tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post7242464465783022269..comments2023-12-06T00:23:28.790+11:00Comments on Press gallery reform: Not readyAndrew Elderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-6340054574503729002016-02-05T15:07:41.021+11:002016-02-05T15:07:41.021+11:00Bring back PJKBring back PJKAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03452067719384644963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-37431076538562025292016-02-03T23:46:56.686+11:002016-02-03T23:46:56.686+11:00You're expecting the party organisation to be ...You're expecting the party organisation to be capable of something that's beyond it.. The party itself is rubbish, hence the candidates.Nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09537772941984056434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-4776980768584849662016-01-26T23:56:17.065+11:002016-01-26T23:56:17.065+11:00Hi Andrew, any comments on the ABC NBN Nick Ross m...Hi Andrew, any comments on the ABC NBN Nick Ross matter?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-66450447550794772802016-01-07T09:49:36.640+11:002016-01-07T09:49:36.640+11:00The Kennedy cover-up was in another time, I guess....The Kennedy cover-up was in another time, I guess. The relationship between the media, politicians and the public underwent a seismic shift after Watergate. I can't imagine Kennedy's affairs being covered up these days.<br /><br />I don't think the media should cover this stuff up, people should make their own informed judgments about whether something reveals a politician with poor judgment who fails to treat staff professionally (Briggs) or whether the dishonesty in personal life does not prevent the politician being effective in public life (Clinton). Although in reality it tends to be covered up and downplayed by friendly media and blown up into a world-shattering disaster by unfriendly media, rather than analysed- just like every other political story these days.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-3609855649437542122016-01-05T10:16:38.024+11:002016-01-05T10:16:38.024+11:00Not only has Xenophon put up a solid-seeming candi...Not only has Xenophon put up a solid-seeming candidate in Mayo, she taps into Briggs' core problem. <br /><br />Turnbull's weakness is that he can only work with the people that the party organisations send him. He doesn't have the scope to hire and fire like he did in business, and nor does he have Howard's ability to understand the parties from the ground up and shape them accordingly. <br /><br />I agree with <a href="http://thekouk.com/blog/the-kouk-s-top-11-for-2016.html" rel="nofollow">Stephen Koukoulas' point 11</a> (though he underestimates the independents), and while such a result would reflect well on Shorten he hasn't presented Labor as the answer to both the need for stability and for policy responses to move forward.Andrew Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-43711471216168909892016-01-05T09:58:37.515+11:002016-01-05T09:58:37.515+11:00Yes it is - but the idea that it has to be covered...Yes it is - but the idea that it has to be covered up, that the public can't handle this knowledge, is bullshit. With Clinton it couldn't be covered up, and covering it up in Kennedy's case made no difference. It only discredits the media when they sit on information like that.Andrew Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-32344317107535375612016-01-05T09:56:46.914+11:002016-01-05T09:56:46.914+11:00I think you need a new definition of 'radical&...I think you need a new definition of 'radical', and to know when a man has had his goAndrew Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-66083546875168200742016-01-05T09:10:58.174+11:002016-01-05T09:10:58.174+11:00The proxy war continues. Dorothy at Loon Pond alw...The proxy war continues. Dorothy at Loon Pond always worth a visit for News Corpse updates.<br />http://loonpond.blogspot.com.au/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-34974538297160215902016-01-05T08:39:27.293+11:002016-01-05T08:39:27.293+11:00Clinton did well in public office despite his phil...Clinton did well in public office despite his philandering too. JFK. Countless others over the course of history, probably. It's a common enough sin among the general population let alone the type of egomaniac you have to be to seek the top job in most countries. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-38007168059417887362016-01-04T14:43:28.590+11:002016-01-04T14:43:28.590+11:00For Christ sake!! "blow-hard" Beazley, t...For Christ sake!! "blow-hard" Beazley, the "me too" man from the Tampa days... get a grip !! ikeshuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04877274223875644911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-7975382145553609422016-01-04T09:18:15.470+11:002016-01-04T09:18:15.470+11:00What did Beazley do after 1998, pioneer the "...What did Beazley do after 1998, pioneer the "me too!" strategy that told the electorate that even the ALP thought Howard was right about most things and began the "what does the ALP stand for?" issue?<br /><br />I am amazed that Andrew and readers of this blog, aware of the press gallery's poor performance, nonetheless mark down Shorten because the media won't give him the time of day or report his policies. No other potential ALP leader will get better coverage.<br /><br />The reality is he did for Abbott and restored discipline to the parliamentary party even if the media and ergo the general public give him no credit for it. Pretending Abbott was always going to explode and giving the ALP no credit is ludicrous hindsight. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-83665450745797933542016-01-03T18:40:17.664+11:002016-01-03T18:40:17.664+11:00Hi Andrew,
Abbott once described Joyce as the nat...Hi Andrew,<br /><br />Abbott once described Joyce as the nation's best "Retail Politician". It was the first time I had heard this term but soon discovered it was just another way of describing the time honoured tradition of shaking hands with the voters and kissing babies (although originally, retail politics evidently referred to buying votes).<br /><br />Pressing the flesh and courting controversy (Depp's dogs for instance) has evidently convinced the Press Gallery that Joyce is wildly popular. Another instance of them mistaking the reflection of their own slanted reportage as confirmation of their views.<br /><br />As to how popular Joyce is with National voters is, as you pointed out, difficult to gauge. It depends on if they are just a bunch of dumb hicks, as the Press Gallery predisposes or that they have noticed self serving politicians such as Joyce have consistently sold them out to mining interests (note Joyce's close relationship with Gina Rinehart and his fondness for attending weddings on the Indian sub-continent).<br /><br />Joyce and Abbott are evidently close personally as well as ideologically and Joyce has more than once taken flak to cover Abbott's blushes (Depp's dogs for instance). <br /><br />If Joyce does become leader of the Nationals and Deputy PM he is likely to be a major thorn in Turnbull's side. Not only will he push to retain Abbott's "legacy" of unpopular policies by threatening major tantrums whenever Turnbull veers towards the left/centre but also could end up being electoral poison in the rural electorates.<br /><br />DiddyWrote <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-69072536117609098062016-01-03T17:33:15.202+11:002016-01-03T17:33:15.202+11:00Here's a radical alternative for Labor. As Sho...Here's a radical alternative for Labor. As Shorten has no chance at the next election, and there is no obvious candidate with serious leadership skills to replace him, why not slot KIM BEAZLEY into a safe seat for the coming election and give him another chance to get Labor back into the game?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-45047844406741091392016-01-03T16:09:08.569+11:002016-01-03T16:09:08.569+11:00The machine isn't ready, and he runs the risk ...The machine isn't ready, and he runs the risk of losing focus without an agenda coming out of the budget.Andrew Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-5330156749901775562016-01-03T12:41:53.421+11:002016-01-03T12:41:53.421+11:00if i was in the gallery an article like this wo...if i was in the gallery an article like this would inspire me to do better . to act with courage without fear or favour ,to be embarrassed at the failure of myself and my colleagues to have done so poorly . but then again i probably would be reading it if i was.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13613072276866513351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-29211132705509506392016-01-03T03:22:39.823+11:002016-01-03T03:22:39.823+11:00That sad thing about it is the election will not b...That sad thing about it is the election will not be won on policy - the very thing that effects people the most . I have never seen a prime ministerial contender have an easier run with the press than Turnbull although pictures of Abbott with his jacket off looking over glossy brochures runs a tight second, I was hoping the press's greed for sport might over ride their blatant partisan stance, It appears not , the press are not gamblers they only just pulled through after Abbott and I'm thinking the media right are not feeling like pushing their luck. Turnbull will get handed the job on a platter , it is quite bad for the country to have 3 more years of Scott Morrison, Brandis and Dutton in really powerful positions , the thought of someone like Cormann getting more of a toe hold is also of concern , they will, along with the chamber of commerce and the minerals council pick over the scrapes of what is left of this country.God help us all..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-79956631579344402112016-01-02T22:04:54.838+11:002016-01-02T22:04:54.838+11:00"For years, Little Jimmy Briggs was touted as..."For years, Little Jimmy Briggs was touted as a rising star in the Liberal Party"<br /><br />Why would any political party consider a nasty sycophantic little turd like Briggs as a potential leader?<br />Why can't the LNP find people better than this lot?<br /><br />J Briggs<br />B Bishop<br />K Andrews<br />S Morrison<br />P Dutton<br />S Ley<br />T Abbott<br />M Brough<br />S Buchholz<br />G Christensen<br />I Goodenough ( the name says it all)<br />L Hartsuyker (rhymes with)<br />G hunt (also rhymes with)<br />D Jensen (Science...I remember that word at school, but never really came to grips with it)<br />Bananaby Juice<br />M Keenan<br />A Nikolic<br />K O'Dwyer<br />C Pyne<br />W Roy<br />A Tudge<br />E Abetz<br />C Bernardi<br />G Brandis<br />M Cash<br />M Cormann<br />B Heffernan<br />A Sinodinos <br /><br />This lot are are really a non-talented bunch of numpties, and the LNP should be able to firld better candidates.<br />This is not to say that Labor is all that red hot, but if you put them side by side the LNP bunch is like a bunch of kindergarten kids.<br /><br />Dave Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08613111054135459691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-6453860300688508772016-01-02T19:14:51.787+11:002016-01-02T19:14:51.787+11:00"where is the philanderer, the pisshead, the ..."where is the philanderer, the pisshead, the fraud, the broken person who is nonetheless particularly good in the execution of public duties"<br /><br />Hawke, perhaps? I don't mean as PM, he'd beaten alcohol by then (or not long into it), but as a union leader and ACTU head while an alcoholic?<br /><br />William Pitt the Younger is often touted as one of the greatest UK leaders, and whilst that's an overstatement (his achievements were essentially 'not having the entire country collapse despite governing through a period of massive change'), he probably still qualifies as 'particularly good'. He's also known for being so drunk during one of his parliamentary speeches that he threw up part-way through and promptly passed out. His party colleagues then insisted that the reason he was having an off day was that he had a stomach bug, and so had refrained from drinking ENOUGH - claiming that he was at his best after at least 3 pints.<br /><br />Granted, it might be an unfair anachronism to say Pitt had a drinking problem - alcoholism seems to be more about inability to meet the social standards of the time, as evidenced by the manner in which the 'normal' intake in some Australian towns would be deemed alcoholism in the US.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-10575266868523025012016-01-02T18:44:07.385+11:002016-01-02T18:44:07.385+11:00I'm looking forward to the next election. If W...I'm looking forward to the next election. If Windsor stands, Joist is gone. If Xenephon puts up some credible candidates (and it looks like he will), Pyne and Briggs are gone. Turnbull is starting to show the poor judgement he's famous for, so Shorten may even be a contender.David Irving (no relation)https://www.blogger.com/profile/05728918405973140125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-8225217415445135102016-01-02T15:17:53.839+11:002016-01-02T15:17:53.839+11:00There must be an early election? Or a double diss...There must be an early election? Or a double dissolution, of course.<br /><br />http://www.afr.com/news/malcolm-turnbull-government-prepared-to-stake-election-on-passage-of-union-laws-20151230-glwx2fAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-296864101134122982016-01-02T13:41:12.159+11:002016-01-02T13:41:12.159+11:00Andrew, I'm no commentator but couldn't he...Andrew, I'm no commentator but couldn't help wondering, reading your list of the internal decay and chaos of sections of the Coalition, whether Turnbull's best chance of getting elected with a reasonable majority might be to go early before the whole mess gets even worse?<br />Rais, Perth WA.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-70195143607653472382016-01-02T11:45:16.221+11:002016-01-02T11:45:16.221+11:00Since Abbott replaced Turnbull as Opposition Leade...Since Abbott replaced Turnbull as Opposition Leader we heard over many years LNP member after LNP member as well as a rogues gallery of conservative commentators repeat the mantra, ABT (anyone but Turnbull). Turnbull finally wins his prize and almost immediately begins alienating as many as he can; Abbott, Abetz, Andrews, Macfarline, Brough, Briggs, Bernardi, Bolt, Jones, Hadley etc, etc. It was always a big ask but now it is clear he has zero chance of achieving what Shorten has, stability and unity in his party. The white anting of Turnbull and his Government in 2016 will be overt, constant and damaging and maybe, just maybe the chuckle heads in the gallery will actually notice and may even report on it. AntiBolterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10351938784232328851noreply@blogger.com