OK . Australia has it’s problems and things could be better. Turnbull and his mob will be voted out at the next election and then Bill and his mob will have a chance to make things a bit better, but I am getting sick off all the doom and gloom that seems to be prevalent in every form of media be it MSM, Social or blogs.
The right hates the left and the left hates the right and the greenies hate everyone that dont wear scivvis, but FMD, in the middle are some great people working, living ,having fun be they white, black, brown, yellow, christian, muslim, jews, droids etc or straight, gay, bi, tri, quad or whatever.
Most of these folk whom the pollies , media . and social media try to play against each other as some sort of sport do get along, and do interact and have fun together but in the quest to make out that Australia is getting close to Armageddon and everything is shithouse they will say, video, print upload any crap to further their social, money making agenda.
Would it hurt to be a bit more positive and not solely focus on the negative all the time. The same sex marriage issue. OK it took a while and could have been done better but in the end it is now law. Who cares who was PM. or which party was in government when it was passed .It passed FFS now life goes on .
International its the same Trumps a Idiot but he is the President of the USA , Putin is a dictator but is the president of Russia, Brexit is happening, North Korea as well as a heap of other countries have the bomb.
The sun comes up, you all hopefully wake up tomorrow and life goes on.
Sure be passionate about politics and your beliefs but remember to live life and enjoy it whatever its faults.
thats my rant
Neddie update
He has unfortunately gone blind which is apparently normal with doggie diabetes but he is having specialist surgery on Monday which has a %75 of working.
THE PUB 
Jay Weatherill. BREAKING: Adelaide is set to become the visual effects capital of Australia with a new 500 job, $26 million, 3000+ sq metre visual effects studio.
Entertainment giant Technicolor has facilities around the globe including in Paris, London, LA and New York, and today they’ve announced they’re bringing their operations to SA.
South Australian jobs are our #1 priority.
That would be because of the 10Gbps fibre network SA is rolling out to business precincts. Shows how the copper crap is holding us back.
No one in the msm or anyone picking up where Molan was placed on the senate ticket at the last election.
LIBERAL & NATIONALS
PAYNE Marise Liberal
SINODINOS Arthur Liberal
NASH Fiona The Nationals
FIERRAVANTI-WELLS Concetta Liberal
WILLIAMS John The Nationals
HUGHES Hollie Liberal
MOLAN Jim Liberal /B >
FANG Wes The Nationals
OK Sang Liberal
RICHARDS Sarah Liberal
LEVINY Fiona The Nationals
McGAHEY Victoria
7th FFS they didnt want him and at the time put him in a unwinnable position,. Now he is a hero for them. He got in by the fuck ups of citenzenship. come on jurnos at least try and do your job.
Nothing to see here, joe6pack, all is well.
Shirley you jest, Mr Sixpack?
Katharine is not happy
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/feb/06/if-donald-trump-can-apologise-then-why-cant-jim-molan
Between Katherine and Amy today they have really had a ding dong go.
Looks like Turnbull’s already off spending that political capital he built up in January. He doubtless has no other option than to back the elevation of Molan to the hilt, but it’s a terrible look. And it highlights the clear fact that Turnbull suffers under any kind of scrutiny, even the heavily restricted scrutiny the ALP are permitted to conduct in QT.
All the ALP have to do, in effect, is insinuate under the guise of any question, “Can’t you at least be a little bit progressive for once?” and Turnbull’s off on a rant, underlining the situation his party have trapped him in.
Effectively, what’s happening is the Liberals are squeezing him dry. Any semblance he can provide of a media-friendly soft-Liberal reputation (and it’s really being taken as read these days, he’s not actually projecting it) is being used as cover for the hard right of the Liberals to go on an ideological jag. Once that stops working for them, they’ll turf him like old meat. They’re building up a right bunch of bastards behind him, and those bastards are aggrandising more and more of a power base within the party. And he has to stand there and smile and hurl those epithets at Shorten like a good boy – and toss in a bit of money when required. For that he gets to continue as figurehead.
This is what a weak leader with a reputation for progressivism gets you. He did his bit in 2016, snaring them another three years by the skin of his teeth. Now he’s just there for looks, he has no future within the party. If he had any balls he’d recognise that and get out while he can still salvage something of his credibility (if that’s at all possible from here). That he chooses to carry on as facilitator for his party’s descent into savagery is going to be black mark against him forever.
Molan made those posts on Facebook in March last year. Someone must have noticed. Surely some enterprising journalist must have taken a look at Molan’s Facebook page when he became a candidate for the Senate. Journalists can be very good at digging up dirt, so why no mention back then?
Was it because the media were running a protection racket for the government? Was everyone too busy trying to find dirt on Labor candidates.Is it just no-one could be bothered?
Private citizens and the indie media are also very good at digging up unpleasant truths, so why didn’t any of them notice? Were they all too busy writing silly conspiracy theories about Abbott’s alleged dual citizenship?
If someone had spotted these posts back then, if someone had made a fuss about them, then chances are Molan would have been dumped from the Senate ticket and we would not now be dealing with his extreme right-wing views and revolting racism.
As a sitting senator Molan will be moved up the Coalition senate paper to a winnable spot and poor, silly Lucy Gichuhi will get relegated to an unwinnable position somewhere further down. The only bright spot is Molan has a three year term, not a six year term. He will be facing the voters at the next election.
“some enterprising journalist”
There’s your problem.
The thing that riled me up most about Molan was that the fucker was absolutely giggling when Di Natale brought up his record in Fallujah. And nobody seems to comment about it.
God, he could turn up in the Senate in full Nazi regalia and the MSM would report it straight faced “Oh, here we go, Labor and the Greens whining about political correctness. Molan is a military hero, he can wear what he wants!”
Molan should move to the US, he’d fit right in.
An Actual Nazi Is About To Be The Only GOP Candidate In A Congressional Race
The Holocaust denier has no primary opponents.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/arthur-jones-republican-nomination_us_5a77d3f6e4b0905433b5bd84
It’s about time that was mentioned in the media.
How any sane woman could want to be anywhere within shouting distance of Beetroot is beyond my understanding, let alone want to ….. oh yuck …..
I seriously doubt that woman’s judgement. Or whatever effected it.
BK
Amy has won my heart as a “go to” comment person.
I hear ya leonetwo I have no sympathy for him he used his family as prop to promote “family values” when it suited him and didn’t mind questioning and attacking Gillard and Craig Thomson for their “lack” of morals we karma is a bitch
I agree and i ain’t giving no quarter neither. I pity the kid.
Barnaby has been sowing his oats it appears, so called farmer that he claims to be. I hope he takess a better interest in produce than he has in husbandry.
For a bookkeeper he has a poor grasp of assets and liabilities.
Jacinda kicking a big goal
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/06/jacinda-ardern-waitangi-day-changes-new-zealand
Tim Soutphommasane weighs in
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/feb/06/jim-molan-and-all-mps-must-avoid-promoting-bigotry-commissioner-says
Good morning Dawn Patrollers.
According to the Productivity Commission inquiry finds Australia’s banks are exploiting their most loyal customers. Eryk Bagshaw reports that the report which will be released today will be grist for the mill at the royal commission
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/landmark-inquiry-finds-australia-s-banks-are-exploiting-their-most-loyal-customers-20180206-p4yzji.html
Mark Kenny, like most Australians, is unconvinced by the government’s trickle down policy.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/coalition-s-feet-of-clay-over-big-business-tax-cut-20180206-p4yzhe.html
Nicole Hasham tells us that an impending decision by Labor to formally oppose the controversial Adani coalmine would come with a jobs package for Queensland to head off claims the party is selling out struggling towns.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/labor-devising-queensland-rescue-package-ahead-of-likely-decision-to-reject-adani-20180206-p4yzhx.html
More from Nicole as she explains how the Turnbull government plan to cut the amount of water used to replenish Australia’s most important river system is in serious doubt after Labor announced it will join the Greens to oppose the move.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/labor-greens-to-block-plan-to-strip-water-from-murray-darling-20180206-p4yzhw.html
Investigative reporter Richard Baker ponders over what a young Malcolm Turnbull would say about the new secrecy laws. A very good read.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/what-would-a-young-malcolm-turnbull-say-about-secrecy-bill-20180205-h0ueeg.html
Ross Gittins tells us the smartest way to spend our tax dollars.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/the-smartest-way-to-spend-taxpayer-dollars-20180205-h0uer5.html
James Massola has the goss that the federal government will be taking a hard line with the states on public hospital funding at COAG on Friday and that this will reignite the fight with them.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/leaked-coag-papers-reveal-greg-hunt-s-new-hospital-funding-deal-20180206-p4yzhq.html
Tony Wright has a big spit about the dills that are infesting the Senate, Molan in particular. Interestingly they are all on the right of the political spectrum.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/the-relevancy-of-irrelevancy-the-senate-goes-full-peculiar-20180206-p4yzje.html
Latika Bourke asks why is it so hard for Jim Molan to apologise for sharing Britain First material?
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/why-is-it-so-hard-for-jim-molan-to-apologise-for-sharing-britain-first-material-20180206-h0uycj.html
And Katharine Murphy really goes to town on Molan and Turnbull.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/feb/06/if-donald-trump-can-apologise-then-why-cant-jim-molan
Section 2 . . .
Recently sworn-in Liberal Senator Jim Molan posts inflammatory anti-Muslim videos about which he has “no regrets”, lauds Australia’s offshore detention centres and has a very questionable war record, writes refugee advocate Sarah Smith.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/jim-molan-australias-newest-senator-has-blood-on-his-hands,11171
Australia’s race discrimination commissioner Tim Soutphommasane says politicians have a responsibility to avoid the promotion of prejudice, bigotry and hatred in response to controversy over the reposting of anti-Islam videos by Britain First by the new Liberal senator, Jim Molan.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/feb/06/jim-molan-and-all-mps-must-avoid-promoting-bigotry-commissioner-says
Authorities are still no closer to explaining how a classified notebook belonging to a top Defence official found its way into second-hand furniture sold at a Canberra tip. The Defence Department is understood to have since launched an internal policy review as it investigates this latest national security breach.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/mystery-surrounds-classified-defence-notebook-sold-in-furniture-at-canberra-tip-20180204-h0tk93.html
More pork barrelling from Barnaby!
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/regional-investment-corporation-to-go-ahead-as-coalition-agrees-to-changes-20180206-h0uk8v.html
For novel, but entirely believable, reasons Trump’s lawyers do not want him to speak to Mueller.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/donald-trump-s-lawyers-want-him-to-refuse-russia-inquiry-interview-20180206-p4yzhv.html
Unsurprisingly the chronically boastful Trump has gone eerily quiet after the stock market rout.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/as-shares-fall-off-cliff-trump-goes-silent-on-his-role-in-markets-20180205-p4yzgt.html
Some analysts are now describing Westfarmers’ UIK experiment with Bunnings as even worse than Woolworths’ Masters debacle.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/retail/worse-than-masters-wesfarmers-british-bunnings-nightmare-deepens-20180206-p4yzim.html
And Woolworths is comprehensively smashing Coles on every metric from customer service to branding to quality of produce, and it’s largely down to Coles’ misguided obsession with low prices.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/finance-news/2018/02/02/woolworths-pummels-coles/
The $1 billion wealth manager ClearView has fallen afoul of the corporate watchdog after a review found it had used high pressure sales tactics to sell inappropriate life insurance products to people in remote indigenous communities who don’t have English as their first language. Bastards!
http://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/edgy-clearview-sold-dodgy-insurance-to-remote-indigenous-communities-20180206-p4yzj8.html
Greg Jericho looks closely at the private health insurance industry.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2018/feb/06/is-private-health-insurance-a-con-the-answer-is-in-the-graphs
Adam Gartrell writes that business group have rejected calls for the Turnbull government to adopt a Japanese policy of forcing companies that benefit from corporate tax cuts to deliver pay rises.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/big-business-rejects-japanese-model-of-linking-corporate-tax-cuts-to-guaranteed-wage-rises-20180206-p4yzh7.html
The Turnbull government is poised to backtrack on its controversial proposed secrecy laws as Labor leader Bill Shorten vowed to block the legislation unless journalists were better protected.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/i-won-t-support-it-bill-shorten-issues-ultimatum-on-secrecy-laws-20180206-p4yzhu.html
Cape Town is almost out of water. Could Australian cities suffer the same fate?
https://theconversation.com/cape-town-is-almost-out-of-water-could-australian-cities-suffer-the-same-fate-90933
Section 3 . . .
Winning a seat in the Senate for a political party, then dumping that political party and either going it solo or joining another party, undermines our parliamentary system, writes Ross Hamilton.
https://newmatilda.com/2018/02/04/democracy-what-democracy-lets-just-ignore-the-electorate/
Brian Toohey writes that he ABC’s filing cabinet kowtow to ASIO and the government was gutless. Google.
/opinion/columnists/the-abcs-kowtow-to-asio-and-the-government-was-gutless-20180206-h0ul4b
One of the councillors who accused former lord mayor Robert Doyle of sexual harassment has spoken emotionally in public for the first time since the allegations became public in December.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/cathy-oke-speaks-in-public-for-first-time-since-doyle-allegations-20180206-p4yzj0.html
Trust in the media in Australia is at a record low of just 31% and consumers say they struggle to tell the difference between fake news and facts, according to a global survey of trust and credibility in institutions
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/feb/07/australias-trust-in-media-at-record-low-as-fake-news-fears-grow-survey-finds
The Justine Damond grand jury has convened in the US.
http://www.theage.com.au/world/justine-damond-grand-jury-convenes-in-us-20180206-p4yzk0.html
NSW is toughening up road safety rules and compliance measures.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/tough-new-nsw-road-safety-rules-introduced-20180206-h0uius.html
The SMH editorial reckons they should go further. It seems it’s the Nats that are the reason for it not happening.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/smh-editorial/tough-measures-needed-to-tackle-rising-road-toll-20180206-h0uouo.html
Bitcoin has dropped yet another 18%.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/bitcoin-tumbles-18-per-cent-to-fall-below-us7-000-as-credit-card-issuers-tighten-screws-20180205-p4yzgi.html
Justice Tennessee-style as one of its sheriffs is being sued for using excessive force after he was recorded boasting he had told officers to shoot a man rather than risk damaging police cars by ramming him off the road. “I love this shit!”, he says.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/feb/06/tennessee-sheriff-caught-on-tape-killing-suspect-lawsuit
Nicholas Stuart looks at our naval shipbuilding industry prospects.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/a-few-future-frigates-or-a-real-defence-industry-20180206-h0ugov.html
Caitlin Fitzsimmons explains the program helping Indigenous students beat the average.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/the-program-helping-indigenous-students-beat-the-average-20180206-h0uqyx.html
Kate McClymont went to a funeral packed with “colourful” identities.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/colourful-funeral-for-colourful-racing-identity-jack-sparrow-20180206-h0ulxt.html
Section 4 . . .
Victorian Police Minister Lisa Neville said yesterday that the Coalition was putting the interests of Melbourne’s gangland bosses ahead of ordinary Victorians by delaying the passage of gun laws through Parliament.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/lisa-neville-gives-alleged-mobsters-mate-matthew-guy-both-barrels-over-gun-laws-20180205-h0uesd.html
Parents say the decision not to install air conditioning in four new Sydney schools is “short-sighted” and will become a major issue as the schools fill up.
http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/shortsighted-sydneys-new-schools-to-be-built-without-air-conditioning-20180205-h0tsaw.html
One of Australia’s top drug experts says he is troubled by a website selling potentially deadly nitrous oxide canisters straight to people’s front doors. “Nangs” they are called.
http://www.smh.com.au/wa-news/troubling-phenomenon-potentially-deadly-nitrous-oxide-being-delivered-to-peoples-front-doors-20180206-h0uig9.html
A new national standard will redefine the meaning of free range eggs, but a leading consumer advocacy group says it has “failed consumers” and left chickens “cramped” in cruel conditions.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2018/02/06/free-range-eggs-standard-consumer/
Section 5 . . . Cartoon Corner
Great work from David Pope.
David Rowe has excelled himself here!
Cathy Wilcox and Turnbull’s state of democracy address.
Peter Broelman warns against bringing back Crocodile Dundee.
Four contributions from Matt Golding this morning.
Glen Le Lievre has another animation for us.
Sean Leahy rides the stock market.
Pryor on the filing cabinets.
A history lesson from Alan Moir.
Jon Kudelka’s take on the stock market tumble.
https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/bd7f42209d3d695a1d2c296f468f3315
For something really cool. Go to the minus 2:00 mark of the live broadcast . Footage from the Tesla car in space, loved the message on the dash screen.
Re the defence department notebook that was found in furniture found at the tip.
When I worked in Canberra in 1982 we moved some desks and found lying on the floor a batch of prescriptions from 1961. Obviously the pharmacist and the department battled it out 2 decades ago. What to do? Who wanted to go through the paperwork?
We were contractors who wanted another contract, not to embarass our boss. Solution: pull the drawer out and fling the batch of claims to the back of drawer and reassemble desk.
It’s an indictment on this entire country that we’re even discussing the pros and cons of ‘trickle-down theory’. It’s long been discredited. Ideally, the very idea of it would be shut down at the very first mention by a government figure or economist. “That’s not true, here are the figures, why are you really cutting taxes for business?” You won’t get an answer of course, but you will make them squirm.
This government is getting way with continual theorising about economics, talking about supposed benefits we’ll supposedly see over a supposed period of time. After four and half years in office, I think we’re entitled to see some results.
The left wing economists like Steve Koukoulas remind everyone they will never get invited onto ABC programs like Q&A or the Drum. The ABC has never heard of Keynesian economics let alone Modern Monetary Theory.
Q&A was an absolute disgrace on Monday night with the small business economist talking over the top of everyone. Sally McManus needs more media training to withstand such gish gabblers without sounding shrill.
Stephen Mayne, no lefty, figured out he would only be able to fight a guerilla campaign lobbying some memorable grenades into the discussion. He argued that WA could solve its $37billion debt be asking Gina for $20billion as she had made her money digging up the resources belonging to all people in the state without paying tax .
Look up and see what is over Australia at the mo.
Live views of Starman. Going through van Allen belts so currently off line but you can watch the previous hour or so,
Live back on.
Just so, Amy, just so
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2018/feb/07/jim-molan-expresses-regret-for-not-cleaning-up-his-social-media-politics-live?page=with:block-5a7a1dd9e4b0faf969c78b23#comments
Wizza was going on in the House yesterday about what a brave man Molan was in fighting for us in Iraq. The days of any bravery by commanding officersin any war is long gone. Molan reminds me very much of Blamey, an obnoxious man, who arrived late to Port Moresby and proceeded to criticize the poorly trained militia who had fought their hearts out on the Kokoda Track for our country (the one set of battles that was fairly and squarely in defense of Australia),
A brave man would apologise. Only a coward would be too scared to admit to a mistake and set it right.
Despite what you might see on a certain indie media site, Molan is not the real ‘Butcher of Fallujah’. That title belongs to Al Qaeda terrorist Ahmad Hashim Abd al-Isawi.
Molan deserves to have his own title. How about ‘The Coward of Canberra’.
Molan’s Facebook page was been taken down yesterday and replaced by a new ‘Senator Jim Molan’ page. Just another coward running away from his mistakes, too scared to admit he acted badly..
The chaps in parliament are defending Barnaby Joyce’s right to privacy. Adam Bandt has expressed his concern for the mother of Barnaby’s child. Chris Bowen has refused to comment. There will be more of them coming forward to tell us the private lives of politicians are not our business.
FFS! Why?
We have to vote for these people. We pay their salaries. We foot the bill for their often lavish expenses. We deserve to know what our employees are up to when they bill us for flights and hotel accommodation, expenses that may be paying for extra-marital affairs. We have a right to know if they are being distracted from their work by carryings-on with their staff.
As for the woman concerned – she knew who she was getting into bed with, she knew it would all be made public at some stage, she obviously accepted that. (She also seems to be suffering from sensory impairment – eye problems, perhaps, or maybe some sort of olfactory damage that makes her unable to detect beery breath.) She went enthusiastically into this affair with a much older married man for whatever reasons – I can’t believe physical attraction would be one of them – and now she reaps what she so willingly sowed, leaving Barnaby’s wife and daughters to deal with the damage caused. If we are going to be concerned about any of the players in this soap-opera we should give that concern to Natalie Joyce and her daughters.
The sanctity of a politician’s family life was ignored when Craig Thomson was in trouble. his pregnant wife had to endure cameramen outside her bathroom window while she was showering. Now we are supposed to be upset because the Daily Smelly published photos of the mother-to-be.
Julia Gillard had to endure constant comments about her childless state and about her decision not to marry, as well as a cruel and mocking ABC ‘comedy’ about her personal life. Wasn’t that a breach of her privacy, and a breach of her partner’s privacy?
It’s the same old thing we see every day – one rule for the Coalition, another rule for Labor, even when it comes to private life.
Also one rule for men, and one rule for women. If the roles were reversed, female polly and male staffer, it would have run in the media for months.
Peter Slipper’s personal emails were also made public.
More importantly Barnaby Joyce was against same sex marriage because it threatened the institution of marriage when he had been barred from his matrimonial home because he got his staffer pregnant.
I think the voters of New England were entitled to know about his domestic shenanigans before they voted in the New England by-election
Not sure why the woman-in-question would want to have a baby with a man 17 years older than herself
There was a media blackout campaign on Barnaby’s affair before and after the New England by-election. The only place mentioning it was a little website for True Crime News Weekly.
https://truecrimenewsweekly.com/
None of the media sites would go near it. Maybe they were all afraid of legal action being taken. Maybe it was more. Who knows?
Yesterday The Guardian was still moderating out any comments on it, today, now all has finally been revealed we are able to comment there.
This affair and the pregnancy must have been the worst kept secret in Australia. Before Christmas the True Crime News Weekly Facebook page ran a poll on whether or not they should run a story revealing the identity of the woman when parliament returned. The vote was overwhelmingly ‘Yes’. From comments on that page and on social media it was clear a lot of people knew the woman’s identity back then.
So with half the country, it seems, well aware of what was going on, with Barnaby’s wife and daughters not appearing at all during his by-election campaign and conspicuously absent on voting day, when Barnaby was accompanied by his parents only, it was odd that the MSM still wouldn’t say a word. If we ever needed proof that the media are happy to run a protection racket for the Coalition but will leap onto any whiff of scandal among the Labor ranks then this is it.
Prince Phosphorous will make a fine partner for Madame Mesothelioma. in parliament.
After all these years of activists wanting Australians to be aware of what happened in Iran, the appointment of Jim Nolan to the Senate is bringing the Siege of Fallujah to public attention. Liberal party own goal!
A lovely put-down from Julia Baird in here –
Nice one, Julia!
With all the attention on Adani and the Carmichael mine right now it’s easy to overlook another mining project in the same area – just as big, just as damaging, just as unnecessary.
I’m talking about the GVK Hancock mine planned for the Galilee Basin. Yes, that’s Gina.
Aurizon, who hopes to build the rail line to this project, is in talks with NAIF for funding. Now the Adani railway, which would also have served this mine is not going to happen another means must be found. There seems to be some confusion in the Queensland government about this.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/jackie-trad-stalls-on-new-rail-proposal-for-galilee-basin/news-story/204b3c96e9d5f020cd67038c8715db4f
Don’t breathe a sigh of relief because Labor is looking like they won’t support the Adani project. There’s much more going on and the media are keeping very quiet about it.
Amy is not trying to hide her contempt for the ministerial non-answers.
And she does so with considerable aplomb!
Have a look at this gif!
Good Lord!
Maaate! My haircuts are over a couple of minutes after the barber starts to cut using a number 1 comb..
The advantage of being almost bald is that I can wash my face and hair at the same time. Can you? 🙂
I’m not a fan of Rundle, but he scorches Turdbull in this article, and its not paywalled.
https://www.crikey.com.au/2018/02/07/turnbull-the-most-contemptible-pm/
The best so far.
OK, I watched Susan Lamb’s emotional speech about her citizenship issues and here’s what I think .
Sad story, yes, but she really, really needs to refer herself to the High Court, as soon as she can. Tonight, first thing tomorrow morning. ASAP.
If she does that the government loses its line of attack.
She may have taken all reasonable steps to renounce her alleged dual citizenship, she may have had that confirmed by a retired justice of the Federal Court, but no amount of legal opinion means a cracker. She has to go to the High Court and get the only judgement that matters – theirs.
Until she does this she’s going to have to put up with the government carrying on and on and on about her citizenship while, of course, they refuse to talk about the numerous citizenship elephants in their own party room.
It might be Labor strategy to insist Ms Lamb is a legitimate MP, and to keep trying to get all MPs with possible issues, both government and opposition, referred to the High Court, but that strategy needs to be changed.
Sorry Leone, but I have to disagree. Labor are always asked to give in. The lnp brazen it out and get away with it. Labor should brazen it out. Let the cards fall where ever they may. don’t cave into lnp wishes. That gives them a straight out victory.
Yep.
Blocking the bipartisan High Court referrals was an admission of guilt.
To then threaten unilateral (ALP) referrals was chutzpah.
Being told to “STFU” by his own side is all you need to know about Alex Hawke’s “contributions”.
2gravel
We are just going to have to agree to disagree.
I think Labor is doing itself damage by insisting Ms Lamb is OK. The longer this drags on the more chance the government has to put the boot in – and they will. If Susan Lamb refers herself, instead of sitting around waiting for the government to do it, which they will not do until they believe they have inflicted the maximum amount of damage, then Labor will not have given in to anyone. It will be an individual decision made by someone who wants to spare her party some unwanted harassment.
If Ms Lamb refers herself to the High Court there’s nothing the government can do and nowhere for them to go. If her judgement is favourable, as it seems it would be, then Labor has a huge stick they can use to beat the government.
Sometimes sticking to your guns and insisting you are right, no matter what, is not the best course of action.
Privacy? Interesting line of defence given the history of these bottom crawlers!
Defending his right to privacy and giving him comforting pats on the back as he leaves Question Time. It’s as if Barnaby had suffered some sort of tragedy, all this comforting and all these demands to respect his privacy.
He hasn’t suffered anything, he’s just been an irresponsible oaf, and a dill for getting one of his women pregnant before he had divorced the other. Finally, after months of media silence, it’s all gone public.
Barnaby Joyce should resign from parliament, do the decent thing perhaps for the first time in his life and just go away.
I don’t often agree with Shari Markson, but on this she is right. This is definitely in the public interest. Barnaby is a public servant, he’s the Deputy Prime Minister, he can’t perform his parliamentary duties and his duties to his electorate while his private life is in turmoil. Obviously it has been in turmoil for some time.
Remember before the New England by-election when the Murdoch papers mentioned Barnaby’s mistress and his domestic issues? Tony Windsor was accused of spreading lies and muckraking ahead of that election. Now we know Windsor was right.
There’s more to this story, the media have not yet mentioned the other accusations that were flying around last October including his drunken molestation of a young girl at a function and his drinking problem.
“Defending his right to privacy and giving him comforting pats on the back”
Wonder why? Why should he have the right to privacy? Labor too kind. Short memory.
Just read that Rundle piece. The great set of cutting political one-liners outside of Keating. I usually like to nit-pick a bit over whether a description is accurate – and I might have a slight disagreement with him about Turnbull being the equivalent of Steve Carell in The Office (I can’t find a better analogy, but I do know Carell inspires some sympathy whereas Turnbull never does). But aside from that very marginal observation Rundle nails everything. Savagely.
I haven’t seen the launch video yet, but the short clip of the boosters landing together was impressive.
N.B. That’s the projected orbit – it’s not there yet!
The incomplete diagram is interesting; I assume they didn’t want to worry people by having it loop back to Earth. The Earth will have moved on, but …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCc16uozHVE
Jaeger
The booster landing was really amazing to watch. It made what must be mind bogglingly hard look easy peasy.. Watching the live feed of ‘Starman’ in his car made me feel like I was watching something from 2001 A Space Odyssey.
Launch starts around 20 minutes into the video.
I’ve just finished watching the launch and landings; I agree, there’s no other word except “amazing”.
I would have been disappointed if the boosters didn’t land successfully; they’ve had enough goes now to have ironed out the bugs. Landing the centre core obviously needs some work – but it’s their first attempt.
I wonder if IBM turned down a sponsorship deal?
In space, no one can hear David Bowie’s “Starman” playing on loop on the car stereo.
I liked the “DON’T PANIC!” on the in-dash display; apparently there was a towel, and copy of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” in the glove box. It’s the little things that matter.
(Some may say “pity Jeremy Clarkson wasn’t driving – with Donald Trump in the boot…”)
Don;t forget the tiny Hot Wheels Tesla with a mini Starman at the wheel, fixed to the dashboard. You can just see it in the images.
Someone had a lot of fun working on all the details.
I must have watched the launch about ten times today. It’s fascinating.
Well spotted, leonetwo.
I noticed that the sidewalls of the front tyres have some nasty circumferential cracks.
They may have buffed the paintwork, but you can’t hide 10 year old tyres with no air in them.
Hear, hear, Mr Rundle!
Jaeger
I look forward to when( fingers crossed) it orbits Mars. Ah to watch Mars drifting below Starman as he ‘drives past’ with Life on Mars playing. in the background.
Leigh with Barnaby in 10.
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Anyone care to predict a dixer in QT tomorrow?
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-07/power-failure-at-royal-adelaide-hospital-disrupts-surgery/9406270
One for Josh?
“It’s all Labor’s fault.”?
$100,000? Peanuts.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-07/salim-mehajer-loses-bid-for-bail/9405702
You see, the problem with 7.30 is simply that it fails as news. It only has two interview modes:
1. Hostile – ask guest leading questions, interrupt the answers.
2. Supine – let the guest bring along his/her script, and just facilitate it
In a sense, it doesn’t matter which guest cops which treatment – it runs broadly against the ALP/Greens and for the Coalition, but if it was the other way around it would still be a useless program. Neither approach is going to elicit a revelation of any description.
Sales fails at the first rule of interviews – you have to let the interviewee hang himself. Your job is merely to take him there. Get him talking, get him off script. Under the first approach, you never give him a chance to talk, under the second he’ll never get off script.
I’d watch the show if I thought it had a chance of achieving something. I really would. But if I can predict what’s going to happen given simply the name of the guest, why should I bother tuning in? It will never, never, never get a scoop as long as Sales is at the helm. She’s hopeless at her job.
But then I think that’s the way the ABC like it these days. If you’re merely acting as a de facto PR unit, going to the trouble of good journalism is redundant.
When they renamed from The 7.30 Report they touted they were going to concentrate on background material. Epic fail.
I get far more enjoyment and information from the documentaries on SBS,
last night it was the construction of the Severn Bridge and description of how West Gate Bridge failed in 1970
Sound familiar?
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/06/danish-government-proposes-ban-on-full-face-veils
The Danes have always had a bit of a Lutheran thing.
Time for some reality with Sandi and QI.
Reality looked a bit strange this morning as ‘Starman’ drove off into the sunset
found this on youtube, extended versions of QI –
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=qi+xl+series+o
Ep 1 –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCckLzVaCOw
And definitely not orange – take note American cheesemakers.
Misfiled – sorry.
That was tonight’s ep.
Rich said more in his first minute than he ever said before in one show.
They always do lots of strange stuff but just watch the reality that is always there.
Another nice touch in the car 🙂
Enoch Powell will be spinning in his grave. DNA tests of a 10,000 yo skeleton in Ingurland indicate he looked like this 😆
“First modern Britons had ‘dark to black’ skin, Cheddar Man DNA analysis reveals
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/feb/07/first-modern-britons-dark-black-skin-cheddar-man-dna-analysis-reveals
Definitely not orange – take note American cheesemakers.
Shots like that make me laugh at the thought of how the “moon landings were fake” conspiracy nuts will/would react to photos like that.
I thought it was fake – but then ABS, ESC etc. don’t work in space.
Just watched Squinters on ABC.
Totally awesome. Think Utopia on warp factor 5.
Bananaby, in public life, has never, to my knowledge, done Australia a good turn.
Nor, at in his recent past, his family.
Whatever you think of her politics …