tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post8308613105274859492..comments2023-12-06T00:23:28.790+11:00Comments on Press gallery reform: The guns of SingaporeAndrew Elderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-12362437601998149572014-06-16T23:46:10.783+10:002014-06-16T23:46:10.783+10:00Watching this bromance between Mr Frydenberg and M...Watching this bromance between Mr Frydenberg and Mr Husic on Q and A seems weird in our nasty toxic culture. <br /><br />Both are products of very successful Multicultural policies yet the government wants Freedoms to be able to vilify them as well.<br /><br />One is Jewish and the other is<br />Muslim.<br /><br />Dipshit mentality with Brandis et al..<br /><br />Weirdness prevails again<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-48022481929142442462014-06-09T16:28:36.403+10:002014-06-09T16:28:36.403+10:00The recent protests of far right groups in Austral...The recent protests of far right groups in Australia like Golden Dawn should elicit a strong response from this <br />conservative government.<br /><br />Mr Brandis words have come back to haunt him with neo-nazi groups.<br /><br />It's o.k to be a bigot!<br /><br />It sure is in this country by allowing these people in.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-48373528763079043992014-06-07T01:15:56.714+10:002014-06-07T01:15:56.714+10:00They're all fluffy fascists with chips on thei...They're all fluffy fascists with chips on their shoulders at the I.P.A. ...except a couple<br /><br />I went to University with a liberal ten year's ago and he was reading Mein Kampf....I'm not kidding and he was quite serious about its contents.<br /><br />Ugh...<br /><br />The real question to be asked is this<br /><br />To understand Bolt et al you must deconstruct them firstly. <br /><br />Family and life experiences within a sociological context.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-72025260634441721262014-06-07T00:10:34.874+10:002014-06-07T00:10:34.874+10:00It would please the old far right Anglo crowd that...It would please the old far right Anglo crowd that are deluded into thinking they're Gods.<br /><br />Weirdness prevails. <br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-43357529610181844592014-06-06T21:24:27.363+10:002014-06-06T21:24:27.363+10:00Thanks for the tweak!Thanks for the tweak!Andrew Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-53672467650719014722014-06-06T16:15:12.826+10:002014-06-06T16:15:12.826+10:00Anti-intellectualism.
Reading Menzies House is w...Anti-intellectualism. <br /><br />Reading Menzies House is worse than watching the Bolt report. <br /><br />One needs a stiff drink to calm over the stupidity of such shallow propagandaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-40875025825752366432014-06-06T13:41:36.583+10:002014-06-06T13:41:36.583+10:00Kabs, the conservatives who drove liberals out of ...Kabs, the conservatives who drove liberals out of the Liberal Party have used this language, and they have sown what they have reaped.Andrew Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-48405113038426296872014-06-06T10:51:56.186+10:002014-06-06T10:51:56.186+10:00A great and perceptive column. And I agree with La...A great and perceptive column. And I agree with Lachlan absolutely. I joined Young Labor in 1965 and resigned when rightist Hawke became leader. Hawke-Keating abandoned what Labor had stood for and followed a rightist agenda - described by one friend as "Thatcherism with a human face". This destroyed Labor's credentials as a reformist party and made it possible for the Liberals to drift further to the extreme right, There was nothing, NOTHING, that Howard did in office that did not have a precedent in the Hawke-Keating era. We now have a choice between a traditional Liberal Party (masquerading as a Labor Party) or the policies of a zealot IPA (masquerading as a Liberal Party) with possibly the weakest and most intellectually challenged front bench in Australia's political history. Australians did not want economic rationalism but we got it anyway. Neither party has any clear vision for the future, and neither party is especially interested in the Australian public or their interests. Where do we go from here?vadinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-79712604145589643482014-06-06T10:03:15.383+10:002014-06-06T10:03:15.383+10:00 If your implying Andrew Bolt is a mere stirrer , ... If your implying Andrew Bolt is a mere stirrer , I think you are naive he is a facist wanker through and through. That has somehow managed to convinced people like Brandis to put their balls on the line and was part of the cheersquad that put this totalitarian nightmare into government . He is not to be underestimated or rather his sentiment or people with the same ideals should not just be disregarded as an irritant .<br />Your free to read mein kampf if you want as well. But dont be suprised when people laugh at you for it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-17503340040599804042014-06-06T08:30:55.494+10:002014-06-06T08:30:55.494+10:00Why this crap about war - at a time when actual ar...Why this crap about war - at a time when actual armed conflict is literally tearing apart real people and countries, isn't it more than a bit silly to portray a bit of banter between, say, Christine Milne and Eric Abetz as 'war'? (A comment by Andrew Elder on Michael Gordon’s scribbling).<br /><br />Andrew says in his latest piece: When Singapore was a British colony the British assumed it would be most likely to be attacked from the sea, and so they installed some of the world's biggest artillery pointing toward the sea. Singapore was invaded in 1942 - but from the north, which had also been a British colony, meaning that the sea-directed guns were useless when most needed. I named this post after those guns. See, it's an allegory. Allegory. Oh, never mind.<br /><br />Aren’t bodies still being ripped apart by conflict? Is it wise to use war as an allegory if you have criticised another person for doing the same?<br /><br />Kabonesa<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-16467606103201457522014-06-06T07:50:07.311+10:002014-06-06T07:50:07.311+10:00I do like the Andrew/Lachlan double act - it's...I do like the Andrew/Lachlan double act - it's like having binocular vision.rhwombatnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-32625349294019501642014-06-06T06:53:52.225+10:002014-06-06T06:53:52.225+10:00I look forward to reading your comments on the Pek...I look forward to reading your comments on the Peking Duck-Caramel Banana tryst and its aftermath.<br /><br />Ms YossarianAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-28169155851100726182014-06-05T01:35:24.996+10:002014-06-05T01:35:24.996+10:00Interesting that you identify the capture of the A...Interesting that you identify the capture of the ALP by neo-liberalism.<br /><br />When I was in the ALP at a relatively senior level in the eighties, the NSW Right crowed about their success in marginal seats. This primarily revolved around presenting both the Hawke Government and candidates as being 'as good as' the Libs. Doofi such as Michael Lee and Garry Punch spring to mind immediately, but there were others, mostly embodied in NSW by the Terrigals faction that has provided so much schadenfreude at ICAC. Their success is embodied in how much their neoliberalism has captured Albo's "left" (ho ho) faction. Ian Macdonald is the obvious example, but there are others, such as Meredith Burgmann, that have lined up behind corporations against citizens. Albo was part of the cabinet that stripped entitlements from single mums. I don't recall that great warrior for the working class resigning over it. But then, as Andrew Ferguson pointed out, policy was never his strong suit.<br /><br />So the successes of the right (small r) are evident in the ALP's embrace of neo-liberalism from the Accord onwards, which has seen household share of national wealth stagnate (and in relative terms decline), while household debt has gone off the radar and is higher than a stockbroker on Friday night.<br /><br />Which might be a clue as to why Hockey's debt mantra BS rings true to so many people under mortgage stress.<br /><br />Palmer looks good because he has outflanked the Liberals on the centre. What will be interesting is what he does with his preferences. I feel he may do to the Libs what the DLP did to the ALP way back when, make it acceptable for populist right-wingers to preference the ALP.<br /><br />In that regard he may run the ALP's marginal seat campaign for them, which is just as well, because it's not as if Jamie Clements has a clue.<br /><br />Anyway, as the Chinese curse says, interesting times.Lachlan Ridgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-11420331035062593162014-06-04T19:49:44.702+10:002014-06-04T19:49:44.702+10:00Andrew,
Your link to Bob Denmore's excellent w...Andrew,<br />Your link to Bob Denmore's excellent website The Failed Estate, is not current, because he has moved it. The new site is:<br />http://failedestate.com/PJFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08664724463346713484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-73132948769314203852014-06-04T18:08:47.425+10:002014-06-04T18:08:47.425+10:00'Oh, never mind.'
I wonder who you're...'Oh, never mind.'<br /><br />I wonder who you're speaking to there Andrew.Iannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-80733918814728992792014-06-04T17:24:50.638+10:002014-06-04T17:24:50.638+10:00There's another thing going on here I think, A...There's another thing going on here I think, Andrew, though I could be wrong.<br /><br />Before the election, even leftists like myself were thinking, "Oh well, he'll be more reasonable when forced to be a statesman". As if somehow his past could disappear.<br /><br />I don't hold it against the man at all; he can go and be an ex-seminarian, socially-limited, masculine-yet-threatened-by-homosexuality kinda guy as much as he wants.<br /><br />But running the country? I really think there was a section of the electorate which thought, "He'll change."<br /><br />He can't - which I think is why his hard-right admirers like the increasingly comical Sheridan support him so openly. He is, indeed, a man of principle. <br /><br />And, perhaps, behind all the slogans, he thought he'd made that pretty clear in the last campaign. Your own posts make a decent case for suggesting he had.<br /><br />I just don't happen to share many of his principles. What happens to him next as he 'boxes on', so to speak, will be interesting.joe444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-59384456430687512032014-06-04T14:22:45.433+10:002014-06-04T14:22:45.433+10:00I keep hearing people say that the Abbott governm...I keep hearing people say that the Abbott government is trying to turn us into the USA, but from what I've read, he seems to be trying to turn us into Canada, another seemingly liberal/ progressive country that has been wrenched to the right. They certainly seem to be either following their lead, or singing from the same hymn book:-<br />http://24percentmajority.blogspot.ca/2014/01/2013-best-of-canadian-federal-politics.html<br />Despite the bastardry and associated assclowns in the conservative party, the Harper government doesn't seem to be on the nose. I haven't read any commentary on Aus / Canadian parallels, except that abbott and Harper get on very well together. Cardboard Brownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-69273090281630031882014-06-04T14:17:52.858+10:002014-06-04T14:17:52.858+10:00I got no time or sympathy for Credlin. As I recall...I got no time or sympathy for Credlin. As I recall there was a simpering Credlin and Abbott while in Opposition taking breathlessly about him allowing her to keep her frozen embryos in his parliamentary fridge, so supportive of women he was. Oh the humanity!<br /><br />If they can use it to prop up Tony, the same sexism can be used to criticize them.wizmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10854449780009157189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-91408712451389764242014-06-04T09:30:57.680+10:002014-06-04T09:30:57.680+10:00"As for Scott Morrison, pfft."
Couldn&#..."As for Scott Morrison, pfft."<br /><br />Couldn't agree more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-50250779883923241342014-06-04T08:56:18.311+10:002014-06-04T08:56:18.311+10:00Thanks for another excellent piece. I totally agre...Thanks for another excellent piece. I totally agree re Turnbull: how anyone can respect him after his performance in communications is beyond me. I don't think he has much chance of persuading his colleagues to give him another go anyway, but his chances would be better from a principled position on the backbenches IMHO.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-26566989561344299842014-06-04T07:54:02.206+10:002014-06-04T07:54:02.206+10:00Wonderfully apposite and wise, Andrew. Pushing the...Wonderfully apposite and wise, Andrew. Pushing the Overton window so far to the right means that they have nothing to hang on to when defenestrated. rhwombatnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-37613654589024669962014-06-04T07:25:04.605+10:002014-06-04T07:25:04.605+10:00Actually, the guns at Singapore could point north,...Actually, the guns at Singapore could point north, but they only had anti-ship ammunition. The allegory stands, but needs a little tweaking.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-28995030042141206722014-06-04T05:14:10.433+10:002014-06-04T05:14:10.433+10:00My goodness Andrew you are almost as prolific as M...My goodness Andrew you are almost as prolific as Mme D Parker @ the Pond de Loon. And thank you once again for your efforts. I enjoy reading your analyses which are stimulating.<br /><br />I think TA's political judgement failures stem from character. He seems to be a person who needs to be in a state of competitive opposition, even with himself when he takes on Iron Man events etc.<br /><br />He now appears to be opposed to the people he leads. Australians are constantly being chided, hectored and insulted. We are slackers. We are parasites. We are too selfish. And what's more our leader implied we were too stupid to take his promises at face value.<br /><br />It seems to me that this government's obsession with making itself smaller and smaller can only lead to impotency. We will be left with the terrible rictus grin of the Cheshire Cat.<br /><br />Ms Yossarian<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-40971176392892054492014-06-04T03:07:25.116+10:002014-06-04T03:07:25.116+10:00The Liberal right is a victim of its own success.....The Liberal right is a victim of its own success...in concealing its true nature and deepest wishes. As well, the LNP has form. When last in office, the Liberals conjured up Work Choices to the shocked disbelief of a generally trusting electorate; and this time they've come up with No Choices, a wholesale assault on personal well-being, social mobility, productivity, economic reward and opportunity. <br /><br />The refrain should be.. "Incomes will always be lower and lies greater under a Liberal Government." brieflynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-80724527049860276502014-06-03T23:56:01.074+10:002014-06-03T23:56:01.074+10:00Take a bow Andrew!
Bolt was lambasted on The Roas...Take a bow Andrew!<br /><br />Bolt was lambasted on The Roast tonight and it was hilarious.<br /><br />Malcolm Turnball has also criticized <br />John Roskam in the A.F.R about their <br />ill informed views. I.P.A seem like the ugly and nasty cousins no one wants <br />to play with anymore<br /><br />See Saturday Paper and faceless men article....<br /><br />They really denigrate Melbourne's reputation and should move elsewhere.<br /><br />It's silly why Greens voters who like Mr Turnball can't see him for who he really is.<br /><br />Laura Tingle's analysis of his past behaviour was a nice reminder of the stark reality of the real Mr Turnball.<br /><br />The hard right wing stance is quite scary for many moderates and those who knew what was coming ...<br /><br />I'm saddened that the most disadvantaged will suffer and as a society we will all be affected by the growing divide between the elites and the masses.<br /><br />It's interesting to see how our p.m looks with Mr Obama and what they will have to say to one another.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com