An Abbott fan offends with a bad joke. Gillard lies, cheats, and burns your life savings. One of these things matters.

Pre-draft Update: I wrote all this before the latest twist came. For foreign readers: gawk, supposedly in March at an Opposition fundraiser, a menu listed an insulting Julia Gillard Kentuky Fried Quail (and worse). It turns out the menu was not even used, it was an inhouse mockup. No one at the Liberal fundraiser saw it, let alone approved it. The reason I wrote at all about it was that it should never have wasted so much airtime. Like Parliament, like blogs. It is almost as if trolls are running our national debate. UPDATE #2: Worse. The resturanteur who wrote the insult turns out to be a Labor man.

How easily people are diverted.

The parody of our “national” conversation is literally reduced to a bad joke. The desperate Julia Gillard is milking a spot of tasteless humor made by a Liberal supporter, wringing all the political mileage she can get out of it. It is everywhere in the news today. A waste of bandwidth. She says a comment that Tony Abbott didn’t make, and doesn’t approve of, tell us something about the culture of the conservatives. “Join the dots” she snidely implies.

Yes, I say, let’s join-the-dots Julia, let’s talk about “character” and “culture”. But instead of bad jokes in poor taste, let’s talk about something that matters. How about premeditated promises made to the whole nation? Like: There will be no carbon tax; there will be a surplus; we will stop the boats — how many votes did those promises garner?

So a Liberal fan made a momentary lapse — Gillard made the surplus commitment 165 times. These were premeditated, official failures said calmly and with intent. The bad joke cost the nation nothing. The election deceit — countless billions. It may also have cost thousands of jobs and, worst of all, a thousand lives lost at sea.

The Liberals involved [or not, as per the update] have apologized. Gillard has not. She blamed the hung parliament, the Greens, the global economy, anyone but herself.

Gillard thinks Mal Brough should be disendorsed for allowing demeaning humor at an event. If that’s the case, the whole Labor Party ought be disendorsed for lies and deception about matters which every Labor MP has personally profited from. If Gillard had said there will be a carbon tax, and promised to gift Australia with massive debt and deficit after deficit, 400 voters in Corangamite might have made a different choice. And the lurks and perks of ministerial awards and power would have been awarded to other people.

This is how a grown up conversation would go: ALP exposes bad joke, Libs apologize, nation moves on.

The insult on the menu had no legal or economic consequences. Everyone agrees it should not have been made. As long as the national conversation is discussing the meaning or merits of a single line at a dinner-for-20 we are not discussing the lies, deception and incompetence of things that matter. As long as the minor incident is major news, the cheats and liars win: real policy is not being discussed. This could only happen with the active connivance of the MSM.

The Coalition are crazy if they don’t take up the opportunity: “Yes” let’s talk issues of character and culture. Let’s talk about how much respect the Labor Party has for workers and their taxes. Forcing millions of people to toil in order to pay off useless windmills, buy outlandishly expensive electricity in a futile efforts to stop the storms and hold back the tides? The price of bad governance is that thousands of workers may be wallowing in soul destroying unemployment, when better management and a lower tax burden would mean entrepreneurs in Australia could afford to give them jobs. Millions of people are spending time away from loved ones to earn money to pay tax for pointless schemes. The Labor Party treats their taxes with contempt, even using them for advertising to promote their own careers (a practice that is hardly confined to one side of politics). Taxes are being dished up for “independent” commissions, and “independent” researchers which are nothing more than third party adverts for big-contemptuous-government.

——————

UPDATE: Post edited. I said Gillard was making Deputy Opposition leader Julie Bishop invisible when she says: “I invite you to imagine it. A prime minister – a man in a blue tie – who goes on holidays to be replaced by a man in a blue tie. ” In a Liberal Party context, Julie Bishop is the next in line to replace Abbott (and she doesn’t wear a blue tie, right) . But commenter Keith reminded me, of course, that the most likely outcome (should the Coalition win) is that Warren Truss would be the second in charge. Bishop is third in line. But (who knows) perhaps Truss doesn’t wear blue ties, does anyone care?  Gillard thinks it matters.  – Jo

 

 

 

 

 

9.1 out of 10 based on 102 ratings

283 comments to An Abbott fan offends with a bad joke. Gillard lies, cheats, and burns your life savings. One of these things matters.

  • #
    Bloke down the pub

    It’s a pity that I don’t understand the joke. Was it a good bad joke?

    81

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      Bloke down the pub

      Ah, followed the link to Herald Sun and saw the rest of it. Julia shouldn’t have joined if she can’t take a joke.

      81

    • #
      MudCrab

      The closing line about ‘make sure you finish your greens, before they finish you’ (or words to that effect) was a mild smile raiser. The rest of it was very tasteless and lacking in both wit and imagination.

      However, the claimed outrage says a lot about the sort of person Gillard is.

      Remember, there was a time when a man named Peter Slipper admitted to having text messages on his phone that, to put it loosely, displayed a mild phobia of the female body.

      There was a time when the Liberal/Nationals put forward the motion that maybe a man with those sorts of jokes might not be a good speaker.

      There was a time when Julia Gillard stood up and verbally and loudly defended the right of Peter Slipper to remain speaker by accusing Tony Abbott of hating women.

      Remember that, Julia Gillard called Tony Abbott a mysognist as way of defending a different man’s right to use the phrase ‘muscles in salty brine’ within the workplace.

      Are we to be led to understand that the PM believes genital jokes are acceptable?

      Also remember, that the same day that the ALP defended the right for Slipper to remain speaker, Slipper himself resigned. Even Peter Slipper believed the jokes were a mistake, yet Gillard still defended him.

      Gillard is… ‘different’.

      80

  • #
    Chris M

    Mal Brough was an excellent and ethically motivated minister, who did his utmost to address decades of appalling abuse of women and children in all too many alcohol and drug-marred Aboriginal towns and camps. He lost his seat in 2007 because Rudd was a Queenslander who presented himself as Howard-lite, a notion since refuted by reality. For some perverse reason Mal Brough is now a prime political target, when his re-election would clearly help to raise parliamentary standards and should be welcomed by fair-minded people of all political stripes.

    Keep up the good work Jo, and thanks! 🙂

    300

    • #
      Dennis

      Mal Brough returning to Canberra would be a major gain.

      113

      • #
        John Brookes

        Isn’t Mal Brough the bloke who got James Ashby to make baseless allegations against Peter Slipper? Must be a top bloke.

        01

        • #
          Dave

          What are your thoughts on punishment JB?

          Your mate is fairly clear.

          Richard Parncutt, Professor of Systematic Musicology, University of Graz, Austria, reckons people like Watts, Tallbloke, Singer, Michaels, Monckton, McIntyre (there are too many to list) should be executed. He’s gone full barking mad, and though he says these are his “personal opinions” they are listed on his university web site.

          Your description of Top Bloke is relative isn’t it? An execution versus a shocking sexist joke?

          On your big oil subsidised carbon fibre bike JB. Latte time with GREEN vandals.

          00

          • #
            John Brookes

            Not the sexist joke, the fact that he decided to ruin Slipper’s life to further his own career. That is what makes him such a top bloke.

            02

  • #
    Rereke Whakaaro

    Politicians use this technique to discombobulate their audience.

    The differentiator is, that it tends not to be noticed when it is done by competent politicians.

    120

    • #
      Andrew McRae

      Damn it, for 25 years after hearing that word I have never had to actually look up what it means until today:
      “to confuse or disconcert; upset; frustrate.”

      Of course the definition may as well have read:
      “the action that triggered the feeling you had just prior to reading this definition.”

      40

    • #

      Well done on introducing a new word into my vocabulary.
      Many climatologists and their PR gurus may be real experts after all – in discombobulationism.
      Maybe we should devise a discombobulationist chart. Who would you place top – Julia Gillard, Stephen Lewandowsky or John Cook?
      Maybe those who want to improve the standards and clarity of political debate should be called antidiscombobulationists. Like the word so much, I have changed the tag-line of my blog.

      71

  • #
    Dave

    .

    After all this garbage on one day, I honestly believe that the PM Julia Gillard has lost the plot.

    Why is she conducting these traps and snares only to catch herself in the end.

    Stupidity, power, greed etc?

    But maybe she just wants to win at any cost, regardless of who she pulls down in the process. It’s almost sad to think that she is doing this on her own or stupid enough to be orchestrated by others.

    Can not she see the contempt of her being increased every time this happens?

    282

    • #
      Dennis

      She lost the plot a long time ago, I have read comments by people claiming to be qualified to make the assessment who support this opinion.

      81

    • #
      old44

      Why is she setting traps, what do you want her to do? run on her record.

      70

  • #
    JMD

    Small Breasts and Huge Thighs….
    [snip]

    62

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  • #
    Winston

    I’m just so pleased that poor old Gough Whitlam got to live to see his reign as Australia’s worst ever PM, and head of Australia’s worst ever government, brought to an abrupt end by this current Labor government and its lame duck incompetent PM, who are now the all-time, undisputed and undefeated champions of collective incompetence, corruption, malfeasance, economic illiteracy, and supreme purveyors of distortions, lies, spin and deception. And that’s just their good points.

    The pilot light on the hill is about to go out, with a lengthy period in the dark of parliamentary purgatory to surely follow. Their problem has been they have grossly underestimated the resolve of their opponents, and more particularly the sophistication of the general public at large, who have been exposed to enough spin and propaganda over the years to recognise and reject such transparent attempts at deceptiveness instantly. Once trust is lost through a lack of respect for those they serve, a politician’s days are numbered. Howard was far from perfect, but his stewardship, and more importantly the intelligence and management skills of his treasurer Costello, are light years beyond the capabilities of the incumbents.

    The last desperate throes of Gillard, playing whichever card might appeal to the lowest common denominator, has given insight into her complete lack of integrity, her single-minded self interest, and utter disregard for her constituents, not to mention demonstrating her selective elevation was to a role completely above and beyond her intellect and capacities.

    She is doomed, and her party with her. Her legacy will be of incredible waste, squandered opportunities and economic ruin. Something for left wing academics to pour their attention over, analyse selectively, reconfigure in more palatable terms, and then ultimately eulogise. I don’t envy them their task, as it will test even the most blinkered Marxist’s poetic license to make a silk purse out of this sow’s ear.

    542

    • #
      Dennis

      Winston even the pilot light went out many years ago and when Hawke and Wran visited Labor branches around the nation after Labor lost government in 1996 their members said that the party had lost its way and no longer represented them. Later (according to Max Walsh in The Bulletin magazine 2006) complete control of the ALP was achieved by the union movement who installed union executives into safe electorates. Walsh referred to it as a corporate style takeover with the objective being to gain control of Australia’s governments and to further union movement power.

      The ALP of today is not the original ALP. The troubles began in the 1950s when the Democratic Labor Party split from the ALP over differences including the Communists and other far left people trying to control the party. Today many from the far left factions, including the PM, are in positions of power and have union backing.

      The result is a dysfunctional and chaotic political party that is at the end of the road. It’s time for a new centre-left replacement with all new faces.

      110

    • #
      Bulldust

      Ironically it is Gillard that is bringing so much disrespect to the office of the PM that it will make Abbott look good by comparison. I have no real liking for the man, but she is making his job easy right now. Let’s see if I have this sequence right:

      1) The PM makes unwarranted and unsubstantiated attacks on Abbott’s non-policy regarding abortion.
      2) The attacks backfire miserably (see my link from yesterday showing 89% thought she was waaaay off the reservation with the remarks).
      3) In a panic and in order to discombobulate the electorate, Labor scrapes the bottom of the muckraking barrel and pulls out a three-year old “menu” disparaging the PM’s looks (albeit accurately, but nonetheless crudely).
      4) Turns out the menu was alledgedly never used.
      5) Labor continues to attack casting doubt on the restaurant owner who carefully explained it was an in joke and never circulated on the night.

      Gillard, Plibersek, Wong and the rest who jumped on this need to assume innocence unless it has been proven otherwise. They have no such proof. Thompson, Slipper, Bueller, Bueller…?

      The rank hypocrasy is vile and denigrates the office of the PM. The only positive thing about it is that it is a sure sign of how extremely desperate Labor is right now, facing electoral exile from WA:

      http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/newshome/17577985/labor-faces-wa-rout/

      122

    • #
      Speedy

      WInston

      The most blinkered marxist academics are are probably trying to canonise Gough Whitlam already, are they not?

      Cheers,

      Speedy

      20

      • #
        Winston

        Of course they have,
        The recast “deity of the Labor Party” of course was also responsible for actively encouraging Indonesia to invade Timor in 1975 (killing 5 ABC reporters in the process and betraying the unfortunate Timorese who willingly laid down their lives protecting Australian soldiers from the Japanese repeatedly during WW2), failed to act against the Bougainville separatist movement prior to PNG’s independence in 1975, dropped import tariffs across the board by 25% precipitously with calamitous effects on our economy, refused to allow South Vietnamese refugees into Oz after the fall of Saigon even though they were allegedly our ally, the egregious Khemlani loans affair precipitating a constitutional crisis and ignominious dismissal, the litany of scandals of treasurer Jim Cairns and others, the Gair affair, not to mention terrible balance of payments performance, high unemployment, high interest rates and very high inflation, and all in a little over 3 years. He led a party of inexperienced and often incompetent ministers on a reform agenda that they were completely incapable of implementing, and while Gough was no doubt intellectually quite sharp he was also terminally conceited and had an inflated sense of his own infallibility which were the fatal flaws in his character.

        And if that is not sufficient he was also the longstanding mentor and chief supporter of Mark Latham in his ascendency to ALP leadership, a man who encapsulated all of Whitlam’s flaws of arrogance and bluster, without the intellectual capacity or self-control to go with it. So, yep, he’s ready for sainthood on that account, Speedy.

        40

        • #
          Backslider

          Excellent summary Winston!

          Jim Cairns… oh my. He loved to spend his time with yurt dwellers.

          10

      • #
        old44

        Tough Whitlam should be canonised…..if you can find a big enough cannon.

        40

  • #

    If this the case George Orwell should be named and shamed for a really old joke

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4rBDUJTnNU

    10

  • #
    Keith Bates

    Just one correction here. Normally when the Coalition is in Government the Nationals leader is Deputy PM which would be Warren Truss at the moment- I don’t know if he wears a blue tie.

    10

    • #

      Yes you are correct. And yes he does wear blue ties from time to time.

      Jo you may wish to edit the post.

      Good point. Have done. Bishop would be second in line in the libs but third in line in a Coalition government. Of course. – Thanks Keith. – Jo

      30

  • #
    Yonniestone

    The most infuriating thing about the MSM is how no one comes out and calls Gillard what she is, a hard left socialist/communist.
    She has been rubbing our noses in it with,
    – “Moving forward”
    – “Social justice”
    And every agenda 21 catchphrase you can think of.
    I gave up on crediting the MSM a very long time ago and I’m still bewildered people get taken in by the drivel spat out on a daily basis, if a news reader ever uttered something of substance I think I’d pass out from shock.

    433

    • #
      Bulldust

      The one thing I appreciate about Gillard is that she wiped “moving forward” from the political lexicon for some time with that god-awful speech post election 2010. I just wish she would kill off some of the other trendy phrases in some more awful speeches. Potential candidates include:

      1) Deliverables
      2) Sustainable
      3) Carbon pollution (they are working hard on this one, I admit)
      4) Social licence

      Feel free to add to this list of feel-good, namby-pamby, motherhood statementesque list.

      Another pet peeve is “very unique” … unique means there’s one of it … you can’t have less than one item, unless there are none, in which case what are you looking at?

      120

      • #
        crakar24

        5) Wanna, as in i (want to)
        6) Ostrayans, self explanatory
        7) Mistrabbit, also self explanatory

        41

        • #
          Yonniestone

          My missus can’t stand her voice let alone her, I think she sounds like Jeanne Little on valium 🙂

          51

          • #
            Considerate Thinker

            Yonniestone, your “yonnie” hit the nail on the head.

            As background I was heartily sick of platitude nothingess spouted by Kevin the Kid, and ready for a change of Prime Minister and Julia seemed like a genuine change to something better, and someone that might put aside the rubbish and just get the job done in a quiet no nonsense way and like most others in the community I was prepared to give her a go in doing the things that needed to be done to clean up the two faced mess that Rudd (and she) had created, a genuine free go!! and do something for the ordinary man and women worjkers of Australia.

            The first shock was the lies, then the failure, then the excuses and the so obviously made up for the occasion mealy mouthed annunciation!. The real Julia? I honestly don’t think there is a real Julia, its a plasticity of putty to mask a fliny personality that is bent on destroying a once great political party. The Blackburn declaration, the natural friend of the working man is twisted abused and shoved into the grab bag of now where was that junk I need to try and fool someone that I care about anything other than myself.

            The change in tonality of voice to impersonate caring, empathy, sweetness, sincerity just reeks of falseness and the agenda of a forked tongue. My wife and her friends recoil instantly when she adopts either the Julia of virginal sweetness, the ocker streetness of the strident unionist, and worse their repulsion to her call to resurrect all the worst “we are the victim of men”. the misogynist line, we need to stand like Joan of Arc, but really straight back to the dark ages of the WEL brutes who used gender the get their way, a travesty of misuse. The “real Julia” is whatever it takes, even the integrity of the old Labour party, trashed into the gutter along with new Labor! Its a “me” world for Julia where honour and integrity mean nothing.

            10

  • #
    Sceptical Sam

    It wasn’t Brough. It wasn’t the Liberal Party.

    It was an in-restaurant staff attempt at bad-taste humour.

    Sack the chef not Brough.

    ….the venue, Joe Richards, has sent an email to Mr Brough saying it was a “mock” menu he created as a light-hearted joke and it was not given out on the night.

    He says it is unfortunate a staff member posted it on social media.

    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-12/restaurant-owner-says-he-wrote-sexist-gillard-menu/4750226

    Pity the ABC didn’t do its homework before it set the hares running. Where’s their fact checker? Oh that’s right – he’s a Labor party plant. Facts are what you want them to be when you’re in the pay of Labor.

    230

    • #
      Mattb

      what – see if they called the Lib-backer owner to see if he had a plausible alibi? lol.

      133

      • #
        Sceptical Sam

        Mattb, you sound like a Labor Party plant too. Are you?

        The ABC fact checker didn’t even ask the question. He probably wasn’t even consulted. But we’re used to people like you and the ABC not asking the relevant question.

        The fund raiser was in March as I understand it. Why did the Labor Party keep the offensive menu under wraps for 3 months? Was the Gillard “blue tie” rant arranged so that the menu could be subsequently displayed?

        Just too tricky for her own good.

        251

      • #
        MemoryVault

        what – see if they called the Lib-backer owner to see if he had a plausible alibi? lol.

        Well . . . actually . . . erh . . . yeah, MattB, that would have probably been the most intelligent thing to do, under the prevailing circumstances.

        If you stop and look at the facts as we know them, the whole thing could have been a setup by the LNP, just so the Gillard / Labor / ABC / Fairfax crowd would run off and make idiots of themselves, which they most assuredly have done in the eyes of an electorate now tuned to looking for their faults.

        The only thing wrong with that line of reasoning is that I doubt there is anybody in the LNP smart enough to dream up and execute such a clever sting operation. That doubt aside, given that the people in the Labor camp appear too stupid to realise how stupid their opposition is, I’d have at least suspected the possibility of a setup, and done some fact-checking, before leaping into print.

        .
        You know, it’s a bit like trying to start an anti-Abbott race riot on Australia Day. Common sense dictates that you don’t get one of your personal staffers to do it from your personal PM Office on a PM Department registered phone.

        The same logic applies here: if a piece of sticky goo cow pat mud handed to you on a plate to hurl at your opponent looks too good to be true, it probably is. Maybe best to do a bit of fact-checking before leaping into print.

        140

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          • #
            Dennis

            And he knows Stunt Man Kevin07

            40

          • #
            Rod Stuart

            I love your take on this, Jo. It puts everything in the correct perspective.
            You might be interested in another assessment at “The Red and the Blue”.
            Similar but a bit long winded. You are fantastic at condensing things to a reasonable size while at the same time including all of the pertinent information. You put virtually all journalists to shame.

            50

        • #
          Andrew McRae

          What if… this whole saucy menu diarrhea was all an attempt to divert public attention away from Prism, Boundless Informant, and the encroachments of the Surveillance State. They ran out of bread so it was time for a circus.

          Why Prism? Why indeed. It’s supposedly a USA system and yet a few days later the totalitarianism apologists at the ABC run a guest op-ed “In Defence of Prism” recycling every excuse for wholesale interception that one can imagine. Mr Dart appears to be reading from Orwell’s script so closely he even tells us that “it is unthinkable to leave these systems unmonitored”. Good catch, comrade, I almost thought a forbidden thought!
          Now why would Australians feel any need to defend Prism if Australia really isn’t part of it???

          According to the system status screenshot of Boundless Informant (leaked in the Guardian) it is a world wide system though Australia is indicated as having very low or no communications intercepts in that system. I guess we fall under a different system such as the more traditional UKUSA SIGINT like the old Echelon.

          What has the thought process been in Canberra lately?
          I can’t win against Abbot and I can’t win against Shorten, but I can always win against sexists! Quick! I need some other sexists to distract the plebs from federal government surveillance and federal government debt, surely you must have some in the Army?!!
          Yes Ma’am .

          And just out of interest, here is a link to the only ABC news article in the last 12 years that has mentioned the word “Bilderberg”. And it happens to be an article telling us the new unelected prime minister of Italy is a former agent of Goldman Sachs and a steering committee member of the Bilderberg group.
          As Carlin said, “It’s a big club, folks, and YOU `aint in it!”

          60

          • #
            crakar24

            Andrew,

            I believe the whole menu episode is another sign of the government imploding. Gillard has nothing left and the power brokers have nothing left so they have resorted to gutter politics. This is the worst government in our history.

            Regarding warrantless wiretaps and the like i am sure it happens here in Australia but what you have to remember is this is allowed to happen due to the terrorist legislation. Remember we are talking about “warrantless” if they feel you are a risk to security then they will monitor you.

            In the USA they have NDAA and the Patriot act, these to policies combined mean the US government can do what they want, arrest who they want and yes kill who they want. The US has assassinated 4 us citizens on foreign soil and Holder has stated that they can do the same on US soil but then added “we have no reason to do that so we wont”.

            Our terrorist laws are not as tyrannical as in the US so our warrantless taps will not be as bad….YET.

            Then you have the other kind of spying, the one we are seeing now in the US where they claim it was only metadata that was being stored (no content) yeah right. This is an invasion of your rights but the muppets will say “if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear” ergo anyone who speaks up against this type of oppression must have something to hide.

            100

            • #
              Rod Stuart

              “First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out–
              Because I was not a Socialist.
              Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out–
              Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
              Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out–
              Because I was not a Jew.
              Then they came for me–and there was no one left to speak for me.”
              ———–Martin Neimoller 1937

              50

            • #
              Andrew McRae

              All old news to me Crakar.

              When there’s not much excitement and they want more toys to play with, they can always push the “paedophiles” button or the “terrorists” button, works every time.

              Very much old news to USA Senator Rand Paul too.
              But where’s Australia’s outrage at the USA’s hypocrisy? Hiding in a roo pouch perhaps.

              For these Hawks it’s like Bolt says about the Left: there’s no such thing as principles, only sides.

              40

            • #
              Rereke Whakaaro

              … they claim it was only metadata that was being stored (no content) yeah right.

              For once, they are telling the truth.

              Holding the data is incredibly expensive to do, and even more expensive to analyse, and gives little return on the investment.

              But what is important, is knowing the linkages between people. Exactly what Facebook and LinkedIn are designed to do.

              Knowing who knows who is important, but not enough. They also need to identify how well people know each other, and that is what they get from the metadata.

              By now, the agency concerned will have a good idea of the type and strength of the relationships between everybody who has gone near the targeted networks, including the “faceless” people who do not belong to Facebook or LinkedIn, or any other social media site.

              It is the price we pay, to reach out to each other, but it is better than being alone.

              10

      • #
        Gbees

        According to other media reports the restaurant owner is a labor voter.

        60

        • #
          Greg Cavanagh

          I can understand a Labor supporter having a bit of light hearted humour with his leader, in the company of his staff at a restraint. To him it was never public humour. He is probably a larrikin anyway. So I can uhnderstand his view of the matter. I’ll bet the same banter goes on in every office.

          It’s the fact that the menu was put into the public view by one of his staff that things went AWAL.

          50

          • #
            Tel

            Gillard has pretty much destroyed the ALP, so I could understand a few of the old die-hard supporters being upset about that. She didn’t do it alone, we could probably name a long list, but I think this coming election will be their worst result of all time.

            50

      • #
        Sean McHugh

        what – see if they called the Lib-backer owner to see if he had a plausible alibi? lol.

        Are you saying that the guests compiled the menu? If so, where is your evidence? If not, alibi for what?

        Diners are NOT responsible for a restaurant’s menu.

        Like others, I want Julia to make it to September the 14th. She owes us that. Unfortunately, with help and encouragement from her diminishing fan pool, she has been making herself look like a screeching fishwife – anything but like a PM. It has reached such an insane intensity that it will be a miracle if she makes it to September. But you keep backing her, Matt.

        40

  • #
    Ace

    A guy in France has just been beaten up by two Muslims for eating a ham sandwich in public.

    Now does that sound like a bad joke?

    Well its a fact,it happenned.

    170

  • #
    Mattb

    this is what our politics and media cycle have stooped to. Constant fauxtrage. I mean, seriously, I thought the menu was quite funny.

    720

    • #
      Sceptical Sam

      Mattb, you should not post when you’ve been boozing. Your chronic poor judgement becomes even more apparent under those circumstances.

      172

      • #
        Mattb

        so you think the menu was highly offensive? toughen up princess.

        518

        • #
          cohenite

          Well said Matty; I presume you are giving your advice to Gillard?

          She doesn’t need it; she is as tough as nails; just incompetent and a liar; and a socialist; and a hypocrite; and etc.

          It staggers me that Abbott, by all acounts and through his actions, especially with aboriginals, a decent man, who is happily married, with 3 beautiful, well adjusted daughters and well educated should be unfavourably compared to this person currently in the PM’s position.

          90

      • #
        timg56

        I have to agree with Matt.

        While low humor, it was still humor and funny. You may not like low humor. Fine. Just don’t play the superiority card.

        10

    • #
      Greebo

      Ye Gods, a thoughtful Mattb. I’m sorry I gave you a thumbs down. It’s almost automatic these days. Surprise is welcome.

      61

      • #
        Ace

        I wouldnt say “thoughtful”…but fair play to him for bringing forth an own-opinion rather than just piping the usual party-line.

        60

      • #
        Backslider

        Amazing! Do you suppose that one day he will grow up to become a skeptic??

        40

    • #
      Rereke Whakaaro

      Internationally, people are questioning why the Australian Prime Minister is so sensitive.

      The french media have used the term Fleur de fanage. [1]

      But then the French have never been noted for political correctness, and they might be using Angela Merkel, and the memory of Margaret Thatcher, as comparisons.

      [1] Wilting flower

      60

      • #
        Dennis

        I suspect that she is a political lightweight advised by a foreigner from the UK who was spin doctor for UK Labour and engineered their campaign defeat using most of the same tactics they are using in Australia now. I viewed a series of UK Labour campaign material commencing with leader of the opposition Tony Blair, change the faces and the voices and it could have been made here.

        80

        • #
          Rereke Whakaaro

          Do you suspect that this spin doctor might be a fifth columnist?

          Wouldn’t that be exciting if it were true?

          10

      • #
        Tel

        Gosh yes, Merkel was photoshopped as Hitler on the front page of some Greek newspaper and she kept right on like it never happened. I would definitely swap Gillard for Merkel it there was a red button I could push to do that.

        21

  • #
    janama

    It’s a tired old joke from years ago, the restaurant owner has now claimed he wrote it and it was never put on tables or in the restaurant, it occurred back in March, it’s now June, it’s a labor party beatup to distract us from all their other failings including having our navy ignore floating bodies in our oceans cos they can’t keep up with the arrivals created by poster boy Kevin Rudd.

    ELECTION NOW!

    221

    • #

      it’s a labor party beatup to distract us from all their other failings

      My guess is it was a beat up to distract the MSM from Kevni Krudds visit to the western burbs of Sydney.

      110

  • #
    Tim

    This bit of bogan oz-theater is just the tip of the ice cube.

    Maybe a more substantial item, like an official Gillard statement regarding the US global telephone and internet surveillance program that is dominating global news. (Does Australia participate and/or endorse?)

    80

    • #
      MemoryVault

      (Does Australia participate and/or endorse?)

      Yes, and yes.

      Here is a link to the Australian HQ

      It is part of an agreement known as the “UKUSA PACT” and was set up in the 1970’s. It morphed into “Project Echelon” in the 1980’s, and with the inclusion of the internet in the 1990’s , is now known as PRISM.

      ALL Australian major political parties and players have know about it at least since the early 1970’s. A clear, open and shut case of treason, but I doubt anybody will ever stand trial.

      70

    • #
      Dennis

      What surprised me about it was that Pine Gap, US base in Australia, provides communications with US satellites and military vessels, aircraft in the southern hemisphere and, I have read, surveillance of civilian communications based on key word activation technology. Pine Gap has been operational since at least 1970.

      60

      • #
        misled

        No not pine gap the other one 🙂

        10

      • #
        Backslider

        surveillance of civilian communications based on key word activation technology

        I believe it’s known as “Carnivore”….. been around for donkey’s years

        20

    • #
      crakar24

      SHHHHHHSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHH Komrade, remember big brother is always watching

      32

  • #
    Gamecock

    The joke is a variation of Hillary Clinton jokes that have been around since 1993. A left wing should be included.

    http://www.snopes.com/politics/clintons/special.asp

    30

  • #
    Auralay

    I think the last line of the menu was a far better joke.

    20

  • #
    Bruce

    This bit of undergraduate humor is now the subject of a putative national wringing of hands at the “sexism” of Abbott et al.

    I bet 99% of the electorate don’t give a sh– and many find it amusing and appropriate.

    It tells you a lot at where the establishment, ie media, academics,some bloggers and the lefty luvies in the inner city, stand and how far they are disconnected from the mainstream.

    That the Labor thinks it has an issue to beat the Coalition with tells you all you want to know about Labor’s electoral and policy problems.

    162

    • #
      MemoryVault

      . . . how far they are disconnected from the mainstream

      That the Labor thinks it has an issue to beat the Coalition with tells you all you want to know about Labor’s electoral and policy problems.

      Too true.

      And the fact that Brough and the Liberals dropped everything to run around falling over themselves to apologise for it, and join the chorus of “condemning such sexist behaviour”, tells us pretty much the same thing abut them, as well.

      106

      • #
        Bruce

        MamoryVault:

        You are right; I forgot to include the Liberal leadership in the politically correct establishment. One wonders what these creatures are thinking. The best that can be said is that they don’t need the distraction of the media aggravation.

        I my suspicion is that they would be better off to tell the media to shove off.

        50

      • #
        Backslider

        tells us pretty much the same thing abut them, as well

        I don’t believe so. Laborites actually believe all this nonsense, whereas, mainly due to the MSM, the Libs must pay lip service to it all to keep the peace.

        50

  • #
    Ian Hill

    I can’t understand the fuss. Cartoonists do this sort of thing every day.

    70

  • #
    Ross

    Off topic ( but it is political ).

    All those warmists who point to what China is doing in support of the cause will “spilling coffee on the key board” with this news

    http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/06/11/exclusive-China-rebuttal-climate-change

    A huge effort to get the skeptics view on AGW.

    30

  • #
    Hasbeen

    Gillard was on our [just kidding] ABC AM this morning saying she doesn’t believe it wasn’t Brough. She never learns.

    She then waffled on about how hard it was for her as a woman PM, & suggesting it will be easier for the next woman PM, & easier again for the one after that.

    This proves she doesn’t get it. Anyone who thinks there is likely to be another female PM in living memory is an idiot. Gillard has made sure of that.

    It won’t matter how smart, competent, & suitably qualified any future lady may be, the memory of Gillard will live for quite a few generations, & destroy their future prospects.

    141

    • #
      Dennis

      The women of Emily’s List are feminists of the left worst kind who believe that they are owed positions in politics. Not the best person for a job, the most manipulative women. I observe Julie Bishop, a very successful woman lawyer and politician, and believe that if young women want a role model she would be an excellent choice.

      71

      • #
        Angry

        Emily’s List also promotes FULL TERM ABORTIONS.

        They are sickening and despicable excuses for human beings !

        10

        • #
          Backslider

          Reproductive Freedom empowers women and men to choose if, when and how to begin the important journey into parenthood – Emily’s List, What we believe in

          Well, that’s fine. If you don’t wish to have children, then do not have sex or make sure you use contraception. Murder is not the answer.

          10

    • #
      ian hilliar

      The contrast between Gillard and Maggie Thatcher, or more recently Angela Merkel, could not be greater. Or less favourable to Ms Gillard

      40

  • #
    manalive

    As Greg Craven writes in today’s Australian (Fasten seats, we’re in for a bumpy ride) the “poisonous rancour” is only likely to increase as September 14 approaches.
    I’m an old fella and I’ve never seen anything like it before in federal politics — only in student and maybe local.

    90

    • #
      Dennis

      Their bad behaviour is unprecedented, I first voted in the 1960s and have been a keen up close observer all of my adult life. I noted that former ALP cabinet minister Richardson recently commented that he has never seen anything like it, or ever known voters to be so angry and emotional about politics. Just when I think the Labor fools have hit bottom they create a new lower level.

      90

  • #
    Anton

    If she is so thin skinned that she can’t ignore insults like that then Australia is in deep trouble when she does in to bat in diplomatic negotiations.

    82

  • #
    Leo Morgan

    How I envy the people who live in free countries, who can criticize or ridicule their leader without consequence.

    120

    • #
      Dennis

      Too many Australians do not know how lucky they are. Freedom of speech is precious and must be protected, even when a crooked left of politics government attempts to remove it. New laws and internet filter failed attempt.

      80

    • #

      and a country where people are free to express that they are offended

      27

      • #
        Heywood

        …as long as causing “offence” is not considered a crime.

        90

      • #
        crakar24

        GA,

        There are only certain types of people that can be offended the rest of the types are the offenders.

        The rules that apply are not applied evenly to all. There are minority groups in this country that are treated better than others due to government policy therefore the people who are the real racists/genderist/whatever are the policy makers.

        I once expressed that i was offended and was then told to piss off as i am of the type that can only offend.

        Cheers

        (the usual PS applies)

        51

        • #

          that person was free to tell you to piss off

          06

          • #
            crakar24

            Thats true GA because i come from the type that cannot be offended but can only offend.

            Actually what happened was that a group of Aboriginals was allowed to enter a football arena and drink beer whilst watching the football for free whereas i as a person who was entering the football arena to play football had to pay.

            Thats racisim right there and when i refused to pay an entrance fee i was told to piss off. As i said there are some who can be offended and there are those that can only offend.

            I will not go into what they would do and say whilst drunk in the arena but let it be known the same rules apply.

            Which brings us back to Gillard and her speech and her blatant genderism against the male population of Australia…………..

            95

            • #
              crakar24

              Another red thumb……..really?

              62

            • #
              Bulldust

              Yeah had a lot of indigenous folk around where I lived … middle of the city, well the East Perth part anyway. This was because we have two bottleshops on the block and Wellington Square is two blocks from here. Many a time I walked home from work to be told ‘F… off you white c…’ fill in blanks as you see fit by said people.

              One day they all disappeared and I have seen very few since. A colleague informed me the welfare office on the corner of Wellington Square had moved away.

              Being a cracker I could not take offence, obviously. And male as well… twice damned.

              50

    • #
      crakar24

      Leo do you know of such a place?

      22

      • #
        Rereke Whakaaro

        … do you know of such a place?

        What about Iceland? The leaders there got pretty-well criticized and ridiculed, when they decided to play the pokies with the Treasury.

        20

        • #
          crakar24

          Ah yes RW but they also jailed the bankers rather than bail them out with tax payers money, threw out their government, rewrote the constitution online and now have a fluent economy.

          do you know of such a place?

          Maybe a place does exist and it is called Iceland!!!!!!!!!

          41

  • #
    Neville

    Here’s more news about something that’s important.

    http://www.thegwpf.org/benny-peiser-europes-green-energy-crisis/

    About the 4th question Peiser answers he notes the transfer of 600 bn $ from the poorest people in Europe to richest people.

    This is done because of the total fraud and con of renewable energy. When will we ever learn?

    70

    • #
      Dennis

      I believe that we are learning at long last and that we will demand that our governments change direction, return to common sense and cost effective power provision.

      50

  • #
    pat

    fortunately, i’ve only seen the headlines online, and switched off bbc when they began to report it. surely, whatever IT was, it was hardly worthy of bbc coverage!

    rather more interesting:

    13 June: Bloomberg: Mark Drajem: Obama Quietly Raises ‘Carbon Price’ as Costs to Climate Increase
    Buried in a little-noticed rule on microwave ovens is a change in the U.S. government’s accounting for carbon emissions that could have wide-ranging implications for everything from power plants to the Keystone XL pipeline.
    The increase of the so-called social cost of carbon, to $38 a metric ton in 2015 from $23.80, adjusts the calculation the government uses to weigh costs and benefits of proposed regulations…
    “As we learn that climate damage is worse and worse, there is no direction they could go but up,” Laurie Johnson, chief economist for climate at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said in an interview. Johnson says the administration should go further; she estimates the carbon cost could be as much as $266 a ton…
    http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-12/tougher-regulations-seen-from-obama-change-in-carbon-cost.html

    can’t find any other MSM reporting on this.

    30

  • #
    pat

    CO2 emissions from French power firms rose 6.8 pct in Jan-May
    LONDON, June 12 (Reuters Point Carbon) – Power plants in France emitted 6.8 percent more carbon dioxide (CO2) in the first five months of the year, like-for-like figures showed on Wednesday, underscoring analyst expectations that emissions of the sector are on track to reach their highest level since the EU carbon market started in 2005…
    http://www.pointcarbon.com/news/1.2414126?&ref=searchlist

    “fixing” the market:

    EU carbon rises 7 pct on MEP market fix deal
    LONDON, June 12 (Reuters point Carbon) – EU carbon allowances gained 7 percent to a two-month high on Wednesday after lawmakers said they had struck a deal that could allow the European Commission to prop up prices in the market by cutting supply…
    http://www.pointcarbon.com/news/1.2414101?&ref=searchlist

    saving the planet?

    Calif. lawmakers back plan to use cap-and-trade revenue to close budget gap
    SAN FRANCISCO, June 12 (Reuters Point Carbon) – A California budget conference committee late Monday threw its support behind Governor Jerry Brown’s plan to borrow $500 million raised through the sale of greenhouse gas emission permits to help close the state’s budget deficit…
    http://www.pointcarbon.com/news/1.2412587?&ref=searchlist

    30

  • #
    Skitzo

    Can we import Nigel Lafarge from UKIP to take over? He is a legend and Monckton and himself would make an awesome team.

    40

  • #
    pat

    fact or fiction?

    UPDATE 2- MEPs strike common ground on EU carbon fix
    LONDON, June 12 (Reuters Point Carbon) – Senior lawmakers from three major European parties struck a deal Wednesday that they say could allow regulators to intervene in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme to prop up prices of carbon permits…
    http://www.pointcarbon.com/news/1.2413262

    13 June: Business Spectator: Reuters: Merkel vows to rein in renewable subsidies
    German Chancellor Angela Merkel promised on Wednesday to scale back Germany’s generous system of subsidies to the renewables sector if she is re-elected in September, a move that would reduce the costs of her green revolution on consumers.
    Merkel’s policy to wean Europe’s biggest power market off fossil fuels and to embrace renewables has led to a boom in green energy sources, but ballooning costs have led to calls for cuts to feed-in tariffs and for industry to pay more…
    Energy prices are likely to become a hot election topic as consumers have been hit by surcharges which pay for the energy shift. Due in part to fears that German industry will become uncompetitive if it has to pay too much for energy, many firms have enjoyed exemptions from some of charges, raising the bill for households…
    She also addressed the issue of gas plants which have been pushed out of the market partly because of the collapse of the EU’s CO2 emissions certificate market which has helped coal plants to produce power with higher emissions more cheaply…
    Merkel said that something had to be done about the EU’s emissions trading scheme, the 27-member bloc’s main tool to fight climate change, but she did not specify what…
    The cabinet on Wednesday passed a new law helping Germany to avoid power outages in winter during its transformation process up to 2017. This empowers the energy regulator to steer the reserve-building process but many BDEW delegates fear there is already too much state in the market.
    http://www.businessspectator.com.au/news/2013/6/13/renewable-energy/merkel-vows-rein-renewable-subsidies

    10

  • #
    pat

    this is the draft report for the latest “fix”, full of “mays” “shoulds” & how it should be a one-off, etc:

    PDF: 10 June: Friends of ETS: Document: EU Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Councilamending Directive 2003/87/EC clarifying provisions on the timing of auctions
    of greenhouse gas allowances
    Draft report
    Matthias Groote
    http://www.friendsofets.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/EP-2013-Backloading-Groote-ENVI-amendments-consolidated.pdf

    who the hell are “Friends of ETS” – can’t find a thing on their site about who they are:

    http://www.friendsofets.eu/category/home/

    nothing solid here either:

    Facebook: About Friends of ETS
    Launched 2013
    Friends of ETS is a coalition of progressive companies and associations that are committed to ensuring a strong EU ETS at the heart of European climate and energy policy. We have come together asking for direct intervention in the ETS to restore investment signals and continue progress to a low-carbon economy
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-ETS/187314251415645?id=187314251415645&sk=info

    10

  • #
    Wally

    Why is Labor under Gillard going to get absolutely belted at the September election?

    Answer: Because a large percentage of the population can’t stand Julia Gillard.

    It’s also fair to say they don’t like (and often can’t stand) Tony Abbott either, it comes down to a choice of picking the least worst, and right now that’s Tony.

    Why is it people can’t stand Julia? Dunno. I for one can’t bear the school-marm voice that spouts meaningless platitudes, in a manner designed to make me feel like I’m 7 years old, staring at my feet, being told off for some minor infraction.

    I honestly thought that after Simon Creans falling-on-sword moment, that Gillard would be gone within a fortnight; something that turned out not to be.

    But Labor have been staring for ages at this mystical light at the end of the tunnel, knowing full well that it is the lamp of the front of the oncoming train, and they’re about to get smashed. They’ve known for months, at least a year. The bull and spin about the most important poll being election day is just so much bluster. They thought some magical rabbit could be pulled from a hat that would fix their troubles: have Tony make some fatal mistake, and they’d squeak back.

    This was never to be – simply because the public stopped listening a year or more ago – except when some daft new piece of legislation was to be enacted in which case a big stink has stopped it, not once but 3 or 4 times in the last year. That’s not the sign of a government that knows what it is doing, or a bunch of pollies with confidence. Out of touch: yes. Arrogant: yes. Foolish: yes. Trusted: No!

    But why, why, why has Julia not been tipped out by now?

    She’s never going to go herself, the glory of being the first female PM with a huge ego means that she thinks she owes one to the girls, and besides, there’s not really any clear replacement anyhow.

    But my theory is that the clincher is overlooked: The Julia screaming lecture in Parliament to Tony Abbott about misogyny. Whilst this has been used by the dictionary compilers to redefine the meaning of the word (!), I believe this speech served 2 purposes:

    (1) it was meant to try and switch as much as possible of the female from the Liberals – stirring up a bit more hatred for Abbott; just another version of an excrement-throwing exercise (hope some sticks); but also (and far more subtly):

    (2) it scared the crap out of any leadership pretenders on her own side; anybody now making a move against Gillard will by her own definition be a misogynist. In the politically correct world of Labor and quotas for female MPs, this will be used internally and in the media to cast a death-wish on any male.

    So now we have the spectacle of Labor sitting like a rabbit in the headlights, unable to move out of the way, just moments from being splattered over the road.

    When Tony Abbott has led his party to a landslide victory we will need, more than ever, a strong opposition. Ditching Julia now won’t let Labor win, but it might lead to Tony’s victory being a little less decisive.

    ——–

    After I wrote that – a few days ago, I’ve since come to the conclusion that with Gillards remarks – widely reported – there is simply no way that Labor will move to tip her out now. To do so would be an evil male conspiracy and the sisterhood would go ballistic.

    So, Labor post election will fit into a mini-bus, and Tony will have unfettered power.

    ** ALL ** politicians should work hard to get laws through the parliament, so unfettered power for either side is always a bad thing.

    60

    • #
      Rereke Whakaaro

      Well put, Wally.

      As a Btitish MP once said, “The most democratic Parliament, is one that is hung”. I remember it because it is a beautiful pun.

      40

  • #
    pat

    13 June: Bloomberg: Ewa Krukowska: EU Parties’ Negotiators in Draft CO2 Deal, Seeber Says
    Climate negotiators from political groups in the European Parliament’s environment committee reached a tentative compromise on a fix for the world’s biggest carbon market, according to a European Union lawmaker.
    The deal, which needs backing by political groups before a vote on the measure scheduled for June 19, will restrict the original proposal to delay auctions of some carbon permits in order to help prices rebound, according to Richard Seeber, a member of the European People’s Party. A majority of lawmakers from his group, the biggest in the EU assembly, was against the measure in the previous vote on April 16…
    “Today, we found a compromise mainly between EPP, Socialists and Democrats, and Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, which is heavily improving the original proposal of the European Commission,” Seeber said in a telephone interview from Strasbourg, France. Support from the three parties would ensure a majority in favor of the compromise agreement…
    The preliminary compromise ironed out today includes limiting the planned market intervention to a one-time move, capping the number of permits to be delayed at 900 million and a provision that postponed allowances won’t be permanently removed, according to Seeber…
    The draft compromise would make the passage of the measure in the whole assembly “very likely” if the three parties officially back the deal, according to Itamar Orlandi, an analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance in London. The proposal would then become subject to negotiations with the EU Council of Ministers in a process known as trilogue, which also involves the commission…
    “The relatively far-ranging concessions widen the scope of the trilogue negotiations with the council and the commission, which may oppose some of the elements of the deal,” Orlandi said by e-mail. “That could complicate the negotiations and delay the adoption” of the draft legislative change to enable temporary curbs of oversupply.
    Permits delayed at auctions will need to be reintroduced to the market “in a linear manner, immediately after the last allowances are taken out,” Seeber said…
    Of the 900 million permits that the commission seeks to delay, 600 million will be earmarked for the fund, according to the deal reached today.
    ***(LOL):“We don’t want the ETS to be a simple cash cow for national governments,” Seeber said. “We want to make sure the money is used for technological innovation in CO2 reduction and energy efficiency.”
    The EPP is to decide on whether to back the compromise on June 18…
    http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-12/eu-parties-negotiators-reach-tentative-carbon-deal-seeber-says.html

    10

  • #
    pat

    this is hilarious. such altruistic behaviour is INCREDIBLE!

    12 June: Bloomberg: Alessandro Vitelli: Carbon Offset Projects Look for Exit As UN Prices Crash 98%
    A 98-percent drop in the value of official UN-backed carbon credits is pushing sellers of emission offsets into the voluntary market, where prices are as much as 30 times higher.
    The trend is a signal that many companies not required by law to cut their pollution are doing so anyway to bolster their corporate sustainability credentials…
    The Gold Standard and the VCS have certified more than 1,750 projects and created almost 170 million credits since 2003. Gold Standard offsets can earn from 8 to 12 euros a ton. VCS sells credits from as little as $1 to $8 a ton, depending on the project type, the country and the methodology employed, according to Gareth Turner, a voluntary offset broker at Armajaro Securities Ltd. in London.
    ***UN credits for December delivery were at 43 euro cents today on London’s ICE Futures Europe exchange.
    The CarbonNeutral Company acquires certified voluntary offsets from projects around the world, which it packages into offset portfolios for corporate clients including Avis Budget Group Inc., Tata Steel Ltd., British Sky Broadcasting Group plc and Thomson Travel International…
    http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-12/carbon-offset-projects-look-for-exit-as-un-prices-crash-98-.html

    20

  • #
    pat

    another “fix”:

    11 June: Bloomberg: by the Editors: How to Attract Private Investment in Clean Energy
    Like a fresh wind setting in motion the blades of a giant turbine, a new idea for encouraging the development of clean energy has blown into the U.S. Congress.
    It is to allow renewable-energy companies to form master limited partnerships, a business structure that has long worked to attract investment capital to the oil and gas industry. Legislation in the Senate has support from Republicans and Democrats alike, not to mention the White House. We think it’s a neat idea, too…
    As things stand, clean-energy businesses have trouble attracting affordable financing. A large wind-energy company can turn to the “tax-equity” market to leverage its federal production tax credits. However, this market consists of just a handful of enormous companies (think of Google Inc., Chevron Corp., Honda Motor Co.) whose giant tax bills make it possible for them to take advantage of the wind company’s tax credits…
    Renewable energy has been left out so far because federal tax law specifies that master limited partnerships must derive their revenue from depletable natural resources. (The law was written in the days before renewable-energy enterprises sought such large amounts of capital.) Expanding the MLP Parity Act to bring renewables into the game is only fair, and could bring new financing to nuclear power, energy storage, carbon capture and other initiatives that less obviously are considered renewable energy…
    ***According to a Bloomberg New Energy Finance report, by 2030 renewables will generate 50 percent of power globally. And between now and then, clean energy will attract $8.2 trillion in financing…
    http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-10/how-to-attract-private-investment-in-clean-energy.html

    10

  • #

    Oh Nyuk nyuk nyuk!

    I heard somewhere this morning that dear leader Julia was meeting with Arnold Schwarzenegger to discuss Climate Change, focussing on CO2 trading.

    I wanted to find some information about it, so I chased it up with a search engine, and followed a couple of links.

    So, here’s the article, and lo and behold, I didn’t even need to read all about it at all, and I’ll actually get back to that later.

    Because, right there at the top of the article was this beaming image of Julia shaking hands with Big Arnie at the Hyatt Perth this very Thursday morning.

    So, then, why did this one seemingly innocuous image send me into paroxysms of rolling around laughter.

    There’s Big Arnie in his thousand dollar suit, and, umm, a blue tie.

    I know it’s just a phot op, but can you imagine as Julia walks into the room for the obligatory handshake for the cameras, as she’s approaching Arnie, and notices the blue tie.

    Of course, there’ll be talk that, umm, well, it’s not really the blue per se that I was talking about, eh!

    Julia Gillard and Arnold Schwarzenegger discuss climate change

    Tony.

    100

    • #
      Dave

      Tony,

      That’s Gold.

      “Prime Minister Julia Gillard meeting Arnold Schwarzenegger at the Hyatt Perth for breakfast

      Wonder what the menu was for Breakfast?

      20

    • #
      Backslider

      Ahhh… so Dutch again meets the Predator…….

      40

    • #
      Debbie

      Hilarious!
      Kevin was wearing a blue tie yesterday too.
      Julia is not doing us aussie girls any favours.
      SHE (as in a female) and PM has singlehandedly managed to reverse much of the progress women have achieved in OZ with all this politically misdirected misogyny crapola!
      Abbot and the coalition are not the problem Julia!

      90

      • #
        Backslider

        @Debbie – From a woman’s perspective, do you think in fact that Julia is a mysandrist?

        50

        • #
          Backslider

          Oops…. misandrist

          50

          • #
            Debbie

            More likely misanthropist 🙂

            80

            • #
              Backslider

              He he…

              20

            • #
              Backslider

              Its actually a very important question.

              Julia spends so much of her time painting her opponents as misogynist, so if women began speaking up about what they think she is it would be a very good thing, since they cannot be accused of sexism for speaking up (would be interesting however to see how they’d be labeled, because they surely would).

              I think you are right however. It fits everything she does.

              60

              • #
                Yonniestone

                BS, of a the few women I’ve asked, opinions of Gillard are not good, she is seen as an embarrassment to them and Australia in general.
                The only supporter was a left wing feminist, go figure.
                My wife’s not a fan and I cannot write what she thinks as it’ll just get snipped and offend. 🙂

                60

    • #
      newchum

      I came across this a few years ago.
      http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2011/08/10/ever-wonder-why-california-is-so-broke/
      Tony you might check out Whyalla Solar at Business Spectator part 1 & 2.
      Craig Emerson may like to sing another song.

      40

  • #
    WheresWallace

    Abbott plans to waste a lot of money on carbon sequestration. That’s not smart either.

    53

    • #
      old44

      Right up to the point he discovers there is no money left to do it, OR, the technology is not available.
      QED

      31

      • #
        TheInquirer

        Such a revealing post and set of comments – you guys are all nicely politically aligned – what a surprise.

        And then, after all the slander of Gillard for doing what she said and taking the AGW issue seriously – you’re actually believing, wanting and expecting Abbott to walk away from his commitment to his CO2 policies.

        No surprise that Nova is part of the Bolt circle-jerk – he too ignores the fact that, if you believe Tony Abbott, you climate contrarians have no political party that agrees with you.

        Yet you get offended when accused of being in denial.

        218

        • #
          Yonniestone

          You really like to generalize don’t you?
          I know it’s hard for someone like you to understand but people can think for themselves and make decisions that go against the party line.
          If you believe there is just two sides of anything in life the you’re either naive or insane.

          100

          • #
            Rereke Whakaaro

            There are lots of people who view the world in terms of black and white.

            There can be no shades of grey, and certainly no colour, for the shades of grey and the hues of colour, give no definitive point of reference.

            Without limiting the world to black or white; good or evil; left or right; them or us, coalition or Labour, and other bipolar references, the world becomes a confusing and threatening place for people who think this way.

            I am not saying that TheInquirer is one of these people (I am not qualified to have an opinion), but if he or she is, then they deserve to be cut some slack.

            People who think in this way totally think for themselves and they make their own decisions. But they want certainty in their decisions, so they will gravitate to the extremes, and will vary rarely change their minds.

            People who think in this way also tend to be very bright and creative people. But they are bright and creative in ways that appear unusual to others. Mozart is oft cited, as an example.

            40

            • #
              Yonniestone

              RW, true about personalities,
              The most difficult thing I have found communicating online is unless you actually know the other person it’s impossible to understand their persona.
              I wonder how many times someone is truly hurt or damaged by online arguments/insults and the consequences of these encounters in the real world.
              TheInquirer could actually be a group of activists acting as one or any one of the myriad of personalities out there, regardless I always say to anyone who are willing to place themselves in possible confrontations “Walk tall and carry a big stick”

              10

            • #
              crakar24

              RW said,

              There are lots of people who view the world in terms of black and white.

              There can be no shades of grey, and certainly no colour, for the shades of grey and the hues of colour, give no definitive point of reference.

              i think at around 7G you lose your ability to see colors and can only see in black and white maybe their problem is that their heads are spinning around too fast trying to keep up with the latest excuse explanation as to why the world has not warmed or whatever the reason that their latest cause is floundering?

              21

        • #
          Heywood

          “Yet you get offended when accused of being in denial.”

          Still too thick to get it?

          The word “denier” when used by warmists is nearly always used in a perjorative sense. It is deliberatley used to imply some sort of comparison with holocaust denial.

          As per the rules of this site, which Jo kindly allows you to post on, if you are going to claim that someone is a denier, you must specifically state what that particular person is denying. If you can’t specifically pinpoint what they are denying, and you use the term anyway, you are just throwing a lazy insult. This usually occurs when the warmist begins to succumb to cognitive dissonance.

          It is also important to note that there is a vast difference between denial and disagreement, something which staunch warmists like yourself just can’t fathom.

          50

        • #
          Angry

          “TheInquirer”………….Go back to your basement. Has mummy made your dinner yet???

          20

      • #
        MemoryVault

        .
        Since when did the lack of funds or common sense figure in the decision-making process of Australian politicians?

        Greg Hunt is a big fan of perpetual motion machines carbon sequestration.

        61

  • #
    Olaf Koenders

    I wonder how long it’ll be before Juliar Dullard does the Obama thing and uses her minions to threaten those that write unfavourable reports about her?

    See that ASIO? I know you’re reading this. I expect a knock at the door any minute. If so, please bear in mind any trespassing will not be tolerated and you’ll be disappeared in a suitable pink mist of your choosing..

    60

    • #
      crakar24

      OK,

      The way i understand it you have the wrong four letter acronym 🙂

      15

      • #
        crakar24

        No point giving me a thumbs down he has the wrong acronym………..oh of course i see you dont know what acronym means.

        Let me explain A.S.I.O stands for Australian secret intellegence organisation or for short ASIO ergo a four letter acronym. ASIO is our version of the USA’s FBI (thats a three letter acronym)they also have a CIA (another (but different)three letter acronym) and we have a department with similar roles and responsibilities which has four words in its name hence he has the wrong acronym. Feeling smarter yet moron?

        Sorry for my impetuous comment

        24

        • #
          Olaf Koenders

          I don’t know what you’re on about. I didn’t give you a thumbs down. ASIO used to be the old CARO – if that’s what you mean?

          40

          • #
            crakar24

            Thats Ok Olaf there is a warmbot that likes to give me red thumbs, which is fine in most cases because i have expressed my opinion. However there are times where i have presented a basic fact but the warmbot is preprogrammed to red thumb everything and when they do i point out just how stupid they look.

            My point about spying etc was that if there is an agency using warrantless wire taps in Australai (which i do believe there is) then i sugest it will not be called ASIO it would be called something else.

            45

            • #
              Olaf Koenders

              Yeh. There’s bound to be countless bodies spying on everything we do and it’s likely their acronym hasn’t been advertised. I just used ASIO (roughly equivalent to MI5) as an example. I was wrong in my last post about CARO and ASIO though. I got confused between something else and now can’t remember..

              20

        • #
          Rereke Whakaaro

          A.S.I.O stands for Australian secret intellegence organisation

          Well, that’s done it. You have gone and told the whole blogosphere what ASIO stands for.

          They will have to rename it to A.N.V.S.A.A.I.O (Australian Not Very Secret After All Intelligence Organisation)

          Whoops, Now I have let the cat out of the bag ….

          30

    • #
      Angry

      Gillard has interfered in Free Speech yet again by organizing to have another radio host sacked !

      THE shock jock who repeatedly asked Julia Gillard about her sex life and whether her partner was gay has been sacked:-

      http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/howard-sattler-sacked-after-julia-gillard-gay-debate/story-fnhocxo3-1226663453289

      SHAME, SHAME, SHAME !

      ELECTION NOW !!!!

      01

  • #
    pat

    reminder:

    31 May: NYT Dot Earth: Andrew C. Revkin: Experts Foresee No Detectable Health Impact from Fukushima Radiation
    I also don’t imagine that Nancy Grace at CNN will provide an update to viewers of her fear-mongering proclamations about danger to Americans. But hopefully the news division at CNN, at least, will report on this welcome news…
    http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/31/experts-foresee-no-detectable-health-impact-from-fukushima-radiation/

    uhoh, CNN helped fund this nuclear infomercial!

    12 June: CBS: Chenda Ngak: “Pandora’s Promise” asks us to rethink nuclear energy
    “The nuclear industry is death,” a protester at demonstration says in the opening of the documentary feature “Pandora’s Promise.” But filmmaker Robert Stone, with the backing of Impact Partners and CNN Films, is hoping to turn that idea on its head.
    Opening in select cities Wednesday, the film aims to show that nuclear power can effectively close the gap on coal in a way that renewable energy cannot.
    Stone recruits prominent figures like Whole Earth Catalog editor Stewart Brand, author Richard Rhodes and environmentalist Michael Shellenberger, among others, to weave a narrative on how they are rethinking nuclear energy as a way to tackle climate change…
    The EIA’s 2013 Annual Energy Outlook report says that building a new nuclear power plant can take over a decade to complete, require specialized high-wage workers, expensive materials and components and engineering construction expertise.
    “In the current economic environment of low natural gas prices and flat demand for electricity, the overall market conditions for new nuclear plants are challenging,” the report says.
    Cavanagh points out that France’s nuclear energy model, which is touted in the film, is subsidized by the French government. In order for the United States to follow that model, it would require a socialized program that is funded by taxpayers…
    http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57589019/pandoras-promise-asks-us-to-rethink-nuclear-energy/

    to be cont’d…

    00

  • #
    pat

    the program will air on CNN in November after cinema release this week:

    11 June: NYT Movie Reviews: Asking Environmentalists Not to Fear the Reactor
    ‘Pandora’s Promise’ Advocates Nuclear Energy
    By MANOHLA DARGIS
    Less than 10 minutes into “Pandora’s Promise,” Mr. Stone, whose documentaries include “Guerrilla: The Taking of Patty Hearst,” has made it clear where he stands, from the experts whom he’s gathered to make the environmental case for nuclear energy…
    Yet such deck-stacking in movies can also be a viewer turnoff, no matter how seemingly worthy the cause. And “Pandora’s Promise” is as stacked as advocate movies get…
    In brief — or so the movie’s one-sided reasoning goes — everything that anti-nuclear energy activists and skeptics have thought about the issue is wrong. Decades of politically and ideologically driven fearmongering and misinformation have led to its demonization when it could be our salvation. Drawing on original interviews, archival materials, computer animations and even, d’oh, “The Simpsons,” Mr. Stone builds his case seamlessly but leaves no room for dissent, much less a drop of doubt. “To be anti-nuclear,” another of his experts, the journalist Richard Rhodes, says, “is basically to be in favor of burning fossil fuel…
    Certainly there’s an environmental case to be made for nuclear energy as an alternative to fossil fuels, which is exactly what some activists and journalists have been exploring for years. But you need to make an argument. A parade of like-minded nuclear-power advocates who assure us that everything will be all right just doesn’t cut it.
    http://movies.nytimes.com/2013/06/12/movies/pandoras-promise-advocates-nuclear-energy.html?_r=1&

    7 June: NYT Dot Earth: Andrew C. Revkin: The End Comes for a Troubled California Nuclear Plant
    The two reactors at California’s troubled San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station will be permanently shut down, the plant’s owners said Friday…
    What does this all mean for the future of nuclear power, more generally, in the United States?
    I’ll certainly raise that question on Monday. After a Pleasantville, N.Y., screening of “Pandora’s Promise,” a new documentary on the risks and benefits of nuclear energy, I’ll be moderating a discussion involving the director, Robert Stone, and the environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.* I’ll report back.
    [* Kennedy and I are both affiliated with Pace University.]
    http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/07/the-end-of-the-road-for-a-troubled-nuclear-plant-in-california/

    so far Revkin hasn’t reported back.

    00

  • #
    crakar24

    And so it begins………

    Swan has just called Abbott and co a liar without any supportive evidence and the cook at the centre of this labor induced (pun intended) farce has tweeted the following

    @ Gillard “can we now get on with winning the election? I would rather be raped by a pitbull with aidsthan live in Tony Australia”

    You see the government sets the standards for its people and when those standards fall into the gutter so does the people’s. She only has herself to blame for this disgusting mess.

    64

    • #
      Angry

      I don’t believe that ANYBODY would be remotely be interested in raping the RED DOG COMMUNIST gillard…….

      00

  • #
    Dennis

    There are at least 10 US bases in Australia: http://www.2012.com.au/Pine_Gap,other_bases.html

    Tony might fined references to Tesla of interest, or how do they power Pine Gap base.

    11

    • #
      Misled

      Just read your link and may i suggest that a majority of what was said about Pine Gap is rubbish about the only story missing was the one about the submarine port.

      It did not cost much to build Geralton because it already existed….in Hong Kong but was moved to Geraldton lock stock and barrel when HK was handed back to the Chinese.

      Every word about Woomera is rubbish

      Narunga no longer exists

      Exmouth is used to communicate with the subs nothing more nothing less.

      Dont believe everything you read

      20

      • #
        Dennis

        Then please explain in detail, tell us why it is rubbish please.

        00

        • #
          Rereke Whakaaro

          … please explain in detail …

          Simple rules:

          If Misled knows what he is talking about, then he can’t talk about it.

          If he doesn’t know what he is talking about, then there is no point in our reading it.

          Either way, no meaningful information will be shared.

          30

          • #
            crakar24

            RW,

            Thats a very good point you raise, i have just read the link from Dennis and it begins with this

            NURRUNGAR – “JOINT DEFENCE SPACE COMMUNICATION STATION”

            In many ways Nurrungar is similar to the base at Pine Gap. On the surface it’s military role is to draw information from a series of geostationary satellites which watch for missile launches and nuclear detonations throughout Asia and the Middle East. However this represents a small percentage of it’s activities. Basically it acts as a back up facility to Pine Gap complete with extensive underground installations and an illegal nuclear reactor which has to be supplied with large amounts of water carried by a regular train service originating in the southern part of the state of South Australia. Like Pine Gap it is situated in an isolated area of low electro magnetic activity and sealed off from the public view by a security zone which is part of the ‘Woomera Prohibited Area’.

            Hands up those that have driven past Pimba on their way to Coober Pedy…………..well for all those that put their hand up then you have driven past Nurrunga, it was situated just a few kilometers south of Pimba to the left and if you looked left at the right time you would have seen and may still do one of the radomes. The place has been abandoned for years, i have been there there is nothing, there is no train tracks and the place is NOT in the Woomera prohibited area this link is from a tin foil hat wearing nut job.

            33

        • #
          MemoryVault

          .
          Don’t hold your breath waiting for a reply, Dennis.
          Misled’s post was supposed to be a conversation killer – “nothing to see here, folks, move along”.

          Note the misdirection – the base at Geraldton originally came from Hong Kong (or so Misled says). Therefore, the fact that it monitors all the business and private communications of most of the people in the Southern Hemisphere, including Australians (not in dispute), contrary to Australian law, and dutifully hands all that information over to the Yank DSD, again, contrary to Australian law, is totally irrelevant.

          Just be grateful, Australian minions, that your slavery didn’t cost you too much.

          Note also that Misled never mentioned the facility that started the whole thread commentary – the Deakin Defence Offices in Canberra – the “sorting and matching house” for all your personal information. I have no doubt Misled will also not be drawn into an exchange about the even larger “Telstra” (ho ho) facility in Dandenong Road, Melbourne, where all the information about you, and EVERY OTHER AUSTRALIAN is stored, categorised, and archived, for future use against you, if need be.

          .
          Nonetheless, it is interesting that we have drawn the attention of the professionals.

          40

          • #
            MemoryVault

            Your comment is awaiting moderation

            Under the circumstances and subject matter of the thread, truly fascinating.

            20

            • #
              Rereke Whakaaro

              ¿Qué?

              02

              • #
                MemoryVault

                .
                My comment above spent an hour and a half in moderation.

                Given the nature of the thread, and the lack of links or “suspect” words, I found that “interesting”.

                21

              • #
                crakar24

                MV,

                Jo made mention of this fact yesterday, you have not been the only one to have comments “awaiting moderation” so dont go looking for conspiracies where none exist.

                Cheers

                33

              • #
                crakar24

                Ah here it is comment 45

                Would you believe the local telstra node is broken and i have no email or net access. Sorry moderation and replies r difficult. jo hope to be right tomorrow.

                23

              • #
                MemoryVault

                Crakar

                Just the other day you were getting all upset with someone for not reading the comments before commenting themselves.

                If you scroll down to comment 51 you will see I was well aware of the Tesltra problem and the possibility it was the cause, tested for it, and eliminated it.

                .
                As I said before – “impetuous”.

                10

              • #
                crakar24

                OK MV have it your way which is of course

                Every time you make a comment about certain issues Jo leaves your comments in moderation for a period of time due to her playing her part in some conspiracy.

                Question, are your comments released from moderation? YES
                Question, are your comments snipped in moderation? NO

                Therefore whatever role Jo is playing she aint doing a very good job is she.

                And just to prove how stupid you are i will put it to the test

                The Australian government has been in cohoots with the US/UK in spying on us for years Pine Gap not only has a nuke reactor but in fact its real purpose is to house nuke missles aimed at Auckland and is a refueling depot for UFO’s.

                42

              • #
                crakar24

                Look see no moderation…………….next conspiracy?

                42

              • #
                crakar24

                I appologise for being impetuous but i have had enough of stupidity

                42

          • #
            • #
              crakar24

              The future? yeah the future thats right they have not done this stuff before only in the future they might 🙂

              23

            • #
              Andrew McRae

              So… we should expect glass roofs to be the new Australian Standard for housing plan approvals.

              But sir, what have you got to hide?

              Competition for the Australian national stone throwing championship will be tough that year.

              30

  • #
    pat

    no wonder reuters likes the markets to be “fixed”. read all:

    12 June: CNBC: Eamonn Javers: Thomson Reuters Gives Elite Traders Early Advantage
    A closely watched consumer confidence number that routinely moves markets upon release is accessed by an elite group of traders, for a fee, a full two seconds before its official release, according to a document obtained by CNBC.
    A contract signed by Thomson Reuters, the news agency and data provider, and the University of Michigan, which produces the widely cited economic statistic, stipulates that the data will be posted on the web for the general public at 10 a.m. on the days it is released.
    Five minutes before that, at 9:55 a.m., the data is distributed on a conference call for Thomson Reuters’ paying clients, who are given certain headline numbers.
    But the contract carves out an even more elite group of clients, who subscribe to the “ultra-low latency distribution platform,” or high-speed data feed, offered by Thomson Reuters. Those most elite clients receive the information in a specialized format tailor-made for computer-driven algorithmic trading at 9:54:58.000, according to the terms of the contract. On occasion, they could get the data even earlier—the contract allows for a plus or minus 500 milliseconds margin of error.
    In the ultra-fast world of high-speed computerized markets, 500 milliseconds is more than enough time to execute trades in stocks and futures that would be affected by the soon-to-be-public news. Two seconds, the amount promised to “low latency” customers, is an eternity…
    Thomson Reuters declined to reveal how much it charges for access to each tier of data it sells…
    Asked why a taxpayer-financed university should sell data to Wall Street before it releases it to the taxpayers, (University of Michigan spokesman Rick) Fitzgerald said: “Most of our research funding comes from private sources.” …
    Within the past week, there have been two incidents involving trading ahead of the official release of market-moving data…
    http://www.cnbc.com/id/100809395

    10

  • #
    Streetcred

    LOL … the original version of this culinary delight was a Kentucky Fried Chicken meal, “The Gillard” two left wings and two thunder thighs in a red box. Nah, I have no respect for ju-LIAR as person who has disrespected all Australians, even the rusted ones as they’ve had their low intellect exposed by her, for the past 6 or so years.

    30

  • #
  • #

    Would you believe the local telstra node is broken and i have no email or net access. Sorry moderation and replies r difficult. 🙁 jo hope to be right tomorrow.

    42

    • #
      Yonniestone

      Don’t worry Jo, the NBN is rolling out and everything will be dandy, Julia said so. 🙂

      40

    • #
      Rereke Whakaaro

      Who will guard the guards?

      Who watches the watchmen?

      30

      • #
        Yonniestone

        RW, are you referring to the old Latin proverb Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
        Or the graffiti of this seen in the movie Watchmen?
        Great movie BTW 🙂

        10

        • #
          Rereke Whakaaro

          Yonniestone

          Good spot.

          I am actually referring to both the original, from Juvenal’s Satires, and to the derivation used in the movie. They just seem to go together well, somehow.

          20

          • #
            Yonniestone

            RW, it does go together and sounds like part of a famous poem, maybe you should write it?
            Watchmen has many an interesting debate over the politics portrayed in the movie, some say it’s anti right wing while others say it’s a backhanded swipe at the lefts hysterics of the right.
            Either way it made for very good viewing, a pleasant surprise.

            20

  • #
    sophocles

    The smoke and fury raised by politicians is just that: smoke. It’s done to hide something.
    It’s a real art to cut through the smoke to the heart of the matter. Before you do so,
    remember this:

    … the more trivial the matter being burnt, the more important the matter(s) being hidden.

    50

  • #
    David, UK

    I just tracked down the vaguely humorous menu item. Is that it? Naming a small-breasted, big-thighed poultry item after Gillard? On a private menu? That’s what’s occupying Gillard’s venom and the MSM’s pages down under? How pathetic, not to say disappointing (I was expecting so much more)!

    But what is more pathetic is the cringe-inducing apologies. “Oh we’re soooo sorry, we should have been bigger than that, blah blah.” Can’t someone just have the balls to say “It was a joke – yes, a bad, immature joke – but a joke all the same, you stupid, opportunistic, pathological liar, now get over it?” By apologising in such crawling terms they’re giving Gillard’s mock-offence merit.

    In the UK that sort of humour was par for the course on such low-brow satirical TV shows as Spitting Image. No one got offended. Thatcher never publicly complained about sexist remarks (and there were plenty). But of course Thatcher had balls.

    70

    • #
      Rod Stuart

      Not only that, but it is a very old joke, that has gone around the traps down under a zillion times.
      It is similar to this one:
      Colonel Sanders has introduced a new bucket.
      KFC call it the ALP (Australian Labour Party) bucket.
      It looks OK, although it smells a little off.
      But when you open the lid and look inside, it’s all left wings, and arseholes.

      100

      • #
        Angry

        Some delicious snacks from the MAN IN THE BLUE TIE……….

        Gillard pack:-
        1. Two small breasts, two extra large thighs & one red box

        Gillard special:-
        2. Two fat thighs with a small breast & a left wing

        00

  • #
    bananabender

    Richards and Richards is a cafe located in a trendy Brisbane men’s clothing store. The menu contains nothing fancier than gourmet burgers and veal cutlets. It doesn’t do quail or lobster tails.

    A quick fact checking phone call by any journalist would have realised the menu was joke and the story had absolutely no basis in fact.

    70

  • #
    Catamon

    In a Liberal Party context, Julie Bishop is the next in line to replace Abbott

    Seriously, for anyone who tries their hand at political commentary, this is a remarkably laughable fail. All gender matters aside, the serial screw up in every portfolio she’s had as LOTO?? Her only real qualification for deputy is fundraising ability and that she has demonstrated conclusively she is no threat to a series of leaders.

    UPDATE #2: Worse. The resturanteur who wrote the insult turns out to be a Labor man

    Hmmmm…maybe you shouldn’t be taking PvO’s tweets at face value??

    According to the ABC, the LNP has confirmed Mr Richards is a party donor, but says he was not asked to make the admission.

    You really should stick to the science spin Jo, as i see you have little demonstrated talent for the political variety. 🙂

    214

    • #
      Rereke Whakaaro

      And you should restrain the amateur spin, Catamon. You are just not very good at it.

      You see, it needs finesse, it needs to say just enough for the reader to finish the thought for themselves. If they fill in the gaps, it becomes their idea, and therefore their belief. That is what good spin is about.

      Your approach does the opposite. It takes a bit of four by two, and clouts the reader round the ear with it. Subtle as a brick.

      It is no wonder, that you make absolutely no impression here at all.

      100

      • #
        Catamon

        reader to finish the thought for themselves

        Readers here think about politics?? That would be a first. Seems to me they are more into the received wisdom thing.

        012

        • #
          Rereke Whakaaro

          But that is part of the technique. What matters is how they receive the wisdom, and what makes the idea just “pop” into their head, of its own volition.

          80

        • #
          Winston

          Catamon, when you receive some wisdom, please don’t hesitate to let us know. Such are rare event would be worthy of some accolades.

          30

  • #
    John Campbell

    Last week, the UK Parliament debated the new Energy Bill. An amendment was passed – rather quietly – right at the end of the debate. This was a new Clause 11 (see Hansard – end of http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm130604/debtext/130604-0002.htm
    and the begining of
    http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm130604/debtext/130604-0003.htm.).

    Item (1) of this amendement states, “The Secretary of State must within 12 months of the passing of this Act publish a strategy setting out policies to achieve a reduction in demand for electricity of at least 103 TWh by 2020 and 154 TWh by 2030.”

    Since the UK used around 375 TWh in 2012, this means a 40% reduction in electricity use by 2030.

    Item (2) gives the Secretary of state very wide powers to achieve this: “The Secretary of State may, instead of conferring functions on the national system operator, confer functions on such other person or body as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.”

    Finally, Item (5) says: “Nothing in the strategy shall rely upon the use of the price mechanism to reduce demand.”

    The immediate questions are: (1) Why does the UK Government think this amendment necessary? (2) Precisely how does the Government plan to achieve such a reduction in power consumption?

    30

    • #
      Rereke Whakaaro

      In direct answer to your questions, I would surmise that:

      1) The UK Government have focussed almost entirely on wind-power, and are now finding that supply, at the current levels of peak demand, are becoming unreliable, and they now realise that the proposed diesel powered generation is a) not going to meet the projected demand, b) not be on-stream within the required time-frame, and c) is going to have significant political fallout, because of all the previous climate change hype; so

      2) These “requirements” lay the groundwork for organised rationing, should it be required, and in recognising that, “individual circumstances might vary”, they will delegate it to the local authorities to manage within a quota, is it will be the local authorities who carry the flak, not the government.

      5) If they do introduce rationing, it is likely to be on a time basis, where certain appliances (such as washing machines) can only be used at week-ends, and industry must turn off all non-essential electrical systems after 6.00pm, etc.

      These are just my personal views based on my previous experience working in Whitehall, and knowing how the thinking evolves, when you are inside the bubble. I may be totally wrong, and hope that I am.

      60

  • #
    MemoryVault

    .
    Just a test.

    Roses are red, and violets are purple.
    Sugar is sweet, and so’s maple surple.

    11

    • #
      MemoryVault

      .
      So Jo,

      My comment back at #41 isn’t “awaiting moderation” because the system is broke, as alluded to by you in your post at #45.

      And it can’t be because of any included links, because there aren’t any.
      And there are none of the “special words” that set off alarms, that you warned me of last time.

      .
      This is getting interesting.

      [As far as I am aware, your comment at #41 is not related to Jo’s comment at #45. She is having external technical problems, but the site is unaffected. Other Mods are still around. You have nothing currently in moderation. -Fly]

      11

  • #
    pat

    includes a video i won’t be watching, and some unnecessary commentary by tony abbott:

    13 June: Perth Now: Jessica Marszalek: Julia Gillard and Arnold Schwarzenegger discuss climate change
    Ms Gillard and the former muscle man met on Thursday morning in Perth to discuss climate change as the PM continues her visit to WA.
    Ms Gillard said she would have liked to have talked about his movies as she was a fan, but instead they discussed a shared concern: climate change.
    “He of course led California to putting a price on carbon, to reduce carbon pollution,” she told ABC radio.
    “He is from the conservative side of politics, a Republican. If he was here in Australia, he would be on the Liberal-National side of politics, but he saw his way to putting a price on carbon as the best way of tackling climate change.
    “So we talked about his experience in California and how we’ve put a price on carbon here.”
    And asked whether Mr Schwarzenegger’s best-known catchphrase – “I’ll be back” – applied to her for the coming election, Ms Gillard wouldn’t repeat the line, but said she was “confident”…
    http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/julia-gillard-and-arnold-schwarzenegger-discuss-climate-change/story-fnhnv0wb-1226662957541

    00

  • #
    pat

    feeling angry? and greg hunt doesn’t oppose it in principle, but only on a technicality? nice.

    13 June: SMH: Green fund’s first deal to support Victoria wind farm
    A renewable energy fund financed by the federal government is set to sign a deal to help New Zealand’s Meridian Energy increase its debt in a major wind project, freeing up more cash for the state-owned generator ahead of its planned IPO, three sources close to the deal said.
    Its proposed $100 million-plus loan to the 420MW Macarthur windfarm project in Victoria would be its first investment, but has raised concerns about the use of Australian public funds to undercut existing lenders and help a New Zealand state-owned company repatriate funds out of Australia…
    “We remain opposed to the Clean Energy Finance Corporation putting at risk $10 billion of borrowed taxpayers’ money,” said Greg Hunt, the opposition spokesman for Climate Action, Environment and Heritage.
    “We have always been critical of the CEFC being a direct competitor to those already in the renewable sector.”…
    Macquarie Capital, the investment banking arm of Macquarie Group, is advising Meridian on the financing and sale of its stake in Macarthur.
    The Australian-listed investment bank also scooped up the lucrative mandate to float Meridian, together with Deutsche Bank, Craigs Investment Partners and Goldman Sachs…
    CEFC’s Yates declined to comment on whether Australian tax payers should be funding a payment distribution to the New Zealand government by its involvement in the financing.
    “Unlike traditional financial institutions, the CEFC doesn’t seek maximum profits but seeks to cover operating and funding costs and to use the potential to make higher profits to secure public policy benefits and reduce the cost of moving to a lower carbon economy,” he said in an emailed response to questions.
    http://www.smh.com.au/business/carbon-economy/green-funds-first-deal-to-support-victoria-wind-farm-20130613-2o7a3.html

    00

  • #
    Eddy Aruda

    It could be worse, at least nobody died. In the US the Obama administration allowed our ambassador and three others to die in Benghazi because it might affect the presidential election results. He then covered up his crimes by waging a campaign of disinformation in the lame stream media and blamed the attack on a movie.

    Now, several scandals are exposing the administration’s war on the bill of rights.

    With a lefty, the end always justifies the means.

    80

  • #
    Ace

    ANYWAY……………………..Gang Obama used all this whiney crap in their campaign and it worked.

    My policy would be not to try to counter it.but DO IT BACK TO THEM

    Set up and “discover” your opponents making unforgiveable remarks just as they are doing. If you cannot find their dirt, make it up.

    IT WORKS. Obama is president again, in spite of having the worst record of any US leader since Calvin Coolidge.

    10

    • #
      Ace

      …but to get it in the press it will have to be hardcore. Things they said and did back when they were students. Theres a shedload of dirt there, in EVERYONES past.

      00

  • #

    …..of any US leader since Calvin Coolidge.

    At least Coolidge was succeeded in the U.S. Presidency by a West Australian mining engineer.

    Tony.

    00

  • #
    Beth cooper

    A national ‘Blue Tie’ Day as a protest against PC could be fun.

    90

  • #
    handjive

    Is it possible?

    Top Abbott business adviser wants renewables target scrapped

    “The chairman of Tony Abbott’s proposed business advisory council, Maurice Newman, the former chairman of the ABC and the ASX, said persisting with government subsidies for renewable energy represented a “crime against the people” because higher energy costs hit poorer households the hardest and there was no longer any logical reason to have them.”
    .
    Will Abbott listen?

    70

  • #
    handjive

    UPDATE!

    Hottest Year Ever:

    “These cold anomalies are expected to persist for some time (at least another month) increasing the probability of colder-than-average conditions over the period as a whole.”

    Met Office 3-month Outlook
    Period: June – August 2013 Issue date: 24.05.13

    (via Tom Nelson)

    10

    • #
      Rereke Whakaaro

      They are only “anomalies” because they don’t agree with the models.

      “There is always an exception that proves the rule. And the more exceptions there are, the more the rule is proven”. Groucho Marx.

      40

  • #
    Bulldust

    Can’t quite understand what is wrong with the media. Now Howard Sattler questioned the PM about her BFs orientation … repeatedly. Understandably he has been suspended:

    http://www.6pr.com.au/statement-howard-sattler-suspended/20130613-2o7hn.html

    This was not a brain fade, but repeated questions.

    20

    • #
      Mattb

      Sattler really is a prick of the highest order.

      42

    • #
      Backslider

      He’s a hairdresser, so why ask??

      40

    • #
      • #
        Andrew McRae

        Unfortunately we can’t sack Pickering. I refuse to link to his latest toon but you know where you can find it if you can’t already guess his reaction.

        What is it about Julia that has just brought all the sexists out of the woodwork in the last 7 days??? I guess buzzards can spot a dying dinner a mile away. It’s not going to help her persecution complex at all.

        She’s right about one thing. Australia is still living in 1960 and hasn’t accepted the idea of a female prime minister. Sure if the government was doing a great job no one would be insulting her, but look at what types of insults they choose. The salacious reactive nonsense of the last week is not personal, it’s gone beyond that.

        What should have happened yesterday is that Sattler should not have asked the question, but having been asked it Gillard should have exhibited more self control in her response and Sattler should still have been sacked for asking.

        01

        • #
          Mattb

          It’s a long shot, but it could be that Julia’s people KNOW that the menu was pretty trivial, but she’s had a speech, publicised the menu, and then had an interview with Howard Sattler where she KNEW he’d be a twat, and then will let social media bring out the feral right in the home that the moderate centre may realise just who they are getting in bed with in September.

          02

  • #
    pat

    looking forward to TonyfromOz’s take on this:

    13 June: Adelaide Advertiser: Miles Kemp: Power generators accused of using lack of wind as excuse to charge more for electricity
    WELFARE groups have accused electricity generators of using a wind failure as a smokescreen for a wholesale electricity price spike that will increase electricity bills.
    The incident happened last week when the price increased from the average below $100 per MwH to $12,199 MwH…
    AGL owns Torrens Island power station, as well as about 25 per cent of the state’s wind power.
    The price blowout began last week when AGL’s wind generation capacity dropped to zero. Between Saturday June 1 and Monday June 3, all wind generation in SA dropped from 900 MW to zero because of weather conditions.
    AEMO has told adelaidenow other generation units were also offline, causing the price spike.
    “The reduced thermal generation capacity included plant at Osborne and Torrens Island,” an AEMO spokeswoman said.
    “The Murraylink interconnector (which brings electricity from Victoria) was out of service due to a cable fault.”…
    http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/power-generators-accused-of-using-lack-of-wind-as-excuse-to-charge-more-for-electricity/story-e6frea83-1226663374181

    30

    • #

      This is a stark example of how the CO2 Tax is coming back to bite them on the fundament.

      Note how the media has latched onto this, almost 10 days to 2 weeks after the event.

      I was onto this at the time, explaining it here at Joanne’s blog on the 2nd June, and here again on the 4th June, specifically about the huge spike on the 3rd June.

      I also wrote about it in Mid May in a Post at my site at this link.

      I also explained it in detail at grumpydeniers blog at this link, also specifically about that huge spike on the 3rd June.

      One of the most comical telling points in the Adelaide Now article is the following:

      Welfare agencies have renewed calls for electricity generators to be banned from deliberately taking their power offline to create a spike in wholesale prices on the spot market.

      Electricity generators to be banned for deliberately taking their generators offline. Give me strength.

      What about those damned wind towers, 600 of them taken off line because there’s no damned wind.

      So, what’s link to the CO2 Tax then.

      NONE of this (and let me be very clear and emphasise that word NONE again) would have happened had the Northern coal fired plant been online, providing its 500MW of coal fired power.

      The bean counters who advise (term used loosely here) the plant’s operators that because of the extra impost of that CO2 Tax, then the plant should only operate during times of really high demand ….. Summer, so that plant and it’s 500MW was taken off line at the end of Summer.

      Because of that, power supply in South Australia is now placed under (severe) stress, and when there’s no wind blowing, smaller and horrendously more expensive plants (still also subject to the CO2 Tax) HAVE to supply power, not for the few hours they are specifically designed for, but for long extended periods, and as shown here, causing problems when three smaller units tripped offline.

      As usual, the media in this case are not only almost 2 weeks late with the story, they got it completely wrong and skewed it for their own agenda.

      During the high consumption period of Summer, (all THREE months) and with Northern running and providing its steady 500MW of power all day every day, there were THREE days when the cost of power for the main consumption period (7AM to 10PM on week days) spiked beyond $100/MWH average for that time.

      Now, in a time of much lower consumption, with Northern offline, the average for the whole Month of May was $120/MWH with 16 days up beyond $100/MWH, the highest $462/MWH and then, on the day in question, June 3rd, it was $866/MWH averaged across that 15 hour period.

      No matter what they say about coal fired power being so bad, this is THE PERFECT example of what it actually does do, provide cheap power, and actually provide it when it is most needed.

      And when it’s not there, this is the end result.

      This SHOULD be a wake up call.

      It won’t be.

      Tony.

      90

      • #
        ianl8888

        This SHOULD be a wake up call.

        It won’t be

        Agreed

        The only faint hope I have is that from mid-September the “meeja” may be encouraged to report the actual facts

        But we will still be faced with the obstacle of their enormous egos refusing to admit to fundamental ignorance of science, mathematics and engineering

        I have long since stopped thinking that this is my country. I just live here now

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  • #
    jiminy

    Jo’s wrong. All these things matter.
    It’s just another tu quoque fallacy.

    03

    • #
      Sean McHugh

      jiminy said:

      Jo’s wrong. All these things matter.
      It’s just another tu quoque fallacy.

      No, isn’t. A tu quoque (or ‘you too’) fallacy is where the accused justifies his action by saying that the accuser did the same or the equivalent. There is nothing like that in Jo’s article. No one is justifying the menu; there is no onus for us to do so. What Jo is saying, and what is being understood by anyone whose brain doesn’t bulge from their left ear, is that a fake menu, made up by a restaurant owner, rates low or should rate low in the lead up a federal election. Instead it, along with abortion and blue ties, is given weird urgency by the forces of the Left. It’s a ridiculous distraction, one that is appearing more stillborn and stupid by the day.

      00

  • #
    pat

    Bonn talks fail:

    14 June: Bloomberg: Alessandro Vitelli: UN Climate-Talks Collapse Piles Pressure on November Summit
    United Nations talks on reforms to emissions-market rules stalled this week after members rejected a proposal to reconsider the body’s decision-making rules, putting additional pressure on a climate summit in November.
    The loss of two weeks’ negotiating time means that items that were due to be discussed in Bonn from June 3 through June 14 may now be revisited at the UN’s annual climate conference in Warsaw at the end of the year, adding to an already-packed agenda that may not be fully addressed, according to a project developers’ group…
    The loss of two weeks’ negotiating time may mean that a review of UN offset market rules may not be completed by the end of the year, said Gareth Phillips, chairman of the Project Developers’ Forum, a group representing investors and developers of clean energy projects that generate carbon credits.
    “We’ve lost a massive amount of time,” Phillips said today in an interview in Bonn. “Parties were already in two minds over whether they could complete the review of the CDM in Warsaw, so now it looks very unlikely we can conclude the work by then.”…
    ***“You really can’t expect there to be a negotiation at the seriousness of this one, which is about transforming the whole global energy economy, without there being hurdles and obstacles,” she (Ruth Davis, political director of Greenpeace U.K.) said today in an interview in Bonn…
    http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-13/un-climate-talks-collapse-piles-pressure-on-november-summit.html

    00

  • #
    pat

    AAP tries to exploit a mere moment in time!

    14 June: SMH: AAP: Carbon price rebound aids Australian shift
    Europe’s carbon price has surged to its highest level in months, prompting analysts to tip a rosier outlook for Australia’s future carbon market.
    The spike came midweek as EU lawmakers expressed for the first time bipartisan support for efforts to fix Europe’s ailing emissions trading scheme (ETS)…
    RepuTex expects Australia’s carbon price to reach $5 in 2015 when the schemes link, well short of the revised down $12.10 forecast in the May budget.
    But by 2020 they predict it could climb to $30 per tonne, closer but still under Treasury’s estimate of $38…
    http://www.smh.com.au/business/carbon-economy/carbon-price-rebound-aids-australian-shift-20130614-2o7un.html

    “profit-taking” spoils the story:

    EU carbon bull-run halts near 4.60 euros on profit-taking
    LONDON, June 13 (Reuters Point Carbon) – EU carbon permits hit a fresh two-month high early Thursday after a successful EU auction but eased back later in the session as traders took profits made from market gains of 45 percent over the past three weeks…
    http://www.pointcarbon.com/news/1.2415907?&ref=searchlist

    00

  • #
    crakar24

    Well this is interesting,

    Both links show we have gone beyond the death spiral tipping point and are currently tracking above the 2000’s average, mind you 2007 did the same thing only to drop off into the abyss and reach a record low so once again only time will tell.

    http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/

    http://www.ijis.iarc.uaf.edu/en/home/seaice_extent.htm

    22

  • #
    observa

    Jeff Kennett stopped short of the real truth that the woman is a shrew and harradin and an embarrassment to women in general. But the greatest cringe factor is those faceless girlymen in Labor who perpetually put women up front to take the fall when things are going pear shaped for them. Gutless wimps!

    50

  • #
    Randy Hughes

    I agree with Rod Stuart. Jo, you just have the knack for putting things in print that are so readable, intelligent, incisive, and cutting when appropriate. You pull no punches, nor should you because your arguments and reasoning seem impeccable. Hope you live forever.

    Warm Regards from Canada

    30

  • #
    Randy Hughes

    …and I find the quality of discourse in comments to be orders of magnitude more interesting and entertaining than most sites!

    10

  • #
    MemoryVault

    .
    Now that this non-story about a non-menu at a non-Liberal non-event has run its course, it’s worth noting that the only thing that gave it any legs in the first place was Liberal politicians running around trying to offer the most grovelling Politically-Correct apology for something that never happened.

    And we thought Timid Ted Baillieu was bad. Abbott, Hockey and Brough should give up any pretense of masculinity and all start wearing frilly pink frocks. Not a testicle between them.

    Can you imagine Nigel Farage’s response? He’d have asked what Aussie beer goes best with Gillard Kentucky Fried Quail.

    Paul Keating would have flown into a mock rage and demanded to know why Gillard Kentucky Fried wasn’t served at HIS fund-raiser.

    Bob Hawke would have pondered whether to lick his fingers before, or after.

    60

    • #
      observa

      it’s worth noting that the only thing that gave it any legs in the first place was Liberal politicians running around trying to offer the most grovelling Politically-Correct apology for something that never happened.

      Agreed and even if it did we all need to get over a bunch of pissed people at a private shindig letting their hair down and getting tribal just like ‘stripper Howard’ at Hawkeye’s birthday bash. What’s next for all these prissy wankers- banning ‘offensive’ cartoons and cartoonists?

      10

    • #
      Angry

      Agreed.
      They need to grow some KAHUNAS and quickly !

      00

  • #

    If you haven’t see Clarke and Dawe from last night, then watch this.

    It’s as funny as a hatful of ….. fundaments.

    Election Result

    Tony.

    10

  • #
    crakar24

    MV,

    Whilst i agree the former MP’s you mentioned may have reacted in such a way however what you need to realise is that we now live in a different world.

    Back in those days a woman was promoted on merit, a woman and a man was treated as an equal but those days are gone. The defence force is a classic example of how much change occured in “pathways to change” you can google it but to save time here is a quote

    The first priority is broadening diversity across the workforce and increasing the number of women in Defence and, specifically, in senior appointments.

    Now dont get confused by this statement they are not talking about changing the rules so that women can apply for positions (well the only restriction was on active duty, ie they can catch a bullet as good as a man and this restriction has been lifted). What they are talking about is promoting women not because they are the best person for the job but simply because they are a woman.

    And who tells the dept of defence what to do? well Gillard of course so we now have a situation in the defence force at least but the same is applied across all government depts that women will be promoted above men.

    This is what i was saying to GA earlier and we are already seeing the results of this new stupid labor policy. I have seen male Flight Lieutenants with impeccable records get past over for promotion by women with inferior records.

    So dont be too harsh on the libs for the way they reacted.

    Crakar

    PS was this comment too impetuous?

    31

    • #
      MemoryVault

      Hi Crakar,

      No need for Google, I’ve been following the Defence Forces’ “Pathways to Change” story for a while, with increasing bewilderment. One wonders how long before military assault rifles come equipped with make-up mirrors instead of scopes.

      I will disagree with you one thing, however. There is nothing new about promoting women simply because they women, regardless of their ability or lack thereof, and it has little to do with Gillard.

      It is officially known as “affirmative action” and it was introduced into the Australian Public Service as “official policy” around 1980, under the Fraser-Howard government. Far from creating it, Gillard is a product of it, and exemplifies all that is wrong with the idea.

      .
      PS – No, that comment had just about the right amount of petuousness.

      40

      • #
        Andrew McRae

        how long before military assault rifles come equipped with make-up mirrors instead of scopes.

        I heard Kevin Rudd prefers sporting some Gucciflage on the battlefield. 😀

        “Ain’t no room for Peter Pan on this hunt. You wear Corporal Papich’s tree tux that I gave you.”

        Mind you, from what I’ve heard of women in our reserves, they’d make a coal miner blush. Break your arm in a second if they heard that remark.
        War `aint ladylike! Sure enough, you won’t find a Lady there!

        30

        • #
          Rereke Whakaaro

          Rumour has it, that the female combat units within the Israeli Army, are just as successful as the male combat units, but tend to take less prisoners.

          20

      • #
        Angry

        And a place for tampons……

        00

    • #
      Hasbeen

      The policy is costing quite a few experienced men.

      A mate of mine was among 10 who resigned from the navy after a tour of duty at Christmas island. To resign men must have concluded their initial service, & signed back on.

      All of these men had been on boarding parties of illegal people smugglers, or illegal fishing boats, commanded by a lady officer. In every instance she made no bones about her interest in the safety of those on board the boat being boarded, & little or no interest in the safety of those she was commanding. She will never command those men again.

      The men complained & were fobbed off. The navy now has 10 less competent men & one incompetent woman still there.

      I wonder if they will learn before it’s too late. By the sound of our army commander, it is highly unlikely.

      60

  • #
    Bulldust

    ***UPDATE***
    Leunig ran a cartoon in The Age that is effectively the equal and opposite of the menu which alledgedly never circulated at the Lib function. See Bolt discuss:

    http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/the_new_scandal_the_age_vilifies_abbott_in_a_sexist_menu_based_on_a_lie/

    Two main differences:
    1) The “Lib” menu was not intended to circulate.
    2) Even had the “Lib” version circulated, it would have reached a few hundred people at most (however many were invited to the function). Leunig reaches tens of thousands if not more.

    Leunig had intent and extent (of readership). This makes his menu at least an order of magnitude worse than the supposed “Lib” menu.

    Waiting for Labor’s faux rage at Leunig….

    *crickets*

    *crickets*

    *crickets*

    30

  • #
    pat

    TonyfromOz –
    re South Australia: if only the public were reading your analyses instead of the amateurish MSM so-called “reports”.

    how’s this for nonsense?

    14 June: Guardian: Leo Hickman: Met Office brainstorms UK bad weather
    Climate scientists and meteorologists are meeting next week to debate the causes of UK’s disappointing weather in recent years
    Washout summers. Flash floods. Freezing winters. Snow in May. Droughts. There is a growing sense that something is happening to our weather. But is it simply down to natural variability, or is climate change to blame?
    To try to answer the question the Met Office is hosting an unprecedented meeting of climate scientists and meteorologists next week to debate the possible causes of the UK’s “disappointing” weather over recent years, the Guardian has learned.
    Tuesday’s meeting at the forecaster’s HQ in Exeter is being convened in response to this year’s cool spring, which, according to official records, was the coldest in 50 years.
    The one-day gathering will be led by Stephen Belcher, head of the Met Office Hadley Centre and professor of meteorology at the University of Reading, and will include up to 20 experts from the UK’s leading climate research institutions…
    A Met Office spokesman said: “We have seen a run of unusual seasons in the UK and northern Europe, such as the cold winter of 2010, last year’s wet weather and the cold spring this year. This may be nothing more than a run of natural variability, but there may be other factors impacting our weather there is emerging research which suggests there is a link between declining Arctic sea ice and European climate – but exactly how this process might work and how important it may be among a host of other factors remains unclear.”
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jun/13/met-office-uk-bad-weather-cause

    “bad weather”, “disappointing weather”, “unusual seasons”! how it upsets these idiots. i wake up each day, look outside and no matter what, i think how lovely the weather is.

    40

  • #
    pat

    the spin begins…and the meetings never end!

    13 June: Responding to Climte Change: John Parnell: EU positive over 2015 climate deal despite Russia row
    With a decision this week to award the 2014 UN climate summit to Peru, the pathway towards Paris where a global emissions agreement is expected to be signed in 2015 is now clear.
    Warsaw hosts this November’s conference, where the outlines of such a deal are expected to be discussed in greater detail…
    Runge-Metzger admitted that the failure of the SBI to discuss vital issues, including finance, loss and damage and adaptation is likely to place additional pressure when delegates next meet…
    There is speculation that an additional mini-meeting could take place ahead of the Warsaw COP that could buffer some of the delays in Bonn.
    http://www.rtcc.org/eu-positive-over-2015-climate-deal-despite-russia-row/

    10

  • #
    pat

    wind turbine INVESTORS really, really care about the environment & CAGW!!!

    13 June: Reuters: Laura Zuckerman: Native Americans decry eagle deaths tied to wind farms
    A Native American tribe in Oklahoma on Thursday registered its opposition to a U.S. government plan that would allow a wind farm to kill as many as three bald eagles a year despite special federal protections afforded the birds…
    They spoke during an Internet forum arranged by conservationists seeking to draw attention to deaths of protected bald and golden eagles caused when they collide with turbines and other structures at wind farms.
    The project proposed by Wind Capital Group of St. Louis would erect 94 wind turbines on 8,400 acres (3,400 hectares) that the Osage Nation says contains key eagle-nesting habitat and migratory routes.
    The permit application acknowledges that up three bald eagles a year could be killed by the development over the 40-year life of the project…
    The fight in Oklahoma points to the deepening divide between some conservationists and the Obama administration over its push to clear the way for renewable energy development despite hazards to eagles and other protected species.
    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Interior Department agency tasked with protecting eagles and other wildlife to ensure their survival, is not sure how many eagles have been killed each year by wind farms amid rapid expansion of the facilities under the Obama administration.
    UNDERESTIMATED EAGLE DEATHS
    ***Reporting is voluntary by wind companies whose facilities kill eagles, said Alicia King, spokeswoman for the agency’s migratory bird program.
    She estimated wind farms have caused 85 deaths of bald and golden eagles nationwide since 1997, with most occurring in the last three years as wind farms gained ground through federal and state grants and other government incentives…
    ***Some eagle experts say federal officials are drastically underestimating wind farm-related eagle mortality. For example, a single wind turbine array in northern California, the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area, is known to kill from 50 to 70 golden eagles a year, according to Doug Bell, wildlife program manager with the East Bay Regional Park District.
    Golden eagle numbers in the vicinity are plummeting, with a death rate so high that the local breeding population can no longer replace itself, Bell said.
    The U.S. government has predicted that a 1,000-turbine project planned for south-central Wyoming could kill as many as 64 eagles a year.
    ***It is illegal to kill bald and golden eagles, either deliberately or inadvertently, under protections afforded them by two federal laws, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act…
    In the past, federal permits allowing a limited number of eagle deaths were restricted to narrow activities such as scientific research…
    ***Now the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking to lengthen the duration of those permits from five to 30 years to satisfy an emerging industry dependent on investors seeking stable returns…
    http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/06/13/usa-eagles-wind-idINL2N0EP1ZS20130613

    40

    • #
      Dave

      Hi Pat,

      This is criminal, all in the name of green renewable energy.

      Reporting is voluntary by wind companies whose facilities kill eagles

      Tasmanian, Victorian and South Australian wind mill farms are also killing excess numbers of birds and bats.
      * Does it get reported? No.
      * Is there outside monitoring? No.
      * Do the Greens care? No.
      * Does the ALP care? No.

      It will come to a point where many of our Aussie birds of prey are also extinct.

      All because these turkeys have labelled CO2 as pollution.

      And these Green killers worry more about a few words on a menu that didn’t even get to the tables.
      But in the meantime, the wedge tailed eagle in Tasmania is getting sliced & diced.

      50

      • #
        Backslider

        Have you seen the radioactive waste that gets dumped on the ground in the manufacture of the rare earth magnets used in these monstrosities?

        30

        • #
          Dave

          Yes Backslider,

          It’s shocking, the human cost is also massive.
          These PEOPLE get paid $45 per tonne for the waste to be removed. No work place health and safety here.

          All those Greenies in their rare earth windmill generated house, their EV cars and their PV solar panels, sipping lattes next to their carbon fibre bike in lycra leotards (printed with 97% Climate Scientists prove CAGW is true) thinking they have saved the earth from pollution.

          And visually these windmills are so attractive. NOT.

          They SHlT me off no end.

          50

        • #
          gai

          YES!

          I have brought that point up with this and this and this several times in the last few years. What do you hear from the watermelons? cricket cricket cricket…

          40

          • #
            Dave

            Totally agree Gai,

            You will only hear silence from these ignorant fools.
            Pollies, scientists and warmists are all changing from CAGW to Climate Change?
            Why, because none of their models are working nor predicting the current changes.

            They are too busy investing OUR money in scams like windmills, EV cars, PV panels, and trips to conferences to actually take time to research the real facts of the data coming in.

            The watermelons are on the gravy train, greedy vandals killing the environment, but bask in their own little GREEN world of garbage and lies. They WILL pay for this.

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    Jon

    I may owe Brough an apology. The chairman of the restaurant which held the fundraiser says the menu was a private joke and was not distributed:

    Dear Mal,

    I have been following the rubbish that has been on the news today. I would like to confirm what actually happened: there were never any menus distributed on the tables or in the restaurant. I created a mock menu myself as a light-hearted joke, however as I said I never produced them for public distribution. Unfortunately a staff member saw the mock menu, and unbeknownst to myself, posted it on their facebook. It now appears that a third party for political reasons has distributed it, yet I can reassure you that no such menu was distributed on the night. As you know no one at the dinner was privy to such a menu, and it is so unfortunate that an in-house joke between myself and my son has caused you great problems and embarrassment.

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    Rod Stuart

    I have started a letter writing campaign again. I would appreciate it if you folks would join in the chorus. I have been CC’ing Dennis Jensen, Tony Abbott, Greg Hunt, and Joe Hockey.
    It started with the member for Lynn requesting that Big Red and the Abbott Abbott Abbott to confirm their adherence to the CAGW religion.
    I first asked Oakshott these questions: (without expecting a response)
    “You appear to be convinced of the global warming alarmism.
    Please provide the evidence which supports your contention:
    a) That ‘global warming’ exists
    b) That human activities affect climate
    c) That a warmer climate is worse for humans than a colder climate
    d) That a tax can have any effect on the weather.

    PS And by evidence I expect empirical data, and not logical fallacies.”

    I got this response:
    “Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard are both in agreement with the science community that manmade climate impacts are real, and need a policy response. That is why they both have an economic policy in response, and an agreed 5% reduction target by 2020. I invite you to explore their economic policies in response to the recognised science.
    Regards, Rob Oakeshott”

    So I shot back a rather long winded epithet:
    “If you provided this answer on a year eight science quiz, it would deserve a zero.
    What persuaded you to think that I would have any interest in the thoughts of two politicians, neither of whom has even the faintest idea?
    You obviously have no grounding in ‘science’ whatsoever. “Scientific consensus” is an oxymoron. There is no such thing. In science the data is king. There is and never has been a shred of evidence that CO2 is a causative factor in mean global temperature. In fact, the opposite is the case. In that past three decades the CO2 component of the atmosphere has increased over 40%. The result has been a greener planet, with better crop yields. In science every proposition has a null hypothesis. That is, the subject of the proposition behaves as it does due to natural causes. The null hypothesis has never been disproved. It is not ‘science’ to postulate a new hypothesis until the null hypothesis has been disproved. Science is all about disproving things and never proving things. In the words of Richard Feynman, one of the greatest physicists since Einstein, “ It does not make any difference how smart you are, who made the guess, or what his name is – if it disagrees with experiment it is wrong.”
    Who is included in this “science community” of whom you speak?”
    The remainder was several pages of quotes from people such as Bob Carter, Ian Plimer, Murry Salby (complete with his Hamburg address) , Jeff Bennett, Jennifer Marohasy, Richard Lindzen, Judith Curry, Tim Ball, the Pielkes etc.
    To which I got this reponse:
    “You are right. I did leave out some further details from my email. I forgot to mention dennis jenson, joe hockey and greg hunt, all of whom you have cc’d into your email to me, all have participated in the full expression of confidence of the science community and in manmade climate change. Feel free to include them in this same message for you to digest once again –
    Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard are both in agreement with the science community that manmade climate impacts are real, and need a policy response. That is why they both have an economic policy in response, and an agreed 5% reduction target by 2020. I invite you to explore their economic policies in response to the recognised science.”
    I am not interested in a science debate with you, as the vast majority of scientists are providing very clear advice that politicians need to act. You can choose to accept this like all political leaders, or not. It is up to you.”
    So I answered this with:
    “You still didn’t answer the question I posed in the first place.
    I’m not particularly interested in what you think, or Tony Abbott for that matter. Neither you nor Tony Abbott have a single clue when science is involved.
    It probably goes without saying that I have nothing but disdain for the pathological liar that declared “the science is settled”.
    I can be convinced if you show me some evidence.
    What evidence do you have? It would need to be along the line that since 1850 the extent of any so-called ‘global warming’ has been significant. That of course would contradict the the CRU at Hadley, the IPCC, and the data from all six datasets.
    Like all left wing warmists, you are not interested in a debate because you know you do not have a leg to stand on.
    It doesn’t matter who you are, or what your name is, if your hypothesis does not agree with reality you are WRONG! “

    And to that I got this response:
    “And your comments are exactly why I mention names. Greg Hunt, Joe Hockey and Tony Abbott are not “left wing warmists” as you allege. As for science, please go to any recognised website on the topic – Academy of Sciences, CSIRO, or any recognised international academy of sciences of your choice. The science advice is clear. It is only a question of whether advice from experts is listened to or not. I do, and it sounds like you don’t.”

    I think it would be a good idea if these scientific genius politicians were to receive a nice warm response from the good folks here at Jo’s blog. Lots of non-Aussies would be wonderful as well.

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      Might as well go and debate with a horse, it’s response would be far more thoughtful and honest than the drivel they tried to fob you off with. God I hate these people.

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        Rod Stuart

        This is the answer I got just a few moments ago.
        “Ok, as I say, believe what you want to believe. In politics, it is my job to accept the best advice from the best we’ve got. I certainly test and verify the scientists conclusions, but have no reason to doubt them following this. And I therefore have an obligation to act once their advice is accepted. As do all in politics. As a private citizen, what you want to believe is up to you, and respected. Rob Oakeshott”

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        Rod Stuart

        This is my answer to that. Come on you guys, this joker seems to be in a listening mood. Treat him with a barrage of email.
        You “test and verify the scientists conclusions”? Which ‘scientists’? Where is the evidence with which you perform this ‘verification’?
        Apparently you have never studied science, or at least have never understood it.
        Here is a quote from Richard Feynman again “Science is the belief in the IGNORANCE of the experts”.
        Science, unlike politics and religion, has nothing whatever to do with ‘beliefs”.
        Science is the discipline that dragged the human race out of the gutter of belief in witches and goblins and shamen.
        Science is seeking truth, by making guesses, calculating a possible result, and then determining whether the outcome can be demonstrated and repeated successfully. Belief is not part of the equation.
        In this case, the natural world has responded to demonstrate that the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere is unrelated to temperature changes. It has also demonstrated that when the sun takes a rest it gets cold. Don’t sell your coat. You have only 90 days left in politics. After that, perhaps you should have plenty of time on your hands to learn some science.

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        gai

        Might as well go and debate with a horse, it’s response would be far more thoughtful and honest….

        You have that correct!

        I too hate the world’s politicians and technocrats

        “The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.”
        ~ H. L. Mencken

        Note the “Public interest in technocracy peaked in the early 1930s’ this is the same time frame mentioned by World Trade Organization’s Director-General Pascal Lamy:

        …The reality is that, so far, we have largely failed to articulate a clear and compelling vision of why a new global order matters — and where the world should be headed. Half a century ago, those who designed the post-war system — the United Nations, the Bretton Woods system, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) — were deeply influenced by the shared lessons of history.

        All had lived through the chaos of the 1930s — when turning inwards led to economic depression, nationalism and war. All, including the defeated powers, agreed that the road to peace lay with building a new international order — and an approach to international relations that questioned the Westphalian, sacrosanct principle of sovereignty — rooted in freedom, openness, prosperity and interdependence.….
        http://www.theglobalist.com/storyid.aspx?StoryId=9174

        And finally the alleged quote from David Rockefeller:

        We are grateful to the Washington Post, the New York Times, Time magazine and other great publications whose directors have attended our meetings and respected the promises of discretion for almost forty years. It would have been impossible for us to develop our plan for the world if we had been subject to the bright lights of publicity during those years. But, the world is now more sophisticated and prepared to march towards a world-government. The supranational sovereignty of an intellectual elite and world bankers is surely preferable to the National autodetermination practiced in past centuries.— David Rockefeller in an address to a Trilateral Commission meeting in June of 1991

        What a carrot to dangle in front of the self-important academians! No wonder you get such a great amount of ‘buy-in’ and willingness to lie for the ‘Cause’

        Quote by Paul Watson, a founder of Greenpeace: “It doesn’t matter what is true, it only matters what people believe is true.”

        Quote by Jim Sibbison, environmental journalist, former public relations official for the Environmental Protection Agency: “We routinely wrote scare stories…Our press reports were more or less true…We were out to whip the public into a frenzy about the environment.”

        Quote by Ottmar Edenhoffer, high level UN-IPCC official: “We redistribute de facto the world’s wealth by climate policy…Basically it’s a big mistake to discuss climate policy separately from the major themes of globalization…One has to free oneself from the illusion that international climate policy is environmental policy. This has almost nothing to do with environmental policy anymore.”

        Quote by emeritus professor Daniel Botkin: “The only way to get our society to truly change is to frighten people with the possibility of a catastrophe.”

        Quote by David Suzuki, celebrity scientist, alarmist extraordinaire: 1990 quote: “More than any other time in history, the 1990s will be a turning point for human civilization.”

        Quote by David Suzuki, celebrity scientist, alarmist extraordinaire: 2011 quote: “Humanity is facing a challenge unlike any we’ve ever had to confront. We are in an unprecedented period of change.” [And I do not think he is talking of Climate Change.]

        Quote by Al Gore, former U.S. vice president, and large CO2 producer: “I believe it is appropriate to have an over-representation of factual presentations on how dangerous it is, as a predicate for opening up the audience to listen to what the solutions are, and how hopeful it is that we are going to solve this crisis.” [Gore is a leader in the Interdependence Movement.]

        Quote by Stephen Schneider, Stanford Univ., environmentalist: “That, of course, entails getting loads of media coverage. So we have to offer up scary scenarios, make simplified, dramatic statements, and make little mention of any doubts we might have.”

        Quote by Sir John Houghton, pompous lead editor of first three IPCC reports: “If we want a good environmental policy in the future we’ll have to have a disaster.”

        Quote from Monika Kopacz, atmospheric scientist: “It is no secret that a lot of climate-change research is subject to opinion, that climate models sometimes disagree even on the signs of the future changes (e.g. drier vs. wetter future climate). The problem is, only sensational exaggeration makes the kind of story that will get politicians’ — and readers’ — attention. So, yes, climate scientists might exaggerate, but in today’s world, this is the only way to assure any political action and thus more federal financing to reduce the scientific uncertainty.”

        Quote by Christine Stewart, former Canadian Environment Minister: “No matter if the science is all phoney, there are collateral environmental benefits…. climate change [provides] the greatest chance to bring about justice and equality in the world.”

        Quote by Timoth Wirth, U.S./UN functionary, former elected Democrat Senator: “We’ve got to ride the global-warming issue. Even if the theory of global warming is wrong, we will be doing the right thing in terms of economic policy and environmental policy.”

        Quote by Richard Benedik, former U.S./UN bureaucrat: “A global climate treaty must be implemented even if there is no scientific evidence to back the greenhouse effect.”

        Quote from the UN’s Own “Agenda 21”: “Effective execution of Agenda 21 will require a profound reorientation of all human society, unlike anything the world has ever experienced a major shift in the priorities of both governments and individuals and an unprecedented redeployment of human and financial resources. This shift will demand that a concern for the environmental consequences of every human action be integrated into individual and collective decision-making at every level.”

        [And many many more at C3 Headlines.]

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      janama

      I’m sorry Rod but Oakeshott is correct. Until the major science institutions, CSIRO, Major Universities, Royal Society etc change their policy people will continue to believe them. You are trying to convince Oakeshott that these organisations don’t know their science and that you do.

      Good luck with that.

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        Rod Stuart

        Janama
        Point taken.
        I would put it to you, though, what is the point in our discussing these issues week after week when in fact we all agree (with the exception of MattB and the occasional Margot or Brookes)? In the work “On Liberty” John Stuart Mill argued that the strength of a democracy lies in free speech and the willingness of people to use it. Is our time not better spent challenging some of these individuals who make the decisions that affect all of us?
        Like it or not, this man Oakeshott is one of the most influential people in this country. Were it not for the ‘independents’ Oakeshott, Windsor, and Wilke, this destructive government would have never been possible. Without their continued support this Communist despot of a Prime Minister would have been history long ago.
        Now I asked him a simple question. Given his obvious devotion to the notion of global warming, where is the evidence? If I asked you that question, I think your response would be that there is none. His response was essentially nonsense. In trying to explain that he refuses to answer the question, and in arguing the point that his responses are essentially the logical fallacy of the call to authority, I appear to have ‘got his dander up’. The last communication is on a par with nothing I have encountered in debate since I was ten years old. Are you ready for this? This is one of the most influential individuals in Australian politics addressing a taxpayer:
        “Ok – you know it all and I know nothing. Please stand for parliament and contribute your wealth of knowledge, so that the country takes the right path. Otherwise, I’ll continue on my scientifically illiterate way, as will the nation. C’mon, what on earth is your point other than wasting both our time? Rob Oakeshott”

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          MemoryVault

          Like it or not, this man Oakeshott is one of the most influential people in this country.

          Sorry Rod, but on this you are entirely wrong. Oakeshott may have been (past tense) “one of the most influential people in this country”, but the 43rd Federal Parliament of Australia ends on June 27, and with it, so does Oakeshott’s influence, and very probably, his political career. It is extremely unlikely that he will be re-elected, and even if he was, it will not be into another hung Parliament.

          Besides, Janama above is right. Debating the issues with a politician (any politician) while they have all the scientific institutions onside is pointless. Even when it all goes pear-shaped down the track, the pollies will simply claim “we were acting on the best scientific advice available”.

          .
          If there is a solution to all this, it lies in discrediting the actual scientific institutions. Ask Oakeshott (or any other pollie) if he still agrees with Climate Commissioner Flannery’s predictions that led to the construction of the multi-billion dollar de-sal white elephants. That sort of thing.

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            Rod Stuart

            Yes, MV, you are correct. Oakeshott is a has been. I suppose I used that term in an attempt at the strategy of “butter them up and them kick them in the ass”. For better or worse, this is my response. I assume that his last juvenile comment signified an end to the conversation, and I was determined to not let him get the last word:

            Let’s recap this conversation, shall we?
            Robert Oakeshott is arguably one of the most influential individuals in Australian politics. Influential because he is one of three so-called ‘independents’ with whose support this corrupt, incompetent, destructive government would never have come into being in 2010. Influential because these three could have, over the course of that last three years, easily dispatched with a Communist despot of a prime Minister and her union cronies.
            Mr. Oakeshott, for no apparent reason, recently addressed the House of Reprehensibles with a request that the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition reaffirm their conviction in the religion of global warming. To this request, the Prime Minister made the ludicrous comment “The science is settled”. The leader of the opposition made the equally preposterous remark “It seems something has gone wrong with the planet”.
            So I asked this influential Mr. Oakeshott, since he apparently presumes that variations in temperature exceed natural variability, for the evidence from which he draws this conclusion. His response is a series of variation of the logical fallacy “argumentum ad verecundium” (the appeal to authority). Notwithstanding my assertion that I can provide the names of nearly forty thousand scientists who are in agreement that global warming is a myth of the same ilk as Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy, this influential politician continues to assert that if the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition are believers, then it must be so. He makes vague references to institutions which derive financial support from this unethical government, but refuses to provide any evidence, or the names of those he claims to provide it. This in apparent denial of the data from six temperature datasets which illustrate not significant increase in 17 years and 4 months. He ignores the contrary opinion of the academies of science of the Russia, China, and Germany.
            Then, in an ostensible conclusion to this discussion, one of the most influential politicians in Australia resorts to the tactics of a ten year old child with “Ok – you know it all and I know nothing. Please stand for parliament and contribute your wealth of knowledge, so that the country takes the right path. Otherwise, I’ll continue on my scientifically illiterate way, as will the nation. C’mon, what on earth is your point other than wasting both our time? Rob Oakeshott”.
            I obviously do not presume to “know everything, and you nothing”. Otherwise, why would I have asked you why you remain convinced that billions upon billions of public funds must be expended on problematic solutions to a non-existent problem?
            “The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.” ~ H. L. Mencken
            Australia; a society established by courageous genius, and currently mismanaged by blundering idiots.

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      Angry

      ron oakSHIT………..

      His driveway doesn’t go all the way to the street !

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    Myrrh

    [SNIP! and we are sick of snipping! – Jo]

    [Myrrh, This is far too long for a comment. Irrespective of the merits or otherwise of your opinion, people are just not going to read an essay, so your message will not be heard. I don’t have time to read and digest it, and neither will other people. Keep your posts short and to the point and avoid complaining about other bloggers. -Fly]

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    Myrrh

    [SNIP]

    [Myrrh, This is far too long for a comment. Irrespective of the merits or otherwise of your opinion, people are just not going to read an essay, so your message will not be heard. I don’t have time to read and digest it, and neither will other people. Keep your posts short and to the point and avoid complaining about other bloggers. -Fly]

    [Myrrh, Just repeating your previous comments will only serve to annoy the moderators. -Fly]

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    Andrew McRae

    In matters perennially on-topic…
    Queensland sugar cane growers reducing water run-off
    No mention of global warming shows the mental blind spot of the warmista.

    … the $200 million Reef Rescue Program – a collaborative deal between government and growers aimed at minimising nutrient and chemical farm run-off and improving water quality on the reef.

    1) Reducing agricultural chemical runoff around Townsville will “Rescue” the Reef.
    2) Therefore they have good reason to believe that agricultural chemicals and sedimented runoff were ruining the corals.
    3) Therefore (DANGER! WARMISTS THINK NO FURTHER!) global warming is the least likely explanation for reef coral decline in the previous decades!

    I’m sorry, ABC, you’ll have to speak up a bit, I can’t hear you over the deafening roar of what’s NOT BEING SAID.

    Estimated carbon tax as 0.8% of GDP: $11,000 million.
    Approximate cost of “Reef Rescue”: $200 million.
    Yeah, I’m glad Julia fought for a better deal.

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    lurker, passing through laughing

    Your PM is in the desperatin mode of clinging to any twig or fig leaf she can find to hide behind.
    Opposition should merely ask her why she is so upset at one of her own party members…or maybe one of her gang put him up to it as a diversion?
    The election is a ways off, if I recall correctly.
    People will got lots of power bills and pay lots of taxes before the election.

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    dylan

    An Abbott fan offends with a bad joke. Gillard lies, cheats, and burns your life savings. One of these things matters.

    Sensational title. Both matter, of course.

    Jo, the commenters here are completely undermining your reputation and your insistence against ad hominem reason.

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      Sean McHugh

      dylan said:

      [Title:]
      An Abbott fan offends with a bad joke. Gillard lies, cheats, and burns your life savings. One of these things matters.

      Sensational title. Both matter, of course. [Bold added]

      In the same way that a mosquito in the room is a bother, and so is the elephant.

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        dylan

        Both ‘mosquito’ topics as far as I’m concerned. Gillard will be history in months and your economic losses were shortterm and minimal.

        Jo, your posting formula to whip up frenzy – certain subject at certain interval – is too obvious. You’re at your best when refuting IPCC ‘logic’.

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    Sean McHugh

    Question:

    Remember that the restaurant owner said it was a private joke and wasn’t distributed to the diners. Also recall that the idiot anti-Abbott cook, who posted it on Facebook, says he wasn’t even there on the function night and concedes that he can provide no witness as to what occurred on the night.

    Here is a photo of the menu. Has anyone asked, what actually ties it to the evening in question?

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    Mattb

    Talking about Abbott fans… that Cory Bernardi really is a despicable git. Makes Howard Sattler come across as a moderate.

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    observa

    Egads, it’s that horrid misogynist Murdoch Press trying to bring down a woman PM in her prime.

    Leftys, don’t they crack you up?

    00