tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post8493159967319689674..comments2023-12-06T00:23:28.790+11:00Comments on Press gallery reform: Andrew Elderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-75551685937248817032009-06-25T13:10:27.383+10:002009-06-25T13:10:27.383+10:00Fitzgibbon had been more sloppy than Swan, but Swa...Fitzgibbon had been more sloppy than Swan, but Swan should have left the whole Grant issue alone and will hopefully learn from this experience. Compare with NSW, a nobody who should never have been a minister and was even more sloppy than Fitzgibbon has attracted a lot of sympathy for the way he was treated.Andrew Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-54522211037067590842009-06-25T11:00:29.276+10:002009-06-25T11:00:29.276+10:00Well balanced response as usual, Andrew. On Fitzg...Well balanced response as usual, Andrew. On Fitzgibbons, I originally thought his resignation unnecessary, but eventually I came to the view that he had been so sloppy in his personal affairs that he earned his result. They were not big issues, but for chrissakes, sort your shit out and stop making a target of yourself.<br /><br />Is it a double standard compared to Swan? it may turn out to be, but you know the standards when you get in there. If the Libs hit 3 or 4 more targets on Swan over the next few weeks, maybe they'll get the same result. Although with today's OECD numbers it seems unlikely.<br /><br />KymbosAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-79167641353546479812009-06-24T17:35:21.069+10:002009-06-24T17:35:21.069+10:00Not quite "nothing", Kymbos. The Treasur...Not quite "nothing", Kymbos. The Treasurer of the Commonwealth intervened in a bureaucratic process for which he was ultimately responsible in favour of a supporter.<br /><br />I agree that Swan would have survived, but as I said you can imagine Fitzgibbon gnashing his teeth over it - one rule for some, etc.<br /><br />As I said, the reason why Rudd and Turnbull are going at one another is because there isn't much abstract theory to amplify their differences, which leads to the creation of more heat than light. I agree that the Libs have been caught out on the right policy response - but imagine if Howard had been re-elected, he'd have showered money all over the place and Costello would have just let him.<br /><br />I don't believe Grech will be charged. What will happen is that there will be prolonged inquiry, during which time his career will effectively be in limbo. He'll fork out a fortune in legal fees, and he'll be social poison - anyone seen talking to him, let alone supporting him, will suffer career-wise. He's not a well man apparently, so who knows what this stress will do to him. <br /><br />Eventually, there will be a non-committal finding and he'll be released into a world of which he is no longer part, like Winston Smith at the end of '1984'. Whether he ends up loving Rudd remains to be seen.Andrew Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-80192641917101493772009-06-24T17:24:47.669+10:002009-06-24T17:24:47.669+10:00Ann: I agree, and don't get me started on bloo...Ann: I agree, and don't get me started on bloody farmers ...<br /><br />FG: enter "Godwin Grech" on Wikipedia, see what you get ...Andrew Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-5663844046739379342009-06-24T09:46:45.557+10:002009-06-24T09:46:45.557+10:00I'm not sure I agree with you on this one. Th...I'm not sure I agree with you on this one. The whole thing is a storm in a tea cup, but even if it didn't blow up in Malcolm's face, my reading is that there was nothing of substance to the accusation in the first place. <br /><br />I felt the Opposition went it so hard because they didn't want us talking about the economy once it became clear we dodged a technical recession - no mean feat - after they opposed every measure which assisted that goal. Would you not agree?<br /><br />Even if they had laid a glove on Swan, he wouldn't have gone down over such a non-issue, is what I'm saying.<br /><br />Meanwhile, is it not true that Grech may be facing criminal charges for his actions, if he has been leaking for several years to the Libs? Isn't this against the public service charter?<br /><br />Kymbos.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-68428929504392419022009-06-24T00:21:12.011+10:002009-06-24T00:21:12.011+10:001. Nigel Molesworth, the curse of St.Custards live...1. Nigel Molesworth, the curse of St.Custards lives!<br /><br />2. Grech was a badminton champ?<br /><br />3. The Malcolm we saw this week was described years ago by Conrad Black in his autobiog when he covered the Tuareg thing with Kerry Packer and MT. I suspect MT has the mettle to get out of this cardealers cackup.<br />His Ruthlessness <i>will</i> be PM one day.iODynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06394268529143990889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-45418482797574958652009-06-24T00:14:52.715+10:002009-06-24T00:14:52.715+10:00'libertarian punk' ?
That's the only k...'libertarian punk' ?<br />That's the <i>only</i> kind of punk.<br /><br />I loved Question Time today - just rivetting.<br /><br />poor Godwin. No worse nightmare than your face on Every front page, and the Press on your doorstep.<br /><br />That bloody Ute will end up painted gold and on a plinth somewhere, plus, I don't think the damn car makers should be bailed out by banks or anybody else.<br />Neither should wigmakers, or cake bakers.<br />It's a harsh world.<br /><br />great post though.Ann ODynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01159263330547329077noreply@blogger.com