Blog closed and deleted

I had a Blog which ran for more than a year and a half, which most recently carried the name "Rudd for PM - Beazley for GG (maybe)". It started out as "When will Kim Beazley resign?"

The "maybe" was added some time ago, after it became Kim Beazley was partaking in an early retirement from public office, (while still on the public payroll).

Well, tonight I have taken down that entire Blog - as I am afraid I no longer believe in where Kevin 07 is taking the Labor Party.

The latest proposal for watering down of the Labor Party's IR proposals is the last straw.

See what Miss Eagle thinks - on her Blog (today). Miss Eagle is an experienced industrial representative (former union official). She knows how this stuff works, in the real world (or doesn't work). If she is calling for changes to policy, its because she is aware that what is proposed is just rubbish policy.

*****

Australia needs the Labor Party to stand up for what it is meant to believe in.

Gutless is as Gutless does.

Peter Garrett was whining hopelessly a few days ago, saying, in effect, when will people realise that I am a member of the Labor Party, and am following its policies? Leave me alone - I am no longer a rock singer. What he should have said was "I am no longer a political activist". I'll leave you alone, Peter. As Joh Bjelke-Petersen used say: "Don't you worry about that!"

Its "Sell-out City" at Labor Party HQ, these days.

My response is to cancel and delete that old Blog (which I had not added to since about February or March - such was my lack of enthusiasm for "the Rudd Cause"). But now I have gone the whole hog, and deleted it entirely - because having the title up on my side bar was becoming an embarrassment. I no longer believe in that cause - because Kevin 07 appears not to believe in the Labor Party's heritage and traditions.

NOW HERE'S A GOOD IDEA.!!!

LET'S RELEASE ALL THE KNOWN BADDIES OUT OF PRISON WHEN THE AP*ECKERS COME TO TOWN.

THIS SHOULD GUARANTEE SOME BAD-ARSE BA*ST*RDS ARE ON THE STREETS FOR THE PO*LIS TO ARREST, OR HARASS; OR AT LEAST GIVE THEM SOME HEADS TO BASH IN, OR AT LEAST SQUIRT INTO THE GUTTERS (WHERE THEY OBVIOUSLY BELONG) WITH THEIR NEW WATER CANON.

ACTUALLY, IT IS NOT QUITE AS BAD AS THAT, BUT IT MIGHT AS WELL BE. THE NSW GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE WEEKEND DETENTION PEOPLE DO NOT NEED TO TURN UP THE WEEKEND WHEN THE AP*ECKERS COME TO TOWN. THIS IS TO MAKE ROOM FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THEY INTEND TO ARREST - BUT REMEMBER - THEY DO NOT INTEND TO ARREST PEOPLE ULESS THEY NEED ARRESTING!!!

The ABC News site tells us this:

Two-hundred prisoners will be allowed to sleep in their own beds over the APEC long weekend of September 7-9 to free up jail cells in preparation for the mass arrest of protesters.

Federal and state police have asked the New South Wales Government to make space for up to 500 who might be arrested during the summit in Sydney.

Protesters arrested during APEC will be denied the presumption of bail.

Parramatta jail and a refurbished section of Long Bay jail will be set aside for the plan.

******

REMEMBER - I DID NOT MAKE UP THIS SH*IT. THIS IS THE IDEA OF THE FE*DERAL AND STA*TE PO*LICE - ACCORDING TO THE ABC NEWS SERVICE.

*******
FOR THE RECORD, I ADVISE ANYBODY WHO HAS ANY POL*ITICAL "VIEWS" ON THE "WA*R ON TE*RROR", OR WHO HAS ANY STRONG VIEWS ON OTHER ECONOMIC OR SOCIAL JUSTICE "ISSUES" WHICH MIGHT PROMPT THEM TO OPPOSE THE VISITORS AT AP*EC -
FOR GOD'S SAKE,
DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR AND STAY AT HOME.

I HAVE SEEN POLICE BRUTALITY AT FIRST HAND,
(I WITNESSED A RIOT IN MILAN IN 1968 WHEN ITALIAN
POLICE AND ARMY KILLED A PROTESTER,
AND TEAR-GASSED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.
IT WAS NOT PRETTY, NOR WAS IT "FUN".
I HAVE ALSO WITNESSED "RIOT CONTROL"
GET OUT OF HAND AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA)

AND I CAN SMELL A DISASTER LOOMING.
PLEASE DO NOT GIVE THESE BA*STARDS THE
SLIGHTEST EXCUSE TO THUMP ANYONE.

STAY AT HOME, AND LAUGH YOUR HEAD OFF
AT THIS "GOVERNMENT OF SHAME".

Rudd "strippergate" a complete distraction.

The Kevin Rudd "Strippergate" story is a complete distraction from the real story of this last week. The world economy is in melt-down, and yet all Australian journalist want to talk about is the temperature in Kevin's Jocks. (That post is the worst-taste item I have seen published, so I give you the link, just in case you wish to see how bad Australian journalism can get - The Journo concerned (Jack Marx) apparently got sacked for it - but he should have a future writing "books meant to be read with one-hand" (p*rnography).

Back to the real story - it is not just the American "Sub-Prime" lending market - did you know that the Australian Dollar lost 10 cents in the last week (against the US Dollar)?

Source: http://www.x-rates.com/d/USD/AUD/graph120.html

Nope? Well, that's hardly a surprise. The ABC radio and television has been completely consumed by the Strippergate story. It is a disgrace (their lack of "perspective" I mean.) They have completely missed the real story of the week.

So, Alexander Downer, or whoever did leak the story, has done a huge favour to the Government of Shame. The real story has been buried, in favour of journalistic opinion based upon rumour, based in turn upon sordid memories of journalists and politicians.

Folly of Kevin '03 steals the show from Kevin07 - The Age - 84 related articles »
MPs laugh off strip club visits as Rudd pain continues

(Google search result "Bob Brown" + "Kevin Rudd"). Did you see that - 84 related articles! 84! That proves my theory, I believe.

*****

Meanwhile, remember next time you hear John Howard say that the economy is in great shape - that it is simply a lie. Wrong in fact. Wrong in "understanding" of economic fundamentals. We are skating over very thin ice - in a time of global warming, that's not a good strategy.

Remember also this telling line by Dr Bob Brown: Going to a strip club is nothing compared to sending Australian troops to war, Greens Senator Bob Brown says.
(Reuters | Monday, 20 August 2007)

"Suffer the little children to come unto me".

THEN
"And they brought young children to Him, that He should touch them: and His disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God"
(Mark 10:13-14).

AND NOW:
"The head of the Police APEC Command, Superintendent Peter Lennon, confirmed that members of the Sydney Children's Choir as young as eight had to undergo security checks. The choir will perform at the Opera House during the summit. He said everyone had to go through the same accreditation process."

Fairfax Digital: "Show ID to get past Great Wall of Sydney"
Edmund Tadros August 17, 2007

WHAT HAVE WE ALLOWED TO BE DONE TO OUR SOCIETY?

John Hunt is a Coward

Thanks to a tip-off from Crikey, I have learnt that the late, great Scribe, and former Political Adviser to Bill Hayden (and presumably many others) Mungo MacCallum is alive and still scribbling, for a local paper in Byron Bay.

There was a time when Mungo took himself way too seriously, as a political commentator. He masqueraded as a right wing commentator, but those of us with long memories knew there was a real person underneath that facade. It seems retirement to Byron has allowed the real Mungo to resume it natural expression.

 

Joy of joys, Mungo's columns are available on line at: http://www.echo.net.au/?source=cmailer

Click on the Mungo Icon (top right).

 

Mungo is still up to his spicy best, telling (re-telling) this good old John Howard joke. It bears repeating, I think.

---

 

Scene: A secure office somewhere in Baghdad. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is seated behind a desk checking the latest casualty figures.

There is a knock at the door.

Maliki: (resignedly) Come in.

(Enter a small, grinning, perspiring, twitching person)

Maliki: And you are …?

Howard (for it is he): John Winston Howard, Prime Minister of Australia. G'day, or Shalom, as I think you people say.

Maliki. No. (pause) Australian, is it?

The Australian ambassador told me a joke the other day. He said 'John Hunt is a coward.'

I did not understand.

Perhaps you can explain… no?

 

Then what is your business?

Howard: Well, it's about all the fighting that's going on among you lot. I can tell you we're getting pretty sick of it Down Under.

Maliki: It may surprise you to learn that we don't like it much either. So… ?

Howard: Well, I'm here to tell you that unless you pull up your socks and do something about it, we'll have to take action. The opinion polls won't stand for it much longer. We'll have to consider the position of

our soldiers. They might even have to leave.

Maliki: Yes, I suppose that might help. But remind me: you have soldiers here? What exactly do they do?

Howard: Well, some of them guard our Embassy…

Maliki: The Australian Embassy. That's very helpful.

Howard: … and there are others down South, in the thick if it.

Maliki: Doing what?

Howard: Well, until recently they were looking after the Japanese.

Maliki: Yes, the Japanese... I believe they have left. So are you too planning to cut and run?

Howard: Oh no no no no no no no. Far from it. It is just that if things don't improve public support for our presence here may no longer be sustainable.

Maliki: But as I understand it there has never been any public support. Almost from the first day the Australian people have vigorously opposed your sycophantic, token involvement.

What has changed, my little man of steel?

Howard: Well, I have this election coming on…

Maliki. Ah, an election. I understand. Well, good luck to you. And may I give you one piece of advice?

Howard: Oh yes, thank you Caliph or Sultan or whatever it is, please please. I'm a little desperate…

Maliki: Change your name to John Hunt.

 

(Curtain)

 

 

Fortress Sydney

The Sydney Morning Herald has put together a series of reports which will chill you to the bone.

I have been saying for a while that Phillip Rudd*ock was looking to pull John How*ard's electoral Rabbit out of the A*P*E*C hat. He is bringing the Wa*r o*n Te*rror to Australia, just in time for the election. It is all coming together - right now.

And the N*S*W Pol*ice Fo*rce is complicit in this deal, too. They are spoiling for a fight.

These are not my reports - these are links to published stories in the SMH.

Military exercises start from tomorrow

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/military-exercises/2007/08/13/1186857393408.html?sssdmh=dm16.273579

Road closures

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/apec-road-disruptions-hit-sydney/2007/08/13/1186857389231.html?sssdmh=dm16.273579

Bomb Dogs

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/90000-canine-weapons/2007/08/13/1186857399636.html?sssdmh=dm16.273579

And then, there is a composite SMH web page for you to peruse - called "Fortress Sydney".

http://www.smh.com.au/specials/apec/index.html

Keep this link for future reference.

Take special note of this story - how normal services are being specially modified for "security" purposes. Buses have been converted to mobile prisons.

Be alert and BE VERY ALARMED.

Having seen Po*lice actions in Canberra in the past (with my own eyes), I know how the Mili*tary Mind-set can be transferred to the poorly disciplined Fed*eral Pol*ice. How much more easily will the far less disciplined N*S*W Po*lice Fo*rce be induced to crack a few heads of pro*te*sters?

I fear a blood-bath, followed by a media feeding frenzy, followed by a triumphant re-election. The classic right-wing agenda.

Don't forget that there will be a heavy presence of ar*med US se*curity per*sonnel, (they always are ar*med - even in the Australian Parliament House, remember?) *** whispering into their cufflinks. If you think that those people are not prepared to "help out" Little Johnnie, you are deluding yourself. Is this Dem*ocracy?

*** Read this link:

The Age 21 0ctober 2003 - Louise Dodson's report from Parliament House, covering Geo*rge Dub*ya's previous visit.
"But armed U*S se*curity ag*ents have been in Parliament for some time. The advance team of U*S secu*rity experts has met senior Government and Parliament officials and has broadly dictated the sec*urity arrangements."

Sydney to be "locked down", or maybe "Shut down".

Crikey has kindly done a review of the preparations for the AP*EC conference.

• Jets will patrol a restricted area within a 45-nautical-mile radius of Kingsford Smith Airport and all other flights set to travel through the area will be required to pre-register and obtain approval.
• People on elective surgery lists in hospitals including Prince of Wales and Royal Price Alfred have had their appointments postponed to free up resources.
• Concrete fences have been used to fence restricted areas of the Sydney Opera House, Exhibition and Convention Centre and the Government House.
• The Australian Defence Force announced that around 1500 personnel, Black Hawk helicopters, F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets, a special task group and Navy ships will be released for the event.
• A video featuring the Maritime Union of Australia protesting against Work Choices as part of a montage of ‘violent’ protesters has been shown as part of police training for the summit.
• Circular Quay, Museum and St James train stations will be closed for three days and moved to Elizabeth Street.
• For those planning to visit the city, delays and random police searches are said to be expected.
• NSW Premier Morris Iemma announced that temporary legislation would be put into force to increase police powers over the duration of the summit.
• Rumours of a 2.8m high concrete "ring of steel" to be built around the CBD have been circulating, alarming business owners.
• A $600 000 water cannon has been purchased by the police to be used against violent protesters.
• The NSW Police Minister has announced that taser guns, not capsicum spray, will be carried by riot police for crowd control.

My favourite is the issuing of Taser Guns. Goodie. That's just what the country needs - power crazed Coppers running around with Stun Guns, which are demonstrated to be unsafe, possibly lethal, and anyway, not suitable for "crowd control". They might be good for controlling a dangerous individual, but not a bunch of "rent-a-crowd" crazies, looking to get themselves "famous".

For the record, I would recommend that anyone looking to get famous at this forthcoming "event" ought think again - for judging by the political, and security preparations, it is sure to get out of hand, and be a total (and dangerous) mess.

Besides, let us hope that the "crazies" do not hand John Howard (or whoever might be leading the Liberals by then) a guaranteed "Law and Order" issue on which to sweep back into office.

Australia needs discipline, in the lead up to the next election - not a huge "stunt" powered with Taser Guns and Liberal Party testosterone, and US Republican Party "War on Terror" security advisers, standing in the shadows speaking into their cuff links.

Bowral Hospital needs a hand-out, too

Dear Mr Howard,

Very nice of you to discover that Devonport Hospital is in need of extra funding. Shame that you have only discovered this, after discovering that it is on the Federal Electorate of Barton, held by one of your loyal supporters, with a margin of 2%.

Can you please have a close look at the Bowral District Hospital?
It is an old hospital, based upon a 1930s model, by appearances. It is a rabbit warren of a building, and moderately comfortable, and the staff are said to be friendly, but it takes more than that to make a good hospital. It takes staff, and staffing takes funding. It also takes a few overseas trained doctors, (but please don't mention that to Mr Kevin Andrews).

The problem with Bowral Hospital is that it is in the safe Liberal-held electorate of Hume. The Australian Electoral Commission site describes Hume as:

Seat Status: Safe Liberal

Two Party Preferred:

LP: 64.13% ALP: 35.87%

So, what is the logic here - nice Southern Highland people vote for your Government, and get ignored by you, and the local member, Alby Schultz MP.

The fickle people of Braddon get rewarded for their electoral disloyalty, by getting their hospital funded by Federal Intervention - a gift from on high.

There is no logic in ignoring loyal supporters, and funding the fence-sitters - unless it is a feeble political gesture on your part. Surely not!