An open letter to the Prime Minister

On behalf of most who comment on this blog site, congratulations Ms Gillard on the re-election of the Labor Government and of yourself as Prime Minister. Those who have supported Labor through its first term and who have admired the good work it has done, are relieved that it has another term to complete its current program and implement new policy initiatives.

We have heard the claims of illegitimacy coming from the Opposition and partisan journalists, but, like you, we know there is just one parameter that gives any government legitimacy, and that is the number of votes it can command in the House. Although the Opposition likes to quote the primary vote and the two party preferred when it’s ahead (which at present is one day in three), using those parameters as justification is just games playing.

Those who doubt that the Government will last long and make predictions about why it will fail or how it will fall, simply do not know what they are talking about. There is no recent federal precedent, and where there are state precedents they have worked well. Predictions of doom are simply wishful thinking by many, or just the usual media sensationalizing. We know you will ignore such ill-informed comment.

We know you will not be daunted by the hyperbole that our media enjoy so much, such extravagant language as ‘elected by the skin of her teeth’, ‘saved by the independents’, ‘Gillard at mercy of four unpredictable men’, ‘a fragile government at massive cost’, ‘sublime chaos’, and ‘after wooing the Indies, Gillard must now woo us’. The media thrive on conflict, think too often only in terms of winners and losers, and most journalists have not even started to get their minds around the new paradigm. Annabelle Crabb made a start in The Drum in Never mind the conflict, let’s report the parliament.  Political journalists ought to read and digest her advice, but probably won’t because they are captured by the 24 hour news cycle and the demands of their editors and proprietors.

We applaud your decision to not be governed by the media cycle in future. We were gratified by the comment you made late in your interview with Barrie Cassidy on Insiders last Sunday: “Well I think there's an obligation on news organisations in the modern age to act ethically and responsibly and report the facts.”  We support your willingness to confront journalists when they ask questions in a rude or antagonistic way, when they focus on trivialities, and when they ask leading questions fishing for the answer they want. We hope you will castigate them when they attempt ‘gotchas’ or ask ‘rule in, rule out’ questions. We are pleased that you refuse to be intimidated by the likes of Kerry O’Brien and Tony Jones, who tore into Kevin Rudd so cruelly. Frankly, we are sick and tired of rude, aggressive, antagonistic, trivializing journalists; politics is too important for this unseemly behaviour.

It is especially commendable that you have been re-elected despite an antagonistic media and a hostile national newspaper, The Australian, with its well-disciplined coterie of attack dogs intent on emphasizing the negatives and omitting the positives, no matter what the subject. Sadly our ABC has taken to following the News Limited tabloids in all their negativity, about which Mr Denmore has commented so pointedly in a piece in his new blog The Failed Estate: The Opposition Says… 

We hope that you will devise a media strategy that will neutralize the pernicious influence that the MSM exerts on political life in this country. The media will kick and scream; indeed it has started already, but the more it screams the more you can be sure the strategy is on target.

One problem Labor has had in its first term has been communicating its achievements, explaining its plans and achieving the endorsement of the public. This was particularly the case with the ETS. We know that the Abbott-led negativity about the reality of climate change and his Great Big New Tax mantra were very hard to counter, and that when it comes to taking the hard decisions, because most prefer the easy option of doing nothing, the public is willing to be convinced that action is unnecessary anyway. As interest in taking action about global warming waned, as willingness to pay for that action in other than a token way diminished, and as the Copenhagen conference faltered, Labor was persuaded to postpone the ETS. That turned out to be a move which angered many electors, turned them towards the Greens, and reduced Labor’s electoral impact. We do not know who was responsible for this decision but it has been hinted that it was the Sussex Street group that included Karl Bitar and Mark Abib.

We understand too that this group has a major influence on party tactics, campaign strategy and internal king-making and dethroning. Although erroneously labelled ‘faceless men’, they are not all that visible to Labor supporters, working as they seem to do in a subterranean way to influence Labor’s face to the public. We are weary of their influence and trust you will take steps to make Labor internal workings more transparent to ordinary citizens. If these same people are responsible for the campaign tactics and strategy, they need replacement, as perhaps does Hawker Britten. If a longstanding Labor pollster such as Rod Cameron says in his Lateline interview on 8 September Labor campaign panned by pioneering pollster that this was Labor’s worst campaign ever, something radical needs to be done right away, as campaigning for the next election starts now. In retrospect it is unthinkable that a Government that has achieved so much so quickly and saved the nation from recession, business failure and crippling unemployment has had to scramble so desperately for re-election. It should have been a cakewalk. If those responsible for building on that could not do so, they lack the competence in public relations that is needed for electoral success.

We were taken by your approach to your new ministry which makes a lot of sense. Of course, some academics are apprehensive about the absence of the words ‘education’ and ‘research’ in the ministry titles as if that means those areas will be neglected, and some medical people concerned with indigenous health are querying what the changed titles mean for them. Grog’s piece in Grog’s Gamut The Cabinet PIcks and Pans is a sound appraisal of the changes and an insider’s perspective on how they may affect the public service.  The images of those appointed are nicely illustrated in The Notion Factory in The Labor Lineup

As expected, the Coalition has pushed the ‘plotter’s rewarded’ line, faithfully echoed by a compliant media. An unbiased appraisal shows that far from that, the appointments have been made on merit and past performance. We feel sure that the memory of a near-death experience will galvanize all appointees to apply themselves assiduously to their responsibilities. Of course this morning on ABC radio Greg Hunt was still banging on about Peter Garrett being ‘promoted’ for his ‘incompetence’ in the Home Insulation Program – Hunt just can’t let that go. He’s still harping on the number of warnings Garrett was give, the fires and the deaths, the Coalition’s intent to push legislation to inspect every home insulated, and the need for a Royal Commission. Yet in the next breath he’s saying the Coalition will be ‘constructive’! Pigs might fly.

We hope that when the Coalition line up is announced that the Government will apply the blowtorch to it and expose its deficiencies which are inevitable since it has such indifferent talent. The finance shadows have performed badly, foreign affairs has been poorly served by Julie Bishop, and Peter Dutton was out of his depth in health. How the Coalition will attempt to manage these deficiencies will be fascinating to contemplate.

So we see a new era for Labor and our nation under your leadership. Your strength, your consultative style, your capacity for fruitful negotiation, your ability to lead strongly, and your determination to take no more babble from the Coalition and no more rubbish from the media, augers well for the time ahead.

We wish you every success. There are many, many supporters in the electorate who are right behind you.

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Ad astra reply

13/09/2010Folks I'll be away for a few hours. Will be back later this afternoon.

debbiep

13/09/2010 Hear, hear !

Gravel

13/09/2010Well said Ad Astra, and thank you for including me in your vote of thanks. I could not have written anything like what you have to express all the complications that lay ahead for our Prime Minister, who was just excellent yesterday on Insiders, which I only watched because Julia was going to be on. She had Barry almost speechless at one time, I enjoyed having a good laugh at him. Lyn I hope you can access the site now, I had the same trouble and I'm with Optus, so I don't know what happened, maybe it is an intermittent problem, I often have trouble accessing some sites on some days but mostly things run smoothly. I'll check back later for your daily links which are just great. Hillbilly Thanks for your couple of links in the last blog. I liked the Tarot one, maybe Acerbic is doing some moonlighting? He is just so good at making me grin and laugh. Acerbic I told the person I care for about the way you use songs to express a lot of your thoughts and she has said she'd like to have a go....I hope you don't mind her using your method. I don't know when she'll be able to do it, depends on how well things are going for her at any given time.

Hillbilly Skeleton

13/09/2010Gravel, As laughter is the best medicine, I don't mind bringing those links to all here one little bit. :) I also like the serious ones too. Anyway, I like to think that I serve to open up new doors for lyn to go through.

Hillbilly Skeleton

13/09/2010Well said, AA. I hope you CC'd the entire Gillard government and the Indies too.

Ad astra reply

13/09/2010Folks Lyn has had trouble today accessing TPS to post her links. But the site seems to be working as I posted this morning's piece without trouble and several have left comments. I have suggested she try again. Essential Research Report comes in at 50/50 again, but Julia is still ahead of Tony regarding leadership abilities since the election 47/35. http://www.essentialmedia.com.au/essential-report/

bilgedigger

13/09/2010Well said, Ad Astra. Congratulations to you and contributors to this site for being part of the push to throw some light on the outright lies and murky tactics used by the media to denigrate the former Government and its' Programs. Greg Hunt is still at it today. I especially like your point about the Press Secretaries. They need to get off their bums and bring some strength to responses to media manipulations. I'm not holding my breath that anything will really change. The Government just does not have the guts to do anything real about it. If Julia Gillard is fair dinkum about her comments on the media then they will have to confront Greg Hunt and threaten him with legal proceedings over his statements today on the home insulation program.

bilgedigger

13/09/2010P.S. Thanks for the lead to The Notion Factory. It looks good to me so far.

Ad astra reply

13/09/2010debbiep, Gravel, HS, bilgedigger Thank you for your kind comments. Labor’s media management is badly in need of serious upgrading. The media unit performed poorly during the Rudd era; hopefully Julia will throw out the incompetents and seriously revise Labor’s media strategy. They must tackle frontally the lies, misrepresentations and distortions perpetrated by the Coalition and echoed faithfully by a complaint media, and ensure that these falsehoods are refuted.

Ad astra reply

13/09/2010Folks Another birthday dinner party this evening - back later.

Hillbilly Skeleton

13/09/2010As lyn has been unable to post her links today I'll step into the breach a little. Here's a good one about the malign influence of Murdoch from the UK: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/sep/12/rupert-murdoch-british-media

Hillbilly Skeleton

13/09/2010This is a very funny video about Tony Abbott conceding the election: http://vimeo.com/14798149

NormanK

14/09/2010Ad astra Job well done. I hope the Labor Party has an opportunity to read what you have written. The 7.30 Report last night gave the impression that the NSW Right may be pushed aside in favour of members of the Victorian Branch which performed well during the election. Also last night's Q & A had a more Labor friendly feel to its audience - or at the very least an anti-Coalition ambience. The Coalition have been hoist by their own petard with the perception of an $11 billion black hole in their costings. To be fair to them, the shortfall may have been as little as $4 billion but Labor is not going to let the facts stand in the way of a good talking point. The Liberals who have dealt exclusively in 'perceptions' (of waste, mismanagement, incompetence and lack of conviction) must realise that the cat can never be put back in the bag. Q & A left me wondering whether Abbott has now missed his opportunity to use his style of wrecking and lies. If the electorate is now coming awake to the fact that it was almost duped by slogans and newspaper headlines, then perhaps that line of attack has been defused for the short term and Abbott's moment has passed. I try to avoid too much wishful thinking but as we saw with Rudd, if the public starts to believe that it has been hoodwinked, it can be very unforgiving. For the record, TPS has been drifting in and out of connectivity here in North Queensland with Big Pond querying whether the site actually exists. Down for most of yesterday into the evening. AC Brilliant stuff. Thanks very much.

Min

14/09/2010Hi Ad astra and crew. Just to let you know that I can now access TPS from Cafe Whispers. Both Lyn and I are with Bigpond and the error notice was from Bigpond. TPS was still unaccessible this morning but is now back :)) Robert wrote at the Cafe asking and I've let him know.

jj

14/09/2010I hopw when you said from all of the bloggers on your blog, you meant the Labor apparatchiks only. You keep sending your love letters to your beloved, but dont be suprised if she disappoints you. She is a spinning, lying, gutless politician, who stands for nothing and no one. Tell me how has the Labor party found its way? Did Julia tell Kevin that it has lost its way? Nope and nope.

Country Hick

14/09/2010jj If you read AA's posting, you'll see he begins by saying "on behalf of most who comment on this blog", so I think that's a pretty fair call. You obviously don't want to be included in AA's message, but he hasn't tried to claim your agreement. On the other hand, you wrongly claim that those who agree with AA are "Labor apparatchiks only". I'm not a member of the Labor party, nor a member of any Labor party administrative apparatus - you seem to be throwing around the insults carelessly.

Sir Ian Crisp

14/09/2010I notice that our major airports are beefing up their passenger screening systems in the event that Shorten, Arbib, and Bitar are still carrying their blood-stained knives. Why wasn't Kev given the environment portfolio given his 'greatest ever moral challenge' scare tactics of a few years back? After down-grading perhaps the threat is now somewhere in the 'action pending' area.

Lyn

14/09/2010[b]YESTERDAY'S LINKS TODAY[/b] [i]Essential Research: 50-50, William Bowe, The Poll Bludger[/i] The latest Essential Research survey has the two parties locked together on 50-50, suggesting Labor has not received a dividend from its success in forming a minority http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/2010/09/13/essential-research-50-50/ [i]The Opposition Says, Mr Denmore, The Failed Estate[/i] This particular story quotes three separate Opposition spokespeople on the same issue (Robb, Dutton and Pyne), which apart from being overkill, suggests it's a coordinated attack. http://thefailedestate.blogspot.com/2010/09/opposition-says.html?spref=tw [i]A New Paradigm?, JJFiassson, The Daily Bludge[/i] I find it incredible that Gillard has managed to triumph in the face of so much media bias. bring down Gough, and it was Rupe again today who tried his damn hardest to bring down Rudd/Gillard Labor. This time he failed, but for how long I wonder? http://dailybludge.com.au/2010/09/a-new-paradigm/ [i]Economics and political expediency, John Turner, On Line Opinion[/i] The Coalition hammered the theme that the government was borrowing $100 million a day. The government was not borrowing that money from anybody. The government was creating the money http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=10947 [i]New political reporting … it’s facts, not fads, that really matter, Margaret Simons, Crikey[/i] But increasingly The Australian is so one-eyed, so self-obsessed, so self-righteous, that even when it is right, one distrusts the facts . http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/09/13/new-political-reporting-its-facts-not-fads-that-really-matter/ [i]Gillard's Gang of Many, John, Conscience Vote[/i] Any Cabinet position for Mark Arbib or Bill Shorten, widely touted as the so-called ‘faceless men’ responsible for orchestrating the challenge against Rudd http://consciencevote.wordpress.com/2010/09/12/gillards-gang-of-many/ [i]Et tu, Julia? Guy Beres[/i] Matters are so delicately poised that a by-election in practically any seat but the most safest of seats could result in a change of government. http://guyberes.com/ [i]Australia: Julia Gillard Forms Minority Government, Kevin Rennie, Global Voices[/i] Grog’s Gamut gained a national reputation as an astute political blogger during the campaign, particularly for his criticisms of media coverage. He has now turned his focus to the future http://globalvoicesonline.org/2010/09/11/australia-julia-gillard-forms-minority-government/ [i]Citizens killed the Professional Journalist! MDIA1001 - Media Literacies [/i] certain Australian newspapers favouring either of the major parties. The Work formerly done by reporters is “now routinely performed by political operatives… whose goal is not to educate …but to win (Phillips,2010) http://www.unswbmedia.org/mdia1001/?p=6316 [i]The NBN is a slowly unfolding disaster , Peter Martin[/i] It's just that by the time the scale of disaster is apparent Gillard will have moved on. http://petermartin.blogspot.com/ [i]10 steps to surviving political loss, Laura Mathison, Political Tarot[/i] Rupert Murdoch: I’ll just get my team to write more negative Labor stuff. Then I’ll try & buy Fairfax. http://politicaltarot.com/2010/09/10-steps-to-surviving-political-loss/#more-950 [i]BRIGHTON LIFE: Liberal shadow finance minister goes shopping for beautiful imported luxury car,VEXNEWS [/i]⋅ Lexus flagship that costs around $200,000 drive-away. (That’s prior to the heavy negotiating Liberals have cometo expect from the tough finance spokesman who hasn’t met a government programme or a Joe Hockey he didn’t like) http://www.vexnews.com/news/10874/brighton-life-liberal-shadow-finance-minister-goes-shopping-for-beautiful-imported-luxury-car/

Hillbilly Skeleton

14/09/2010Yay! lyn's back on board. :)

Ad astra reply

14/09/2010Folks Apologies for the interruption of the[i]TPS[/i] service. All's well again.

Ad astra reply

14/09/2010LYN'S DAILY LINKS updated: http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/page/Lyns-Daily-Links.aspx

Min

14/09/2010I transcribed very quickly Abbott's announcements of his shadows, thankyou Canterbury Girls' High School and dacomb shorthand...it's just a brief overview with lots of blanks where I couldn't write quickly enough. It's on Ben's Australia Approves topic.

Ad astra

14/09/2010HS Thank you for the links. Great video and a frightening article about Murdoch. We are not imagining his malign influence on politics in at least three countries.

Ad astra

14/09/2010jj Country Hick is right

jj

14/09/2010Malcolm Turnbull will prosecute the case for the abolition of the NBN rollout with ease. As a man that actually has great expertise in this area, and who has actually run a PROFITABLE internet service provider, he, unlike Conroy, will have plenty of credibility behind his words. You watch, the indies will finally realise the mistake they have made in just blindly supporting such a scheme, and will eventually turn against the government. Unlike the Labor Party, Abbott did not appease the factions of the Liberal Party (even though there barely are any), and actually demoted a few of the more conservative members such as the whip and Tony Smith.

Ad astra

14/09/2010jj I used 'most' because I know you would never want to be included among those who would congratulate Julia. You cannot see anything worthwhile in her at all. I wonder why you visit here - Much of what we say about Labor here makes you angry. You do sound very upset at the election outcome. I understand your frustration, but fuming will not relieve it. Sir Ian Your sarcasm knows no bounds.

George Pike

14/09/2010Great post AA...concise and to the point. I wonder what happened to the TPS site...it was like losing your kids! Who said Rabuka was nuts? We now know full well why he kicked the NL grubs out of Fiji! Here's a bit of a snow job being pulled off by Abbott against his bigest threat. Turnbull will now have to lie through his teeth to people who know better...there goes what little credibility he ever had right out the window and down the fibre! http://www.smh.com.au/national/abbott--picks-turnbull--to-demolish-gillards--broadband-plan-20100914-15aiz.html

Ad astra

14/09/2010Lyn Thank you for your links. Now that TPS is working again, if there are links for today you can send them in.

macca

14/09/2010Malcolm Turnbull and the word credibility should never be used in the same sentence/ paragraph/ missive. The only relaxation of this rule shall apply when right wing bloggers hoist their flag to a flagpole that, as surely night follows day, will prove to be rotten and diseased from the core out.

Hillbilly Skeleton

14/09/2010Malcolm Turnbull will be living a lie in his new job as Shadow Communications Minister from Day 1. End of.

2353

14/09/2010Well said AA. I would like to think "the new paradigm" (hate that term already) is one where the News Limited/Fairfax duopoly report the news on the news pages and if they must give superannuated hacks a say put it on the opinion pages where it belongs. It seems that Annabel Crabb and Julia Gillard are getting the messages - report the news accurately without bias (preferably from their own research) and correct the person asking the questions when the question is based on an incorrect premise or just plain biased. The big question is when and if the LNP will get the message that bully boy tactics are really on the way out. Perhaps jj or Sir Ian could oblige with a factually correct and detailed answer (although I doubt it will happen). P.S. I couldn't get here last night either (and I'm on AAPT - soon to be iiNet)

Jason

14/09/2010jj, Yes Turnbull the opposition leader in waiting, and now he has the next 3 years to try and bring your lot into the 21st century. As for the indies they saw your future on broadband and as your member said "You do it once you do it right and you do it fiber".

Hillbilly Skeleton

14/09/2010This article about the new Coalition frontbench from Business Spectator is fairly straight down the line reporting: http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Turnbull-named-in-new-opposition-cabinet-9A989?OpenDocument&src=hp2&src=pmm What it says to me is that if Tony Abbott thinks he can roll out a rerun of the Insulation and BER campaign against the NBN, then I think he has another thing coming. People are now hip to his jive and modus operandi and I believe they will be especially sceptical because Malcolm Turnbull of all people is exactly the sort of tech savvy Australian who would be able to easily see the benefits of FTTH. Thus, any argument he runs for any other alternative will have the taint of fraudulence about it from the get go. Not only that, but in NBNCo CEO, Mike Quigley, as well as Senator Conroy, he will have formidable opponents who will be able to argue their case persuasively and with cold hard, irrefutable facts. I mean Steve Conroy and Mike Quigley have already seen off Tony Smith, now it's time to see off Malcolm Turnbull again. His behaviour in the last term of government shows quite clearly that when he is put under sustained pressure from someone who prosecutes an argument effectively, he is unable to pick himself up off the mat and usually runs off into a corner to sulk. Game On!

Ad astra

14/09/2010Folks Thank you for your comments. Apart from the fact that this is pretty well the same tired front bench as before, the BIG change is Malcolm Turnbull in communications to fight against the NBN. He will mount vigorous arguments against it, but whether he can mount a valid technical argument remains to be seen. His 'whatever it takes' approach will be in evidence.

Hillbilly Skeleton

14/09/2010So much for the 'kinder,gentler' Tony Abbott: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/commentary/stephen-ciobos-demotion-reflects-poorly-on-tony-abbott/story-e6frgd0x-1225922735508

George Pike

14/09/2010check out this motley mob...what a pack of worthless curs! http://resources.news.com.au/files/2010/09/14/1225922/629295-aus-file-shadow-ministry.pdf

Lyn

14/09/2010[b]TODAY'S LINKS[/b] [i]Sorry fo your Loss, Marieke Hardy, The Drum[/i] How about 'Grab The Greens by their faggy, tree-hugging throats and slit them from guts to garter'? http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/13/3010334.htm?site=thedrum [i]Australia Approves, B.Tolputt Cafe Whispers [/i] I await the Shanahan spin on the matter (haven’t read his take on it yet – was saving it for a laugh over my lunchbreak). http://cafewhispers.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/australia-approves/ [i]S-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g the News, Mr Denmore, The Failed Estate[/i] the biggest dreads of editors in the mainstream media is not being able to fill those acres of white space and dead air time each day. http://thefailedestate.blogspot.com/ [i]Rats get caught in the same mess, The Piping Shrike[/i] One way The Australian negotiates this influence, especially with such a small readership, is with Newspoll. http://www.pipingshrike.com/2010/09/rats-get-caught-in-the-mess.html [i]Exile on Main Street, Reb, Gutter Trash[/i] Bishops talents are limited to childish displays of scorn and ridicule resembling the conduct of a pre-school teacher scolding a toddler. http://guttertrash.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/exile-on-main-street/ [i]Malcolm Turnbull Shadow Minister for Communications and Broadband, Watch Out!, Peter Martin[/i] Abbott Shadow Ministry http://petermartin.blogspot.com/ [i]Abbott targets broadband in Coalition frontbench changes, ABC[/i] Malcolm Turnbull, who is restored to the Opposition frontbench as Shadow Minister for Communications, and who has the technical expertise and the business experience to entirely demolish the Goverment on this issue?" http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201009/s3011661.htm [i]Turnbull attacks rejigged NBN, Ry Crozier, ItNews[/i] In a blog post accepting the role given to him by Opposition leader Tony Abbott, Turnbull continued his predecessor Tony Smith's work by blasting the NBN http://www.itnews.com.au/News/232101,turnbull-attacks-rejigged-nbn.aspx [i]It's Turnbull versus Conroy as Smith dumped from Shadow Communications portfolio, ARN[/i] "He has the technical expertise and the experience to entirely demolish the Government on this issue." http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/360598/updated_it_turnbull_versus_conroy_smith_dumped_from_shadow_communications_portfolio [i]CONROY’S NEW NEMESIS: Malcolm Turnbull,Jenna Pitcher, Delimiter[/i] Abbott said the NBN was going to be the absolute focus of the political battle over next several months and he believed that the NBN would be a “white elephant on a massive scale”. http://delimiter.com.au/2010/09/14/conroys-new-nemesis-malcolm-turnbull/ [i]Coalition Lineup, The Norton Factory[/i] http://notionfactory.net/2010/09/14/coalition-lineup/ [i]The story's not complete till someone's been sacked, Jeremy Sear, An Onymous Lefty[/i] News Ltd “journalists” that they think it is appropriate to find out who you work for and try to get you sacked? http://anonymouslefty.wordpress.com/ [i]Simon Cean and the Arts Portfolio, MarkBahnisch, Larvatus Prodeo[/i] Some skepticism has been expressed about Simon Crean taking on the Arts portfolio, http://larvatusprodeo.net/2010/09/14/simon-crean-and-the-arts-portfolio/

Ad astra reply

14/09/2010LYN'S DAILY LINKS updated with today's links - Thanks Lyn. http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/page/Lyns-Daily-Links.aspx

Hillbilly Skeleton

14/09/2010Oops! http://delimiter.com.au/2010/09/14/oh-dear-turnbulls-web-site-wilts-on-first-day/

Sir Ian Crisp

14/09/2010For once we agree AA. Turnbull knows nought about the technical aspects of the NBN. He will have to wing it initially. However, the Achilles' heel of the NBN is the fact that it is uncosted and Turnbull being a banker sure 'nough knows about the green folding stuff. Unless of course asking about costs v benefits is seen as being 'negative'.

TalkTurkey

14/09/2010[quote][/quote] Congratulations Prime Minister Gillard to you and all the new Government. A great win for Australia, women in special, and in very particular, us Rangas(!) You have thrilled us with your instant grasp of relevance and your uncompromising responses to media sneers, though imho you are way too subtle for most of them even to realise the rises you take from them. There’s the rub, though: Abbott and his lot fight down and dirty, he’s not just a puncher, he kicks low too, and though (metaphorically speaking of course) he can’t kick you as he could kick a man, (which confuses him a lot), and though you could kick him that way but have never stooped so low, (which is completely incomprehensible to him) the simplistic and agenda-driven media ruck will score him high on points anyway. He and they just don’t realize how much better fighter you are than he, and that has to date given him the great strength and invulnerability which deliberate ignorance of the Bjelke-Petersen stamp bestows. But you have anyway won this bout by that one precious point, and now you have the opportunity to deal firmly with those voices of hate, we all know who I mean. But it won’t help just sweetly to pat their slings and arrows away, they must be smacked back in their teeth! Above all Labor has so far failed to take this action, you’ve all been so Marquess of Queensbury! That won't work on Them! It is excruciating to watch him and Them and their tactics getting away with lies and smears - fair-minded people are yearning for you to give him and Them a big fat lip time and again in the next little while. Julie Bishop would surely love to scratch your eyes out, metaphorically speaking of course,(?!) but again, you are a far better fighter than she. I wish you well, for much rides on your success.

TalkTurkey

14/09/2010 Congratulations Prime Minister Gillard to you and all the new Government. A great win for Australia, women in special, and in very particular, us Rangas(!) You have thrilled us with your instant grasp of relevance and your uncompromising responses to media sneers, though imho you are way too subtle for most of them even to realise the rises you take from them. There’s the rub, though: Abbott and his lot fight down and dirty, he’s not just a puncher, he kicks low too, and though (metaphorically speaking of course) he can’t kick you as he could kick a man, (which confuses him a lot), and though you could kick him that way but have never stooped so low, (which is completely incomprehensible to him) the simplistic and agenda-driven media ruck will score him high on points anyway. He and they just don’t realize how much better fighter you are than he, and that has to date given him the great strength and invulnerability which deliberate ignorance of the Bjelke-Petersen stamp bestows. But you have anyway won this bout by that one precious point, and now you have the opportunity to deal firmly with those voices of hate, we all know who I mean. But it won’t help just sweetly to pat their slings and arrows away, they must be smacked back in their teeth! Above all Labor has so far failed to take this action, you’ve all been so Marquess of Queensbury! That won't work on Them! It is excruciating to watch him and Them and their tactics getting away with lies and smears - fair-minded people are yearning for you to give him and Them a big fat lip time and again in the next little while. Julie Bishop would surely love to scratch your eyes out, metaphorically speaking of course,(?!) but again, you are a far better fighter than she. I wish you well, for much rides on your success.

Hillbilly Skeleton

14/09/2010Sir Ian Crisp, Please direct me to the 'Cost/Benefit Analysis' wrt the NBN, and its sequelae after it is built, such as new business opportunities opened up, or 'Public Good' benefits accruing to rural and regional Australians not having to travel to cities for medical treatment, that shows evidence for your assertions that it will be a 'negative' for the country?

TalkTurkey

14/09/2010Open letter to ABC Media Watch There we were, watching live the once-in-3-years ministerial swearing-in ceremony with the Governor-General . . . . Suddenly, part-way through the ceremony, the bloody ABC switched to Abbott, who proceeded ad nauseam to slag off the new Government while presenting his own pitiful “shadow front bench” of has-beens & no-hopers. I can’t actually blame Abbott for doing that, he’s really nasty and of course, given the chance, was only too happy to interrupt and rain on Labor’s parade – but WHY DID THE ABC LET HIM? There was the GG, the PM and all the Ministry shoved into a tiny corner of the screen, gagged, while Abbott went on and on with a venomous condemnation of them and a risible wank of his own talentless mob. It was an absolutely disgraceful insult to Ms Gillard and the new Government, to us, the viewers, and most of all to Her Excellency. How come Abbott needed to stage his farcical parody of a parallel ceremony at the very same time as the new government’s real one? But more, much much more, why did the ABC let him interrupt what was a dignified and important procedure which must have been watched by millions of viewers? The ABC is the public broadcaster, funded entirely by the People. How dare its petty employes run their own bigoted agenda? What is going on at the ABC? Those responsible should be forced to resign, and the ABC should apologise, especially to Her Excellency the Governor-General, who must be flabbergasted by its boorishness. I do hope that you at Media Watch are managing to stay uninfected by the rightist sycophancy which has infiltrated almost every political report since before the end of Rudd’s incumbency, and that you will expose and roundly condemn this outrageous abuse. I would greatly appreciate a personal response. In the meantime I thank Media Watch for its past good work, and fervently hope that you, if no-one else, fiercely defend your independence.

Hillbilly Skeleton

14/09/2010Talk Turkey, The short answer to your question is that the ABC is full of bitches and bastards, just like the Opposition. They both love nothing more than raining on the government's parade as a substitute for substantial effort and decorous behaviour.

Hillbilly Skeleton

14/09/2010Talk Turkey, Might I also add that whilst Jonathan Holmes is on Long Service Leave from Media Watch, he has left his baby in the capable hands of Paul Barry. Paul Barry almost single-handedly brought down the Alan Bond empire. He is a good egg. If he thinks today's behaviour by the ABC deserves a serve, he will be out front handing it to them.

Ad astra reply

14/09/2010George Thank you for your kind comments. We had DNS problems which are now resolved. It is touching that many visitors missed the regular dialogue on [i]TPS[/i]; as you say, it was like losing your kids. Malcolm Turnbull will argue the leg off an iron pot that the NBN is a white elephant and a profligate waste of money, even if he doesn’t believe it. As macca says, “Malcolm Turnbull and the word credibility should never be used in the same sentence/paragraph/missive.” HillbillySkeleton is just as cynical about him, and believes Stephen Conroy and Mike Quigley will see him off. He will use his association with OzEmail to attempt to authenticate his technical know how, but as Sir Ian puts it so well, it’s the ‘green folding stuff’ that Malcolm knows plenty about; how much he knows technically is what is in doubt. Tony Abbott has selected him to ‘demolish’ the NBN, so succeeding in destroying or damaging the case for it is essential to Turnbull’s future progress in the party. We can expect fireworks, extravagant statements authoritatively made, and not too much regard for the facts and the truth. It will likely get ugly. Jason, you say Turnbull has three years to drag the Coalition into the 21st Century; the question is whether that will be his priority, or, as suggested above, advancing his own cause with the aim of taking over the Coalition again. 2353 The ‘new paradigm’ can work, but Tony Abbott will do whatever he can to stop it working. He understands aggression and attack, which is antipathetic to the new paradigm, and only time will tell whether he can assume a collaborative posture. He’s shown no sign of this and since attack almost got him to prime ministership, he will likely believe this is a strategy he should continue. He might be cajoled into more conciliatory behaviour if the media pressured him, but that seems unlikely despite Annabelle Crabb’s advice to her colleagues.

Ad astra reply

14/09/2010Talk Turkey Welcome to the [i]TPS[/i] family. Do come again. I share your indignation at the ABC’s behaviour. Whilst it was the ABC that expressed its priority in featuring the Abbott team above the Gillard team, Abbott deliberately chose to announce his team at the same time as the swearing in, for no other reason that to create dissonance and place the media in the position of having to decide which one to broadcast. This is attack mode all over again. Abbott thinks that if it has worked to get him where he is, he might as well continue in this vein. Your letter to the ABC is first class. If you are favoured with a reply, please post it here. If HillbillySkeleton’s assessment of the management at the ABC is anywhere near the mark, as I suspect it is, don’t be too disappointed if they fob you off. The have a great collection of platitudinous boilerplate at the ABC that will likely be used should they deign to respond.

Ad astra reply

14/09/2010Folks We are being assailed by a swarm of spam. I have deleted a dozen in the last hour. By morning there may be scores. So to fend off the marauders, I'm closing comments for the night, and will turn the 'comments facility' on again in the morning.

Bring Back Maxine

14/09/2010AA Thank you for writing "An open letter to the Prime Minister" which eloquently reflects the views of the majority of Swordians who blog here. I do hope that the PM and the Labor Party hierarchy get to read it and that they realize that although the Fourth Estate led by News Limited is the "enemy" they have many allies in the Fifth Estate (such as TPS) who report the facts and discuss considered opinion based on fact. Isn't interesting how quickly the kinder gentler polity espoused by LOO MrAbbott whilst wooing the Independents has evaporated once two of them sided with Labor. His appointment of MT as shadow communications minister.. [quote]Mr Abbott said there was no better person within the coalition ranks than Mr Turnbull to prosecute a case against the National Broadband Network (NBN), adding that it was his intention to "demolish" the project.[quote][i/][/quote] http://au.news.yahoo.com/election/a/-/article/7942622/turnbull-named-in-new-opposition-cabinet/ Note his intention to demolish, not to hold to account, not ensure that taxpayers get value for money nor Australians to get world competitive internet access. An alternate PM who wishes to wreck not build. This man is a dangerous threat to our country. Voters will now see that Abbott the attack dog has got rabies. "Rabid Abbid" will never be PM.

Hillbilly Skeleton

14/09/2010One for everyone's files: http://www.abc.net.au/news/infographics/gillard-cabinet-2010/

Bilko

15/09/2010Day ONE of the Gillard Government and "Dalek Mal" with his offsider in the Senate Dalek Simon are out to demolish the NBN the only policy that kept them still in opposition. What a surprise. All over the planet the internet is surging and every one wants access the faster the better, but in a far far away galaxy the mad emperor Monk the merciless budgie smuggler has like Canute in the past tried holding back the waves/theboats/any signs of progress in the land of OZ to no avail.

Lyn

15/09/2010[b]TODAY'S LINKS[/b] [i]Shadow Boxing, Grog, Grog's Gamut[/i] Conroy is also in a different chamber, so Turnbull will denied the mano-mano conflict he so loves. http://grogsgamut.blogspot.com/ [i]The Match-Ups, Andrew Elder, Politically Homeless[/i] there's this, the funniest story out of Canberra in a long long time. Macfarlane is a laughing stock, Robb less so; at least he offered, and took one for the team http://andrewelder.blogspot.com/2010/09/match-ups-first-of-all-theres-this.html [i]Demolition Man, Mercurius, Larvatus Prodeo[/i] In accepting the post, Demolition Man seems most likely to live up to his name by bringing the house down on himself. http://larvatusprodeo.net/2010/09/15/demolition-man/#more-16815 [i]The NBN may crush Turnbull, Alan Kohler, Business Spectator[/i] he was repeating the ridiculous line that the government has undertaken $43 billion of expenditure without a detailed business plan or cost benefit study, which has been the opposition's line throughout the campaign. But what do they call the $25 million, 546-page, implementation study by McKinsey and Co and KPMG, released publicly on May 6? http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/The-NBN-may-crush-Turnbull-pd20100915-9ASWA?OpenDocument “[i]Internet junkie” Turnbull comes out swinging, Renai LeMay, Delimiter[/i] “I am a notorious internet junkie — I love it,” Turnbull told the ABC’s PM radio program this afternoon http://delimiter.com.au/2010/09/14/internet-junkie-turnbull-comes-out-swinging/ [i]Media Picks up on Opposition Shrill Attacks, Alex Schlotzer, The Angle[/i] Claims by the Coalition as being the only stable option were undermined and negated by the sniping and carping as they weren’t handed power. http://theangle.org/2010/09/14/media-picks-up-on-opposition-shrill-attacks/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theangleorg+%28theangle.org%29 [i]Keeping Rudd out of Gillard's hair, Malcolm Colless, On Line Opinion[/i] workload that he and Windsor have set for themselves by effectively being involved in every aspect of government legislative policy. http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=10969 [i]It's not the truth, Clive, Tobias Ziegler, Pure Poison[/i] News Ltd “journalists” that they think it is appropriate to find out who you work for and try to get you sacked? http://blogs.crikey.com.au/purepoison/ [i]The Commies are coming, the commies are coming! And they're bringing Oakshott, ice and death duties. Clarencegirl, North Coast Voices[/i] believed everything Tony Abbott and Julie Bishop said during the August 2010 federal election campaign and during the formation of the minority government: http://northcoastvoices.blogspot.com/ [i]Three things journalists can learn from Tony Wright's article, Tim Dunlop, B Sides[/i] First note that this simply repeats Grogs' original complaint: why bother sending journalists to follow this festival of non-information? http://tjd.posterous.com/three-things-journalists-can-learn-from-tony#more [i]Legitimacy, mandates and the media, Dr Tad, Left Flank[/i] Alternatively, rather than getting all hot under the collar (or stabbing ourselves in the eye with a fork) because of Mr Murdoch, here is a far more productive approach. http://left-flank.blogspot.com/2010/09/legitimacy-mandates-and-media.html [i]A call to Action: Archiving media Corruption, Patrick Ashforth,The Sporadic Rager[/i] Unfortunately, The Australian is but one extreme case of media bias. Throughout our commercial media, the agendas of the media owners, Rupert Murdoch, Kerry Stokes and company, underlie much, if not all reporting. http://sporadicrager.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.html [i]THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Jamie Briggs pushing to remove Ian MacFarlane and Kevin Andrews, Vex News[/i] in Coalition ranks today with Liberals concerned about pushy young buck Jamie Briggs backgrounding media along the lines that Ian MacFarlane and Kevin Andrews ought to be pushed off the front-bench to make way for Ambition Faction members like himself. http://www.vexnews.com/news/10892/the-young-and-the-restless-jamie-briggs-pushing-to-remove-ian-macfarlane-and-kevin-andrews/ [i]Arts Policy, Sean Mulcahy, The Notion Factory[/i] The ALP’s arts policy in the lead up to the election pledged a grand total of $10 million over five years in new money for the arts http://notionfactory.net/ [i]Coalition Lineup, The Norton Factory[/i] You can click on the Members’ images to link through to their Parliament House Member/Senator websites. http://notionfactory.net/ [i]Stephen Ciobo's demotion reflects poorly on Tony Abbott , Peter van Onselen, The Australian[/i] But because Abbott has never especially gotten along with Ciobo personally, and because he was a Malcolm Turnbull lieutenant, a member of Turnbull's shadow cabinet http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/commentary/stephen-ciobos-demotion-reflects-poorly-on-tony-abbott/story-e6frgd0x-1225922735508

Lyn

15/09/2010Good Morning Ad The second link on "The Notion Factory" works. Cheers

George Pike

15/09/2010Here's Malcolm Turnbull's email address folks...send him all the venom you can muster to let the lying scheming fraud know he's treading on thin ice mucking around with the NBN... Malcolm.Turnbull.MP@aph.gov.au

George Pike

15/09/2010Any else notice Tony Abbott's remark in an interview the other day, where he was going to hold the government strongly to "account over the next 18 months or so?" To me that implies he has no intention of allowing this government to go its full term...in other words he is an abject traitor to our democracy and he should be demonised vilified ostracised and treated with nothing less than utter contempt for as long as he lives. The fact that the media are already conspiring to help the Coalition try and bring down the newly elected government shows us that they are nothing less than a pack of fraudulent traitors as well. There are tens of thousands of Australians lying in graves around this world who died defending our democracy, yet the thugs in the media and the Coalition believe they have the right to use it as their own plaything...to me that is treachery most foul..and we MUST do everything we possibly can to stop this hideous betrayal before we are reduced to a tinpot state.

Ad astra reply

15/09/2010LYN'S DAILY LINKS updated: http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/page/Lyns-Daily-Links.aspx

TalkTurkey

15/09/2010AA Thanks for acknowledgment. To me it means, in Spades, WE ARE NOT ALONE! Just trying to get the hang of matters Gravatarrational, I'm well behind the 8-ball in IT but the possibility of REALLY exploiting this medium to make it THE prescient antidote to the Rotten Right is so exciting and it is vital if we are ever to slay the Beast. It needs real thought, anyway thanks for the Sword. M'mmmmm . . . What I wanted to say really though is,(heh heh), So, Abbott has made Turnbull Minister for Broadband Demolition, hey? It's delicious, really, Abbott thinks he has given Turnbull a poisoned chalice, and he has too, Turnbull must be turning himself inside out because he knows as well as everyone else that Australia DEMANDS fibre connection TO ALL: yes we've a wide brown land to cover, not like the UK, sure, but then we have lots of money to do it with, and if we want decentralisation, full-on broadband MUST be made available to all. As I write TB is saying to Fran Kelly Yeah but what are we going to PAY for it? Tunbull,THE PEOPLE DON'T CARE! Do they protest about the obscene money spent on bloody submarines and stupid 'defence' killercraft which btw can't even be mobilised to fight bushfires or anything useful at all? NO! Hell the value we will get from instant information is so much greater, all positive, not the inevitable dead loss of military hardware. So Turnbull knows he is on a hiding to nothing, - especially since Tony Windsor made it clear that it was exactly that single issue that made him take what for him was a real JUMP to the Left, NOT just a Step to the Right, and now the People are thoroughly convinced because of him, even if they weren't before. Abbott, whose wondrous star I predict is about to implode anyway, thinks he has gazzumped Turnbull, and he has too, but he's just burying the COALition (yeah sorta pun) deeper at the same time. TB, How will you do it? Labor is in power, remember? Deny supply in the Senate? Better hurry up! Your fool stooge Fielding is only going to be there till July, then whatcha gunna do eh? My prediction which I also predict is self-fulfilling, as Julia repeatedly exposes and demolishes Abbott in the days to come, and he curls into a tiny ball, TB will JUMP too, straight UP, there'll be a spill, then we'll have another Clone of Lazarus as the old new COALition leader, too passe and diminished to hurt Julia in the next election. Ahhh, Chardenfreude eh. Lovin' it. The only reason I'm so nasty is a lifetime of being exposed to Them, and They're so nasty. Since Pig Iron Bob's cowardice through the divisiveness of conscription for our criminal involvement in Vietnam, Howard's pig-dogs set loose on workers, Reith's Children Overboard disgrace, and SIEV X (sp? I know it wasn't 'sieve', but it turned out to be one anyway. [No disrespect intended to the memory of Howard's many nameless victims drowned at sea.] Like everyone else I have been poisoned by Them, but I’ve stored it all up in my inkwell. It’s deadlier now. Oh yeah one thing that I was looking forward to, but can gladly do without, was just HOW Abbott would Stop the Boats. You got a big mouth Abbott, but you got a fat lip and a glass jaw. You’re going DOWN. Oh they're rich, these so-called Liberals. Both senses of the term rich. No sense at all in the term Liberal. Tony Abbott is saying as I write that he reckons They can bring down the Government soon. Break a leg Tony. Break both legs. Break your bloody neck. Grrrnnnhhh. Well, WE now have both Poison Pen AND Sword. Be afraid, Rotten Right. We'll get you this time. Tee, Hee.

Lyn

15/09/2010Hi Ad Miglo and Nasking at Cafe Whispers, along with the customers, have Abbott's attack on the NBN sorted: They just don’t get it!, Miglo, Cafe Whispers Abbott – in failing to accept why he lost the election – attacked the NBN http://cafewhispers.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/he-just-doesnt-get-it/#comment-8847

TalkTurkey

15/09/2010Hillbilly Skeleton, muchas gracias for the Ministers gallery. Can you find its Shadow parallel? We could play Pick Your Teams a la Aussie Rules, what a joy. Labor has depth to spare, the Coalition has . . . ? Turnbull . . ? . . .

George Pike

15/09/2010Bring on the MRRT! Tasmania has had an increase in the number of unemployed of 32% over the past year....all due to the mining boom pushing the dollar ever upwards and badly damaging our export based forestry, manufacturing, fishing and tourism industries into the bargain. The mining boom is killing the regions where there is no mining..it makes sense to use the taxation system to slow the boom down to a level where it is beneficial to everyone and not just the greedy few directly involved...

Lyn

15/09/2010Hi Ad You may need this new link to the Business Spectator Alan Kohler, they have put the column behind register to read: The NBN may crush Turnbull, Alan Kohler, Business Spectator he was repeating the ridiculous line that the government has undertaken $43 billion of expenditure without a detailed business plan or cost benefit study, which has been the opposition's line throughout the campaign. But what do they call the $25 million, 546-page, implementation study by McKinsey and Co and KPMG, released publicly on May 6? http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/The-NBN-may-crush-Turnbull-pd20100915-9ASWA?OpenDocument&WELCOME=AUTHENTICATED

Hillbilly Skeleton

15/09/2010Here's Alan Kohler's take on the appointment of Malcolm Turnbull as Shadow Comms Minister and, basically, he says, "Good Luck, mate, you're gonna need it!" : http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/The-NBN-may-crush-Turnbull-pd20100915-9ASWA?OpenDocument

Hillbilly Skeleton

15/09/2010Talk Turkey, Your wish is my command :) http://wp.me/pXLRu-9O

nasking

15/09/2010Lyn, very useful link to Allan Kohler's revealing article...the mention of Turnbull being 66 by the time the NBN could possibly be shown to be a "white elephant" got me chuckling: When I get older losing all my hair Ten years from now Will you still be sending me a “please be leader” line “Yer in yer best days, it’s almost yer time”? If I’d missed parliament two days outa four Wouldya lock the door? Will you still need me Will the media still feed me When I’m Sixty Six? N’

Hillbilly Skeleton

15/09/2010George Pike, Did you also listen to Abbott's outrageous interview on AM this morning, wherein he declared his mission to be to get the Independants to change their minds and install him, via a parliamentary coup, as Prime Minister? He isn't even feigning the pretence of seeking a popular mandate from the people anymore. He wants power and he wants it now! Or sooner. I think he might find it a little bit harder than developing an effective soundbite and media strategy, especially considering the way the Opposition proxies in the media came out and attacked the Country Independants in the days following their decision to support Julia Gillard. Fair dinkum, Tony Abbott is a megalomaniac. He talked yesterday about the "Snakes and Ladders in politics". Well, I know who the No. 1 snake is.

Hillbilly Skeleton

15/09/2010Ooops! Sorry, lyn. I added the Alan Kohler article too. I wouldn't worry about the 'Register to Read' requirement, it involves no money or limited free trial period, and, as a result, I now get their daily e-mail in my letterbox, which, if you pick and choose wisely, can provide you with some balanced analysis of issues from an economic perspective.

nasking

15/09/2010[quote]It is especially commendable that you have been re-elected despite an antagonistic media and a hostile national newspaper, The Australian, with its well-disciplined coterie of attack dogs intent on emphasizing the negatives and omitting the positives, no matter what the subject. Sadly our ABC has taken to following the News Limited tabloids in all their negativity, about which Mr Denmore has commented so pointedly in a piece in his new blog The Failed Estate: The Opposition Says… We hope that you will devise a media strategy that will neutralize the pernicious influence that the MSM exerts on political life in this country. The media will kick and scream; indeed it has started already, but the more it screams the more you can be sure the strategy is on target. [/quote] Well said Aa. Insightful post. We can see some in the mainstream media are already preparing to hit Labor w/ more "incompetence" campaigns...preparing for to put out in the public arena more hype & distortions...they seem to get a kick out of dumping on this government. Fortunately, there are some balanced & wiser commentators/journos out there who give a rounder story. Just wish there were more. We just have to keep linking to them...well done Lyn & PS contributors for doing so. N'

jj

15/09/2010George Pike, So it was you sending those threatening emails to Windsor and co...disguised as coalition supporters.

Hillbilly Skeleton

15/09/2010Did anyone else read how the Chairman of the BBC has been sacked by David Cameron? Or, 'will be retiring within 12 months' as they euphemistically like to say. The Murdochracy rolls on like the Borg.

Mr Denmore

15/09/2010Regarding media spin, your readers might be interested in my latest piece on the Failed Estate <a href="http://thefailedestate.blogspot.com/2010/09/his-masters-voice.html">here</a>.

NormanK

15/09/2010Ad astra You are a cunning devil. The Political Sword Has Breaking News! Little did we realise we here at TPS have our very own Godwin. [quote]September 14. 2010 04:41 PM You watch, the indies will finally realise the mistake they have made in just blindly supporting such a scheme, and will eventually turn against the government. jj[/quote] Then this morning Mr Abbott came out and followed jj’s advice for a line of attack on the NBN and the Independents. We have a mole in the Conservative camp feeding us information before the MSM gets wind of it. I must say that the effort put in by yourself and jj to disguise his//her affiliations has been very convincing and if had not been for this one slip-up we would have been none the wiser. Does this mean we have to play nice now? I hope I haven’t put jj’s life at risk by ‘outing’ him//her in this way.

nasking

15/09/2010[quote]Did anyone else read how the Chairman of the BBC has been sacked by David Cameron? Or, 'will be retiring within 12 months' as they euphemistically like to say. The Murdochracy rolls on like the Borg.[/quote] The Borg indeed Hillbilly. Or perhaps Murdoch is like Darth Vader? Either way, the dark march must be stopped. Cameron is turning out to be quite a puppet. Sad for the BBC & their audience. Gives ya an idea of what would've happened here if Abbott had got power. Probably would've chosen Eddie McGuire or John Hartigan to head the ABC. :( N'

George Pike

15/09/2010wouldn't like to drop your cowardly disguise and take that one through the courts would you jumpin jack

Sir Ian Crisp

15/09/20102353, hop in the time machine please. HS, therein lies the problem. No cost/benefit assessment exists. Turnbull merely has to stand up in parliament and ask the PM or the minister for telecommunications to inform the Australian public about the costs and benefits of the NBN. You seem to acknowledge that such a document doesn’t exist. And what about the rural towns that have seen their services cut by both state ALP and Lib-NP governments? Are you seriously suggesting that these towns will undergo a rejuvenation based on nothing more than a hollow boast like: “Come live at Inverell and enjoy high-speed broadband”. Who will quit Lewisham, Bankstown, or Mudville for a life in Molong or Dorrigo based on the fact that a high-speed NBN is available? With no rail services, roads that are a 1950’s redux, schools with insufficient pupils to justify an adequate teacher/pupil ratio, and a general loss of services and amenities, I have trouble picturing a stampede to towns like Wee Waa and Barraba. I see that the SMH is speculating that Tony Um-Err-Ahh has set Turnbull a Sisyphean task. To be Her Majesty’s Opposition attack dog on the NBN, Lenore Taylor is suggesting that Turnbull has a near impossible task and it may add to his grey hairs. I see Paul Barry is going to cop heaps from AA. The Oz sent a detailed response to Media Watch when the program was being put together but only one sentence was used by Media Watch. Isn’t that what TPS regards as poor journalism? I have seen AA vent his spleen when journos don’t report the full story so it might be a case of vale P Barry. You misunderstood my use of the word negative.

jj

15/09/2010Yes thats right, i am a Liberal Party mole feeding information to the Labor loving post. We could make a Wilkie out of you yet.

jj

15/09/2010I wonder whether the indies asked the Labor party for their cost benifit analysis, or a new costing of the whole project after the little deal struck? Of course not, that would have messed with their plans of a vandetta against the Natinals.

TalkTurkey

15/09/2010Hillbilly Skeleton, thanks. What a mob of no-hopers!

Ad astra reply

15/09/2010Mr Denmore The link you left isn't working. I'm guess you're referring to [i]His Master's Voice[/i] http://thefailedestate.blogspot.com/2010/09/his-masters-voice.html or maybe [i]S-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g news[/i] http://thefailedestate.blogspot.com/2010/09/s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g-news.html

Lyn

15/09/2010Hi Ad Isn't Mr Denmores' new blog terrific, such interesting pieces on the Media, I love them all, nobody should miss any of Mr Denmores' work. Mr Denmore's post "His Master's Voice is the most recent: [i]His Master's Voice, Mr Denmore, The Failed Estate[/i] Murdoch's newspapers (publications that dominate our media) see themselves as players, not observers in the political game. http://thefailedestate.blogspot.com/

Lyn

15/09/2010Hi Norman K You are a marvel, sniffing that mole out for us.

Lyn

15/09/2010Hi Ad Can anybody believe Abbott wants Turnbull to sway the Independents over to the Coalition, right now so the Coalition will be the Government: Truly this can't be truly true can it: Turnbull to help baton change strategy , Andrea Hayward & Bonny Symona-Brown, The Age Tony Abbott has made no secret of the fact he will use Malcolm Turnbull to convince the independents to abandon Labor and support a minority coalition government. [b]Mr Abbott said he did not want another election but there was no reason there couldn't be a "baton change" early in the government.[/b] http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/turnbull-to-help-baton-change-strategy-20100915-15baj.html

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15/09/2010Folks Thank you all for your comments. I'll now be on the road for a few hours but will be back at my computer this evening, when I'll respond. In the meantime please ignore any spam that arrives - we seem to be having a tidal wave at present - I'll kill them when I get back to my computer.

George Pike

15/09/2010More trouble brewing for the Liberal skankies.. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/15/3012470.htm?section=justin

Sir Ian Crisp

15/09/2010A retired radio talkback jock said that at one time about 21 federal MPs were the holders of dual citizenship thereby making them ineligible to sit in our parliament. One of the offenders was Nick Bolkus who was Greek citizen and Australian citizen. I wonder if his vote on certain pieces of legislation is unConstitutional?

Lyn

15/09/2010Hi Ad Maybe this is true, goodieoh : Abetz faces High Court challenge,ABC 2 hours 31 minutes ago seeking an order that there be further counting and recounting of ballot papers to determine the candidate entitled to Senator Abetz's position. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/15/3012470.htm

Lyn

15/09/2010Hi Ad It's all "blah blah blah-di-[b]bloody blah[/b]" Silgherrian said so: Turnbull’s NBN challenge: real analysis, real policies, not rhetoric, Silgherrian, Crikey “no benefit to taxpayers” blah blah blah-di-bloody blah. What Turnbull should not be forgiven for is telling fibs about the differences between the Labor and Coalition policies. http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/09/15/turnbull%e2%80%99s-nbn-challenge-real-analysis-real-policies-not-rhetoric/

Jason

15/09/2010Sir Ian Crisp, You ask " I wonder if his vote on certain pieces of legislation is un Constitutional?" Well put up or shut the F ck up.

Sir Ian Crisp

15/09/2010I don't dabble in Constitutional law Jason. Seeing that there was a general reluctance to move on two high court judges I doubt that our pollies would like to pursue the matter. Both sides are hiding a few dual citizens in their ranks. You might also like to close that maw of yours or at least stuff your blue singlet into it.

Jason

15/09/2010Sir Ian, No need to stuff my blue singlet in anything! as you said you don't dabble so why bring it up? Name all not one. " it's not a case of like or dislike. I call it as I see it and if that leaves a few bruises then so be it. We're all over 21 aren't we? I hope you haven't got a glass jaw. Sir Ian Crisp"

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15/09/2010Talk Turkey The appointment of Malcolm Turnbull to his new post with the task of ‘demolishing’ the NBN, may indeed become his [i]bête noire.[/i] I have written several pieces about Turnbull in which I have asserted that when he has his heart in an issue, and is well informed about it, he is articulate and convincing, but when he is not convinced of his argument and is less than completely informed, he waffles and talks in riddles. This is what I heard him doing on ABC radio this morning when questioned about the NBN. He conceded that he lacked technical expertise, and that showed. He was heavy on the usual slogans: ‘white elephant’, ‘a massive destruction of taxpayers' money’ and so on, but light on detail or knowledge of the advantages of optic fibre. Like others in the Opposition, and the media, he argues that if the NBN was delivered in Tasmania at 10% under budget yet connected to 50% of homes instead of the anticipated 80%, that equated to spending 90% of the budget on just 50% of homes and that if the planned 80% had been connected the cost would have been well over budget, which by simple arithmetic would amount to 44% over budget. Unless I’m missing something here, this looks like a spurious extrapolation. I have no knowledge of the logistics or the engineering of an NBN, but it seems to me that it has a lot in common with many infrastructure projects, whether they be water supply, sewerage, electricity or telephone services. Each of these has what could be described as a ‘backbone’: the water mains, the sewerage pipes, the electricity and telephone lines that run along the roads and in the streets, and then short connections from them to households or businesses. Clearly the backbone is by far the most costly element, and the connections from the backbone to individual users the least costly, by several orders of magnitude. If that were so, the major expenditure to date on the NBN would have been the laying of fibre-optic cable in trenches, with the connections to the users a minor expense. If that is the case, the simple arithmetic seemingly being applied to this project to support an argument that it is really over budget and likely to cost as much as twice the $43 billion quoted, is sheer nonsense. Whether this is the usual disingenuousness, or simply illogical reasoning, or just plain ignorance, is arguable. In this instance, I imagine that the under-spend might be accounted for, at least in part, by savings occasioned by 30% of homes choosing initially not to be connected. If that is so, talk of a gross overspend is hot air and not supported by the facts. Yet I have seen nothing in the media arguing along these lines. Why? If my reasoning here is not right, please correct me.

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15/09/2010Lyn Thank you for the Café Whispers link. Your comment is germane. If Tony Abbott has an alternative fast broadband plan, I wish he would spell it out, not just say it will be an affordable mix of technologies that will meet most needs (read email and downloading movies) and will be supplied significantly by the private sector, and show where the $6 billion he has allocated, which is hardly chickenfeed, will be spent. Like his budget costings, detail is lacking and unscrutinised, yet he feels he has the right to demand costings, a business plan and cost-benefit analysis of the NBN. Presumably the $25 million, 546-page, implementation study by 
McKinsey and Co and KPMG, released publicly on May 6 that shows the project is commercially viable, is not enough. There is also a soon-to-be-released report by the NBN Co. So Tony is up to his old tricks – label any Government initiative as poorly planned, inefficiently implemented, over budget and yet another manifestation of Labor’s ‘addiction to spending’ and its ‘waste and mismanagement’, slogans bound to be faithfully and mindlessly echoed in the media, yet flagrantly ignore in promoting his own projects what he demands of the Government, in the secure knowledge that few if any in the media will pull him up.

Sir Ian Crisp

15/09/2010Jason, the person who was going to name them was served with an injunction. AA is putting up a brave fight trying hard to defeat the appearance of bias and I don't want to add a legal wrangle to his problems. As the radio program was in NSW I don't think you would have heard it. You were probably at a union meeting in the front bar anyway.

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15/09/2010Bring Back Maxine, Bilko, HS, 2353, jj, George, NormanK, Lyn, Sir Ian, nasking, Mr Denmore, Jason Thank you for your comments and links – there are many interesting sidelines. jj’s status!, the Eric Abetz court challenge, dual citizenship among politicians, sacking of the BBC chairman, Mr Denmores’ pieces, Silgherrian in [i]Crikey[/i], Alan Kohler in [i]Business Spectator[/i] and nasking's [i]‘When I’m Sixty Six’[/i]. As nasking says: “Fortunately, there are some balanced & wiser commentators/journos out there who give a rounder story. Just wish there were more. 

We just have to keep linking to them...well done Lyn & PS contributors for doing so.”

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15/09/2010Folks It's been a long day - time for bed.

Jason

15/09/2010Sir Ian, Don't weasel out, you bought the whole thing up! not me I just asked why name Bolkus,why be such a grub and now hide behind a curtain of straw?

Sir Ian Crisp

15/09/2010No one is weasling out of anything. Go back and read what I said. Did I give ANY indication that I would name them? If so toss that quote in and I'll stick to it. Can you or can't you?

Jason

15/09/2010Sir Ian, A retired radio talkback jock said that at one time about 21 federal MPs were the holders of dual citizenship thereby making them ineligible to sit in our parliament. One of the offenders was Nick Bolkus who was Greek citizen and Australian citizen. I wonder if his vote on certain pieces of legislation is unConstitutional? As your such a stickler for your Queens English where did shock jock finish and where did you start? did he say it on air if so there is a record? did he say it in private? did he say who might wonder about legislation? but why only Bolkus? why why why?

Acerbic Conehead

15/09/2010Hi AA, I see you have been out of business for a while. Great to see you back again and writing your usual incisive commentary on the political scene. And, also to Gravel and NormanK, thanks again for your kind encouragement. It is very much appreciated. You will have noticed that, in his brief to Malcolm Turnbull, his new Shadow Communications Minister, Tony Abbott said Mal needed to “demolish” the NBN. However, in his attempt to get Mal onside and into the tent, is Tones running the grave risk of creating a Trojan Horse within the Liberals? I wouldn’t believe Mal wants to play second fiddle to anyone. So, sing along with Mal as he croons out a veiled warning to Tones, cos Mal is the “Demolition Man” (courtesy of the incomparable Grace Jones). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM3HO6cLF44 :- ( Down to my daks in the game of strip poker You kicked me out with a one-vote right-hooker Now you say that this wasn’t in your plan Don’t mess around with the demolition man :- ( Tied to the right, and the bomb is ticking This situation is all of your picking To be an identikit of John is your plan But, don’t mess around with the demolition man :- ( I’m a walking nightmare, an arsenal of doom I kill conversation as I walk into the room I’m a three line whip I’m gonna end your reign, man I’m a walking disaster I’m a demolition man :- ( You come to me like a moth to the flame It’s power you need but I won’t play your game You kept on coming you should have ran Just ask Grechie I’m a demolition man :- ( I’m a walking nightmare, an arsenal of doom I kill conversation as I walk into the room I’m a three line whip I’m gonna end your reign, man I’m a walking disaster I’m a demolition man

Miglo

15/09/2010Aa, you are the Bob Dylan of blogmasters. Great post.

Jaeger

16/09/2010Turnbull's Mission Impossible: "Oh hai; I demolish ur NBN. I can haz support now?" FAIL. If Turnbull succeeds in demolishing the NBN, the independents won't thank him (or Abbott) for it. If he fails, brand Turnbull is further tarnished - which no doubt is what Abbott is praying for. Turnbull's best bet is to not play the game: find a way to support the NBN, and let Abbott do his worst.

Sir Ian Crisp

16/09/2010Don't blame me Jason because I pay my taxes. If the education system has turned out another person unable to read (an ALP-funded education system mind you) it might point to a parlous education system. Produce the quote where I said I would name them.

Lyn

16/09/2010[b]TODAY'S LINKS[/b] [i]Tony Abbott’s Time Tunnel, Miglo, Cafe Whispers[/i] There’s your history lesson, Mr Abbott. Of course, feel free to set your Time Tunnel to 1945 and take the working women with you. http://cafewhispers.wordpress.com/2010/09/15/tony-abbotts-time-tunnel/ [i]Malcolm Turnbull: The Returnification, Reb, Gutter Trash[/i] But of course, running a business isn’t the same as running the country and that’s precisely the role of Government, to fund those national services http://guttertrash.wordpress.com:80/2010/09/15/malcolm-turnbull-the-returnification/ Broadband bender unlikely to sway independents, Barrie Cassidy, ABC It is delusional to think they will not only switch sides, but switch policy positions as well http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/16/3013119.htm?site=thedrum [i]Abbott the Wrecker, Paul Barratt, Australian Observer[/i] Mr Abbott about demolishing things, eliminating things, stopping things from happening. He is going to demolishing the national broadband network, stop the boats, stop the waste and more besides http://aussieobserver.blogspot.com/2010/09/abbott-wrecker.html Conroy questions Turnbull's internet credentials, ABC the internet company Mr Turnbull was involved in used technology that pre-dated broadband. merchant banker of a dial-up company, so he was involved in a dial-up company," http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/15/3012836.htm?section=business [i]Turnbull just opposes everything, claims Conroy,Jenna Pitcher, Delimiter[/i] Just hours after winning the post yesterday, Turnbull blasted the NBN straight out of the gates, saying it would waste tens of billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money. http://delimiter.com.au/2010/09/15/turnbull-just-opposes-everything-claims-conroy/ [i]Conroy Lashes Turnbull on NBN, Telstra bill, James Riley, ITWire[/i] "If we don't get that legislation through, let me be clear, there will be a slower roll-out caused by Tony Abbott, there will be a more expensive total cost of the build caused by Tony Abbott, and we'll have more overhead cabling because of Tony Abbott." .http://www.itwire.com/it-policy-news/government-tech-policy/41883-conroy-lashes-turnbull-on-nbn-telstra-bill [i]Hun attack on the independents presumes and fosters reader ignorance, Jeremy Sear, Pure Poison[/i] Just another example of the shameless war by News Ltd on the independents, yesterday’s attack on their voting record was breathtaking in its disingenuousness http://blogs.crikey.com.au/purepoison/2010/09/15/hun-attack-on-the-independents-presumes-and-fosters-reader-ignorance/#more-7205 [i]On Interregnum, Nicholas James Baum, The Norton Factory[/i] interregnum was, and remains, a period of absence of a leader, but not the absence of a government. http://notionfactory.net/?blogsub=confirming#subscribe-blog [i]What's in a name?, The Conscience Vote[/i] ‘government-in-waiting’ – and now, they’re just waiting to step in when ‘inevitably’ the government loses the confidence of the Independents. http://consciencevote.wordpress.com/ [i]Talk of an illegitimate Gillard Government is just not legit! Left to Think[/i] To float statements like “utterly without mandate” or “illegitimate” are wrong and contemptuous of our entire system of Government. http://lefttothink.blogspot.com/ [i]Oakshott as Speaker of the House?, Clarencegirl, North Coast Voices.[/i] Power, extra money and on camera every day the House is sitting. Aaahh...................... http://northcoastvoices.blogspot.com/ [i]BHP boss dumps on future of coal, Neil, neil's second decade[/i] The mining industry, through the Minerals Council of Australia, was one of the most fierce opponents of the Rudd government’s emissions trading scheme. http://neil2decade.wordpress.com:80/2010/09/16/bhp-boss-dumps-on-future-of-coal/ [i]THE DISTILLERY: BHP clears the air, Glenn Dyer, Business Spectator[/i] It was a speech that seemed to undercut the federal Opposition's continuing opposition to a carbon price, just as Tony Abbott was trying to seduce two independents http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/THE-DISTILLERY-BHP-clears-the-air-pd20100916-9BSKA?OpenDocument Welcome to the constant campaign, Jonathan Green, The Drum "They were incompetent and shambolic before the election it looks like they are going to be incompetent and shambolic after the election." http://blogs.abc.net.au/drumroll/2010/09/welcome-to-the-constant-campaign.html

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16/09/2010LYN'S DAILY LINKS updated: http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/page/Lyns-Daily-Links.aspx

George Pike

16/09/2010Anyone else notice the total deception pertpetrated by the CBA rep on Lateline Business last night? In one breath he was telling us how wonderful for us ALL the mining boom is, then in the next struggled to explain why the mining boom's affect upon the dollar has severely impacted the non-mining sectors, such as tourism. Bankers LOVE the mining boom because it will force up interest rates, and where do banks make all their money???? Interest rates! They don't care about the loss of jobs in the other sectors, there is little reward in those industries for the finance sector anyway...that shows us clearly that these people are deceitful fraudulent lying despots...and the Liberals are in exactly the same category for following exactly the same line of argument.. The Liberals argument against the MRRT is based on the same lies and deceit. They tell us that the mining boom is great for everyone...when it is forcing up the dollar and ultimately interest rates...which will severely impact virtually EVERY person in the non-mining sector in the country. The Libs don't care about that of course...they just want the big tax incomes from the banks and miners...they don't care if they lose a bit on the roundabouts as long as they getting plenty from the swings. The simple fact is that the MRRT will slow the boom down and allow other sectors to catch up, as it will ease the upward pressure on the dollar as well as interest rates. The fact that the Lateline Business crew allowed the core questions regarding the IMPACTS of the boom to go unasked, goes to show how duplicitious they really are. They are showing a profound bias towards the corporate sector, over and above the public interest...especially with the MRRT issue. The more I see of that show, the more it becomes obvious that it is merely a tool for the financial-corporate sector to manipulate the intentions of amatuer and not professional investors alike. The ABC employees involved should hang their heads in shame for being involved in such a deceptive program.

George Pike

16/09/2010sorry...should read amateur and professional investors alike....

TalkTurkey

16/09/2010Hurricane Julia weakens to Force 3 . . . Flatus Tony blown out to sea!

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16/09/2010AC What an apt tune for our newly appointed ‘demolition man’, and what fitting lyrics. The problem is that the real demolition man is Tony Abbott, but he’s using Malcolm Turnbull as his stooge. If Turnbull were to succeed against the odds, he would get kudos, but Tones would get the real prize, a firmer grip on leadership. If Malcolm fails, that will imperil any move to take over the leadership from Tones. And as failure is the most probable option, attempts at demolition may turn out to be Malcolm’s last gasp. This morning Barrie Cassidy reiterated what several commentators have already said, that Malcolm Turnbull and the demolition of the NBN are a poor match. Malcolm will not look convincing trying to demolish a technology in which he believes. His great weakness is his inability to argue causes in which he does not have his heart, which on that count makes him unsuitable for politics.

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16/09/2010Folks I'll be back in a few hours - attending an ill relative.

Lyn

16/09/2010[b]TODAY'S LINKS PART 2[/b] [i]The Futures Market, Mr Denmore, The Failed Estate[/i] But if you have to say something interesting every day, or every hour, you're going to stretch for significance, mistake noise for signal and start believing your own bullshit. [b]The good news is we don't have to read it.[/b] http://thefailedestate.blogspot.com/ [i]Loose cannons and sore losers, Mungo MacCALLUM, Echo[/i] summarily dismiss and ignore the querulous bleating from the Opposition losers and their media cheer squad that [b]Labor’s hold on office is somehow illegitimate. [/b]http://www.echonews.com.au/story/2010/09/16/loose-cannons-and-sore-losers/ [i]Rudd: from PM to UN?, Crikey[/i] Here’s a wrap of how the pundits see it. http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/09/16/rudd-from-pm-to-un/

TalkTurkey

16/09/2010Now THEM are slagging Oakeshott with the accusation that he only wants the Speakership for the money. Now I ain't no Jesusfreak but I reckon he (i.e. Jesus) got it right when he said to the effect that how you judge others says more about yourself . . . Sleazy mammon-worshipping Rotten Right! . . . I have said before, I reckon Oakeshott was BRILLIANT in taking that 17 minutes gradually to let the pressure out of that shook-up bottle of pop while he explained his reasoned and reasonable reasoning . . . (as he would never afterwards have had the chance to do) . . . while the lickspittle media (who think It's All About Them) whinged and bitched because for once they had to take more than their usual eight seconds of paying attention to real issues, and ending up having nothing more to lick up except their own venomous slag. That Oakeshott had the smarts to do that flags that he has a good deal of nous generally. And it shows more: he must have known even then the way the lickspittles would respond, he must have known he was going to get pineappled, but he has taken all their slings and arrows bravely and with a grin. That's real courage, when he knew that very few would recognise it thus. He is worth more than all of THEM put together. (Who is there in the Opposition you'd want as a neighbour eh? Or a financial adviser?! - Or a JUDGE!!!) I think Oakeshott might make a splendid Speaker actually. And as far as his voting rights, he gets to vote when he really needs to, however whining Pyne tries to object. all

jj

16/09/2010Gillard has not learnt from her predecessor; on radio, the tv and all other social media, all that comes out of mouth is spin spin spin. Rudds of to the UN doing his best to ruin Australia reputation overseas. Bowen is doing a great job doing nothing to releve the pressure on the detention facilities around Australia. Penny is talking tough (robotic more like) NONE OF THEM HAVE LEARNT ANYTHING FROM THEIR ELECTION DISASTER! If they were truley smart politicians than they would realise that the reasons for them doing so abismally in the election campaign was that the Australian public were sick of being treated like mugs; spin, lies and downright dishonesty...and by the looks of it, nothing has changed.

Lyn

16/09/2010Hi Talk Turkey Ad did welcome you to TPS the other day, but I would like to say a big welcome too, I am enjoying your comments no end, I hope you stay here for a long time. [quote]I think Oakeshott might make a splendid Speaker actually. [/quote] I agree with you Talk Turkey, and if whining Pyne (good Name) doesn't think Oakeshott would be a good speaker, there must be a narky reason, probably because he went Independent.

Miglo

16/09/2010Looks like a spam attack has hit TPS.

Country Hick

16/09/2010Spam attack? - yes, I almost lost jj's message in all the spam.

NormanK

16/09/2010Country Hick One man's spam is another man's ..... well, you know.

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16/09/2010Folks Apologies for the spam - a few hours away and we're hit by wave of spam. All deleted now.

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16/09/2010jj All you see coming from Labor is spin and lies. All I see coming from the Coalition is virtually no policy, but loads of aggression, destructiveness, obstruction, AND spin and lies. So why don't we both accept that we see politics through very different optics, and desist from the pointless effort of trying to persuade each other to the other's viewpoint.

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16/09/2010LYN'S DAILY LINKS updated: http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/page/Lyns-Daily-Links.aspx

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16/09/2010Talk Turkey It will be interesting to see how Rob Oakeshott’s quest for speakership works out. There are legal and logistic angles to resolve, but clearly, as the Opposition does not seem to want him as Speaker, it must see his filling that position as disadvantageous to it, or advantageous to Labor. He has an idealistic view of what might be possible with the new minority government arrangements. It could be a pity if he doesn’t get the chance to see if politics can be conducted differently. But likely the forces that support the old partisan, winner-takes-all, adversarial politics will triumph, as usual. Oakeshott cannot rely on the MSM for advocacy of his concept of the new paradigm. It’s the old paradigm that they understand and prefer.

TalkTurkey

16/09/2010Lyn, Tweety, thank you for kind words. Yes it's a great site, even if recently spammed somehow about gold . . . Seems like an honest mistake, though, not malicious . . . ? How to make this sort of site MEGA? It's so-o-o-o important! Now: I've cut & pasted a bit from Mungo's column referred to heretofore . . . Quote: "There is an old Labor adage that a man who will rat once will rat again." 2 points: 1: That darling man Don Dunstan, the most extraordinary person I ever had the abashing joy to share a little time with, was proud of his record: he used to say that, as a uni freshman, he joined the Liberal Club for a week, and resigned; then he joined the Coms for a day, and resigned; then he joined the Australian Labor Party, and stayed with it for the rest of his life. 2:In 1977, one Nicholas XenophoU (emphasis on last letter mine, but correct), a member of the Adelaide Young Liberals at Adelaide Uni, was sprung by his fellow students for having been part of a conspiracy with one certain Julian Glynn, (later convicted of the theft of many Labor and other non-Right political posters during an election campaign!),to falsify something in the hundreds of Student Union votes for the Liberals. You can find the story, albeit spun a good deal by the honourable Senator, by simple Googling. He changed his name to Xenophon later, and now is whiter than Mary's Lamb. But me, I wonder if that honourable little rat still drags the same tail. That he was sorry I'm sure, sorry he got caught. Quote: "And then there is Andrew Wilkie, an even looser cannon. Wilkie was once a member of the Liberal Party, then became a fervent Green; he is now in the Labor camp. At least he, like the archetypal serial rat, Billy Hughes, has so far drawn the line at joining the Country Party, now the Nationals; but he can hardly be said to have settled down. And while the fourth evangelist, Adam Bandt, seems at least to be firmly committed to his role as a Greens collaborator with the government, his party is full of fanatics who will be urging him to push Labor to its limits and far beyond." "Full of fanatics" Mungo? Wait up: full means full. I know quite a few non-fanatical Greens who have evolved that way by reason that their State Labor Party may be led by such as Mike Rann, and Mike Rann and Co for example want to be able to arrest anyone who shares a beer with the Finks! And why wouldn't decent stark staring sane people in the Woodchip Isle be Green? You want to find fanatics, Mungo, have a go at CP Idiot Joyce, F-Wit Fielding, Whining Pyne, Mad Abbott himself, LP Madman Tuckey,(Gone at last! Gone at last! Praise Gawd, he's Gone at last!) so you ought to know which side of the divide to look, but we're so used to that kind of fanaticism that apparently even you, Mungo, think they're NORMAL! Gimme a Green any day, or especially any night! Quote 3: "The party room will be a constantly seething stew of competing interests and egos with the potential to boil over at the slightest miscalculation on the part of the chef. And Gillard is notoriously lacking in the skills of the kitchen." Mungo, apart from overcooking your metaphor so it's only fit for the Insinkerator, it's also a pretty tawdry one to start with, about on a par with the fact that Julia doesn't even carry a handbag . . . How dare a bloody sheila not want to spend her time cooking? MUNGO . . ! . .

janice

16/09/2010Good evening all. Talk Turkey - Obviously the Abbott mob have Oakeshott and Windsor in their line of fire because they chose to back a Labor Minority Government in the nation's interest. I applaud their courage and the careful way they set about collating the information they needed to ensure the end decision would be in the best interests of the nation, knowing full well they would suffer, not only a backlash from some voters in their electorates, but also abuse and nasty attacks from the Coalition and its supporters. I have no idea whether Oakeshott would be a successful Speaker or not, but the slur being peddalled by Abbott that he only 'wants the money' is outrageous but it happens to be the dirty way the Coalition attacks. They judge everyone else by their own standards which are, in my opinion, very low standards indeed. Ad astra, What do you think Kevin Rudd may have said to Downer to have him back down on his previous mean attacks? I read somewhere Rudd threatened legal action over some of the stuff that was aimed at his direction prior to the election. Also note that John Menadue is calling for a Parliamentary Inquiry into the behaviour of the media. I think a lot of good may come out of this Hung Parliament situation. It certainly put the spotlight on Coalition with its dodgy costings scam which they'd have gotten away with had either side been given a majority to govern.

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16/09/2010Talk Turkey Thank you for your comments about [i]TPS[/i]. It’s a pity we get spam attacks, and attacks they are as they come in batches, with a trickle in between. I kill them when they come in, but if I’m away from my computer for a while they accumulate. They come mostly at night so sometimes I close comments overnight and open them in the morning. Let’s hope they diminish soon; we’ve had more than enough of ‘gold’ come-ons in the last few days. I enjoyed reading your dissection of Mungo’s article. janice I too wonder why Alexander Downer, who is said to detest Kevin Rudd, said what he did about him and urged support for him in his new role. He even supported the bid for a seat on the UN Security Council. I haven’t heard about the threat of legal action, but if it closes down the personal abuse that is hurled around, that would be a good thing. I applaud any investigation that might be planned into MSM behaviour. It has been reprehensible time and again. If something is not done to shut down the lies and misrepresentation that infects the media, particularly News Limited outlets, we will see yet again a vicious and sustained attack on the Labor Government.

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16/09/2010Folks I'm going to close comments for the night to stop the spam. I'll open for comments in the morning. I've started my next piece "An open letter to the Leader of the Opposition" which I hope to post in the next day or two.

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17/09/2010Folks Open for comments again.

Lyn

17/09/2010[b]TODAY'S LINKS[/b] [i]BHP cooks up some climate change policy, Grog, Grog's Gamut[/i] Anything Turnbull suggests now about the NBN will be viewed through the prism of his wanting to destroy it – http://grogsgamut.blogspot.com/2010/09/bhp-cooks-up-some-climate-change-policy.html [i]How Bad Journalism Happens: an example,Tim Dunlop. BSides[/i] Anyway, on the subject of bad journalism, go check Matt Cowgill's latest post in which he points out the problems with an article from the AFR. http://tjd.posterous.com/ [i]Time to put the miners in charge?, Guy Beres[/i] let the mining industry run the country? Perhaps it is time to end the charade and install Mr. Kloppers, Mr. Palmer or Mr. Forrest as our “Prime Miner” in chief? http://guyberes.com/ [i]BHP Chief Adds Voice to Calls for Tax on Carbon, Rich Bowden, The Angle[/i] The statement from BHP threatens to sideline the Coalition completely on climate change http://theangle.org/2010/09/16/bhp-chief-adds-voice-to-calls-for-tax-on-carbon/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bhp-chief-adds-voice-to-calls-for-tax-on-carbon [i]Taxes and Politics, Steve , Opinion Dominion[/i]. highlights the fact that it is his party that is the economically unreasonable on carbon pricing. http://opiniondominion.blogspot.com/2010/09/taxes-and-politics.html [i]The Constitution's a bit of a problem for Oakshott, Ken Parish, Club Troppo[/i] PM Gillard may be taking seriously Independent Rob Oakeshott’s bid to be appointed Speaker of the House of Representatives. http://clubtroppo.com.au/ [i]ODD ANGRY SHOT: Oakeshott triggers Jenkins-Fitzgibbon arm-wrestle, Vex News[/i] an interesting potential battle between the Victorian Labor Left’s Harry Jenkins and NSW Right’s Joel Fitzgibbon for the Chief Government Whip’s role, Labor insider’s say. http://www.vexnews.com/news/10916/odd-angry-shot-oakeshott-triggers-jenkins-fitzgibbon-arm-wrestle/ [i]Turnbull: NBN is a business, not a public good, Delimiter[/i] But that is precisely the role of government – to provide the public services and infrastructure that no one company has the incentive to build, but from which all citizens benefit.” http://delimiter.com.au/2010/09/16/turnbull-nbn-is-a-business-not-a-public-good/ [i]How Broadband will become Australia's next political battlefield, Andrew Lowcock, The Vecci Blog[/i] the policy that could define the Gillard Government’s success, or lack thereof, over the coming years, http://blog.vecci.org.au/2010/09/16/how-broadband-will-become-australia%E2%80%99s-next-political-battlefield/ [i]The Liberals' "crises pragmatism", Alex White[/i] The Liberals (for whatever reason) have identified that the NBN, if exposed as a massive waste, will destabilise the Government. [b]Tony Abbott will oppose, oppose, oppose every policy, every initiative, every program of this Labor Government.[/b]http://alexwhite.org/2010/09/the-liberals-crisis-pragmatism/ [i]Deal over speaker unravelling , Don Woolford, Trading Room[/i] That doesn't sound like the "kinder, gentler polity" Opposition Leader Tony Abbott had mused about. http://www.tradingroom.com.au/apps/view_breaking_news_article.ac?page=/data/news_research/published/2010/9/259/catf_100916_161200_8529.html [i]Speakers Position a question of Priorities, Leon Delaney[/i] dazzled by the extra $100 000 or so that is added to the Speaker’s pay packet, and wonder whether or not that is the motivation http://leondelaney.blogspot.com/ [i]Cosmetic reform or real reform?, Jo Page, On Line Opinion[/i] the Opposition would be “ferociously” holding the government to account. http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=10978

Ad astra reply

17/09/2010LYN'S DAILY LINKS updated: http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/page/Lyns-Daily-Links.aspx

George Pike

17/09/2010At last....a nearly spot on piece of commentary on the NBN! Believe you me, we Taswegians know full well how devastating it would be to have the Coalition's plans see the light of day. http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/a-bit-of-competition-would-give-us-better-customer-service-too-20100916-15ek6.html

Rx

17/09/2010A nice piece, Ad Astra. Very inspiring. I sincerely hope that Julia and her team have learned well the lesson from the previous term. That is, get on the front foot with the media, don't accede to their lies and right wing shill-ing, and refute Coalition slogans strongly, clearly, with direct, meaningful soundbites. Coalition spin, gleefully bombarded upon the electorate day-in day-out by a servile media for months leading up to the election almost cost this country a good and decent government. Such a one-sided situation - a threat to the viability of democracy itself - must never be allowed to happen again. Labor must counter Opposition/media spin and talking points with punchy rhetoric of its own, giving the media no choice but to run it too.

Bilko

17/09/2010time to revisit the OZ media ownership laws, as raised by Mr Denmore earlier, and any foreign ownership to be reduced to 25% as a maximum. That should spike a few media moguls ambitions and some far right nutters on bicycles.

Lyn

17/09/2010Hi Ad [b]Don't miss this absolutely brilliant piece, Cost Benefit Delusions, by Possum [/b] [i]Cost Benefit delusions of the NBN, Possum Comitatus, Pollytics[/i]they are wrong. The NBN is a piece of public policy, not an exercise in measuring private net benefit. [b]deliberate mischief makers (like, say, Malcolm Turnbull [/b]who would understand the reality, but needs to run political lines) or they are just simply ignorant – and that includes the media commentators and some surprising arsehats from the financial sector who bloody well should know better. http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollytics/

George Pike

17/09/2010The media haven't given up by a long shot..I've just been listening to some ABC harpy run a dedicated Liberal PR piece from Canberra with Andrew Robb on ABC radio. That guy is one very sick man...he not only agrees that nothing illegal was done with the costings leak, but he says that the Labor Party cost the Liberals the election by allowing it to occur! What a lying scheming delusion pack of frauds the ABC and the Liberals really are..it is shameful to witness..and that's putting it very mildly!

Lyn

17/09/2010Hi Ad Here is the final AEC results, by William Bowe: [i]Final 2PP: 50.12 - 49.88 to labor William Bowe, The Poll Bludger[/i] As it stands, we have a result that leaves those of us who had done the sums with exactly what we were expecting, and a lot of [b]dopey pundits and dishonest politicians with egg on their faces.[/b]http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/

Ad astra reply

17/09/2010Rx You are right. Labor must come out of the corner fighting every time the Coalition or the media perpetrate some falsehood, distortion or misrepresentation with a strong rebuttal. Stephen Conroy did this yesterday after Malcolm Turnbull’s statement on the NBN, which was riddled with errors and misconceptions. It’s no good expecting the public to sort out the lies from the truth. They haven’t got access to the right information, nor do they have the inclination to look for it. The Fifth Estate has a rebuttal role too. Lyn pointed out Possum’s article on [i]Crikey: Cost benefit delusions of the NBN[/i] http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollytics/2010/09/17/cost-benefit-delusions-of-the-nbn/ which brilliantly and with impeccable logic debunks the Opposition clamour for a cost-benefit analysis. It’s a good read. George Andrew Robb is feigning anger because his accusation that Treasury leaked the black hole in Coalition’s costings has been rebutted by the Federal Police. So he now insisting that this proves it must have come from Wayne Swan’s office, which Swan denies. He omits other possibilities though, such that it might have come from Coalition sources. They may harbour someone in their employ who wanted to expose the shonkiness of the Coalition’s costings. If someone inside Labor ranks can be accused of being responsible for the anti-Labor leaks during the campaign, why would Coalition ranks not leak too?

Ad astra reply

17/09/2010Folks We've had another 'gold' spam attack, so I'm closing comments for the night - I'll open it again in the morning. Anyway the football's on!

Ad astra reply

18/09/2010Folks Comments open again.

Shoe Cubbies

18/09/2010One of the most creative shoe storage ideas I have seen may be the use of an entertainment unit placed at the end of a king size bed. It truly is often hard to find a bench that will span the whole width of the king size bed but this unit fit perfectly and the owners used the "cubbies" for shoe storage.

Lyn

18/09/2010[b]TODAY'S LINKS[/b] [i]The Boiling Frog, Mr Denmore, The FaileD Estate[/i] the standard of journalism (like the fabled boiling frog), shrivels under the heat of online competition. http://thefailedestate.blogspot.com/2010/09/boiling-frog.html [i]Timid and inept Opposition, Andrew Elder, Politically Homeless[/i] This may explain why he's pissed off one of the guys whose vote he needs to become Prime Minister. It's one thing to have Chris Pyne fill the air with yapping and sink his needle-like teeth into your trouser-cuffs,. http://andrewelder.blogspot.com/2010/09/timid-and-inept-opposition-so-tony.html [i]How bad journalism Happens: an example (2), Tim Dunlop, B Sides[/i] final votes from the election counted, it is now official that Labor (just) received more of the two-party preferred vote. http://tjd.posterous.com/ [i]Oakeshott - mad with power or man of good intentions? The Conscience Vote[/i] Rumours that the Coalition intends to fight every possible point of order have those same sources worried http://consciencevote.wordpress.com:80/2010/09/17/oakeshott-mad-with-power-or-man-of-good-intentions/ [i]Tom Switzer–climate change concern troll?, Tobias Ziegler, Pure Poison[/i] He then spends the rest of the article seeding doubt. China doesn’t like it; Canadian legislation is stalled; http://blogs.crikey.com.au/purepoison/2010/09/17/tom-switzer-climate-change-concern-troll/#more-7288 [i]One in the eye for Hockeynomics, Peter Martin[/i] Reconsidering The Link Between Fiscal Policy And Interest Rates In Australia http://petermartin.blogspot.com/ [i]Big end of town on its own over climate,Colin Brinsden, Trading room[/i] He also attacked the government for a change of heart having "emphatically ruled out a carbon tax pre-election". http://www.tradingroom.com.au/apps/view_breaking_news_article.ac?page=/data/news_research/published/2010/9/260/catf_100917_161500_3632.html

Ad astra reply

18/09/2010LYN'S DAILY LINKS updated: http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/page/Lyns-Daily-Links.aspx

Bilko

18/09/2010folks here is an idea Leave Jenkins as speaker and appoint Oakshoft as deputy speaker that would really p** the libs off and stuff the so called convention which they bring up only when it is convenient for them. A small pay back for the dismissal, and any other wrongs they have done(too many to count). thoughts anyone

George Pike

18/09/2010I would make Warren Truss the speaker and pair him with Wilkie...the suggestion would cause Abbott to choke on his staminade if nothing else..

Lyn

18/09/2010Hi Bilko and George To send phony of his rocker, 2 females would do the trick.

George Pike

18/09/2010I reckon AA would be perfect...and totally independent too...

Acerbic Conehead

18/09/2010Hey, Lyn: "two females would do the trick". Here's a story about two females, and two very dopey males as well. I'm sure everyone has caught up with news that Tony Abbott has been awarded a very prestigious award – a Silver Ernie – in recognition of his ability to make sexist remarks. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/17/3014525.htm Well, with the shenanigans of her “step-daughter” in mind, Julia Gillard has decided to have a bit of fun with Tones by organising a competition among the female politicians to see who has the nicest boobs. Nothing too risqué, mind you, as the entrants have to wear a bikini-top. So, knowing that this is right up Tones’ street, Jooles invites him to be the compere at the gig held at the Rooty Hill Community Centre. However, Tones doesn’t realise it, but Jooles has learnt from the recent Rooty Hill fiasco, and has stacked the audience in her favour, telling them in the invitations that it is a victory rally for her after the election win. Also, Sarah Hanson-Young, from the Greens, has been briefed beforehand by Jooles, so she is happy to go along with things. Tones: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen...and our contestants tonight will be Sarah Hanson-Young, Julie Bishop, Julia Gillard, and Bronny Bishop...But also, a mystery entrant will appear at the end, so look out for that one in particular...So, again, welcome to our to our titillating tittie talent quest this evening... [immediately, bottles are hurled at Tones from the radical feminist section of the audience. Fortunately for him, however, Tones has not lost his old boxing ability to weave and dodge, so none of the missiles hit their intended target] Tones: Riiiight!!!! Moving right along...and our first contestant is...Sarah Hanson-Young!!! [Sarah is looking resplendent in a nice emerald bikini-top. She struts the catwalk, pretending to lap up the applause from her supporters] Tones: And thank you, Sarah Hanson-Young!!! She’s definitely going to make all the other girls Green with envy this evening...boom...boom... [again, Tones has to dodge a fusillade of bottles, this time from all the audience members, bar the Greenies] Tones: Wow, that was close...And now, ladies and gentlemen...it is my great pleasure to introduce our next contestant...Ms Julie Bishop!!! [like the cat that got the cream, Julie struts the catwalk, looking gorgeous in a bikini-top so plunging, it would make a WA mineshaft look like a pot-hole on the Hume Highway] Tones: And thank you, Julie!!! Wow – I can see it’s not only your stares that are prominent...meow... [to make matters worse, Tones makes a cat's claws gesture. The Feline Liberation Front members in the audience, led by Kevin Rudd with Jasper on his knee, take umbrage at Tones’ catist remark and hurl sauce bottles at him. However, just like before, Tones maintains his fleet-of-footness, and avoids the empty ketchup bottles] Tones: Riiiiight!!! And our next contestant is none other than our Prime Minister, Julia Gillard!!! Jooles – come on down!!! [to rapturous applause, Jooles strides ever so confidently down the catwalk, looking wonderful in her black slacks and bright red bikini-top] Tones: Oh, very noooice, Jooles...and aren’t you the proud owner of two very tasty Welsh rarebits... [immediately, Tones is targeted with a cascade of bottles thrown by a visiting delegation from the Aberystwyth Miners’ Union. They haven’t had any decent Welsh tucker since they left the valleys, and the flippancy of mentioning their favourite dish without serving some up, only succeeds in sending them into paroxysms of rage] Tones: Haha – missed...you blokes should stick to playing rugby and singing...And now, ladies and gentlemen...our last contestant before the mystery guest is...Bronny Bishop!!!! [Bronny takes to the catwalk like a lusty twenty-year-old. In her very patriotic union-jack bikini-top, she gets more ironic cat-whisles from the audience than George Michael got the other day from the inmates when he walked through the gates of Pentonville prison] Tones: Wow...Bronny!!! They sure do get better with age – like two big jugs of good wine... [a barrage of empty chardonnay bottles is thrown at Tones by a group of limp-wristed leftie latte-lovers in the crowd. However, Tones doesn’t even have to duck this time, as they are thrown so effetely, they don’t even reach the stage. Then, suddenly, a hush starts to descend over the audience as they become aware of the sound of heavy footfalls approaching the closed door of the auditorium. Whispers of excitement are shared amongst the awe-struck throng: “It must be the mystery guest!” “Do you think its Oprah?” “Maybe it’s Betty Windsor!” Then, abruptly, the door is flung open, and in strides a larger-than-life figure, very recognisable to all inside] Spectator: OMG...It’s Crocodile Clive Palmer!!! Clive: Right...everyone...just cut the crap and listen to me...Ladies – what you’ve got there aren’t tits – THESE ARE TITS!!!! [as Clive attempts to rip his shirt off to prove his point, pandemonium breaks out in the function room. The spectators are running helter-skelter, hither and thither, towards an exit, terrified at the prospect of having to witness the horrendous spectacle of a topless Crocodile Clive. After a few moments of absolute mayhem, the hall has cleared, leaving Jooles and Sarah, Clive and Tones as the only remaining occupants of the once-overflowing venue] Clive: Well...it looks like I’m the winner of the best boobs prize this evening... Tones: Well...winner of the award for the biggest ones, anyway...hee...hee... Clive: Don’t you come the raw prawn with me mate...in the boobs department, I leave you well and truly in the shade... Jooles: Boys, boys, boys...don’t fight...heh...heh...So, Sarah and I will just toddle off now and leave you two to argue amongst yourselves...We’re actually going to meet up with Klops – he has a few interesting ideas he wants to discuss with us...see ya later... [as a much-relieved Jooles and Sarah thankfully make their way out of the auditorium, on their way to solving real problems, they can still hear the ever-receding echoes of the puerile bickering] Tones: Okay, you win on titties...So, now let’s have a competition on budgies... Clive: Nah...we’ll stick to titties... Tones: Hairy chests? Clive: Nope...titties... Tones: Ears? Clive: Nah...titties... Tones: STOPPING THE BOATS? Clive: Nah...titties... TONES: STOPPING THE WASTE? Clive: Hmmm...now, you might have something there...But only if it’s spelt WAIST...I could do with shedding a few kilos...but only if I can keep my titties...

TalkTurkey

18/09/2010Re Shoe Cubbies @ 7.22 am, (Spam!), Hey we do need a repository for ammo to chuck at THEM as World Hero Muntadhar al-Zaidi did to bloody Bush . . . The Iraqi's name might be forgotten by most (I had to look it up) but his gutsy protest will live forever. Pity he didn't snot the bastard with them, his aim was so damn good, but if nothing else ever can be said for Bush, he was really good at ducking. But he couldn't duck the insult. Julia is delighting me this morning saying that due to the way things have panned out she may not be able to deliver on all her promises made during the campaign . . . Ha ha ha . . . I wouldn't be amused if it were Abbott in power because we all knew he WOULD have taken that line if he'd got up, and he would have used the excuse to cut programs that really matter, but Julia now has a wonderful funk-hole which she can enlarge over time and hopefully use for the actual good . . . Abbott must be fuming. Love it. As Aussies we must remember that our political social and problems, at worst, pale into beige compared with virtually everywhere else, but that is all the better reason to try to clean up what filth is there - filth like Reith (never forget!) and Andrews and Bolt and Ackerman and Jones, (not Barrie!), it is their ilk who in Argentina and Chile get people murdered and they are the same sort of people who everywhere are the voices of hate. They feed on others' contempt of them, but they always get support from each other, from the rich and powerful, and their weapons are lies and economic might. Reith and Howard et al got people drowned, never forget, got us involved in inhuman wars, and made me hateful towards them, when I never wanted to hate anyone. So I hate them more because they made me hate. They are criminals, all same Bush and Blair and Pinochet. They should be made to answer for their crimes in a Nuremberg-type court, and I hope that happens, not that I call for death penalties, to the contrary, I reckon they should be imprisoned for the term of their natural.

Lyn

18/09/2010Hi Talk Turkey [quote]when I never wanted to hate anyone. So I hate them more because they made me hate. They are criminals[/quote] Yep, that's a good one TT. [quote]Julia now has a wonderful funk-hole which she can enlarge over time and hopefully use for the actual good . . . Abbott must be fuming. Love it. [/quote] Never thought of it that way TT, but love it too, marvellously, excellent.

Lyn

18/09/2010Hi Acerbic Conehead Soon a talent scout is going to happen on our blog, and offer you heaps of money Acerbic Conehead, you won't be able to accept, because we need you, we have become accustomed to your smile. What a fantastic piece of entertainment again and again,thankyou Acerbic Conehead.

Ad astra reply

18/09/2010BIlko, George, Lyn I love your sense of humour about suitable Speakers, but don’t you think Lyn’s suggestion of two females takes the cake? After you read my next piece George, to be posted soon, you will doubt if I would be suitable. AC What a delectable send-up. As Lyn says, you have real talent. I hope you will continue to entertain us. Talk Turkey I hope we will soon be able to return to serious politics and set aside the shenanigans that we have had to endure these past weeks. I believe Julia will prove more than a match for Tones and his paper-thin front bench.

Ad astra reply

18/09/2010Folks I have just now posted [i]An open letter to the Leader of the Opposition[/i] http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/post/2010/09/18/An-open-letter-to-the-Leader-of-the-Opposition.aspx

Ad astra reply

18/09/2010Folks To stop the mad spam, I'm closing comments here. Please leave you comments on the post [i]An open letter to the Leader of the Opposition[/i] http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/post/2010/09/18/An-open-letter-to-the-Leader-of-the-Opposition.aspx
I have two politicians and add 17 clowns and 14 chimpanzees; how many clowns are there?