Posts by Paul Williams
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And Palin makes a really dumb economic gaffe.
Oh good god. You could put that down to not reading the brief well enough and being confused over timing/sequence but I agree with the commentator; it suggests a lack of any real knowledge. And given the interconnectedness of the finance industry, we should all be a little more wary.
Did anyone click through to the Alec Baldwin piece that was sidebar on the original link - it's great. McCain's not the Bush-like character, Palin is; no record, no knowledge of foriegn affairs, just pretty and plain-spoken.
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Is there a way this thread can be steered back towards any political angle that doesn't involve pictures of flesh?
</backs-quietly-away>
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"He's gone around the country stirring up apathy." (about Bolger)
Indeed a great line.
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And after reading (OK, browsing through) Latham's poisonousDiaries, perhaps we should be thankful that we never got a chance to see what Prime Minister Latham would have done to the "suckholes" in his own caucus he obviously regarded with total contempt.
Totally agree. Latho was nuts, probably still is.
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Ack, now I've wasted a good hour chuckling at Keating quotes... how's this for size:
He's a pre-Copernican obscurantist.
About former head of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Peter Hendy - the comment was made just after the Coalition bought in Workchoices, comparable to NZ ECA in 1991. In this article, which contains the above quote, Keating also observes that Hendy's a Liberal stooge... unsurprisingly, after Labor won the federal election, Hendy quit ACCI and is now Chief of Staff to Brendan Nelson
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Mr Slack, there was no way I was going to look at your photos. None whatsoever. I'm too easily given squemishness; this includes not coping through an entire episode of CSI:wherever.
On the issue of the vibrancy of writing however, I'm with you in thinking too much is too bland. It's, partly, why I spend so much time here where I can consume a high calorific diet with far fewer bites. Keating's an unfair example however; whereas Milne's writing is like a bludgeoning, Keating eviscerates his targets much as your surgeon did your "bumps".
Here's a link to an old clip of Keating vs Howard (not link-whoring, can't access youtube from work). Howard's clearly just waiting for him to stop and I love the fact that he doesn't; doesn't let up for one second. Relentless and unforgiving.
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I might have missed it, but has anyone noted/linked to this letter from a Wasilla local, Anne Kilkenny, on Palin? NPR have picked it up as have many blogs etc including asking if Kilkenny is fr'real or a Democrat-plant.
There's so much to quote, but I couldn't go past this:
Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a “fiscal conservative”. During her 6 years as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over 33%. During those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the City increased by 38%. This was during a period of low inflation (1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a regressive sales tax which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more than they benefited residents.
Sound's like she's either lacking competence or integrity.
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I'm going to stay out of the rape-as-metaphor discussion as others have already pointed out how inappropriate it is.
This passage:
I wish I'd never written that article. Not because I agree with all the criticism, but because I unwittingly pressed a button which unleashed the toxic nature of this country.
is also infruriating also.
Not only does she eschew any responsibility for her errors, not only was she unfairly criticised, but the whole country is full of bubbling bile. What complete bollocks.
I don't like Coddington's work; I think it's crappy and populist and usually under-researched (her advocacy for vouchers in education doesn't extend to having insight into how they'd improve learning outcomes for instance). I have no difficulty with her being roundly criticised for that - her editors too.
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I went out for lunch
Nuclear ships in harbour
I have fission ships.Tell me you've used that before? Nice work.
Though I take Craig's earlier points, I still think the Greens billboard is well within reasonable limits. My concern is not that they make a claim about the future but that, on occassion, they act as if they believe they're the only party focused on the future.
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And I really, really hope she is going to keep her foot down on that.
I don't doubt your sincerity on this Craig (and I'll not hold you at all responsible if you're wrong) but I'd not be at all surprised...