Putting the Squeeze on Mr Squiggle

Everybody knows the ABC has gone to the dogs, and it’s not just its News and Current Affairs Department we’re talking about. In fact, their Children’s Programming Section is badly in need of a facelift also. But, at least there, they are trying to do something about it.

The powers-that-be have resurrected the Mr Squiggle Show and invited a hard-hitting cast to take on the roles of the main characters. Julia Gillard is playing the part of Miss Jane, Tony Abbott is the Blackboard, and Mr Squiggle himself is being played by that titled climate change contrarian, Viscount Moncton of Brenchley.





They have already had a rehearsal for the first show of the revived children’s series and, if the truth be known, it didn’t go very well. It is a far more low-budget affair than in the past, with, for example, an aquarium with only rubber boats floating aimlessly on the water but no fish. There is, also, dust all over the place, making Miss Julia sneeze. And, to make matters worse, Blackboard and Mr Squiggle were playing up, making it very hard for Miss Julia to keep them on task.

That rascal Blackboard had been the worst culprit, so Miss Julia, having had to put up with more high jinks than a person could be expected to endure, finally snapped and ordered Mr Squiggle to get into his rocket and skedaddle for the moon, whilst she dealt with the miscreant Blackboard.

So, getting him on his own, Miss Julia made Blackboard wear a specially-designed pair of red budgie smugglers. These she got made from a unique material that, when they were pulled up tightly over the bottom of his blackboard, they covered his mouth. However, what was special about the material was, when Blackboard shouted one of his rude three-word slogans, or used the S-word, the material in the budgie smugglers would constrict, making it very difficult for Blackboard to speak!

So, on the morning of the live broadcast, Miss Julia enters the dark studio, switches on the lights, gazes forlornly at the fish tank with no fish, has a sneezing fit with all the dust, and walks over to the set where Blackboard stands ready for action.

Miss Julia: Aaaaaaaaaaaatishoooooooooo! Uhhh...good morning, Blackboard...

Blackboard: STOP THE SNEEZING!!!! STOP THE BOATS in that bloody excuse for an aquarium!!!! PRIVATISE THE ABC!!!! At least then we’ll be able to afford a couple of vacuum cleaners to get rid of all this friggin’ dust!! Hurry up!! Hurry up!! Or shit’ll happen!!

Miss Julia: That’s quite enough, Blackboard!! I thought I told you at rehearsals you can’t use that sort of language on a children’s program...And where are your special budgie smugglers? If you were wearing them, you wouldn’t be able to mouth off like that...

Blackboard: I gave them to Mr Squiggle...He liked the cut of them, so he’s gone up in his rocket to the changing rooms upstairs to try them on...

[Then, speak of the devil, down comes the rocket, and out steps Mr Squiggle (aka Viscount Monckton), adorned in Blackboard’s red budgie smugglers. However, unlike Blackboard, whose mouth was covered by the aforesaid item of swimming attire, Mr Squiggle is wearing them on the region for which they were designed. “Hmmmm...” Miss Julia thinks to herself, “if Mr Squiggle plays up just like he did at rehearsals, these specially-produced speedos might just curtail his shenanigans somewhat...heh...heh...”]

Miss Julia: Good morning, Viscount...I hope you are ready for the cameras...they’ll be rolling in a minute...

Mr Squiggle (indignantly): Viscount? Bloody Viscount? I’ll have you know I’m a lot more important than a measly viscount! I’m a LORD, I’ll have you know! A member of the British House of Lords, no less...

[Sensing that Mr Squiggle is telling a porkie or making an outrageous ad hominem attack on someone, the specially-designed budgie smugglers constrict, squeezing his nuts so much, his eyes start to protrude.]

Mr Squiggle: Owwwww...ahhhhh...jeeze that hurts!

Miss Julia (whispering): And it’ll hurt a lot more if you continue to muck around...so behave yourself...

[Meanwhile, Mr Squiggle has got used to the extra pressure on his nether regions, and can’t resist the temptation to slag and bag this bitch.]

Mr Squiggle: Hey, Miss Julia...if I do too much drawing this morning, and I wear down my pencil nose, can I use yours – it’s even longer and pointier than mine...hee...hee...

[Mr Squiggle has no sooner tempted fate by asking this insulting, ungracious and silly question when, his stones are given the mangle treatment again by the bathing togs specially designed by Miss Julia. Again, his breath is taken away big time, and his eye balls bulge out even further.]

Mr Squiggle: Eeeeeekkkkk!! Ooooooouch!!

[Just then, onto the studio floor stomps the feet of a group of specially-invited ankle-biters, ready to hand over their semi-completed scribblings for Mr Squiggle to dolly-up. One of the brats stops at the aquarium, staring contemptuously therein.]

Brat: WTF! What’s this – no fish? What sort of an aquarium is this? Huh, I’m off to watch GO! instead – they’re heaps better...

Mr Squiggle: Yeah, just bugger off then! See if I care! Bloody Hitler Youth!

[Again, Mr Squiggle’s bathers do their thing and his eyes are just about ready to pop out. Meanwhile, Miss Julia has collected up all the discarded semi-completed drawings, and choofed the brats out of the studio. She orders the cameras to roll. However, every time Miss Julia puts a new partially-finished drawing on Blackboard for Mr Squiggle to finish, he manages to either insult someone or tell fibs. For example, the specially-invited studio guest star is Ross Garnaut, and Mr Squiggle asks him to comment on the weather today, “from your fascist point of view, of course...hee...hee...”

Then, Mr Squiggle reckons one of the kid’s drawings is so bad, he must be a chronic AIDS sufferer and so should be rounded up and quarantined on Nauru!

And another child’s drawing was so crap, according to Mr Squiggle, it must have been done by another member of the Hitler Youth! So Mr Squiggle finished it by turning it into a NAZI flag!

Then he finished another drawing by sketching it as a satellite crashing into the ground, saying it belonged to NASA, and they had deliberately sabotaged it, as it was sending back information that contradicted their global warming conspiracy!

He also turned one child’s scribbles into a 15th century Chinese armada that, he said, had circumnavigated an ice-free Arctic Ocean, proving that the medieval period was even warmer than today!

He even tried to flog a bottle of his “therapeutic treatment” to Miss Julia, claiming it could cure the common cold and flu, so stopping her dust-allergy sneezing would be a cake walk!

By then, however, Mr Squiggle had delivered so many ad hominem remarks and told so many fibs, his nuts felt like Joe Hockey was standing on them, and his eyes were out on stalks. Miss Julia has had a gutful of this tomfoolery and orders the cameras to cease rolling.] Miss Julia: Righto, Mr Squiggle...I think the ABC’s attempt to resurrect itself has been a dismal failure...and it’s all down to you I’m afraid...

Mr Squiggle (pleadingly): Oh please, please, please Miss Julia...give me one last chance – you know how much I love the ABC...

[Miss Julia hesitates for a moment, but then her eyes light up, indicating a cunning plan is being incubated.]

Miss Julia: Erm...alright Mr Squiggle...I think I have your next career move ready to hit the road...or the water to be more precise...heh...heh...

[Miss Julia picks up Mr Squiggle and plops him in the fish tank.]

Miss Julia: Yep, Mr Squiggle – you can just swim around in there until Sir David Attenborough turns up – I think he’s looking for examples of strange fish for his next aquatic series...hee...hee...

Blackboard: But what about me? What about my next career move?

Miss Julia: Erm...I think you’ve come to the end of the line, chum...nobody uses blackboards anymore – haven’t you heard of the Building Education Revolution...heh...heh...

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janice

2/07/2011Interesting idea about special material for budgie smugglers Ascerbic - could it be extended to lycra bike riding suits? Now there's a challenge for the nation's inventors. Wouldn't it be a delicious sight to see the effects of nut crunchers going into action whenever the odious one opened his mouth to spruik lies and deceitful utterings?

Feral Skeleton

2/07/2011More big lulz from the mouth of Teflon Tony(which eventually peels off remember?), himself, and Saul Eslake's acidic riposte: http://www.smh.com.au/national/abbott-lashes-out-as-another-report-backs-carbon-tax-20110701-1gv3y.html

Lyn

2/07/2011 [b]TODAY’S LINKS[/b] [i]Well, excuse me!, Ash, Ash’s Machiavellian Bloggery[/i] Tony Abbott blames the Constitution on why he is not the Prime Minister. That and jock itch.And the Greens. http://ashghebranious.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/well-excuse-me/ [i]How to piss off Tony Abbott (in no real order), Ash, Ash’s Machiavellian Bloggery[/i] How to piss off Tony Abbott lesson 5. Remind him umm , ahhhh and errr are not in the alphabet. http://ashghebranious.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/how-to-piss-off-tony-abbott-in-no-real-order/ [i]Waiting for tomorrow all of my life. The Conscience Vote[/i] see Parliament itself get the shake-up we were promised – more substantive questions, less abuse of processand less outright bullshit being flung around in the name of scoring a couple of political points and maybe getting your head on the evening news. http://consciencevote.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/waiting-for-tomorrow-all-of-my-life/ [i]Can Half A Dozen Greens Take Canberra?, Ben Eltham, New Matilda[/i] the sooner Brown and Gillard can strike a deal, the better for the Government’s chances. There is nothing Tony Abbott would enjoy more than of the carbon tax policy. http://newmatilda.com/2011/07/01/greens-take-balance-power [i]Welcome to the apoLOLypse, Dave Gaukroger, Pure Poison[/i] Bob Brown might stop the passage of a piece of non-existent legislation, from a non-existent Coalition government with a non-existent mandate http://blogs.crikey.com.au/purepoison/2011/07/01/welcome-to-the-apolalypse/ [i]Beware the vengeful goblins,Crikey[/i] Far from being anti-democratic, Brown’s commitment reflects the fact that, in blocking any attempt to remove a carbon pricing scheme (in favour, presumably, of the Liberals’ ludicrously expensive and ineffectual ‘direct action’ plan), http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/07/01/beware-the-vengeful-goblins/ [i]What Chance a Double Dissolution in the Next Three Years?, Antony Green [/i] Update: I hope the attendees at today's anti-carbon tax rally read this post. It might help explain why their chant of "double dissolution now" was complete nonsense. http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2011/06/what-chance-a-double-dissolution-in-the-next-three-years.html [i]NBN Co launches rural satellite broadband service, NBN Buzz,Technology Spectator[/i] Satellite and fixed wireless services were expected to serve the seven per cent of Australian premises the proposed rollout of fibre optic cable did not reach http://technologyspectator.com.au/nbn-buzz/nbn-launches-rural-satellite-broadband-service?utm [i]Tony behave yourself, Rocco Blog-Go National Times[/i] Keeping that it in mind it brings us to the question of the week, would a well-behaved Abbott garner as much media attention?The attached video explores a recent history of Abbott’s behaviour and its consequences http://www.nationaltimes.com.au/opinion/blogs/rocco-bloggo/tony-behave-yourself-20110630-1gs3b.html [i]Crude, Distorted, dangerous – garnaut on New Limited, Peter Martin[/i] Speaking at a conference sponsored by The Australian, the broadsheet owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Limited, the professor hit out at ''crude'' and ''distorted'' reporting of plans for a carbon tax. http://www.petermartin.com.au/2011/07/crude-distorted-dangerous-garnaut-on.html [i]Marxism without revolution: Capital, John Quiggin[/i] Marx saw the crucial importance of economies of size in permitting large capitalists to drive out smaller competitors. http://crookedtimber.org/2011/07/01/marxism-without-revolution-capital/#more-20792 [i]The carbon tax that is not really a tax, David Pannell, Climate Spectator[/i] Tony Abbott got from his line about a “great big new tax on everything” during the last election campaign, you’d think that the government would avoid the “tax” word if they could. 

And they can. Their proposed initial approach is in fact not a carbon tax, but an ETS with a fixed price. http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/carbon-tax-not-really-tax [i]Think again on carbon tax, Abbott tells economists, Jeremy Thompson, ABC[/i] Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has criticised Australian economists for supporting a carbon tax anda market-based emissions trading scheme as planned by the Federal Government. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/07/01/3258962.htm?WT.mc_id=newsmail [i]Work smarter, not harder, Robert Merkel Larvatus Prodeo[/i] If you believe the ABC news headline, Martin Parkinson is doing a fine turn as our national slave-driver, exhortingAustralians to work harder. http://larvatusprodeo.net/2011/07/01/work-smarter-not-harder/ [i]The Government Announces ABC and SBS board appointments, Spy report[/i] The Government says that the process is designed "to remove political interference and to promote independence"in the national broadcasters' broads http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2011/07/01/government-announces-abc-and-sbs-board-appointments/ [i]Loon Wong waits for an apology, Ron Sutton, SBS[/i] in debates with Andrew Bolt, you know, from The Herald-Sun, he is a second-generation Dutch-Australian but, in all his comments, he makes reference to the fact that the Asians are taking over the public schools, especially the so-called selective schools in Sydney. http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1567163/Loon-Wong-waits-for-an-apology [i]Abbott has a deadline on doom, Andrew Probyn, The West Australian[/i] As the current parliamentary period progresses and the Gillard Government slowly ticks off some, if not all, of its agenda items, the scrutiny of Mr Abbott's alternatives will become greater. http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/opinion/post/-/blog/andrewprobyn/post/182/comment/1/ [i]Poor persecuted Monckton, Dave’s Archives[/i] This isn't the result of some PR folly by his critics, but rather his oratory skills and the cozy hardline ideological relationship he has with some very loud and obnoxious media personalities. http://davec.org/ [i]Fishing up the moon, David Horton. The Watermelon Blog[/i] Right at the time when our marine ecosystems are most in need of protection, NSW has prevented its marine scientists from protecting them in the next 5 crucial years and probably beyond. http://davidhortonsblog.com/2011/07/01/fishing-up-the-moon/ [i]Senators (terms of service commencing 1 July 2011) Parliament Australia[/i] http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/senators/senators_elect.htm

Ad astra reply

2/07/2011LYN'S DAILY LINKS updated: http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/page/LYNS-DAILY-LINKS.aspx

Ad astra reply

2/07/2011TT What a charming post you made in the early hours of this morning on the previous piece. Thank you for your kind comments about the aura of [i]The Political Sword[/i] and your complimentary remarks about the welcome that Lyn and many others extend to new bloggers here. You are right – we are not proselytising – simply welcoming new arrivals to the discourse here on matters political, matters we regard as important for our nation. You have made a major contribution to the debate – I thank you for that. It is gratifying that you feel comfortable blogging here. We would want others to feel the same. All we ask is that bloggers show respect for each other and for others’ opinions, and back their assertions with facts and well reasoned argument. Most find that they are able to do so. Thank you for your continual strong support of [i]TPS[/i].

Lyn

2/07/2011Hi Acerbic Conehead You are delightful thankyou for so many enjoyable articles, your wife must have a fun time with you in the house , with your upmarket talent in action making everyone's life just wonderful. A blackboard eh, that puts paid to Mr Abbott's mouth. [i]Tony Abbott is the Blackboard, and Mr Squiggle himself is being played by that titled climate change contrarian, Viscount Moncton of Brenchley[/i]

TalkTurkey

2/07/2011Check the spelling in the heading! MR SQIGGLE! Poor Pop-Eyed Mr Sqiggle! Mr Sqiggle lost your 'u'! Just shows you shouldn't wriggle With those squeezy jocks on you! Where has your wee 'u' got to? All inverted up inside? Let me help you to retrieve it! . . . . . Hold your eyes in! . . . . . . Open wide . . ! . . :) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Funny thing about Blackboard though: He never was used as a blackboard! He was only an EASEL! He couldn't wait to have his vision shut off by a sheet of paper, and he never got to see (or feel) the drawing taking place over his face. Mr Squiggle and Miss Jane were (ARE!) wonderful, but I always felt a bit sorry for poor Grumpy old Blackboard. Miss Jane whose real name I forget lives not all that far from here in an Adelaide beach suburb. Mr S himself died not long ago.

Ad astra reply

2/07/2011TT Thank you - Mr Squiggle restored - my mistake!

TalkTurkey

2/07/2011Gee Ad astra, Thank you. I gain far more than I give, most of all from the example you set us here. I think you have started something especially good, the best political opinion in the land is either expressed here or else ready for breakfast browsing daily through Lyn's Links. TPS is better than any newspaper in the Wide Brown Land when it comes to domestic politics and opinion. It is a little like a 21st Century version of the first issues of The Bulletin in the 1890's. I think blogsites are already having a benign influence on our society, ameliorating at least a little the depredations on decency made by Murdochracy, and TPS is a specially notable beacon, which surely catches the eye of many of those we talk about. Those whose views are published here are truly privileged, and we all take our lead from you.

TalkTurkey

2/07/2011Ad astra said "TT Thank you - Mr Squiggle restored - my mistake!" No! No! Now you been and gone and made a liar of me! Well, no. Actually as I've said before I'm really a Liar Bird under my Gobbler guise. So you can't make a goose of me, it's water off a duck's back. Shut up Turkey!

Ad astra reply

2/07/2011AC Thank you for another clever satirical piece. Isn’t is amazing that our would-be PM Blackboard seemingly finds it easier to align himself with the views of Mr Squiggle - Lord Monckton - on climate change, than he does with the opinion of virtually all the economists in this country who insist that a market based approach to reducing carbon pollution via a price on carbon will be the most cost-effective. The [i]SMH[/i] reports: [i]A new analysis of the Gillard government's carbon price framework and the Coalition's 'Direct Action' policy commissioned by the Australian Industry Group from Ernst and Young has again found ''carbon pricing, including through the imposition of a carbon tax, is the most effective way of achieving least-cost abatement, particularly in the long term''.[/i] Blackboard’s response was: [i]''It may well be … that most Australian economists think that a carbon price or emissions trading scheme is the way to go,'' he said. ''Maybe that's a comment on the quality of our economists rather than on the merits of the argument.''[/i] While I find economists confusing because they so often disagree over the same issue, and sometimes they all get it wrong, such as that time when they all predicted an interest rate rise that didn’t eventuate, nevertheless Tony Abbott is drawing a very long bow when he implies that they are [b]all[/b] wrong about the best way to reduce carbon pollution. The [i]SMH[/i] article concludes: “[i]A director and economist of the Grattan Institute, Saul Eslake, said Mr Abbott was attacking economists because he was frustrated ''he can't find a single economist in Australia who supports his policy''.”[/i] The whole story is at: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/abbott-lashes-out-as-another-report-backs-carbon-tax-20110701-1gv3y.html Don’t be surprised if Blackboard insists that he is not black at all, but white, and that his response to those who challenge his whiteness is: ''Maybe that's a comment on the quality of their colour vision rather than on the merits of their argument.''

Patricia WA

2/07/2011Monckton certainly is a loonie, AC! Abbott himself seems not far from being institutionalised. What a pair! Talk about delusions of grandeur! But I loved our Mr. Squiggle and enjoyed reminiscing about him this morning, and watching some of his early appearances. Those were the days when we could sit with our children in front of a television program like that and know we would hear nothing but 'loving, gentle fun.'

D Mick Weir

2/07/2011I missed Katherine Murphy's article in last Mondays National Times [b]Why Reith was too much for Abbott's risk-averse Liberals[/b] http://www.nationaltimes.com.au/opinion/politics/why-reith-was-too-much-for-abbotts-riskaverse-liberals-20110626-1gllw.html [i]The campaign for party presidency told a sorry story of modern politics. Peter Reith sticks out in a crowd. He's a cartoonist's dream, with physical quirks that somehow reflect and amplify his unconventional views. Small target, he isn't.[/i] No need to to go over the ground on that again. This par made me 'sit up and take notice' [i]Modern politics demands everyone fit into the same-size jar, stacked in neat rows along the shelf. A Reith-shaped jar is not currently in production. It's too unorthodox. Abbott knows about the tyranny of the jar, having been a victim himself. He's been prisoner of that Mad Monk stereotype, a characterisation as invalid and unfair as Minchin's cartoonish characterisation of Reith.[/i] An analogy I hadn't thought of and I can see it. It works for me and I can see voters walking through the 'electoral supermarket' picking jars that suit their 'commodified' views on what our pollies should be. Anyway when I got the the final pars I took even more notice. [i]Meanwhile, another perpetual victim of the jar, Gillard, has survived a scarifying week. During the so-called ''sackiversary'' week, she was stuffed into various constricting vessels - bad ''girl'', liar, fool. Gillard has tried two basic approaches to conquering the tyranny of manufactured homogeneity - first by pretending she was something she wasn't, then implicitly apologising for who she was. Neither has worked. Voters look at her and are none the wiser. Last week, the clamour was such that temporising wasn't an option. The Prime Minister just ''was''. Up close she made for fascinating viewing. In the eye of the storm, she went quiet. Battling it out in Parliament, the PM cut an isolated figure, taunted by the opposition, ignored by the Labor backbenchers slumped in their chairs. She was, as prime ministers in diabolical and possibly irreversible political trouble are, entirely alone. But for what seems to me to be the first time, she exhibited the will to be Prime Minister. No one will have noticed in voter-land but up close it was clear: the determination to occupy the office, the grim desire to prevail against all comers - Kevin Rudd, Abbott and the jar-ists of the press gallery. It may not be enough, but for Gillard, something changed last week.[/i] The concept of people 'growing into the role', particularly leaders, has been around probably since Adam was a boy. So nothing new here, but ... has the snowball started rolling and will it turn into an avalanche?

D Mick Weir

2/07/2011The dreaded timeouts and not able to connect to the site caused this comment of mine to disappear: Patricia WA, How appropriate, this has just come across 'my desk' [b]Time to hear, read, review and award the words of women[/b] - Sophie Cunningham @ The Drum http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/2778808.html [i]Disinterest in women – the overlooking of them, the walking out of the room without noticing their exclusion, the disavowal of them, the occasional hatred of them – is a profound and deep problem.[/i] There are some willing to speak up. How many will see the connection that you point out re the treatment of JG?

TalkTurkey

2/07/2011Blackboard is happy to display whatever meaningless scribble Squiggle wants him to . . . Seconds later the message is changed . . . "HURRREEE UP! HURRREEE UP! . . ." "What's Blackboard telling us this time Mr Squiggle?" "Oh Miss Jane that's Blackboard stopping a boat! See it's all lopsided and it's going to sink?" "Oh that's clever Mr Squiggle, I like that, can we do another one now please?" "Yes of course Miss Jane. We'll just change the paper . . ." "HURRREEE UP! HURRREEE UP!" "Mr Squiggle this one comes from Joyce in Queensland . . . What is it do you think?" "Oh Miss Jane it's a Landrover, see, it's upside down in a creek bed . . . " "Oops Mr Squiggle we better not show that one, we better change the paper again . . ." "HURRREEE UP! HURRREEE UP! . . ."

Feral Skeleton

2/07/2011Fun Fact: I went to school with Mr Squiggles' son, Stephen Hetherington, back in the day when, if you worked for the ABC you weren't so much of a snob that ,even though you worked for the Public Broadcaster you sent your kids to a Private School. Nope, Mr Squiggle sent his son to a Public High School, a Selective High School, to be sure, but it was good enough for his children. Stephen eventually went on to do Law, which was about the time Abbott was learning how to debauch same at Sydney University. The loveliness flowed all the way through the family. Also, Mr Hetherington was so committed to Public Education young Stephen used to have to come to school all the way from Mosman, via Sydney Harbour Ferry and train, every day. Past all the Private Schools. That is some commitment to egalitarianism, huh?

D Mick Weir

2/07/2011FS, six degrees of separation? I once worked with another of 'Mr Squiggles' progeny. I can't recall his given name atm. Nice bloke all the same.

Gravel

2/07/2011Acerbic Conehead Again another Saturday another smile, thank you. Ad Astra I apologise for using the word vitriolic in regards to Laura Tingle. I guess it was a sort of 'snark' in her voice that I,and maybe Janice, picked up. Like Janice that sort of way of putting women down had been a big part of my working life. Jason Thank you for putting that article from Laura Tingle up. It was an excellent, and may I say 'snark' free article. NormanK Sorry to hear you have been unwell, but by gee it certainly got your juices flowing. Your comment in the last thread was excellent. I had the feeling that you have tied up my and other commenters various thoughts very well.

D Mick Weir

2/07/2011It is wrong to pick on a single word in someones comment but this comment re TA's 'Carbon Tax Rantings' by Melbourne University Professor of Economics [b]John Freebairn[/b] is illuminating. [i]'As a dumb economist, my answer to Tony is, it is not as complicated as you think. A carbon price would tap the potential low-cost ways of reducing carbon pollution, his subsidy system does not do that'[/i] The word I will pick up on is: [b]Subsidy[/b] Why am I thinking: [i]Privatise the profits, socialise the losses'[/i] ?

Ad astra reply

2/07/2011Hi Lyn Thanks for another set of informative links – great reading. You really do find the best. D Mick Weir If Katherine Murphy can write such positive stuff about Julia Gillard, she must be doing something to impress. Gravel I think that it was Phillip Adams’ condescending tone towards Julia that resulted in Laura sounding perhaps less benign than she usually is. It is amazing how an interviewer can set the tone of an interview and draw the interviewee along for fear of sounding contradictory. I have witnessed this many times, which is why I plead for balanced unbiased interviewing, which is becoming a rarity as interviewers so often play out their own biases. Of course Adams is a friend of Kevin Rudd and so is annoyed with Julia. Folks I’m getting on the road now to the south coast – I’ll be back this evening.

Patricia WA

2/07/2011Dear Mick Weir, (I always think of you as that! :-) I will desist if you wish!) I was more struck by the last few words you quoted above, than by anything which preceded them. .....[i]for Gillard, something changed last week.[/i] The suggestion by Katherine Murphy and one which I think you accept is that Gillard is changing and growing into the job. I don't agree. I think that the [b]perceptions of Gillard [/b]are changing and there is beginning to be a reluctant admission from some in the media that she not only has the will, but also the capacity to be Prime Minister. In my view both have long been there, but the timing of her achieving the top job was not of her choosing or her design. She had no option on 24/06/10 but to accept a [i]fait accompli[/i] engineered by others. I imagine those hours of conversation between herself and Rudd while the world outside moved on was trying to convince him of the same, even an effort to negotiate some sort of face-saving formula, for both of them. I sensed no triumphalism in her first speech as PM and felt she would have preferred to have been making it in very different circumstances. Since then there have been quite a few articles speculating on Julia Gillard's character and performance as PM, but few give her the credit she deserves. There's always a patronising note in there. e.g Peter Hartcher made a similar sort of observation last November in the SMH . http://www.barossaherald.com.au/news/national/national/general/gillard-in-her-prime-pulls-a-careerdefining-rabbit-out-of-the-hat/2007470.aspx. I just found and dusted off my indignant response to that, which SMH chose not to publish. Julia Gillard now ‘in her prime?’ You just don’t know how high she’ll climb! She’ll reach heights even more sublime. Don’t judge until she’s done her time. This moment ‘career defining?’ She’s long been Labor’s silver lining! That’s why News is always whining, ‘Bring her down!’ ’Get her resigning!’ Pulled ‘a rabbit out of the hat?’ I’m not sure I’d agree with that! She’ll swatt Mr. Rabbit, SPLAT! Put him back in his box, real flat! Another article about Gillard really worth reading, is by Julia Baird http://www.nationaltimes.com.au/opinion/politics/lessons-from-sisters-who-fell-on-the-way-20100624-z3qr.html I hope, DMW, these articles might go a little way to respond to your comment about mine re. [i]putting good women down.[/i] If Julia Gillard were a man there would be no doubt about her fitness for the job of Prime Minister. News Ltd. and co could never have succeeded in their campaign to denigrate and then destroy her. That they've achieved the first, but not yet the second is a measure of her character.

John

2/07/2011AC I did enjoy reading this, and the mental pictures were true-to-life, and Mr Sqiggle. The characters are ideally suited: Viscount Monkton (he's not entitled to use 'Lord') as Mr S, a character from off the planet, is just wonderful John

NormanK

2/07/2011Acerbic Conehead I don't know what you are feeding your gerbils but they seem to be thriving on it. I suspect from previous comments you've made that the diet is mainly amber in colour and liquid in nature. One of these days we may have to set you a task by giving you half a dozen or so disparate topical quotes (supplied by your regular readers) and challenge you to weave them into a narrative. I have no doubt that you would succeed, the fun from my point of view would be to observe your method of attack. Thanks for another good laugh. Gravel It's interesting that a few days away can be so refreshing. In particular I find myself exhausted from reading so much opinion day after day. That's not a pointed comment on this blog but rather to say that more generally the majority of information that is delivered to us is pre-digested. My gerbils thrive on raw information and complain when I feed them too much junk food. That comment may not have been world-shatteringly novel but at least I could feel a certain amount of ownership.

Lyn

2/07/2011Hi Ad Thankyou. The kind words you and Talk Turkey have said to me make me feel special. How wonderful for us all to be a member of such a reputable blogg TPS, with such a large readership and so many talented contributors. I wonder what everyone thinks of Laurie Oakes Column today, his first since returning from the US. Laurie seems disillusioned with Tony Abbott and the Coalition in one breath, but then he turns around and blames Julia. Julia can't handle Abbotts negativity and lack of policy in the right way and is letting Australia down. The MSM talk all the time about the shamble of Question time, anyone and everyone can see it's Abbotts behaviour but then they blame Julia too. Really what is she supposed to do wave a wand and turn Abbott into a blackboard with his dacks over his mouth. [quote]Gillard administration continues to appear totally dysfunctional[/quote]. Really Laurie, 150 bills passed on top of everything else and they are dysfunctional. Wrong word. [quote]Trash talk over political mess, Laurie Oakes, Herald Sun[/quote] Quite a few of the populist policies Abbott hopes will propel him into power are uncosted, inconsistent, impractical or incompatible with the kind of responsible, conservative economic management he claims to believe in. Even the power-broker who installed Abbott as Liberal leader - recently retired senator Nick Minchin - has accused him behind closed doors of financial irresponsibility and failure to support good policy. OPPOSITIONS, like governments, should be held to account, but that will not happen while the [b]Gillard administration continues to appear totally dysfunctional.[/b] http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/trash-talk-over-political-mess/story-fn56baaq-1226085877353

Patricia WA

2/07/2011Dear Mick Weir ;-) I should have 'refreshed' when I came back from my walk to respond to your first comment on KM's article! Thanks for that link to Sophie Cunningham's article. I agree with her. Not just the [u]words[/u] of women should be celebrated either. Women themselves and particularly our PM. Maybe when we get the carbon pricing and ETS details announced, and a solid agreement with Malaysia which shows some constructive and progressive arrangements there will be the right moment for TPS to devote a thread to saying [i]"Let's celebrate, not denigrate, our Prime Minister!" [/i] Ad Astra's post http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/post/2011/06/28/What-Julia-Gillard-DOES-stand-for.aspx on what Julia Gillard does stand for was a wonderful opportunity to summarise her goals and achievements to date. It helped all of us to clarify in our minds why we at TPS feel so strongly that Julia Gillard and her government are well worth supporting. It's been a joy to come here to read over the past few days. Like all good things though........and AC's Mr. Squiggle certainly deserves our attention today after all the craziness of our own Mad Monk and the U.K's just as mad Lord Monckton.

nasking

2/07/2011At one point in the murder mystery 'In the Electric Mist' the spirit of a confederate general informs Tommy Lee Jones' detective character: ..."we served venal men and a vile enterprise". I cannot help but think that oneday, if not at present, many Australians working in the booming mining, gambling & live export industries will feel the same remorse. Some industries mutate due to greed & become too big for their own sanity...they attract the mega bad w/ the good...their booms are like the coming of the monsoon...bringing storms of money & jobs that few can resist...but disease and sickness are part of the offering. Many lives are touched in strange ways...some swept away...the intensity is worrying to observe. Hypnotic storms & booms have their costs. Now, like many others, I have the sense that the Independents in government are good men. And Bob Brown and his lot are decent folk. If they reckon PM Julia Gillard is a good enuff person to work with...then that's good enuff for me. I know desperate & venal characters when I see them...people willing to sell themselves for power & fortune...say anything to keep their hand in the honey jar...and the truth from comin' out. It's written large all over their faces & drips from their words & actions. Mitch Hooke, Gina Rinehart & Allan Jones seem to keep popping up these days...words laced w/ poison. Tony Abbott, Barnaby Joyce & Liberal senator Mathias Cormann feel the need to join them. As does The Australian's Chris Kenny. Some seem attracted to vile enterprises like mossies to sweet tastin' skin. -------------------- Mny thnx to Gravel...keep up the good work. Same to AC. Thumbs up. N'

Patricia WA

2/07/2011Very insightful 'N. Like NormanK's time with his garden your enforced time out from blogging brings insight plus and clarity too. I trust neither of you have had to pay too high a price in poor health to achieve this super-acuity! Looking back over this new thread and the previous one there are so many issues I'd like to comment on. With only so much time one tends to focus on what stirs one up. With hindsight I can see I have empathised with Julia Gillard recently perhaps to the point of becoming a bore. Then I read Gravel's comment about how she and Janice recognised [i]'that sort of way of putting women down'[/i] as a big part of their working lives. Me too. So I forgive myself. But there are other issues which disturb me so deeply that I tend to avoid them. Most important is that of the live sheep and cattle trade. Nasking has just reminded me of that again. His list of evil industries recalls Lyn's very early comment when those Indonesian abattoirs first hit the headlines. Remember her mother who never again touched meat once she learned of the fate of the chooks and lambs and other animals she fed, cared for and befriended as a child? I can't comment yet, but I know I have to go away and really think about that issue and come to some way of dealing with it beyond abhorrence and a turning away. Nasking talks about his 'sense' of the independents and Greens being 'good men' and that their good opinion of Julia Gillard is good enough for him. Same here. Every time I see Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshotte or Bob Brown I remind myself that they consider this government worth supporting. And I don't buy the pundits' idea that it's all about keeping their own seats, or vote buying by the ALP. At the same time when I see and hear Gina Rinehart, Clive Palmer et al in company with Alan Jones, I know I wouldn't support a government they want me to vote for. When I hear Twiggy Forrest trumpeting his having achieved more than 50,000 jobs 'pledged' for Aboriginals by mining and industry (of which some few thousand have become real employment) in a week when he's hosting Lord Monckton here in WA I know he cannot be trusted. Yes, 'N it may have something to do with the 'vile enterprises' they run. Bu just looking at mining magnates, owners of poker machine businesses and cigarette manufacturers they seem to emanate 'venality' as you so eloquently put it. It is indeed a 'sense' almost like smell, and it's instinctive, that repugnance for their blatant self- interest pursued ruthlessly at the cost of others, and now the expense of our country and indeed the planet.

Lyn

2/07/2011Hi Acerbic Conehead Congratulations you have been recommended by Wot News in their highlights. Good on you. Recent Highlights [b]The Blackboard, and Mr Squiggle himself is being played by that titled ...[/b] The following when speaking about his climate change policy: Speaking at the ... If economists take another look at his so-called direct action climate change http://wotnews.com.au/news/Law_Industry__and__Tony_Abbott/ Cheers :):):):):):)

nasking

2/07/2011[quote]It is indeed a 'sense' almost like smell, and it's instinctive, that repugnance for their blatant self- interest pursued ruthlessly at the cost of others, and now the expense of our country and indeed the planet. [/quote] Well said Patricia. I do believe that the stink that assails our nostrils is soon to reach many others...and they will see beyond the fog of greed...and recognise once more, as they did in the final days of Howard, that the costs related to such vile, rampant industries & enterprises outweigh the benefits... and the defenders such as Abbott, Joyce, Jones & Hooke are merely venal characters playing to the tune of an ill wind emanating from the commands of a few misguided rich folk who have forgotten that there is more to life than overseeing destruction of the planet and creating jobs that poison the DNA of the many... and hindering the type of progress that betters rather than diminishes lives...all life. And, providing charity for illness that your industries contribute to is on par w/ the serial killer who gives counselling to grieving families. We will dig to manufacture...for some time yet...but must we exhaust in a short time the resources created over million of years, the property of thousands of generations...in order to feed a Chinese nation that stockpiles its own future goals...and fill the coffers of those who are already brimming? Feels like watching a wealthy desperate collector w/ a terminal illness gather all the desired historical objects & artworks they can in a mansion not built to resist flames...allowing all to go up eventually & turn to ashes...as we realise how short-term & self-interested their thinking truly was...yet deceptive & brash & confident enuff to previously fool the reporters the MANY relied upon. It's time the measures that help to protect our resources and families from rorts, preventative illness and excessive digging are put in place...before the house burns down... leaving us wanting...and future generations less to work with. N'

Feral Skeleton

2/07/2011Nasking, The biggest test will be whether the Australian electorate can withstand the onslaught of paid propaganda in the form of all the ad campaigns that are about to hit their screens, and still retain their sense of perspective. That, and the media relentlessly pushing the Abbott tricycle, with all its bells and dog whistles, for all they're worth. Jeez, I hope so, because there is no more venal politician in Australia than Tony Abbott.

Feral Skeleton

2/07/2011I forgot to add this: http://www.smh.com.au/national/swan-slams-advertising-campaign-20110701-1gv3w.html

Ad astra

2/07/2011Patricia WA I enjoyed reading what you wrote. The Julia Baird article was sound and encouraging. I believe Julia Gillard is on the way to convincing open minded observers of her mettle and strength. Hi Lyn Laurie Oakes article was pretty disparaging of Tony Abbott, but of course he took a swing at Julia Gillard. He often has a bet both ways. Nasking Thank you for your thoughtful comments. Folks We didn't get away to the south coast today. We'll go tomorrow.

Lyn

3/07/2011 [b]TODAY'S LINKS [/b] [i]Where's my Gay Heroin. Bog, Jeremy Sear, An Onymous Lefty[/i] If the Greens are finally in control, then why haven’t they passed any of the diabolical legislation the Herald Sun and the Australian keep warning me about? http://anonymouslefty.wordpress.com/ [i]Bloomberg profiles Rupert Murdoch, Crikey[/i] profile on Rupert Murdoch, which charters his rise to the top of the global media empire, is available to watch online. Watch for the cameo from Australia’s leading bearded commentator Mungo MacCallum as an interviewee. http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/06/30/bloomberg-on-murdoch/ [i]Pollytrend, Election Sims and Labor’s worst month in government, Possum Comitatus, Pollytics[/i] the month of June turned out to be quite the mover and shaker – delivering the ALP it’s largest voter alienation in the history of the Rudd/Gillard government. http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollytics/2011/07/02/pollytrend-election-sims-and-labors-worst-month-in-government/ [i]The price we would pay for keeping the farm, Ross Gittins[/i] if we want to impose new restrictions on how much foreigners own, it's pretty safe to involve less economic development, slower economic growth than we were expecting and a more slowly rising standard of living. http://www.rossgittins.com/2011/07/price-we-would-pay-for-keeping-farm.html [i]Fair work? It’s all about political spin in industrial relations, Jill Murray, The Conversation[/i] Peter Reith’s spectacular re-emergence into Australian politics has enlivened the so-called “IR” debate. http://theconversation.edu.au/fair-work-its-all-about-political-spin-in-industrial-relations-2084 [i]The case against a sovereign wealth fund, Andrew Leigh, On Line Opinion[/i] (even if he did err in opposing the second stimulus package). In a thoughtful speech in April, Turnbull stated: 'I believe that the time has come for Australia to create a new sovereign wealth fund' http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=12258 [i]Abbott’s Arrogance Reaches New Heights, Climate Change Action[/i] Mr Abbott thinks Australian economists aren’t up to scratch for thinking his subsidies-for-polluters policy is inefficient, wasteful and fiscally irresponsible. Economists know that a scheme paying polluters and costing Australian households $720 per year http://climatechangeaction.org.au/abbotts-arrogance-reaches-new-heights/ [i]Why Newspapers Have Gone to Hell, Jack Shafer, Slate[/i] Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. moved in with a $5.6 billion offer for Dow Jones, owner of the Wall Street Journal,when heirs to that company showed a similar desire to cash out. Despite Murdoch's substantial investment in all aspects of the Journal, changes in newspaper economics forced News Corp. to take a $3 billion http://www.slate.com/id/2297750 [i]Australia's chief scientist: Research, not rhetoric , IanWilliam Chubb. The S Word[/i] the Australian government released a factsheet stating that many countries - and all of the major emitters - are acting now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions either through national or local action. http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/thesword/2011/06/australias-chief-scientist-res.html [i]Second Life,Mark Scott Embarks on Another Five-Year Term, Margaret Simons, The Monthly[/i] According to News Limited, the problem with the ABC remains left-wing bias, and this allegation is frequently repeated despite a lack of evidence in audience figures, complaints to the broadcaster or broad audience perception http://www.themonthly.com.au/mark-scott-embarks-another-five-year-term-second-life-margaret-simons-3471 [b]Newspapers[/b] Tony Abbott sniffs the wind and muzzles his front bench , Peter van Onselen, The Australian ABC's flagship Sunday morning political program Insiders invited Turnbull on last weekend, given the topicality of his portfolio. So did Australian Agenda on Sky News (disclaimer: which I host). Unfortunately for Barrie Cassidy and me, and the hundreds of thousands of Australians who tune in to Sunday morning television to hear what their political leaders have to say in long-form interviews, Abbott's office told Turnbull that he was not allowed to appear. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/commentary/tony-abbott-sniffs-the-wind-and-muzzles-his-front-bench/story-e6frgd0x-1226085894549 Banknotes and bribes: more arrests to come Nick McKenzie and Richard Baker ,, The Age The charges relate to up to $10 million in bribes allegedly paid between 1999 and 2005. http://www.theage.com.au/national/banknotes-and-bribes-more-arrests-to-come-20110701-1gvge.html

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3/07/2011LYN'S DAILY LINKS updated: http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/page/LYNS-DAILY-LINKS.aspx

Gravel

3/07/2011Nasking It appears to me that commenters that take a break from blogging and the media in general seem to come back with a clearer perspective and avoid the 'old' arguments and look at things in a bit different ways. It has happened to a few on this blog, Feral Skeleton, NormanK, and yourself are just three. In a few weeks I'll be away for about a week (yippee, my first venture away for over six months) and I will miss all this but look forward to getting back and catching up with what has happened. I can't see my perspective changing much as my respect for Julia has been around for a long time, she has not done anything so far for me to lose that respect so far. As for Abbott, my first feeling of real disgust was the way he treated Bernie Banton. I can't see any reason for that feeling to abate, in fact it has grown. I know that is not a really good way to look at things but that is the way I am.

2353

3/07/2011Just as the tables may be turning on one trick Tony as referred to above by DMW, Murdoch's empire may also be gaining some opposition. Has anyone else noticed how the "climate change is crap" message suddenly changed after his mother came out supporting the cause? Examples of opposition I've recently seen include I was following a car yesterday with a sticker on the real window "Do you know the truth? Or did News Limited tell you?" Another forum I frequent on the net commonly refers to any News Limited publication as "No News" due to its poor reporting of the subject matter the forum discusses (there are a large number of small/medium business owners as well as medium to high income earners on the site). Keep on going Swordsfolk, we're not the only wolves howling in the desert.

TalkTurkey

3/07/2011Goodmorning Swordsfolk Annabel Crabbe and George Megalogenis and Geront Henderson on Lopsiders to interview *J*U*L*I*A*. Crassidy trying to get her . . . She is no mood for nonsense. Up your nose Crassidy. You're still trying to snare her, and you still have attitude. Why don't you try being FRIENDLY? Just PLEASANT? Just CHAT? Be POLITE! READ THIS CRASSIDY, I call you CRASSIDY because you're bloody CRASS. "'Ditch the witch' gets another run" says Crassidy to Ms Gillard.! Gleefully, mischievously, pusillanimously! #*** you Crassidy! YOU're the one giving it another run! You reckon you're not guilty you creep! Can't you find somerthing worthwhile to talk about with the PRIME MINISTER? Millions of people watching, and you waste all our time, waving the filthiest stuff, Truss and Anal Jones them spitting venom, hatred in every face at that demo, you are really part of the ugliness yourself Crassidy. The PM says he can be fascinated with all thsi stuff, she's focussed on her determination to get things done. Signs off on simple up-note. Really boring weak uninspiring interviewing. No fun, no new angles, same old same old with a basically grubby underlying tenor. Crassidy isn't worthy of interviewing competent ministers. He just thinks he is. I think Waleed Ali might be about the only front-line TV journo who is. On non-commercial anyway. Who else? There MUST be more than one . . . surely . . ? . . Bring back Maxine!!!

Michael

3/07/2011http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/bob-brown-almost-co-pm-tony-abbott/story-e6frf7jx-1226086192747 In this article Tiny lambasts the Greens as holders of the balance of power in both Houses. They only ever get to 'balance power' because the Coalition is the Opposition of "NO!". The Greens have no 'power' of balancing except that given them by Tiny because of his constant obstructionism. When his party 'supports' the Government, as with the recent waving through of the last Budget's measures that he initially described as "class warfare", the Greens and Independents are sidelined. He also consistently fails to mention that the Greens would be in exactly the same position they are in now if the Independents switched support to the Coalition - holding the balance of power. Which would, by Shouldabeen's reasoning, continue to see Bob Brown as 'co-Prime Minister'. Even an election that put Tiny in the Lodge would most likely see the Greens retain the 'balance of power'. You've got to feel for the guy. Well, no, you don't. You just have to wonder at him. Bad Abbott!

2353

3/07/2011Wonder if Abbott will complain about this? http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/carbon-tax-wont-apply-to-petrol-price--pm-20110703-1gwy6.html

NormanK

3/07/20112353 Abbott won't complain but he will take credit for forcing the government into this 'backdown'. It must be comforting to always have a fall-back position e.g. I'm not wrong on Direct Action, the economists are.

Lyn

3/07/2011Hi Michael The Liberals are saying they are only a heart attack away from a bi-election for them to get into Government. But what happens if there is a heart attack in a safe Liberal seat. Just as much chance. Mr shouldabeen as you said would be in exactly the same postion as the Government is now even if he bribed the independents to his side. Worse really because they don't get along. No he doesn't tell the camera's that but surely everybody and anybody must know. Cheers :):):)

Lyn

3/07/2011Hi Ad My thoughts on The Insiders: Julia looks like a lovely Julia acts like a lovely She is a lovely Gerard Looks cranky He acts cranky He is cranky Annabel Looks funny She acts Funny She's [b]NOT[/b] funny Barrie Cassidy is not a match for Julia she put him right everytime. Did you hear the answer about the election being two years away, good one Julia, she got that covered. Cheers :):):):):)

Lyn

3/07/2011Hi ;Ad Sorry heaps the comments box fooled me again. Would you delete my duplicate insiders post for me please. Cheers :):):

psyclaw

3/07/2011I noticed Patricia WA's reference to Mr Andrew Forrest. I also note a recent article by Laura Tingle noting how the credentials of the "Mr Forrests" of the world, self appointed spokespeople for the odinary people, are never examined by the lazy journos who give oxygen to them. The excerpt following comes from Edensor v Anaconda, a case in the Vic Supreme Court. The full court repoert can be seen at the link provided. The case was one of Promissory Estoppel, and for those not familiar with that area of law, it deals specifically with cases where someone has deliberately, maliciously, and planfully caused harm to another. The law describes such conduct as "unconscionable", and to be so described by the law is an immense negative reflection on one's character. In this case, Mr Forrest was found to have deliberatley, maliciously and planfully caused harm to his then friend, Joseph Gutnick. Here are the excerpts: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/vic/VSC/2001/502.html Supreme Court of Victoria You are here: AustLII >> Databases >> Supreme Court of Victoria >> 2001 >> [2001] VSC 502 [Database Search] [Name Search] [Recent Decisions] [Noteup] [Download] [LawCite] [Context] [No Context] [Help] ________________________________________ Edensor Nominees Pty Ltd v Anaconda Nickel Ltd [2001] VSC 502 (18 December 2001) 122. In his dealings with Anaconda he had been warned not to trust Forrest. Nevertheless, he regarded Forrest as a friend whom he had known for many years. Indeed, at a time of much tension between the Gutnick interests and Anaconda in October and November 2000 Forrest reminded Gutnick of their friendship. The relevant correspondence from Forrest had all the hallmarks of cultivating trust. The extensive commercial and corporate experience and acumen of Gutnick was at odds with the acceptance by him, on his version, of Forrest's proposal on 4 September 2000 whereby Gutnick agreed to surrender control and management of Centaur to Anaconda. This he did contrary to the advice of his solicitor. When asked why he did so, Gutnick's response was brief and emphatic; it was because he trusted Forrest. Such acceptance on first blush may appear commercially foolish. It probably was. However, that is not the issue. 144. Despite being warned of the untrustworthiness of Forrest, on 4 September 2000 Gutnick trusted him and gave Forrest an important stepping stone in fulfilling the goal of the three provinces strategy, namely, control of Centaur. 145. I reject Forrest's evidence that he was not concerned about competitors gaining a foothold in Cawse. On the contrary, I am satisfied he was very conscious of the potential presence of competitors at the time including BHP, Billiton, Falconbridge and others. I am satisfied that when confronted with the Dennis memorandum and the strong opposition of Dennis to proceeding with the share sale agreement, Forrest needed to devise an interim arrangement to preserve the share sale deed and necessarily Anaconda's strategy in relation to the three provinces. In particular, Forrest wanted to quarantine Gutnick from outsiders who might interfere that strategy. 148. Gutnick was a truthful witness in all respects of his evidence. Having observed Forrest, including his physical demeanour, especially in the course of giving evidence-in-chief, I am unable to accept his version of the conversation of 4 September 2000. Forrest was an untruthful witness. 167. .......... Anaconda through Forrest, induced Edensor and Gutnick to adopt that assumption or expectation by making the assurances he did as to completion. The inducement in the circumstances was sufficiently clear although with minimal detail. Forrest offered the comfort that settlement would occur six months later. He gave Gutnick the further comfort of immediately paying the balance of moneys due on 4 September 2000. Forrest also gave Gutnick the comfort that the delay in settlement, the establishment of the loan and the transfer of control of Centaur were to be effected to facilitate negotiations with the U.S. bond holders. Gutnick, in turn, trusted Forrest and told him so. 169. Anaconda through Forrest knew or intended Gutnick and Edensor to act as they did in relation to the transfer of the board and management control of Centaur 176. Ultimately, I conclude that the conduct of Anaconda through Forrest on 4 September 2000 and subsequently was such that it was unconscionable deal elsewhere. Forrest wanted to preserve the transaction 190. I find that in making the representations Forrest did on 4 September 2000 together with the conduct of Anaconda thereafter, the duty of good faith implied into the share sale deed and the variation agreement was breached. 195. On analysis under the statute the principle representations were those made by Forrest on 4 September 2000. The representations were misleading and deceptive at the time of their making because he did not disclose the difficulties over due diligence or the matters revealed in the Dennis memorandum; he did not disclose that there was a risk or likelihood that Anaconda would not settle. The conduct was also misleading and deceptive as to the future intentions of Forrest and Anaconda: see Futuretronics International Pty Ltd v Gadzhis (1992) VR 217; Miba Pty Ltd and Ors v Nescor Industries Group Pty Ltd (1996) ATPR 41-534.(END OF EXCERPTS) The last sentence by His Honour at point 148 is telling.

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3/07/2011Hi Lyn Surplus posts deleted. We're finally off to the south coast today, so I'll be back this evening

Lyn

3/07/2011A big thankyou Ad Hope you have a nice day on the South Coast. Cheers :):):)

2353

3/07/2011Lyn, I did a post on the "heartbeat away from PM" statement on the last thread. In short, he's got a better chance of picking the 2011 Melbourne Cup.

Patricia WA

3/07/2011Thanks psyclaw, good to know one's own gut reaction is much the same as that of a learned judge! [quote]148. Gutnick was a truthful witness in all respects of his evidence. Having observed Forrest, [u]including his physical demeanour,[/u] especially in the course of giving evidence-in-chief, I am unable to accept his version of the conversation of 4 September 2000. Forrest was an untruthful witness. [/quote] My underline there. After earlier wondering if I really deserved Nasking's compliment about my expression of an instinctive distrust of Forrest et al, I checked out 'gut reactions' on the web. After all, my own personal perspective of a rusted on leftie, could be affecting my response to him. I don't know him personally at all, though here in the wild west it's not hard to know people who do know and quite like 'Twiggy' in spite of his squillions. 'Decent, friendly guy, no side' and all that. I've held my tongue in the past when I heard that sort of comment, but now I will be more forthcoming if his name is raised in a political discussion! Some say one should always trust one's gut reactions. It seems they are not informed by some obscure, inexplicable force but they actually begin with a perception of something outside — a facial expression, a tone of voice, a visual inconsistency so fleeting you're not even aware you noticed. The brilliantly complex brain, informed by a myriad nerve cells connected to our external senses of sight, sound and touch takes in a situation, does a very quick search of its files, and then finds its best analogue among the stored sprawl of memories and knowledge. So it's short cut to rapid cognition or condensed reasoning that takes advantage of the brain's built-in shortcuts. That's, not quite a quote, but a condensation, of things I read this morning about gut reaction that made sense to me at http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200704/gut-almighty. Even give this rationally acceptable information it seems to me that our gut reactions to people are still very personal, informed as they by our own experiences, memories, education and attitudes developed from birth on. Which I guess does explain why so many Australians these days don't seem to have the very similar gut reactions that we at The Political Sword all tend to share, particularly about Tony Abbott and mining magnates!

Patricia WA

3/07/2011psyclaw, I diverged from your own final point there, but I do have the judge's concluding comment engraved on my brain that[quote]the conduct was also misleading and deceptive as to the future intentions of Forrest and Anaconda.....[/quote] and I will recall it in less specific situations.

Acerbic Conehead 2

3/07/2011Apologies everyone, for not entering into the discussion sooner, but I’ve been spending some time on family matters, including offering support to someone experiencing bereavement. Anyway, Janice Thanks for the suggestion for donating a lycra suit made from that special material to Tones. I think within a short period wearing it, he would have reduced himself to a shadow of his former self. Lyn, Thanks again for two day’s worth of links. Plenty of food for thought there. I haven’t a clue who the [i]Wotnews [/i]guys are, but any publicity for AA and [i]The Political Sword[/i] has to be good. TT, I didn’t see AA’s missing “u” in the article heading before he corrected it. So thank you for insisting upon the high standards we have come to expect on [i]The Political Sword[/i]. However, I hope AA had his rubber gloves on when he extracted the offending letter from whichever orifice it was secluding itself. AA, Thank you again for your expert editorial advice on this article. However, I hasten to add that any remaining crudities are down to me and no reflection whatsoever on your good self. Lol. [quote]Don’t be surprised if Blackboard insists that he is not black at all, but white...[/quote] Yes, a bit [i]Alice in Wonderlandish[/i]. Also, it’s not surprising that a blackboard never writes anything down – too much like a “scripted remark”. Patricia WA, I’m glad the piece brought back fond memories of your viewing of Mr Squiggle. However, I’m sorry that I have inflicted such a charlatan on the good name of Mr Squiggle. Please forgive me. And thanks for sharing your verses on Julia Gillard “in her prime”. As well as having to put up with the usual vitriol directed against a PM, she also has to deal with the misogynist angle. Gravel, Great to hear from you again. I hope you have a great break. Enjoy your week away. John, I agree with you that ‘Lord’ Monckton is indeed “off the planet”. It shows how low the discussion of ideas has sunk to, when a clown like this can traipse the globe spruiking his nonsense. BTW, thanks for that timely warning on your blog about the dangers of a resurgent WorkChoices. I don’t think the evil genie wants to go back into the bottle. NormanK, Yes, it’s handy having a group (?) of gerbils as companions. “One for the gerbils, and one for me...one for the gerbils, and one for me...hic...” Nasking, Thanks for that timely warning about “desperate and venal characters” stalking the land. Yes, it’s about time we took decisive action and got weaned off the teat of our seemingly insatiable appetite for consuming things. Mother Nature is trying to tell us something. And I think I read recently you had been unwell, but are now starting to feel better. Keep your spirits up and hopefully you will be back to your old self as soon as possible. 2353, [quote]We’re not the only wolves howling in the desert.[/quote]Play the Blues. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ou-6A3MKow&feature=related And that article you linked to regarding no carbon tax on fuel is very interesting. Like the Malaysian solution, it could well be the death knell for another of Tones’ scare campaigns. Michael, Thanks for another Bad Abbott with the SMH story. The guy seems to want to get into the [i]Guinness Book of Records[/i] for stupidity. psyclaw, Thanks for that extract from the law report concerning Mr Forrest. Can’t say I’m surprised.

Pompous Goose

3/07/2011I haven't visited this site for some years and I am agahst at the lowering of the bar of quality debate. This site was once strident in its promotion of K.Rudd when he was Opposition Leader and arguing strongly for a change of government. Indeed many of the arguments that it put forward were reasonable and possibly reflected the anger in the broader community. Now some three years later you are relegated to satire and undergraduate hysteria about those that speak ill of the once proud and loud Labor Party. The disappointment you must have for the loss of K.Rudd the most popular Prime Minister and the unfortunate leadership (if according to the polls is what you would call it) of J-Gill now with the lowest popularity of any PM in history must be devastating to the tru believers. So much so the debate has lowered itself to Mr Squiggle analogies. Crumbs it must be disppointing for you but should you not be active in the current political debate, like: Let's do to the livestock business what we did to the insulation industry, or Let's debate tax versus levy versus price on carbon, or Let's debate how k.Rudd toured those hospitals promising the world only to have the world not yet working for the hospitals,or Maybe we can debate alternate leaders if J-Gill doesn't survive (Study history is my advice http://pompousgoose.wordpress.com/2011/06/24/when-we-look-for-a-new-prime-minister-study-history/ Or maybe ... just maybe the very passionate and articulate contributors to this site could discuss the merits of the Greens policy in relation to our current power supply. Satire and passionate humourless commentary comes from the Fawkener and Bracks report into the Party surely your friends are better than Mr Squiggle

NormanK

3/07/2011I stumbled onto this last night while looking for something else and, it being Sunday, I thought a bit of light relief might not go astray. This is one of my heroes (Loudon Wainwright III) singing about one of Feral Skeleton's heroes (Paul Krugman). It is not one of Loudon's best works so I've added a couple of his older songs in a bid to convince you that he is one of our sharpest social commentators. Apologies to those of you on Malcolm Turnbull's Superior Wireless Broadband Service. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK3-HAdUJx0 Hard Day on the Planet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9htLZr7DcU A Pretty Good Day So Far http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWi7yUcafr0 Sometimes I Forget (on the death of his father) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTlAwcsRZD0

macca

3/07/2011Once again, we here at TPS get bashed for expressing our veiws. I really can't understand how we are fomenting such angst in some sections of the blogosphere. Apparently we should not be in the political debate at all. To extrapolate that reasoning we, obviously, have no business voting either. I, for one, don't mind being a member of the Julia Gillard/Kevin Rudd/ Greg Combet/ Nicola Roxon /NBN/ BER/ HIS/CPRS/MRRT/ and others fan club. While the study of history is laudable. Sometimes beneficial. I just think that those who have the courage to actually make history, in real time, are to be applauded. The past is important. The future is vital.

Jason

3/07/2011macca, I had a look at the "pompus goose" and whilst he may not be happy with the subject matter "we" have here on the weekends, we seem to have something here that he doesn't! Comments!

nasking

3/07/2011[quote]The biggest test will be whether the Australian electorate can withstand the onslaught of paid propaganda in the form of all the ad campaigns that are about to hit their screens, and still retain their sense of perspective.[/quote] Feral, there's is something truly bizarre & grotesque going on when you have many in the media attempting to character assassinate one elderly Greens lady, Lee Rhiannon... and yet a group of bullying leaders of industry groups including the Minerals Council, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Coal Association, Manufacturing Australia, the Food and Grocery Council and the Plastics and Chemical Industries Association, can get away w/ soviet style propaganda...and attempts to bring down democratically elected governments. I truly wonder about the integrity of the media...and the rational thinking abilities of the public to fall for such hogwash. It seems that far too many are willing to be duped by corporate media lackeys these days. As tho many in the corporate media these days have the public interest at heart. And frankly, I reckon the overboard attacks on the ever calm Senator Rhiannon are just another case of mysogynists & right-wing conspiracy loons leading the charge for the likes of Rupert Murdoch, Gerard Henderson, Allan Jones & other relics from a bygone era. They pretend to be reformers...but if you peel off the surface you'll find the Scrooge before the ghostly visits core. Furthermore, the mocking I observed of The Greens this morning by ocker boy Cassidy on 'Insiders' as he mentioned their gathering today for a few pics, demonstrated to me that he still has a schoolyard perspective on many things...and should be left to pontificating on sports rather than dealing w/ important political issues. I wonder if he'll still be emanating scorn when The Greens help achieve the goals of Denticare, high speed rail, protecting small farmers from unwanted fracking & creating a stronger and more diverse renewable energy market as part of the government...and in the Senate? Wanker! N'

Jason

3/07/2011 Military 'resented' Howard Tom Hyland July 2, 2011. FORMER prime minister John Howard's 2001 decision to use the armed forces to turn away boatloads of asylum seekers was resented by sailors and soldiers who had to carry out his orders, retired senior military officers have revealed. While many cheered in 2001 when Mr Howard ordered the armed forces to stop the boats, those who carried out the order were silent. But 10 years later, some are speaking out. They reveal that one of the most popular decisions taken by a federal government was resented by many who had to put the prime minister's words into effect. Advertisement: Story continues below Some mock the government's rationale for stopping the boats. Some accuse the government of exploiting the military and misappropriating its courage for political gain. They include retired senior officers who were at the centre of events that unfolded over three hectic months, when domestic and international currents combined to change Australian history. In late August, armed SAS troops boarded the freighter Tampa to stop it bringing rescued asylum seekers to Australia. The government then ordered a massive navy operation to stop the boats. The September 11 attacks in the United States raised global fears of Islamic terrorism and local fears of terrorists arriving as refugees. A month later, Mr Howard called an election. At the same time, the US, with Australia, went to war in Afghanistan. Along the way there was the ''children overboard affair''. These days are recounted in Leaky Boat, an hour-long documentary that goes to air on ABC TV on Thursday. It features Mr Howard, his defence minister Peter Reith, former defence personnel and asylum seekers who are now Australian citizens. Two of those in the film have expanded on their experiences in interviews with The Sun-Herald: retired army brigadier Gary Bornholt, who at the time was head of military public relations, and Bec Lynd, a junior sailor on HMAS Adelaide, the ship involved in ''children overboard''. Mr Bornholt said one lesson of 2001 was the fact that ordering the navy to stop boats and tow them away was a recipe for disaster that put asylum seekers and ADF personnel at risk. Another is how a government could exploit the armed forces in a situation that was essentially a civil policing one. He fears the military remains reluctant to release information. ''My view is the public has an absolute right to know what the military is up to,'' he says. There are lessons, too, for a military hierarchy that willingly went along with the government. ''I don't think they stood up to be counted, and I don't think they were frank and fearless in the advice they gave to government,'' he says. Ms Lynd was a 22-year-old able seaman in October 2001 when the Adelaide ordered a leaky boat to turn around. When it refused, the frigate fired warning shots. Then, as the boat took on water, the government ordered the frigate not to rescue its passengers until the boat sank. When the rescue was finally approved, two sailors dived into the water. When crew members sent pictures to Canberra showing the rescue and the courage of the sailors, the government released the images as evidence that refugees had thrown children into the water. Ms Lynd, now 32 and a paramedic in Hobart, recalled what happened with a mixture of pride and disgust. ''It's left me with a long-lasting sense that we still aren't getting where we need to be in terms of accepting asylum seekers and processing them,'' she said. Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/national/military-resented-howard-20110702-1gw3t.html#ixzz1R1T5orSO

Lyn

3/07/2011Hi Jason Well said I couldn't agree with you more: [quote]I had a look at the "pompus goose" and whilst he may not be happy with the subject matter "we" have here on the weekends, we seem to have something here that he doesn't! Comments! [/quote] Macca has it spot on too: [quote]Apparently we should not be in the political debate at all. To extrapolate that reasoning we, obviously, have no business voting either. [/quote] Cheers :):):):)

Feral Skeleton

3/07/2011AcerbicC., Sorry to hear about your family matters. Might I therefore suggest a storyline if you are too harried to be able to come up with a new one? Surely the NBN would lend itself, at some stage, and I understand if it is not topical now then I guess not now, but maybe sometime to a tie-in to 'The IT Crowd' in order to tickle our funnybones? I can just picture Malcolm Turnbull as the devious toff in the top floor office. :)

janice

3/07/2011Good evening all. Did anyone watch Insiders this morning? It is quite awhile since I have tuned in to the show and was glad I did so this morning. Panelists were George Megalogenis, Annabel Crabby and Gerald Henderson. The latter was desperately trying to defend the odious one but not successfully :D: Our PM was a guest and she was brilliant in fending off Cassidy's attempts at gotchas. Later I was listening to my two sons sharing their experiences with the PM Gillard haters as they went about their work during the week. I was interested to hear them both agree that the "hate" is mostly misogny among the males and their women folk either say nothing or nod in agreement. The odious one is starting to flounder in his negativity, and now his supporters in the media are not as happy with him as they were a couple of months ago. The tide is definitely turning. No.1 son said the blokes see the PM as hard and bossy but he is amused that almost in the same breath they are not against the labor policies. Both my boys say they come across plenty of whingers and take great delight in pointing out, especially if they happen to be tradies, that they'd have been in deep shite if they hadn't been employed on BER projects etc.

nasking

3/07/2011[quote]As for Abbott, my first feeling of real disgust was the way he treated Bernie Banton. I can't see any reason for that feeling to abate, in fact it has grown. [/quote] Indeed Gravel, it tells us a great deal about this man. I was talking to my generally QLD National party voting father-in-law on Friday and he didn't have anything good to say about Abbott. He reckons "Abbott will never get in"...he seems to get amusement outa sayin' "Abbott's a real rabbit...ya know what we do with them." I reckon the longer he stays in the better. I can envision a future two years from now where his "wrecker" & "gospel truth" stances come back to bite him & his party big time. When you think of how much has changed in the past two years...you'd have to be pretty dopey to put yer money just on Abbott & his industry backers. I think we're gonna see some real continued deterioration & extremes related to the climate...and global economy...and people waking up everywhere to the menace that is rampant capitalism compared to better regulated semi-social/semi-liberal democracies. The economic system is built on some shaky foundations...whilst other previously more solid pillars have been eroded & undermined by greed & incompetence. It's essential we put in place more solid foundations based on less archaic & destructive industries & short-term thinking investors. Furthermore, it's pretty dumb to put all yer eggs in too few baskets...as evidenced by the Japanese nuclear fallout that has damaged their country economically & environmentally...and how much fertile land has been made unusable?...How many farmers driven off their land?...How many homes & factories destroyed & left abandoned? Relying too much on any potentially dangerous energy source that could lead to widespread destruction of yer national assets is pretty dumb. And that doesn't just go for nuclear. The same came be said for gas, oil, coal etc. Ya only need to look at the effects of the oil spills around the world...the poisoning of land & water & animals by gas fracking procedures...the many poisoned lungs and accidents due to coal mining...to know that as our fossil fuel resources diminish or get harder to find and bring to the surface, and demand increases from the large developing economies such as China & India...and market shareholders demand more profits and less regulation...that accidents will increase exponentially. Add to that potential for climate/earthquake-related disasters & terrorism/conflict in the race for resources...and ya get a pretty good idea as to why we need to move on renewable energy NOW. It's a no brainer. Pay now...or pay a damn site more later. N'

Feral Skeleton

3/07/2011Can you believe this guy? Abbott is back, like a bad penny(or, is that a 'Penny Dreadful' novel character? ;-) ), to calling for an election or plebiscite! http://www.watoday.com.au/national/this-time-with-meaning-abbott-renews-calls-for-carbon-tax-vote-20110702-1gvwz.html I don't remember Howard allowing the electorate a Yes/No vote, or a new election, on the GST after it was brought in. That would be the "Never Ever GST".

Feral Skeleton

3/07/2011This is from Peter Fitzsimon's column today. Couldn't have put it better myself: Explanation not too taxing [quote] Dear TFF, I have a question about the carbon tax that nobody seems to be able to answer. How does the carbon tax reduce pollution? Ian Dear Ian, The answer is that if there are two companies that make widgets, one using dirty power and the other using clean power, the one with dirty power will have to pass on the tax to consumers, making their widgets more expensive. This means the clean power widget-makers get rich as they sell more of their widgets, encouraging everybody in the widget business to convert to clean power or get left behind. On that basic model, the air gets cleaner and more sustainable.[/quote] Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/explanation-not-too-taxing-20110702-1gvvv.html#ixzz1R1ZZt000

Feral Skeleton

3/07/2011Pompous Goose, I'm glad I'm not you. You appear to have misplaced your funny bone. Think that The Chaser is too juvenile for words too? Or Clarke and Dawe? Or Jon Stewart? Or Stephen Colbert? Or.. All I can say is you must be a Conservative voter now, as you have no sense of humour.

Jason

3/07/2011FS, As Darryl Kerrigan once said " Tell him he's dreaming"

Jason

3/07/2011FS, If for some reason you have nothing better to do one day, have a look at this rubbish http://angryanderson.com/blog/ to think I quite liked him in Rose Tattoo

nasking

3/07/2011[quote]And I think I read recently you had been unwell, but are now starting to feel better. Keep your spirits up and hopefully you will be back to your old self as soon as possible.[/quote] Cheers AC. I have my okay days & bad days. Hopefully my cardiologist & a few lung tests I have to take soon will reveal more. I do appreciate however the affordable health system in this country...if I lived in America I imagine my wife & I would be on the verge of bankruptcy by now. Knowing that the help I'm receiving will not financially smash us does wonders for recovery...and ensures I don't allow my illnesses to deteriorate further. I still have memories of the American film 'Sicko'...and the attrocities committed & negligence practised by some private healthcare providers/insurers in America...the system that the Howard regime & the likes of Murdoch & Fox News would luv to bring here. I imagine Abbott & his "WorkChoice" pushers who have "mega-profits" & "tax cuts for the rich" in their dreams wouldn't mind stripping my wife & I's cupboard/home/bank account bare. N'

Lyn

3/07/2011Hi Jason Thankyou for your story and link to WA Today, I have put a note on the fridge to watch the documentary "Leaky Boat". [quote]These days are recounted in Leaky Boat, an hour-long documentary that goes to air on ABC TV on Thursday. It features Mr Howard, his defence minister Peter Reith, former defence personnel and asylum seekers who are now Australian citizens[/quote]. www.watoday.com.au/.../...ward-20110702-1gw3t.html Cheers:):):):):)

Feral Skeleton

3/07/2011Nas, we are about to start heading into another El Nino. :D

Acerbic Conehead 2

3/07/2011FS, Thanks for the kind words and the reminder about [i]The IT Crowd[/i]. I had forgotten about that series. Written by Graham Linehan, I believe, who was also behind [i]Fr Ted[/i] and [i]Black Books[/i]. I'll give that one some thought. Enjoy the rest of the weekend. Pompous Goose, Are you jj with feathers?

TalkTurkey

3/07/2011Pompous Goose said "I haven't visited this site for some years and I am agahst at the lowering of the bar of quality debate. This site was once strident in its promotion of K.Rudd when he was Opposition Leader and arguing strongly for a change of government." Liar. Funny how lying comes so immediately and inexpertly to your side Goosey. This site was never in operation while Kevin 07 was in opposition. Liar. Goosey, what we like to do with geese is like this. You get a 50 foot piece of thin waxed plaited nylon line, tie a bit of rindy bacon to one end and a fair size plastic bead with it. You feed that end to Goose #1 which promptly swallows it, (as you Goosey wanted us to swallow your lie. See we're not stupid like you.) Natural forces impel the bolus along the alimentary canal . . . The bacon is turned into foie gras, but the bead continues its bumlong rush to freedom, with the leading end of the rest of the cord following, so there's a few feet out one end, a piece running all through the Goose, and 45 feet still to travel through it. We then tie a fresh piece of rindy bacon to the bead end, and feed it to Goose #2. Yous Geese being very much dumber than us Turkeys, we may do this repeatedly until we have a whole gaggle of Geese on a string. Reminds me of Coalons all following stupidly after Goose #1, Abbortt Himself. Finally you feed Goose #1 a second helping... They can still feed but they don't go far! :) You're a liar Goosey. You didn't get through 2 sentences without lying, and you gave yourself away in the same distance. You are unworthy of the decent truthful aware clever and articulate persons who frequent this part of the blogosphere, Goosey, but you are real welcome here just the same, for me to sharpen my beak on. You're nothing but a low common liar Goosey. Just like Reith and Abbortt and all your sort. Up to and including and beyond things like Andrew Forrest. A crummy liar, so proven by yourself. We don't think much of liars around here. Your lot, it's lingua franca. Liar. And you're so hopeless at it!

psyclaw

3/07/2011I too looked at the pompous goose website. I think the adjective in his/her name is quite redundant. Isn't history so much clearer with 20/20 hindsight. Why can't the many geese around concede that after JG gets the 3 or 4 major works in current pogress all legislated in the next 6 or 12 months, historians writing in 4 or 5 years will be describing hers as a government of great reform. Pompous Goose: Family Law Act, Medibank, Trade Practices Act, various anti-Discrim Acts, HREOC, Law Reform Commission and many others....... not bad for a "hopeless" PM EGW and his government. Perhaps you could list some of JWH's equally reformist legislations...... I'd be particularly interested to see your list of the JWH social justice reforms.

Feral Skeleton

3/07/2011The ever-brilliant Stephen Fry on Global Warming: http://www.stephenfry.com/2007/11/19/getting-overheated/3/

Feral Skeleton

3/07/2011I don't think lyn linked to this one: http://www.independentaustralia.net/2011/politics/tony-abbott-betrays-peter-reith-triggering-workchoices-v2-0/

TalkTurkey

3/07/2011psyclaw Your contributions are much appreciated. Do keep posting. That expose of Andrew Ferrots you did was mo-o-o-ost enlightening! Yes he's dedicated to the welfare of the local traditional landowners now, whose local traditional land he cherishes so . . . 2353, that prognostication you did last thread re the chances of a double dissolution was my own thinking exactly. How much chance, I did sort of work it out once in my head, I don't remember but it was about a quarter of two-fifths of three-eighths of a very far call. That was compounded, and Abbott further confounded, by the chance of a workable government if he were to get into the attenuated form of power he could hope for, having so infuriated the Greens by such an act. I know why *J*U*L*I*A* is so chin-out lips-set confident, she has done the sums too and whatever the outcome of next election, the Chief Goose will be cooked by then. She will have been worse reviled and less praised, have fought better and braver, and got more done, our little Boadicea, than anyone since Edward Gough Whitlam. Oh but as for double dissolution, how about Reith and Abbott? Doesn't get much more dissolute than those two when it comes to truth-telling, nor more dissolved than their friendship! :)

Feral Skeleton

3/07/2011Tony Abbott truly has poisoned the political well in Australia. I can't believe I have just watched what could be termed 'Average Australians' at the petrol pumps in a vox pop, on keeping petrol out of the Climate Change policy, mouthing that mendacious political antichrist's words back to camera! According to them, because Julia Gillard said that there would be no Carbon Tax under a (majority) government she led, then they no longer believe a word she says. Even when it comes to the announcement she made about petrol today. These people have been mesmerised by Tony Abbott's mantras. It's like witnessing a mass hypnosis. Well, when I say Tony Abbott, I mean him and his echo chamber, such as The Bitch Queen of New South Wales, Alan Jones, et al. All the while, everyone involved in this mass hysteria against the Gillard government conveniently overlooks, the 'Never Ever GST', Tony Abbott's 'Rolled Gold Medicare Safety Net' pre-election promise, that turned to Fool's Gold after the election, and Howard's never-ending list, for so long as they kept him in power, of 'Core and Non-Core' election promises. However, having watched Tony Abbott's Gold medal performance in Uncomfortable Question Stonewalling, on Insiders today, I can't see reality intruding on federal politics as the game is being played by Abbott & Co., anytime soon.

Feral Skeleton

3/07/2011psyclaw, It has been noted that Andrew Forrest's 'promise' of 50,000 Indigenous Jobs, has been fulfilled by June 30! That is, 50,000 jobs have been promised. Ah, but the more perspicacious amongst us may well ask, "But how many jobs have been delivered to Indigenous Australians by Andrew Forrest and friends?" Well, very much less than 50,000 would be the answer. About 45,000 less. ;-)

Feral Skeleton

3/07/2011And for those writing the epitaphs of the Gillard government, hold on a moment, we have this little slow burn to go over the next couple of years: http://ashghebranious.wordpress.com/2011/07/03/multiculturalism-howard-style/ Praise the Lord and pass the popcorn! Also, thank goodness we have got the ALP in power now because they have been appointing all the correct people, as opposed to all the Right people, to positions in places at the pointy end of institutions such as the AFP, ASIC, the ABC and SBS boards. He he. :)

Ad astra reply

3/07/2011Folks I’m back at the freezing south coast. It’s been a long day – I’ll respond to your comments tomorrow.

Feral Skeleton

3/07/2011Nasking, You're correct with your speculation about the Christian Warriors and their Capitalist Cronies. If you are not strong enough to thrive, well, you must have done something wrong and brought down upon your head God's ire. It's all your fault! They have no sympathy for you. ;-)

Patricia WA

3/07/2011Hi DMW, AC and Ad Astra. Everyone really! I've used our exchange here at TPS about sexism and the PM, after watching her on Insiders today, to reproduce my pome here and some of our comment. http://polliepomes.wordpress.com/2011/07/03/is-julia-gillard-in-her-prime-2/ I hope it reflects what we felt about it, and most importantly what we feel about her! It has been a very busy thread on all sorts of topics!

Feral Skeleton

3/07/2011This is how Murdoch's main man, Roger Ailes, formulated the template that has stood Conservatives in good stead the world over. Especially since he got together with Murdoch: http://gawker.com/5814150/roger-ailes-secret-nixon+era-blueprint-for-fox-news

psyclaw

3/07/2011FS Although I was generally aware of the fact that the Chief Rabbotteer had rarely been interviewed on TV over recent months, it hadn't seeped into my slow consciousness that this was a strategy and that he'd been refusing to front interviewers. As B Cassidy said today, 18 months since he appeared on Lateline and about a year since any other CA program was able to get him to appear. He has lapped up his daily frocking-up, free, 15 second grabs, and strangely this has been enough to keep his credit high, with an obviously unthinking electorate. But save for these daily 15 second bursts of negativism, he's added nothing to the general debate. No doubt his minders are simply following the successful strategy they used in the pre-election period in August 2010 ......don't let him say anything because he'll stuff it up. But sooner or later this will have to end, since he now has amassed so many putative negative policies about big issues that will need explaining ie how /why he'll repeal or change Fair Work, NBN, Carbon Tax, Malaysia Asylum-seeker processing,Parental Leave etc. Not to mention his budgetary machinations and how he'll fund Direct Action, his tax cuts, loss of revenue from repealed Carbon Tax, and the $11 billion black hole starting point. No doubt we'll soon have another Rabbott-Robb-Hockey pass the batton "explanation" of his financial plans, in which fiasco none of them will state any credible economic info and which most (but hopefully not all)MSM journos will let go "straight through to the keeper".

TalkTurkey

4/07/2011Dear Feral Skeleton I know you've done it tough for a few weeks. Chin up Girl. You do so much! So many sites we see through you! So much truth! And you are unwavering and consistent in your commitment to the Left, I dig that, I have had it up to here with fine-weather political friends and pale equivocators and begrudging supporters, I think they're almost worse than the Rotten Right, at least you can depend on Them. As the Spirit (?!) tells St John the Divine (Revelations 15-16): 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold not hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Yeah well spirits can do that to you. :) ) But nobody's ever going to say you are lukewarm Professor Skeleton. [BTW I do enjoy quoting little bits of Scripture where I think it can cause the most harm, or even maybe good as like there. I don't quite know how I came by it but I seem to have a greater conversance with the Bible than most of the religious good-hearted deluded wackoes that come knocking on my door. I am always truly polite btw, I talk with them for a little while but I leave them, or they leave me rather, in no doubt as to my belief (not!) in their brand, any brand, of voodoo.] I think in the matter which caused you so much angst recently, HFS, you were in very much the same sort of position as *J*U*L*I*A* wrt her 'No carbon tax' "lie" which was not a lie, it was promise which she has been unable to keep, that's not the same thing at all. We have all made promises we have been unable to keep, it makes us feel bad and to wish that we had not used those words, but they are not and never were lies. I don't understand why she hasn't said so. Anybody can understand what I've just said. I told her to say it here on TPS somewhere, but she didn't take me up on it . . . And just as she might wish never to have said those o-so-quotable few words, so I am sure you might wish that you had included an accreditation to the originator of the original article; but I would have to think very much more lowly of you than I do to think that you ever practised to deceive. What, after the thousands of links to articles, the thousands of posts of your own entirely, what, you need to steal glory from one more of them like a dumb high-school kid, I don't think so! I understand how it all happened, in the end it was your own work of conversion to Oz, in a way it was an original work of your own creation. Don't feel bad. Feral, the Sword owes you much and we all value you to bits. How's Bruce?

Patricia WA

4/07/2011FS and psyclaw, I wonder how 'aware' many journos are about how they are being managed by forces beyond their own immediate management? Watching George Megalogenis today I wondered how informed was his opinion that Gillard and her government were really responsible for their 'failure' to get their message across? He seems a pretty straight thinker but it's hard to believe that he doesn't know what his employer, News Ltd. are doing throughout their media empire. On a lighter note.....Reading that article about Fox News and their tactics reminds me that yesterday I perjured myself when I was called on my phone at home by Newspoll. I was so keen to have the chance to express my support for the govt, that when I learned they only wanted to talk to someone between the ages of 18 and 33 I volunteered myself as the carer for my poor old gran who was technically the householder! "Would I do?" I asked. "Of course, if you've lived there longer than six months!" was the reply. So I volunteered my age, marital status, level of education and occupation etc. Apart from my age, I told the truth! Well, 'occupation - full time student' is sort of true, isn't it? But after all that, he only wanted to ask me if I watched Fox Sports Channel! If not, on which channel did I watch sport? Did I watch.... AFL? NRL? Rugby? Soccer? Cricket? Motor Sports? Golf? Tennis? The only political question was who would I prefer as Premier - Barnett or Ripper? So, a deadly dull Newspoll interview except that I was pleased about sounding like a convincing 32 y.o. and had the joy of saying a very firm NO a good few times.

Feral Skeleton

4/07/2011PatriciaWA, You go girl! :D

Feral Skeleton

4/07/2011Talk Turkey, You are a sweet bird. However, I was under the impression that your kind had sour-tasting flesh. Sir, you are not sour but sweet. Also, Bruce is back. He seems to go somewhere over Autumn and then reappear after the Winter Solstice. Maybe he's a Druid. Are you? :) Also, you are spot on the money wrt the piece in question. I can't hyperlink into Notepad, so I just blended the family of words. I thought that would be OK as the majority of the words were mine and it's the thoughts that count, but not so it seems to the Thought Police of the Internet. Anyway, I've learnt a very hard lesson from it all, and that is, you can only get away with unattributed writing if you are Julie Bishop. :D

Lyn

4/07/2011 [b]TODAY’S LINKS[/b] [i]Abbott vs Economists, John, True Politik[/i] It is classic political “shoot-the-messenger” response. He tried it, with only mixed success,on Ross Garnaut. Of course, it does nothing for public debate http://truepolitik.blogspot.com/2011/07/abbott-vs-economists.html [i]Is Julia Gillard In Her Prime?, Patriciawa, Polliepomes[/i] Her performance under extreme pressure and in the face slights and insults suggests that she may be not only in her physical prime, who knows, but she sure has a lot still to give to this country in terms of courage, intellect and leadership. http://polliepomes.wordpress.com/ [i]Multiculturalism, Howard style?, Ash, Ash’s Machiavellian Bloggery[/i] Howard policy of stopping the boats. Did this also involve bribes to do so Mr Howard?Is Mr Abbott advocating a return to the ‘old way’ of doing business in Asia and the Middle East? http://ashghebranious.wordpress.com/2011/07/03/multiculturalism-howard-style/ [i]Foreign investment and food security Paul Barratt. Australian Observer[/i] There can be all sorts of reasons for Australian Governments to decline to approve proposed investments by foreign government entities, but loss of sovereignty is not one of them http://aussieobserver.blogspot.com/2011/07/foreign-investment-and-food-security.html [i]Carbon price to exclude petrol, retirees to get cash compensation, Climate Spectator[/i] he's been trying to say to Australians, somehow he's got a magic pudding and everything he doescomes for free."Well it doesn't, it comes at a cost of $720 a year http://www.climatespectator.com.au/news/carbon-price-exclude-petrol-retirees-get-cash-compensation [i]Petrol promise can't be trusted, Abbott says, ABC[/i] "This is about as believable as her pre-election statement that there will be no carbon tax under the GovernmentI lead. The fact is you can't trust this Government http://rage.net.au/news/stories/2011/07/03/3259705.htm [i]Henderson’s selective history to defend Abbott, Stephen King, Core Economics[/i] more involvement by economists - particularly those in Universities. But for Henderson to argue that such involvement was absent in the past is to rewrite history. http://economics.com.au/p=7712&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hendersons-selective-history-to-defend-abbott [i]Tony Abbott: Carbon Tax Is 'Socialism Masquerading As Environmentalism', The Global Warming Policy Foundation[/i] Former Liberal leader Malcolm Turnbull, who crossed the floor in support of the CPRS, yesterday expressed faith in economist Ross Garnaut, the Government's climate change adviser. http://www.thegwpf.org/international-news/3363-tony-abbott-carbon-tax-is-socialism-masquerading-as-environmentalism.html [b]Reading[/b] [i]Never cross a crow – it will remember your face. Sunanda Creagh, The Conversation[/i] Crows can remember human faces associated with stressful situations for up to five years and they’ll also warn their friends, a study has found http://theconversation.edu.au/never-cross-a-crow-it-will-remember-your-face-2121 [i]Mining strips quality of life,Troy Rowling, Queensland Country Life[/i] About a decade ago, a vehicle of coal workers drove through the front gate of the couple's farm, past the shearing shed the couple was working in, on to a back paddock, back past the couple again and on to another paddock. http://qcl.farmonline.com.au/news/state/agribusiness-and-general/general/mining-strips-quality-of-life/2212455.aspx?storypage=0 [b]Newspapers[/b] [i]Tony Abbott spins it and muzzles his own men , Peter van Onselen, News Com[/i] It turns out Channel Ten's Meet the Press has had a standing offer for Abbott to appear on the program, which has gone unanswered for months. The same goes for the ABC's 7.30. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/commentary/tony-abbott-spins-it-and-muzzles-his-own-men/story-e6frgd0x-1226086728259

Gravel

4/07/2011Nasking You wrote: [i]I was talking to my generally QLD National party voting father-in-law on Friday and he didn't have anything good to say about Abbott. He reckons "Abbott will never get in"...he seems to get amusement outa sayin' "Abbott's a real rabbit...ya know what we do with them." [/i] Were you able to establish from you father-in-law if this was always the way he felt, or that he had lately come to this realisation? I too watched insiders, only because Julia was going to be on, and ended up watching the rest of it. Somehow these MSM people seem to have to rubbish Labor/Julia even when they something true against the opposition. It is like they can't just hold the opposition to account with making sure they don't praise Labor/Julia.

Ad astra reply

4/07/2011LYN'S DAILY LINKS updated: http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/page/LYNS-DAILY-LINKS.aspx

Michael

4/07/2011Monday's Bad Abbott Over the weekend Tiny Abbott rechristened himself from 'Shouldabeen' to 'Gunnabe', and along the way offered advice as to how the future Labor Opposition should handle being "shattered" by his inevitable landslide win at the next election. So Shouldabeen became Gunnabe by coming over all Nostradamus on us. What time will tell time will tell. What Abbott tells us has only one smell. Rank. I just lo-ove my dictionary: rank (esp. of something bad or deficient) complete and utter (used for emphasis) : rank stupidity | rank amateurs | a rank outsider.

debbiep

4/07/2011 The sad case is gravel I'm sure its ALL done for ratings . I see the media now including the ABC wanting to make a 'story' for people to 'watch' and 'follow' . To be entertained. And what do the people seem to like the best, putting Sh** on others , mixed with a little reality TV , then add in a lot of drama . That's why Today Tonight has top ratings.....along with the others TV Series that include those factors. They are now becoming a big DVD watch ,as well as high ratings on TV. It's the 'new' big spinner in $$. Even big budget movies are losing audiences, becoming boring, to many. So putting this all together you can see where the media are getting their 'scripts' from. And why, it's all about the $$ dollar after all. just my thoughts anyway...

debbiep

4/07/2011 In other words, I feel the MSM are trying to make politicial news seem like a "story " . A day-to-day like drama ,for you the viewer to continue to tune in every day to 'watch'. I may be wrong but that's the impression I get, sadly.

TalkTurkey

4/07/2011Feral Skeleton Sweet/Sour? No worries. Pork, fish, caviare, escargot, truffles, custard? Sure. Anything you like. Us LiarBirds can imitate anything.

Gravel

4/07/2011debbiep Yes you have nailed it, a day to day soapie to keep everyone trapped in. That explains the apparent negativity that everyone is experiencing right now. There are goodies and baddies in every show. Under Howard, the Government were the goodies. Under Rudd, and now Gillard, the Government has become the baddies. Not just baddies, but Labor 'help the needy, let the better off look after themselves bad bad baddies. Hey I even put a smile on my own face reading the paragraph above. The media have gone past Lindsay Tanner's "Sideshow" into 'days of our lives' parody. Democracy is definitely on a very fast slippery slope. Just caught a bit on the TV, Abbott has tabled a whatever to ask the Government to have a plebiscite and or an election before a Carbon Price is enacted. As Talk Turkey is wont to say "Dog help us". Ooh how appropriate the recapture says: noNews fused

Jason

4/07/2011CUhlmann | 1 minute ago Opposition leader Tony Abbott will be on 730 tonight. On carbon tax, economy and politics.

Lyn

4/07/2011 Hi Michael Thankyou for your enjoyable Monday's Bad Abbott , great name "Gunnabe". Look what Phillip Coorey calls Gunnabe "Human Slogan". Did you see Mr Gunnabe said this morning he will abide by the results of a plebiscite on the Carbon Tax, of course everybody is supposed to believe Gunnabe. Michael Said:- [i]Over the weekend Tiny Abbott rechristened himself from 'Shouldabeen' to 'Gunnabe', and along the way offered advice as to how the future Labor Opposition should handle being "shattered" by his inevitable landslide win at the next election[/i] Abbott to abide by carbon tax vote result ,SMH Mr Abbott told parliament there was no excuse not to hold a plebiscite. [quote]But on Monday he told the House of Representatives, in presenting his private member's bill that aims to set up the national poll, [b]he would accept the final vote[/b].[/quote] "This is a government, this is a prime minister who holds office under false pretences," he said http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/abbott-to-abide-by-carbon-tax-vote-result-20110704-1gxrg.html Mandates and eggheads, the latest victims of Tony, [b]the human slogan[/b], Phillip Coorey, SMH [quote]So Abbott's leadership is built on the denial of a mandate. Labor in its first term had mandates for lesser policies as well, but got no love from the Senate, which blocked almost everything.[/quote] http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/mandates-and-eggheads-the-latest-victims-of-tony-the-human-slogan-20110703-1gx64.html Abbott pushes ahead with plebiscite plan for carbon tax, News Com [quote]Mr Abbott today is scheduled to attempt to introduce legislation for a plebiscite on carbon pricing into the House of Representatives[/quote]. http://www.news.com.au/national/australian-government-prepares-to-defend-carbon-tax-scheme/story-e6frfkvr-1226086991610 Cheers Michael you are doing a fabulous job thankyou so mch. ::):):)

Lyn

4/07/2011Hi Jason Thankyou for telling us about the 7.30 report. Funny Gunnabe has just decided now to appear on the program ,couldn't be because of the bad press reports yesterday, number one was Barrie Cassidy he said Gunnabe hasn't been on Lateline for 18 months. Cheers :):):):)

Michael

4/07/2011Abbott on 7:30 Report tonight. Will we see a Mark Riley moment... err, 36 sequential and deathly silent moments? A Kerry O'Brien "look, I'm no tech-head" sidestep? A Tony Jones freeze when he was caught out dropping in on Cardinal Pell an election or three back? Or will we see Chris Uhlmann offer GunnaBe a soapbox and a megaphone? Why do I feel most likely the last, CU raises Tiny, and Tiny follows the script?

BSA Bob

4/07/2011Gravel at 8.27 Agreed that the ALP is seemingly not to be reported in a good light under any circumstances. One ABC ploy I find is, on the rare occasions when the Government is allowed to be seen to be giving as good as it gets, to say something like "both sides are squabbling...". Never concede them a win.

Lyn

4/07/2011Hi Jason Mr Denmore is aware of the bias by Uhlmann : MrDenmoreMr Denmore Someone said @CUhlmann will be 'interviewing' Abbott while sitting on his lap. That seems most unfair. You can take dictation in other ways. 32 minutes agoFavoriteRetweetReply

Ad astra reply

4/07/2011Folks I'm just getting round to responding to comments that came in since yesterday. First my response to Pompous Goose. Pompous Goose First, welcome to [i]The Political Sword[/i]. I hope you will return to add to the discourse here, one that you feel has slipped. Having visited your website, I see that you have an impressive background; your opinions will be worth considering. Your facts about [i]TPS[/i] are not quite right. It began in September 2008, long after Kevin Rudd had moved from Opposition Leader to PM. The general tenor of the site was supportive of Rudd and his Government and indeed the first piece was: [i]In search of the political Holy Grail – the Rudd Government narrative[/i], http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/post/2008/09/14/In-search-of-the-political-Holy-Grail-e28093-the-Rudd-Government-narrative.aspx which was an attempt to answer the critics who were asking what the narrative was, apparently unable to perceive it, yet to many of us it was quite apparent. It is true to say that most people who comment here were supportive of the Rudd Government, and are now supportive of the Gillard Government. We can see the shortcomings of these governments, chief of which is the difficulty they have in explaining their policies and plans, albeit to some extent understandable since they are complex. We wish that they had a better media unit that could craft memorable messages and develop a smart media strategy. Many of us here witness daily the destructive attacks from the Opposition that the Government has continually to withstand, and the way it is assaulted day after day by large sections of the media, particularly the Murdoch media, which seem hell-bent on demeaning almost everything the Government says, does or plans to do, so much so that bringing the Gillard Government down seems its intent, a reality that is now dawning in media circles. It seems to us that with such powerful forces aligned against what the Government is trying to do, it deserves to be supported by those who believe that it is acting in the best interests of this nation against formidable odds, and that the alternative government is such an appalling prospect, that we must raise our voices in support of the Gillard Government and against the prospect of an Abbott-led government. There are relatively few voices in support, most of them in the Fifth Estate. So we unashamedly express supportive views of PM Gillard and her Government while acknowledging that is not without fault. We acknowledge that she has changed tack on some issues, the result of changed circumstances, and believe that a politician that is not able to adapt to changed conditions is not worthy of high office. I suggest you accept the genuineness of our views and read the well-reasoned comments, often backed by verifiable facts, which appear here day after day. You ought not to be surprised that we bristle at your coming here and telling us that our standards have dropped because we include satire, and that we ought to discuss the topics you list in your post. If you look back through recent posts and the hundreds of comments that have been posted, you will find that all of these have been discussed in detail. As for the satire, which we post at the weekend, we find it not only entertaining but also perspicacious, pointing us to truths in a different and clever way. I note that you are among the many who have written off Julia Gillard as incompetent, which you attribute to lack of parliamentary experience. You cite Simon Crean as one who has the experience that could make a sound PM. I must say I have a lot of time for Simon Crean whom I have always found to be reasonable, logical and articulate. I was sorry to see him hounded out of the Leader of the Opposition position, mainly by a hostile and persistent media campaign, not dissimilar to what we are now witnessing against Julia Gillard. Most here have a very different view of Julia Gillard to the one you hold. We think she is not only competent, but is undertaking a series of difficult but necessary reforms, which take great courage to initiate and even more to successfully conclude. She faces great obstacles and aggressive opposition to every thing she says and does, and a lot of personal abuse and ridicule to boot. We believe she has the strength and determination to see these reforms through, and wish her well, as she attempts to set this nation on the right course for the future, a course with which we concur on most matters. Of course many who blog elsewhere will disagree with that assessment; only time will tell who is right about her. If you return to comment, you may prefer to make constructive well-reasoned contributions to the debate instead of leaving gratuitous criticism about this site and those who contribute here.

TalkTurkey

4/07/2011Lyn said, "MrDenmoreMr Denmore Someone said @CUhlmann will be 'interviewing' Abbott while sitting on his lap. That seems most unfair. You can take dictation in other ways." Ermmmmmmm . . . Ummmm . . . Am I missing something or is that a pun on dictation or what? I'm shocked at my own thinking here! But is that the only way "taking dictation" on TV can be taken? Imagine with Anal Jones on radio! :) Recaptcha bingo: SIEMENS opirsing [It's like the Oracle! You can often understand half of it, never the whole.] I bet Paul the Psychic Octpus could've. Quel dommage!

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4/07/2011TT Your assessment of [i]Insiders[/i] and Barrie Cassidy was apt. I hope you will pass on your views to Cassidy himself or is it Crassidy? Michael Bob Brown as co-PM scares the wits out of Tony Abbott psyclaw Thank you for the interesting excerpts from the from the judgement of Edensor v Anaconda, in the Vic Supreme Court – a very interesting commentary on Twiggy Forrest. macca You say: [i]I, for one, don't mind being a member of the Julia Gillard/Kevin Rudd/ Greg Combet/ Nicola Roxon /NBN/ BER/ HIS/CPRS/MRRT/ and others fan club.[/i] Neither do I. Jason Thanks for your excerpts from Military 'resented' Howard by Tom Hyland. Very interesting. Nasking It’s good to read that you are improving. I hadn’t seen the attacks on Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon, but it is par for the course with News Limited, which has launched an even more vitriolic attack on the Greens than on Labor.

2353

4/07/2011I suspect that NoNews (as another forum I frequent calls them) has made a decision that it is easier to do a FUD campaign on The Greens than Labor. The Greens probably have less firepower (and certainly less history) to come back with. I saw today that Murdoch has been sidelined in his bid to run the Australia (Broadcasting) Network in Asia. Couldn't happen to a nicer bloke! http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/media-and-marketing/late-rule-change-undercuts-bid-for-national-tv-service-20110703-1gxfy.html The ALP is growing in confidence - what do they know that we don't?

Feral Skeleton

4/07/2011Tony Abbott's 'Slogans for Bogans'. Commentary Gold from Crikey today.

Feral Skeleton

4/07/20112353, Crikey seems to think, via Margaret Simons report today, so it is probably believable, that the Australia Broadcasting Network in Asia contract is a proxy war between Kevin Rudd and Stephen Conroy. Initially, Rudd hauled it in under his department's aegis, and, as it is said that he has been cosying up again to News Ltd scribes and editors(after they succeeded in ruining his Prime Ministership I can only say he must be suffering from Stockholm Syndrome), then that is the reason that the contract was supposed to be about to be given to Sky/ Murdoch. However, Stephen Conroy has hoiked it away from Rudd and wants to give it to the ABC(which is just a roundabout way of giving it to Murdoch these days, but there you go), and so Cabinet whacked in a new tender requirement and it's going around the block again.

Ad astra reply

4/07/2011Hi Lyn Thank you for your links to Abbott on the plebiscite matter. He presses on as if people are listening. It will be interesting to see what he says tonight on the [i]7.30[/i].

Lyn

4/07/2011Hi Ad It's good to see you back safe from the freezing Coast. I have a feeling your coast is different to our coast. This is interesting video of Harvey Norman Attack Ad:- video or the withdrawn Ad: The Get Up Australia’s website encourages visitors to ‘share the ad they don’t want you to see’. [quote]Harvey Norman attack ad censored by Commercials Advice An ad for the pressure group Get Up Australia, which pastiches the advertising of furniture retailer Harvey Norman to attack its environmental credentials, has been censored by Commercials Advice.[/quote] http://mumbrella.com.au/harvey-norman-attack-ad-censored-by-commercials-advice-51438 Cheers :):):):)

Feral Skeleton

4/07/2011This is how they do it: http://www.alternet.org/story/151497/14_propaganda_techniques_fox_%22news%22_uses_to_brainwash_americans?page=entire

Feral Skeleton

4/07/2011Here also is the NoHarveyNo website link: http://noharveyno.net/#

D Mick Weir

4/07/2011Evening All, This afternoon, while on the road, I was tuned in to Radio National and got totally absorbed in [b]Counterpoint[/b] The item, [b]climate, culture and conflict[/b] with David Burchell, Lecturer in the School of Humanities & Languages, University of Western Sydney, was a real ear-opener. [i]Dr Burchell discusses the polarising effect that the climate debate has had on the Australian electorate. He points to the vanishing centre in Australian political life, the free fall in the ALP's primary vote and the electorate's increasing anger.[/i] You can listen here: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/counterpoint/stories/2011/3258673.htm Amongst other great points is probably the most succinct and accurate summary of the rise and demise of Kevin Rudd and the 'crisis' that now confronts the ALP. When asked about the electorates continuing fascination with Rudd, Burchell opened with: [i]'Kevin Rudd is the fantasy figure generated by the culture wars ...'[/i] and then continued to encapsulate the current political climate very well. He also gave a very interesting take on the blogosphere - MSM 'debate'. Well worth spending 10 -12 mins of listening.

NormanK

4/07/2011I'm not one to blow my own trumpet buuuuuuuuuuuut ...... I did predict that Mr Abbott would try to take credit for petrol being excluded from the ETS. The [i]7.30[/i] interview was a good start but as I said the other day, the only way that Abbott can be exposed as a hollow man is if he is dragged out into the light and subjected to continuous confrontation. One interview where his inconsistencies are put back to him won't do it. It's time that the emptiness of his statements is questioned on a daily basis.

Lyn

4/07/2011Hi Norman K The interview was advertised to tell us The Liberals Policy. Their policy 1 billion the Government 11 billion, so thats 5% see 5% is 5% . The billion comes out of the budget that's not costing anyone any money. So Abbott takes credit for no price on petrol, but he said yesterday that Julia Gillard was telling a lie.Does he then take credit for the lie. ACCI, the employers lobby group most respected economic body in the country, are they Liberal. forgotten families - who are they. No policies he must have pragmatism based on values, Ummmm Cheers :):):):):)

Feral Skeleton

4/07/2011NormanK, So Chris Uhlmann didn't sit in Abbott's lap and take dictation,huh? I might watch the replay on iView then. As it was, I watched Masterchef. At least you know their show is contrived to within an inch of it's life, and take it at face value. Now, we also know that Abbott is contrived to within an inch of his political life, but I just haven't seen anyone calling him on it yet. Maybe the Uhlmann Trouble and Strife has had a word in Chrissy Boy's shell-like to that effect. I'll reserve my judgement until I see the replay as to whether Mr U. has started the 'Calling to Account' ball rolling yet or not.

NormanK

4/07/2011lyn You're not being cynical about Mr Abbott's replies, are you? :) To the likes of you and me his replies were as silly as most of his declarations are generally but it will take more than one ABC interview (limp lettuce style) to put on display his inconsistencies and lies. You will have noted that the government's 5% reduction in emissions will be ineffective but the Coalitions 5% reduction will be the bee's knees. I've given up on this man. He has become a caricature of himself.

NormanK

4/07/2011FS Don't get your hopes up. A few of his stupid contradictions were put to him but Uhlman was mostly just going through the motions.

John

4/07/2011Hi AC - thanks for the feedback about the WorkChoices genie. [quote]thanks for that timely warning on your blog about the dangers of a resurgent WorkChoices. I don’t think the evil genie wants to go back into the bottle. [/quote] Not only has Peter reith let the genie out of the bottle, it's also alive and well in NSW. For now it haunts public servants, but it will undoubtedly spread from there. Lyn, et al. I believe GetUp! has submitted an alternative ad to FreeTV, after the original was refused classification, & therefore unable to be shown. :)

Lyn

4/07/2011Hi Norman K Now why would you ever think that "[quote]You're not being cynical about Mr Abbott's replies,[/quote] [quote]are you[/quote]" Answer - YES but that's what Mr Abbott said if they can do 5% we will do 5%. Norman K did you notice Chris Uhlmann never butted in once, but he did make Mr Abbott' eyes go very narrow and his head wobble just a little mainly to one side. Wet lettuce interview and all, I don't think Mr Abbott will go on 7.30pm again, you know why, because he will be too busy trying to find one billion dollars in the "great big 11 billion black hole" Good to see you are feeling better and bringing back my rose, see you forgot you gave that rose to me didn't you. You ask Mick Weir you told him one day and I was listening. Cheers. :):):):)

Lyn

4/07/2011Hi Ad I forgot about the trees, that's right Mr Abbott is going to find the trees and there was good soil to be found too. Budget savings will pay for carbon: Abbott SMH [quote]We will find savings in the Budget to purchase these emission reductions," Mr Abbott said. We will find savings in the Budget to purchase these emission reductions," Mr Abbott said. "One of the good things about our policy is that we will find extra trees ..[/quote] http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/budget-savings-will-pay-for-carbon-abbott-20110704-1gz2a.html cheers :):):):

2353

4/07/2011FS, I was watching Mythbusters - at least there educational content and the odd explosion! I don't think I'll bother with 7.30, Q&A is bad enough!

Jason

4/07/2011latikambourke | 8 minutes ago Mathias Cormann in his maiden speech says ETS is a 'positive and sensible approach' to global warming. http://j.mp/mQbeUA HT @read_about_it

psyclaw

4/07/2011Tonight has been a pretty good night on TV for common sense in the political arena. My personal vibe after 7.30, Q and A, and Lateline is that the tide just might be turning. The Chief Rabbotteer submitted to a CU interview and I was surprised that CU was quite persistent and the free advert for the Opposition that I expected didn't occur. Abbott had no answer of any depth to any question....just bluster, cliche, mantra and negativism. And he admitted to favouring pragmatism over policy, although not in writing so he may say otherwise tomorrow. he looked like a tool. Q and A was very enjoyable ...... P Wong brilliant and certainly many many more tweets attesting to her class than ever before ..... I think there were zero anti-PW tweets. All her answers even handed, calm and insightful. Even former journo, MP and now Christian Schools leader Stephen O'Dougherty made much sense in discussing AGW. He hammered the coalition's ie Abbott's conduct in this important public debate. The audience which was 40%+ Coalition supporters not once denigrated the words of reason from all 4 participants who put many anti-Abbott views up over the hour. Only Mathais Gormann, who vainly tried to argue for Abbott as saviour of the nation was blatantly partisan, and pretty well unsupported by all other guests and the audience. Thanks Jaso for your last link to MG's maiden speecch ....what a joke...... in the speech he praised an ETS as the proper way to combat AGW.....and tonight argued the opposite. The night's climax was Mr Rudd on Lateline. Ali Moore (who I quite admire as a journo who will ask tough questions) asked questions about the Thai election, Mr Rudd's role in the Malaysian discussions, Mr Rudd's role in the livestock Indonesian matter, and his role/views of the carbon tax process as at today. Mr Rudd's answers to all questions were competent, authoritative, suitable to his current role, and praising of the efforts of various other ministers including the PM. and he pointed out many examples of his behind the scenes actions in these various matters. Much as Ms Moore tried to get him to compare his CPRS to JG's ETS, Mr Rudd gave logical and well measured answers eg he stated that any minor differences between CPRS and ETS were of no consequence .... that carbon is priced is the only issue, he said. No where in the I/V did any answer or non answer give the slightest hint of anything but good team membership on his part. It will be interesting to see who in the MSM will tomorrow be the first to invent that KR had some sort of swipe at the PM. Well done Mr Rudd. Well done JG and the MPCCC ....fruits of the labour will be arriving soon. Comedy piece of the night was the Chief Rabbotteer's daily frock-up ....pretending to be a Queenbeyan fruito, setting up a banana display as he smeared that today's announcement exempting fuel was another JG lie. I guess he'll still be denying reality the day the GG assents the legislation. A close second in the comedy stakes was Sloppy Joe mantra-ing the old passe claim that Mr Brown is the tail wagging the dog. I'm really enjoying the shrill, vacuous and repetitious protests of the Opposition as the reality of the carbon tax closes in on them.

Patricia WA

5/07/2011Lyn, maybe Tony Abbott is planning to buy out Gunns and fix Tasmania's forestry problems! He could keep the plantations and make space for even more of them by selling off the old growth timber to Harvey Norman! That way he finds more trees and the revenue he needs too! And he gets to prove that money does grow on trees. The economists are wrong about that too! psyclaw, you've left nothing for us to say! Or disagree with! One thing I wished Penny Wong had mentioned to the woman crying poor about the loss of live cattle revenue was the MLA and their responsibility to assist from indemnity funds. Wasn't it their dereliction of a duty for which they've received vast subsidies which had allowed this scandal to develop?

Feral Skeleton

5/07/2011psyclaw, Yes, that was a brilliant interview between Ali Moore and our Kevvy(hmm, I wonder whose nose that statement will get up & before it does, let me just say, I have always loved Kevin, just not as a functioning PM, much, much better as FM). A lot of thrust and parry. Ms Moore getting up on her digs, Mr Rudd being totally alive to every nuance and 'Theme' barrow she was trying to push. Jolly good fun. I especially loved the little dig in the sides Ali gave Kevin when she read out all the countries he's been to as FM, but not Malaysia or Indonesia! Whereupon the Big K pointedly came back with, "Well, you know it's not all sitting in big rooms in the countries with flags all around anymore"(or wtte). As in, "You're sooo 20th century in your thinking Ms Ali). Great stuff. :) Now to get depressed as I read the morning papers about the tour de force(when it should have been 'Tour De Farce'), that was the Abbott interview, and the 'defensive' Rudd interview. Sigh.

Feral Skeleton

5/07/2011Looks like the Gillard government are having greater success than Howard in actually catching People Smugglers as well: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/07/05/3260953.htm

Lyn

5/07/2011 [b]TODAY’S LINKS[/b] [i]On the QT: Feel the audacity of the Greens! Greg Jericho, Grog’s Gamut[/i] journalists, would be advised to not lose grip on reality. Just because there are nine Greens Senators doesn't change the world, and today it certainly didn’t http://grogsgamut.blogspot.com/ [i]The Scortched Earth, Ash, Ash’s Machiavellian Bloggery[/i] Time is up. The coalition know it. A change in senate numbers means that they lose even the ability to throw bureaucracy in the way of legislation to delay it. Now comes the coalition’s greatest fear. Compromise. http://ashghebranious.wordpress.com/ [i]Time for a Greens reality check, Mungo MacCullum, The Drum[/i] Question Time is approaching the point where it will need an introduction warning of coarse language and scenes that viewers might find distressing. http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/2781824.html [i]The #lolbolt thread, Jeremy Sear, Pure Poison[/i] So we’re going to have a weekly #lolbolt thread (to go with the #lolbolt section on the podcast) where those in the mood for watching monkeys making fools of themselves http://blogs.crikey.com.au/purepoison/2011/07/04/the-lolbolt-thread/ [i]Garnaut bows out, Brian, Larvatus Prodeo[/i] In bowing out of his role as the Government’s climate advisor, he did take a swipe at the media which he described asirresponsible and “somewhat rabid”. http://larvatusprodeo.net/2011/07/04/garnaut-bows-out/ [i]Foreign ownership or boat arrivals – which is most likely to invade and conquer? Jennifer Wilson, No Place for Sheep[/i] On the Watermelon Blog on Saturday, David Horton notes that when a recent Greens’ survey revealed that 83% of mining companies in Australian are owned overseas there was, in his words, “a swift http://noplaceforsheep.com/2011/07/04/foreign-ownership-or-boat-arrivals-%e2%80%93-which-is-most-likely-to-invade-and-conquer/ [i] A Political Balance, Gary Sauer-Thompson, Public Opinion[/i] The Greens had wanted petrol covered because transport causes around 17% of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions. They lost.So they cannot be calling the policy shots. http://www.sauer-thompson.com/archives/opinion/2011/07/political-balan.php#more [i]John Quiggin, ‘ Marxism without revolution and Left strategy: A response (Part one), Dr Tad, Left Flank[/i] In responding it is difficult to know where to start because the case he mounts is tautological, often well astray in its representationsof what Marx said, and replays well-worn tropes about http://left-flank.blogspot.com/2011/07/john-quiggin-marxism-without-revolution.html [i]You think our Labor leader is bad? Peter Martin[/i] The UK's Labour leader has turned himself into a YouTube joke:' http://www.petermartin.com.au/2011/07/you-think-our-labor-leaders-are-bad.html [i]Turnbull is all about Seoul Paul Budde, Technology Spectator[/i] Comparing South Korea with Australia – or, for that matter, a comparison between any two countries – is futile, since political, social, economic, geographic and environmental situations vary so widely http://technologyspectator.com.au/nbn-buzz/turnbull-all-about-seoul?utm_source=Technology+Spectator+List&utm_campaign=f3ff708716-TECH_SPEC_DAILY&utm_medium=email [i]Farms, mines and foreign ownership. A case for regulation in the national interest? Michael Santhanam-Martin, The Conversation[/i] Addressing the issue of national and global food security requires more than a faith in markets and current planningpolicies. It is a legitimate question of national interest and ethical responsibility. http://theconversation.edu.au/farms-mines-and-foreign-ownership-a-case-for-regulation-in-the-national-interest-2107 [i]Gillard’s petrol trade-off more complex than it seems, Gerard Henderson, Crikey[/i] Where the government is being eminently sensible is in — as the AFR revealed — imposing a carbon price on business fuel use via a reduction in fuel tax concessions. http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/07/04/gillards-petrol-trade-off-more-complex-than-it-seems/ [i]Aftermath of Japan shows Oz at greater risk of tsunamis, Amber Jamieson, Rooted[/i] He spoke of how frustrating it was to learn that thousands of people went to Bondi Beachwhen tsunami warnings were issued last year in the hope of ‘watching’ the tsunami. http://blogs.crikey.com.au/rooted/2011/07/04/japan-quake-has-south-pacific-ramifications/ [i]Government blocks Sky bid for national TV service, Daniel Flitton, The Canberra Times[/i] The Gillard government has made an unprecedented intervention in an official tender process to stop Sky News Australia, partly owned by Rupert Murdoch, winning a $223 million contract to broadcast Australia's television service http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/national/national/general/government-blocks-sky-bid-for-national-tv-service/2214731.aspx?src=rss [i]Sky News sidelined in Australia Network tender –process: report , Cyril Washbrook, The Spy Report[/i] The move raises questions about the integrity of the tender process, potentially giving the impression that theGovernment is seeking to avoid awarding the contract to Sky News, part-owned by News Corp http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2011/07/04/sky-news-sidelined-in-australia-network-tender-process-report/?utm_source=wordtwit&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=wordtwit [i]Report: Govt intervenes to stop SKY News running Australia Network,David Knox , TV Tonight[/i] The ten year contract, worth $223 million, was recently delayed by six months, and shifted from Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd’s portfolio to Communications Minister Senator Stephen Conroy, http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2011/07/report-govt-intervenes-to-stop-sky-news-running-australia-network.html [i]Rudd defends Australia Network tender changes, Jeremy Thompson, ABC[/i] Fairfax press is reporting the tender process was changed because Sky News - which is part-owned byRupert Murdoch's News Limited - was about to win the bid over the current broadcaster, the ABC. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/07/04/3260156.htm [i]World Turned Upside Down, David Horton, The Watermelon Blog[/i] The Opposition, particularly Tony Abbott himself, has latched on to this technique of predicted chaos.Chaos can emerge at any moment from unions, the young, unemployed, students, greenies, women, http://davidhortonsblog.com/2011/07/04/world-turned-upside-down/ [i]Transcript of press conference, Canberra[/i] [i]MON 04 JULY 2011 Prime Minister of Australia, The Hon Julia Gillard[/i] Subject(s): Climate change; Carbon price; Live cattle exports; News Limited; Australian Labor Party; Australia Network http://www.pm.gov.au/press-office/transcript-press-conference-canberra-13

Feral Skeleton

5/07/2011Wow lyn! You've outdone yourself today! Thank you. :)

Lyn

5/07/2011Hi Feral How are you going? getting your spunk and zest back I am really pleased to see. Smart move by the Government to release the Carbon Policy on Sunday, getting up Mr Abbott's nose. Parliament not sitting for 5 weeks, makes the stunts a bit harder. Cheers :):):):):):)

Michael

5/07/2011Tuesday's Bad Abbott The 7:30 interview was not live, so we'll never know how it really unfolded, and what was subsequently cut out before the results went to air. Can't even do a fair dinkum interview, can he, NeverGunnaBe? Trotted out some silly (well, duhh!) comments, of course. I read elsewhere that it will take ten times the area of Australia currently given over to agricultural cropping to be planted with 'new' trees to hit the targets the Coalition claims as direct action on climate change through arboreal methods. Ergo, under Coalition policy (hello Warren, hello Barnaby), no land for wheat, sorghum, corn, sugar, lettuces, tomatoes... well, you get it. We'll have lots more shade, though. Which is very considerate, don't you think? Coalition Direct Action boils down to more tree cover (very cooling on those long bike rides) and every item on the dining table and in the refrigerator imported.

Lyn

5/07/2011Hi Ad This article is a good read with lot's of worthwhile links. if you have time to scamble your brain. THE DISTILLERY: Rates gloom ‎ Business Spectator - Glenn Dyer - 44 minutes ago Gillard's talk about those "doing it tough" and Tony Abbott's cost-of-living attacks confuse things and invite the wrong policy responses." Good read! ... http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Greek-default-SP-interest-rates-RBA-global-credit--pd20110705-JFRZF?OpenDocument&src=sph

Gravel

5/07/2011Lyn Can I agree with Feral Skeleton's comment, you certainly have done yourself proud, as you do day after day, thank you. Ad Astra Thank you for again outlining why most of us are supporting this Labor government. I only wish I had a good analytical mind like most of the posters have.

Lyn

5/07/2011Hi Michael You are a little beauty, thankyou as always for your Bad Abbott report, I love it. Makes my day. [quote]Can't even do a fair dinkum interview, can he, NeverGunnaBe[/quote] Cheers :):):):)

Ad astra reply

5/07/2011LYN'S DAILY LINKS updated: http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/page/LYNS-DAILY-LINKS.aspx

janice

5/07/2011Michael, [quote]The 7:30 interview was not live, so we'll never know how it really unfolded, and what was subsequently cut out before the results went to air. [/quote] If only the fly on the wall in the cutting room was equipped with a phone/camera :D: Our National Broadcaster is a disgrace.

Feral Skeleton

5/07/2011Michael, Don't forget, and you can believe this because Malcolm Turnbull said it, that Abbott's (In)Direct (In)Action policy has been crafted in order to be able to be dropped as needs be. So, if there's not enough land to plant the needed trees on, say, if the Nationals do a bit of jumping up and down about 'Food Security', then away it goes into the bottom drawer. Anyway, I've noticed that Bad Abbott's description of the scheme has altered slightly to now only being spoken of as the trees being planted on 'Marginal Land', by a 'Standing Green Army'(got to get that military metaphor in there to tickle the fancy of the National Pride voter), instead of the arable land that you would have thought we needed to plant trees on in order for them to actually, you know, survive and grow and, um, store heaps of Carbon. Look, basically, I'm with Turnbull on this one. Abbott has a 'Climate Change policy' which is basically a fig leaf designed to get him to the next election. After that, all bets are off and he'll just find the form of words eventually to ditch it.

Lyn

5/07/2011Hi Gravel Thankyou so much you are always so sweet. I am very pleased to see you enjoying Today's Links and also your health improvement is marvellous. There sure is some reading out there, looks like lots more coming up because there will be an uproar when this Carbon Policy gets released. What did they say this morning the trucks are going to stage a road block, the farmers are going to be so poor they will have to trade in their Mercedes for a morris minor. Mr Abbott wanted a revolt, he has sure stirred up the country. North Shore house owners will have to move to 5 bedroom houses instead of 10. Hotels won't be able to sell high tea. 4 car owners will have to have 2. Gerry Harvey is broke, Newspapers are on the nose. The list goes on,nobody is grateful for anything, my Mum and Dad always respected the Government it was insulting to accept any handouts from the Government. Cheers :):):):):):):):)

Feral Skeleton

5/07/2011lyn, You can be sure the Stunt Man and his 'Slogans for Bogans' Misinformation Unit will sniff out the faintest whiff of discontent in the community with the Price on Carbon Pollution and Climate Change policy, along with his facilitators and enablers in the Propaganda Unit, erm, Murdoch Media, and will be onto any half-baked complaint like a fly on .... ;-)

TalkTurkey

5/07/2011Lyn I don't know how you do it. I haven't looked at your linked articles yet this AM, but I know there will be good stuff there today. Because things are shifting to the better, and especially, away from the worse. We could almost do a sort of mental air-graph, using the overall trend of the tenor of the thousands of articles you direct us to, which would show a small but very determined little recent up-turn in Leftist prognostications re the Government's fortunes. psyclaw As you may know The Political Sword has been shortlisted for the Wonkley Award for Best Amateur Political Blogsite this year, and may I say, your contributions are exactly the sort of stuff which should clinch that rightly-prestigious honour for us.(US!) Besides that, your efforts are enjoyable, upbeat and informative. Long may you blog here. Michael, Gravel, Janice, NormanK, PatriciaWA, John, debbiep, jason, 2353, macca, DMW, Acerbic Conehead, Plus who've I missed on this thread alone?- Ad astra and Lyn and Feral Skeleton go without saying of course!) - Plus 170+ others so far - You start to feel like a staunch bunch. That is comme il faut, and it's beaut. Have you noticed the subtle shift to a jaw-set optimistic determined group feeling in the last 2 weeks? Since the Winter Solstice, in point of time and fact. NormanK said "I'm not one to blow my own trumpet buuuuuuuuuuuut ...... I did predict that Mr Abbott would try to take credit for petrol being excluded from the ETS." True NK and very prescient of you too! Sniff on that, Abbortt! Buuuuuuuuuuut . . . being one to blow my own vuvuzela, (I'm not musically gifted!) I have likewise predicted this upturn almost since the election . . . It's been slow coming, Abbortt makes up in hype and boorishness what he lacks in policy and intelligence, and of course the MSM have been complicit with him at every step, but this is the very upturn I've been predicting, for the reasons I have been so sure it would happen. All the fuel for Abbortt's spotfires is about exhausted at last, and ashes will be his reward. YUMMMMMM! I am about 50-50 that Abbortt will/not lead the Coalons to the next election. It's Lose-Lose for them, whatever they think and whatever they do. Prognostications? If they had a decent alternative I would predict Abbortt's demise within about 9 months - and that's still when they would have to do it by - but I think panic is really about to set in as they realize that he has taken them up a dead-end alley, and they have no easy way out. Stick with Abbortt, or what? Heh heh. They will know he's a loser soon, and they have no-one to blame but themselves. My predictions, btw, are based firmly on the fact that *J*U*L*I*A* has never wavered, she knows what she's doing and she has Combet and Roxon and Rudd and all her brilliant front bench behind her. Venceremos! No pasaran!

Patricia WA

5/07/2011Not just sniff out discontent, FS, they foment fear and uncertainty wherever possible. I'm astonished that more economists aren't pointing out Abbott's impact on consumer confidence. Though I guess they too are hostage to media owners. Surely though, business, particularly retail, should be complaining about his tactics, not blaming government for the necessarily slow and steady progress to a compromise agreement in the best interests of the economy and the country. Lots to think about again this morning, thanks to you Lyn. What did I do before having you to kick start my old brain every day?

Feral Skeleton

5/07/2011I really don't mean to be pushy, but I implore you all, again, to read this article: www.alternet.org/.../14_propaganda_techniques_fox_%22news%22_uses_to_brainwash_americans It says everything you need to know about how the Murdoch Media spins its web of deceit, and how Tony Abbott and the Liberal National Coalition work hand-in-glove with them as they perform their political schtick.

NormanK

5/07/2011Feral Skeleton Your link above doesn't seem to be working. Here is the [i]AlterNet[/i] link again. [b]14 Propaganda Techniques Fox "News" Uses to Brainwash Americans[/b] by Dr Cynthia Boaz [quote]There is nothing more sacred to the maintenance of democracy than a free press. Access to comprehensive, accurate and quality information is essential to the manifestation of Socratic citizenship - the society characterized by a civically engaged, well-informed and socially invested populace. Thus, to the degree that access to quality information is willfully or unintentionally obstructed, democracy itself is degraded.[/quote] http://www.alternet.org/story/151497/14_propaganda_techniques_fox_%22news%22_uses_to_brainwash_americans?page=entire I join FS in recommending this article - thanks for providing it FS. I was a little disappointed that there is no category or nomenclature for the technique of overstatment in today's reporting e.g. 'forced to deny' when in fact the interviewee is simply responding to questions put to them. 'Defend', 'slam', 'at odds with', 'backflip' (poor old backflip), 'forced to reveal', 'declares war on' and many more belong in this category and can seriously slant a news item in the wrong direction. Is there a name for such practices?

NormanK

5/07/2011D Mick Weir @July 4. 2011 07:45 PM Thanks for the link to the David Burchell interview. Very interesting listening.

Jason

5/07/2011Ouch!"bangs head on keyboard" What would have happend if he won? Why doesn't the "ABC" give him his own show FFS! "In the first of his weekly columns for The Drum, Peter Reith looks at how the Liberal Party is faring across Australia" http://www.abc.net.au/thedrum/

Patricia WA

5/07/2011Talk Turkey, re the Wonkleys and what we owe to Lyn and Ad Astra, my son who is of a rather independent turn of mind, with whom I don't talk politics, surprised me by raving on at me about Lyn's Links yesterday. I think he came here through polliepomes and keeping a watchful eye on his old mum and her doings. Anyway he explained to me about something called SEOs or Search Engine Optimisation and told me how grateful I should be to Lyn, as if I didn't know already! When I thought about it a bit I realised that what I love here is the warmth and appreciation we all get and the opportunity to exchange ideas with like minded people, as well as the quality of the featured posts. I particularly love the way Lyn and AA, and others too, welcome new visitors, and have made that part of the general [i]esprit[/i] of TPS . I don't know if SEO statistics have an imput in the Wonkley Awards, and it's fascinating to think of Google knowing precisely how many hundreds of people visit here daily to use Lyn's Link's as their early morning reading guide, but that's not the only point is it? The depth and quality of the articles, the sharpness of the satire, and the liveliness of the comment they excite matter too. I'm sure those things will count as much or more when the 'judges' decide. Isn't that how we'd like politics to be? What we want to see are principled politicians who love what they do, produce high quality legislation and communicate the rationale and impact of that to us with courtesy and respect for each other, no matter how vigorously they debate isses. We particularly don't want them to compromise their principles for popular approval, or use polling statistics to shape legislation. The quality of their achievements could then be the major determining factor for their judges, the voters, at election time.

nasking

5/07/2011I'm surprised that noone has brought up Four Corners from last nite. The attrocities shown committed by the Sri Lankan government & military are horrific. Over a year ago I put up images of executions in Sri Lanka...but even I did not realise the extent of the massacre. Herding thousands upon thousands of innocent civilians into areas to be slaughtered, designated hospitals bombed, women raped & murdered...truly sickening. The heart of darkness. Justice MUST be done by the international community who let these poor people down. These genocidal war criminals in Sri Lanka MUST be pursued & tried. To allow such injustices to go unpunished puts a bad light on humanity as a whole. Everyone decent person should demand such. And no Sri Lankan Tamil related to that dreadful event should be further traumatised by bein' sent to Malaysia. We should not be contributing further to their pain. The Australian government needs to push the case for those abused people - I was disappointed that Ali Moore on Lateline did not bring this issue up w/ FM Rudd last night. The Sri Lankan attrocities are as bad as any I've seen & read about... thumbs up to Channel Four in the UK for their dilligent work in exposing these war crimes... and to Four Corners for showing this eye opening & highly disturbing doco. K erry O'Brien gave a useful & appropriately emotive introduction...but I wish he had mentioned that many of the refugees in boats that have been verballed so badly by the Aussie public/media in recent years were fleeing those attrocities in Sri Lanka. Sad days indeed. "Stop the boats"...by gawd, it's enuff to make a sane person vomit. Shame on Abbott & the Murdoch media & the talkback rats. N'

nasking

5/07/2011A link: http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2011/s3257956.htm Presented by Kerry O'Brien, "Sri Lanka's Killing Fields" goes to air on Monday 4th July at 8.30pm on ABC1. It is repeated on Tuesday 5th July at 11.35pm. It can also be seen at 8.00pm on Saturdays on ABC News 24. It is also available on ABC iview. ---- N'

Lyn

5/07/2011Hi Jason Don't bang your head please, we need you. Thankyou for the link to Peter Reith on the Drum. This is Mumble having his say about Mr Reith. [quote]What’s Reithy up to?, Mumble , The Australian [quote]In his Age spray a week ago, the former Howard minister contrasted Abbott with the courageous “two new Liberal premiers (Ted Baillieu in Victoria and Barry O’Farrell in NSW) [who recently] announced workplace relations initiatives[/quote] It’s called “small target” and it’s the route Tony is trying to travel to the Lodge. Of course the next Coalition government would change IR laws. Everyone knows that. But what’s the point of advertising it now? So Abbott did a Howard, promising to never ever touch the Fair Work Act But Peter Reith of all people urging full disclosure before an election? What’s he up to? Ego? Bored? Missing politics? [/quote]http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/mumble/index.php/theaustralian/comments/whats_reithy_up_to/

nasking

5/07/2011The brilliant work bein' done by the Four Corners lot is yet another reason why the Australia Network should be left in the hands of the ABC. The idea of the Murdoch media & Ch. Nine getting their hands on it by way of SKY NEWS & promoting Australia to the rest of the world is insane. How much influence does Murdoch want? Far too much. A man whose papers led the charge on treating the Sri Lankan refugees as "invaders". Disgraceful! Enuff of this grotesque corporatisation of our media. More integrity required. N'

Ad astra reply

5/07/2011FS Thank you for the Alternet link to the article about Fox News propaganda techniques. It is informative reading, giving as it does categories of propaganda that we can use to describe the similar techniques that are used here. I agree with NormanK, we need a category to describe the tactics he describes: 'Forced to deny', 'defend', 'slam', 'at odds with', 'backflip', 'forced to reveal', 'declares war on' to which I would add 'rule in, rule out' and 'gotcha' attempts, where the interviewee is urged to reveal information that is still under wraps. Perhaps we can add a thirteenth category: ‘Pejorative words and verbal traps’. The article is at: http://www.alternet.org/story/151497/14_propaganda_techniques_fox_%22news%22_uses_to_brainwash_americans?page=entire

Lyn

5/07/2011Hi Patricia Thankyou for your fabulous compliment. Tell your son I love him for his remarks and kind words, they know what goes on, their all tech heads. We are very proud of you Patricia with your own blog and wonderful polliepomes, there is no other like you, genuine, original and unique. As you said before it is great to learn the computer techniques, there is no end to it, also funny how the smallest detail is always so important. Easy when we know how. Your son must be very proud of you, there are quite a few around don't even know what a blog is, let alone own one. I had no end of trouble with my new keyboard, you have got now idea, anyway I found out there was a tiny switch under the battery lid, under the batteries. [quote]The depth and quality of the articles, the sharpness of the satire, and the liveliness of the comment they excite matter too[/quote]. We do have a brilliant home here on TPS thankyou Ad Astra, so many loyal writers, commenters with fantastic opinions. TPS is second to none. Cheers :):):):):):)

Feral Skeleton

5/07/2011Yes, lyn, we WILL beat Grog this year! :D

Feral Skeleton

5/07/2011Did anyone see the babbling Abbott and his mate, Bovver Boy Barnaby at the trucking depot (quel surprise!) this morning? I detected an ever so slight shift in the editorial treatment of Mr A. and Mr B. today by the ABC. They actually showed Tony only helping with the loading of a few boxes onto the truck, and then him getting back into his cushy Commonwealth Car to head off again to parliament. As for Barnaby, no one needs to creatively edit his morphing into Australia's version of Screaming Lord Such. He even let fly with the BS word today. Surely conduct unbecoming a Senator?

nasking

5/07/2011At Crikey: NotW scandal: Conroy must play probity card in Oz Network contract by Stephen Mayne There can be no greater lack of transparency than illegally hacking thousands of phone messages for up to a decade. If Julia Gillard declared in Question Time today that the probity of tenderers was an issue and she was appalled by the Milly Dowler revelations overnight, the News Corp outlets would be obliged to report about one of its most despicable acts in the 58 years Rupert Murdoch has spent building the company. more here: http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/07/05/notw-scandal-conroy-must-play-probity-card-in-oz-network-contract/ N'

nasking

5/07/2011[quote]Bovver Boy Barnaby at the trucking depot [/quote] Feral, check Mr. Integrity out: BILLIONAIRE mining magnate Gina Rinehart flew Coalition MPs, including the Liberal Party's deputy leader Julie Bishop and Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce, to take part in a sumptuous three day-wedding of a prominent Indian industrialist in Hyderabad. Ms Rinehart took the Canberra delegation by private jet to a Reddy family wedding earlier this week. The Reddy family company, infrastructure behemoth GVK, is seeking a controlling stake in coal mines owned by the Hancock group. http://www.theage.com.au/national/gina-rinehart-flew-mps-to-india-for-lavish-wedding-20110616-1g5zf.html N'

Patricia WA

5/07/2011Thanks, Lyn, Not just for the compliment, but for yet another inspiring link! I looked at Mumble's comment, and here is what I think! (Ignore those rhymes) He talks about [quote]the route Tony is trying to travel to the Lodge. [/quote] I hope everyone understands the term 'clean and jerk' - a weight lifting exercise with barbells [b]Tony Abbott Doesn’t Want The Lodge![/b] The media have really got it wrong, With their stale, monotonous theme song Of Tony Abbott trying to dislodge Our PM, so he can occupy the Lodge. Anyone can see that’s silly. Where he wants to live is Kirribilli! Ask any TV news reporter, He needs surf to prove he walks on water Before daily shots of his ‘cleans and jerks.’ Sydney is also where his wife still works. As she must. His job’s without security; One day fame and then obscurity. They have a mortgage which must be paid From meeting that she won’t be swayed. She knows that ‘money doesn’t grow on trees.’ That’s no empty economists’ reprise For her. The money has to come from somewhere. You can’t get by on a wing and a prayer. Even spiritual advisor, George Pell, A Cardinal, couldn’t save them from the hell Of bankruptcy, from which there’s no remission. But sins one might commit, even by omission, Can daily be forgiven. That’s why Tony Abbott’s ambition is To go on living in the Sydney Catholic Archdiocese.

Jason

5/07/2011For those who may have missed Abbott's answers to everything! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi-q0ALVzPg&feature=youtu.be

TalkTurkey

5/07/2011Feral Skeleton said: "Yes, Lyn, we WILL beat Grog this year!" I don't think we need to beat Grog. He's on our side anyway, and anyway, he's won once, I think there should be a new Wonkley for each category each year, don't you?. And anyway, he's writing a book, and if I were him I would gladly defer to Ad astra whose site has since early days been his ally and proselytizer. And the sites are quite different, viva! TPS is more of the People's, Grog's Gamut is more of Greg's, a bit as a dictionary is to a thesaurus, both are good. BTW No way I want to put any fine site down, like Mr Denmore and Poll Bludger and Cafe Whispers and so many more, but you know the old saying, TPS is Best! ;-)

NormanK

5/07/2011Jason How does the chorus go again? That's brightened my day. A good idea really well executed.

TalkTurkey

5/07/2011Nasking Yes I saw that program on the murder of those Tamil people of Sri Lanka, I knew at the time that the situation was terrible but it was even worse than I had imagined. The Tamils are Hindu, guess what the murderous majority are? . . . Gentle BUDDHISTS! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> A few days ago, ignored I think because it was the very last post on the thread, June 30, this little inconspicuous post appeared: "You find as you look around the world that every single bit of progress in humane feeling, every improvement in the criminal law, every step toward the diminution of war, every step toward better treatment of the colored races, or every mitigation of slavery, every moral progress that there has been in the world, has been consistently opposed by the organized churches of the world." Nike Lebron 8 Nike sorry to have missed that, welcome, and do come back often. Several of us on TPS have conjectured forming the Disorganized Church of Dog but somehow it keeps falling apart. :) Dog be praised for Humanism!

Feral Skeleton

5/07/2011The Conscience Vote doesn't often get a guernsey(it's true there are so many blogging these days). Anyway, enjoy: http://consciencevote.wordpress.com/2011/07/05/the-dizzying-heights-of-absurdity/

Feral Skeleton

5/07/2011The lovely Ash Ghebranious: http://ashghebranious.wordpress.com/2011/07/05/i-loved-this-so-much/

nasking

5/07/2011"Yes I saw that program on the murder of those Tamil people of Sri Lanka" Yea, dreadful stuff TT. I'm amazed at how ignored this program has been today. My wife & were sickened by these crimes. Did the PM or FM bring this up in parliament today? They should've. I'm sick & tired of the grotesque & morally "as low as you can get" asylum seeker debate keeping people "silent" on such attrocities. Australians across this nation should be ashamed of themselves for their lack of "welcome" for the victims of the Sri Lankan attrocities. The media & Opposition have a great deal to answer for...and the government should never have worried about the polls. I can't help but ask myself how would the refugees have been treated if they were "pale-skinned" & from a country like Ireland?...or Germany?...or Poland?...or France?...or America? Our world still has alot of growin' up to do. Instead of "stopping the boats" we should be "stopping the slaughter" by criminal governments & military. I know there are plenty of Tamils who've done dreadful things in their pursuit of independence...but what was done to those innocent Tamil civilians really makes you wonder about the sanity of many on our planet. The soldiers in those videos are truly deranged. No better than serial killers. N'

2353

5/07/2011FS No no no is a classic. Thanks for telling us about it.

Ad astra reply

5/07/2011Folks Hillbilly/Feral Skeleton is back! I've just posted her latest piece: [i]Slowing down the blur that is the colour and movement of a Tony Abbott speech[/i] http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/post/2011/07/05/Slowing-down-the-blur-that-is-the-colour-and-movement-of-a-Tony-Abbott-speech.aspx It is a forensic analysis of Tony Abbott's speech to the 55th Liberal Party Federal Council in June. Enjoy.

Jason

5/07/2011 Jason says, July 5. 2011 11:44 AM Ouch!"bangs head on keyboard" What would have happend if he won? Why doesn't the "ABC" give him his own show FFS! Well close enough they had him on the "Drum" tonight!
I have two politicians and add 17 clowns and 14 chimpanzees; how many clowns are there?