Webdiary - Founded and Inspired by Margo Kingston |
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The decline and fall of the Rudd Labor Empire?
While the public has had its attention focussed on two international disasters, Israel's action against the aid flotilla and America's problems with a massive oil spill, it seems another opinion poll, a Nielson poll, has quietly confirmed earlier polls indicating a drop in support for the government.
While much of the movement has been leftwards toward support for the Greens, it seems that Tony Abbott's Liberal party has had a phoenix like rise from its absolute nadir of a couple of months ago. It may be that this is just a return to normal, for devotees of the cyclic theory of politics, but it also will require of, therefore, the government a bit of serious soul searching, unless I'm mistaken.
It will need to decide whether it just wants to keep power and become another Howard or Blair/ Brown government or whether it wants to do those serious things it said it would do last election, particularly on environment and social policy. I personally wonder at what constraints they must be under, to so avoid action on serious issues. I thinkof AUSFTA and other treaty obligations we maybe dont know about, that prevents the current governemt fromnotonly adopting anindependent foreignpolicy, but also their passive acquiescence in the Americanisation of Australia under globalism.
Maybe , because Labor has throttled left dissent within itself, it no longer recognises an argument, thru lack of debate and loss of the skills, let alone the right way to respond to one.
No argument; no ideas, is the result for both big parties, of a purging of dissent within.
Certainly modern Labor is no longer the home of critical theorising or any politics of vison, it is there to manage rather than change and improve and gladly no longer questions the system in the way old Labor did. Even if big business is in the wrong on an issue, in a globalised economic and commercial environment that favours big business, governments will not take it on because they are fearful of capital strikes and capital flight, let alone campaigns from tabloid media, as has occurredc ove the new mining rent tax.
Labor has belatedly exerted itself, against the mining companies, probably in response to its loss of poll support, but the public is now sceptical and they are running into the sort of problem Howard found he had once his credibility had been eroded.
Too many people in high positions in the (post?) modern ALP are fearful of the left, regardless of what more serious threats exist; they love America and Israel right or wrong and are happy to abide by business as usual, provided they get an invite to the bosses box on footy night.
These sorts of people also operate within state governments and Labor state governments are on the nose just now, for breaking clear election promises on fundamentalissues, ( no privatisation in NSW and QLD, eg ) and not attempting to do better than just hold onto power. But they are well loved and supported by big business and the media as long as they toe the line and don't disrupt business as usual. Yet another hope of many voters, that the ALP would somehow get state labor governments back into line, has also not eventuated. In fact it is the smugness of the Labor hierarchy in closing out rank and file and public at large,and dodging its election commitments, that has contributed, I beleive, to the Rudd government's decline in popularity.
We were all glad to see the back of Howard at one stage, but now the People are calling on Rudd Labor, in no uncertain terms, to unpack its alternative and fulfill its promises to Australians, rather than just slumming with those interests whos aims are contrary to the ordinary Australian.
Not that Rudd Labor can yet be written off as incompetent , it did well enough in dealing with GFM and it can't be held responsible for all of the stupidity abroad within the electorate itself; often stupidity increased by the cynical manipulations of press and media operating in the venal interests of the wealthy Few.
But its refusal to stand up on issue s of principle and its evasions concerning some of its policies have led people to question whether it is the right government for the times. I suspect it is a mundane government but am not being given alternatives to voting Green, exhausting back down to Labor, because the Liberals can't control their right wing, either.
These do not pay even the token measure of respect to civil liberties, equity, etc that Labor does, so that leaves Labor or the Greens. But because we have a preferential voting system, that means, in the end, I still have to in effect, choose between the Coalition and Labor.
I just wish the Labor leaders would realise its not just they who lose thru an abdication of responsibility, but the people who voted them in, in good faith....
It has baffled me for some time that Australians would prefer a delinquent Abbott to a dull but more effective Rudd Labor government. I don't they do, so Labor had better react quickly and finally sort its attitude out, so that it gets a fair go- a second term to as a sort of last chance and also give a chance to the Coalition to have a bit more time that it obviously needs, to rethink itsattitudes and approach to policy and issues they have obviously not come to terms with, particulalry environment and a decent rather than sado social policy.
Maybe polls popularity falls are a language they can finally understand, but am not as optimistic even on this as I should be. But even Rudd Labor can't be estimated to be worse than an Abbott government, surely?
God help us all if a dimwit like Britain's Cameron- Abbott- gets in and sets about the same sort of policies as Cameron- robbing the poor to pay for the mistakes of the wealthy. But also God help us if Labor can't (finally) get its attitude right, for the consequences will then be the same as if we voted in Abbott, except that then we will not have the luxury or satisfaction of blaming others, or have Abbott, like howard, to blame when silly policies go wrong.
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Something new under the moon
At this stage in the election campaign, a suite of poll results the last couple of days has revealed that Gillard Labor is slipping into reelection trouble.
A week of personalised, even sexist, politics directed at Gillard as an individual, Laurie Oakes and Murdoch beatups and likely destabilisation from within, as well as uncertain handling of some policy issues has one poll suggesting that the Abbott opposition is actually now in front of Labor. No doubt the legacy of resentment toward some Labor state governments is a factor and also, the public has taken on the perception that Labor refused its own reform agenda of 2007.
Australian politics. Losers fighting ove the spoils of defeat.
The lesson of Plato's cave: that we wouldn't know reality if we fell over it and refuse the truth when offered at all levels, is one for our times.
Must watch
http://www.getup.org.au/campaign/Enrol&id=1178
By far the best ad I've ever seen, head and shoulders above anything else
All in the lap of the gods..
Ha, ha, Jay, yes that was droll.
That caped hero from the 'fifties, Captain Budgie, locked in mortal combat with SuperGirl, defender of Civilisation as we thought- bubbled it.
Julia's stuff up with East Timor guarantees a hard election, so the Get Up above scenario is something we are going to get awfully sick of by the time the election is done and dusted, because now its the more likely reality, for the interim.
Labor understimated Abbott. Gillard almost drew Labor clear of the orbit of planet mortgage belt. But Timor L'Este put a break on the movement and it's trench warfare from now on, as Labor finds out if Julia's population issues firewall has created enough of an impression on the mortgage belt to neutralise any Abbott's doubt-creation between now and the election.
Gloriana
Alan and Marilyn remind us that in the month between now and the original posting much has occurred to remind us that,
" a week is a long time in politics".
Quite apart from the dramatic and horrendous Gulf oil spill and the removal of Britsh Labour and tyhe world cup soccer, for example, it may have escaped the wider public's notice that we have had a change of PM.
Cuddly Kevin, now represented as some sort of "house devil street angel", by his detractors was removed in a coup quite remarkable for its swiftness and well, incisiveness.
Now we are subject to the rule of la Gillardtine and much panic is abroad, ranging from the Tories, who had eroded away Rudd's public support in the few months before his removal, to advocate groups on the left fearful that Gillard's ascendancy means, effectively, a defensive switch to the right as to social policy, refugees and ecology.
My guess is that we must wait till the election has passed; in cricket parlance, the shutters are up at the moment and they are holding out till stumps, so to speak.
We can only hope that with an election win and mandate under her belt and Abbott and the Hansonists decisively repudiated, she can proceed more confidently than now.
I dont hold out out great hopes, but they can't be any worse than Abbott, Bolt and the rest.
Smashing the wall on the right, veering
Hey, Paul. "Hansonists decisively repudiated, she can proceed more confidently"
I've become more sympathetic to Hanson and her ideas than I was. I'm sorry she's gone.
I don't want us to be forever the Land Of The Tame. I'd like to see change on that front. The tame will always be owned by the free.
For a start, let's change things so that there are no fines, so that government coercion is by imprisonment only.
Then it would not be profitable for the governments to invent new offenses or to tighten existing restrictions. You do 51 kph, you go to prison. You jaywalk, ditto. The government lowers the blood alcohol limit from 0.8 to 0.5 not to deliciously increase the number of offenders but because road safety is important enough to justify several new prisons. Or not.
That way, we would immediately have a free society. Petty restrictions would not be money earners, but the contrary. They'd go.
Rent seekers and Skinners box
I think that's basically the system we have already, Michael.
The smart figure out ways to duck and weave, those with less "wherewithal" get screwed over in the lauranorder courts of populist political creation where they often end up as a consequence of behaviours induced thru having to live in a closed loop socio-cultural and pol economic sub system.
"Shit storm"
I have just finished the book Shitstorm. Everyone in Australia should be begging Rudd's forgiveness and demanding to know why it is that Lenore Taylor and David Uren had some fundamental truths of his integrity and performance and said nothing while the rest of the media bagged him for cowardice and lack of forethought.
I am sickened and ashamed.
Shit storm
Marilyn, A lot of people are sickened and ashamed that Rudd was allowed to waste so much money on hair-brained schemes,like the Insulation fiasco.
Not to mention the 4 deaths caused by Rudd's inaction when things were going wrong whilst laying the blame with Garrett.
Most intelligent people picked Rudd as a dud 2 years ago, his history in charge of Health in Queensland should have been enough.
Now watch as Gillard buggers things up whilst making decisions that are more political than useful for the Australian people.
Look at it this way Marilyn, if Rudd would have been working in the private sector he would have got the sack 18 months ago.
The scales of justice
Alan,While I sympathise with some of your viewpoints, I question your facts.
What was Rudd's inaction that caused four deaths? Australia has very cumbersome and expensive OHS systems, and if they don't work, it is hardly fair to blame Rudd. What are the statistics that indicate that 4 deaths are grossly unusual?
Certainly, there are many stories of the mismanagement of the GFC spend. The real question is, as a percentage of total spend, how different is this mismanagement to other mismanagement that goes on all the time. In any event, it's the job of public servants to run an efficient public service, and it is rather unfair to hold politicians (who are lucky if they keep to a portfolio for three years) to undertake significant reform of their bureaucracy.
Are you arguing that (i) Rudd shouldn't have spent a lot of money quickly, or (ii) there were better ways to spend the money? If (ii), what would you suggest would have been better?
I'd also question your assumption that Rudd would have been fired in the private sector. The GFC, for example, was largely created by private sector organisations, many of whom were highly regarded just before the crisis. BP was considered an excellent company, just before the oil spill.
We can hardly blame Gilliard for making political decisions that end up not benefiting Australia: that is the political system we have created. Politicians are expected to make political decisions to get into and stay in office. The theory of democracy is that such decisions are what the public want and are to the benefit of Australia (very similar to the free market theory of the invisible hand).
PS I wasn't aware that Rudd was ever in charge of Queensland Health.
Jay , Don't you remember?
Jay , Don't you remember that Rudd was called Dr.Death?.
Rudd knew about the faults and dangers in the Insulation Scheme months before the news broke, however he sat on it.
Rudd and Gillard have mentioned the GFC millions of times everytime they have appeared on TV or Radio, it is their excuse for everything that goes wrong with their incompetant ministers.
Instead of Rudd and Gillard wasting money on a lot of useless buildings they should have supplied better teachers, and got rid of a load of poor teachers in the Public System.
Eating Cake
C'mon, Alan,
According to the Age, "He earned his first political nickname, Dr Death, after cutting back and restructuring the Queensland public service when head of Wayne Goss' Office of Cabinet." (i) not Queensland Health (ii) isn't the slashing of the public sector something you advocate?; and (iii) he didn't make the policy, just carried it out efficiently.
Alan, I think Dr Death was
Alan, I think Dr Death was that Dr Bullant Patel fella they just knocked over for a bit of bad vetinary science up at Bundy.
Obama was another one who tried to wing it on a risk and has had his fingers burned re Gulf of Mexico.
How do you know it was "bad teachers"?
Perhaps it was "bad something or other else"?
Grist for the mill
Nothing more irritating than a bug in the computer just when some thing interesting is up for discussion.
The story of Kevin Rudd's downfall continued yesterday, with Gillard announcing a reshuffle, a pretext for a warm and friendly photo op to reintroduce Simon Crean to top politics and demonstrate Steven Smith as "on side", as well. United we stand, divided we fall.
Gillard seems aware of aspects of media and symbolism that even the best of her predecessors missed and if I read QA right from last night, the discomfort from conservative panelists last night at the changed situation is palpable.
The election script is becoming discernible. Abbott wedged Rudd on two seperate yet sadly often conflated issues: immigration and asylum seekers, with Rudd trying to be humane and stern at the same time. Rudd mistimed his comments on Bigpop last year and then the asylum seeker issue regained momentum without Rudd able to find a way to deal with it in ways acceptable both to Hansonists and refugee advocates. The Beazley curse returned for one last visit.
But Gillard has acted immediately to steal Abbott's new nationalist oxygen, in a shrewd presentation of Bob Hawke style nationalism that goes down well with the public. It hasnt made the asylum seekers or development/population issues go away, but done the one thing Abbott did not want, and postponed these as divisive issues till after an early election.
Drinking lots of wine Alan Curran is where I've been
....from the look of my last post.
I don't see why goverments shouldn't spend lots of money as long as it's on the right things (and not war). Rudd spent it on infrastructure.
I am not unsurprised by the enormous amount of sympathy out there for Rudd now being expressed and especially in the News Corp media who are re-writing their role in the coup.
There is some satisfaction in Abbott making the claim he 'got rid of Rudd'-something he will regret as he is swept from office in August.
Surely an unprecedent move anywhere-booting out a popular PM and replacing him with likewise. All because they got spooked by the media.
Managing decline.
I think you have to ask the question, "who would be more likely to defeat Abbott: Rudd or Gillard?", both a week ago and now and check answers both times.
Like others, I observe the two features of the adventure, one, a very practiced performance in the art of political asassination. Also, if you read the accounts, there are some favourable to Gillard, others Rudd. I'd say he's had a meteoric run as a political leader; like Gough but even more, a martyr to the cause. He leaves this job with enough respect to rebuild a career even in politics, if he so desires but only if he takes the trouble to learn from any mistakes he actually made, even if only in trusting the wrong people.
His defects involving either naivity or vanity will respond to some peace and quiet away from the ratrace. Some feel work has exiled him from his personal support base, which he only had as long as theop polls didn't evaporate when/if he lost touch, which in the end happened, He's done a good job the last couple of years, abreath of fresh after Howard.
Did he lose out with the alleged workaholic streak causing him to burn himself out?
It just depends which slant you take on the meeting between Gillard and Rudd, before the end.
There are two opposed readings as to what happened, depending on what journal you read. Either Rudd wasn't quick enough on the uptake with Gillard, or Rudd's claimed rudeness (es?), from some sources, to Gillard caused Gillard to be so fed up as to join with the ancient foe on the Right to unseat a fellow who now cries:
"A horse, a horse.
A Kingdom,
for a horse".
Now the public will in effect be asked who they want out of Gillard and Abbott, the choice many of them wanted first and formost in the first place. She could be the new Bob Hawke, as the politician of the past she most resembles in a recognisable political way- both have charisma and she solves the problem created by Abbott's eclipse of Rudd by offering a credible, or saleable, alternative that actually differentiatesin a key way Ruddv. Abbott never did, because they were both of this very contrained, conservative type of individual, and people began wondering, if you can have Rudd, you can have Abbott.
Whereas the events of the week have proven Gillard's more no illusions streak against Rudd's idealism and fartin a bottleness, which doesn't make him any less likeable to me. But now you get a choice, a la cafeteria, a secularist seeming free spirit or a conservative icon. Recall reading something similar else where, more on religious lines, so the thought's about, and show where the imbalance had been created for Rudd, as friction developed also within the government.
Be interesting to see where it ends up.
More bullshit, but with a squeaky voice.
Paul , She could be the new Bob Hawke, perhaps by promising that no working family will live in a home with dodgy Insulation.
Or perhaps this, the BER will come in under budget and on time.
Bill Henson
That was the end for me. It wasn't the job of the Prime Minister of Australia to be expressing Australia-wide his personal disgust over conduct by Henson that was not illegal, and if it was illegal it was still a State police matter, not a Prime Ministerial matter.
I was delerious with joy when he was elected. To find quite soon that he was such a little and narrow man and that he wanted to impose his littleness and narrowness on the rest of us... Lost me instantly and finally.
And I've never seen one of the Henson photos. That's not the point.
Whitlam and now Rudd
I was upset the day the Senate brought down a Labor PM but to witness the Labor party putting the knife into one of its own is a sad day indeed.
The faceless back room boys of the labor factions may have had a win this week but will they win at election time?
On telephone poll on QLD TV last night 18,000 rang in and 76 percent said they would not be voting Labor.
How will a PM make the hard decisions in the future? Knowing that if the polls go against him or her they will likely get the same back stabbing knife.
Democracy means nothing if mining magnates and union bosses are they ones that truly run the country.
Forget the TV polls
John, they signify nothing. What sort of idiot responds to such invitations, who can be bothered? The real polls paint a different picture, they had Rudd in front by a good chalk and now even better with Gillard at the helm.
Now it's a peculiarity of mine that I can thoroughly detest people but still feel sorry for them when they get their thoroughly deserved comeuppence depending on their response; Fraser and now Rudd.
Why the hand wringing at Rudd's demise? He was detested and as Mark Latham remarked only liked by people who hadn't met him. Obsessed and expecting of a shared obsession with his minions.
As long time readers of this site will remember I've been a champion of Gillard but I still have reservations; she is a politician after all and I'm on Swift's side with that regard. Nevertheless she is a good communicator , something at which Rudd totally failed and I expect her to be capable. Time will tell. Rudd shafted himself with his paranoid distrust of Gillard and provided the mechanism by which he could be ousted. End of story.
No, this sudden flurry on my part does not signify a full on return to Webdiary but I might drop in from time to time. I must admit blogging does satisfy a creative urge.
Hey Justin old mate, Martin Ferguson in a frock uh? donefinkso. One of the things Gillard has got going for her as a female politician is that blokes can imagine sharing her bed. Just ask Tony.
Scott, One of the things
Scott, One of the things Gillard has got going for her as a female politician is that blokes can imagine sharing her bed..
One thing you will not see her do is pose for a picture with Premier Keneally, two puppets on the same string.
Actually that is not true
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/nationalinterest/stories/2010/2937465.htm
And Rudd's last poll was 53/47 with him preferred by 61% to 26% over Gillard.
Honest to god, what a pack of pricks.
John, I told you in 2007
John, I told you in 2007 that Rudd was a dud and a con man.
Once you get people like Shorten and Combet sitting in the House it is the beginning of the end for Labor.
You ask "How will a PM make the hard decisions" Rudd and Gillard never made any hard decisions only wrong decisions. Insulation and BER for starters.
VOTE ONE - The Fairy Party
Alan: yep Rudd got dudded, now bluey Gillard can have a go, and so it goes. At the end of the day most of them get dudded one way or the other. I'm all for dudding politicians, there should be more of it, in fact we should dud them out of existence and replace them with fairies from the bottom of the refrigerator. We'd all be better off and the fairies would look much better on telly.
PS. The fairies at the bottom of my fridge said they'd run the show for love.
Absolute crap
Labor had to terminate Rudd because it was obvious-the meejah were not going to give up until they got bloolent campaign since the er empire.
A Prime Minister whose "Paul Keating is So Arrogant" falsehood pushed by News Corp and the Packtill remained the most popular compared to any other candidate had to fall on his sword. Christ do Labor owe him.
Everyone fell into step including the now ghastly emasculated ABC.
Where has been the f***king analysis of a tax so important that every senior journalist should have been investigating it ad finitum ? . All we have been dished up is whatever crap that Twiggy said or that fool of woman in WA , or that fat billionaire whinging like crazy as though it was fact .The facts-where are they?.I mean hello people !...did one hack say they may have been partisan ??
Lies from corporations and they got away with it scot free.
Never a bloody mention of the frigging Greens decimation of the ETS (at least they have shot themselves in the foot).
Everyone has followed the Shanahans of the world like sheep.I watched that little t*rd Milne set up the beginning of this campaign about 9 weeks ago.
We've had 2 years of government without bloody Labor factionalism, and an intelligent PM who was doing the right thing and the media just couldn't bloody handle it.
You should all be angry and if you aren't you are asleep or you actually believe the ghastly 6 0clock new swill, the shallowness of News Corp that now sets the agenda, the creepiness of the hollow Fairfax media.Every voter should be angry at the press.
Thank God for the Internets and I look forward to every daily newspaper biting the dust. There isn't a credible journalist left in this country. Hacks, the lot of them. Reptiles.They're just typists who regurgitate.In fact when have we ever had so many commentators in the media ?. That is all we seem to have.
This has been a very very nasty day for democracy in Australia. Julia Gillard will wipe the floor with Tony Abbot at an election but so would have Kevin Rudd.
But it feels so dirty.
My girls hate her guts
One thing my very non-political daughter said was "I hate f##ing back stabbers".
My teenage grand-daughters both hate her guts and my youngest baby girl's other nana has gone to the Greens.
Even my feminist sister won't give the red headed #$^&*@! a go.
What the ???????????????
Michael , Where have you been the last couple of years, sat in a union office reading the rags they produce.
Have you got any idea of the ammount of money these Labor clowns have wasted?. Billions on the Insulation racket, Rudd should be made to clear that lot up before he collects any Super. Gillard should be made to pay back some of the money rorted on the BER, she could do that on her new salary, it will take a couple of million years.
You say "We've had 2 years of government without bloody Labor factionalism, and an intelligent PM who was doing the right thing and the media just couldn't bloody handle it". Bill Shorten has been beavering away in the background, and it will be interesting what job Gillard will give him.
Remember this was the guy who kept the 2 miners underground whilst he milked the meejah for every penny he could get.
So Rudd can speak Mandarin, that is going to be handy when Julia wants to order take away.
Do we really need a PM dressed as a David Jones shooping bag?.
Would you have preferred a recession
Events move on
You read it here first folks; the only surprise is that it happened sooner rather than later. What a hoot, the Mad Monks worst nightmare; His adversary is someone he fancies the pants off, (or would like to.)
Yes Alan you were right about Rudd though probably not in the way you meant. I've never been a fan of his myself; Alan Ramsey's "precious prissy prick" .
I hate with a passion being forced to utter these words, (snigger snigger,) I told you so.
Good luck to you old old comrades.
Hehehe
Looked what the bloody cat (not Claude) dragged in, Scotty D - howzit.
Scott, I got a giggle out of this letter in the SMH this morning:
What's next..
Well, whaddya know?
talk about world cup stuf!!
If the Gillard faction has botched this leadership spill situation that has arisen from such nebulous beginnings, Labor could have pressed a self destruct button for the upcoming election for themselves. Unless the thing is resolved also to Rudd's satisfaction, you wonder that anything but harm can come the ALP's reelection chances both federally and in some states.
I feel very sorry for Rudd.
He saw off Howard and three major candidates for long term Liberal leadership, yet because of either white anting from within or / and because of his own inexperience vis a vis Abbott, a true political animal, he has been ineffectual in quite getting Abbott's measure.
Unless there are fingerprints on the knives in Rudd's back, Gillard is actually as likely as good a bet as Rudd for a win, but the worst case scenario is of Rudd and Gillard going down in a pitbull clinch and dragging their government down with them, in a fruitless, pointless vendetta as tragic as self indulgent,
"we're all dead"
That's about it from me; oh, and Rudd will get back in. The alternative prime minister is a little bit worse, methinks.
Justin,
Justin, As I said a while ago Rudd is a dud (/cms/?q=node/2292#comment-762370) now it appears that Labor believe he is a dud, and they are going to replace him with another dud, Gillard.
Small government
Wonderful, Justin.
Now as to Alan, Kathy and the other Rudd sceptics comments, yes I agree to some extent, but sometimes for different reasons than those that some of you would likely cite. Another famous quote concerning politics goes along the lines:
"The country is actually a one party state controlled by one or other of two competing right wing factions".
I agree the difference is one of degree, the day to day system is as imperfect as the people running it, be it Howard and his lot when they were in, or some sections of the ALP now, who seem more to resemble National Party pork barrellers than people exhibiting characteristics that you'd hope to recognise in a Labor politician and legislator ( or a Coalition one, for that matter! ).
Yes Justin Obodie, Mencken
Yes Justin Obodie, Mencken is a genius. Quote after quote, his observations are pure gems.
Anyone out there not know about HL Mencken?
Well, google his quotes up and sit back for a good gentle laugh.
The joy of Living.
Rudd is Howard lite! Always has been.
His problem has been his over the top rhetoric, and broken promises. Ya know.. like, the "greatest moral challenge of our generation" with regards to climate change. Of course he meekly and weakly delayed the CPRS until 2013.. Pfft!
As Peter Van Onselen said:
" Rudd mocked Howard as a climate change sceptic, someone unwilling to even ratify the Kyoto Protocol; someone who didn't take the profound effects of global warming seriously."
Rudd is no different from Howard. His only concern is staying in power too!
Rudd is no better than Abbott either..
What a choice for the voters.
Unless Rudd consults with the miners and agrees to a compromise, I believe that he will come close to losing the election.
"In the long run, we're all dead "
Yep, that's about it in a nutshell, Justin. Best be stocking up the bar in the potomac my love.. I think it's gonna be a long haul."
"Farewell you northern hills, you mountains all goodbye
Moorland and stony ridges, crags and peaks goodbye
Glyder Fach farewell, Culbeg, Scafell, cloud bearing Suilven
Sun warmed rock and the cold of Bleaklow's frozen sea
The snow and the wind and the rain of hills and mountains
Days in the sun and the tempered winds and the air like wine
And you drink and you drink till you're drunk
On the joy of living
Farewell to you my love, my time is almost done
Lie in my arms once more until the darkness comes
You filled all my days, held the night at bay, dearest companion
Years pass by and they come with the speed of birds in flight
Our life like the verse of a song heard in the mountains
Give me your hand then love and join your voice with mine
We'll sing of the hurt and pain
And the joy of living
Farewell to you my chicks, soon you must fly alone
Flesh of my flesh, my future life, bone of my bone
May your wings be strong, may your days be long, safe be your journey
Each of you bears inside of you the gift of love
May it bring you light and warmth and the pleasure of giving
Eagerly savour each new day on the taster of its mouth
Never lose sight of the thrill
And the joy of living
Take me to some high place of heather, rock and ling
Scatter my dust and ashes, feed me to the wind
So that I will be part of all you see, the air you are breathing
I'll be part of the curlew's cry and the soaring hawk
The blue milk wort and the sundew hung with diamonds
I'll be riding the gentle wind that blows through your hair
Reminding you how we shared
In the joy of living"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMsXFALeGIY
Ewan Maccoll.
But Kathy
Since that speech the world collapsed, hundreds of millions more human beings went broke and were starving, there have been food riots in parts of the world.
In the US alone there are over 15 million unemployed.
Don't you think the tedious whining about a fact that maundering on about an ETS in the face of such immense suffering is a teensy weensy bit self-indulgent?
Do you think the 600 million poor Chinese, the 500 million destitute Indians and millions of others in all corners of the world who have no food might find you a teensy weensy bit delusional along with the Murdoch hacks and beat ups?
Like the claim that the BER is a rort when there is not a trace of evidence ever offered to prove it?
At it again
Marilyn: Like the claim that the BER is a rort when there is not a trace of evidence ever offered to prove it?
This is just one school, wait till the final bill comes in.
Why can't Labor get their sticky fingers out of the till?.
A word on Craig Mayne
http://www.theage.com.au/business/big-miners-dig-in-against-resource-tax-20100217-oc9u.html
Craig and his mates wanted to keep a share of the cash for themselves according to a report in the Australian
The final remark by Craig Mayne in Matt Peacocks report - i.e. the BER as "the biggest waste of taxpayers money in Australian history" prompted me to track his prior statements on this issue. While he is a former head of a Brisbane P&C and has managed a building project for that same school, he appears to have other less pure interests in the implementation of the BER that were not addressed in your program. The Australian of June 16 2009 has Mr Mayne arguing a for a stronger role for project managers like himself on the following terms:
"All we asked for was a percentage of the savings we were able to make. A no-risk, upside-only arrangement," he said.
"Of $3m allocated to a school based on existing arrangements, if we deliver for $2.5m we keep an agreed percentage of the saving. The only downside is embarrassment to the state."
But Marilyn. It's all about integrity
I think you missed my point Marilyn. Rudd is a hypocrite and a liar, just like Abbott. Just like Howard was..
Slim pickings for the voters..
Rudd's problems are of his own making, too . This latest fiasco with the miners could have been avoided if Rudd had consulted with the mining companies beforehand. (As did the Hawke-Keating government with the petroleum tax) Simon Crean admitted as much.
Finally do you really think that Kevin from heaven cares one jot about unemployed Americans, poor Chinese, or destitute Indians?
Who's delusional, hun? ;)
Integrity?
There is no integrity in continuing to push self-indulgent crap though.
And pray tell why on earth would a government have to ever negotiate with any industry about the tax they pay?
Everyone else pays the tax imposed and the notion that a small group of multi-billionaires should be consulted is crap.
Rudd has no integrity or credibility.
Marilyn: "And pray tell why on earth would a government have to ever negotiate with any industry about the tax they pay?"
Because it's a smart and fair thing to do.
Beating 'em over the head with a baseball bat has only seen the government's stocks plummet further.
Simon Crean is no fool.He and many others including former finance minister Peter Walsh and former Queensland treasurer Keith De Lacy think that Rudd should have consulted with the mining industry..
Why do you think that this inept and inexperienced government finds itself in such a precarious predicament ?
Rudd has no integrity or credibility.
Just more of the same old same old that we have had for years, now.
Oh gawd
WEll Kathy I hate the GST - how about I fucking negotiate with the government do I don't have to pay it.
As someone who has not voted for the majors since 1983 I find them all pretty disgusting but it is a frigging tax. Government's don't have to ask permission to levy any tax and Keith de Lacy is a mining stooge.
I am more concerned with the lies that led to the death of 1.3 million or more Iraqis, the non-existent WMD and human shredders, Abu Ghraib, Gitmo, millions of war orphans and widows and still locking up children.
It's a frigging tax and the mining moguls just want the GST raised so they pay no more and we all pay more.
all is revealed.
Marilyn Shepherd, thanks for the explanation concerning the GST and mining tax. Elsewhere throughout the media, people are discussing the "latest proposal concerning a consumption rather than production based tax for greenhouse".
Deciphered with unique skill by Marilyn, this translates to"baillout" as the public's pocket is yet again picked to prop up big business polluters, while the environment "pays" for the further self indulgence?
Up there for thinkin'. Down there for dancin'
Oh dear. Where did I say that the miners should not pay any more tax?
Hmmm.. Don't get your knickers in a twist guys.
This whole thing was handled badly by the nerds from Nambour!
Consultation and negotiation are part and parcel of dealings between business and government..
Rudd has had bad advice from too many youngsters.. Damn shame he did not seek the advice of seasoned campaigners like Simon Crean..
Btw Marilyn, you had a chance to reject the GST when Howard went with it at election time. Seems that your fellow Australians were quite happy to have the GST.. Sigh..
(not me, in case you are wondering. I was a democrats supporter back then...)
Fat lot of good that it did!
Kathy, the miners asked for it.
I was a democrat worker and supporter and I would actually cut off my right arm before I voted for either of the majors, that's if I bother at all.
And it was actually Meg Lees who helped pass the GST after Howard lost the popular vote in that election because of the GST.
The facts about mining employment and the rort they are on about have been released by Peter Martin today - and watch 4 Corners on Monday night for a major gas project stoush.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/mines-jobs-peak-but-still-just-16-20100617-yjsi.html
Seems Barnett in WA wants to steal aboriginal lands back to allow Woodside to build a major gas hub and destroy the lands without paying the aboriginal people enough for it.
My hero is Jeffrey Lee who gave his entire holding in NT to the feds to add to Kakadu national park so the French can't mine it.
No government has to negotiate tax rates with vested interest groups, they impose them the companies pay them.
duh!
More evidence of BER failure
http://www.gracevilss.eq.edu.au/hallhire.htm
I wish I was back at school
Rudd will win
I can't believe intelligent people are falling for yet another tawdry News Ltd beat-up. The same lot had Rudd written off over their last attempt-have you already forgotten the great utegate scandal ?. They said Labor would never win after Mark Latham's book which I gave a shelf life of 3 months. I'm always right.
Do your own straw polls and see who in your street gives a flying f**k about mining magnates. Sod all. The vast majority of Australians love a tax that doesn't directly affect them. This is a beauty and if Rudd sticks to his guns I'll give you my prediction now-Kevin Rudd and Labor will pick up at least an extra 4 seats this year. Bugger WA-who cares ?
All to do with perceptions...
Yet there is this sharp drop in the polls for them, Michael De Angelos.
What's the problem?
Honeymoon worn off? People are angry because they are too soft /toohard on asylum seekers? The isulation scheme beat-up?
Rudd is a new (ish) PM and his media presentation is usually good enough for people to recognise when he's flustered and off-message when a problem arises, by contrast. When he and his team dither, as they have over Carbon pricing, its a poor look.
They go into damage control and resort to spin too quickly, when they are having a dose of the nervous nellies. They show a worrying tendency in following another PM who got lazy thru reliance on spin; Howard.
The public also suspect that Labor is not strong enough to control some of the bogan state governments, or factional groupings within with suspect connections to outside inflences. QLD and NSW- not pretty sights, after breaking election promises re privatisation. Labor's main contradiction is that clash between Labor's ideals and the pragmatism and resort to expediency that comes of compromising with vested interests on everyday issues.
Its problem is that it projected itself as a reform government. It sold the case for reform so well in 2007 that it has found itself a disappointment to many for its managerialist approach in maintaining or operating within, Howard era policy at the cost of actual reform, which might have satisfied both the government, public service and vested interests, but not a public eager for actual action. If enviro and global warming are a "great moral challenge", why have they backed off ?
But yes, any sort of study of the methods of the reactionary press instantly comes across something profoundly ugly in its dishonesty and cynicism. Media Watch did yet another expose on the Murdoch press in attack dog mode, this time concerning Vic Police Commisioner Overland last Monday night, for example. The last few years have seen a monotonous sequence of beatups followed by push-polling to produce an impression that Labor is in trouble. It hasn't really been, except for not having the boldness to go with its election platform. It did well with the GFM, for example, but that was to do with its management skills applied to a real world problem of the day rather than to do with implementing promised policies that prepare for the future.
I think people are just anxious that the Rudd government does not forget the main game, both in getting itself tangled up in the sort of nonsenses that the tabloids and the opposition have thrown at it, or for a faction within Labor more interested in dealing with the big end of town behind closed doors. than implementing policy.
Rudd has to get the Right faction under control, lest federal Labor will go down the unedifying trail blazed by NSW Labor, not least because it is painfully clear that the Abbott coalition is not a fit example of an alternative government, in its current reactive, delusional state.
One term Rudd
Michael de Angelos ,Where have you been the last couple of years, on Mars?
Rudd has broken so many promises that most people consider him a fraud.
ETS on the back burner.
Insulation program ditched costing $Billions and 4 deaths.
BER costing taxpayers $Billions in rorts and ripoffs.
If the mining tax is so good why is Rudd spending $millions on ads?.
And what about the ditched Dental Scheme and the Aboriginal Housing fiasco?