And what better way to recall the events of this week than with some scathingly brilliant cartoons, and some deeply moving pictures?
First (at BK’s suggestion):
Next, a reminder of which MPs bothered to attend the House of Reps on the occasion of the legislation to increase the Medicare levy to fund DisabilityCare:
And, finally, Prime Minister Gillard’s friend, Sophie, and Sophie’s photograph of the PM:
Enjoy the evening, people.
THE PUB 
From that same article by Gemma Daley.
blockquote>A sample that concentrated in three western Sydney seats, which was extended to all of the seats in the area, showed that Labor would at best achieve a 44 per cent two-party preferred result.
That means every Labor seat in western Sydney would be won by the Coalition.
Yesterday I linked video interview Windsor conducted with fairfax paper.
It was mentioned that Joyce was already playing dirty. Windsor was not impressed. I will find it and link it again. Worthwhile.
Jaycee, I agree re CU. I think his foray into fiction a la “The Marmalade Files” has distorted his view of straight journalism. On 7.30 he needs the music and the clips to “tell his story”; in the Drum “contribution” he waffles about Patton (loved the comment by “Sceptic” – Written and authorised by the Liberal Party; spoken by CU. I guess balanced reporting is now too boring for a celebrated author of fiction.
I actually think for this election campaign Labor is in a better position than in the past two because there are stark differences between the ALP and the LNP (I recall some previous criticisms being about not much difference between the two parties which I think is why the Greens were able to develop a following) and people have a clear choice (once the noise clears). Go with Stronger, Fairer……
Even stranger.
Why do people in the western suburbs believe that the LNP will do better with jobs?
I guess they have swallowed A Jones and Hadley’s lolly water.
Victoria,
If the ALP are asking the right questions and finding viable solutions, those journalists are no longer relevant.
The field of play has already shifted on the media, if I am right, they will be standing there dumbfounded in September, and Gillard will be an equal political genius to Howard.
In short, ignore them. They are narrow and rigid, held tight in the iron grip of Press Gallery groupthink.
Video of interview Windsor discussing Abbott and Barnaby Joyce
http://media.smh.com.au/news/national-times/windsor-on-character-flaws-4280611.html?rand=1368764195464
bbbf
Agree with your assessment of the journos and their narrow groupthink.
My concern is purely that the govt get a fair hearing.
My confidence of success in September, is like a rollercoaster ride. This week I have felt more confident than in the past.
The hubris being displayed by the coalition and the msm cheersquad, is like nothing I have ever seen before. Disconcerting to say the least.
I keep reflecting on the recent trip to China by PMJG and her delegation, which included business heavyweights.
It was a success for the banks and the currency exchange deal. The ANZ and Westpac CEOs had high praise for PMJG at the time. i was particularly surprised by the ANZ chief, as he had been extremely critical of PMJG in the past.
Also, these same bank CEO’s have made noises sometime ago that they want an ETS, and that now that the system has been set up etc, that to dismantle it would be counterproductive.
Also these banks would be paying 1.5% extra company tax to fund the PPL.
Wonder where their support lies at present?
I was told, by someone with strong links in the seat of New England to the National Party AND Barnaby Joyce’s family, that his parents don’t even want to vote for him!
c@tmomma
It would seem that many in the seat of New England are not buying into Joyce’s crap!
New England
Victoria.. “Wonder where their support lies at present?”
I think experience tells us that while these banking execs’ will speak one set of priorities from one end, they are all too accomodating to the conservative politics at the other!
jaycee
Agree for the most part, but this 1.5% increase in the company tax has been reaffirmed by Abbott. I doubt these companies will be so accommodating of the fibs on this basis. They would need guarantees that this will not proceed. Abbott has only reiterated that this is a policy platform
bbbf… “…Gillard will be an equal political genius to Howard. ”
Howard was not a “political genius”, he was just a naughty boy peeking through the toilet keyhole to get a glimpse of the mysteries of voter prejudicies so he could wipe their asking points!
Halloweenjack…I see the Berrimah Hotel hasn’t changed it’s spots then!
victoria,
They are good points that you make, so it will be interesting to see how the dreaded polls go this week, huh?
Anyway, I’m off doorknocking again this morning and I’m taking with me the article about the female leader of the government in British Columbia to buck everyone up! 🙂
jaycee – looks like it has turned into this
http://www.hiddenvalleytavern.com
c@tmomma
If the polls go backwards, I will be very cross.
Anyhow, enjoy the morning. Appreciate the excellent work you are doing for the cause!!
Lateline last night
Graham Perrett and Josh Frydenberg
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2013/s3762038.htm
I think Labor should run hard on this. “Tony Abbott has pledge to cut 20,000 PS jobs. Do you want 20,000 more people in the job market competing against you for ‘your’ job?”
What a sideshow Lateline is! Froth and bubble from a bimbo presenter IMO.
Please, can we have some serious political debate in this country?
“Don’t fight with idiots. They’ll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience…”
Abbott wants to play politics – so don’t play politics. I think the budget demonstrated that: no Costello bribes to the electorate, just a boring, responsible budget for Abbott to trip over.
“It’s a bad budget from a bad government, but we’ll adopt it anyway” just doesn’t wash – particularly with Abbott’s history of bloody-mindedly blocking everything, good or “bad”.
He knows that trying to block the NDIS, Gonski etc. are “landmines” – but he doesn’t know where to go without someone leading the way. No Direction, No Vision, No Future.
Can anyone explain to me why I can easily find Abbott’s BIR speech recoding on ABC IView but can’t find Swan’s Budget speech?
Would it be that Swan’s speech is not there?
They don’t. Inasmuch as they’ve given it any thought at all, they simply want the 2010 election back again. A lot of them are saying, in effect, “We didn’t want Gillard in the first place, and we’re not going to pay any attention to what’s going on until she’s gone.” It’s pretty much the only way to view what they’re doing.
Whenever any issues-based polling is done, the general consensus is that nobody is all that bothered with carbon pricing or the mining tax – they’ve got broad support these days – the NBN and NDIS are winners, and Gonski has got cautious approval. People don’t particularly like Abbott or his Coalition, but they’ve got a massive blind spot with the ALP.
It’s why every argument a Liberal supporter has with you collapses. They have, effectively, forgotten what they’re supporting and what they’re against, and they’re doing it out of habit. They stand behind whatever Abbott or Hockey come up with on any given week, then they have to drop it because of all the ‘recalibration’ going on in the Coalition, as their stated positions collapse under the weight of their own twisted logic. Coalition supporters are doing the equivalent of sticking their fingers in their ears and saying “La la la la la we’re going to win the election anyway la la la can’t hear you…”
I’ve had the lot. They’ll crow about Abbott winning the politics on an issue, and in the same breath complain about Gillard “playing politics”. They’ll criticise ALP for lack of policy detail on something or other, and immediately back Abbott for not releasing any detail – “What, and give ammunition to the ALP?” They’ll bang on about the ALP pandering to the Independents, and then switch to saying that the ALP should be better negotiators if they want to get legislation through. They’ll carry on about the ‘carbon tax lie’, while simultaneously lauding Abbott for being ‘flexible’ in his approach to politics.
***
But then, this is what you do when you realise that your argument is rapidly becoming untenable. Most of this term has been one of soft Coalition supporters waiting patiently for Abbott to get himself together and unleash his policy platform, which they were all sure would be a ripper. And one in which Abbott keeps winding up the expectations and then hitting us with – “We will abolish the Carbon Tax.” And very little else. I think they’re finally getting the message that it’s all he’s going to say.
So they either admit they’ve been wrong about him all this time or they protect their egos and stubbornly dig in. It makes this a fragile moment for the Coalition. If the electorate crack, they crack completely. I’ve noticed people don’t want to talk about Abbott any more. Their attitude is, “Yeah, yeah, I know he’s a squib and a flake, don’t rub it in.”
So it’s a really simple situation. If the blowtorch goes back onto the ALP, we cruise to a reasonably comfortable Coalition win and everyone can deal with their conflicted emotions afterwards. They know what they’re voting for now, so they’ll have no excuses afterwards. If the blowtorch goes onto the Coalition, the polls tighten and the ALP probably win.
Western Sydney might be the last to come around. They’ve been acting the most stupidly, so they’ll be the ones most stubbornly hanging on to the false dream.
Saw the interview between Josh frydenberg and Perret last night. I thought Frydenberg looked humerously like a character from one of Michael Palin’s “Ripping Yarns” stories…..eg ; “I say mumsie…!”
Good morning all,
I must be living on a different planet but I just cannot believe the OM are now saying Abbott ” won ” the budget political battle.
After screaming and shouting all Wednesday and THursday how bad the budget was and how bad the budget ” cuts” were Abbott came out on Thursday night and supported the lot of them.
According to the OM Abbott was pure genius in dodging the labor wedge on cuts put in the budget by Swan.
So the genius of Abbott is to support labor cuts and thus the budget and then have to announce more cuts on top of them on Thursday night and then, in coming weeks, announce more cuts as well ?
Labor has announced what it intends to do, Abbott is the one with plenty more to come in the way of pain announcements.
Even this morning labor has found $400 million shortfall in the Abbott announcements. Add the GST angle and Abbott will be the one defending,
Abbott could have said nothing and just raved on about how bad the budget was, how bad the ‘cuts ‘ were and how responsible the coalition will be in taking its time to absorb the figures.
Instead labor goaded Abbott, he cracked and announced support for the budget, announced some further cuts and has now left himself open to a “what more is there to come ” approach from labor.
If that is genius i wish I was in his class at school. I would be dux each and every year !
BTW, if the OM still find it necessary to claim Abbott won the NDIS politics then you can be sure he hasn’t.
The same will happen with the budget. Article after article on how smart Abbott was.
muttleymcgee
The only snippet of any value last night was from Perrett. He basically said that a united Labor caucus has a fighting chance to win the election. Hence, he together with Rudd, Swan and Albo did a joint presser yesterday. Me thinks a Plan A has been agreed to by the caucus, failing which, they will then go to Plan B. i have some thoughts as to what it entails, but I dont want to be mocked. I will keep these crazy thoughts to myself. 😀
Aguirre….dead right!…spot on the money. damn good post..put it up elsewhere?
Today’s editorial in The Canberra Times finishes with:
“But the more broad-minded will agree that he has gone a long way towards dispelling his ‘Mad Monk’ moniker.”
Jack Waterford obviously did not watch the last bit of the BIR where Tony Abbott leered at the Australian people.
doyleym
OM is pathetic. Abbott can say up is down, and he will be backed. It is sickening
Jaycee,
I don’t personally believe that Howard was a political genius – a real political genius wouldn’t lose their own seat – the press certainly do, and should Gillard win, she will be elevated by them.
Howard, like successful pollies before him, was a reflection if the electorate, not vice versa.
doleyem……The OM. is doing the equivilent of picking dags off its’ own arse and thinking they are finding gold!
Hat tip to confessions
If anyone has the stomach. Here is audio of interview hockey with Alan Jones as written about by Maley
http://www.2gb.com/audioplayer/9080
Pass it round.
Swannie now on Skynews having a go at LNP super and GST policies. ABC24 – crickets!
Come on, Victoria, share your crazy thoughts. Does it involve he who shall not be named?
jackhawks
Nice try. 🙂
Seriously, best I leave my crazy thoughts in my own head. 😀
jackhawks
I am doing my best to distract myself. Currently listening to Robert Walls, David King, Anthony Hudson and Mark Robinson on SEN
Howard a political genius? It depends on how you measure it, His strongest feature surely has been his resilience and his persistence. Nobody could have lost more economic credibility than he did in his Treasurer days. The triple header of double figure percentages on inflation, interest rates and unemployment before we even get to the Bottom of the Harbor tax fiascos.
Somehow he managed to shift the entire blame to Fraser – maybe that really took some genius. His wars through the 80s with Peacock and the small ‘l’ types like McPhee and Chaney were hardly conducive to stability, but the long-term effect was to destroy the Deakinite Liberals. To his own interests, which were essentially Thatcherism, this was a big win long-term.
It should be said that Thatcherism is quite different from the libertarianism that Hewson tried to implement (which was at least a bit closer to small ‘L;). It is not libertarian but more what we once termed the White Shoe Brigade. It pays lip service to ‘free market’ and a lot to privatisation (Howard’s contribution to the English language was ‘incentivation’). And it nods and winks to the older reactionary types on race politics and beating up on the disadvantaged. This is really what Howard brought, and he benefited from the naivety of Hewson and the incompetence of Downer to get yet another chance. And he had a bit of luck with Keating fatigue among voters.
His main claims to political genius rest with bringing in the GST – no mean feat considering its unpopularity and his own earlier assurances on “never ever” And the guns buy-back. I give him little credit for East Timor, though he handled the politics well) because it was his and Downer’s neglect of intelligence which helped create the humanitarian emergency.
If there is any ‘genius’ to Howard it is in his willingness to introduce race politics into our climate. Until Tampa, most leaders had held back from that step, despite occasional noises. It was evil genius if it was and we have paid for it ever since.
If there is a genius to Howard it was in electioneering. It was the only thing he was really interested in, despite a life-long facade of a specialist interest in industrial relations. Even the disastrous decision to ram through Workchoices was based on that. He saw a chance to destroy the unions and deprive Labor of its funding base. It had nothing to do with ‘reform’, efficiencies or anything else, but it was a nice bone to throw to his base. In the end it was a nice bit of karma that brought him undone.
His longevity was helped by the boom, by his electioneering skills in handouts to key demographic groups in marginal seats and in Labor’s own policy neglect during the Beazley era.
His legacy, however, is ruinous. The body politic and the media coverage have become utterly degraded from and since his time. His own party will eventually have to face the abyss of any coherent ideals left within it.
just check out the ABC main page. Is there a link to Swan’s speech? Whose photo is prominent? The only way to find the budget speech by Swan ids through a deliberate word search.
http://www.abc.net.au/
I can’t find it in Iview unless I use the A-Z function. Now either I am particularly clumsy on their site this morning, or the ABC lib-plants are doing their usual.
Fiona – I got what you were getting at with the narcissism bit.
I never listened to the tapes – just a transcript of one.
The RN Weapons Officer who extracted the technical weapons/sensors performance data and had to listen as well had a nervous breakdown and she was retired.
It was quite difficult to defend as Privacy was dodgy as on one particular tape the people that can be heard didn’t survive.
In the end we used RN ‘tactical/operational doctrine’ as the defence.
The Treasury Solicitor backed me to the hilt and lots and lots of taxpayers money was spent on Barristers.
I personally walked the tapes across the road to the computer centre under the MoD (the ‘Yellow Submarine’) and shredded them afterwards.
Thank You – It was worth doing.
(This comment now deleted and made the main post of the next thread, here: The look of fear)
For the conspiracy theorists among us, how to explain this?
Was Abbott:
– working to a script with camera instructions
– alerted by an indicator light on the cameras
– wearing an earpiece for instructions
I find this very odd (without knowing the answer).
Stumbled on this while looking for something else. If we need reminding that the rent-a-crowd’s behaviour the other night was appalling:
http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/House_of_Representatives/Powers_practice_and_procedure/practice/chapter4#thec
NormanK,
That’s why Julia looked like thunder.
NormanK, Can the House not censure the member who failed to draw his guests’ attention to those rules?
Again, I’ll repeat….considering the dearth of policy that has been put out there by the Opp’n. and the lack of any substantial monetry reward, the swinging voter (which is all that is left on the electorate table) will be hard pressed to find reason to side with the opp’n. without sacrificing so much more ALREADY put on the table by Labor. So any substantial swing in the polls toward the LNP. will demonstrate a “manufactured” result…BUT if there is NOT a substantial swing toward them, it will demonstrate a failure of Tabbots speech. Truly a “catch 22′ situation. It will be interesting how the pollsters will pitch this one!
Tlbd
She certainly did. Labor must have known this was on the cards because the Speaker took no action. Fairly obviously an earlier decision to avoid being accused of disrupting the LOTO’s speech with ‘more Labor politicking’.
patriciawa
See above. Not worth the angst, I suspect.
Anna certainly could have pulled the gallery into line. She chose not to. Albo certainly had the option of drawing the speaker’s attention to the behaviour of the gallery. He chose not to.
Excellent post, Bushfire.
Full of facts, well presented (that’s not a surprise) and with a strong underlying message to us and to the ALP troops of “whatever you do, do NOT give up”.