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Last updated on July 13th, 2017 at 01:55 pm
Brendan Nelson is the new leader of the federal Liberal Party. Julie Bishop deputy.
UPDATE. Rudd names his cabinet; Peter Garrett demoted.
UPDATE II. The man just won’t quit:
Prime minister-elect Kevin Rudd spoke uninterrupted today for a staggering 30 minutes in a frightening sign of what may be to come in a Labor-ruled Australia.
Announcing his front bench, Mr Rudd almost finished after 25 minutes but remembered he had forgotten to speak about a minister – and started talking again …
The performance from Mr Rudd, who became a household name through chatty appearances on breakfast television while in opposition, follows his lengthy and unremarkable acceptance speech on Saturday when he was elected.
UPDATE III:
It took Mr Rudd 20 minutes to run through the list – and he forgot to mention Communications Minister Stephen Conroy and Assistant Treasurer Chris Bowen.
The first thing Nelson should do is rethink the Libs’ approach to climate change policy, which was influenced to much by the now-defeated Mr Turnbull.
The planet has not warmed since 1998, even though CO2 levels have been increasing. Time for some evidence-based policy formation, Dr Nelson. Show some guts and some leadership on this issue.
Posted by Alex of Canberra on 2007 11 28 at 10:05 PM • permalink
TimT – you may have stuffed the links. Those are both the same android…
Posted by Quentin George on 2007 11 28 at 10:08 PM • permalink
Julia Gillard Minister for Industrial Relations andEducation
Posted by eeniemeenie on 2007 11 28 at 10:16 PM • permalink
Hockey is also as wet and limp on policy as a Kevin Rudd handshake.
Posted by Art Vandelay on 2007 11 28 at 10:16 PM • permalink
Let us remeber that whoever is opposition leader now, will not be running as leader in 3 years time. They are purely a sacrificial anode. Hopefull some hate filled, baby blood drinking, economic rationalist, small government type emerges from the pack. Hopefully I wake up with a 10 inch dick too.
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 11 28 at 10:16 PM • permalink
#9- I was hoping it would be Turnbull for precisely that reason.
Posted by eeniemeenie on 2007 11 28 at 10:22 PM • permalink
- An easy win for the Libs in the ‘who’s got the hottest deputy stakes’. Not that there was any competition.
And, contrary to earlier posts, you will find that the last time Malcolm Turnbull lived on the north shore was as a boarder at Sydney Grammar Prep School (thats about 40 years ago) while John Howard has lived on the north shore for decades. Just a bit of geographical correctness from an overly pedantic poster.
Don’t the Liberal Party have any Cantonese speaking autocrats in their ranks?
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 11 28 at 10:29 PM • permalink
7 – that makes a nonsense then of their making IR and Education revolution priorities. There is no way she can do it all, and be deputy dawg, which suggests to me, this is little kev’s way of keeping firmer control over these 2 portfolios – have them right next door to you!
Imagine Julia giving talks to schools with her elocution? urgh! I’ll admit it has improved remarkably in the last few weeks, but we’ll see.
Nice revolution Julia’s going to be running. Watch out for those “trade schools” kiddies. Little Timmy will be assigned a union card and then posted to Grey Tractor Factory 37 until he eventually dies waiting in a queue for his laptop.
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 11 28 at 10:50 PM • permalink
senator Peny Wong as minister for climate change and water.
Who got fairy tales and beer?
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 11 28 at 10:59 PM • permalink
And Stephen Smith at Foreign Affairs!- Is Rudd trying to change our international image from evil to stupid?
Posted by eeniemeenie on 2007 11 28 at 11:16 PM • permalink
I hope there’s a 3 month probation period on these duffers.
#25 – Someone get Stephen an atlas and explain to him that his portfolio has nothing to do with Contiki Tours and Euro tottie.
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 11 28 at 11:20 PM • permalink
- #9 “Hopefull some hate filled, baby blood drinking, economic rationalist, small government type emerges from the pack”
And if there is a God, this Liberal saviour will emerge after the next election in the form of…Hajnal Ban. mmmmmmmm Hajnal Ban.
“Hopefully I wake up with a 10 inch dick too”
What, you mean not everbody has a 10 inch dick? Dammit, I feel like such a freak now.
Mr Garrett will have responsibility for climate change measures such as implementing solar energy and water efficiency programs.
And don’t forget the harnessing of spastic energy. Five minutes of Garret doin’ the Funky Bandicoot could light up a small town.
Garrett is going to be Minister of “environment, heritage and arts”. Isn’t that kind of a strange combination? In the U.S., that would be like having a Secretary of Education, Credit Unions and Alfalfa Genetics.
“Julia Gillard is a first class human being …” Mr Rudd has said.
I hope he tables the DNA evidence in parliament and doesn’t expect us to take her claim to be a member of the human race on faith.
Posted by eeniemeenie on 2007 11 28 at 11:33 PM • permalink
#28- that would be like having a Secretary of Education, Credit Unions and Alfalfa Genetics.
Paco,that would be Jooolia our new Minister of Industrial Relations, Education and (God help us) Social Inclusion.
Posted by eeniemeenie on 2007 11 28 at 11:36 PM • permalink
It looks like the MSM are suffering from buyer’s remorse already:
Oh no, is this what we voted for?
Thankfully, it wasn’t in Mandarin.
Prime minister-elect Kevin Rudd spoke uninterrupted today for a staggering 30 minutes after being late – again – for a key press conference in a frightening sign of what may be to come in a Labor-ruled Australia.
…
The excruciating performance from Mr Rudd, who became a household name through chatty appearances on breakfast television, follows his lengthy and unremarkable acceptance speech on Saturday when he was elected.Posted by Art Vandelay on 2007 11 28 at 11:38 PM • permalink
- “Julia Gillard is a first class human being with a first class mind,” Mr Rudd has said.
Is kevni trying to dispel that more human than human rumour?
And Peter Garrett? Three years of traveling around primary schools handing out surplus keveseven tee shirts to every grade 2 class which uses redirected bubbler water for their carrot-top-in-a-dish project.
indigenous affairs, Jenny Macklin!
what did they do to deserve that?
Posted by eeniemeenie on 2007 11 28 at 11:52 PM • permalink
Rudd was 15 minutes late getting to the press conference. The radio presenter here, with his program on standby, was not impressed.
Did anyone count how many times Rudd said “first class”? Sheesh!
A talkback caller on 6PR this morning told of union heavies manning the gates on a building site. The caller is the owner/operator of a tilt-tray delivering bobcats and the like to building sites. The driveway was blocked by a ute. He was told to sign up for union membership or no access. He declined and had to drive away.
Didn’t take long, did it?
BTW, he drove around the back, breached a partition-type wall and delivered the goods. No doubt they’ll be onto that one next time.
- Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 11 28 at 11:54 PM • permalink
Does anyone else find it slightly ironic that the Libs spend an entire election campaign bemoaning the dearth of former union bosses on Labor’s frontbench, then elect a former union boss of the most powerful union in the land as their leader?
Oh, Labor’ going to have fun with this one, boys.
Posted by AlexanderH on 2007 11 29 at 12:03 AM • permalink
#41 – The AMA the most powerful union in the land? That’d be news to them and the rest of the union movement.
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 11 29 at 12:11 AM • permalink
Minister of “Social Inclusion”? What on earth would a Minister of Social Inclusion do? Sounds like one of those employees on a cruise line tht tries to make sure everyone has a fun time..:)
In reading the posts I was hoping that Mr.Nelson would meet with a more favourable response but,at least, y’all seem unimpressed with Rudd’s picks. One out of two will have to do.
*interested seppo*
#46 – Minister of Social Inclusion
Spends the next three years scouring nightclubs for wallflowers encouraging them to dance.
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 11 29 at 12:16 AM • permalink
#41 not really, but your dearth of knowledge of word definitions is pretty amusing
Posted by eeniemeenie on 2007 11 29 at 12:26 AM • permalink
Addressing the troops
Mr Rudd was greeted with a prolonged standing ovation as he entered the caucus meeting, addressing Labor MPs in the manner of a victorious army chief.
“We have struggled in the fields, we have fought the good fight, and we have prevailed,” Mr Rudd has said.
“I look around this room and see so many faces with whom I have fought in the trenches this last year. It is such a delight to see each and every one of you here and I salute the efforts which you have made.”
This is the homily in line with his previous ‘baton in the backpack’ spiel re: previous ALP leadership spills. If he turns up to greet the real troops, he might be in for a distinct shock at their attitudes towards him. Picture Billary and the young grunt giving the ‘under duress’ sign in a photop several years ago from the States. As for the orange roughie reviewing the parade and taking the salute, spare me!
Nelson is more ideological than Turnbill, who is more of a pragmatist.
The early years in opposition are extremely difficult. Better to argue from a ideological viewpoint at this early stage as there will be room to move later.
Do not rule out Costello in 2 years time.
Posted by Craig Burden on 2007 11 29 at 12:42 AM • permalink
#41 Al, the difference is, and you may have trouble following this.
Labor:
100% Union members
70% of front bench are Union officialsLiberal:
<15% Union members
1 senior Minister, now the Leader of the Opposition, is a Union officialLabor: led by unions
Liberal: led by businessAnd Labor won’t have all that much fun with it, because they’d lose that argument.
What demographic were these aimed at? Garrett saves the environment, starting in the garden. Your garden.
Wayne Swan gives us some budgeting tips.
Some tips from Wayne on
saving money buying petrol.Garrett gives us shopping tips. And the champion sound bite “Kevin Rudd and I are committed…”
Yeah, certifiable…This place is a gold mine!
A Minister for Broadband but no minister for dial-up.
There’s no Dept of Homeland Security – expect plenty of jokes about non-core promises – but I’m glad to see there is now a minister for social inclusion – how did we survive all this time without one?
Posted by Pig Head Sucker on 2007 11 29 at 12:45 AM • permalink
Bishop vs. Gillard. Pity it wasn’t Kate Ellis in a underwear and pillows cage match.
As long as there’s not another Bali, requiring real leadership, the next 3 years are going to rock like an old man with Parkinsons!
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 11 29 at 12:51 AM • permalink
#65 – He’s not fit to sniff the jocks that once carried Churchill’s nuts.
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 11 29 at 01:00 AM • permalink
1 senior Minister, now the Leader of the Opposition, is a Union officialIS? He hasn’t been one since at least 1996. Eleven years ago I was only in my teens…Posted by Quentin George on 2007 11 29 at 01:00 AM • permalink
We are at War. Australians are dying in combat with the enemy and the ALP go and make Smith the FM and a no-namer the Def Min and a hick as Min for Defence and Science Personell (not that it is very important in the bigger picture).
The ADF has got the message very early about what the ALP truely think about them.
Jooolia our new Minister of Industrial Relations, Education and (God help us) Social Inclusion Intrusion
That’s better
Posted by Art Vandelay on 2007 11 29 at 01:30 AM • permalink
Brendan Nelson! He of the error-prone mouth?
He who made a bit of a mess of the Defence portfolio? Who was a root cause of Private Kovco shambles? Who said that:
The need to secure oil supplies is a factor in Australia’s continued military involvement in Iraq?
That oil was a factor in Australia’s contribution to the unpopular war, as “energy security” and stability in the Middle East would be crucial to the nation’s future?
That defence was about protecting the economy as well as physical security, and it was important to support the “prestige” of the US and UK?
God help us.
All I can think is that Malcolm Turnbull lost out because of his stance on Kyoto, saying “Sorry” and an Australian republic.
After the initial melancholia set in for 5 minutes after the election result, the wags at this site are proving that it’s going to be one hell of an entertaining three years.
The best thing about the change in leadership and all those who mocked Howard, is now it’s their turn. Over to you ‘experts’ now lads. Time to sit back and just watch the fun.
Gillard’s education revolution.
How long before the kiddies
start coming home screaming
“capitalist pigs” at their
parents and putting a boot
through the big screen TV
while refusing to shower or
use lightbulbs.*And in breaking news, Julia
has just announced that the
“one notebook per child”
computer scheme has been
scrapped.It from now on will be
“one red book” per child.
In 2004, Joel completed a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration at the University of Newcastle. Earlier as a mature age student, he had completed a number of subjects towards an Arts/Law degree at the University of New England.
Joel is an also ran. He’s never quite gotten to the front of the queue, never quite become the captain of the team, never first pick in the draft. Complelted only a third of his MBA. Didn’t finish an Arts degree. Deputy Mayor. Now Bozo the Clown has seen fit to put him in charge of the largest government agency with a budget of 20 billion a year? I’d rather see Faulkner in the job than an amateur.
- Feeling like a bit of a Nigel-no-friends?
Just dial 1800-joolya and someone from the Ministry of Social Inclusion will see you well sorted.
(Although comrade joolya’s previous penchant for selling the “one stop shop” for industrial relations might lead punters to believe she’s running a federally mandated knocking shop.)
Turnbull named Shadow Treasurer.
Probably expected. Bishop going to be….Foreign Affairs, perhaps?
Posted by Quentin George on 2007 11 29 at 02:04 AM • permalink
- My take on Gillard’s ‘Social Inclusion’ responsibilities – it’s either:
1 – persuading the more vocal of Australia’s muslim population that perhaps they should stop calling the rest of us kaffirs and infidels; or
2 – after giving every Australian kiddy a laptop and highspeed broadband, telling them they shouldn’t spend 24 hours a day on World of Warcraft and internet P*rn.Either way, I almost feel sorry for the ghastly ginger ambulance-chaser.
Imagine the deliberations over who would get small business.
KR: Alright comrades, whose ever invested any of their own capital or run a business that didn’t rely on the Government tit?
PARTY ROOM:
KR: What was that? Who said that?
JG: I think Emerson just farted.
KR: Good enough for me. Craig you’re small business minister.
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 11 29 at 02:08 AM • permalink
#79 – It’s Julia vs. Julia in IR. Battle of the FemBots.
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 11 29 at 02:10 AM • permalink
#83 – Make that Julie vs. Julia.
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 11 29 at 02:11 AM • permalink
Er, Nelson is personally responsible for the guy who was supposed to be accompanying the body back got careless? I understand the buck stops with him, but was he supposed to predict that would happen? Not guilty.
And one reason for our continuing involvement in the gulf is exactly to secure oil supplies. Not so we can steal it (in case lefty morons are reading), but for the world’s trading nations that depend on its free movement. The alternative is to let Iran close the straits of Hormuz anytime they feel like screwing with us, which is often.
All I can think is that Malcolm Turnbull lost out because of his stance on Kyoto, saying “Sorry” and an Australian republic.
…and banning light globes. I sincerely hope so.
Posted by Mr Hackenbacker on 2007 11 29 at 02:14 AM • permalink
I was waiting with interest to see who would be appointed as Defence Minister, and I was not disappointed, some numpty who has never pulled on a boot gets the job.
Like Razor (#70), I can see that it is pretty obvious what sort of priority the Dear Leader will be giving to the ADF.
Could have been worse, I suppose. Maxine McHogget might have got the nod. The scenes of mutiny at barracks and bases around the country would have been spectacular!
Posted by Pedro the Ignorant on 2007 11 29 at 02:14 AM • permalink
Ash & Nic: I think just outside the eight is our fate this time around. Poised nicely for 2009.
Posted by Mr Hackenbacker on 2007 11 29 at 02:20 AM • permalink
Well that identifies the West Coast supporter!
Don’t be bitter. Masten, Kennedy, & Notte are a pretty good trade. You’ve got at least two ten-year players there.
Posted by Mr Hackenbacker on 2007 11 29 at 02:31 AM • permalink
Rudd named Fitzgibbon as Minister of Defence.
Under “Outer Ministry” they list two others for defence. I take it that they are like Assistant Ministers of Defence?None of you seem too pleased with Fitzgibbon. How about Stephen Smith as Minister of Foreign Affairs? I hope they have some meat to them since these are critical jobs, geez.
Just as an aside, I see that there is a Minister for “Deregulation” How soon before that gets changed to “Rerugulation”?
Just as an aside, I see that there is a Minister for “Deregulation”
The fact the ALP came to power on a platform of workplace re-regulation, I can’t fathom why they want to name a department that.
Unless it’s just a case of style over substance. Not our Kevni.
Posted by Quentin George on 2007 11 29 at 02:44 AM • permalink
Stephen Smith, Lindsay Tanner, and Bob McMullen all seem like they have common sense and don’t drink the kool-aid. I could be wrong of course. The worst thing I can say about Smith and Tanner is that I don’t think they have the “ticker”.
Swann as treasurer isn’t convincing. He’s always seemed sensible, but I’ve never pegged him above mediocre as a talent or thinker. The ALP was wise to hide him until after the election.
Posted by Mr Hackenbacker on 2007 11 29 at 02:45 AM • permalink
How the fuck did this become a Carlton thread in cricket season? Sod off and die, you garlic munching, cheats.
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 11 29 at 02:52 AM • permalink
Where are Carmen Lawrence, Joan Kirner, Cheryl Kernot, Reba “Ma’r” etc?
Posted by stackja1945 on 2007 11 29 at 02:55 AM • permalink
I think Smith is probably not too bad. I think he was assistant treasurer or something in the last ALP government. He has some experience as a minister and i’m pretty sure he’s from the right of the WA party.
The guy that worries me is Kim Carr. He’s an old style interventionist industry-policy type who would think nothing of throwing taxpayer money to pick winners in whatever is the latest fad industry or at whoever bleats the loudest. Anyone who saw him doing senate estimates last time would also have to agree that he’s dumb, really really dumb.
Thank you for the input on the foreign affairs minister. I hope he surprises to the upside since this is so critical, especially in the next year before the lights go out here in the US.
I think Brown in the UK has some thirty something ex-internet minister, or whatever, as his foreign affairs sec. Good God almighty.
AS for Nelson I was a bit surprised as I assumed Turnbull would get it. I suppose Nelson’s greater experience won over plus there might be some feeling that to throw Turnbull in at this stage might be risk wasting his potential appeal. The odds are the new leader will not last the time needed to beat Rudd. Nelson is relatively safe and can maintain the liberal vote for a future leader to use as a base for winning government.
#109 – Now that JWH has left, he’s not sure, but is claiming the Brisbane Lions until the focus groups get back with the results. Can’t wait to see him hanging out in the dressing rooms with Wallabies after a test win or sharing a stub with Ricky and the boys!
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 11 29 at 03:08 AM • permalink
And though this is probably more relevant to a previous thread, could I suggest people seeing all the “liberal party is finished” headlines take these with a massive dose of salt (yes current and potential trolls, i’m also talking to you) The same headlines were used during the late 80s and early 90s (just before 11 years of government) and the same was said of the labor party shortly after losing in 1996 and at various times after. Except that I have almost limitless capacity for believing in the stupidity and gullibility of journalists I’d be surprised that they are using the same old saw again.
He says he’s been to the Gabba many many times and was talking about “quarters” which makes me think he currently supports the Lions.
Or the Red Rooster across the road in Vulture St.
I’m sure I’ve seen him full as a state school down the Storey Bridge pub after a big win by the Lions, sculling schooners,pissing in pot plants, wandering around the front bar with his chop hanging out, giving the bouncers and coppers big mobs of lip and then trying to get a maxi load together to slip up to the knock shop.
He’s really a top bloke you know, a mad keen punter from way back, footy man, barra fisherman, can tie a mudcrab up in 3.2 secs and you’ve never seen his like pullin sand worms up at Fraser when the Tailor are on the go.
Haven’t read through the comments yet, so if anyone has already posted JWH’s final message to the Australian electorate. I do apoligise.
Posted by Richard Sharpe on 2007 11 29 at 04:05 AM • permalink
#125 that’s great- what he should have said saturday night.
this one of Rudd’s pretty spot on too
Posted by eeniemeenie on 2007 11 29 at 04:59 AM • permalink
Prime minister-elect Kevin Rudd spoke uninterrupted today for a staggering 30 minutes in a frightening sign of what may be to come in a Labor-ruled Australia.
It’s a left wing thing. Castro and Chavez are known for their epic speeches.
Julia Gillard Minister for Industrial Relations and Education
Another left wing thing. Education is the left’s word for brain washing. It is a perfect fit for Marxist Gillard
Final comment, if Rudd didn’t heed factional leaders how the hell did Anthony Albanese get a portfolio?
John Howard was a fine example of a keen Australian spectator. He was knowledgable about the game (whichever game) and if anyone had bothered to check the International Sporting Calendars, November 24th was a shoe in. Not one game or race worth mentioning to take away the shine from the election.
#101 Ash I said SECOND. The only other team I prefer SECOND is Collingwood. Get so close but no cigar. Pure joy watching their supporters.
Julia, Minister for Socialist Fusion.
#93
The name won’t be changed to Re-regulation, but something along the lines of “Fair …”. Only its charter will be re-regulation.It’s like the old children’s books where two sentences in different coloured ink are superimposed and illegible; placing coloured cellophane over the muddle reveals the real sentence. It helps to look at left through Orwell coloured glass.
Posted by Toiling Mass on 2007 11 29 at 05:33 AM • permalink
Brer Nelson is a bit of a toffee nose, but strikes me as a pretty genuine bloke (he rides a motorbike for fun), but I don’t see him as the next PM unless he manages to repeatedly thrash Dear Leader in Question Time and come up with some more appealing IR policy.
WA has the advantage of reading on the interwebs about Red Kezza being slapped down two hours before he goes to air here, so we can ring up our mates to watch the slaughter and high five each other.
Posted by Pedro the Ignorant on 2007 11 29 at 06:06 AM • permalink
Jeez, didn’t you lot read the damned memo??? Some lot of minions you are. Check the noticeboard regularly or I’ll start the floggings again.
#27,
#“Hopefully I wake up with a 10 inch dick too”
What, you mean not everbody has a 10 inch dick? Dammit, I feel like such a freak now.
Posted by Mr Simmon on 2007 11 28 at 11:22 PM • permalinkPog stealthily hands Mr Simmon a scrap of paper with her phone number on it. 😉
May I quote?
Ahem.
Memo to all Male VRWC Staff
Following the recent staff survey, and we mean STAFF, not ‘staff’, our Dark Master, Lord Rove, has decided that in order to standardise the VRWC, a new standing order is promulgated relating to STAFF size of all VRWC Henchmen and Minions.
The survey noted that the Lords of the VRWC were all in the 12” and up staff size. This is natural as all have well-earned reputations as big swinging dicks staffs (BSDS).
However, Henchmen and Minion staff sizes merely followed the upper edge of the usual range (well, except for Howard the Enceladan). This is not acceptable, for morale purposes.
As the funding choice was between a comprehensive health plan and rectifying this problem, it was put to the vote.
Well, that outcome was a no-brainer.
Starting immediately, all Henchmen and Minions with staff sizes less than 10” are to report to the Penile Augmentation Cloning Office. A minimum staff length of 10” is to be applied across all Henchman and Minion ranks. Those in excess of this figure may retain their natural length. Senior Henchmans Wronwright’s request to have a reduction to “at least above my bloody knees, dammit” is refused.
Signed (in the blood of cute little puppies)
The Dark Lord
I hope this also explains those stupid questions about why the Minionettes are so tired these days, but never stop smiling.
MarkL
Minionmeister to the VRWC
- To MarkL
Minionmeister to the VRWCre your diatribe #153I was merely offering Mr Simmon my services as a physical psychotherapist to deal with his feelings of over-adequacy.
To quote, “I feel like such a freak now”. I felt it was my duty as a senior minionette to the VRWC that I help Mr Simmon come over overcome any problems he may have that would lead to him not being up to able to perform his duties to VRWC.
Yours’ sincerely, Pogria
Senior Minionette, VRWCps, you still have my phone number, don’t you Mark?
Look at the band of time servers, wastrels, trough feeders and general fuckwits that now comprise Australia’s government and despair.
Naturally the meeja never bothered to examine who was waiting in the ALP wings and about the only time they ever mentioned Kevni’s likely cabinet makeup was to gibber about the rock star and TV talking head (Baldy and McHogget), both of whom prematurely showed their true pinko colours and were emphatically told to shut up, quick smart.
The Dear Leader made sure that he alone was allowed to utter the platitudes to the multitudes “Zob, zob zob” he cried, and the scribes howled in wonder at his wisdom.
Has the ALP voters “buyer’s remorse” set in yet? If it hasn’t, it won’t be long.
Posted by Pedro the Ignorant on 2007 11 29 at 09:11 AM • permalink
Nelson? Turnbull? Dunno. I would have liked to see Abbott but electorate obviously wants the quiet life and to be whispered sweet nothings whilst it drifts off into fairyland.
As for Nelson:
Backing Kyoto is fair because that’s apparently what the Australian public want.
However, he’s says they’re going to block the rollback of IR.
That’s a major mistake. Terry McCrann was right when he said that the Australian voting public should be made to lie in the bed that they’ve made.
They shouldn’t block anything. In the case of IR, Kyoto and “Sorry” they should simply abstain.
If the Libs block IR rollback they’ll be absolutely destroyed at the next election.
Regardless, I reckon we’re eventually going to have a repeat of Fraser with Turnbull unless Costello makes a comeback.
Ahem. Mark. The memo you typed up for Karl based on your dictation of his instructions is a bit off. When he said “staff”, he meant the precious metal and gem encrusted staff we carry around. The higher echelon naturally have longer staffs (longer than 12″). They’re also made of gold and have larger gem stones. They brandish these when issuing orders to minions.
The lower level personnel have staffs made up of varying metals and covered with an array of items, the lowest carrying birch sticks.
He most certainly did not mean penises.
And I think you might have been mistaken about me wanting my penis shortened. I’m fairly certain about that. Although if rumors are already being circulated that I’m complaining about my penis being too long, I wouldn’t advocate trying to stop them.
Posted by wronwright on 2007 11 29 at 03:07 PM • permalink
More like the ceremonial staffs that the German officers carried in WWII. Although they’re more than able to give a good lump on one’s head, believe me.
Posted by wronwright on 2007 11 29 at 04:24 PM • permalink
#163: The lower level personnel have staffs made up of varying metals and covered with an array of items, the lowest carrying birch sticks.
Hey! (Reaches into shirt pocket and extracts VRWC “staff”, recently received in mail). The lowest grade is birch sticks? Well, I’m staring at mine right now, and this thing looks like a Q-tip, to me. And why did the outside of the envelope it came in say “Forensic evidence, Prisoner 980-435789, Melvin “Shiv Daddy” Johnson? Something doesn’t seem right about this.
- CB: Re Joel Fitzgibbons modest achievements:
In 2004, Joel completed a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration at the University of Newcastle. Earlier as a mature age student, he had completed a number of subjects towards an Arts/Law degree at the University of New England.
Joel is an also ran. He’s never quite gotten to the front of the queue, never quite become the captain of the team, never first pick in the draft. Complelted only a third of his MBA. Didn’t finish an Arts degree. Deputy Mayor. Now Bozo the Clown has seen fit to put him in charge of the largest government agency with a budget of 20 billion a year? I’d rather see Faulkner in the job than an amateur.Hang out, that may be a bit harsh on Joel. He has achieved membership of one of the world’s smallest, most exclusive clubs: He’s a friend of Mark Latham.
Very funny sentence in the online SMH this morning.
It is believed Mr Turnbull lost crucial votes when former prime minister Malcolm Fraser rang Liberal MPs on his behalf on Wednesday.
This proves Turnbull would make a very bad leader on two grounds (not including the referendum dummy spit):
1. If Malcolm likes him then there must be something wrong with him.
2. If he asked Malcolm to ring around then he’s too politically stupid for words.
The Ministry of Social Inclusion
Posted by Col. Milquetoast on 2007 11 29 at 07:24 PM • permalink
Was told a story about Defence members’ attitudes to their Ministers. No doubt I’ve got it a bit garbled but, in essence, the background is that Defence people apparently don’t like politicians telling them what to do since they are confident that they already know how to do their own jobs. So questions from Ministers tend to be met with responses full of statistics and confounding Defence-type acronyms. The thing about Nelson is that he astonished everyone by remembering it all. I believe he’s known as The Brain, or something like that.
Possibly the worst case I have ever seen of biased “journalism” from the Tele. If they dislike Rudd and Labor so much then why endorse them pre-election?
Give Rudd a few months to grow into his role as PM. He will improve as he gains experience.
For those of you nostalgic for the good ol’ days with JWH take a look at this video John Howard – Macho Man
#171 – Got the nickname Rainman for his unbelievable recall of statistics. Apparently quite well regarded by the guys and girls busting their arses.
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 11 29 at 08:27 PM • permalink
#176 – Shouldn’t you be at schoolies or enrolling in summer school?
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 11 29 at 08:34 PM • permalink
#179 – If I want a serious argument I tell my girlfriend her friends are hot. If I want to extract the urine from a low rent dickwad, I reply to your posts.
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 11 29 at 08:40 PM • permalink
- #179
Boo hoo. You say some pretty dopey things here too.The military would be understandably jack of being told how to do their jobs by civilians who have no idea about their jobs, or their jobs’ requirements. That’s just a start.An example is ordering incorrect/inadequate equipment. Submarines come to mind, and the recent argument regarding replacement of the F111.
But hey, what would I know, I’ve insulted you. Diddums.
#176 The military’s ultimate boss is the parliament; they are not a law unto themselves.
Agile,
Janice said people don’t like being told how to do their jobs from people who assume they know how to do the job. Consequently, a dialogue between Defense Defence and the Minister ensues. No one said the military’s boss was not the civilian government. I think you read too much into #171 and/or didn’t read enough.Posted by Col. Milquetoast on 2007 11 29 at 09:21 PM • permalink
#170, sheer genius! My fellow oppressed Ministry workers loved it.
Posted by Art Vandelay on 2007 11 29 at 11:22 PM • permalink
#166 In sooth, such is our tradition, pray dimnish it not…
Posted by MentalFloss on 2007 11 29 at 11:32 PM • permalink
If that’s the case, then this new ruling will not affect you in any way. 😉
Happy with the choice of Nelson. He makes a more awkward target for the Labor’s press corp aka the Canberra press gallery. Ex-Labor man whose wealth was, I assume, the result of being a doctor. People expect doctors to be wealthy. people also know what doctors do.
Turnbull’s wealth on the other hand is seen as something evil despite the fact he is probably matched by Mr and Mrs Rudd. Dim-wit Maria Hawthorne from AAP can’t say Turnbull with saying millionaire MP. He is also an ex-merchant banker and no one trusts them becaue no one knows what they do. Remember the reaction to the Macquarie bid for Qantas?
Julie Bishop? No other choice. Smart lawyer from a serious law firm, very attractive too. Gillard needs two hours in make-up just to look like a female. If Bishop can maintain cool good manners dealing with Gillard, the Labor hag with her grating voice will come across like the wicked witch in Snow White.
176 – Vagile, when you’ve put on enough dog and pony shows and have been fucked around by politically expedient decisions and copped the thin end of the wedge on contracts given to the cheapest bidder, then you’ll understand why the ADF is effing prickly with Politicians who know sweet FA about the profession of arms.
The Coalition government has saved the ADF from shrivelling into insignificance in the way the NZDF has. They weren’t perfect, but they were a shed load better than the bunch of tossers who listened to Dibb on Defending Australia and failed to adequately fund the ADF. Most of the problems in ADF procurement and budgeting today are a result of the emaciation during the Hawke/Keating debacle. And if you don’t believe me then you do not understand just how long and how much money it takes to replace major equipments and build capability in terms of equipment, training and corporate knowledge.
Now eff off back to your sand-pit.
171 – I find it disturbing that the military don’t like to receive orders and requests from politicians.
The military’s ultimate boss is the parliament; they are not a law unto themselves.
Posted by agile on 2007 11 29 at 08:30 PM
Agile, you are profoundly ignorant, and have compounded your ignorance by putting words into Janice’s mouth. What she said was “the background is that Defence people apparently don’t like politicians telling them what to do since they are confident that they already know how to do their own jobs. So questions from Ministers tend to be met with responses full of statistics and confounding Defence-type acronyms.”
This is an obvious comment on micromanagement and ‘scathingly brilliant ideas’ by people who do not have a bloody clue. So the responses to their various idiocies have to be exact (because they are not well informed on defence/strategic matters) and full of data (because they are ignorant of the facts).
The classic case was the purchase of the F-111G models by the previous ALP government in 1995. Hey, it’s an F-111, it’s cheap, so it has to be good, eh? The Minister decided it was a good idea. He bought some and thought the RAAF’d be chuffed.
Of course, the minister did not know what any randomly selected RAAF F-111 operator or engineer did. The G model was quite different from our RAAF’s C models. Unlike the C it had a contemporary digital computer and dual ASN-41 (Honeywell H523 or Litton LN-39) Ring Laser Gyro Inertial Systems (INS), integrated with new APN-218 Doppler navigation equipment, which replaced the obsolete APN-185: hence different avionics. Oops! They also had different intakes and engines (which were mounted at a different angle). hence different airframes. Oops! So they posed very serious and expensive integration problems for the RAAF, and an new supply chain had to be established. A new training regimen had to be developed for them, as did a new maintenance structure.
So what happens is that the ALP routinely picks a numpty as Minister of Defence (the most famed being that idiot [a train driver] Gordon Scholes) who then proceeds to make a hash of it. Which the department has to spend time fixing, while wearing the blame for the blunders of the numpty.
Your second sentence is beneath contempt, and proves both your utter ignorance of the ADF, and your own fabulist viewpoint.
MarkL
Canberra
199/200 The Kovco issue was a combination of a media beat-up, adminstrative stuff ups and a grieving family in denial. While emotionally fraught, it was hardly war-losing stuff, not an indicator of Ministerial incompetnece or error, and should never have been made into such a high profile issue. Things like almost having a submarine sink, replacing diesel lines with cheaper below spec lines causing loss of life are all significantly more serious issues that you might have raised, but not indicators of Ministerial incompetence.
The Super Hornet buy is supported by the pilots who are going to fly them. And the reason we have to buy the Super Hornets, which are the best stop gap measure when the F-111 is decommissioned, is because the ALP Government didn’t start the procurement process when it should have and in oppositon would have refused to support the budget increases that the F-111 replacement program required.
OK, Smart Arse, what is your solution instead of buying the Super Hornet?
202 – it takes longer than 11 years to replace aircraft, numpty. That’s why the ALP shoulder much of the blame. And you are spot on for the State ALP Governments – WA ALP came to power promising to fix the health system and it still isn’t fixed. And now Kev reckons he is going to do it, in about three terms time. Yeah, right.
And, I ask again, what is your solution instead of buying the Super Hornet?
#204 (hi ashy) agile has missed several points. Instead of admitting an error (in particular his gross misunderstanding of #171) or backing up what he said with facts and reason he simply jumps off to a different point.
agile, I think you have potential. Back up your arguments or back down from them. If you don’t you’ll lose any bit of respect and Infidel Tiger will continue to piss in your skull (he may anyways- IT does as IT wants).
Posted by Col. Milquetoast on 2007 11 30 at 05:21 AM • permalink
Please stop waving that Q tip around. I can’t be sure but I suspect that Q tip was sent to you by mistake. It was probably meant to be mailed to one of your shady yet lucrative lab analysis companies. Your order for a —
(wronwright reads paco’s three page order typed single space accompanied by a drawing)
— combination gold, silver, and platinum staff embedded with rubies and sapphires, none of which is smaller in size than 1 carat, is somewhere in “work in process”.
(wronwright returns paco’s order to bottom of IN BOX pile of papers)
Posted by wronwright on 2007 11 30 at 06:30 AM • permalink
For the benefit of Agile @#176:
“The military’s ultimate boss is the parliament; they are not a law unto themselves.”
The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act, at Section 68, has a “different interpretation”.
Cheers
Posted by J.M. Heinrichs on 2007 11 30 at 03:55 PM • permalink
A victory for commonsense. The party’s experimentation with Northshore luvviedom lasted all of 4 days. Pity it wasn’t Nelson Munz though.