I can’t believe it’s not WorkChoices!™

With news that WorkChoices is now a poisoned brand, the Howard government is set to spend another $70 million or so of tax-payers’ money on a re-branding exercise. Might I suggest “I can’t believe it’s not WorkChoices!”™?

Further confirmation that HowardCo is rapidly running out of steam and credibility. Do they really think they are fooling anyone other than themselves? As further evidence of their increasingly delusional state of mind, they are blaming the rejection of WorkChoices on the effectiveness of the ACTU ad campaign – nothing whatsoever to do with the policy itself, or that it was rammed through without a mandate.

Filed under: Economics, Media, Nonsense, Politics

Teachers are to blame!

You gotta love reactionary rightwing blog commentators. I generally ignore them for the endless drivel about how everything that’s wrong in the world is due to leftists. But I couldn’t resist the latest diatribe from a Western Heart (obviously not a compassionate one) about dozens injured in Christchurch when a car ploughed into a crowd of gate-crashing teenagers outside a party.

Filed under: Australian values, Education, Nonsense

Dob in a terrorist ads are back

The program about the early life of Pope John Paul II on SBS last night was interrupted by frequent Australian Government ads for the Dob in a Terrorist hotline. A nice counterfoil for the Hicks debacle, I expect they imagine. But is anyone still listening? It would be good to see recent figures on the hotline, but I don’t think we will.

Is it too late to dob in the AWB for suspicious bribery aiding and abetting a terrorist regime?

Filed under: Australian values, Nonsense, Politics

The Burnley tunnel Truck Grand-Prix

Some weeks ago I drove through the Burnley Tunnel during Friday evening peak hour fearing for my life as the traffic hurtled through with tail-gating, lane-hopping semi-trailer freighters, acutely aware that one tiny mishap would bring instant carnage.

Filed under: Big Picture, Nonsense, Technology

Larry v Katrina – the difference is how the ‘underclass’ behaves!

On the anniversary of Cyclone Larry it is appropriate to celebrate and appreciate the courage and determination of the people of Innisfail. Contributing Bastard, JR at A Western Heart takes it as an opportunity to suggest:

…that the North Queensland town of Innisfail got a bigger blow than New Orleans did but there were no deaths and the place is mostly back to normal after only a week. The difference between how an underclass behaves and how country people behave might have something to do with it.

Filed under: Australian values, Nonsense

Who ya gonna trust? Mr Magoo or the Lying Rodent?

When Howard has secret meetings Dick Cheney, discussions with the nuclear lobby, or when Ministers meet with corporate or Christian lobbyists, it’s all right and proper, as God surely meant it to be. When a Labor politician meets with a lobbyist or trade union leader it is disgraceful – they must be up to no good. What a crock! It’s what politicians do. It’s how the system works, for better or worse. “Politician meets with lobbyist!” Shock! Horror!

Filed under: Media, Nonsense, Politics

At least the liberal-left has principles to compromise

Let’s see if I’ve got this right. Years before 9/11, the neo-con Project for a New American Century plans for the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq to ensure access to natural gas and oil reserves, after decades of US support for both Hussein’s brutal regime and the Taliban. The tragic events of 9/11 provide the political support to proceed on false evidence of WMD and Hussein’s support for Al Qaeda.

Filed under: Media, Nonsense, Politics

Show us your ticker, Man of Steel

Why doesn’t the Man of Steel, Honest Johnnie, have the ticker to tell the Australian people the truth of his Iraq withdrawal strategy? It is simple – we will withdraw when the US withdraw. At least that is an honest and straightforward policy that many people would support. Spare us the nonsense about handing defeat to Al Qaeda. As if Australia is going to stay on and fight the terrorists when the US withdraw!

Filed under: Nonsense, Politics

Don’t mention the War – is Howard losing it?

John Howard hasn’t been doing a very good job lately of not mentioning the War. As if it wasn’t going to be difficult enough with Dick Cheney’s upcoming visit, he has placed the issue front and centre across the world and national media with his intemperate remarks concerning Barack Obama and the US Democrats – the last place he would want it during an election year.

Filed under: Nonsense, Politics

Howard’s hacks’ Hicks hoax a hex?

Apparently I’ve been ‘slapped down’ at Slattsnews for advocating application of the principles of law in the David Hicks case. Howard has shot himself in the foot over this one. It is a fundamental contradiction eating away at the heart of Howard’s Australian Values debate – a debate that would normally work in the government’s favour as a wedge over multiculturalism.

Filed under: Australian values, Nonsense, Politics