You may be wondering, like I am, who is running the country.
It certainly isn’t the prime minister.
One could pose a forlorn argument that it is the executive, the cabinet calling the shots but that, too, doesn’t pass scrutiny. On Tuesday, Scott Morrison and Malcolm Turnbull were strident in opposition of a Royal Commission into the banks. It would not happen they said. Not on their watch. The commitments lasted less than 48 hours.
Tuesday’s titans have once again become Friday’s flotsam.
So who is running the country?
Sam Dastyari thinks the Chinese might be in charge, if not today then at some point in the not too distant future. Wealthy Chinese businessmen with strong links to the Chinese government imagine Australians as their drinks waiters and golf caddies of the future so with a gleam in his eye, Shanghai Sam has got out of the blocks early.
“The Chinese integrity of its borders is a matter for China. Seven iron, Mr Huang?”
Full column here.
From earlier:
Penny says:
December 4, 2017 at 5:13 pm
Geez Penny, your Dad picked you up from a school party at the Portsea Pub! Sounds like a great school (and a definitely top Dad). I hope you at least were beyond Grade 10 (or the equivalent form).
Should have said “end of school party” Milton, but yes definitely a top Dad.
I used to go snorkelling at Portsea – a lovely spot.
Jack, you said that the over/under was 9–and that’s just the figure Tony “Frequent Flyer” Burke came up with. Are you sure you’re not an actual insider?
Just good with probabilities, mate.
Been a while since I’ve heard a decent, X walks into a bar, barman says … type joke but hats off to kudelka in the Australian today. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/cartoons/kudelka/image-gallery/8d1d6295a5d4de435ee608ff718b2351
Christine Keeler gorn – ah, the memories…I understood none of it at the time, but I still wanted to be the chair.
How much did that chair sell for?
I do remember that Trivalve, I was only 10yo at the time but it was in all the newspapers in 1961 and on the news. May she now RIP hope her life has been a good one. Cheers
Ah – zee Profumo affair and how it played out in conservative Australia.
How dare he have a good looking mistress.
Come to think of it, things have not changed much – we are still as uptight as ever.
See the Houthi rebels killed former president Ali Abdullah Saleh in Yemen. Goodness knows what’s going to happen there now. Poor people of Yemen, the place has been in turmoil for decades. Wonder what is going to happen to the $60 billion he allegedly siphoned off the country. My old boss was from the same Hashid tribe as the ex-president, the movers and shakers.
https://tinyurl.com/y9lfhmzy
Poor old Ali. Went way past his use by date. I remember his portrait plastered all over Sana’a and I thought he was a double for Gabriel Kaplan.
A country that is truly, brutally hard to govern. Sad for the ones in the crossfire.
Can’t believe people like this Milo turkey are taken seriously enough to demonstrate and protest against. I saw even Ros Ward was out there protesting against him. Ignore them and they might just fade away.
https://tinyurl.com/yce83q26
Piece of work Mack.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/milo-yiannopoulos-on-pedophilia-and-this-arbitrary_us_58ab52a5e4b029c1d1f88d77
Cant ignore people like that.
Yes, when confronted with the likes of Milo, some folk tut-tut and wrap themselves in one of those innocent abroad envelopes, while the more inquisitive and adventurous among us are apparently genuinely interested in hearing about a meaty and moving slice of contemporary life not usually openly discussed by the hoi polloi, or even those who converse with a whisper behind their kerchiefs.
It seems that those who are only out to denounce and over emphasise the audacious bits generally do not have the capacity or wit to listen to, or read what Milo has to convey in toto.
Whichever demographic you fit into JB, I wouldn’t let it get under my skin me old mate.
Not unless you want it to?
Exactly MtK.
The more outrageous, the more money he generates for himself.
Anyone who takes him seriously needs counselling.
We should take him very seriously. Its aholes like that who encourage despicable behaviour from what might have otherwise remained latent aholes.
Silence is consent.
How did that FW get his start?
His 1st stop? 2GBiased Liberal Party Headquarters welcomed with open arms as the great Messiah by Jones The Parrot (of course).
I’m going to go against the tide on this one and say that while I haven’t been paying a great deal of attention to him, Milo seems anything but a turkey. He’s an extraordinarily smart character. Whether you think he’s using his smarts for good or evil is another thing.
One phrase he has come up with that is a cut-through is “cry-bullies”, to describe the so-called “progressives” who dish out abuse and hatred by the skip-load but go into an instant screaming sook the minute they cop some back. On the basis of that one epithet alone he’s worth listening to.
I agree TB-LS.
Of course you do. You would Bald.
Ms Keayy is contradicting herself. Rather than having taken all possible steps to relinquish her citizenship, as she now claims, she has previously told us that she kept her options open on her British citizenship until she was nominated.
She did not start the process after preselection a year earlier as she could have.
Cant see much wrong with that. What a crock the whole thing is. Don’t they swear allegiance to the Queen of England on entering parliament?
Nice bit of deflection there Boady in light of what is coming for the conservatives.
I wonder how sanguine you would be, JB, if her dual nationality was say North Korean?
Just as Australians have no special privileges in the UK, Brits have no special privileges here and are expected to obey the law like any other ethnic group.
Well as long the North Korean /Australian swore fealty to the English Queen like the rest of them it should be alright shouldn’t it?
You seem to be missing the point. It’s nothing to do with special privileges, it’s do with influencing parliamentary decisions. (and other politicians) I think a Harvard educated US/Australian dual with a background in a multi national mega banking corporation would be more of caution to the interests of the nation.
Unless we made the Norky Minister for Defence. Which might raise an eyebrow .
Agree it’s all ridiculous, JB. But the rules are the rules. Can’t have your cake and eat it.
Unlike some of the others she knew what was required.
That obnoxious flaneur with Greek name is an obvious fit for a post as Sydney shock-jock. Only trouble is that he’d put the resident old greys very much in the shade. Anyway, he needs a podium on free-to-air TV to exploit his style. I can’t see subscribers forking out for the pleasure. He’d do well in Russia, subtitled, but patronage guaranteed by the ruling claque.
Poms batting brilliantly. They deserve to win this and I hope they do-will open the series wide up. Terrible decisions by us not enforcing the follow on, using up all our referrals in a state of panic wayward bowling and hopeless batting by us. In one spell over 50 balls were bowled with only three in line with the stumps. Root is the key at 9:14pm as was their seam men Jimmy and Woakes-brilliant on the spot seam/swing bowling Bald. My wife is a casual observer and even she was flabbergasted when we did not send them in under tough conditions last nite. Go the :Poms…even it up Gents. By the way KP…what is he doing in the commentary box? A joke!
Yep looks like they’ve dug in Bassy. Good for the game if the Poms win this one.
Strange decision not to enforce the follow on. Especially when they were on a roll.?
I wouldn’t call it brilliant Bassy. Shades of Faff du Plessis for me – never out…
But Steve Smith is having a nightmare game, tactics-wise (or tactics-unwise). Still think we’ll win it but we’ll just have to bowl them.
Ye of little faith. The big boys stood up today. Great decision by Smith NOT to enforce the follow on. Keep the big boys fresh for Perth. Lets hope the curator can find some old bounce and pace over there. young Alex Carey after a big ton will have to wait Paine looking good hope he continues to go well. Did someone say something last year about the English exploiting Handscombe’s batting style? How good is the Adelaide Oval pitch. Hough should be applauded. It is the best cricket wicket on planet at the moment.
Perth deck will be a road…..draw
I want to know what Joe washes his trousers in.
He puts his hands in his pocket and polishes the ball and Jimmy Anderson makes it dance.
Methinks Jimmy might like that pink ball as much as the Duke.
The difference between his efforts and everybody else’s was quite remarkable as far as movement is concerned – especially in the second innings..
From now on there will be a golden rule in Adelaide – do not get the other team out and have to face a new ball during the twilight period – what Warner and Co faced was murderous.
I hope the Australians aren’t rubbing something on the ball. If they are, it’s making it bloody hard to catch.
I had faith but it was unnecessarily tight (which made it interesting I’ll grant you). The bowlers had knocked them over for 227 – not like they chased leather for 600. They’d have been bowling in the evening and would probably have done less work overall. An innings victory loomed.
Heh, you gonna eat them words Bassy? Good result, but I bet S.Smith had a worrisome night’s sleep last night.
The Looters are back in their element running all over the place screaming ‘national security, loyalty, the cold war is back again, lets pass more terror/security laws, lets keep everybody safe and secure’. Now I wonder if all this would have happened if Dasty had not met with the Chinaman. Of course not. If the Libs see a chink they dive on it. They have no policies, no nation building agenda but what they are REALLY good at is scaring little old ladies. Look, I have said it before the Looters would link a CWA cake stall to ‘national security’ if they think it could get away with it and wedge Labor. Meanwhile M.Cash sits there unchallenged! What is really frightening is what the Looters would do if there was a genuine terror/threat. We saw what a ballsup the gunman in the cafe became. Brandis knew all about him and let it go through to the keeper.
“if the Libs see a chink they dive on it”
Would you not say that applies to the opposition as well,Bassy?
Labor have relentlessly attacked over the citizenship thing – and are now looking pretty silly.
If anything this may be a welcome boost for John Alexander’s chances.
I think that one went over your head Boady!
Yes indeedy, it sure did…..
Not really Penny -I’m not as stupid as you seem to think . Double entendre is within my capabilities. I know a chink when I see one – but not prepared to get drawn into that topic. Personal jibes at someone you know nothing about is rather tedious.
Not really JB. Just through to the keeper.
No the cons as usual just want to use divisive tactics because they have NO policies in the National interest. your views are so lopsided do you walk in circles?
What a silly, lazy jumble of nonsense BASSMAN, including your reference to Dastyari’s meeting with a “Chinaman”. You of all people should know that the nomenclature you used for Mr Huang Xiangmo is certainly no longer preferred, it is outdated and it is widely considered to be offensive.
You should confine your comments to the skills of our left arm wrist off spin bowlers in future.
Bassy your comment about Brandis and the Lindt cafe is plain wrong.
Brandis knew about and covered up the details of the mad man. Brandis have also misled the Nation and the Senate and has been sanctioned for it. Worst Attorney General in living memory.
You’re hanging your lopsided hat on a letter to his parliamentary office? A letter which was referred on. A letter which he would never have seen. You really need along hard look at yourself.
I’m curious. From memory a couple of weeks before the attack Abbott said something like “it’s not that we might have a terrorist attack, we will definitely have a terrorist attack.”
Just a coincidence of course.
There were suspicions about Monis and they should have been followed up. To use Brandis’s own words he “regretted” not following up the Monis issue.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/labor-steps-up-pressure-on-brandis-over-man-haron-monis-lettter-20150605-ghhvn9.html