Political Self-interest Couldn’t Give a Flying Fiddle

Fiona Uncategorized

From our formidable Lioness:

Why has Gladys allowed the cricket to have spectators? Was she pushed into that decision by Tony Shepherd and the other old white men of the SCG Trust?

Another thing about the cricket – the media and every politician in NSW keeps blathering on about 24,000 people, half the normal 48,000 capacity of the SCG. That’s just for one day. The 3rd test goes for five days with the last day being the main fundraiser for the McGrath Foundation. Not everyone wants to or can afford to attend every day of a test .Do the maths. Work out the potential audience. It could well be a huge super-spreader event. No wonder Gladys has taken the week off.

That’s not all. There are two BBL series at the SCG and the Showground Stadium scheduled for January 13- 26. It has not yet been decided if spectators will be allowed.

This is a yet another flagrant example of Gladeyes’ preferencing her own political career over the well-being of New South Wales AND the rest of Australia.

Despicable doesn’t even begin to describe her behaviour.

455 thoughts on “Political Self-interest Couldn’t Give a Flying Fiddle”

  1. >

    7 January

    • Once a grub, always a grub

      I remember he asked for a pair on Maundy Thursday so he could observe Easter during an abortion or euthanasia debate
      Once granted a pair he snuck back into the chamber to vote the bill down

  4. Sorry for my tardiness in posting, been busy buying b/day pressies for Mrs CK

    Caveats apply

    Jonathan Pie (in cracking form) –

    Stephen Colbert –

    Jimmy Kimmel –

  5. Counting of the electoral college votes has finished in the US Congress.

    A House rep tried to object to the Wisconsin votes, but it didn’t stand because it wasn’t backed by a Senator.

    Biden and Harris will be sworn in on January 20 (the 21st Australian time). No other obstacles remain.

    This has been a terrible day, I felt horrified when I woke up to it this morning, and feel sick about how it played out. One of my American friends was even caught up in it, he was driving home from work and ended up in the middle of a group of armed Trumpist rioters. He had to lie to them that he was also a Trump supporter for his own safety. This is just sick and I hate that the world seems to be going down this way.

    • Kirsdarke,

      I have no idea why, but I woke up at 4am, turned on my radio, and for almost the rest of the ‘morning’ was glued to it.

      Please don’t despair. Some Reps recovered their backbones. Those who didn’t may yet rue their gutlessness.

  9. I have watched USA politics for the last 12 hours or so in shock, and horror but not surprise. Are you aware one of the insurrectionists carried a large Australian Flag? If this was a dual citizen he needs to have his Aussie citizenship cancelled immediately, as we have done to other terrorists with their wives and kids.

    Wash Post editorial pointing out the two-faces of the evil Mitch McConnell.
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/01/06/mitch-mcconnells-sanctimony-is-too-much-bear/

  12. I uploaded the link and picture of that bastard carrying the Aussie flag into the Capitol Building, to the FBI site for lodging tips and images of the insurrection. I hope the mongrel is found and charged!

  17. Good morning Dawn Patrollers

    Matthew Knott reviews yesterday’s events in Washington and Trump describing his as “the greatest first term in presidential history”.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/he-lit-the-flame-republican-fury-at-trump-for-inciting-mob-violence-20210107-p56sf9.html
    Democracy is a mindset and Americans are losing it, opines Peter Hartcher. It’s not a pretty picture that he describes.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/democracy-is-a-mindset-and-americans-are-losing-it-20210107-p56si7.html
    The SMH editorial calls for Trump to face a reckoning for the insane attack on Congress.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/trump-must-face-a-reckoning-for-the-insane-attack-on-congress-20210107-p56sh9.html
    Nick O’Malley writes that the two narrow victories in the senate run-off elections in Georgia will have significant national and global ramifications. As a result of these wins, he says, US President-elect Joe Biden now stands a chance of becoming a president of consequence.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/the-two-tiny-victories-that-may-reshape-the-biden-presidency-20210107-p56shg.html
    An upset Bob Carr writes that the Capitol chaos is just the first act, saying the Republican party is shattered and civility is not coming back.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/capitol-chaos-is-just-the-first-act-the-republican-party-is-shattered-and-civility-is-not-coming-back-20210107-p56sdw.html
    Bill Wyman, formerly from the NPR, writes about the confederacy of dunces mobbing the US Congress. “Goons and poltroons” he calls them.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/goons-and-poltroons-a-confederacy-of-dunces-mobs-us-congress-20210107-p56scj.html
    Facebook and Instagram will bar President Donald Trump from posting on its system at least until the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, and possibly longer, the platform said. So, come on down, Twitter!
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/facebook-bans-donald-trump-for-the-remainder-of-his-presidency-20210108-p56sjm.html
    Paul Kelly, now, says that the demagogue Donald Trump has proved he was never fit to be president. He writes that Biden’s position in terms of institutional power has strengthened each day, and Trump’s only resort against him is mob incitement, which comes at the ongoing erosion of Republican support.
    https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/demagogue-donald-trump-proves-he-was-never-fit-to-be-president/news-story/ba36ade45e6bb2fe3b792c0d5599722a
    Australia has taken strides to defeat disinformation from authoritarian states, but Scott Morrison must be able to counter it from his own MPs and Australia’s allies too, writes Anthony Galloway.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-needs-to-counter-australian-and-american-disinformation-too-20210107-p56sgh.html
    John Kehoe simply says that Trump has blood on his hands.
    https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/trump-has-blood-on-his-hands-20210107-p56scb
    Emma Shortis stridently writes that there’s a lot of blame to go around for the chaos in the Capitol, but some belongs to Australia, she says.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/there-s-a-lot-of-blame-to-go-around-for-the-chaos-in-the-capitol-but-some-belongs-to-australia-20210107-p56sfg.html
    A dispirited Steve Evans tells us about the toxic legacy of the conman in chief. He gives Rupert Murdoch a big all out, too!
    https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7077398/the-toxic-legacy-of-the-conman-in-chief/?cs=14329
    Legislators are vowing to conduct an investigation into how law enforcement handled Wednesday’s violent breach at the US Capitol, questioning whether an “embarrassing” lack of preparedness allowed a mob to occupy and vandalise the building.
    https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/lawmakers-vow-investigation-over-embarrassing-washington-security-failure-20210107-p56shw.html
    A first batch of rioters who stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday, at the encouragement of Donald Trump in his futile bid to overturn his election defeat were due in court in Washington DC, to face charges today.
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/07/trump-rioters-stormed-capitol-court-charges
    Leaders around the world have expressed shock at the storming of the Capitol in the United States, a country they once relied upon for global leadership, but Morrison stopped short of levelling any criticism onto Trump.
    https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/threat-to-democracy-world-leaders-appalled-by-storming-of-us-capitol-20210107-p56sdn.html
    The Guardian’s Jason Wilson tells us how right-wing media reacted to Trump’s mob.
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/07/rightwing-media-reaction-trump-mob-capitol
    There’s a great way the US and the European Union could together address two huge challenges in one policy sweep. It’s to create a transatlantic “carbon club,” suggests Andreas Kluth.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/biden-and-the-eu-can-forge-a-new-path-on-global-warming-20210107-p56scp.html
    We must not become complacent about testing for COVID-19. It is the most effective way of potentially stopping its spread, exhorts epidemiologist, Catherin Bennett.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/national-minimum-testing-standard-key-to-fighting-this-virus-20210107-p56sed.html
    According to Liam Mannix, a mutant strain of the coronavirus which scientists believe was a precursor to the highly infectious British variant escaped hotel quarantine in Victoria in June during the state’s second wave, but the public was not told about it at the time.
    https://www.theage.com.au/national/public-kept-in-dark-after-mutant-virus-seen-in-victoria-s-second-wave-20210107-p56sa3.html
    John Kehoe says that Biden’s Senate win will send a climate alarm to Morrison.
    https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/biden-s-senate-win-sends-a-climate-alarm-to-morrison-20210106-p56s8g
    Angela McDonald-Smith reports that oil refiners and fuel storage providers will from Monday be able to bid for grants of up to $33.3 million from the Morrison government to build diesel storage facilities in a move intended to increase the country’s fuel security and provide a lift for struggling refineries.
    https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/diesel-storage-contracts-up-for-grabs-20210107-p56sd9
    Health authorities have cracked down on a number of wildly inaccurate rapid Covid-19 antibody test kits being pushed on to the Australian market, cancelling approvals, issuing fines and pledging to investigate one supplier marketing an unapproved device.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jan/08/authorities-crack-down-on-inaccurate-rapid-covid-antibody-test-kits-in-australia
    Rex Patrick says the government is undermining the entire FOI system, with an underfunded commissioner overloaded with challenges. Christopher Knaus says that the office that reviews government decisions to withhold or redact information will soon be swamped by a massive workload.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jan/08/australias-freedom-of-information-regime-heading-for-a-train-smash-senator-says
    Harriett Alexander explains how wealthy Sydneysiders are spending up to $6 million on lawyers to wring out favourable property settlements in their divorce proceedings and litigation funders are moving into family law, paying the fees upfront in exchange for a percentage of the settlement. Bloody parasites!
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/6-million-in-legal-fees-the-high-price-of-getting-a-divorce-in-sydney-20210106-p56s4k.html
    Coal generation fell to its lowest level in the history of the modern power grid last year, as cheaper solar and wind generation surged, and coal’s retreat was exacerbated by maintenance and outages in NSW’s coal fleet.
    https://www.afr.com/policy/energy-and-climate/coal-generation-drops-to-lowest-ever-in-modern-power-grid-20210106-p56s7y
    The Conversation explains how Australia can phase out coal power while maintaining energy security.
    https://theconversation.com/how-australia-can-phase-out-coal-power-while-maintaining-energy-security-152747
    Australia seems hell-bent of damaging its economic security in the interests of being in the vanguard of a growing international anti-China “cabal”, writes William Briggs.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/australia-china-and-the-weaponising-of-trade,14673
    Michael Pascoe explains how, in a worst-case scenario, a $1 super levy increase is worth 12.5% more than a $1 wage rise.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2021/01/07/michael-pascoe-superannuation-guarantee-increase-wages/
    What happened in Washington DC is happening around the world, warns Cas Mudde.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/07/what-happened-in-washington-dc-is-happening-around-the-world
    Look at the Capitol Hill rioters, and now imagine if they had been black, writes Derecka Purnell.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/07/capitol-hill-trump-rioters-race-power
    David Smith sets out to explain what was behind Trump supporters’ brazen storming of the Capitol.
    https://theconversation.com/delighting-in-causing-complete-chaos-whats-behind-trump-supporters-brazen-storming-of-the-capitol-152808
    Matthew Knott introduces us to the Americans who believe Trump’s election fraud lies. Such a fine and inspiring bunch!
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/meet-the-americans-who-believe-trump-s-election-fraud-lies-20210107-p56s9i.html
    As a former reality TV star, Donald Trump knows better than most the power of the visual medium, and he could use it to make more than $1 billion a year and keep the Republican party running scared, says the AFR.
    https://www.afr.com/chanticleer/get-ready-for-truth-free-trump-tv-20210107-p56sb2
    Multiple nominee for “Arsehole of the Week”, Salim Mejajer, is back in court again having allegedly using a recorded prison phone call to ask his sister to contact his ex-partner to ask her to drop AVO proceedings.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/salim-mehajer-accused-of-getting-sister-to-text-ex-partner-breaching-avo-20210107-p56sgg.html

    Cartoon Corner

    David Rowe


    Simon Letch

    John Shakespeare

    Matt Golding



    Alan Moir

    Glen Le Lievre – with a couple of gifs

    Johannes Leak

    From the US










  18. TLBD

    Re why they chose the least effective. Priorities. You can guess what Scrott’s priority is from this table….

    Here’s how the top 3 coronavirus vaccines compare when it comes to efficacy, cost, and more

    COVID-19 vaccine candidates

    Efficacy*
    PFIZER-BIONTECH 95%
    MODERNA 94.10%
    ASTRAZENECA-OXFORD 70%**

    Approximate cost per dose (US)***
    PFIZER-BIONTECH $20
    MODERNA $15–20
    ASTRAZENECA-OXFORD $4 $4

    https://www.businessinsider.com.au/how-covid-vaccines-compare-cost-astrazeneca-oxford-pfizer-biontech-moderna-2020-11?r=US&IR=T

    • Ouch, the Astra Zeneca Oxford vaccine is at the lowest limit of efficacy

      I wish we get Pfizer-Biotech, but that requires cold cold storage, so why not use Pfizer in urban areas where greatest risk is and use Astra Zeneca in areas without storage infrastructure where there is lower risk

  20. You know how we ignore Sky News, well Mark Humphries noted that some inflammatory segments have millions of views, many viewers are overseas, not this tweet

    Yesterday I watched NBC on YouTube

  22. We see a lot of comment on how lenient the police were with the rioters yesterday. Their methods and even dress were very different to a previous Capitol rally by BLM campaigners.

    Photos show stark contrast in police response to Capitol riot vs. Black Lives Matter protests
    https://sea.mashable.com/culture/13938/photos-show-stark-contrast-in-police-response-to-capitol-riot-vs-black-lives-matter-protests

    No-one was arrested, the security people knew the rally was planned well ahead of the day, police even opened barricades to allow rioters entry.

    Now we learn the FBI are asking the public to help identify participants. Bit late now!

    Meanwhile, in Australia, the CrimeMinister continues to refuse to condemn his BFF Trump and Channel 9’s Today show takes umbrage at a tweet posted yesterday by Labor – an entirely valid and justified tweet, I think. There is very little support for their stance in the thread.

  23. Trump is now claiming to be “outraged” by yesterday’s violence, which, of course, he had nothing to do with. (If you believe that please give my regards to the Easter Bunny when he drops off your chocolate in April,)

  27. All this plague is come upon us

    At least six more Trump officials announced their resignation during the day on Thursday: Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos; special envoy to Northern Ireland Mick Mulvaney; Tyler Goodspeed, the acting chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors; Mark Vandroff, a senior National Security Council official and senior Commerce Department appointee John Costello.

    https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/07/trump-staffers-next-job-456315

  30. Caveats apply

    friendlyjordies

    Seth Meyers –

    Anderson Cooper –

    Chris Cuomo –

    Brian Tyler Cohen –

    More to come

  31. Today the CrimeMinister came up with this – a bit rich after spending most of last year picking on the Labor states over their wise decisions to close borders and have lockdowns and after deliberately setting states against one another.

  32. Van Badham

    As members of a wealthy, western government with the resources of briefings and information infrastructure, the sharing of mistruths about American politics or those elsewhere is wilful choice. The lure for politicians – painfully demonstrated in the willingness of American legislators to excuse Trump’s lies and attach themselves to his election conspiracies – is that the intense communities created by the propaganda model are activist, and generous. Whether it’s fronting for preselection votes, riots or fundraisers, they show up. The appeal of solid numbers and reliable donations tempts any power-building politician.

    Australia also has the media infrastructure to foment the creation of these communities. It’s not only the shared English language that allows American propaganda to go global; there are Australian media sources themselves direct marketing to the American audience, “laundering” spurious mythologies into international news under theoretically reputable mastheads. The cosiness of relationships with media sources – however compromised – also has great appeal for politicians.

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/08/scott-morrison-should-shut-down-his-mps-who-dance-with-disinformation-propaganda

  36. For all those still thinking about the US riots and smugly saying “This could never happen in Australia” think again.

    We have media only too happy to lie and present biased coverage at the best of times. Imagine what damage they could do if a similar situation arose here. (We had a taste last election with the pro-Liberal bias shown by the major news outlets.) We have more than enough gullible and/or stupid people here who love Trump and believe all the propaganda pumped out by conspiracy theorists and Q-Anon. Our CrimeMinister has close links to Q-Anon – something the media will not ask him about. The stage is already set.

    Our strongly right-wing media have been pushing what can only be described as an alternative version of the US story, especially Channel 9.

    • I had seen calls on Twitter for RMIT to fire Siracusa. After listening to that interview I endorse the call for his firing.

    • Siracusa description of the storming of Congress was inaccurate
      His analysis of Trump’s supporters seems sound

  41. Good morning Dawn Patrollers

    Kate Aubusson reports that NSW is on high alert after a family of four tested positive to a highly contagious coronavirus mutation from South Africa and the discovery in Queensland of a UK variant that has forced restrictions on anyone arriving from the Greater Brisbane area.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/nsw-on-alert-as-family-tests-positive-to-south-african-covid-19-mutation-20210108-p56sqk.html
    And experts are saying that the emergence of a more contagious variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 underlines a need to maintain strong border defences.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/new-virus-variants-underline-need-for-strong-public-health-measures-20210108-p56sl2.html
    Brisbane business leaders say the risk that the more infectious coronavirus strain found in Queensland could cause a massive outbreak justifies the snap three-day lockdown of the state capital.
    https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/business-backs-brisbane-s-snap-lockdown-20210108-p56sn3
    Catherine Bennett tells us that Brisbane’s COVID lockdown has a crucial difference, because it aims to squash an outbreak before it even starts.
    https://theconversation.com/brisbanes-covid-lockdown-has-a-crucial-difference-it-aims-to-squash-an-outbreak-before-it-even-starts-152892
    Australia’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic is to be praised when compared to cities still suffering such as Toronto, writes Niko Pajkovic.
    https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/compliance-is-a-must-what-we-can-learn-about-covid-19-safety-from-toronto,14677
    Sleeping in the car is looming as the only option for stranded Victorians who have spent thousands on emergency accommodation in NSW on top of rent for homes they can’t get to.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/renters-face-financial-strife-while-stuck-in-nsw-due-to-border-closure-20210106-p56s67.html
    Australia’s union movement has steadfastly rejected the Morrison government’s latest proposed reforms on superannuation on the grounds that workers would be worse off if choices about such accounts were left to the banks rather than to themselves or their employers, writes William Olson.
    https://theaimn.com/corruption-viewed-within-fine-print-of-super-reforms/
    Sean Kelly tells us that Australia is a very, very long way from what is happening in America. But there are three concerning elements of the Australian political landscape that are too often given only mild attention, ignored entirely, or dismissed as sideshows. He is quite critical of Morrison in this pointed contribution.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/australia-is-not-an-island-when-it-comes-to-the-forces-that-fostered-trump-20210107-p56sio.html
    Peter Hannam reports that experts are warning that last year’s Black Summer bushfires were made worse by climate change, and future risks will likely rapidly intensify for south-eastern Australia without significant efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
    https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/black-summer-bushfires-made-worse-by-climate-change-risk-to-rapidly-intensify-20210106-p56s6m.html
    Australians have been urged not to give up on the $5 million COVIDSafe app despite criticism of its effectiveness and privacy fears sparked by moves overseas to give police access to tracing app data.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australians-urged-to-stick-with-covidsafe-app-20210108-p56spa.html
    Jennifer Duke reports that a new code of practice tackling disinformation on Facebook, Twitter and Google could be introduced within weeks, as urgency to limit the risk from online falsehoods and propaganda grows ahead of the coronavirus vaccination rollout in Australia.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/fears-anti-vaxxers-could-derail-vaccination-rollout-20210107-p56sbp.html
    Jill Margo explains how Australia has a source of strength not available to most other countries. It’s the ability to keep a lid on new infections so that the period between our first and second vaccinations is kept safe.
    https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/health-and-wellness/australia-s-little-recognised-vaccine-advantage-20210107-p56sep
    Ronald Mizen describes Morrison’s vaccine triumph that wasn’t.
    https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/morrison-s-vaccine-triumph-that-wasn-t-20210107-p56sap
    The AFR says that a wave of insolvencies caused by COVID-19 will put the spotlight on Australia’s evolving preferences for restructuring distressed businesses.
    https://www.afr.com/chanticleer/going-bust-ain-t-what-it-used-to-be-20210108-p56sno
    Nick Bonyhady tells us that Australia’s union movement has offered to collaborate with the Morrison government to encourage workers to get vaccinated even as the two sides brawl over industrial relations reform.
    https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/collaborate-to-avoid-divisive-debate-about-compulsory-vaccination-unions-say-20210107-p56sdl.html
    Luke Battersby examines the terrible legacy of the misguided and now defunct “Plantations for Australia” forestry policy. It’s not only trees that have been burnt!
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/the-forestry-vision-that-turned-into-a-nightmare-20201202-p56k19.html
    Van Badham wants Morrison to shut down his MPs who dance with disinformation propaganda.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/08/scott-morrison-should-shut-down-his-mps-who-dance-with-disinformation-propaganda
    Michael Pascoe reckons Morrison is too scared to bag the ratbags in his government.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/2021/01/08/australia-morrison-ratbag-government/
    The SMH editorial declares that right-wing media must share blame for the US violence. It singles out Murdoch’s Fox News.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/right-wing-media-must-share-blame-for-us-violence-20210108-p56srr.html
    Matthew Knott says that this was the week the cost of Republicans’ bargain with Trump became clear.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/the-week-the-cost-of-republicans-bargain-with-trump-became-clear-20210108-p56sjt.html
    And Tom Switzer writes that the Republican Party has to wash off the stain of Donald Trump. In this article he says that some of them – Ted Cruz, for example – are now damaged goods.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/party-has-to-wash-off-the-stain-of-donald-trump-20210107-p56siv.html
    Greg Sheridan begins his contribution on the matter with, “Donald Trump finishes his astonishing term as president in utter ignominy. His behaviour since he lost the presidential election on November 3 has been far worse than anything he did as president. He has constantly claimed that there was massive voter fraud and that the election was stolen from him when there is no evidence for this at all.”
    https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/trumps-assault-on-democracy/news-story/311df8a0b189b0a6246b371a173fcd46
    Ezra Klein says that Trump has always been a wolf in wolf’s clothing.
    https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/trump-has-always-been-a-wolf-in-wolf-s-clothing-20210108-p56skp
    Peter van Onselen expresses his thoughts about Trump, Republicans and conservatives, and the many apologist journalists and commentators.
    https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/trump-apologists-discover-their-inner-conviction/news-story/e04abc16dc476b123cba2b694ffd014f
    John Kehoe writes that Donald Trump’s most loyal supporters have abandoned the US President and he is facing growing calls to resign or be kicked out of office, capping the most notorious week of his turbulent four-year presidency.
    https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/loyalists-dump-trump-in-a-divided-us-20210108-p56sok
    Dear old Gerard Henderson has a spit.
    https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/democrats-put-congress-in-the-grip-of-cancel-culture/news-story/99797bccbaae1730bae53bebd0b89d1d
    Dominion Voting Systems has filed a defamation lawsuit against lawyer Sidney Powell, seeking at least $US1.3 billion ($1.7 billion) for Powell’s “wild accusations” that the company rigged the presidential election for Joe Biden. Ouch! That’s an attention getter.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/dominion-sues-trump-lawyer-over-wild-election-claims-seeks-us1-3-billion-20210109-p56stm.html
    As the US descends into chaos, what better time for Britain to go the same way, asks Marina Hyde.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/08/us-chaos-britain-fox-news-trump-presidency
    Geoffrey Robertson reckons the US is on hold as its deranged President makes unpredictable decisions. This is well worth reading right through.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/us-on-hold-as-deranged-president-makes-unpredictable-decisions-20210108-p56slu.html
    And the ACLU’s Christopher Dunn explains how Donald Trump is at risk of prosecution.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/yes-donald-trump-is-at-risk-of-prosecution-here-s-why-20210108-p56sn2.html
    Senior Republicans should recoil in horror at Trump, but too many still fear him, says Jonathan Freedland.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/08/republican-horror-trump-fear-united-states-democracy
    Donald Trump’s belated “concession” to a peaceful and orderly transition of power after the storming of the US Capitol has provoked anger and conspiracy theories among some of his most ardent followers. Stiff shit!
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/08/trump-incites-anger-among-acolytes-let-down-by-lack-of-support
    Lois Beckett explains how right-wing impunity fuelled the pro-Trump mob from Charlottesville to the Capitol. Many think this is far from over.
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/07/capitol-mob-attack-rightwing-rallies-trump
    America should have been ready for it, yet the spectacle at the Capitol came as a shock, writes Emma Brockes.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/08/capitol-four-years-wednesday
    Child Trump says he won’t attend President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20, undercutting his message a day earlier that he would work to ensure a “smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power” to his successor.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/donald-trump-tweets-that-he-will-not-attend-joe-biden-s-inauguration-20210109-p56sto.html

    Cartoon Corner

    Peter Broelman

    Alan Moir

    David Rowe

    Michael Leunig

    Joe Benke

    John Shakespeare

    Mark David

    Johannes Leak

    From the US













  42. As with BoJo Biden goes in for playing a bit of Russian Roulette with the vaccine roll out.
    .
    .

    Biden will release nearly all available vaccine doses in break from Trump administration policy of holding back stock for second dose.
    .
    .
    Releasing nearly all vaccine doses on hand could quickly ratchet up the availability of coronavirus vaccines by allowing more people access to a first dose. It could also be a risky strategy as both Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna’s vaccines require two doses, administered at specific intervals, and vaccine manufacturing has not ramped up as rapidly as many experts had hoped.
    https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/08/politics/biden-vaccine-strategy/index.html

  43. No wonder the US and UK have taken a punt on using all the vaccines at once. Latest figures……

    Covid19
    UK 1 death every 65 seconds
    US 1 death every 21 seconds

  44. A good article today from Sean Kelly, but it’s a bit hard to swallow coming from a Nine journalist. He says nothing we have not said for ages. Why are these Nine journalists always so slow to see the truth?

    What was Nine doing while the things he mentions were going on? Running confected headlines about Labor leadershit. What was Nine doing on the night of the riots? Running an item on A Current Affair that defended Trump and claimed he could not be held accountable.

    Come the next election Nine will once again be running headline stories critical of Labor and Channel 9 through it’s trashy TV programs will be running anti-Labor propaganda.

    There must be some Liberal parliamentarians who by now realise their “leader” is a hopeless fraud, a liar, and too incompetent to even hold a seat let alone be PM. They must worry about his support for idiots like Christensen and Kelly. They must realise how dangerous it is to allow his leadership to continue.

  46. Twitter permanently suspends Trump so he simply goes elsewhere – to Parler, a site frequented by his nutter followers.

    Well look who just joined over on Parler… @Peter_Fitz @MikeCarlton01 pic.twitter.com/XlsVuZQy4K— Scott Holz 🔎 (@scottrholz) January 8, 2021</a

    Donald Trump fans cry betrayal as he rebukes Capitol violence
    On Parler and 4chan Trumpists write of feeling ‘like puking’ as president says those who ‘broke law will pay’
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/08/trump-incites-anger-among-acolytes-let-down-by-lack-of-support

  47. This is an appalling story and a dreadful illustration of what sort of place Australia has become.

    Not one word of kindness for a woman having a miscarriage, not even an offer of water. Just cruelty and ignorance.

    ‘I can’t comprehend it’: woman who miscarried on Australian roadside says public backlash is hurtful
    Nicole Clark was accused of blaming her miscarriage on coronavirus border closures, and some questioned the legitimacy of her pregnancy
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jan/09/i-cant-comprehend-it-woman-who-miscarried-on-australian-roadside-says-public-backlash-is-hurtful

    • The Victorian family who travelled from lakes entrance to Eden & bermagui before realising they had been at the smiling Thai restaurant in black rock took themselves to Bega hospital for a Covid test

      The Victorian contact tracers phoned them while they were waiting for their test

      Anyway one of their small children wanted to go to the toilet. This was refused, child had to defecate in the gutter. The family immediately drove 7 hours home with 2 drink boxes for sustainance

      The virus has made people mean and people are going get meaner and more judgemental as the JobKeeper subsidy is withdrawn and unemployment and poverty levels rise

  50. There are two more tweets in this thread –

    And there’s this – posted yesterday.

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