Al and kevin, sitting in a tree

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Last updated on July 13th, 2017 at 01:55 pm

Aaron Timms in the SMH:

The moment it became clear Labor had won last Saturday night, Kevin Rudd should have printed off the Kyoto Protocol and emailed a signed PDF copy to Al Gore.

That must be the correct procedure when dealing with the world ambassador on climate change. Trouble is, ratifying Kyoto might not be so simple:

Donald Rothwell, professor of international law at the Australian National University College of Law, said the normal method for ratifying treaties was not a speedy process and it was highly improbable it could be achieved by the end of the year …

“The simple act of ratifying Kyoto may create the first set of headaches for the new government,” Professor Rothwell said.

They’ve already broken their first promise. But at least Kevin Rudd is able to speak with Al Gore:

Climate-change campaigner Al Gore’s problems with getting access to an Australian prime minister are well and truly over.

“G’day, Kevin,” was the former US vice-president and Nobel Peace Prize winner’s greeting to Kevin Rudd when he telephoned the prime
minister-elect on Monday to congratulate him.

“Actually, I’ve taught Al how to say g’day. As you know, with some of our American friends it’s very hard to get it quite right,” Mr Rudd told reporters in Brisbane.

Rudd plans to “resume that conversation [at the UN climate change summit] in Bali over a strong cup of tea – or something stronger.” Something stronger? Sounds like another Scores fiasco is on the way. Dance, Al, dance! Rudd does have a point, though, about differences in American and Australian language. For example, US writer Patricia Cornwell recently described her marriage to another woman in these terms:

Finally, I feel rooted somewhere.

Full marks to the Australian subeditor at the UK Telegraph who used that in the headline.

(Via Andrew P.)

Posted by Tim B. on 11/28/2007 at 11:44 AM
    1. You’ve got the same problem as Al – although he signed the Kyoto treaty, the US Senate declined to acquiesce to his request (means “no”)…

      Posted by mojo on 2007 11 28 at 11:53 AM • permalink

 

    1. “I feel rooted somewhere.”

      Yes, a very graceful and gracious headline, fer sure.
      I reckon that, as describing acts of coition, “root” is used generally in the USA for barnyard animals. From “rut”?

      Posted by Harry Bergeron on 2007 11 28 at 12:35 PM • permalink

 

    1. I don’t care how Mr. Rudd treats Al Gore.  It’s how he speaks to my president that will be the deciding factor for me.

      Posted by RebeccaH on 2007 11 28 at 01:12 PM • permalink

 

    1. “Actually, I’ve taught Al how to say g’day. As you know, with some of our American friends it’s very hard to get it quite right,”

      Al Gore (waiting nervously for Kevin Rudd to pick up the phone): Geez, I hope I get this right. Oh, er, hello? Ah, goodong, Kevin!

      Voice: This is the international operator. Your party has asked to reverse the charges, Mr. Gore.

      Al: What? Oh, sure, sure. That’s fine. I don’t really need to buy another computer monitor, anyway.

      Operator: Go ahead, Mr. Gore.

      Al: Goody, Kevin!

      Kevin: Thank you, Al. Yes, I’m happy about it, too.

      Al: Happy about what?

      Kevin: The election. Isn’t that what you were talking about? You said, “goody”.

      Al: No, no, date. I’m employing the traditional Australian greeting. Goodoo!

      Kevin: Pardon me, but did you say “date”?

      Al: Yes. “Goodoo, date!”

      Kevin: I believe you mean, “G’day, mate!”

      Al: Absolutely. “Godhay, nate!” So, Kev, are you ready to sign the Kyoto Treaty?

      Kev: I’m sharpening my crayon, Al! Say, I hope you’ll forgive me, but I’ve got a call on another line. Hooroo!

      Al: It’s Al. Al Gore. Hoo roo? Roo not Kevin?

      *Click* *Hummmmmm…*

      Posted by paco on 2007 11 28 at 01:33 PM • permalink

 

    1. Finally, the head of the Australian government will give Agore the respect he deserves. This almost makes up for Florida.

      Posted by Kyda Sylvester on 2007 11 28 at 01:41 PM • permalink

 

    1. Second promise also broken yesterday with both Mr and Mrs Dudd refusing to confirm they will live in the Lodge.

      Posted by AlphaMikeFoxtrot on 2007 11 28 at 02:18 PM • permalink

 

    1. Sounds like we need some committees to get onto this over the next few years.

      BTW I hear that Rudd stole a number of Aboriginal babies from their families last century. Clearly, he must apologise.

      BTWII: An exclusive picture of Rudd’s new lodgings.

      Posted by Margos Maid on 2007 11 28 at 03:29 PM • permalink

 

    1. One of his first acts as PM is to ring and suck up to Al Gore?

      Religion and Politics should be separated.

      Posted by Abu Chowdah on 2007 11 28 at 03:30 PM • permalink

 

    1. Is ratifying Kyoto something Kevni gets to do by his lonesome, or is there some kind of democratic element involved – you know, a Parliamentary process of sorts?
      Here in the good ol’ USA, Bubba Clinton sent Kyoto to the Senate who shitcanned it 95-0.
      Or as the AP likes to report it, how “Bush rejected Kyoto.”

      Posted by Latino on 2007 11 28 at 03:35 PM • permalink

 

    1. If he’d teach Al to say “No worries”, now that would be a service.

      Posted by Paul Zrimsek on 2007 11 28 at 03:40 PM • permalink

 

    1. Kevin Rudd’s all-new conga line of suckholes.

      Posted by Quentin George on 2007 11 28 at 04:00 PM • permalink

 

    1. Are we sure it wasn’t al jr. calling to score some ecstasy.

      Posted by zefal on 2007 11 28 at 04:11 PM • permalink

 

    1. It’s funny. Kevni hasn’t yet figured out how this “election promise” thing works.

      The Left will make his first year hysterically funny.

      Posted by Ash_ on 2007 11 28 at 05:03 PM • permalink

 

    1. Actually, I’ve taught Al how to say g’day. As you know, with some of our American friends it’s very hard to get it quite right”

      Well, for Al it would be. Probably came out, “Good…day…Kevin.”

      Posted by Dave S. on 2007 11 28 at 05:37 PM • permalink

 

    1. Colour me utterly confused.  Can anyone show me what a carbon credit looks like? Research to date leads me to believe that we will be buying knickers from the suite of the emperor’s new clothes (carefully tailored in Paris) – or have I been misled?

      Posted by Quoll on 2007 11 28 at 05:53 PM • permalink

 

    1. How long will it be before Rudd announces Tim Flannery as our Propaganda Chief, and/or Roving Ambassador for World Fear?

      Posted by Barrie on 2007 11 28 at 06:18 PM • permalink

 

    1. #15 quoll; Here’s one.

      Posted by dean martin on 2007 11 28 at 07:55 PM • permalink

 

    1. #16 I thought it was already a fait accompli, he’s self appointed.

      As are most of the Carbon Emission Warriors.

      Posted by kae on 2007 11 28 at 08:11 PM • permalink

 

    1. The g’day story sounds exactly like that – a story. Gore’s contact with Australians goes back way well before Labor created Kevin Rudd. Shit, Rudd needed coaching himself to say g’day convincingly.

      Posted by Contrail on 2007 11 28 at 08:22 PM • permalink

 

    1. And Al Gore breaks the habit of a lifetime and phones in his congratulations rather than flying over in person on a private jet. But does this mean that his carbon-credit-selling company will have to give him a refund?

      Posted by andycanuck on 2007 11 29 at 01:59 AM • permalink

 

    1. Al would be the first person I would go to for advice about ratifying Kyoto, after all wasn’t he president of the US Senate when they voted 95-0 not to ratify it.

      Posted by rob w on 2007 11 29 at 02:16 AM • permalink

 

    1. This post has proved two things:
      1) You don’t have to be an illiterate retard to write for the Sydney Morning Herald, but it’s the only way you’re ever going to get promoted.2) Kevin Rudd was either a seriously crap diplomat, or he went and fudged through a campaign promise he knew he couldn’t keep.  Could the press pack please get off their knees, swallow whatever’s in their mouths or remove lips from Rudd’s arse, and ask?

      Posted by Craig Ranapia (OtherPundit) on 2007 11 29 at 03:36 AM • permalink

 

    1. As far as I know the Kyoto treaty was never sent to the senate for ratification.  The senate passed a resolution saying that they would not ratify it if it was submitted, and this is what had the 95-0 vote.

      BCN

      Posted by BCNemmers on 2007 11 29 at 11:06 AM • permalink

 

    1. #9.  No, there’s no need to submit treaties to any outside body for ratification – all it takes is a cabinet decision.  But in the USA treaties have the force of law, unless they specifically say they don’t; in most countries, including Australia, treaties just agreements the government has signed, and don’t have much effect on anybody else.  Rudd can sign Kyoto tomorrow morning, but that would just obligate Australia to pass laws implementing its provisions; and those laws have to pass through Parliament, just like any law does.  And until 30-Jun-2008 the Coalition still has an absolute majority in the Senate (though Nelson seems to have rolled over, so that becomes moot).

      Posted by Milhouse on 2007 11 29 at 04:08 PM • permalink

 

  1. “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

    Posted by mojo on 2007 11 29 at 05:20 PM • permalink