wins the election, because it will help boost business confidence[/i] http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-15/abbott-reaffirms-commitment-to-public-service-cuts/4521142 But he forgot to add I also at the very same time intend to slam consumer confidence by [i]scrapping the School Kids Bonus, which gives eligible families $410 per primary school child and $820 for high school students. Mr Abbott says a Coalition government would "trim" the public service, arguing there are now 20,000 more public servants now than there were five years ago. [/i] And of course scrap the carbon price and thereby stop any and all investment in that sector. Scrap the MRRT the poor miners can't afford it. Well ther it is folks - this is not a person average Aussies should be voting for. Its trickle down at its worst.

LadyInRed

15/02/2013ooops sorry my editing is not good today he said he was going to get rid of all those things what he didn't say but the implication is that this would, in my humble opinion, slam consumer confidence.

TalkTurkey

15/02/2013About those EGGS ... (see my post at 12.14 AM) I was wrong, one or two of you people is right, or are right. (Which is right in this case, is right or are right?) But some are also only half-right where half right is as good as wrong anyway.Or rather, as bad. Any more grammar eggspurts? Eggspostulate very soon and I'll come down from on high with a pronouncement on the Great Truth. bob macalba said [i]TT..your always a champion for the good guys[and good in general] cheers[/i] ... OOPS! What've I done this time? "Truly puzzled" :)

lyn

15/02/2013Hi TT, I think the third one is right “Yolks of Eggs are White” and all the others are wrong. This answer is if we are presuming all egg yolks are white Yolk of egg is white Yolks of egg are white Yolks of eggs are white ( tick) Smile:)Smile:)Smile:) Yolk of eggs is white

Sir Ian Crisp

15/02/2013[quote][i]The Coalition and the media are basking in the light of one Newspoll that came along during the natural disaster in Victoria and Queensland. [...] Frank [/i][/quote] Frank, I urge you to pop over to Essential Research and check out the polls over there. For the last 5 - 6 months it has recorded ALP 46% and the Lib-NP 54% on a 2PP. Essential Research is a left-wing outfit. You could then check out Tom Waterhouse and the other online betting organisations. I think you'll need a change of underwear after reading the odds being offered.

lyn

15/02/2013Hi Ad and Everybody, [i] Hey Talk Turkey did I win yet:):):) [/i] Here is something you may be interested in:- Can Labor catch the Coalition? You may be surprised how few Coalition Voters need to be turned [b] each day for a Labor Win [/b] https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AgtjjsC6z-QAdFVZaWQtS19NTzdfb3hFNzJ1VVhBQlE&usp=sharing#gid=0 :):):)

James Adelaide

15/02/2013Lady in Red, thanks for providing the last link in the 'talk down the economy' plan (see the LNP DO have a plan). 'talk down the economy' plan as it was mapped out A: scare people by telling them that the economy will ruined because a lying incompetent unstable, illegitimate, unconstitutional government has broken its promise. Add cobras, wrecking balls, pythons to taste. B: gain power before July 1, 2012 C Cease talking down the economy, which will produce rises in all the important numbers. Unfortunately for the LNP, it has morphed into A unchanged B July 1, continue scare campaign as before Bi Table phone bill in parliament (oops) C watch consumer confidence rise as people realise cobras, wrecking balls etc were made up, D wonder why people are waking up to your lies

2353

15/02/2013James Adelaide - you're right about the 20,000. O'Farrell didn't tell anyone what he was going to do, but just started sacking anyway. Apparently Ballieu can't count to 20,000 (and can't do much else either).

KHTAGH

15/02/2013PF Good point didn't think of that. I stand corrected with egg on face. :-)

KHTAGH

15/02/2013PF One point, fish eggs don't have a yoke! I do find it slightly puzzling that someone who say he doesn't post with other aliases has so many email addresses to allow him to have so many different gravita pic's, has he inadvertently let the cat out of the bag by being a showoff?

2353

15/02/2013Interesting observation Knee high. Why would you do that unless you are typing in your email addy every time?

42 long

15/02/2013james Adelaide, I agree with your point son northern development. While there is rain there it is monsoonal. It is hot all year and wet for about 1/4 of it. How can you store water in shallow lakes in hot climates? Evaporation is enormous I've spoken to many who believe that water will run by gravity from the NT to Perth. WTF? Pumping costs for distances over 500 (OTA) kms make it prohibitive and dearer than desalination ( an Abomination environmentally). This development of the NT on a massive scale for farming/ mining is a Gina Reinhart brainfart. There are a couple of rivers that might be able to be dammed. but Argyle which has been there for years now is only just starting to be sorted out but I believe there are/ will be massive weed problems like what occurs in the lake north of Mt ISA. Transport distances are large. Most supermarket food has travelled 1500 kms. We should be growing the stuff closer to the centres that need it not further away. How can you weatherproof the NT roads are rail ways? Today there is talk of using China etc to fund this type of development. Are Katter/ Barnaby keen on that idea? China is trying to get food security for itself. A practical idea but is there much in that sort of thing for Australia? Their involvement in countries of Africa is creating some comcerns. This is all an attempt to show Chameleon Tony as a man of action. Of ideas ( mostly STUPID and not thought through) but the impression is there. Things will change IF abbott gets in. ( I'm sure they will but I don't want to have to endure it because not researched and jus damming river doesn't work in most places. Most of Australia's dams are never full Labor tries to keep the Darling Murray river basin alive. something that no-one else ever got off the ground. Barnaby and others went along the river trying to stir up a revolt against action although anybody who has been involved with irrigated farming along those rivers (as I have ) knows that the river system was over allocated by about double what is sustainable. water was wasted everywhere. Crops of a type totally unsuited to a desert environment set up because the land was cheap. Why would you grow cotton and rice in a desert and expect to do it every year? Flood irrigate for dairy farms. The correct price for the water would preclude this and the water is not predictable or reliable. All this has to be researched and planned properly, or we muck it up bigtime. Keep "get rich quick people" away from the place. They will take the money and leave you with salinity weeds ghost towns,and contamination of the aquifers and big holes in the ground for you kids to wonder about along the lines of. Who could have been so stupid/greedy to allow this degradation to happen?

bob macalba

15/02/2013TT for all the pep talks and the passion shown, just my observation on things, also no backstepping a fine trait cheers

DMW

15/02/2013Courtesy of some inspiration from someone on Twitter my slogan for the Lib's economic policy [b]We will sack, slash and sell.[/b]

Ad astra

15/02/2013Gillian I’ve pondered your comment at 3.18 PM since I first read it. Of course we ought to be able to tolerate the views of others. Many who comment here espouse different views and express them freely. When it is possible to engage in a sensible debate where the participants are able to understand each other’s viewpoints even if they don’t agree with them, where there is some giving of ground, some compromise, some change of view, the exercise becomes worthwhile. Where it becomes frustrating is when the other party refuses to acknowledge the validity of others’ views, where no matter what verifiable facts are presented, no matter what logic is applied, the other party refuses to change or even acknowledge that the views and feelings of others just might be valid, where every attempt at sensible discourse is rejected. And in the case of some who blog here, where everything they write is consistently anti-Gillard, anti-Government, where nothing they do is ever right. It becomes boring, tedious and unrewarding reading. It is at this point that some of our bloggers here become exasperated, fed up, and sick and tired of the unremitting negativity, and the lack of give and take. However, to respond in kind simply perpetuates this disagreeable behaviour. It’s a dilemma. How does a blogsite foster a variety of opinion and sustain camaraderie, when finding the middle ground seems impossible with some of our bloggers? When this is so, I find it is usually better not to engage, better not to embark on what over and again turns out to be a fruitless exercise.

Pikiranku

15/02/2013James Adelaide There was a very interesting and articulate young environmental engineer on ABC 24's The Drum yesterday afternoon who mentioned a number of the points you have made about the northern dams, plus others. For example the water which flows out to sea from the northern rivers feeds the prawns, so that industry and other fisheries would be under threat if river flows were curtailed by damming. He also talked about the problems they're having with the Burdekin dam - the irrigation from that is causing serious salinity problems which could render the whole area useless for agriculture. The reality is extremely complex and the Coalition plan is hopelessly simplistic. The Adelaide-Darwin rail link has always smelled of a gravy train to me. The consortium which constructed the line was led by KBR Inc. (Kellogg Brown & Root), a part of the Halliburton group. The Halliburton company has been amazingly successful at winning US government contracts since the 60s - military contracts in particular. From 1995-2002 they were awarded at least $US2.5 billion to construct and run military bases for the US government. Dick Cheney was its CEO 1995-2000. Any project that puts Dick Cheney, John Howard and John Olsen in the same sentence deserves to be treated with deep suspicion I think.

James Adelaide

15/02/2013Ad, Just heard (through the good graces of ‘seano’ in comments on http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4514266.html ) that ‘political operatives (are) highjacking local hospital debate.http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-12/political-27operatives27-accused-of-hijacking-health-debate/4514538 In brief, Colac hospital is facing cuts in federal funding. The comments from the community jarred with the internet comments, The editer of the Colac Herald found that many had the same IP address, and traced it back to Department of Parliamentary Services. The computers in this department may be accessed by both MPs and staffers. The editor was very careful to not reveal which way the comments went, or whom he suspected. However logic dictates that local people would want services, so the ‘at variance’ comments must have supported the cuts. Therefore the finger of suspicion must lean towards the government… Following this clear example internet comment interference, A further thought occurs. MurdochWorld™ posts are marked by their lack of logic, their hatred and bile. I had previously thought that there were written by people so affected by the propaganda that they lived all day every day with that hatred. Could it be that MurdochWorld™ posts are simply political operatives, working quickly so as to create many posts, not really caring whether they make sense or not. The second theory is more satisfying, because if people live with MurdochWorld™ inside them, they would burst.

Tom of Melbourne

15/02/2013Diversity isn’t appreciated at all on this site, unless the diversity is discussing whether Swan should be “The Greatest Treasurer”, or just “A Great Treasurer” …or whether the media is to blame for the government’s unpopularity, or that the biased polls should take a share of it. It is a fan club for the ALP, despite the pretensions of the owner. He tolerates the most outrageous of insults and abusive language (not to mention the poor spelling) from Jason and jayccee, but chides those that offer challenge without resorting to abuse. Ad Astra is an outrageous political hypocrite, who condemned in the Howard government the dishonesty and failure that he excuses in this government.

James Adelaide

15/02/2013Tom of Melbourne, Yes, this site does currently tolerate abusive posts and we are discussing the philosophical merits of blocking you and your ilk. Most of the posters here have polite conversations, offering opinion and links. You however use MurdochWorld™ adjectives (such as outrageous in your last post ), personal attacks and failure to address the argument at hand. Following my last conclusion about MurdochWorld™ posters, I must conclude that you are an operative because someone with such faulty logic would find life exceedingly difficult

James Adelaide

15/02/2013Pikiranku. That explains why the railway was built sub-standard. Halliburton got an $18 billion, no bid contract in Iraq... and cheated on it. Halliburton (including having the Vice Pres on the payroll) pretty much sums up what is wrong with USA capitalism. They go for profit, forgetting service to the customer, longevity of the company and reputation. It seems to be down to how much each executive can grab and get away with.

Ad astra

15/02/2013Gillian Read ToM's contribution at 9.33 PM, and you will see what I mean. This site has been operating for around four and a half years; never in the Howard era to which he refers.

Tom of Melbourne

15/02/2013Ad Astra, are you serious? Surely you’re not suggesting that you haven’t condemned the policies and dishonesty of the Howard Government!! Don’t tell me – I’ll have to provide a link. Bizarre.

ian

15/02/2013Cross posted from another blog with special thanks to those who wish only to save us from ourselves. Really don't need your help people because guess who we got, ’ve just re-read the Lawson short story The Drovers Wife. I’m wondering if he was prescient? The woman, the wife, is alone in defending her children and home from passing swaggies, mostly men down on their luck, though there is the one or two who harbor evil intent. She was, in fact, swindled by one such person. After engaging him build up the woodheap, and, after him doing so in a satisfactory manner, she paid him and kept her side of the bargain. That the woodheap proved to be an empty shell, devoid of any substantive character is more a testament of the strength of her honesty than a reflection on the swaggies integrity. The same woodheap provided the snake. It slithered from the heap to under the house. Seeking, as do the cold blooded, a place to lie in wait. Perhaps to plot and scheme. Perhaps not. With the children protected, mongrel dog by her side she waits. and she thinks. Not of what must be done, that is self evident. But she thinks of what has been done. Of the fires, the floods that she has fought. Alone, and with the company of those who recognise that the true measure of strength is not in what you can lift in front of a sycophantic audience, but how far you can carry a weight in silence, with an unheralded quiet resolve and a strength grown from the very core of a nation. Her very firm resolve is that this snake, at this time, will not win. Her children need protecting and that is all that she needs to know. The tears she sheds are mainly for others, those poor souls who have had their lives destroyed by factors both uncontrollable and random. The viscious aftermath of a society and planet at war with themselves. The tears she sheds for herself are cried in private and alone. for even the strong need the comfort of a tear. As she sits, mongrel dog and club at her side, waiting for the snake to strike she may wish to contemplate this; There are many drovers wives, drovers, men and women of substance, means, trades and goodwill standing silently behind her. There are many more aware of her strength, character and vision who, while enjoying the hospitality of the squatters, accepting the empty promises of the spivs and surreptitiously spitting out the poison served up by the scribes, will stand behind her when the time comes…..and, combined, it will be enough.

James Adelaide

16/02/2013Ian, Like Capstan, I do not understand what you wish us to take away from your story. Unlike Capstan, I will not be rude, and will politely await your polite explanation.

TalkTurkey

16/02/2013Lady in Red I heard that speech by Abbortt too, has ever there been a jerk such as he?! Not worth going into, you pretty much said it,just, what a jerk! bob macalba What a lovely thing to say, I think I must confess to hoping that that's what you meant because that is the most gratifying thing you could have said to me, and based not on one flash but a decent sample, that makes me feel good. If the sole thing I ever achieve is to help Comrades feel a little more upbeat well I'll just have to be proud o fthat. Thank you bob. OK now for the EGGSplanation. Ad astra and Bacchus are correct. Everybody else may mark their own. Including Lyn! Definitely funniest was 2353's comment: TT - [i]The yolk of an egg is clear before heat treatment. [/i] :) So here's the EGGSPLANATION Oh I already said that. Not even funny first time. :( OK for a start the word [i]yolk[/i] ~ (not yoke, that the thing they put around bullocks' necks OK?) ~ yeah this word [i]yolk[/i] is a bit funny to start with. "The yolk of an egg" is not the same as "yolk of egg" even though both are singular. One is an object, t'other is a substance. With this in mind (see the word's weirdness sort of catches you off balance too), the actual answer is entirely simple. So which of these is/are grammatically correct? - There are 2 traps here and both Ad and Bacchus avoided both. One is to fail to see the first, obvious trap that of course egg-yolk is not white it's yellow; the second is to fail to focus on the word [i]grammatically[/i], which is different from [i]factually.[/i] So the colour is immaterial after all. Yolk of egg is white = Yolk .... is white Yolks of egg are white = Yolks ... are white Yolks of eggs are white = Yolks ... are white Yolk of eggs is white = Yolk ... is white. So they are all grammatically correct. But PF please note, I don't know nothin about no 35 grammars, I only had two, joke, but in any English anywhere the above is True. [i]The verb takes its cue from the subject.[/i] Too easy. Happy Weekend All.

James Adelaide

16/02/2013Ad, I tried to post this, but I think it did no get through. if this is the second of the same, delete it please Capstan, 11.05 You have just revealed yourself as a MurdochWorld™er I have never mentioned outrage (by myself), graft or corruption. I live in South Australia and assume that all who live in NSW are criminals (apologies to most in NSW but that is the SA perception). New South Wales is descended from convicts (unlike South Australia, take note Mr Abbott Australia Day Address), have distinguished themselves over the last two centuries by their ‘creative’ ways to get rich and, in addition, drive cars like people on serious substances. Beyond that, if NSW dropped off the planet, I would not notice. That a politician in NSW is corrupt is not news. It is a baseline assumption. If a South Australian was in their place, I would care, but NSW is too far away, outside in my world…. I vote in Mitcham Council Elections, SA State elections, and Fereral Elections. NSW and its shenanigans are irrelevant. And before you accuse me of being parochial, I have lived in Morwell (V) , Melbourne, Canberra, Townsville and Adelaide. I remain in Adelaide because I prefer it. Also Adjectives: Outrage Slimy-backed Obscene, bristling outrage stinking mates In addition violent adjectives hanging, drawing and quartering Also legal principles. Mr Obeid looks like a crook , smells like a crook, but is not officially a crook until CONVICTED (oh dear, you’ve got me shouting now). Capstan, you have just earnt an automatic scroll past, so this is my last post to you, regardless of what you subsequently post Ad Astra, I enjoy TPS because of polite exchange of ideas and information. I vote to block Tom of Melbourne and Capstan. Both have proven that they do not wish to talk, just stir. Neither contribute to our conversation, they introduce rudeness and violent images which we do not need. The argument that we should know the other side has some power, but it risks the pleasant feel that TPS has. If you as adminstrator are worried about arbitrary exercise of power, you could ask we readers to vote. (I can see how that can be trolled). I am not convinced by the argument that we need to know what they are thinking. Firstly there is little thought in their output (oh dear, I have descended to snarky) and in any case, we can access it on ABC, Fairfax or MurdochWorld™ itself.

ian

16/02/2013James Adelaide@12:10am The story is more allegory than anything else. It has always been my contention that the true essence of the Australian people lay not in the modern jingoistic, neo-con promoted, hand over the heart tosh we see nowadays. So easy to promote. Even easier to manipulate. But in the essence of characters that Lawson, Patterson, Dennis and Steele Rudd, to name but a few, captured. It is the strength of character that brave young Australian men and women have drawn on through world wars and police actions that Governments have sent them to. They drew on it to weather a worldwide recession and then, after service in WW2, built a prosperous, fair and just nation. This developing strength of character shown in the laconic, laid back humour of The Loaded Dog , The Man From Ironbark. The nobilty of Banjo Pattersons Man From Snowy River. These writers, thankfully as flawed as they were, captured the essence of the Australian character. Strengths, weaknesses, warts and all Probably because they also had it. I, also, just happen to believe that Julia Gillard has it in spades. None of those whose virulent, denigrating screeching that we hear so often could stand the heat of her kitchen. None would have the quiet laconic humor backed up with strength of resolve that Ms Gillard exhibits everyday. The neo-cons wish Australians to celebrate their heritage by having a barbie and getting drunk on days of national importance. The propaganda is much easier to disseminate that way. I believe Australians are better than that. Our character is deep, strong and resilient....much like our PM. The deeply ingrained scum that is the neo-conservative movement has no place on these shores, in this land or polluting our air.

Lyn

16/02/2013 TODAY’S LINKS Neglect Is The Name Of The Game by @sortius but an arrogance that has become sickening http://sortius-is-a-geek.com/ Turnbull confirms: ‘HFC areas’ last to get FTTN, if at all @renailemay, this interview tonight has tested my patience severely. http://delimiter.com.au/2013/02/15/turnbull-confirms-hfc-areas-last-to-get-fttn-if-at-all/ Grattan And Rudd: This Isn't A Conversation, It's An Obsession @cyenne40, five articles. All five are to some degree about Labor http://tom-cummings.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/grattan-and-rudd-this-isnt-conversation.html The end of newspapers & the rise of online magazine by @davrosz My tweeps are rarely wrong. I get so much more from their work http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/business/media-2/the-end-of-newspapers-and-the-rise- Stonewalling on steroids: ABC fails transparency test by @geeksrulz The ABC is playing word games http://australiansforhonestpolitics.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/stonewalling-on-steroids-abc We need to talk about how we talk about Kevin by @Billablog easier to report on personality politics than http://the-billablog.blogspot.com.au/ Circulation figures the paper is dead long live the ‘masthead’ by KnottMatthew, public is ravenous for online content: 150,000 people http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/02/15/circulation-figures-the-paper-is-dead- Can Labor catch the Coalition? You may be surprised how few Coalition Voters need to be turned each day for a Labor Win. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AgtjjsC6z-QAdFVZaWQtS19NTzdfb3hFNzJ1VVhBQ Me and my McMansion: Australians & their homes by Peter McNeil, ever-expanding Australian house on the large suburban block https://theconversation.edu.au/me-and-my-mcmansion-australians-and-their-homes-12179 There is no such thing as climate change denial by John Cook @skepticscience, University of Queensland http://newanthropocene.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/there-is-no-such-thing-as-climate- Adrenaline Junkie – All Stuntboy No Statesman by @geeksrulz, Stuntboy Abbott is on the School premise http://stopthestunts.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/adrenaline-junkie-all-stuntboy-no-statesman/ Should An Official ABC Twitter Account Be Saying This @mwyres guiding principles of the ABC Charter is impartiality. http://michaelwyres.com/2013/02/should-an-official-abc-twitter-account-be-saying-this/ Tasered because they thought she was Aboriginal? by @turnleft2013 http://turnleft2013.wordpress.com/2013/02/14/tasered-because-they-thought-she-was-aboriginal/ Newspaper circulation falls again by @btckr, Two out of 118 Australian newspapers experienced a rise http://truthinmediaresourcecentre.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/newspaper-circulation-falls-again/ No policy for you! be @fakeedbutler It’s not just this bogus ‘middle Australia’ http://ausvotes2013.com/2013/02/15/no-policy-for-you/ The doctrines of the Australian Liberal and Labor parties: Part 1 by @DamienCWalker, Philosophy Creep has infected both our major political parties http://ausvotes2013.com/2013/02/14/the-doctrines-of-the-australian-liberal-and-labor-parties-part-1/ Abbott flags $10bn in savings through job, program cuts By Jonathon Swan, "Tony Abbott has no public service policy but slash and burn," http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/1304487/abbott-flags-10bn-in-savings-through-job-program-cuts/?cs=12 Tony Abbott once vouched for a priest accused of indecent assault, by @phonytonyabbott http://www.phonytonyabbott.com/blog/tony-abbott-once-vouched-for-a-priest-accused- Tony Abbott, like Rimmer on Red Dwarf by Gus Leonisky, anyone with a brain should be scared from Tony's dangerous stupidity... http://www.yourdemocracy.net.au/drupal/node/25942#comment-26826 Stop the Abbott by truth Seeker, It’s not about waste, or tax, or boats… we just have to… stop the Abbott http://truthseekersmusings.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/stop-the-abbott/ Today’s Front Pages Australia Newspaper Front Pages for 16 February 2013 http://www.frontpagestoday.co.uk/index.cfm?PaperCountry=Australia

Ad astra

16/02/2013LYN'S DAILY LINKS updated: http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/page/LYNS-DAILY-LINKS.aspx

James Adelaide

16/02/2013Ad Astra, Further to my support for blocking capstan. His post of 7.24 am contains the following adjectives used to abuse. Waddling liar Hopeless, incompetent lackeys Lefties, little lives Trendoid Thick The other posts but such as Ian, DMW, bob macalba, 42 long, 2353, KHTAGH, contain the following adjectives used to abuse ……………….. (that is, there are no rude adjectives used to abuse) Ad, There is a qualitative difference between most of we posters and tom/cap. Most of us seek conversation. In his post of 11.26 Cap states ‘between us (Cap and Tom) we will keep these loony lefties front on the back foot. ‘ This reveals that cap has no intention of engaging with ideas, he merely seeks to disrupt the site.

Ken

16/02/2013Greetings all I am still around but have just begun work on a 3 month contract and have less time to keep up with what;s happening here. Have read the earlier posts - many interesting comments, including on the Tony's big dam pla, among other matters, but I won't rehash old stuff by commenting now. Even if I don't post much in the next three months, I will still be around and catching up when I can.

Patriciawa

16/02/2013Thanks, Lyn, as always a great range of reading there to start the day. I particularly enjoyed Gus Leonisky's piece at http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/abbott-flags-10bn-in-savings-through-job-program-cuts-20130215-2egxu.html. The cartoon drawing there of Abbott is priceless!

Ad astra

16/02/2013Hi Lyn Like Patriciawa, I enjoyed your links this Saturday morning. Thank you. The article from delimiter on the NBN was very informative, explaining better than any I have seen the different ways of connecting fibre to the individual. Malcolm Turnbull is being disingenuous about his FTTN idea, something that was obvious in his [i]Lateline[/i] interview with Tony Jones on Thursday night. While Tony Abbott is expert at lying, Turnbull is not - it shows on his face and in his body language. He bumbled his way through the Jones interview in almost unconvincing way, completely failing to send his message. The article by Tom Cummings on the Grattan articles in [i]The Conversation[/i] was revealing. Michelle has not changed her tack at all since leaving [i]The Age[/i]. I doubt if she is able.

Ad astra

16/02/2013TT And a Happy Weekend to you too. Having stuck my neck out, I was relieved to read your 'solution' to the 'egg puzzle'. You are a connoisseur of English, Sir.

2353

16/02/2013TT - bugger. I was well and truly caught. It's similar to the question "If an electric train is going west at 100km per hour through a gale going 100km per hour to the east - where does the exhaust fumes from the train go? Answer later.

Lyn

16/02/2013Good Morning Patricia and Ad, Thankyou pleased you enjoyed the links. Some good reading and yes Ad Renai LeMay sounds like he is ready to bash his head against a brick wall. Turnbull is twisting technical terminology in an attempt to fool voters. Pleasing Abbott I guess. Hope everyone has a nice weekend. It's really dreary and raining heavy here in Wide Bay. :):):):)

2353

16/02/2013It's a wonder Paul Syvret keeps his job with the NewsCorp. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/sceptics-lose-focus-on-climate-change-big-picture/story-e6frerc6-1226579070344 [quote]In short, nations that fall behind in terms of mitigating greenhouse gas pollution risk being left behind by those that do. As Parliamentary Secretary on Climate Change Mark Dreyfus said recently, as of 2013 more than 50 national or sub-national regions will have emissions trading schemes or a carbon price or, in some cases, both, covering a combined population of about 1.1 billion people. More significantly, a landmark study out this month by the OECD, Taxing Energy Use, concludes the weighted average for CO2 taxation is $35 a tonne, well above the Australian price on carbon of $23 a tonne. In fact, according to the OECD, Australia ranks way down the bottom of a league table of nations when it comes to carbon pricing on energy - behind the likes of major industrialised countries such as France and Germany, whose effective pricing is more than double the impost here and well away from the front-runner, Switzerland, at $140 a tonne.[/quote]

KHTAGH

16/02/2013Abbott's unanswerable question, if you had formed minority government in 2010 with the independents would it still be an illegitimate government?

Pikiranku

16/02/2013Check out the brilliant and very memorable photo on the ABC news website, winner of the Press Photo of the Year award. Grief, anger and innocence. You'll appreciate it, TT. James Adelaide I support your comments regarding our two trolls. I was a former Poll Bludger devotee but was put off by the petty bickering and personal abuse which began to permeate that site. I sincerely hope it doesn't happen here. BTW I, too, am a South Australian by choice. Came to SA back in the 60s (with a choice between Henry Bolte and Don Dunstan, who wouldn't?). Ian A very moving analogy. I hope you're right.

ian

16/02/20132353@11:30am, I once would have assumed that the fumes would have been blown in the same direction as wind blowing across the chimneys of the power generating station. However, as the carbon price has set in and exhaust emissions are lower, the question must be posed? Are there indeed enough emissions ( exhaust fumes ) to warrant monitoring their direction? As a Labor supporter and, in this area, green leaning, I would say yes. All greenhouse gases should be measurable. However, should I be a LNP suppporter; The answer is an emphatic NO! Everyone knows that greenhouse gases are a figment of the imagination of them heathen, faceless backroom boys of the Labor Party. If you can't see a gas, then it doesn't exist. If you can't weigh it on a set of kitchen scales....then it doesn't exist. After all luminaries such Mr Monckton and Mr Plimer cannot possibly be wrong.

Lyn

16/02/2013Hi Ad, Seems Xenophon phoned the Newspapers not the Government, somebody said maybe he thought Bob Carr would leave him there. :):) Xenophon to be deported from Malaysia Senator Xenophon, who has raised serious concerns about the probity of the upcoming Malaysian elections, flew to Kuala Lumpur on Saturday morning but was stopped by immigration officials. http://www.smh.com.au/national/xenophon-to-be-deported-from-malaysia-20130216-2eji6.html#ixzz2L1OhwmGA ABC News 24 ‏@ABCNews24 Senator Nick Xenophon joins us now on the phone from Malaysia where he's being held under police guard http://bit.ly/abcnewsnow art deco ‏@LagerWhale Might Nick Xenophon be sent to a Malaysian refugee and illegal immigrant camp and have his buttocks whipped as is standard practice there ? David ‏@politicotab SEN Nick XENOPHON police / deportation. Malaysia Govt. says "enemy of the state" He is advocate for democracy and free elections

Truth Seeker

16/02/20132353, electric trains don't make exhaust fumes! Lyn thanks for the great links, as usual, and thanks for including a link to my latest poem too :-) Cheers :-) :-)

2353

16/02/2013TS - go tot he top of the class - but don't take your books :D

James Adelaide

16/02/2013Ad Astra, Weird thing: Following Lyn’s links to http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/1304487/abbott-flags-10bn-in-savings-through-job-program-cuts/?cs=12 I also found http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/mcclelland-spooks-labor-abbott-talks-cuts-20130215-2ei2w.html even the Sorbent carries it http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/bonus-targeted-as-libs-seek-savings-of-10bn/story-fn59niix-1226579195515 http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/cuts-controversial-but-necessary-abbott/story-fn3dxiwe-1226578564697 this one was flagged yesterday http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-15/abbott-reaffirms-commitment-to-public-service-cuts/4521142 but no mention of Tony Abbott and cuts in Google news. My questions. Why is this story absent from Google News, when it is carried on so many outlets? And Is there somewhere else that does this sort of listing better? Thanks in anticipation Lin: 36 and not a cloud in the sky over Adelaide… If you can send us some of that rain we would really appreciate it… 2353 The actual answer depends upon how the electricity is generated. Coal power: answer, whatever the wind direction at the power station Wind power: your answer (SA has lots of wind power) So another variable is: in which state is the train :-}

Pikiranku

16/02/20132353 Do electric trains have exhaust fumes?

Ad astra

16/02/2013James Adelaide Tony Abbott is softening up the electorate now in the hope that it will accept his savage cuts if he gets to make them. Many target the less well off, whom he figures would not vote for him anyway. I don't know why [i]Google News[/i] is not carrying that story. I don't use [i]Google News[/i]. Perhaps I should. Do you have the link? I have sent you an email.

Ad astra

16/02/2013Pikiranku I think you have the answer to 2353's puzzle.

Michael

16/02/2013Why isn't the mainstream Press all over Tony Abbott's threatening the jobs of defence personnel, reservists, and Federal Police? Going after the livelihoods of fair dinkum Australian heroes and heroines? Maybe because they know he's just being lazy again, which actually means... lying again. This is quoted from a story in the Sydney Morning Herald today: <<Public Service Minister Gary Gray said that Mr Abbott was incorrectly claiming that the Australian Public Service had grown by 20,000 places. In fact, the Australian Public Service has grown by around 13,000 places from June 2007 to June 2012, he said in a statement. "The opposition's simplistic approach to the delivery of public services, from slashing jobs and services, to the 'thought bubble' of arbitrarily relocating substantial parts of the Australian Public Service all over the place is bad policy with dire consequences," Mr Gray said. Mr Abbott's figure is based on the budget papers, which state the Australian government sector has grown from 238,623 in 2006-07 to 258, 563 in 2012-13. These figures include Defence Force personnel, reservists and the Australian Federal Police.>> Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/abbott-flags-10bn-in-savings-through-job-program-cuts-20130215-2egxu.html#ixzz2L1q300Wh See, Shouldabeen throws out the number of 20,000 and doesn't even realise that some of that number, individuals who are also 'public servants', albeit in uniform, are people who normally he queues up, even flies overseas, to be photographed besides. Shit happens, I guess. Actually, he's dumb.

Ad astra

16/02/2013MIchael I doubt if Abbott really is dumb. More likely he knows perfectly well that he is distorting the truth, that he does know that only 13,000 traditional public servants have been added, yet cares not because he figures very few voters will notice. All he and his minders want is to create an impression, something that will stick in voters' minds (like Stop the Boats), and 20,000 is a nice easy figure to remember. The man is mendacious, as Greg Combet reminds us every QT, but he doesn't care so long as he achieves his political purposes. If caught out, he can always wriggle out, and ask for forgiveness. It is a deliberate strategy, and the limp MSM lets him get away with it. They won't challenge 'their man'.

Ad astra

16/02/2013Hi Lyn Nick Xenophon seems to have overstepped the mark in Malaysia. Perhaps he might now realize how lucky he is to be in a country where he can slag off all and sundry with impunity.

Ad astra

16/02/2013MWS Thanks for the link to the Tim Dunlop article: [i]We need more criticism of the media, not less[/i] http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4518748.html, which can be summed up in his concluding paragraphs: [i]”To put it most simply: the problem isn't the audience and their complaining. It's that, despite all the complaining - a lot of it serious, measured and valid - little ever changes. “We still get endless leadership speculation based on self-interested leaks; we get mindless he said/she said narratives that substitute "balance" for analysis, equal time for equal worth; we get endless goalpost shifting where, for example, the government is urged in the name of good economics to abandon a surplus and then is accused of breaking a promise when they do; or Tony Abbott is berated for playing small-target politics but is then mocked for even thinking about plans to develop new cities in northern Australia; we get endless articles about how people's perception of the economy doesn't match the robust reality with never a self-reflective thought about where people get their information from in the first place. “These are not passing errors: they are fundamental techniques, practices and habits built into the fabric of what we call political journalism. They are not going to change without a huge amount of effort, rethinking and restructuring on the part of the mainstream media. “Until people see some meaningful improvements, they aren't going to stop criticising. And really, why should they?”[/i]

Tom of Melbourne

16/02/2013Everyone here agrees with Tim Dunlop when he’s critical of the media. Everyone here disagrees with Tim Dunlop when he’s critical of the government.

DMW

16/02/2013Who is this 'Everyone'? Can't recall 'Everyone' commenting here. Speaking of wrestling with eels, which I wasn't but somehow I got reminded of it, the 'stories' on the economy being in a shambles and the treasurer 'screwing it up' and burdening the future in debt facts are still not getting in the way of a good beat up. I have been reminded of this from only one month ago: [i]BlackRock's Australian head of fixed income, Steve Miller, said Australia's position was "exceedingly strong" and strengthening. "The plain fact is, compared to the rest of the world, and this is what we are doing, Australia's public debt position is very, very strong. Whether you are looking at budget balance or public debt to gross domestic product, whichever way we look at it, Australia comes out exceedingly strong."[/i] BlackRock is one of the world's most important buyers of government bonds, investing $US3.7 trillion worldwide. recently the upgraded Australian bonds from 10th to seventh least risky in the world. http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/economy-gets-big-tick-20130116-2ctw9.html As 'everyone' knows the Libs would do better wouldn't they? After all they will [i]Slash, sack and sell [/i] to ensure our economy is so super strong that it will easily handle increased unemployment 'cos as they sell off more of the family silver they will be able to fool people with bigger baby-bonuses and other similar bribery.

Pikiranku

16/02/20132353 I didn't cheat, truly! Truthseeker's post wasn't up yet when I posted mine! Nick Xenophon's most obvious accomplishment is self-promotion. I don't know what he thinks he is going to achieve in Malaysia by barging in there loudly bagging the government and the electoral system. It might be personally satisfying for him but I doubt it will be very productive. I suspect even the opposition there would be cringing with embarrassment at his ignorance and lack of manners. You need to be a bit more subtle than our Nick if you want to assist change in Asia.

LadyInRed

16/02/2013Ad astra I wonder how much Tim Dunlops article was influenced by the lambasting that Michelle Grattan has been coping all week. For once comments were about what she wrote not about the horse race. She wrote about the horse race, as she does, with her he said/she said, and I heard at the water cooler, drible, expecting the same sorts of comments she got at The Age. She creates a dogfight. First, she feeds the dogs, & then they are supposed to go off and have a jolly good fight and everyone's happy. But low and behold we all gave her a serve, a well deserved serve, both on The Conversation and on twitter, she got a hammering. They have to stop this type of journalism. I don't even bother to go to the drum anymore unless someone links me to an article worth reading. Why, because the dogfight comments are becoming more frequent. Sadly this week we saw a bit of it on TPS. I hope it leaves as it just drags down the conversation. I have absolutely no problem with people having different views, but as you say its a case of give and take and then perhaps begging to differ, and that's OK. We all love a smart &/or witty comment, they make a point and include a truth & generally are fairly respectful if robust, but nasty and aggressive is quite a different kettle of fish. This article has, I believe or rather I hope, is the beginning of a conversation that needs to be had, between people like us who feel cheated by MSM and the media itself. But whether the media is grown up enough to have it remains to be seen.

2353

16/02/2013James Adelaide - true, wind power has no emissions but as SA has no electric heavy rail (yet), it is hard to understand how an electric train would go anywhere in SA. Thanks for all the comments folks. You demonstrably read better than I do! The report I read said that Xenaphon was using his personal passport for the trip, which shows some ethics at least. Is it a stunt - I don't know. At the minimum he will learn that some countries are far less tolerant of criticism that Australia.

DMW

16/02/2013Preston Towers takes the Tim Dunlop article discussed above to pieces, ummm, does a section by section analysis: [b]The MSM – Why More Detailed Critiques Are Needed – A Response To Tim Dunlop[/b] http://ausvotes2013.com/2013/02/16/msmcritiques/ Object lessons in being misunderstood/misrepresented? *Shrugs Shoulders* mebee, mebee not. Certainly some food for thought about lumping 'Everybody' into the same bucket.

James Adelaide

16/02/2013Ian, 2:12am Sorry for the delay in responding. Partly because I wanted to absorb what you posted, and partly because my 9 year old son was playing minecraft… (I have just typed in the time you posted it. I only saw it after I woke up) I too prefer the Australia that looked to the national myth creators: Lawson, Patterson, Dennis and Steel Rudd. I exclude Bean, because his agenda was (in my limited opinion) to over-glorify. You, of course, did not mention Bean. While the myth of the sunbronzed aussie in the outback was based on a little reality, and lot of wishful thinking (even in the 1890s we clung to the cities and coasts), it is satisfying because it weaves a narrative about our society to which we can all aspire. My favourite is Clancy of the Overflow. The image of sitting at my desk in the city, dreaming of going bush resonates with my previous career as an archaeologist of Indigenous archaeology. Thanks to this privilege, I have walked more country than I care to count (and got worried for our environment when I failed to find an environment that was not degraded). The neo-con beliefs enshrined in ‘there is no such thing as society’, ‘we must have a healthy economy (ahead of society)’, ‘government is too big’ are anti-social, exploitative, and just plain wrong. My favourite cartoon about this is here http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/politicalcartoons/ig/Political-Cartoons/Get-Big-Government-Off-My-Back.htm). The most galling thing about neocons claiming that they do not like welfare (for people (with little money*)), is their behaviour when their businesses are offered ‘business welfare’. The book ‘Smartest Guys in the Room’ lays out how the Enron business plan included getting as many subsidies, concessions and tax breaks as possible. In addition, we remember the blackout in California a few years ago. Created by Enron, in order to get more money. Absolutely no social conscience. * they also like welfare for rich people, superannuation tax concessions and middle class welfare. How does someone earning $150 000 feel poor, what are they thinking? We three in our family earn (with one FT and casual job and 2 PhDs) about 105, and I feel extremely wealthy. I remember the year 2000, when we two (back then) survived on $16 000. That was hard… We can afford to sink half of what earn now in the mortgage. Thank you Federal Government for lowering the interest rates, making our payments worth more. Soon we will own the entirety of the back dunny!! There is still fat left to cut in middle class welfare. At the height of Howard, I got $4k FTA and B, last year 2k, and hopefully this year, nothing. We are too well set up to need government help. But call me back if the Belair National Park ever burns. It is full of fuel, and I live two blocks away, well within the reach of any firestorm.. Federal Government, please redirect my portion welfare elsewhere, at least until we are burnt out, then I will put my hand up. The Adelaide Hills are lovely, but can explode in fire. SA controls its arsonists better than other states (we have fewer suspicious ignitions), but we all live with the worry that if a fire starts in the wrong conditions, there is too much fuel out there. We do controlled burns, but not enough to have an impact. Credit to Rann and Labour for managing our police to manage our arsonists. Townsville was a bit like that, seven months perfect weather, five months wondering if the house would still be there at the end of the cyclone season. I reckon I‘ve gone on a bit too long, but it is so nice to have intelligent conversations.

Catching up

16/02/2013Did not realise, that if one agrees with someone on one topic, means they have to agree with all they say, on all topics. Now I agree with much of what the PM says and does. I definitely do not agree with all she says or does. There are a couple of areas, I disagree strongly with her. Even though there are couple of areas the PM does not please me, there are many more where I do agree. I have to say, this is the first time in my 71 years that I have came across a politician, that I can find anything I agree with. That is Mr. Abbott, I am referring to. Nothing.

Ad astra

16/02/2013LadyinRed My concern is that despite the criticisms being heaped on the MSM and the likes of Michelle Grattan for the appalling journalism they inflict on us day after day, nothing will change, unless and until the commercial imperatives force journalists to better serve their readers. At the rate people are abandoning the traditional media, there will soon be insufficient revenue coming to it to sustain the style of journalism we have at present. Only change could interrupt the downward spiral. But even with the commercial pressure upon journalists to do better, to serve their audiences with the quality they want, are they able to deliver? Michelle Grattan seems unable to do so. Sadly, many others may not be able to do so either. We may be stuck with what we have; if so, the deterioration will continue along with the continuing decay of the Fourth Estate.

Gravel

16/02/2013James Adelaide Please don't apologise for 'going on', I for one enjoyed reading what you have written. Busy at the moment with visitors and Blues festival, so thank you everyone for keeping me up to date with latest news. Talk Turkey Others have answered your egg wording, I have to say I couldn't work it out. 2353 Electric train, again others came up with what I would have said. :-) Lyn My bookmarks are filling up rapidly.......thanks heaps. :-)

James Adelaide

16/02/2013Ad Astra, Google news comes up as an button on our google homepage. (MacOS10.5, Safari 5) I hope this link works. http://news.google.com.au/nwshp?hl=en&tab=wn Google news displays a maximum of about 20 lists in any one category. I have not found out how to access more. Many US stories are mixed into ‘Australian politics’ listing. Some stories listed head up a tail of 10 to 20 stories (access by a button), others are orphans. I understand that Google operate by volume, so I cannot explain these loners. Occasionally one can see what is missing ( a la Donald Rumsfeld), but often, just the uneasy feeling that there cannot be exactly 20 topics per day.

42 long

16/02/2013"Electric trains don't have exhaust fumes". Not at the train but If the electricity is generated by anything but renewables it effectively has it's exhaust fumes at the power station. One of the big problems with Abbott is that TRUTH is not "IN" him. He also disrespects SCIENCE and has NO understanding of it. Most of his chosen people are similarly afflicted. ( His front bench) I just heard that 40% of americans don't believe in carbon dating and nor do they believe in evolution. 30% is the figure for Australia. Better, but still of concern. Evolution is all around us. Bacteria and virus's modifing /adapting is a good example and over a very short time span. To demonise fact and promote dogma and distortion is a pretty large crime. Fact is hard enough to find without deliberately trying to eliminate it. IF you don't base decisions on fact what do you base them on? Corruption. and self serving interests of the powerfull manipulators who given any chance will become controllers. Left thinkers are always threatened by the rich, because they want to reinforce their already excess of control and reduce the influence of the majority on government. How? It's already happening in the three eastern LNP states. Suppress incomes, widening the gap between well off and poor and reduce educational opportunities for the "public" school sector TAFE etc and create a pool of unemployed to put downward pressure on incomes. The modern "BOSS" hates it unless you are not sure of your job on Monday.

LadyInRed

16/02/2013Ad I brought Grattan into the argument because she has no commercial pressure at The Conversation surely? Having said that there are many journo's who do a good job Gittins comes to mind. I don't mind Megalogenis & there are others. In order to change they have to accept the way they are reporting leaves most readers preferring not to read at all. I don't think they are at that place yet. I am not sure what they think but I imagine that they are finding comfort in the 'rise of the 5th estate' as being much of the problem. Firstly being very accessible, secondly most is free, thirdly we 'the public' want to be around like minded people constantly looking for verification of what we believe to be true (and there is merrit to that argument. So they may not even be at the 'look at yourself' stage of the process yet. Its usually the last place. By the way I thought this was worth a read. http://theconversation.edu.au/from-honest-john-to-abbott-the-good-bloke-selling-conservative-values-to-australia-11900

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16/02/2013James Adelaide Thank you for your advice re Google News. I have added it to my Safari Bookmarks Bar, and have personalised my settings. It looks very useful. Thanks too for your email.

Ad astra

16/02/201342 long It is that type of entrenched belief, that flies in the face of facts and reason, that is so difficult to counter. That anyone could believe, for example, that the earth was formed only 6000 years ago is incomprehensible to me. Yet as you say, 40% of Americans have that belief. Political beliefs are similarly entrenched for many, which is why there is a smallish proportion of 'swinging voters'. It is as difficult to persuade those with entrenched political beliefs and positions to a different view, no matter how compelling the evidence, as it is to persuade the creationists to another view. Which begs the question: 'Why try'?

Ad astra

16/02/2013LadyinRed I suspect you are right. Most of the Canberra Press Gallery were unable to look at themselves after they misread Julia Gillard's 'misogyny' speech, still believing they were right and the preponderance of voters wrong. I suspect many still feel the same. Anyone addicted to a substance - tobacco, alcohol, opiates - must acknowledge that addiction before treatment can begin. Much of the political MSM seems addicted to the old ways of gathering information, the old ways of reporting, the old self-opinionated attitude, the same 'we are the insiders and know best' approach. Cure will be slow. Journalists such as Mike Seccombe, Peter Martin and Ross Gittins give us hope that others may have an awakening and move to emulate them.

Jason

16/02/2013Ad, Speaking of the media being addicted to the "old ways" one of them is on the pannel tomorrow! Insiders ABC‏@InsidersABC @emmakwade Interview with Greg Combet, plus panel Laura Tingle, Mike Seccombe and Piers Akerman

James Adelaide

16/02/20132353, unfortunately you are right. Rann promised to electrify the Belair line, but said it couldn’t be afforded about two years ago. Translation for LNP Rann broke his promise. (thought, I quoted Rann as Premier for arsonist control, but I do know it is now Jay Weatherall.). A South Australian perspective on Nick Xenaphon. Nick is a showman. He lives for doing stunts in order to get on the news, and thereby publicise the issue. Because of Nick’s gesture (and you can be sure he never expected to be let in) housewives around the world, doing their ironing will be commenting to their spouses, ‘so Malaysia is still not a democracy then’. Statement of Bias. I vote for Nick, and have ever since he first stood in state parliament. He is a very good political operator, with runs on the board (most of them propelled by those very stunts). He has a few skeletons in the closet, medium range stuff. He has poor judgement shown by his choice of Anne Bressington, but is a very good solo operator. He also stands on the platform ‘No Pokies’.

James Adelaide

16/02/201342 Long and Ad Astra, Historically the 20th and 21st century creationism and antisciencism come from evangelical protestant USA. This mob take the philosophical position that either every word of the bible they hold (that is, the English translation of the originals in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek) is divinely inspired or none of it is. Most other shades of Christianity had enough thinkers to think their way out of this and enough theologians to explain the complexities of the creation of the bible in all its version to their congregation. Sadly, the theologians for this mob do not, as evidenced by a book I cannot cite cos I took it back to the library, called something like how to read the bible (or old testament). The author praised Archbishop Ussher, agreeing with the year, but not the date, of creation. Which is odd, because as far as I know, years cannot be reasonably attached to bible events until the conquest of Judea and exile to Babylon, exact dates rely upon things like comets. The Author’s introduction warned against massaging the evidence to fit one’s preconceptions, the text then proceeded to do precisely that This breeds a congregation which accepts simply put propositions, little space for shades of grey and people who are easy to manipulate (to, for example, donate money to your ministry, or vote for the preferred party). As long as the flock are shepherded, all will be well. My brother is a happy clapper in Queensland. After sept 11, he sent me an email containing a pastor’s write up of a conversation the pastor had with a muslim. This conversation proved that all muslims were evil. I was a bit shocked that my brother, whom I had thought of as clever, thought that an email of unspecified origin had any persuasive power. Which reminds me: Terry Prattchet asked: We know what a religion based on sheep looks like. what would a religion based on goats look like? The really fun thing is that we humans created sheep and goats. 5000 years back in European and Mesopotamian archaeology there is an animal archaeologists call a ‘shoat’. This is the animal you perceive when looking at the bones left during the process of breeding the two apart from the same stock. The biblical phrase ‘separating the sheep from the goats’ has lost its meaning. These days no-one would mistake a merino for a goat, but 2000 years ago, it was hard work.

bob macalba

16/02/2013TT... you understood correctly , cheers and Venceremos a bit of a larf at creationists..part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSxgnu3Hww8

bob macalba

16/02/2013A bit of a larf at creationists part 2 both good fun http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfZFsXfCy6s its the context stupid

Ad astra

16/02/2013Jason Thanks, that should be interesting - I hope Mike Seccombe and Laura Tingle put the always-acerbic Piers Akerman back in his box. David Marr gave him a good going over last time.

Jason

16/02/2013James Adelaide, If the ALP don't put Xenophon last this year I will.I'm sick of his stunts his constant bleating to Leon Byner on 5AA, where he paints a picture of himself as though he's in some position of power! I agree Ann Bresington was a failure but his other stunt of naming " Monsignor Ian Dempsey," well words fail me! The end of this "human headline's" political career can't come soon enough for me.

bob macalba

16/02/2013Exorcisms still needed, wall walkers and slithering serpents still a problem http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/world/vaticans-chief-exorcist-thanks-the-pope/story-e6frfkui-1226579504582

bob macalba

16/02/2013Labors Nicole Manison wins Wanguri ...N.T byelection http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Labors-Nicole-Manison-wins-Wanguri-4YF3A?OpenDocument&src=hp7

DMW

17/02/2013Calling Red Rover, Come in Red Rover ... [i]What's featuring in the Sunday Papers ...[/i] [b]Galaxy poll shows female voters choose Tony Abbott[/b] http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/galaxy-poll-shows-female-voters-choose-tony-abbott/story-e6frea6u-1226579510972 The Murdoch Sunday Tabloids are also all over this one: [b]Leaked: Labor plan to sandbag 25 seats at election[/b] http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/national/leaked-labor-plan-to-sandbag-25-seats-at-election/story-fncz7kyc-1226579482330 Meanwhile it seems the Ruddmentum is unstoppable [b]Kevin Rudd will crash Prime Minister Julia Gillard's party in Adelaide[/b] http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/kevin-rudd-will-crash-prime-minister-julia-gillards-party-in-adelaide/story-e6frea83-1226579550380 Over at Fairfax... [b]Labor pains? Up pops Rudd[/b] http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/labor-pains-up-pops-rudd-20130216-2ejmt.html The Fitz files do however offer some light relief [b]Too many nutters spoil political broth[/b] http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/too-many-nutters-spoil-political-broth-20130216-2ejik.html There is a bo-peep inside the Katter Party [b]Out of the hat[/b] http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/out-of-the-hat-20130216-2ejmy.html After lots of sniffing around Rover reports: [i]Ain't much good news boss ... I'll keep sniffing though ...[/i]

Cuppa

17/02/2013Tony Abbott's Plan - Real Problems for all Australians. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BB5X58XCYAE7mSS.jpg:large

Ken

17/02/2013DMW The articles about Rudd are interesting - all speculation but it does give some cause for speculation. As Crean said, Rudd can be a great positive for the Government if he plays a team game but it is not yet clear that he is. My own speculation is that he won't challenge but he is positioning himself and a move will come (whether as a challenge or the proverbial "tap on the shoulder" to Gillard) later in the year if Labor is still at something like 46% to 54% on 2PP. If that happens, I would expect it fairly close to the election so that they benefit from the "bounce" and before the electorate has time to change its mind. Against that, however, is that the LNP would use all the descriptions of Rudd that were used against him at the challenge last year. I still think Gillard is the better PM but Rudd appears better at getting the message across to the electorate and certainly can carry off the big symbolic gestures (like the apology) but is nowhere near as good at actually getting things done. Together they would be an excellent team but unfortunately it does not appear that that is likely to happen.

Cuppa

17/02/2013[i]I am not convinced by the argument that we need to know what they are thinking. Firstly there is little thought in their output (oh dear, I have descended to snarky) and in any case, we can access it on ABC, Fairfax or MurdochWorld™ itself. [/i] I agree with James of Adelaide. If we wanted to get the RW spin on politics, it's wall-to-wall on talk radio, newspaper and TV. It's almost impossible to get away from it. There's got to be places to go where we can avoid the whitewash. That's why [i]The Sword[/i] is popular, in my guess, and outlets such as [i]Independent Australia[/i]. I'm predicting that [i]The Guardian[/i] will have a loyal readership when she launches here: people are starved for non-right wing media.

bob macalba

17/02/2013Watched the piers comedy hour on ABC, thought i was watching Insiders but alas no, the bumbling fool went on the show with a script and no matter what the topic was piers the bumbling fool carried on regardless, thats me done with Insiders now, the loonies have well and truly entrenched themselves into its format, what did i take away from watching it? a head full of gossip and innuendo, tabloid crap,

Ad astra

17/02/2013James Adelaide I enjoyed reading what you had to say about creationism. DMW Thanks for the links. As usual, the media is more focussed on the sideshow, the horserace, than on policy substance. With it setting the agenda, what hope has the Government of getting its policy messages out? Cuppa There needs to be more messages like the ‘Real Problems for Australia’, for which you provided a link: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BB5X58XCYAE7mSS.jpg bob macalba The Wanguri bye-election result is heartening.

Ad astra

17/02/2013Folks I thought Greg Combet did well this morning on [i]Insiders[/i]. Sensible, balanced, truthful and lucid. As expected, Piers Akerman was his usual disruptive, self-opinionated, spiteful self, balanced somewhat by the always-sensible Mike Seccombe and Laura Tingle, and today by Barrie Cassidy. The Government got a going over about the MRRT in [i]Insiders[/i] and [i]Inside Business[/i]. Let’s hope its initiative to boost overseas business to be announced today will get some positive publicity. This evening I’ll post the next piece: [i]When will Tony Abbott fill the gaping void in his latest slogan: Hope. Reward. Opportunity?[/i]

bilko

17/02/2013AA Your post heading is fitting, the coalition still have not accepted that they lost two elections. They think the general public js still sleepwalking helped on by a compliant media. It is a case of facts where reality = low inflation,lower taxation, growing economy, low unemployment, credit rating AAA, envy of the industrial world. Over fiction = we will all be ruined (but not whilst overseas), the country is going to hell in a hand basket, labor waste, disfunctional government,labor leadership upheaval,reinforced by a media campaign Joseph Goebbels would have been proud of. My hope is that Australia wakes up and again becomes the clever country fictional perhaps or the stupid country a reality we are slowly sinking into.

Ad astra

17/02/2013bilko And so say all of us.

Catching up

17/02/2013Suggest one takes the time to analyze that Galaxy Poll. Does not really say what the headlines claim. It appears that the younger woman are not in the love Abbott brigade.

Pikiranku

17/02/2013Another SA perspective on Nick Xenophon: I'm with Jason - as I said earlier, Xenophon's principle accomplishment is self-promotion. He's a wild-card, an opportunist. I wouldn't vote for him in a fit.

Catching up

17/02/2013Women still unsure about Abbott: poll Only one in three women are preparing to vote for Labor, despite holding concerns about Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, a new poll reveals. The women-only Galaxy poll, published in the Sunday Telegraph, found that only 36 per cent of women were preparing to vote Labor. This is despite the poll showing that 62 per cent of women have concerns about Mr Abbott. Forty-four per cent reported reservations about the opposition leader saying 'no to everything', while 39 per cent cited feeling disquiet about his views on abortion. The majority said his status as a family man would have no bearing on their vote, with only 13 per cent saying they were more likely to vote for him due to his experience with marriage and rising kids. 'Female voters are supporting the Liberal Party despite concerns about Tony Abbott,' Galaxy's David Briggs told the Daily Telegraph. 'Among females aged 18-34 years, 46 per cent are concerned about the opposition leader's views on abortion.' As to claims Mr Abbott is a misogynist - 44 per cent disagree he is, while 25 per cent agree. Meanwhile 44 per cent of the 800 women said Prime Minister Julia Gillard was a strong role model, compared to 43 per cent who called her a 'disappointment'. http://www.skynews.com.au/national/article.aspx?id=846400 Different headlines, same poll.

DMW

17/02/2013Hi Catching Up, of interest also is the different headlines used by the various News Ltd papers. I don't immediately have to hand links but I noted in the early hours of this morning, as I have often when cruising the news paper sites, that the same article will have a different headline in every paper/online edition. It also happens often between the SMH/Age and now the Canberra Times. It is quite frustrating when searching for 'different angles' to click on a link to get the same story from 3, 4 or more different sites.

Truth Seeker

17/02/2013Hey swordsters, has anyone heard from Nasking lately, how his eyes are and if he is OK? If you're out there lurking nas could you give us an update, as you are missed and thought about often :-) hope you are OK mate! Cheers :-)

Luke

17/02/2013Ad Astra, Given the emerging evidence of entrenched criminality within NSW Labor I've looked through your website for evidence of someone putting these reptiles 'to the sword' to no avail...have I missed something or are you just about banging on about Abbott and his speedos? Gillard faces an inestimable challenge in convincing the public that there is a moral firewall between NSW and the Federal Labor hierarchies - do you think the Labor brand can even be saved?

42 long

17/02/2013Mining companies have always controlled countries more than they should. When the MRRT was first instigated here, many throughout the world regarded it as a break through principle that all countries should copy We all recall the "antics" and carry-on about the taxcrippling the mining sector. 20+ million used for an advertising campaign getting to a high level of hysteria in WA. Paying tax for the mining companies should be voluntary seems to be their attitude. They "bullied" the govermment. That is undeniable. The tactic worked, but SHOULD it? We the people elect the government to RUN the country on our behalf. At the end of the day the Mining Companies most of whom are not owned by australians and most of the profit goes outside our shores. They choose to come here and operate or they may choose to go to somewhere else that has no stability,and their operations are at risk from other factors. They can't come here and have the stability and use their power to throw out an elected government at the same time. They are clearly shown now as people who are applying force to a government directly instead of dealing with them in good faith. They complain about the application of a tax that gave them guaranteed infrastrucure monies and only applied when they made SUPER profits. Ie when they can most afford to pay a tax. Royalties which take No acccount of ability to pay the coughed up to the LieNP states knowing that it would muck up the Gillard tax formula. The extra royalty imposts were NOT complained of by Abbott because it is part of the conspiracy they all play together. Under Abbott it will be free reign for Mining to steal the countries resources and pollute the agricultural land even more than is happening now. Look at the reports of heavy mineral contamination in Queensland, post flood. Dead fish and poisonous sediments. If we don't exercise more control over mining what will be left. Gina doesn't care as lng as she is RICH(ER). Do you recall that excellent cartoon of her looking like queen Victoria and embroidering a map of australia with "MINE" in the middle of it? Truly appropriate.

42 long

17/02/2013Luke. I thought Combet covered that event well in his interview with Cassidy, today and I share his sentiments I'm more concerned with the possible implications of the high ranking Copper being involved with appearing to support Abbott in Queenbeyan at his political promo gathering and Brandis' role with the police generally.

2353

17/02/2013Without commenting on if the items were needed - this suggests the Courier Mail is starting to attack Newman. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/taxpayers-forked-out-120000-for-office-chairs-while-newman-government-sacked-public-servants/story-e6freoof-1226579485146 [quote]Documents obtained by The Sunday Mail under Right to Information laws show the Department of Public Works ordered 207 "Zody" chairs through the Government furniture contractor Incorporate Space at Sunnybank in Brisbane's south for the Office of the Premier including ministers, assistant ministers and directors-general. Each top-of-the-line chair cost $585 and had Haworth Tellure Range fabric with "height adjustable arms, black mesh back with black frame" and a "three-point tilt mechanism, tilt tension control, back stop, pneumatic seat height (and depth) adjustment, adjustable lumbar support" and a "five-star aluminium castor base".[/quote] From my professional knowledge, I'd suggest that $500 per chair (full retail) is reasonable for chairs that will probably be used fro up to 15 years with sufficient ergonomic adjustment to avoid the majority of WH&S claims. THe cheaper chairs mentions certainly wouldn't last anywhere near as long. The Courier Mail is also having a go at the "restructure" of Cabinet caused by the resignation of Ras Bates - she of the dodgy recording of meetings with lobbyists and the arranging for her son to be employed by the DG of Transport and Main Roads while 14000 were getting sacked. The DG of Transport and Main Roads was also sacked on late Friday afternoon.

Truth Seeker

17/02/2013Luke, the biggest challenge that Labor faces is a mogul owned media determined to bring down this government. Yes the perception of corruption and guilt by association is a problem, exacerbated by MSM bias, and a public who lazily believe what they are sold by said MSM. Political apathy is rife in this country, and many are so scared of their own shadows that they willingly accept the doom and gloom spread by the LOTO and his accomplices. The truth is that there has been plenty of research that clearly shows that as far as dishonesty/corruption in the respective party's, over the last few decades (at least since Whitlam), The conservative side of the fence win hands down. But again perception carries a lot of weight and the MSM are complicit in perpetrating these misleading perceptions. If we want a country run by a party bought and paid for by the likes of Murdock and Rinehart, then Abbots the man (?) I for one DON"T Cheers :-) :-)

LadyInRed

17/02/2013All these stupid polls dumbing down the debate, making it about liking someone. Do you like Gillard, Abbott or Turnbull, Rudd. At the end of the day like has nothing to do with policy. The debate should be about : 1) Should we remove the carbon price after all the pain, its in its working, average Australian are no worse off. Should big polluters pay and should that money be spent cleaning up the environment. 2) Should we stop inplementing the NBN. What's to be gained. Who is the big losers if we stop implementing it? 3) The MRRT - is it right that miners pay for digging up the minerals? Afterall we the tax payers put the ports, the roads and the infrastructure in place that helps them make the bif profits that they get. 4) Do Australians want the 18K tax free threshold removed? 5) Do we agree that education is the one thing that we can give to our kids (free) that really makes a differece to their lives? Is it right that so many kids are missing out because our education system is not delivering to the less advantaged. 6) What sort of a society do we want to live in? One that believes in spreading opportunity for the benefit of all or one that values the individual and wants to continue consetrating the wealth in the hands of the select few? Let's reframe the debate everyone! Do we want Insiders to continue to allow Ackerman to sit on their couch when he is the author of this little gem Dumb women support Labor? http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/piersakerman/index.php/dailytelegraph/comments/dumb_women_support_gillard/

LadyInRed

17/02/2013While we concentrate on how crap Abbott is we allow him to frame the debate. Let's take him out of the equation.

Tom of Melbourne

17/02/2013Lady in Red, you forgot- 7) Would you like to see integrity and transparency in government?

bob macalba

17/02/2013Who wants to breath in crap like this? http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/16/chinese-struggle-through-airpocalypse-smog terrible

bob macalba

17/02/2013Labor got it right on climate policy, check out what US wants to do. ...familiar? http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/feb/16/bernie-sanders-climate-change-legislation

LadyInRed

17/02/2013And the other 6 ToM - what do you think about those? What are your values?

Lyn

17/02/2013Hi Ad, Thankyou for your summary @ 10.33am The Insiders this morning. I laughed when Barry Cassidy said to Greg Combet " now what are you going to do about all this talk about Kevin Rudd, then immediately proceeds to ask more questions about Kevin Rudd. Judging by the headlines swamping Murdoch papers this morning, Women all like Tony Abbott now, see that was “Before” they didn’t like him, not now though, because a strange Galaxy poll says so. Looks like Sky News got their instructions wrong, because they say Women are concerned about Abbott. Thankyou Catching Up for your link to Sky News. Headlines below without links, so Mr Murdoch can’t have any page clicks. [b]Poll shows women concerned about Abbott, Sky News[/b] Women finally fall for Tony Abbott according to new Galaxy poll Galaxy poll shows female voters choose Tony Abbott Tony Abbott in the clear with women, Abbott has already won over ladies of the west Women support Abbott amid concerns: poll Women finally fall for Tony Abbott according to new Tony Abbott in favour among women Tibbit for you:- Menzies House website editors quit amid anonymous Joe Hockey article fallout, by James Massola, TWO editors from conservative website Menzies House have quit during the fallout from an anonymous article that attacked Liberal Treasury spokesman Joe Hockey The author of the article has remained anonymous :):):):)

Ken

17/02/2013Luke and Truth Seeker I have posted in a previous thread that NSW is a problem for the ALP and the corruption inquiry is playing a part in that. The difference between the corruption on the two sides of politics is that the LNP corruption is usually seen as having been committed by individuals. In NSW it is seen as being part of the "NSW Right" and because that faction has had a high profile over the years (and an apparent influence at the national level), it is reflecting badly on the Federal government, at least in NSW. I note there are murmurings of reform but they have to become a reality. Personally, I think the NSW Right has a lot to answer for - over the past few years they seem to have lost the plot and forgot Labor values in the quest for power at any cost. Lady in Red Your questions are the ones that voters need to consider but the stench of the NSW corruption inquiry makes that a difficult task in NSW. Hopefully the PM is doing enough, by continuing with major policy announcements, to make it clear that she is governing irrespective of what goes on around her.

DMW

17/02/2013ToM @ 1:26 PM is this the type of integrity and transparency you would like to see? [b]DPI 'witch-hunt' over interview[/b] http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/dpi-witchhunt-over-interview-20130216-2ejs7.html Probably not, but expand on your comment. Give us some ideas about what you are thinking. (If at all possible without making it just another 'bashing' of the current government) I suspect you will find that the majority, if not all, contributors here would agree that 'integrity and transparency in government' is highly desirable thing. Some might even be in favour of 'integrity and transparency' in our electoral systems operation.

KHTAGH

17/02/2013bob macalba If they bring that type of reporting the facts to Oz labor might just have a better chance, should be any week now till we can see. I'm sorry to say that MG is going to be the same old same old over at The Conversation, lots saying it will put them off visiting.

Truth Seeker

17/02/2013Ken, I agree that the Labor right in NSW has a lot to answer for, but you only have to look at the Newman farce of cronyism and dishonesty in QLD to see that it happens in all party's. But when you have a hostile MSM who puts a negative spin on even positive stories it's almost impossible to get your message out. The good news is that the Guardian Oz will soon be up and running, and the fighting fifth are doing their bit. The truth will set you free.... except if you're Abbott, then it'll do you over big time :-) :-) Cheers :-) :-)

LadyInRed

17/02/2013Ken so that's another narrative that needs breaking.... that people should use their precious vote to 'punish' federal Labor. We punished Bligh up here in Qld.....question electorate?......how's that working for you? Not so good. Sunshine Coast University Hospital is not even built yet, a public hospital, a research hospital, a teaching hospital is being put out to tender. So that means that shareholders get paid out of the public purse and that means less money for services. People obviously didn't look at the policies or question them, and we paid the price. In the end its the policies and values of the party you elect that you have to live with.

KHTAGH

17/02/2013Not sure it has been posted here yet. Funny how Turnball just doesn't like a good internet service unless he makes money out if it, that's why he is investing in Frances FTTH. We Australians all have to have a second class service. [quote]But in a statement CCC chairman Matt Healy told Mr Turnbull to “forget [his] HFC fantasy”.[/quote] http://www.afr.com/p/technology/coalition_broadband_plan_doomed_y82LOVLL6tXZv4peNCKBHN

Lyn

17/02/2013Hi Ad and Everybody, Ad Astra said on February 15. 2013 @ 10:58 AM:- [i]Folks How many times have I urged you to ignore ToM? I have lost count. Every time someone responds, it encourages him to come back CAN WE ALL TRY FOR THE NEXT WEEK TO NOT RESPOND TO ToM OR HIS ILK, AND IF HE/THEY CONTINUES TO POST COMMENTS, SCROLL OVER THEM WITHOUT READING THEM. HAVING READ MANY OF THEM, BE ASSURED THERE WILL BE NOTHING THERE WORTH READING. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME[/i]

Pikiranku

17/02/2013So Tony Abbott's told the WA Liberals that he's hoping to model his government on Colin Barnett's. I wonder if that includes the pork-barrelling that's been occurring over there. Every two-bit country town that we passed through recently had a new sports hall/gymnasium, some of them absolutely palatial, and all funded under the Barnett government's Royalties for Regions scheme. One place we visited, Westonia, we were told has a town population of about 125 and a total shire population of a couple of hundred (they haven't amalgamated their councils as we have over here). But Westonia was the proud possessor of not only a giant sporting complex but also a separate brand-new synthetic bowling green and new bowling club house. Stunning facilities - all they appeared to need was someone to enjoy them! And they reckon the BER was a waste of money!

LadyInRed

17/02/2013DMW - re integrity & transperancy when used in the manor that ToM is using it is a sneaky and disingenuous way of not addressing the points made. It was meant to stop me in my tracks, its meant to feed into the 'liar' narrative that all and sundry have spent over 2 years building. I'm not buying into it, if ToM thinks that the PM lacks integrity then he should quite simply not vote for her. Its not up to me to try to defend something that he holds as a truth. If its important to you ToM and you feel you can't get past it. That is your position. Good luck with it. I wonder if you have enough integrity, since you value it so highly, to respect our views, accept they are different to yours and leave it at that. And since you NEVER answer anything I say, or if you do you don't address anything, I think I can quite rightly say that you have met your match. I have you pegged. You are like a voyeur who likes conflict and tries to instigate it for personal gratification.

KHTAGH

17/02/2013I Totally agree Lyn. It is my standard act when I see the tell tail picture, does make it hard when their are a few very similar(personalised pic's are way easier), but the name at the bottom does alert me to anyone I do want to read. Cant say I have read a post of [u][i]his/theirs[/i][/u] for many months now. I was surprised about Marilyn's post last week, & I had to go back to read it when there was a comment about it. I have yet had the slightest inclination to do it for any! of his posts.

KHTAGH

17/02/2013Lyn has requested next week [u] [b]a no feed troll zone[/b][/u] I'm sure we all use her good work with her links, so I think we could show our appreciation by agreeing with her request.

LadyInRed

17/02/2013KHTAGH Lyn Will do. I promise.

Ad astra

17/02/2013Hi Lyn [b]I do really hope that bloggers here will respect your request to ignore those who come here simply to irritate and stir rather than contribute meaningfully to the debate.[/b]

42 long

17/02/2013Being at one stage a resident of Sydney, a frequent visitor over the years and an interested watcher I would suggest that it has always had it's share of corruption. It had a name for it from the beginning. The state of NSW was where the action was. It has the biggest fastest richest city where money seems to rule, more than others as a value Police corruption Robert Askin tree clearing, favoured squatters union muggings ( keep looking and it is found) second Casino (it fits). Perhaps it is only in proportion to the rate of development and the size of it. Not a lot of planning, more profit driven. Why would one expect any different? There are o'beids everywhere where people have a price, favours are bought. Go and have a look at Italy. At least we don't shoot proscecuting judges here (yet). We would buy them first. But we really do excell at theatre here. Fancy organising a Thomson (NO "P") arrest in the middle of a Tony Abbott Press conference presentation.!!!. Credit where credit is due, but that is not corrupt is it? just.a great piece of theatre.

Lyn

17/02/2013Hi Khtagh, You are a sweetheart thankyou. I have been meaning to ask for a long time: Have you seen the beautiful little video clip on ABC about the bees. lovely photography and music over. Khtagh, thankyou for all your posts on TPS you really are a valuable contributor gee I am glad we found you. Lady in Red your comments and posts are a gold mine of information, your wise words and interesting opinion is wasted on trolls. We love your posts, I enjoy every single contribution you make. Gravel hope you enjoy your collection of reading material, I love your appreciation thankyou. Thankyou Ad Astra, that is all, you know how we feel about you, Mr perfect gentleman. I found this about the Wanguri bi-election Never going to be headlines unless Labor lost of course wouldn't they squawk then. 65 per cent of the primary vote in yesterday's by-election. Country Liberals candidate Rhianna Harker received 28 per cent Labor triumphs in Wanguri by-election http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-17/labor-triumphs-in-wanguri-by-election/4523720?section=nt :):):):)

Tom of Melbourne

17/02/2013[b]DANGER – ALTERNATIVE OPINION - DO NOT REPLY!! [/b] DMW, in suggesting transparency and honesty, I had in mind a simple notion…like politicians should try to keep their word, and directly address themselves to breaking of commitments with the public and with other MPs. Breaking a commitment should start with an apology. The public is tired of spin, and the first politician who kicks their addiction will win favour. ----------------------- Meanwhile, odd characters implore each other not to reply to those of us with a different perspective. Ad Astra considers that having a thread where about 1 in 20 are alternative opinions is disruptive. Yes, on this lengthy thread, it is 95% aligned with Ad Astra’s leadership and direction and 5% that test it. This is just too much challenge for Ad Astra and his followers! So don’t reply!! And certainly don’t make your own decisions.

Ken

17/02/2013Truth Seeker, Lady in Red and 42 Long Agree that it is common but as I said, the difference is that LNP corruption is portrayed as individuals. And yes that is largely a product of MSM coverage. 42 Long - I do remember Robin Askin (he only became Robert when he recieved his knighthood, not thinking Robin was a good enough name for a knight). I remember him for his famour "ride over the bastards" comment during the LBJ visit. And the proposed demolition of The Rocks before it was opposed by the BLF and others (although we did lose Jim Buckley's - the old Newcastle Hotel - which was a terrible loss, but I can explain that another time). Yes, certainly, NSW has a long history of, if not corruption, at least dubious decisions. Lady in Red Yes, we need to change the narrative but I must admit I have an inner confidence that when it comes to the crunch (i.e. actually casting a vote, rather than just an opinion)a sufficient number of people will think twice about voting for Abbott and what he "stands for" (in quotation marks because as we know he stands for FA). And although we are not responding to ToM, I will say that his comment about integrity completely ignores Abbot's own statement that we should only believe his scripted comments and promises, not his unscripted ones, that it was Howard who introduced the concept of "core and non-core" promises, and it was Howard who said we would "never, ever" have a GST under his government. How would ToM get around that in terms of integrity!!!!

42 long

17/02/2013While I'm not an admirer of Howard at all. he did go to an election saying he would introduce a GST and a lot of his mob said just do it afterwards, but it would have been a pretty savage GST without the democrat's contribution. ( which probably heralded THEIR demise). Gillard being accused of lying over the Carbon Price is very much out of context and ignores the post election situation that NO-ONE anticipated. The carbon price is going to an ETS which is totally what she was always going to do. If ever there was treachery it was Abbott and Minchen undermining Turnball while he was in negotiations with Wong and others and stabbing him in the back to get out of honouring the deal Turnball was doing. A sneaky way of dumping the deal, if ever there was one. I don't cop that Julia is a liar and cannot comprehend the vicious Bile that is heaped on her. It's not fact based and is "hate" stuff that is quite SICK. She doesn't deserve it, and just shows the power of ceasless propaganda from the MSM and the shock jocks who are a discrace to radio and make me ashamed to be an australian at times. Don't insult me by saying it doesn't affect anyone's opinion who works it out for them selves. Why does Gina buy a Paper or Murdoch seek monopolies. To turn them into monopoLIES and influence the outcome of elections . To put some one in who will serve them NOT Australia. It has never been more obvious.

ladyinred

17/02/2013Ken you and everyone here knows the debate is not about lieing but we fail if we continue to respond as if it is. We lefties make the mistake in believing that once we point out the bleeding obvious then another cannot help but change their mind. You have to come at them with using their value system. Black and white. Do you believe in the tax free 18k threshold? No? So you believe in higher taxes?

LadyInRed

17/02/201342 long All you say rings true but I refer you to the above post. In the world of black and white their can be no grey. Its a pointless argument to have with someone who wont even go there. Why remove the carbon price, once we have gone through the pain and nothing terrible happened and we are seeing benefits? Brindalee meat works is a classic case of using money from big polluters to finance an industry that employs lots of people, to not only reduce their emissions but reduce their power bills significantly, they can now expand and employ more people. Are you against the carbon price? Yes. Then you must be against helping industries like Brindalee to make significant cost savings. You must for dirty coal fire power stations that foul the air and filthy our planet and contribute to many respitatory deseases? And you do not believe that we should do all we can to mitigate a change in the climate, whether its 100% true or not according to your beliefs, best pratice says we should at least mitigate? To meet them on there own ground using our type of logic the debate cannot be won. Youe have to try to see the world like they see it, and frame the argument so.

LadyInRed

17/02/201342 long Ken I note I got no reply. Why. Because I used right-wing logic. Black and white. Totally ignored. I admit I have a way to go in my understanding and I appreciate peoples imput. I hit the nail on the head voyeur.

Tom of Melbourne

17/02/2013Lady in Red, I didn't reply to your challenge/question because you then advised that we're no longer on speaking terms. Please don't bother to make up a different story now. If you wish me to reply to that question/challenge, just let me know,

Ken

17/02/2013Lady in Red Very well put. And I think the Government is already moving in that direction. It is not just for the "right" but to put things in simple, more practical terms, for the electorate. I have no doubt we will see more of that as the election comes closer. And I note that the PM's announcement today of the manufacturing policy puts Abbott in a more awkward position. In a sense, the more she spends, the more difficult it is for Abbott to wind it back and save all the money he needs for his so-called promises. He faces the awkward choice of dropping the manufacturing boost or reinstating the R&D tax rebate for business - or not re-instating it and leaving himself open to increasing business taxes. Perhaps this is a very political ploy as well as being good policy.

Ad astra

17/02/2013Folks I have just posted [i]When will Tony Abbott fill the gaping void in his latest slogan: Hope. Reward. Opportunity?[/i] http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/post/2013/02/17/When-will-Tony-Abbott-fill-the-gaping-void-in-his-latest-slogan-Hope-Reward-Opportunity.aspx

LadyInRed

17/02/2013Lyn Thank you for you kind words. And I know I have said it many times before but I really appreciate the work you do in keeping us informed. And thank you for your help in getting me onto twitter. I feel so good that I have a greater voice. I keep up the fight, my passion for keeping the hard fought advances going. I do not want this country to get into cycles of advance and then retreat. We have the MRRT, we have a carbon price, nothing to be gained in removing it. Do we want the great NBN divide, where regional areas once again get substandard services? No. So we fight the fight.

Ad astra

17/02/2013Folks I'll close comments on this piece before I retire tonight. You may care to carry on your conversation on the new piece just posted.
I have two politicians and add 17 clowns and 14 chimpanzees; how many clowns are there?