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EARTH SCORCHING CONTINUES

Two-faced union bosses? Say it ain’t so, Mark:

In an interview with ABC TV’s Lateline program, which is due to air tonight, Mr Latham accuses [ACTU secretary Greg] Combet and [national secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union Bill] Shorten of privately supporting Australia’s free trade deal with the United States while publicly opposing it to curry favour with their union members.

Add Shorten and Combet to a list that also includes:

* Kim Beazley (“one of the most indecent politicians I have come across”)

* Jenny Macklin (“an unbelievable piece of work”)

* Jeff Kennett (“an idiot”)

* SMH reporter Damien Murphy (“took it upon himself to [write Latham’s] sexual history)

* Simon Crean

* John Howard (“tried to break a woman’s hand”)

* Paul Keating (“if you have regrets, you will end up like Paul Keating, and I just don’t think that is a healthy state of mind”, “the anti-model”)

* Peter Beattie, Geoff Gallop (“were dancing on my sick bed”)

* Alan Griffin (“inarticulate and unpresentable”)

* Lindsay Tanner

* Bob Hawke, Blance d’Alpuget (“Bob and Blanche, what a combination”)

* Bob McMullan

* Kevin Rudd (“a terrible piece of work”)

* Robert Ray, Gary Gray (“involved” in spreading sexual harassment rumours)

* Gough Whitlam (did “mean things” to Latham)

* Stephen Conroy (“failed to support” suicidal Victorian MP Greg Wilton)

* Anthony Albanese

* First wife Gabrielle Gwyther (“biggest mistake of my life”, “she has been on medication and anti-depression medication for a long period of time”)

* Wayne Swan

* Bob Carr (“doesn’t know the difference between Ronald Reagan and Reg Reagan”, “had a secret agenda”)

* Stephen Smith

* Tim Gartrell (ALP national secretary, accused of not being up to the job)

(list incomplete; will be updated)

 

Posted by Tim B. on 09/16/2005 at 02:31 AM
  1. sSo the truth is out at last.

    Posted by raider580 on 2005 09 16 at 03:45 AM • permalink

  2. Earlier, someone posted that Australia had dodged A Very Big Bullet.  I disagree.

    Based on this public meltdown, I think the good people living Down Under dodged a multi-gazillion ton nuclear warhead.

    Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2005 09 16 at 03:53 AM • permalink

  3. There’s a lot of Laborites currently waffling about how this is taking the focus away from the ALP and concentrating on the invective. This is probably because IT IS all about the invective. If Mark hadn’t suffered pancreatis, he would still be there, presiding over rudderless political ship of fools, captained by a megalomaniac, with the engine room comprised of cut-throats, manic depressives and assorted scurvy-ridden vermin.

    The rats are bailing off the SS Idiot.

    Posted by CB on 2005 09 16 at 04:02 AM • permalink

  4. How good has the last 12 months been?

    It just can’t get any better.

    Posted by graboy on 2005 09 16 at 04:17 AM • permalink

  5. Gough Whitlam (did “mean things” to Latham)... I had a terrible “crying game” moment reading that line.

    Picture poor marky mark sobbing in the bottom of a shower after Gough did his “mean things” to him. Second thoughts dont…

    Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2005 09 16 at 04:26 AM • permalink

  6. They’re replaying the Denton interview if anyone wants second helpings of this self serving dickhead!!

    What’s that saying about being a product of the environment you grow up in???? The Labour Party is rooted, they’re just too dumb to lie down and die!!

    Posted by TonyP on 2005 09 16 at 04:34 AM • permalink

  7. A couple more:

    * Iraqi insurgents (“made bringing them home by Christmas impossible”)
    * Steve Jobs (“made iPods too expensive for common people like me”)
    * The Easter Bunny (“eggs were too small, made of that crap high-sugar, low-cocoa chocolate”)

    Posted by blandwagon on 2005 09 16 at 04:38 AM • permalink

  8. In late breaking news Mark Latham has just added Santa Claus to his hate list.  ‘One more fat bastard I’ve got a grudge against,’ he said, adding that Diaries volume 2 would explain all.

    Posted by SwinishCapitalist on 2005 09 16 at 04:39 AM • permalink

  9. Listening to the ABC today, I’ve started to get a feeling that there’s a corporate view being pushed through their outlets.

    Anyone who wants to talk about “how sad” they are about “what Latham’s doing to himself” is always put up, as well as the use of adjectives like venemous”, “poisonous”, “‘dirty bomb” etc.

    Richard Glover even announced he would not talk about the subject this afternoon. The hottest story in the country, and he grandly decides that we peasants have had our fill and we sup no more.

    The ALP and fellow travellers are desperately pushing the mental instability angle, hoping that we’ll buy that, and ignore the fact that less than 12 months ago, they put this guy up to be tha face that Australia shows to the world.

    Is the idea here that Latham was good enough to run the country, but too crazy to be ALP leader?

    Posted by Paul Wright on 2005 09 16 at 04:42 AM • permalink

  10. I would add to this list…
    * Mark Latham (“psyche!!”)

    Posted by Lucky Nutsacks on 2005 09 16 at 04:51 AM • permalink

  11. He is out of politics. Unlikely to make a career elsewhere (eg business, professions). No company will touch this foul mouthed creep with a barge pole.

    He needs dosh. Plenty, and now. And he has one last shot at it before he is forgotten -big selling memoirs. This is his last big pay-day.

    And the best way to sell memoirs is to slag off everybody you knew. Nobody wants to read 300 pages of platitudes.

    This is why he is doing it - for the money. And lots of it. And he will probably get it. Plain and simple.

    Posted by Flying Giraffe on 2005 09 16 at 05:02 AM • permalink

  12. I’m convinced more than ever that this out-of-control Lathambot is a bad-ass beta-version genetic experiment planted in uterus decades ago by evil neo-con conspirators to discredit the ALP.

    But where is the black op helicopter recovery sortie? Late again.

    Blame Bush.

    Posted by splice on 2005 09 16 at 05:05 AM • permalink

  13. splice
    Mark has been kidnapped!
    What do you think Johnny has been doing with that other nut of Lathams? A few growth hormones, a touch of mad cows, and a session or two of gentle elcroshock aversion therapy.
    But how rat cunning is Howard. Anyone want to bet on the odds of the Immigration department review, sale of Telstra, and as much other bad/ controversial as can be squeezed in “coinciding” with the release of this book?
    Machavelli lives and he wears glasses and powerwalks.

    Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2005 09 16 at 05:22 AM • permalink

  14. It’s either #11 or ...he’s right off his fu**in head. - He’s in another dimension.

    Posted by orang on 2005 09 16 at 05:31 AM • permalink

  15. Someone should look into whether taking anti-psychotic drugs causes irritation of the pancreas…

    Posted by Rob Read on 2005 09 16 at 05:40 AM • permalink

  16. Orang, he is mad as cut snake, I agree. He is mad enough to lose his friendships (he is now Mr Nigel No-mates) for money (it will be substantial, but not, like, millions). Most people are sane enough not to take that choice.

    But I think it is Greed + minor madness (ie he knows what he is doing) rather than just 100% madness.

    Posted by Flying Giraffe on 2005 09 16 at 05:43 AM • permalink

  17. #12 Margolia’s record with Latin is unknown, but in uterus for in utero is on Margolia’s borders.

    Posted by Andrew R on 2005 09 16 at 06:28 AM • permalink

  18. Shrinkwrapped (blog) -

    Narcissism, Malignant Narcissism, and Paranoia: Part III

    For the Malignant Narcissist, other people are mere props in the pageantry of their lives.  A tyrant can throw someone into a shredding machine without a second thought [WP - or write a scurilous book] because the victim only matters in relation to how he can support the grandiosity of the tyrant; beyond that, he is faceless, nameless, worthless…

    As might be apparent from the descriptions of narcissism, the attitude of the other is extremely important (narcissists are very sensitive to slights from others and almost anything that is not supportive is felt as criticism or attack.  One can see how, as you move down the spectrum from the healthy narcissist who has a concern and regard for the best wishes of others, to the more pathological narcissist who is intensely needful of being aggrandized, to the malignant narcissist who demands obeisance just as he can not trust anyone to really think well of him, you are moving down a spectrum from sensitivity to paranoia.

    Posted by walterplinge on 2005 09 16 at 06:54 AM • permalink

  19. Can I go on the list? I’m happy to go on the record declaring him a six-pack short of a slab. And a complete nutjob.

    Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2005 09 16 at 07:04 AM • permalink

  20. #9
    Could you imagine the smug glee Glover would take if it was the Liberal party involved and not the ALP?
    It would be all Latham, all the time.

    Posted by RhikoR on 2005 09 16 at 07:22 AM • permalink

  21. Skippy’s loose in the top paddock.
    Crazy as a shit-house rat.
    Elevator doesn’t go to the top floor.
    etc etc etc

    Posted by CB on 2005 09 16 at 07:32 AM • permalink

  22. Where the fuck is Homer Paxton when all this shit is flying.

    I for one would like to see Homer wiggle his way out of this “Iron Mark” immolation.

    This is pure gold.

    Posted by Nuffy on 2005 09 16 at 07:47 AM • permalink

  23. Bob Carr (“intellectuals - they’re all fucking useless. I mean, who gives a shit about Abraham Lincoln?”).

    Clover Moore (“Jesus F. Christ, is that a woman or a dog?”).

    Janet Howard (“She tried to break my hand! Man, what do you do when a bitch comes on to you so strong?”).

    Janet Albrechtsen (“Frank Sinatra was right. These media bitches are just a buck- and-a-half hookers”).

    The Australian voter (” A bunch of losers. They don’t deserve my genius”).

    Posted by Arnie on 2005 09 16 at 07:56 AM • permalink

  24. Mark Bahnisch can empathise with Latham in that’s he’s never held a job in hise life that anyone *paying* him can possibly do anything about.

    Posted by murph on 2005 09 16 at 08:21 AM • permalink

  25. Gee Arnie,

    I nearly pissed myself…not.

    Posted by murph on 2005 09 16 at 08:23 AM • permalink

  26. I’m reminded of Kim Beazley senior’s comment in the 1970s: “Labor once attracted the cream of the working class, now it attracts the dregs of the middle class.”

    —Nick

    Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2005 09 16 at 08:34 AM • permalink

  27. Has Alan Ramsey been criticised by Latham yet?

    Posted by Andjam on 2005 09 16 at 08:48 AM • permalink

  28. Now that’s what I call a Great Australian Dummy Spit. Or maybe just spitting on great Australian Dummies.

    He’s definitely a few sandwiches short of the full picnic though.

    Posted by Zoe Brain on 2005 09 16 at 09:04 AM • permalink

  29. I disagree with the whole dang lot of you.

    I’ve never seen Mark Latham as relaxed or persuasive or, dare I say it, charming. If he was a witness for the prosecution, I would be doodling hangman’s nooses.

    Even the jabs he took at non-Labor personnel like Paul Kelly (OK, ‘officially’ non-Labor personnel) and Glen Milne rang true.

    And I disagree with the ‘loser’ remarks too. He speaks beautifully, mixing up carefully constructed politics-speak with cute Aussie slangisms.  I think he’ll end up a more successful ex-Labor leader than anyone except Hawke.

    Could Keating, Fidel (sorry, I meant Gough), Beazley or Crean have given such a witty and entertaining interview?

    (I’m still glad he lost, though)

    Posted by kipwatson on 2005 09 16 at 09:30 AM • permalink

  30. Add soon to be retired Leftist MP Maria Vamvakinou to the list, she apparently spread the yarn about Mark hitting on Kate Ellis. And she voted for Latham. Go figure.

    Latham’s assertion that Labor “rubbed out” the late Greg Wilton I thought set the tone for the rest of the interview. Quite amusing, a guilty pleasure though.

    Posted by Andrew Landeryou on 2005 09 16 at 09:30 AM • permalink

  31. #9 and #20,

    I didn’t listen today, but Glover has been pretty scathing of Latham generally.

    Earlier this week, he did an interview with journalist Glen Milne (dubbed the “poisoned dwarf” by Latham) and they both seemed to be having a laugh at how bitter and excessive Latham’s attacks were.

    Glover was also pretty critical of Latham for ridiculing Kevin Rudd allegedly “weeping” in a conversation - when it was the day after Rudd’s mother’s funeral…

    He also made the point several times to Tony Jones (of Lateline, who was also present on the show - it was some kind of “journo’s roundtable” group discussion thing) that “If the ALP is irreparably broken, then why on earth was he trying to convince us to vote this mob into government just last year?”

    All in all, I thought Glover was pretty reasonable, and seemed (like 90% of the population) to have a fairly low opinion of Latham’s vitriole.

    Posted by ekb87 on 2005 09 16 at 09:46 AM • permalink

  32. I’ve come up with a couple of slogans that will save Labor at the next election:

    “Labor: we can’t be that bad!”

    “Labor: crazy people hate us!”

    That should do it, don’t you think?  Oh, and two years til the next election?  Is that just after the paperback should come out?

    Posted by richard mcenroe on 2005 09 16 at 09:58 AM • permalink

  33. I haven’t felt this good since the election last November!

    Thank you Iron Mark. In the usual run of events, gloating and finger pointing are old news by the weekend after an election.

    This book will be ammo against the ALP drones for years to come.

    I will cheerfully give Comrade Latham my filthy lucre for his book, and I intend to wave it in the face of every lefty foolish enough to argue that Australia lost an opportunity to “progress” under the Comrade’s leadership.

    A heartfelt “thank you” to the common folk who saw through this charlatan and his leeches and voted him into political obscurity and historical oblivion.

    Interesting to note those who are less than condemning, Gillard and Lawrence are front runners. Fellow travellers?

    Posted by Pedro the Ignorant on 2005 09 16 at 10:01 AM • permalink

  34. Kip. Ted Bundy was a high IQ sociopath. The fact that he can string sentences together doesn’t hide the fact those sentences indicate he needs to have some form of mental therapy. Or else Mark subscribes to the theory that it’s not paranoia if they really are all out to get you.

    Posted by CB on 2005 09 16 at 10:04 AM • permalink

  35. CB,

    You misunderstood me. I found him plausible because what he said coincided with both the evidence and with conclusions I had already reached (eg. about d#ckheads like Paul Kelly and Laurie Oakes - can’t stand those guys).

    I don’t think he was vitriolic. More like a mafia informer who finds telling the truth at last a great relief. I think people will warm to it.

    Posted by kipwatson on 2005 09 16 at 10:16 AM • permalink

  36. Wow.

    And the Left is still whining about Nixon’s enemies list…

    Who pissed in your Vegemite, Mark?

    Posted by Wes S. on 2005 09 16 at 10:40 AM • permalink

  37. Sociopath?  Paranoia?

    It is telling that Australians seem to talk about our nation’s most embarrassing moments as if there might be victory hidden somewhere in failure.

    I’m so over the cringe.

    Posted by splice on 2005 09 16 at 10:43 AM • permalink

  38. At the bottom of Michael Duffy’s opinion piece on http://www.smh.com.au is telling.

    Alan Ramsey is on leave.

    Posted by Flying Giraffe on 2005 09 16 at 11:17 AM • permalink

  39. The point is that Mark is NOT crazy. He has, rather, just gone sane and is, for the first time, seeing Labor as it really is.

    Posted by Susan Norton on 2005 09 16 at 11:24 AM • permalink

  40. Nacker Lacker is in full control, especially when it comes to Andrew Denton’s head.

    One has to ask who is the fuckee, and who the fucker?

    Posted by Habib on 2005 09 16 at 12:05 PM • permalink

  41. Latham-

    Isn’t that the guy that called Kevin Rudd, Stephen Smith and Wayne Swan “Big Macs” per commenter Quenton George?

    Latham I think he tells Whoppers  -and the wife-on drugs since she married him.

    Posted by madawaskan on 2005 09 16 at 12:07 PM • permalink

  42. It may be something about that line of work. I haven’t seen a politician implode like that since YEEEEAAAARRGHHH!

    Posted by ErnieG on 2005 09 16 at 12:09 PM • permalink

  43. Habib-

    Erh, I think you mean who is the catcher and who is the pitcher…

    Posted by madawaskan on 2005 09 16 at 12:10 PM • permalink

  44. How are you gentlemen? All your Latham are belong to us. You have no chance to escape, make your time. Ha ha ha.

    Posted by splice on 2005 09 16 at 12:19 PM • permalink

  45. Although you don’t seem to be over obscure web based memes modified to make a pithy and irrelevant point.

    There is a distinct sense of justification being experienced by the majority of voters. Far from fading into irrelevance like so many other former leaders, Latham has proved in spectacular style that we were right to view him and his mealy-mouthed policies with scorn and derision. Mark Latham was being seriously touted by numerous media entities and a substantial part of the voting public as the next PM.

    His failure at the polls was the collective ‘BULLSHIT!’ cry that should go up every time someone tries to put it one over you. It’s not even close to being a ‘cultural cringe’. Did you vote ALP or were you just born annoying?

    Posted by CB on 2005 09 16 at 05:01 PM • permalink

  46. There’s another telling vignette from Latham’s campaign here:

    Latham, who had some experience in “advancing” campaign stunts, having performed that function for Bob Carr in the early 1990s, wanted to know more about the couple, who were not Labor Party members. “Are they on side?” he asked. “Do they know they’re going to be asked stuff about their mortgage? Do we know what they’re going to say?”

    “They’re all right,” Richards said. “What does that mean?” Latham persisted.

    Eventually, Byres spoke with the husband, asking him his general opinions about the country and the economy. “We’ve got a problem,” Byres announced as he hung up. The man’s view of the Government was that it was doing a good job of running the economy; he thought John Howard was “all right” and that Australia was in good shape under his management. The trip to the suburbs was hastily abandoned.

    Can’t do an election stunt in front of someone who thinks Howard is not a bad stick, can we?

    Why are we getting this all now? I thought the media were supposed to be fearless tellers of truth. Instead, it seems they wrapped this man in cotton wool.

    Posted by Quentin George on 2005 09 16 at 06:14 PM • permalink

  47. Does anyone have any leftover Labor “Don’t blame me - I didn’t vote for him” bumper stickers?  I think I might have a use for them.

    Posted by PeterTB on 2005 09 16 at 06:17 PM • permalink

  48. Quentin, young Quentin, youthful Mr George, certainly the press gallery, and many others, had a bit of crush on Latham initially, but strewth things went bad pretty quickly.

    Revelations from his first wife, allegations of a bucks night video (have no idea what sort of things would be in such a video, but it could be a quiet discussion among sober men about feelings) and the tsunami thing, among others.

    Let’s face it, he was leader for only about two minutes.

    Posted by Major Anya on 2005 09 16 at 06:42 PM • permalink

  49. The man demonstrates a stark inability to control his own emotions under stress. He couldn’t lead a group in silent prayer.

    Posted by CB on 2005 09 16 at 07:00 PM • permalink

  50. #43, Who’s on first ...

    Posted by jpaulg on 2005 09 16 at 08:53 PM • permalink

  51. Latham actually makes the senior leadership of Labour and the unions sound competent, or at the very least not as bad as portrayed in the press.  I guess it depends who is doing the criticizing, even George III had aides that kept his nuttiness out of view for quite awhile.  Latham’s supporters performed the same function for him.

    Posted by Pat Patterson on 2005 09 16 at 09:56 PM • permalink

  52. #51 - you mean George II , we haven’t had a “III” yet.
    Oh, you mean King George - the English bloke…

    Posted by orang on 2005 09 17 at 02:17 AM • permalink

  53. Orang. Cute Joke.

    But it fails, since George W Bush WOULD be a George III, if one were to apply the same naming convention to US Presidents as they do to British monarchs.

    George Washington, George H W Bush, George W Bush.

    See?

    Don’t try to be clever. You’re better suited to the role of snide git.

    Posted by Quentin George on 2005 09 17 at 02:27 AM • permalink

  54. ..so #51 did in fact mean George W Bush then?

    Posted by orang on 2005 09 17 at 02:48 AM • permalink

  55. Every time I read one of orang’s posts, I find myself reminded that that type of, err, input is what passes for informed discourse on the Left. Truly depressing.

    Posted by PW on 2005 09 17 at 02:50 AM • permalink

  56. True, PW, and when a joke fails, the clever thing would be to back away from the pile of crap you’ve dumped on the porch, not put your face back into it.

    But I’ve never said they were smart.

    Posted by Quentin George on 2005 09 17 at 03:09 AM • permalink

  57. #52. It’s Karma Orang. ‘Dumb’ GW is the Prez of the most powerful nation on earth and you’re…. umm… you’re just you!!

    Posted by Lucky Nutsacks on 2005 09 17 at 04:34 AM • permalink

  58. The dumbest commentator on this blog?

    Posted by Quentin George on 2005 09 17 at 05:08 AM • permalink

  59. #57 - You’re right. It just shows the gods have a sense of humour. The dumbest fuck they could put on this earth is in charge of the US and here’s me wasting my time on a right wing blog.

    Posted by orang on 2005 09 17 at 05:37 AM • permalink

  60. Latham may be bitter, vindictive, treacherous, irrational, narcissistic, arrogant and inept, but those are the qualities required to rise within the ALP, and are hardly proof of insanity. Trying to hit on the lovely Kate Ellis (pretty as a picture and dumb as a stump) is at least partial evidence of sanity. Latham, like Hitler, may not have been 100% sane, but both men had the personal attributes required for success & popularity within their political environment. Both were sane enough to make the right moves at the right times to rise within it. It’s facile for erstwhile supporters of either man to write him off as being insane, since it’s really an attempt to shift the blame from themselves and their own irrational and extreme beliefs.

    Posted by Jim Geones on 2005 09 17 at 06:14 AM • permalink

  61. I see orang’s nuanced analysis is even more comprehensive than he first let on.

    Seriously, don’t you lefties ever get tired of asserting how dumb Bush is?

    Posted by PW on 2005 09 17 at 06:47 AM • permalink

  62. George III of Great Britain!

    Posted by Pat Patterson on 2005 09 17 at 08:52 AM • permalink

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