Rostrum: Special Jesus on a Stick Edition!
With Special Guest Star – Catching Up!
Politics. Who is it and why does it want to destroy our way of life.
These are the hard questions that we here at The Daily Trash dare to pose and hazard to ask.
In just six months Australia’s political landscape will change dramatically. Julia Gillard and her right-wing Unionland factional cronies will almost certainly be swept from power in a landslide defeat that promises to obliterate Labor as a political spent force for a decade or more.
When Gillard knifed Kevin Rudd she did so under the guise that Labor had “lost its way.”
Today, the party is even further off the radar than it ever was under Rudd.
Gillard has a well-earnt reputation as a duplicitous liar and a fraud. In six months time Australians will go to the polls to choose between a leader that can’t be trusted and a leader that can’t be trusted.
We were promised “real Julia” but instead we just got “self-survival Julia,” ”Redneck Julia” and “Condescending Julia.”
Labor’s impending demise is entirely deserved and self-inflicted.
The fact that the reprehensible Tony Abbott and his motley rabble of hate-filled bible bashers and xenophobes remains a more palatable alternative to the Australian voting public simply confirms the level of malevolence towards Gillard and Labor.
Gillard had the opportunity to reform the Labor party but chose to kowtow to the right-wing hacks who installed her.
She deserves everything that awaits her, and I for one can’t wait to be rid of her condescending, self-assured nasal inflected drone.
theguttertrash.com 
A well balanced argument.
Why do these lying poll companies who lie continue to tell lies!!!!
Click to access AMR_Federal_Poll_28.03.2013.pdf
March 28, 2013:
An overwhelming 58 percent of Australian voters believe that the Coalition will win the next Federal election, but the result could be different with Kevin Rudd leading the ALP, according to a new poll.
The online poll undertaken on the weekend after the aborted Labor leadership spill by research consultants AMR, found that just 17 percent of Australians believe that the ALP can win the next election, with 25 percent remaining undecided. Labor voters were more optimistic of their chances, with 47 percent believing the ALP would win the next Federal election, while 92 percent of Coalition voters felt that their party would win.
Labor also remained well behind in the two party preferred stakes, trailing 44-56 percent after the spill saw Prime Minister Julia Gillard returned to the leadership unopposed.
However, the poll found that if Kevin Rudd was reinstated as leader, Labor would rise to an election-winning result of 51-49 percent on a two-party preferred basis.
Labor’s primary vote was 33 percent, with the Coalition on 49 percent, the Greens on 9 percent and Independents/Others also on 9 percent. However, if Kevin Rudd were reinstated, the Labor primary figure would jump to 40 percent while the Coalition would drop to 43 percent.
AMR General Manager Chris Pyra said the polling showed that for many Australians, the ALP leadership question remains unresolved.
“Even now, reinstating Kevin Rudd to the ALP leadership would see a large shift back to Labor.”
With their current poor polling, Labor is running out of time to win back voter sentiment.
This research indicates that a Rudd circuit breaker would quickly change that, putting them back in contention to win the September 14 Federal election.
This is the really interesting finding of the poll published in today’s AFR:
Voters would prefer Labor, but can’t bring themselves to vote for this putrid government.
(Erm, maybe Splatterbottom; but, the latest NewsCorp interpretation of the latest Newspoll definitely says that teh punters have “embraced Tony Abbott” (and George Brandis et al?).)
Polls show that 58% of Australians now shout at the TV every time Gillard appears.
Of the remaining 42%, 36% turn it off and the other 6% have an IQ below 80.
Polls show Gillard’s approval rating is 6%
And when the NO Coalition is the Federal government and the masses start complaining about how badly they’re being treated, and they know that there will be 10+ years before the election cycle returns Labor federally — I shall riposte, with a clear conscience: ‘You voted for the crap your getting now, so tough titties! Go and bitch somewhere else!’ And: ‘If you were so dumb to vote NO Coalition on the strength of a few smoke and mirror promises, then serves ya right!!
You’re right! I do feel so much better now! TA not fit 2B PM!
She deserves everything that awaits her, and I for one can’t wait to be rid of her condescending, self-assured nasal inflected drone.
Are you, ToM?? Is it a sock puppet extraordinaire? Or have you become a clone!!!!!
Tho’ I can understand your “concern” … 🙄
A TICK FOR TURNBULL!
So what are your thoughts on the Government, Reb?
“The poll by JWS Research also finds that, despite the bleak outlook for Labor, most marginal seat voters would prefer it to win the election than Tony Abbott’s Coalition.”
So why were the Polls so right in NSW and Qld and WA if that’s the case.
I mean who is JWS Research ?
Julia, Wayne, Shorten ?
At the last Queensland State election the ALP branches were so despondent that they had trouble manning all of the booths, in fact at my local there was one lone ALP guy handing out HTV cards and the poor bloke was on the verge of tears.
The same is likely for Gillard at the federal poll, The ALP will struggle to campaign at the grass roots and when it comes to manning booths well who would want to do it for them?
Apparently a new survey has found that 39% of Americans think that cloud computing involves actual clouds… 😯
“The fact that the reprehensible Tony Abbott and his motley rabble of hate-filled bible bashers and xenophobes remains a more palatable alternative to the Australian voting public simply confirms the level of malevolence towards Gillard and Labor.”
Ain’t that the truth!
Uh Oh
‘IAN Macdonald’s barrister has sensationally asked for ICAC Commissioner David Ipp to disqualify himself from presiding over the corruption inquiry because of “bias.”
Amy Dale in the Daily Terror
Let’s all celebrate the annual festival of stoneage fantasy.
Let’s pretend the magicthing in the sky sent down a part of its magicself. Lets pretend that a zombie arose from the cave to redeem humanity.
Lets pretend that people still fervently believe that shit.
“Lets pretend that people still fervently believe that shit.”
But they do, boss, they do…
What about the rest of us?
The sane members of the population who don’t live in a Harry Potter novel.
I was walking to work with a colleague this morning and casually asked him what he was planning to do this weekend. He replied that he’d be going to church tomorrow, church on Saturday and church on Sunday.
After a silent pause, I asked him which church.
Not because I was interested to know, but more because I didn’t quite know what else to say..
He replied that he’d be spending his time at St Marys.
“That’s a Catholic Church isn’t it?” I replied, kind’ve feigning some sort of remote interest..
He immediately perked up saying “yes, yes it is..” probably thinking that he might have a new recruit.
That was the end of the conversation.
The bits that were left unsaid, were the ones where I say “you’ve got to fucking joking, aren’t you…?!”
Grouse. The footy’s back on. The kids are out on the piss and the missus is at the RSL. I’ve got the place to myself and Austar is showing the game ad free. I’ve got two Jim Beam cans and half a goon in the frodge. Bliss!
What is this goon you talk of?
For Gordon: Goon bag.
What is this goon you talk of?
Come now, Eccles!
Learn sumthin new every day.
For Gordon: Goon bag.
And here’s me (havingbspent some time in Townsville) thinking it was referred to as a Coon Bag … silly me … I shouldn’t hang out with those Liberal voters so much …
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For all our
faerie worshippersreligiously oriented posters …Arrived today in my email … from a friend in the Mason’s …
What don’t they get … religion in any form is a PRIVATE matter … why should I have to SUFFER it in PUBLIC .. go to fkn CHURCH …
Why do godbotherers think only they know right from wrong?
‘Cause history says they haven’t got a fkn clue!
“Why do godbotherers think only they know right from wrong?”
I wouldn’t know the answer to that. Nobody at the RSL talks about religion, except the self-declared atheists.
Jesus said, ‘If you are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of you before my Father. ’
Sounds like a threat.
Yes, self declared atheists should just shut up & let the religious peddle their bullshit.
Who do they think they are? publicly stating that fantasy is fantasy.
Dumb atheists.
FKN…GO TIGERS !!!
Reading through the Bloggies winners and came across this: ‘Michael Smith won Best-Kept Secret Blog for Michael Smith News.’
toiletcantankerousnightsoil is right, surely. Atheists should take every opportunity to point out the fantasy-believing and bullshit-peddling of so-called religious people. Who knows, it might not be too late to
convertsaveconvince some of them.“What about the rest of us?”
Won’t somebody think of the atheists? They’re the real victims here.
Diddums…
You shoulda stayed in character, rather than being goaded by a dumb atheist into having your sockmask slip.
* shrug
Tomorrow’s character will be Jeezus of Nazreth. He’s a compassionate sandal wearin’ leftoid.
He’s a figment.
My version is no figment. Tune in tomorrow and find out. 😯
(Tomorrow atarts in 53 minutes. 😉 )
Yeah but the serious part of the day is around 3pm.
Check, two.
Check.
(Big day ahead. Cross-carrying, crucifixion, blah, blah.)
Had a nice supper tonight. Just me and a bunch of good mates, about a dozen of us. Judas had to fuck off early though. He’s been acting very strange lately.
Hip-Pocket Nerve says 18K untaxed beats Mr-Rabbits 6K, it won`t convince the teabags, but Mrs-Yomm, Mrs-Snacty and Mrs-Gordo are already convinced.
Jesus seems nice.
I’m going out for a walk, I need some fresh air. I can’t help thinking someone at the restaurant’s got it in for me. Silly, I know.
Hey, Reb, do you think you might get crucified on radio, the interveiwer might be a AIMN stooge. Who’s that in the photo….is that really CU.
Jesus and the Disciples are having their supper. As everyone knows, JC loves a dinner party. He’s laughing, talking with His mouth full, knocking over the wine (Hey, don’t worry about it, I’ll just make another goon!), putting His elbows on the table.
Simon Peter, who’s kind of a stick in the mud, is getting more and more annoyed. When Jesus lets out a holy belch, Simon Peter has had enough. He slams his fist on the table and yells:
“Jesus Christ! Were you born in a barn?”
“Who’s that in the photo….is that really CU.”
Here’s a hint: No.
But it is someone that you all know. I have a Country & Western Greatest Hits CD as a prize for the first person who guesses it correctly..
And just remember you lot…
Today Jesus dies for your sins…
So you may as well enjoy them..
I don’y blame Judas for leaving the party early, with the host saying ‘this is my body, this is my blood’ you would have to be off your face to stay.
Atheism is every bit as delusional as the more extreme aspects of religion.
More so, in fact. At least the religious acknowledge the faith aspect.
“Atheism is every bit as delusional as the more extreme aspects of religion.”
You are taking the piss right…?
As they say…
Atheism is as much a religion as not collecting stamps is a hobby..
An atheist would be more inclined to think we are not alone in the universe.
I figured it’s Benny Hill.
My wife said those hands were to big, and it was a bloke, the Benny jpeg
in the properties gave it away.
Having worked in radio for twenty years, country music is one of my pet hates, I might pass on the CD.
There you go Joey, country music gets up my nose.
That would more accurately describe agnosticism, Reb. Non stamp collectors don’t go around advocating the superiority of their belief system.
Well done Outlander. It is Benny Hill – dressed as a woman doing an “ad” for Fry’s Chocolate Cream if I’m not mistaken…
Kids aren’t like this in Moe.
Nine-year-old boy discusses the meaning of life and the universe
Jim Carrey’s anti-gun video.
Reason TV’s response.
I believe I’ve seen worse than that photo of Benny Hill in a South Yarra bar at 2am.
Hehe…you’ll flush him out…
“Atheism is every bit as delusional as the more extreme aspects of religion.”
I enjoy the writhing of wounded defenders of religion.
More often than not, their retort is to try & smear the non-religious as somehow being religious.Yeah, that really holds water. 🙄
Calling bullshit on religion isn’t some kind of crusade or attempt to ‘unconvert’ the easily captivated. It is an expression of opinion, equally as valid (more so, imo) as any mythical waffling.
The religious, and their nostalgic, former devotee defenders (like the couple above), just don’t enjoy having the absurdities of their belief (or uncritical childhood beliefs) pointed out to them.
There is no compulsion for me to prove anything. I am not the one making claims of a wildly fantastical, mythical & illogical nature.
I am not saying abolish religion. But I reserve the right to piss on it for what it is. A fictitious worldview full of gaping holes & debauched by the constant revisionism of the men who’ve been its gatekeepers throughout the ages.
So, reb’s quote above, about stamp collecting, captures the sentiment well.
You don’t understand atheism snacty…& in missing the point entirely, it’s you who is deluded.
And No, I won’t just shut up & leave the poor fantasists alone. If they have the strength of their convictions, why the fuck would they care .
In other, realworld news…
None other than the reprehensible, Tony Abbott, will be stopping in my town for lunch, presumably with a full entourage & the accompanying press pack/love media. He is trawling through on his treddly as part of the confected Pollie Pedal…from Geelong to Adelaide.
The last Fed to bother showing their face here was Meg Lees, around 15 years ago.
The local paper is trying to stir up a bit of attention in the regional population at the moment.
Abbott may as well not bother. This is just about the safest Liberal seat in the country.
I think I’m on days off at the time. So I may even get a chance to hector the contemptible piece of shit.
It would be such a shame if a tree fell on him.
‘It would be such a shame if a tree fell on him.’
From where we are standing there is a good chance he may become one of Australia’s longest serving PMs.
I’m reconciled to this fact.
I am certainly reconciled to the fact that he is probably going to become Australia’s next PM.
Overreach may see his tenure kept short, but that is yet to be determined.
I hate the idea of him being any kind of representative for me & mine…but the other lot have all but forfeited their right to rule.
None of that means I’m obliged to be nice or polite to the man.
I’m thinking he’d like to meet me in my ‘Jesus Is A Cunt’ T-shirt, with unhelpful questions which will never see the light of broadcast.
I’d probably end up getting publicly lynched here.
There’s non religious and there’s anti religious.
‘Overreach may see his tenure kept short…’
That’s true, but in that unlikely event we’ll have Barnaby Joyce and not Talcum take his place.
What’s wrong with being anti-religious?
I’m not the silly cnut knocking on people’s doors. Nor am I calling for an end to
delusionreligion.Pretty sure the whole institutionalised religion thing has got a bit more of a public dissemination campaign going on than any atheist ever has had.
Apologists get pissy these days because, historically they’re used to having had the upper hand, unchallenged, for the most part…free to make shit up as they go along.
Now that there are mediums to mock & critically appraise their rubbish, they predictably get all butthurt about it.
Non-religious, or anti-religious, I still ain’t religious. I’m just more offensive & vocal about it than you’re comfortable with. No faith involved.
Feel free to defend the ludicrous tenets of faith. I will be here laughing at you, safe in the knowledge that when I die, I shall rot. Something which, deep down, I suspect you are also only too aware of.
More to the point, I enjoy being anti-religious.
It’s been a lifelong hobby of mine.
It’s my answer to miscreants bringing their pamphlets & fables to my doorstep.
If they wanna put it out there, these days, they can expect some return fire.
There’s formerly-religious and there’s still religious.
Both flavours don’t like having their noses rubbed in it by atheism.
Boo-fkn-hoo…
I hear you toilet, but you shouldn’t concern yourself over the ignorant, superstitious religions, all of that will collapse in the not too distant future.
Honestly, I’m not against people believing in whatever the hell they like.
But I will never apologise, or be made to feel inadequate, for refusing to countenance the fiction behind it all.
I never said I have all the answers, but reverse engineering the way of the world through the filter of fantasy & blind faith is against the grain of my entire life experience.
Anyone can make up crap, the great joke is that so many will uncritically parade along behind it.
A closer look at Tony Abbott reveals his wife and daughters refuse to attend mass anymore. He’s tried bribing them, but they told him its crap.
So go easy on tabit if he should cross your path, he’s acutely aware that his immediate family are destined to spend eternity in a very warm place.
People who believe in some sort of sky fairy deserve to be mocked and ridiculed.
“There’s non religious and there’s anti religious.”
Perhaps.
There’s also those who are “pro-religious.”
Perhaps you could mount a reasonable argument for the “pro-religious” seeing as you seem at have some issue with “the anti-religious” or at the very least “the non-religious?”
For the record, I don’t feel “delusional” for refusing to subscribe to “the sky fairy” doctrine, but I respect the right of those poor deluded individuals who choose to do so. If it helps them to sleep better at night who am I to stop them.
Does being anti religious mean murder/rape/stealing is ok.
I know it sucks but but our whole system of morals is based on religious dogma, the justice and westminster system has religion hanging around in the background.
I wounder if it’s all the anoying religious do good types and the half cocked varriations of religion that your against.
I think all the different interpretations and people insisting there take is better than someoone elses is the main problem.
Some people need a crutch, sick people need hospitals, alcoholics need AA, people down on they luck or who don’t have much outlook need religion.
I do wonder if Tony was down on his luck when he got all religious.
I dispute that religion is necessary to have a sound moral code.
Other than that, I agree in principle with the rest of your comment.
Note: I am not advocating taking religion away from people…I’m just saying that the fables, rituals, dogma & associated justifications are a load of horseshit.
You don’t have to have encountered religion to be able to appreciate the golden rule; or to apply it.
The simple fact is that unless there is some scientist somewhere hunched over a Bunsen burner and beaker who’s just discovered the answer, no one bloody knows. The religious explain that away by invoking “faith”. Well ok. The atheists never address the question beyond ridiculing the religious (or worse).
Really it’s only the agnostics who can lay claim to an intellectually superior position. They can at least acknowledge their own fallibility.
“The religious explain that away by invoking “faith”. Well ok. The atheists never address the question”
What question?
‘I do wonder if Tony was down on his luck when he got all religious.’
No, like most Catlicks he was born into it and throughly brainwashed.
To which I’ll add, if government subsidised funding was aborted then most catholic and anglican schools would close and within a generation christian godbothering would become unfashionable.
In the UK you can see the thin edge of the wedge, Cameron is feeding anxieties.
‘As a dramatic new poll released on the eve of Easter Sunday revealed that more than two-thirds of Christians feel they are now part of a ‘persecuted minority’, Lord Carey insists the Government must do more to demonstrate its commitment to pledges to stand up for faith.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2301310/Cameron-accused-betraying-Christians-Astonishing-Easter-attack-PM-Archbishop-Canterbury.html#ixzz2OyNsQvBk
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
‘I do wonder if Tony was down on his luck when he got all religious.’
I meant when he joined the seminary. His reaction when he found out about the young man he thought was his child, I’m sure was one of the demons in his head. If you can beleive what the Independant Australian says he likely left the seminary with more demons in his head….unless he swings both ways? What do you lot make of this artical?
http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/politics/a-question-of-character/
Let’s assume there’s a gay clique within every seminary, the abbott would not necessarily know. Shy new recruits might easily get sucked in, but for tone it was just a wank without a woman… so he cleared out.
Then he got a girl pregnant and they mutually agreed that getting married was a bad idea.
None of this excludes him from becoming the longest serving PM in Australian history.
Yeh, I just thought I managed to get Sex, Politics, and Religion into the one post……too good to be true.
And as for his demons, there is this catholic guilt which they can’t shake off. So its not all bad.
After the election the incorruptible team of Abbott and Joyce should serve us well.
I hope so gordo, because, and I know this will upset some here, but I respect their right to feel the same way in reverse. It’s just that the longer Gillard and co are in power, the worse the reaction I have, it’s a physical reaction now, when I hear or see Gillard, I become cerebrally irritated, so much so that I have to turn the radio, tv off, and if I’m reading some quote of her in the paper I find myself reading in that start stop fashion of hers. It’s like she gives me Tourette’s or something, I start uttering under my breath, and I have taken to swearing and calling her names like ” mussel ” not like me at all. 😕
Have you met our ToM?
Tom of Melbourne? Does he have the same infliction?
Meanwhile we have a chronic budget deficit.
Despite the promises of Swan and Gillard they have no idea when or how to bring it to surplus. All Swan can do is raid superannuation and hope.
But the intellectual powerhouse of economic policy, Catching Up, provides all barrackers with an excuse – ‘you have to spend money to make money’
Greece, Spain etc probably followed her advice.
No afflictions with me!
‘Does he have the same infliction?’
ToM does a good inflection of strine which leaves me in tears.
And it now appears the economic domino effect has begun, with Slovenia next in line.
“All Swan can do is raid superannuation and hope”
As everybody knows I am anti-labor. But i will admit Superannuation was one of the good things of the Hawke/Keating govt. Then I got to thinking. The ALP is the govt of the unforeseen stuff-up.
I can now see a time perhaps 20 years in the future where a socialist govt has got us so much into debt they will say for the good of the nation we will have to liquidate the nations superannuation savings. I used to salary sacrifice 7% of my money into Super because of the tax advantages. Then i changed my mind. i no longer salary sacrifice but take the extra money into my salary and use it to pay off my mortgage. i lose the tax advantages of salary sacrifice but i do not care. i do not trust socialists.
a socialist government, really???
can’t see the greens getting power, so just what socialist government was your dream about?
That’s right, Alan, some knobs still see the ALP as socialist.
They’ve been programmed by Boltian disseminators.
“The religious explain that away by invoking “faith”. Well ok. The atheists never address the question beyond ridiculing the religious (or worse).”
Duuh, snacty.
Maybe you didn’t read the part where I said, “I never said I have all the answers”…in conjunction with, “There is no compulsion for me to prove anything. I am not the one making claims of a wildly fantastical, mythical & illogical nature.”
And so I return to this, “You don’t understand atheism snacty…& in missing the point entirely, it’s you who is deluded.”
Your view of atheism sounds like a caricature from a Creationist website (and I know you’re not creationist).
Just because the origin of life cannot be inviolably proven (yet) doesn’t mean that a widespread, fantastical, illogical alternative somehow gains traction.
As for an intellectually superior position, well, are you seriously suggesting that the myriad ludicrous claims made in religious texts are somehow on par with evidence based observations & hypotheses? 😆
I have some sympathy for a worldview which promotes there having been a ‘creator’ of some kind, in as much as, I can see why people may arrive at that conclusion…in the absence of concrete evidence to the contrary; even though I personally don’t think it credible.
But, religion goes further than that & makes ridiculous assertions, both ambiguous & literal, which are symptoms of ignorance & the era in which they were written or revised.
As I’ve stated above…it’s a”fictitious worldview full of gaping holes & debauched by the constant revisionism of the men who’ve been its gatekeepers throughout the ages.”
Each religion, so certain of its own righteousness, has very defined scriptural & dogmatic specifications which just don’t stand up to scrutiny.
In essence…& to steal another familiar refrain…an atheist just believes in one less god than any of the monotheists; given that they all squabble & dispute the bona fides of the cavalcade of denominations, sects & religions which are not their own.
It’s not me with my head up my arse…I can see the bigger picture.
But keep defending religion…& attempting to paint atheism as faith based & extreme. I’ll keep antagonising & laughing at it.
“That’s right, Alan, some knobs still see the ALP as socialist”
Gillard is not socialist?? Could have fooled me.
Sure hasn’t behaved like a socialist, Neil.
Ask yourself, ‘SOCIALIST’…whatevenisthat?!…rather than just adopting the memes you read around your Boltian reading circle.
I think you’d really assimilate FoxNews well.
Me computer fkn stopped! Thank gawd for me netbook! Forked out $160 for a new power pack and its still fkd! And the shops is all fkn closed!!!!!!!!!!!
Does being anti religious mean murder/rape/stealing is ok.
Ser Tee, love yer work! Bro!
I agree with, toillete’s return post, otl, there is a strange “ancient movement” reviving amongst the “religious christian right”*** that if you don’t believe you can’t have “morals” – I can assure you as an agnostic that I am a follower of the Ten Commandments … I don’t know or care who writ ’em … he/she was brilliant …
***A fear of the Muslim extreme, I suspect!
As for kids … my two and their five offspring are imbibed with – “thou shalt be a contributing member to society” … and you can all quote that, compliments of, St. TB of Queensland … see how fkn easy it is!
In fact it’s the religious persons (being noice) who wage more fkn wars (and remember ’em!) than the non- religious …
Have you ever heard of an agnostic war – “we’ll show the bastards that their fkn wrong!” or an agnostic war … let’s fight the pricks so we can discuss the pros and cons …
The people I know that break the Ten Commandments are usually religious … go figure …
And, James … thank you! You are well aware of my position regarding religion …
Really it’s only the agnostics who can lay claim to an intellectually superior position.
Gillard is not socialist?? Could have fooled me.
And that’s not hard …
Describe the difference between a socialist, a communist and a left wing Australian voter …
(FYI, the ALP is losing support because it is no different to the Liberal Party that, you, support!)
But I know you don’t get that …
not hard at all.
“FYI, the ALP is losing support because it is no different to the Liberal Party that, you, support!”
What a load of crap. Talk about being deluded. There is no comparison between the Gillard/Rudd govt and the Howard/Costello govt.
As for Abbott we will not know what his govt is like until he is in power.
I see agnosticism as fence sitting, being too coy to call out bullshit.
It is only slightly less vacuous than Pascal’s Wager.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal%27s_Wager
For me personally, I’m not saying ‘I KNOW ‘…but I’m more than happy to categorically state that ‘they don’t KNOW …and they’re making shit up ‘ .
Do unto others, that which you would have done to you & yours.
It has fuck all to do with religion.
Word…
The ALP is losing support because-
*Gillard cannot be trusted
*They are deeply divided (look at how their barrackers attack Rudd supporters
*They over promise, then use bullshit excuses
*They try to appeal to rednecks
Note- none of the above are gender issues, and using the misogynist excuse is also bullshit
Gold Coast defeat the misogynists.
That’s nice.
=======
Meanwhile Cafe Whispers play it safe, allowing one alternative opinion at a time.
Neil admits he is a reliable Liberal supporter, and if there is one thing those barrackers prefer, it is a simple argument, of ALP=nice, Libs=evil.
=====
A typical comment from Catching Up –
One would imagine that one could comment that one should spend money to make money, shouldn’t one…prove that wrong!
I can’t add to this
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=awVBRBdLuAc&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DawVBRBdLuAc
‘The NSW Police Commissioner says that dealing with alcohol and its effects consumes about 70 per cent of a frontline police officer’s time.
”That’s dealing with an offender, a victim or a witness to a crime where alcohol was a factor,” Andrew Scipione said. ”It’s enormous.”
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/police-commissioner-lays-down-law-over-drunken-violence-20130330-2h03q.html#ixzz2P3uNWngI
Wow, had never heard of or come across Greydon Square.
Have now had a bit of a wikilook at him & am impressed. Will have to check his stuff out after I’ve had a sleep. Just got home from N/S.
Thanks for the link to the vid, whomever you are.
‘LABOR’S efforts to portray Tony Abbott as a Campbell Newman-style leader who would oversee a “slash and burn” government have been dealt a severe blow with the latest Newspoll revealing support for the Queensland Premier has rebounded.
‘The Newspoll, conducted exclusively for The Weekend Australian, shows voter support for Queensland’s Liberal National Party government has recovered, now equalling the levels Mr Newman enjoyed a year ago, when the party posted its landslide election victory.’
Fraser and Balogh in the Oz
ZOMFG! Tom Waterhouse is “blurring the lines” between gambling and commentating. This outrageous behaviour must be banned immediately. 🙄
Wow, had never heard of or come across Greydon Square.
Neither had I, Ser Tee … but I can’t understand a fkn word he says!!!?
(It actually sound like a street address in, London!)
For me personally, I’m not saying ‘I KNOW ‘…but I’m more than happy to categorically state that ‘they don’t KNOW …and they’re making shit up ‘ .
Agnosticism is just that, Ser Tee …
Atheism is absolutely NO GOD … personally I don’t know or really care – unless it starts fkn my life up … and in fact I’ve had more bovver with Crischuns than heethuns … in my life …
Sleep tight … although my suspicion is that your just about awake! 5 hours used to be about my limit on N/S (and mine was permanent – catches up!)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Queensland’s Liberal National Party government has recovered, now equalling the levels Mr Newman enjoyed a year ago
LOL! Fkn fearyland figures! Did you say “exclusively for the Weekend Oz’? LOL! 😆
They need to get out more … or stop polling school kids … ask Kneel if they asked him … ye-a-a-ah, I know he’s in Sydney but we are talking The Oz … most of them DGAF and the remainder don’t know that Sydney isn’t in Queensland …
I can tell you that knocking off the flying foxes was a popular rally cry … but no action yet and the councils have to pay … that means as well as GST to Noddy’s lot … he gets the kudos for suggesting a shake up but rate-payers have to stump up …
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
And out of the mouths of Dickwits™ and Wankers falls an occasional gem …
TB, I’m as certain as one can be that there is absolutely NO GOD.
I’m happy to take that position.
Determining that there is no god…& that notions of a god are purely humancentric fantasies…doesn’t automatically confer on me a need to posit an alternative.
Even some of the most well known & outspoken atheists, such as Dawkins, leave room to not absolutely rule out the possibility of a creator; as remote as they see that possibility to be. The religious make no such concessions.
Greydon Square was making lots of sense, TB. As you know, rap isn’t my favoured musical medium, but I love his message…& he has a new fan.
I’m a bit shitted off with religion at the moment. Have had a spate of nutty doorknockers of varying denominations & was disgusted at the Easter bilge, laid on thick in my daughter’s school newsletter; at a public school by the ‘christian pastoral care worker’…who comes from one of those insane tongue-talking evangelical nutjob churches down here.
Usually, religion doesn’t even cross my mind’s eye. When it does I just shake my head. But, being Easter, inundated with a flood of christian bullshit that they like to state in absolutes, I felt like pushing back. And, as I’ve said many times previously, I do enjoy a good bit of christianbaiting; they never reproach it with credible retorts.
I’m only on a blog being contrary to the biblesturbating I see in society. It’s not like I’m out there burning down churches or mosques or synagogues.
“It’s not like I’m out there burning down churches or mosques or synagogues.”
Not that there’s anything wrong with that…
It’s not like I’m out there burning down churches or mosques or synagogues.
That’s exacxtly the reason I put up the stupid poem in the first place … that’s been sent me (and others of course) by a “friend” (and he a good friend the poor old sod – he’s just turned 85!) … and its not as if he doesn’t know my agnostic position … probably forgot!
I don’t send poems to my friends and rellies about the silliness and hypocrisy of organised religion – OF ANY KIND … its nothing to do with me …
But every Christian becomes a covert or overt fkn missionary … if I want to be converted I will do it myself thank you, Honky Tonks … 🙄
Cue, Dick!
Big surf and big reds, I’m happy with religious holidays as long as this is the criteria.
Lets talk about Rolf Harris.
Big swells for our red man, as predicted last week.
“I know that most men, including those at ease with problems of the greatest complexity, can seldom accept even the simplest and most obvious truth if it be such as would oblige them to admit the falsity of conclusions which they delighted in explaining to colleagues, which they have proudly taught to others, and which they have woven, thread by thread, into the fabric of their lives.”
Leo Tolstoi
Two little boys had two little toys? 😯
There’s room on my “horse” for two…
Well nobody has mentioned it so it may as well be me. The “no ifs or buts”, “I’ll get the budget back into surplus in 2013”, “failure is not an option”, “the on time as promised” budget surplus is not going to happen.
What a surprise!!!
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/treasury/budget-shortfall-heading-for-20bn/story-fn59nsif-1226609977164
“THE budget is heading for a deficit of at least $20 billion this year, with government finances failing to improve since last August thanks to stalling revenue growth.”
Why Isn’t Socialism Dead?
Today would be a suitable occasion for Wayne Swan to be awarded a prize for economics.
Is this lying to the Australian people???
http://www.budget.gov.au/2012-13/content/speech/html/speech.htm
“The four years of surpluses I announce tonight are a powerful endorsement of the strength of our economy, resilience of our people, and success of our policies.
In an uncertain and fast‑changing world, we walk tall — as a nation confidently living within its means.“
Everyone at church still? 😯
Has anyone noticed that the world has …. stopped …
Even the ramblings of Kneel and ToM …
All that seems to remain is … MKR …
The world is dead … or ready for to arise from the dead … its overwhelming!
The truth is …
April Fool’s Day is the problem, but Iain gave it his best shot.
http://iainhall.wordpress.com/2013/04/01/a-change-of-direction-for-the-sandpit/
Simon Crean seems to be jockeying .
It must be tempting to be on the grand list of Australian PMs.
He knows Rudd is finished and come July or earlier as winter bites and people feel less happy the polls will kill PM Grub Gillard
Watch Creans media appearances
Yep…grub gillard trashed the brand and the rank and file may never return.
‘THE polls may be dire for the Gillard government, but it’s the loss of true believers such as Lucy Hole that cuts Labor the deepest.
‘After 25 years of proudly supporting the ALP, the 44-year-old construction planner from Sydney will be voting for the Coalition for the first time at this year’s federal election. Fed up with a federal Labor government she dismisses as “vision-deprived”, Ms Hole said she no longer knew what the party stood for. “Historically (Labor) had a set of values I agreed with, but these days their values seem to be self-interest and what is politically expedient,” she told The Australian yesterday.’
Nadin and Morton in the Oz.
Crean appears to be unwilling to just warm the seat on the backbench. He seems intent on maintaining a cranky demeanour, which should provide good media coverage.
—————–
Crean, Rudd, Ferguson, Bowen, McClelland, Fitzgibbon all on the backbench of a deeply divided party, while Gillard promotes the likes of political incompetent/singer Craig Emerson to super ministries.
The evidence is in, the intelligent part of the ALP don’t want Gillard.
Does Gillard really think her current ministerial structure will survive? All those junior ministers simply demonstrate how threadbare the ALP is for talent.
” There are plenty of politicians who piously pray in Canberra and go off to Christian breakfasts who are then asked to make a stand for their fellow man on an issue and they turn their backs on Australians who need help.”
.
” I’d rather have an atheist who looks after his mates than someone paying lip service to Christianity.”
http://www.perthnow.com.au/lifestyle/do-australian-mps-believe-in-god/story-fnhlcwnp-1226608445752
happy easter trashers
Katter must be having a swipe at Mr-Rabbit for his lip-service to church, but does all he can against `people` in the name of the teabag cause.
” she gives me Tourette’s or something “
Yes Hummph, Joolya has this effect on me. Mr-Rabbit too. Don`t worry tho, Mr-Rabbit will soon be `president` and we will all be `saved` in an evangelical baptism of the nation. The newly appointed `president` will pontificate teabag theory to the masses, and they will believe. The holy `surplus` will be resurrected by casting down to damnation the sinful infrastructure and public services.
“The holy `surplus` will be resurrected by casting down to damnation the sinful infrastructure and public services.”
I have seen statements like this a million times on leftoid blogs but have never seen any evidence for the truthfulness of this statement.
Did Howard/Costello spend less on infrastructure than Hawke/Keating??
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/executives-bloating-the-bureaucracy-with-one-manager-for-every-25-workers/story-fn59niix-1226610536522
So, during the period that the population has increased by 22%-
• The general public service level has increased by 42%
• The “management” level has increased by 132%
• The “executive” level has increased by 78%
That’s a remarkable increase in overhead costs. Any business that allowed overheads to escalate at that rate would have the receivers in.
On the occasions that I’ve had meetings with public servants, I’d observe that the y hunt in packs. A side kick is required at all meetings, as are a few peers. They all have very flash titles these days, which would impress other public servants, but not the rest of us.
‘The holy `surplus` will be resurrected by casting down to damnation the sinful infrastructure and public services.’
Only the public service (which is a damn good thing) but infrastructure will be a major part of a LNP plank.
The money will come from the demise of global warming hysteria.
Don’t worry Tom. We will just borrow more money to cover the cost of more Public Servants. According to the people at the Cafe we are sovereign in our currency (or something like that) and debt does not matter. We just have to print more money.
Easy.
So apparently Gillard wants to “tap into” the accumulated wealth wealth that hard working people have been encouraged to contribute into superannuation since the year dot.
Meanwhile the Max Bygraves of Australian politics, Craig Emerson says this about the proposed changes..
“This is what I say about fabulously wealthy people: God bless their little cotton socks”
I think someone on $300k is doing quite well, but there is no way that this qualifies as ‘fabulously wealthy”
More class war.
Did Craig put his comments to a tune?
The Bishop of Brisbane was doing reasonably well on Q&A … then I discovered that, “… gays are a warp in God’s plan” … and here’s me thinking it was infallible …
How much is Craig on?
“I think someone on $300k is doing quite well, but there is no way that this qualifies as ‘fabulously wealthy”
Emerson is on 366K/year. I’d take that. But wealthy people were complaining that because PS’s are on Defined Benefit Schemes they do not make contributions like people in the private sector.
So Labor is thinking of stopping wealthy people making contributions to look after themselves in retirement so they cannot get the tax advantages of being taxed at 15% rather than at whatever the marginal rate is for people on 300K.
But the politicians do not care because they themselves are making no contributions (or something like that)
To prove that the world is unjust a total retard like Wayne Swan will get an indexed pension for life of 177K/year.
“a total retard like Wayne Swan will get an indexed pension for life of 177K/year.”
That stupid lying dog-fucker is just pissing in our faces with his primitive class war rhetoric. Ordinary Australians have nothing in common with this ALP. No wonder they are deserting in droves.
Swan is rooted. “We’ll bring the budget back to surplus” he promised a hundred times. A couple of years ago he was promising this, without qualification.
Then last May he promised that miniscule surplus of about 0.1% of GDP.
He’s failed.
Swan now wants to raid savings (ie superannuation) to get his revenue to waste on a demonstrably bloated and overpaid public service.
Swan is a dunce, Gillard is dishonest, we have a ministry with trainer wheels and the ALP backbench contains its own opposition and alternative cabinet.
The lucky country!
“This is what I say about fabulously wealthy people: God bless their little cotton socks”
FMD! Does Wally know? 😯
Ahhh … that’s what the Bishop meant … ToM is a warp in God’s Plan … I’m beginning to see the light! 😯
Just look for the warped and thou shalt be saved from sin … praise be …
How much cred can a church have that is run exclusively by brethren … not a female amngst ’em (or so we are told 🙂 ) ….
Meanwhile over at AIMN they’re having an almighty whinge about what Tony Abbott “might” do to the environment if he wins the next election…
Of course, naturally none of them have anything to say about the current Government and the fact that the current Labor Federal Minister for what’s left of The Environment has given mining companies the green light to mine the pristine Tarkine Forest – and refused to give it UNESCO protection – rejecting pleas from environmentalists.
The only bit that has been protected is a narrow strip that can be seen along the coastline.
But hey, let’s talk about what Tony Abbott might do rather than what Labor is actually doing right now.
🙄
“Ordinary Australians have nothing in common with this ALP. No wonder they are deserting in droves.”
Yep.
“But hey, let’s talk about what Tony Abbott might do rather than what Labor is actually doing right now.
Double, Yep.
People hanker for honesty. They turned on dishonesty in 2007, and the ALP was the beneficiary. But the ALP under Gilalrd has proven to be just as dishonest (and I would argue that Gillard’s breach of her written agreement with Wilkie is clearly the most dishonest act by a politician I can recall).
If a politician isn’t trusted, it’s no use them trying to sell their record or the plan for the next century. It’s also no use blaming the media. I mean Abbott says “don’t believe me if it isn’t in writing”, but Gillard can’t even provide that assurance!
In the past year or so, the barrackers have turned on- Bill Kelty (twice), Lindsay Tanner, Graham Richardson, Simon Crean, Martin Ferguson, Chris Bowen, Kevin Rudd…
They list the journalists they don’t like. I believe this list now includes every journalist.
They’re delusional.
Wake me when its over … 😕
I’m still struggling to understand a Catholic Archbishop telling gays that they are a warp in God’s Plan …
Q&A @ 53:00 minutes in …
http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/32152
“I would argue that Gillard’s breach of her written agreement with Wilkie is clearly the most dishonest act by a politician I can recall”
The most dishonest and depraved act by an Australian politician I can recall is Howard’s decision to vilify Asylum seekers in the children overboard affair. In order to gain electoral advantage Howard, Ruddock and Reith claimed that callous parents threatened to throw their children into the sea in order to force an Australian navy boat to rescue them.
Just think about that for a minute. Howard wanted to stir up public contempt and disgust against these people to win an election. The sickening thing is that within 48 hours of making the claims the government knew they were untrue. Instead of retracting they restated what they then knew to be false claims. That still sickens me. Despite all my criticism of Gillard, she hasn’t come close to that. Not even close.
I’m with splatter.
Uber cynical deceptioneering by the Cunning Runt.
Despite all my criticism of Gillard, she hasn’t come close to that. Not even close.
And then they went on to win the election … despite condemnation from the RAN!
Whenever the Wilkie/Gillard “written agreement” comes up I always have a chuckle … no PM or pollie can guarantee that legislation (any legislation) will be passed in Parliament … if you could, what would be the point in debate?
Wilkie got as close as they could without the bill failing completely because of the OPPOSITION …
HEY! I’ve just found, reb’s, new blog … featuring him in his new Melbourne wardrobe!!!!!!
http://alioutfit.tumblr.com/
I think that might be Fifi, is it, ToM?
The Wilkie deceit by Gillard will contribute to her defeat. As TB notes, Howard’s rotten malicious lie was at least a factor in his victory. That makes it all the more galling. It is shameful that a person so morally bankrupt should have been PM.
“Wilkie got as close as they could without the bill failing completely because of the OPPOSITION …”
As far as I know Gillard did not even present it to Parliament for a vote. Mainly because of strong ALP Opposition from the clubs.
Maybe SB. Howard was rightly seen as devious. Howard certainly was also duplicitous and rat cunning, willing to take political advantage of the most vulnerable.
On the other hand, Gillard is simply starkly dishonest.
Gillard made an agreement, signed it and got to be Prime Minister as a result. She consciously and deliberately negotiated every word of that agreement. She didn’t bother to even try to implement it. Then she compounded her dishonesty by appointing Slipper as speaker, so she wouldn’t have to deal with the consequences.
Breaking your written word to another MP is about as low as a politician can go.
TB, Fifi is a platinum blond, and is rather more artificially enhanced.
TB, Fifi is a platinum blond, and is rather more artificially enhanced.
We must ask, sreb, who she is, ToM … you haven’t seen her around the burbs in Melboorn then?
Breaking your written word to another MP is about as low as a politician can go.
You are joking, surel? You certainly have led a very sheltered life, or too much time dreaming on them waves … 😆
“On the other hand, Gillard is simply starkly dishonest.”
The point is that, despite her many shortcomings, Gillard has not tried to make the whole country despise a group of people on a sinking boat who had no possibility of defending their reputations. It was a vile attempt to stir up xenophobia by dehumanising a particular group of people, suggesting that they would be so monstorous as to threaten to kill their children. And, chillingly, he lied about it, knowing as he spoke that his words were not true.
The closest Gillard and co have come is with the class war rhetoric and that is distasteful. But it is nowhere near as sickeningly depraved as what Howard did. Not even close.
But it is nowhere near as sickeningly depraved as what Howard did.
And his disciple is about to mount the podium … we live in interesting times …
I guess you missed this then splatter…
https://thedailytrash.wordpress.com/2013/03/28/gillard-reassures-australia-that-asylum-seekers-will-live-in-poverty/
I don’t get your point, reb. Clearly once people are here they should be treated decently, and the government is failing on that score. But I still don’t think Gillard is trying to make Australians hate the refugees, suggesting that refugees are somehow different to us and basically inhuman animals that will toss their kids over the side of a boat to blackmail the navy. I think that she has some limits, and she certainly hasn’t stooped that low yet.
“I still don’t think Gillard is trying to make Australians hate the refugees”
I beg to differ..
Everything she says and does is designed to appease the racist redneck voter..
Why else would she seek to “reassure” Australians that any asylum seekers released into the community will be guaranteed a life of poverty and will be prevented from getting a job to support themselves.
It’s a fkn disgrace.
This is the talk of Sydney town ….
‘A second witness to a racist attack on a Sydney bus has come forward to say he was also targeted in the anti-Asian rant, and told by fellow passengers not to challenge his abuser.
‘Meanwhile the woman who used social media to publicise the attack has become the victim of further abuse online.’
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/what-if-that-happened-to-my-mother-man-who-stood-up-to-bus-racism-told-to-accept-abuse-20130402-2h4ao.html#ixzz2PHwbjt1E
“It’s a fkn disgrace.”
It is. But it is still different to Howard’s dehumanising lies.
Didn’t Howard pull that shit just days out from a Federal election, too?
It doesn’t get much more bold-faced than that.
I see Gillard/ALP’s current iteration of Asylum Seeker policy as trying to corner the xenophobe/selfish-ignoramus vote. Pretty stupid strategy really. Those whom they seek to entice will be voting Coalition/Family First/Nationals/National Front/Andrew-mark Bolt-steyn anyways.
They just soil themselves by trying & shred their credibility for the sake of misplaced populism.
Populism: ‘the political doctrine that supports the rights and powers of the common people in their struggle with the privileged elite.’
“Didn’t Howard pull that shit just days out from a Federal election, too?”
Yep. It was in the last week or so.
It is one thing to pander to rednecks, and that is bad enough, but to try to whip up hatred of a group by falsely accusing them of inhuman acts is more the stuff of murderous demagogues. I don’t think Howard would have gone as far as killing people, but it was way too far for any respectable politician to go, much less a Prime Minister.
“But it is still different to Howard’s dehumanising lies”
It’s not as bad as “children overboard” but it continues the theme..
Gillard had the opportunity to rise above it all with a more humane approach, but she squibbed it, instead preferring to appeal to the redneck vote.
Oddly enough, people expected more from Labor. A more humane approach to asylum seekers, a more “equal rights” approach to marriage equality, and a more honest and transparent approach to the political discourse with the Australian public.
Instead she’s failed an all those accounts and trashed the Labor brand along the way.
When she loses the election in six months time she’ll go down in history as the Union puppet PM who put the final nail in the coffin to the Australian Labor Party.
She’s a disgrace.
Agreed, reb. On all counts. I can hardly be counted as a Gillard supporter, but she still hasn’t sunk to Howard’s depths.
Yes, she/they is/are a disgrace.
A big part of the reason that I loathe Abbott is because I will always associate him with that era of the Howard government.
Did I mention that he’ll be stopping in this lil town for lunch on his PR-peddle in about a month? I may even get to throw rotten vegetables at the piece of shit yet.
I’ve checked the roster & I’m definitely on days off; to his potential detriment. We don’t get bigname dickheads round these parts often.
I see Gillard/ALP’s current iteration of Asylum Seeker policy as trying to corner the xenophobe/selfish-ignoramus vote. Pretty stupid strategy really. Those whom they seek to entice will be voting Coalition/Family First/Nationals/National Front/Andrew-mark Bolt-steyn anyways.
Made even sillier by the likes of Kneel et al … accosting ALP voters, who are pissed off, with the communist tag … Tony’s mentor has just been described by, sb, as a fascist …
And if you ever though Rupert Murdoch was apolitical … 😯
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-01/murdoch-flies-into-darwin/4604122
Just what is it about “populating” the “north”?
Not that I’m a sceptic 🙄 but Twiggy, Jabba and now Rupert Bear … somethings up?
The scaper fucktard has convinced them all with its influence, guile & otherworldly powers of persuasion.
They were like putty in its clumsy hands.
“I can hardly be counted as a Gillard supporter, but she still hasn’t sunk to Howard’s depths.”
Agreed. But she seems to think there’s some merit in chasing the same end game.
That’s the most disappointing thing.
I may even get to throw rotten vegetables at the piece of shit yet.
Rotten eggs, Ser Tee … rotten eggs …
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
HYPOCRISY WRIT LARGE …
Has anyone bothered to check my link to the Fuckwit™ Archbishop of Brisbane on Q&A last night a show I loathe BTW (but if you don’t have Foxtel with NO ads – chuckle) …
And the imam (who the archbishop calls a RABBI? – Freudian one would hope) comes across as the star of the show!
in fact the Catlicks are finding it harder and harder to defend their “religious stance” … if marriage is a political issue why are religions involved it is a secular matter …
This is the Jesus On A Stick thread isn’t it …
That’s the most disappointing thing.
Hear! Fkn! Hear!
The essence of the disillusionment of supporters of the 21st century ALP!
I’ve never voted for the Libs … why should i vote for Libs v.2.0 (thank you Mr Howes)
Rupert sings a tune from Gina’s song book.
“Right now there’s no unemployment in Darwin, and how do we get people to work and come up here?” he said.
“We’ve got to get skilled people from the south here and if you still need more people then we’ve got to have some migration and that’s good.”
“Didn’t Howard pull that shit just days out from a Federal election, too?”
Toilet- what is this you are referring to?? As I have said before I really did not take an interest in politics until I came upon Dunlops blog in 2007.
Are you referring to something that happened in 2001??
“Right now there’s no unemployment in Darwin, and how do we get people to work and come up here?” he said.
So they want to create unemployment … I tell ya what … there are plenty of unemployed people in Darwin … theyre just off the statistical radar!
Are you referring to something that happened in 2001??
Ser T … should we just refer to him as, Shagga?
“Ser T … should we just refer to him as, Shagga?”
You know as soon as night follows day an ALP supporter starts with the personal abuse. Next will come the slurs and lies to support the ALP.
If Toilet is referring to children overboard this is what happened a few days from the 2001 election
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_overboard
“Michael Scrafton, a former senior advisor to Peter Reith, revealed on 16 August 2004 he told John Howard on 7 November 2001 that the Children Overboard claim might be untrue.[11] Howard said they only discussed the inconclusive nature of the video footage.”
The election happened 3 days latter on 10 November.
Shagga likes axes…
Toilet
You said “Didn’t Howard pull that shit just days out from a Federal election, too”
If you are talking about Children Overboard, Howard was told 3 days before the 2001 election that the claim may not be true.
Howard did not “pull” anything.
Please tell me what Howard “pulled”
You know as soon as night follows day an ALP supporter starts with the personal abuse. Next will come the slurs and lies to support the ALP.
You really need to broaden your horizons, Shagga …
Did you notice that, Ser Tee, knew exactly what I was talking about …
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I must say it disturbs me that no-one has commented on the Archbishop of Brisbane’s appearance on Q&A last night … is this site becoming so right/christian that silly comments from Catlicks are now overlooked?
‘…there are plenty of unemployed people in Darwin … theyre just off the statistical radar!’
Yeah, that’s completely different. They are talking about bringing in skills from outside, if there is a shortage, from southern Australia or overseas.
Howard took political advantage of any situation.
Gillard deliberately lies and deceives…in writing.
However, maybe there is a relativity. Howard was accepted as a devious politician. The ALP has promised to be so much more, so they have fallen much further.
In any event, deceiving a fellow MP (in writing) to win their support to become PM, then breaking your word, is an incredibly low act**
**and it would be just as low if a man did it!
“What a woman” ~ Catching Up
“I must say it disturbs me that no-one has commented on the Archbishop of Brisbane’s appearance on Q&A last night ”
I thought I’d put the boot into religion so much over the long weekend that I’d scared everyone off.
Goes without saying, TB. The Arch Bishop is a deluded piece of detritus.
Neil isn’t serious…is he? He couldn’t be that daft.
He seems to think that Howard wasn’t a duplicitous, calculating, politically cynical arsehole.
“Neil isn’t serious…is he? He couldn’t be that daft.”
Yep. You said Howard pulled something before the 2001 election. Just want to know what he pulled.
I suspect that Children Overboard had nothing to do with the 2001 election result. I think “the left” are just playing politics. Remember all the outrage when Howard had lots of people locked up in detention?? Well Labor has more people locked up and nobody is chaining themselves to fences.
Where are all these refugee protesters?? Or were they just playing politics??
By the way I think “the left” are using refugees to demonise Howard. Rather than Howard trying to demonise refugees to help him win an election.
Yeah, that’s completely different. They are talking about bringing in skills from outside, if there is a shortage, from southern Australia or overseas.
egg, as someone who specialised is competency based learning … I can assure you the “skills” don’t/won’t conform to Australian standards …
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Yep. You said Howard pulled something before the 2001 election. Just want to know what he pulled.
Two things, Shagga, splatterbottom (I call him sb but I know yoour comprehension levels are limited) actually called, Howard, not toillette or me …
Go back and read what, sb, wrote … I know you would have been in primary school then but it was important to us big people who knew that Howard was a liar and playing silly buggers with people’s lives* … the RAN actually said so … but the Australian voter continued to vote him in … again and again … but the Liberal Party’s advertising campaigns – at taxpayers expense and banned under the Rudd government – continued ad nauseam … in fact the Rudd government shackled itself and the ALP to stopping adverts and Rudd kept most of the Howard senior PS in their jobs … what a Fuckwit™ … guess where most of the leaks came from in 2007!
*he was the same PM who went to war in Iraq (secret WoMD??? †) and Afghanistan Australia’s longest military deployment … I’ve already posted the cost of that … we might even have a surplus if we weren’t committed to Howard’s War)
† you do know the history of why, Andrew Wilkie, is now an Independent politician – don’t you?
Where are all these refugee protesters?? Or were they just playing politics??
You’ve obviously never been a refugee or even an immigrant in this country … head down bum up! 🙄
Iggorance is bliss …
By the way I think “the left” are using refugees to demonise Howard. Rather than Howard trying to demonise refugees to help him win an election.
Time for bed, Shagga, dreams await …
… but if you live in faeryland during the day … where the fk do you go at night?
Purgatory? 😯
“Liberal Party’s advertising campaigns – at taxpayers expense and banned under the Rudd government ”
Banned?? Really?? I saw two advertisements the other night for Federal govt programs. One was for the Household Assistance Package and one was for the govt increasing Super from 9% to 12%.
Do you watch television??
And by the way this needs repeating
“By the way I think “the left” are using refugees to demonise Howard. Rather than Howard trying to demonise refugees to help him win an election.”
Boat people are just tools for the Greens to play with.
Banned?? Really?? I saw two advertisements the other night for Federal govt programs. One was for the Household Assistance Package and one was for the govt increasing Super from 9% to 12%.
There is a difference in advertising how good your government is … to using TV to explain what is happening …
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/howards-2bn-splurge/2007/09/01/1188067438538.html
Study harder, Shagga … and take off the blinkers … all pollies are only out for themselves … the real problem is that Australians are so laisse faire* about politics it just happens … and happens, and happens …
That’s a posh French phrase for, “couldn’t give a fk”!
Boat people are just tools for the Greens to play with.
I just saw that … you ignorant prick!
Boat people are REAL PEOPLE!
NOT playthings for poncy politicians or smart arsed, ignorant little bloggers!
They are human beings who deserve respect and help …
“There is a difference in advertising how good your government is”
Let me interpret. It is OK for Labor to do govt advertising but not Liberals. And you got one thing right- almost. Rudd promised to ban it, then lied (as usual).
“I just saw that … you ignorant prick!”
I call it as i see it. When in Opposition, Labor used boat people for political purposes (another boat another failure- Julia Gillard). You just cannot see this. Where are all the people protesting against Labor locking 6,000 people up in detention as they would have been if Howard was in power????
http://www.afr.com/p/technology/nbn_at_war_with_contractors_UY69p5MzeTv96l8E0MoVpL
It’s all going so well for the government.
NBN- behind schedule, over budget, low take up, loss of confidence in contractors…
NBN at war with contractors
NBN – yet another ALP success story!
…and even the unions will attack soon enough…
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/union-backlash-on-delayed-nbn-work/story-fn59niix-1226607207371
‘I can assure you the “skills” don’t/won’t conform to Australian standards …’
The 457 visas are supposed to be skill based, so they must have an inkling.
I have to comment on this statement again
“Wilkie got as close as they could without the bill failing completely because of the OPPOSITION”
It was Gillard who made the promise to Wilkie and it is Abbotts fault because she broke her word. Sheesh!!!
If Gillard had any decency when Parliament comes back she should present Wilkies pokies reforms to Parliament and if it does not pass she can at least say she tried. However Gillard will not present the legislation to parliament because her own party will vote against it.
“NBN- behind schedule, over budget, low take up, loss of confidence in contractors”
The horrible thing is that apparently most of the expenditure is off-budget. As a start-up company NBN Co is borrowing most of the money it needs to pay wages etc. One day this money will have to be included in the budget.
I see Neil refers to some economic fucking retard at the Cafe referring to sovereignty and our ability to print money to get out of any problems .
Well I recommend everyone buys shares in polymerand ink companies if our problems can be fixed that easily.
The argument of printing more money is so inherently fucking stupid I for one won’t even address it.
Just put the cafe people in touch with Pauline Hanson. She supports the idea as well.
Like I said. Fucking retards with shit for brains at the Cafe.
As usual
I say I want a revolution!
Here’s your chance you lot to practice what you preach. All those who complain about corruption, collusion, unfettered corporate and media power and voter marginalisation in our political system. Why not shake ’em up, show the two majors [who act as if they are entitled to rule australia for life] that you really are fed up and not prepared to take it anymore.
Are any of you capable of stepping away from your partisan parlour games?
http://www.wikileaksparty.org.au/about-us/wikileaks-party.html
…I may even get to throw rotten vegetables at the piece of shit yet.
I’ve checked the roster & I’m definitely on days off;…
I would love to see you heckling him up close and personal tb, go for it!
‘Are any of you capable of stepping away from your partisan parlour games?’
Not if they are bringing their old garbage with them.
‘Dr Niraj Lal is an Australian Solar Institute Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems at the Australian National University.’
Grass roots environmentalism remains a vote catcher.
‘Three-quarters of NSW voters oppose coal seam gas exploration on agricultural land, the latest polling reveals, as the government draws more fire over its handling of the resource.
‘A Fairfax Media/Nielsen poll shows fewer than one in five supports allowing the process, with 17 per cent favouring it.
‘In a blow for the government, the poll indicates opposition is as strong among Coalition voters (75 per cent) as Labor voters (73 per cent). The finding comes as the government was singled out for not yet signing a protocol to refer big coal and coal seam gas projects to a national expert panel for advice on their environmental impact.’
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/fracking-fails-the-poll-test-20130402-2h55t.html#ixzz2PLHF6ALv
‘I can assure you the “skills” don’t/won’t conform to Australian standards …’
ummmm………
‘ALP national vice-president and prominent union leader Tony Sheldon has recruited overseas workers on 457 visas to fill three key positions in his union, defending the move by claiming he could not find suitably qualified Australian workers to take the jobs.
‘Mr Sheldon, who two weeks ago accused some employers importing 457 visa workers of engaging in “human trafficking” and a “form of slavery”, confirmed to The Australian that his chief of staff Dermot Ryan, media officer Barry Dunning and senior organiser Celia Petty were employed on 457 visas.’
Hannan and Kelly in the Oz
I like the idea of a Wikileaks Party, KL. If only because it would get stuck in the craw of the right type of people.
Am a bit wary of becoming a member though. Had a brief look at the constitution & came away a little concerned with clauses which sound like I may have to shoulder debts incurred by the Party, as a member.
Maybe I was misinterpreting it?
I’m actually trying to work out a way to get successfully struck off of the electoral roll.
Voting has become a choice I’m unwilling to make…between faeces & excrement.
Armie, you are too funny. The way you have a revolution in a democracy is to get people to vote for you. Of course if you are some flaky fringe group like the Greens (or Socialist Alliance or Getupthemselves! or One Nation or Australia First or any of the ratbag fringe groups) then not a lot of people are going to support you.
Most normal people know that the Greens are raving moonbats. Their response has been to blame anyone but themselves rather than blame their stupid, stupid policies:
• Can’t impose radical climate change legislation then suspend democracy according to Greens candidate Clive Hamilton.
• Media saying nasty things about you then impose government regulation of the media according to that senile frothing loon Bob Brown.
• Undo the Pacific Solution and kill a thousand people – its just ‘accidents happen, tragedies happen’ according to the execrable Hanson-Young.
• Don’t like Andrew Bolt – Greens candidate Michael Quall, wrote “Andrew Bolt is a vile dog who should be put down ….. I openly condone hunting him down and beating him within an inch of his life”. (But we all know that it is conservatives who always use violent rhetoric)
Seems the only people who want a revolution are those who know that they are so hated for their stupidity by most people that they will never attain power by legitimate means.
****
Also it is sheer genius to paste the ‘Revolution’ video. The song is actually telling the wannabe revolutionaries of the sixties to fuck-off:
The same sort of idiot (or in the case of Lee Rhiannon the very same idiot) who supported communism in China or Cuba or Russia or Vietnam in the sixties now supports the Greens. The thing they have in common is that they are all as dumb as dogshit.
The revolution the Beatles were singing about was personal – if we all take responsibility for becoming better people then the world will be a better place. That notion is anathema to most on the left who detest the idea of individuals taking responsibility for their own lives and despise any system that gives them the liberty to do so.
A wikileaks party is appealing and I’d put them high on my protest vote.
The great pity (to me) is the replacement of the Democrats with the Greens. The Democrats were (and remain) a balanced party with the framework that provides a conservative economic policy with a progressive social conscience.
We could do with the Democrats holding the balance of power, rather than the rabble that are hanging around at the moment.
Armie, if you want to get some good old Ausssie revolutionary songs check out Roaring Jack, a great Aussie band (led by a Scot, Alistair Hulett). Their music was top notch and their live shows were brilliant.
Check out “Thin Red Line”,”Lads of the BLF”, “Destitution Road” and “Cat Among the Pigeons”:
There are videos of them on Youtube.
‘That notion is anathema to most on the left who detest the idea of individuals taking responsibility for their own lives and despise any system that gives them the liberty to do so.’
Yep!
Am a bit wary of becoming a member though. Had a brief look at the constitution & came away a little concerned with clauses which sound like I may have to shoulder debts incurred by the Party, as a member.
I saw that too tb, but on reading on it said the maximum to be paid is $10.00, so not much risk. I’d be prepared to become a member if it meant it would get off the ground. We need change so badly.
The Democrats were (and remain) a balanced party with the framework that provides a conservative economic policy with a progressive social conscience.
I have always liked andrew bartlett. Unfortunately meg lees pact with howard killed the party, they have never recovered.
I just think there is no point whinging and whining about ‘the system’ if you are not prepared to be part of the change. What have we got to lose. If this wikileaks [and other parties] pressures the two majors into reform, it can only be a good thing.
The way you have a revolution in a democracy is to get people to vote for you.
A bit hard to do when the two majors will do all sorts of underhand things to ensure no other parties share their power eg tony abbott and his australians for honest politics sent their threat hanson to jail.
Also you are assuming that we have a real democracy, I don’t believe that we have. Our democracy has been bastardised to the benefit of politicians.
…if we all take responsibility for becoming better people then the world will be a better place. That notion is anathema to most on the left who detest the idea of individuals taking responsibility for their own lives and despise any system that gives them the liberty to do so.
Rubbish sb, you describe exactly the revolution I am talking about, a personal one. ‘The left’ [talk about clumping ‘individuals’ into one big group eh?].
People can still be as individual as they like, they have the freedom to choose, they work for the common good and don’t forget those who cannot look after themselves, they work together to create a better society for all. Instead of worker’s labour and innovation going to benefit a few wealthy parasites, the benefits can be shared by all in society. There’s no proud individualism in dirty dealing, stabbing everyone in the back and getting to the top by stomping into the ground all those who helped you along the way – being the biggest bully and cheat in the pack.
“‘The left’ [talk about clumping ‘individuals’ into one big group eh?].”
I actually referred to”most on the left” which somewhat diminishes your point, doesn’t it?
Here’s the pertinent bit of the Wikileaks Party’s constitution from the Name & Objectives of the Party section:
There’s nothing new or revolutionary there at all, just boilerplate motherhood statements.
reb, our colleagues in fleet street enjoyed our coverage of the 2012 london lympdick$
http://www.cluesforum.info/viewtopic.php?t=1368&p=2373736#p2373981
(they didn`t mention the teabags)
Once the faithful have installed him as their leader, Mr-Rabbit will cast down to the depths of hell the `unholy` digital infrastructure, overseen by bishop murdoch. The holy pilgrimage to the temple of saint gina will be undertaken with his following of teabag disciples. Blessing and digging the promised land on his holy pilgrimage. Devout teabags will be in awe at the devine presence of saint gina at the temple of dirt digging and gas fracking. Mr-Rabbit will cross the land once the “holy` surplus is restored, building the `holy` infrastructure, we know as dams. The `holy` infrastructure will capture the frack-tured liquid which Mr-rabbit will turn to wine, or water to walk on. The arteasan basin is not needed. _ #4corners
Motherhood statements by minor parties aren’t a bad thing, as long as they are willing to use them as a yardstick if they’re in parliament.
The odd and deeply concerning relationship is that between Bob Katter and Dean Mighell (Vic ETU until very recently).
When the rural nongs from Queensland team up with the brainless militants from Melbourne, it’s best to start actively supporting organisations like wikileaks.
Wikiskeptic prefers his libertarianism with an American flavouring.
The kind which supposedly (but never does) wants to keep government small, but leave entrenched corporate power unfettered.
Wikileaks would be worth voting for, if one was indeed to vote, perhaps because it may make the duopoly fear better scrutiny.
“When the rural nongs from Queensland team up with the brainless militants from Melbourne, it’s best to start actively supporting organisations like wikileaks.’
Amen to that.
If Wikileaks had a paypal instrument for paying the $20 membership fee…& if it wasn’t going to pester me with emails &/or pleas for more money forever after, I’d pay membership right now. But wait! didn’t the US freeze or bully paypal & others into not processing donations to wikileaks a while back, or somesuch?
Isn’t that a reasonable indication that they fear the release of potentially damaging information which they’d rather keep from public scrutiny?
Maybe I should just post em the cash.
” keep government small “
that`s teabags all over, small govt means no matter how complicated, dangerous or risky the world becomes, teabags want to let monster-corps have their own unregulated way on everything, _ won`t uncontrolled, unregulated nuke power be fun
” let monster-corps have their own unregulated way on everything, _ won`t uncontrolled, unregulated nuke power be fun”
OMG 730 is Catching Up!
far too lucid
How entertaining!
It seems that continually posting ‘teabag, teabag, teabag…’ means that logic and analysis become option extras.
Small government somehow becomes unregulated nuclear power!
So the best option must be big government, and what a success that is.
Big government means discrimination via specific regulation on the right to marry the person of your choice. Or personal negotiation of a tax (with the big end of town) that raises $000000. Or handing over a billion or so to the wealthiest of private schools to build performing arts centres.
Big government is such a success.
And now a drum roll, while the following reply is penned- ‘teabagteabagteabag…blahblahblah…mrrabbitmrrabbitmrrabbit…’
Catching up would express a similar point differently – ” one might say that one might let monster-corps have one’s own unregulated way on everything, _ won`t uncontrolled, unregulated nuke power be fun for one. One can’t believe Mr Abbott ”
teabags don`t seem to have any objection to the 2.2_billion$ welfare cheques detroit and tokyo have been getting from the govt
the queensland teabags have done a fine job regulating the gas-frackers, Who says water shouldn`t be flameable.? _ #4corners
Really, could you post a link to any comment that has supported the handouts to auto companies.
Big government supports big, unionised industries. That’s how they get their funding. It’s a mutual ‘big’ thing.
People who use ‘teabagteabagteabag’ all the time like to make stuff up. It makes up for their lack of analysis.
.
“2.2_billion$ welfare cheques detroit and tokyo”
Not to mention to Mickey f’n Mouse.
The auto industry cheques are effectively payments to unions. It works like this: unions make the industry hideously unproductive and the government compensates the industry for the union ripoffs. LibLab are equally to blame for this. The whole nasty charade should stop.
I’m with ToM and Sancty on small government… because its beautiful and effective.
” The political media in Australia is a broken institution, so heavily conflicted and arrogant as to require statutory oversight. If it does not respect its own Press Council processes, there is a role for government in mandating respect.”
http://www.afr.com/p/opinion/real_joke_is_the_political_media_meDwiCA4EHb3FBTWjhTfPI
.
an outbreak of journalism, rare these days
Catching up would express a similar point differently – “” The PM is a strong negotiate and deteremine. What a woman. Those who do not, not I believe.Something seems amiss. Something about snide remarks. What a woman. Others come here to disrupt. Help I’ve fallen and I cant get up..
This maybe the beginning of a backbench revolt.
‘Labor backbencher Ed Husic has questioned the government’s decision to spend more than $20 million on a Disney film, saying the money could be better spent on more urgent needs such as funding hospitals.
‘Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced on Tuesday that the government would pay Disney film producers $21.6 million to ensure the movie 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea would be filmed in Australia.
‘To justify the decision Ms Gillard said the investment could ”create up to 2000 jobs”.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/we-need-health-funding-before-blockbusters-says-labor-mp-20130403-2h60d.html#ixzz2PMt3jKi1
” mention to Mickey f’n Mouse.”
the pollies always seem quick to drop their strides and bend over for mega-biz, mickey-corp is one of the richest bunch of welfare seekers out
“If it does not respect its own Press Council processes, there is a role for government in mandating respect.”
Agree completely, 7.30. How are we to get a truly progressive government if the media continually undermines decent policies with critical opinions?
Catching up would express a similar point differently – “” The PM is a strong negotiate and deteremine. What a woman. Those who do not, not I believe.Something seems amiss. Something about snide remarks. What a woman. Others come here to disrupt. Help I’ve fallen and I cant get up..
One would think that copied from ones remarks. Disrupt us not we think not.
The Prime Minister is on top of Mr Abbotts family.
could ”create up to 2000 jobs”.
coulda, shoulda, woulda.
movie shoots don`t go that long anyway, most of the jobs will be minimum, woopdy-fckn-doo
sb, it`s hard to believe that Latham writes so good for the afr, when he was such a damn turkey in canberra, l really don`t give a hoot how the politicians are treated, l am mainly interested that `voters` are not lied to and defrauded by continually being fed bullshit from the embedded media(last weeks rudd-storation)
It ain’t, snacty, el gordo.
Mad Mark Latham is an utter nutter. We dodged a bullet by not electing that fruit-loop as PM. What makes him interesting is the odd flashes of lucidity he sometimes produces. But all too often he comes across as a deranged nincompoop. You know, the type of person who smashes cameras and breaks taxi-drivers’ arms.
Typically the Labor party (including Gillard) was happy to offer the Australian people a sexist pig who called a female journalist a skanky-ho, which only serves to amplify the hypocrisy of their vile smears of Abbott.
Abbott IS a vile skidmark…
What ain’t me?
Small guvmint.
You said you were in favor of it.
Apologies, I thought you were referring to wikiskeptic.
Snacty has expressed support for local government in the past, I didn’t have that in mind.
I don’t like central government either. When you live in a rural community, you quickly realise that the Big Central Government in the state capital doesn’t give 2 squirts about you; let alone the Big Central Federal Government.
Upmarket trash from the gutter!
I am indeed in favour of small Government. With essential services (especially of a social nature like health and education) administered as locally as possible so the deliverers have to look the customers in the eye at the local butcher.
Me too.
Shopfront accountability is greater accountability!
http://wiki.ironchariots.org/index.php?title=50_reasons_to_believe_in_God
G U F F A W !
We are stuck with three tiers of government and it appears to be fairly stable. It gives us more opportunity to throw out poor performing ratbags, which is what a robust democracy is all about.
Really, could you post a link to any comment that has supported the handouts to auto companies.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-02/holden-reveals-billions-in-subsidies/4604558
That’s 12 years … and here’s me thiMking that I lived in a market economy … and with so many iggorant defenders of such …
I also recall (being an avid Super 8 film and now video hobbyist – tho I did make a few very profitable training “films” — and I have a Certificate in 8mm/16mm Filmaking!) … Kodak was supported in the 1990’s …
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/09/17/1095394004578.html
As our guide in Egypt (Assistant Professor at Cairo Museum) said … “Nothing is new” …
ToM, what do you mean by “supported” …
Scaper is continuing to attract attention at the cafe … I feel a banning coming on.
‘What a nasty, despicable remark,you made about Fed up, scaper which makes you a truly nasty, despicable person.’
egg, scaper is a leopard – the spots will never change … long history including a risk to my family (reported to the AFP) , toillette’s family and surprisingly Min’s family … but he’s allowed to post there still … and I know his family situation (I have “friends” too) but would never consider jeopardising them …
Supported? I meant that rather than just call people “teabagsteabagsteabags”, 730 might identify anyone here who has supported the handouts to the auto industry.
—————-
Nice to see some quality in the title. What’s French for “another boat, another policy failure”?
Scaper is a dill, and the reason he is tolerated at CW is that they need some unintelligent alternative opinions.
So the Royal Commission into Child Abuse has started.
I suspect we can look forward to
1) an authorative history of institutional child abuse since 19??.
2) a lot of recommendations
3) a lot of new boats and sports cars for lawyers
4) a massive taxpayer bill
5) maybe a few charges maybe a few jail sentences. Good
6) legislation abolishing child sex abuse
7) a massive bill for tax payers
And little else
Lets start anew Royal Commission into murder so we can abolish it as well.
Can we just tell the car companies to prepare their best case as to who we should support.
Why do we need 3 ?
Lets tell Toyota to fuck off and then ask Holden and Ford to present their best case and only substitute one or none.
If we cannot produce the worlds best big 4wd and an SUV plus a equiv to a Mazda 3 then fuck them all off.
Oh let’s do a Vespa as well. Sydney does not need bike lanes it needs Vespa lanes.
Substitute = Subsidise
‘FORMER human services minister Kim Carr has declared Labor’s controversial cuts forcing single mothers on to the dole a mistake, saying efforts to save $700 million had triggered a debate about the inadequacy of Newstart that could potentially cost the budget billions.
‘Writing for The Australian today, Senator Carr questions the fairness of cutting single mothers off their higher income-support payments, putting tens of thousands on to the lower Newstart allowance.’
Patricia Karvelas in the Oz
Kim, Martin, Simon………………….At this rate the ALP will split
Yes, there is far more talent and experience on the backbench than in the cabinet.
Even those Gillard loyalists who are now benchwarmers (to spend more time with their families) look good in comparison to the current lot.
When the ALP rolls out Gillard, Swan and Emerson as their top performers, while Crean, Bowen, Rudd etc are on the backbench, it says plenty about the threadbare state of the party.
“Can we just tell the car companies to prepare their best case as to who we should support.”
No!
The way to support business is to provide the conditions in which it has a chance to prosper: stable government, cheap electricity and reasonable IR.
The ALP has completely fucked up on each of these points. The clueless cnuts who run the country (ie the unions) have no interest in establishing that sort of system. They have staged a coup against a popular leader and installed a lying incompetent puppet as PM. They have sent the price of electricity through the roof and failed to build plants which produce cheap electricity and they have let the unions off the leash. And they think the answer is subsidies to industry!
That means, in effect, that the industries which can survive in this Unionland dystopia are ones selected by the government (i.e. the unions). What could go wrong with that?
Splatter my point is weshould only support 1 car company if any, certainly not 3. We have been supporting these monsters for decades.
Enuf
It’s not just the auto industry.
People lament the decline of Australian manufacturing, they blame the high dollar, cheap labour in China and lack of investment.
One of the significant reasons for the lack of investment is our poor record in industrial relations. Decision makers don’t have confidence that a plant construction, upgrade, expansion or overhaul can be delivered without protracted industrial pain, unions will always disrupt and delay as part of their strategy of screw something or other. It might be pay, hours, or just a turf war, but manufacturing investment will inevitably be disrupted.
Investors need a 20 year outlook, with high operational performance and certainty to put up the money. Australian industrial relations and manufacturing unions don’t provide that kind of confidence.
So one of the critical factors for manufacturing is specifically screwed up by the owners of this government.
Manufacturing is being nursed to the grave – thanks unions.
Scaper is a nasty piece of work, I’ve been here long enough to know his history, but he only targets the left.
‘The L-NP primary vote is 49% (up 2.5%) clearly ahead of the ALP 30% (down 0.5%). Among the minor parties Greens support is 11% (up 0.5%) and Independents/ Others are 10% (down 2.5%).’
Roy Morgan
“teabagsteabagsteabags”, 730 might
(find your own links lazy-bones)
both teabag govts and Tbag-lite govts have handed out welfare to detroit and tokyo, both state/s and federal
” Manufacturing is being nursed to the grave _ thanks unions.”
bulshit. `Free-Trade` is the reason. Only devout followers of teabag theory can`t work out that allowing `free-trade` with countries(China) that pay workers 10c/hour, is putting yourself out of work and biz. No Aus-biz can compete with `dumped` goods/produce from China, and no worker can compete with China-Labor-Price. Only total dills don`t realize this. thank canberra and state politicians, they did it
730 you forgot to say something
“Teabags…….blah…….blah………..blah”
730 is an expert on all things relating to ‘teabags’ and all things ‘non teabag’
He might identify the last manufacturing upgrade or construction that was not plagued with union driven industrial disruption.
When an investor is looking to spend a $bill or so, will they choose us, with our history of union disruption, or low cost Asia or perhaps stable Germany?
‘Only total dills don`t realize this.’
China is the new factory, this is economic reality, so manufacturing should be abandoned if we can’t compete.
The problem ‘going forward’ is infrastructure building, where the US experience suggests local companies can’t compete with the Chinese companies who are efficient and cheap.
Now there is a reasonable chance they would get the nod to build the fast rail to Canberra and the airport extensions there…. and that’s just for starters.
If the unions complain they will probably be ignored, as the ALP industrial wing continues to implode.
” When an investor”
More stupidity. Our govt`s should have been ensuring our biz and workers ALL prosper, so that jobs and projects are done `in-house`, NOT desperately seeking `investor` to get anything done. This stuff goes `full-circle` teabags, and teabag-theory/trickle-down is now starting to bite their own arse.
“Our govt`s should have been ensuring our biz and workers ALL prosper, so that jobs and projects are done `in-house`, NOT desperately seeking `investor` to get anything done. ”
What a bizarre little rant…
Where did you learn that? Cafe-nomics??
” What a bizarre little rant”
only bizarre until the 457`s become co-workers or replacements at an employer you may already know
“only bizarre until the 457`s become co-workers or replacements at an employer you may already know”
Do you mean the TWU or the MUA?
“He might identify the last manufacturing upgrade or construction that was not plagued with union driven industrial disruption.”
I can identify one for you, YomM. The CoGen plant currently under construction where I am; a gas fired turbine which will produce nearly the entirety of the sites electricity needs & also supply hot exhaust air to run the boiler & hot air to our TAD.
It’s a little behind schedule, but the delays are related to engineering & construction hurdles…not Union disruption.
The US parent company has invested upwards of $30million to make it happen & it is a paradigm shift in manufacturing there. (I dunno, you may consider $30mill to be small potatoes?).
I do agree that Australian manufacturing is in decline. But, I suspect that your inherent phobia regarding Unions is only responsible for a part of the ailing.
Some of the stuff 730 mentions certainly has an impact too.
Well said, toillette … as per … when I read the union bashing rants here … I often wonder what it would be like if employers were given total freedom … I’ ve been in board rooms and heard some of the bizarre thinking that goes on there … (just as i’ve been in union meetings and heard rants mirrored above )
” It’s a little behind schedule, but the delays are related to engineering & construction hurdles _ not Union disruption.”
More delays (historically) in manufacturing, construction, anything is from bad management and suppliers. Not that the teabags will ever admit it.
“but he only targets the left.”
The scaper fucktard used to target the right, but became very disgruntled when his
delusional outback metropolis, Crappervillebrainchild wasn’t invited to Rudd’s 20/20 Summit, not long after the demise of Howard.Most of his blog commenting since has been a mixture of deranged, ill tempered outbursts…whistful stupid fantasy…desperate self affirmation seeking…and allusions to occupying a position within the inner circle of Australia’s rich & powerful.
Calling him a ‘dill’ is far too polite.
I’d also like to clarify that he’s never threatened my family…and even if he did, I’d laugh at the moron. He lives at the other end of the country & I’ve seen pictures of the loose unit. I have nothing to fear from him; he should fear me, if he is dumb enough to turn up on my doorstep.
He did post what he thought was my postcode a few years back, but he is very simple & he got that wrong by about 100km too. Dense prick.
Yes, TB. The Unionphobia on display here is very generic.
I don’t doubt that Tom makes some good points about Union influence, but too often falls into the trap of a black & white view of Unionism.
I agree that if employers were given total freedom it would be a bridge too far in the other direction. Unions, in large workplaces, are a necessary evil.
A brick wall fell down on a Grollo site in Melbourne last week, crushing 3_people to death. I wonder when our teabags will start to defend Grollo`s negligence, and start blaming some worker/union/greenpeace for it.
“Most of his blog commenting since has been a mixture of deranged, ill tempered outbursts…whistful stupid fantasy…desperate self affirmation seeking…and allusions to occupying a position within the inner circle of Australia’s rich & powerful.”
True.
But I guess at least he’s always got his “marshall arts” to fall back on.
He could always go back to that, or digging holes and shifting heavy things for a living…
I’ve had very little exposure to Unions.
Once, when I was a young thing, I did a government funded photography course (full-time).
One day, the govt announced that it would no longer be funding the program.
When the Union heard about this, they called a meeting and in a room of about 50 of us, declared that “we” were going on strike.
I think I was the only one that voted to not go on strike.
It struck me as odd, that the way in which you’d protest about losing your job was to refuse to go to work.
I’ve never quite understood that.
In my mind Miglo and Iain are more reprehensible than that other dill.
Specific businesses don’t make public announcements about their disastrous industrial relations problems. They don’t like to say that they’ve lost control of their business and workforce. Business people make other excuses, because they also know (from bitter experience) that if they identify the facts about union behaviour, the unions will make them pay double the next time.
Not that I’m letting scaper off the hook, kicking a physically handicapped old woman is un- Australian.
I think that, often, going on strike is pointless.
It’s definitely not something to be done lightly. For one, you lose X-day’s pay…& usually get ordered back to work when (what used to be) IRC upholds the legality of the company’s position…even if the company’s actions are morally objectionable & cynical.
I’ve been on strike a couple of times…& it was satisfying to walk out on the fuckers & stand outside the gate & watch the pencil pushers try & pretend that they could do our jobs for a couple of days with their labour hire pets & underlings. But…we didn’t achieve much; still got shafted & the management got their way.
Sometimes you gotta take a stand. Laying down for the dickheads all the time isn’t good for a person’s self respect.
That said, I really appreciate the job I have now & I wouldn’t be keen to strike at all. It would be counterproductive & the company are pretty reasonable, on the whole.
The only people I hear talking gung-ho about striking out there are simpletons who don’t realise how lucky they are & have been working there for 25+ years.
Tom, I’m a bit closer to the situation than you may think…& Union disruption has fuck all to do with it.
I’m sure you’re not asserting that my comment about my workplace’s expansion is untrue or inaccurate?
I’m sure you know your stuff, but you don’t have a finger in every industrial pie in the country.
I’m merely passing on some observations, toiletcantankerousnightsoil.
I know that SA unions have a more moderate orientation that those in WA, Qld, NSW & Vic.
For example an issue we discussed a couple of years ago – when there was considerable analysis of building a few pulp plants in your part of the world, one of the key concerns was union activity.
SA was seen a much safer option due to the union orientation, even though the infrastructure in Victoria, not far over the border was far better.
There was no confidence that the plants could be built on time, on budget with a Victorian unionised workforce.
Now that the Shell-Oil refinery/plant/factory is closing, l wonder if our teabags will tell us which union forced it`s closure.
… and allusions to occupying a position within the inner circle of Australia’s rich & powerful…
It should do the “test” on ‘tother fred … 🙄
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I think I was the only one that voted to not go on strike.
I think I’ve told this tale here before … but indulge me … I’m “old” as, ToM, will affirm (don’t ya luv the English language) as often as he can …
My personal ‘introduction’ to unions was as a motor mech, at the time my “job” was to road test every Nissan/Datsun sold in Queensland and identify any faults!
When the AMWU turned up to recruit members, I held out …
… nothing altruistic or intellectual … I didn’t see any benefit in paying the fees (though my old man had been a union rep, both in the UK at David Brown Tractors {the DB in the Aston Martin!} and at the Gladstone Refinery Plant – BTW me was always Mum was a Lib) …
I had a young family- two children and a non working wife – (by agreement – a belief still held by, The Minister, and me – that children NEED a parent at home) and …
… I was born in Yorkshire (sreb’s, a Scot, and he’ll tellya we watch the “pennies” more than they do! Historic genetics!
Anyway, I held out until I was threatened by the AMWU that they would take everyone out if I didn’t join … so agreed, BUT only if they gave me an AMWU rule book for free (cost $5 … in the days of $150 a week – I’m old remember?).
The following day the Secretary of the AMWU came to work … with my AMWU rule book … and offered me the job as union rep … I accepted (not eagerly I can assure you) …
… and I know I stopped my colleagues from being cajoled into at least three strikes …
… I had joined the company I worked for when I was 15 … after 16 years I had had enough of being “played” by both sides … left and after 18 months I was employed by the man who was to become my mentor …
… my degree studies included a “loaded” exercise to “analyse” why Australia’s Award System should be abandoned … I researched, Australia, Germany, UK, Japan and the USA … I was expected to reach a negative on the Australian Awards … in fact I made a case that it was the best in the world … followed by Germany because of its industrial democracy laws that enable workers to be elected to the boards of companies … and to indulge me further I received Honours for my paper …
Shell-Oil refinery/plant/factory is in Melbourne.
Geelong I think and apparently the last refinery in Australia. Its up for sale, but failing to get a buyer they may turn the plant into a terminal.
None of this is the fault of the unions.
730
The problem industry is the CSG!
And I have the guilts every time it comes up! (I watched Four Corners on iView this afternoon …)
I wrote the first nationally recognised competency based training and assessment material for CSG extraction and compression … for a well known mining company …
Ignorance is bliss … I worry about fracking and the water tables and particularly, The Great Artesian Basin … the lifeblood of Australia!
British and American interests don’t give a shit about my country … nor do Australian politicians … Robber Barons at their WORST!
Oil refining and power stations aren’t manufacturing.
However, the Geelong refinery is a product of lack investment, and one of the factors that undermines a willingness to invest in heavy industry is the unreliability of labour supply through poor industrial relations.
The original Australians have more commonsense (sic) on the question of fracking.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-18/maningrida-traditional-owners-burn-fracking-company27s-letter/4579622
` To whom it may concern. That symbol on the key to the left of the 1 key on most keyboards IS NOT AN APOSTRPHE OR AN INVERTED COMMA! `
As for manufacturing in Australia, something that can `t go on forever, won `t.
Also, ` teabags `!
… and one of the factors that undermines a willingness to invest in heavy industry is the unreliability of labour supply through poor industrial relations.
That reeks of hobbyhorse politics and a lack of understanding of real business. ToM …
… I don’t know who’s feeding you but its absolute BS!
… good business works with labour despite IR it always has … the driving force of profit has never been IR but the skills of good management … you are beginning to sound like Kneel, just a mouthpiece fed by others …
hobbyhorse politics and a lack of understanding of real business.
.
` , just a mouthpiece fed by others `
.
don`t we know it
” fracking and the water tables and particularly, The Great Artesian Basin “
so TB, you finally got to my teabag tales of qld, damn l wish l could bet on `stupid-things-teabags-will-do`, l`d be worth more than Gina. Our teabags have no excuse, this is just greed and stupidity, Josh_Fox did his `Gasland` documentary years ago, to show everybody how fracking was wrecking yank-land. lt`s been on sbs a few times now, well worth watching if you haven`t seen it. _ #4corners _ #fracking _ #gasland
Yeah, right. Unions have absolutely no compunction about knifing a popular Prime Minister and they were quite happy with all the duplicity around that, but they’re committed to the success of the manufacturing industry.
I’ve worked with some private equity and investment houses, one of the critical risks they try to manage is labour supply due to union intervention during critical phases of installation, commissioning and operations.
Don’t bother with the “work with them” crap. Many officials simply aren’t interested in long term operational and business success… and an overhaul, commissioning or construction workforce isn’t motivated by the long term success of a business, they prefer to maximise their position out of each job.
“so you teabag`s wish `Gasland` would just_go_away.”
#fracknation_#propoganda_#teabags
http://fracknation.com/
`lol mr rabbit`
” simply aren’t interested in long term operational and business success”
describes plenty of boardrooms quite well, in it for all they can rip out of the shareholders, creditors and workforce
Many officials simply aren’t interested in long term operational and business success…
But don’t blame the rank and file nor the concept of unions … it has been hijacked on the left by Robber Barons*… as a counter to the Robber Barons on the right hijacking BOTH side of politics … you and others here gloat over the failures of the ALP .. those who understand the precarious balance of IR relationships despair …
* Robber Barons are arseholes interested in their own quest for dollars at the expense of others in society! That is NOT capitalism … that’s greed and corruption!
730reportland PERMALINK
April 4, 2013 7:34 pm
“Shell-Oil refinery/plant/factory is in Melbourne.”
If you actually gave a flying f••k which you don’t you’d pick up a copy of the competing Caltex annual report online and read it.
Then you might get an education about Australian refinery economics versus Asian mega refineries.
But you won’t because you actually enjoy your ignorance.
In fact without it you’d be the Marcel Marceau of Blogs.
“ lf you actually gave a flying f••k which you don’t `.`
Correct. #caltex
.
workers, unions and consumers never made Aus a `free-trade` dumping ground _
boardrooms and politicians did
`.` economics versus Asian mega refineries.`.`
mega auto-makers in Thailand and China, same argument you made for `refineries`, but teabags won`t stop the welfare cheques to the auto industry, now 2.2_billion$
Yes Marcel
Whatever !
even high functioning teabags like Mr-Rabbit don`t understand that a digital platform is required in a digital age, nor comprehend that `workers` are actually `consumers` too. Teabags can never join the links in the chain far enough to realize that worker/consumers with `extra` cash in their pocket enables them to consume beyond the `bare` essentials, enabling profits to be made by other businesses that are not just essential product/service providers. l hold little hope for our teabags to even get this far.
@#730reportland is `right`, teabag economics like the removal of tarrif-wall protectionism leads to consumer`s having access to the cheapest goods wherever they`re made, thanks to uber_teabags like Mr-Hawke_Mr-Keating_Mr-Button. `oh wait` #leftistneocons
Yeah!! 730’s nailed it!!
If only we’d pay everyone more, then they’d spend it and we’d all be so much better off! Maybe Sudan or some could become the richest country if only they’d try that solution!
Maybe if the government printed an extra $20,000,000,000,000,000 we could all be millionaires!!
Talking of corrupt unions, well known climate change sceptic Ian Plimer was in the witness box to denounce Maitland.
”I was quite appalled,” Professor Plimer said on Thursday of the training mine proposal. ”It was absolute madness.”
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/geologist-blasted-training-mine-idea-20130404-2h9se.html#ixzz2PXQWh0UC
Yes, the country is in safe hands when solid citizens like (former union hack/ALP stalwart) John Maitland can look forward to making $15mill out of his savvy investment.
What’s going on with the media and their reporting of this? Why aren’t they reporting that Swan
is going to balance the budgethas made a sensible, prudent decision in not locking into an unnecessary surplus.“Maybe if the government printed an extra $20,000,000,000,000,000 we could all be millionaires!!”
We could. But it would cost $10m to buy a slice of bread.
Don’t you just love the lefties saying “Look, look other countries are more in debt than us. Let’s dive deeper into debt”. I guess that passes for a logical argument in those circles.
pfft #splatterbottom, comparing our debt_to_gdp_ratio only works when the other country`s is higher, the other way round doesn`t support #Mr-Swan_world`s_greatest_treasurer #narrativefail #stoopidteabags
Logicfail, Bagbiter – the left’s argument is classic bandwagon fallacy. No real surprise that you missed the point entirely.
730 – Shell-Oil refinery/plant/factory is in Melbourne.
They’ve already moved it? That was quick.
(Geelong = Melbourne, in the same way Newcastle = Sydney)
“730 – Shell-Oil refinery/plant/factory is in Melbourne.”
Like I said
Without his ignorance 730 would have nothing to say and would be the Marcel Marceau of the Blogs
So what’s more important in terms of National Security ?
A heavily subsidized motor vehicle industry or an oil refining industry ?
I know which one I think is more important
‘So what’s more important in terms of National Security ?’
If a regional war breaks out the oil refinery might come in handy.
You get the Gold Star today Eg,
“According to a recent study, Liquid Fuel Security by Retired Air Vice-Marshall John Blackburn AO Australia is only holding 3 weeks of petroleum, instead of the allotted 90 days that was agreed upon”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_strategic_petroleum_reserves
Gosh, thanx.
“No real surprise that you missed the point entirely.”
Splatter, BagzoSY is actually doing great parody. I think he is weeing all over the point, not missing it! 😉
” war breaks out the oil refinery might come in handy.”
that`s right gordo, whether it is `skills` or `infrastructure`, you just can`t replace them in 5_minutes, especially when the shit hits the fan, a point totally lost on your co-teabags _ #4corners _ #unhinged _ #low_functioning_teabags