Three items of electoral relevance to emerge amidst the New Year news and polling drought:
• Paul Sakkal of The Age reports Stephanie Hunt, corporate lawyer and former legal adviser to Julie Bishop and Marise Payne, will seek Liberal preselection for Goldstein, which Tim Wilson hopes to recover after losing to independent Zoe Daniel in 2022. Wilson remains the front-runner, in the estimation of a further report in The Age today.
• Lydia Lynch of The Australian reports Margie Nightingale, former teacher and policy adviser to Treasurer Cameron Dick, is the front-runner to succeed Annastacia Palaszczuk in her seat of Inala, the by-election for which is “tipped to be held in March”. Palaszczuk’s former deputy chief-of-staff, Jon Persley, had long been mentioned as her likely successor, but he has withdrawn from contention, saying the party’s gender quota rules played a “big factor” in the decision.
• Sue Bailey of the Sunday Tasmanian reports that veteran former Liberal Senator and conservative stalwart Eric Abetz will seek state preselection in the division of Franklin for an election due in June next year, assuming Jeremy Rockliff’s government is able to keep the show on the road that long.
Woolworths could show its true patriotism by reducing greedflation embedded in its sales prices.
meher baba
We’re talking about a country that still refuses to relinquish a number of its colonial possessions around the globe (French Guyana, Martinique, Gaudeloupe, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, etc., etc.
To be fair to our frog-legs-eating friends, these departments have declined full independence when asked via referendum. Including New Caledonia in 2018. They have opted for integration into the French Republic.
and, within the lifetimes of many living people, fought unbelievably bloody wars in a failed attept to preserve some of its African colonies: most particularly Algeria.
This I do agree with. The Algerian War in particular was appalling.
S. Simpson @ #1219 Thursday, January 11th, 2024 – 1:19 pm
They did. And pretty much the same set of countries .
So. What is the priority? Paying mainly wealth home owners a motza to tear their exiting houses down and build new houses in safety or enabling remote Indigenous inhabitants to own their own homes?
TPOFsays:
Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 3:11 pm
Irene says:
Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 3:05 pm
Well, well, well.
Will any of the usual suspects call out Irene for breaking the moratorium?
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I didn’t know she did it till you pointed it out. Must be my poor comprehension skills at work again. Though technically if you have already done it. Why do you expect others to do it too?. That would be an unnecessary pile on in my opinion.
BW: “If Hamas stopped hiding behind civilians the whole disaster would stop tomorrow.”
Every Saturday afternoon I find myself driving along one of the main roads in Hobart to be accosted by a sizeable group of people chanting and waving placards and yelling at me to honk in support of a Free Palestine. Some of these people appear to be Palestinians, but most appear to be Anglos. I admire their persistence, even though I don’t agree with them.
Hobart being a small place, I sometimes encounter people who attend these events. When I talk to them, it becomes clear that they see the Gazan people as a bunch of innocent victims without any leadership or defences. The Hamas leaders are very canny: they don’t appear frequently in the media making bloodthirsty threats and/or begging the West to have mercy on them. They hide in the background and thrust forward the Palestinian women and children. And many Westerners with left-wing inclinations have been buying this sort of stuff for decades.
Ironically, the protesters in the West are hurting the ordinary Palestinian people more than they are helping them. Vision of large groups of Westerners chanting “Free Palestine” and “From the River to the Sea” is used by the Hamas leadership and other bad actors to persuade ordinary Palestinians that there is a realistic prospect of Western countries one day turning their backs on Israel and allowing the Palestinians to win back the entire country. This in turn discourages Palestinians from supporting a two state initiative. And plays into the hands of Likud and its more right-wing allies who also have no interest in a two-state solution and who, it would seem, have been inclined to help Hamas over the years in an effort to maintain Palestinian opposition to the concept.
There’s much that I admire about David Pocock, but not what he’s been saying about this issue.
Entropy
You are living up to your name again.
The Department of Defense clapped back at Fox News host Jesse Waters on Wednesday after he said Taylor Swift could be a “psy-op” for the Pentagon.“I wonder who got to her from the White House or wherever,” Watters said on his show Tuesday night. “Who makes that initial handshake.”
Waters was referencing a partnership between Swift and Vote.org intended to encourage young people to register to vote. The remark spawned conspiracy theories suggesting Swift could be a government asset or part of a broader information campaign.
Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh shut down the speculation Wednesday in a statement to Politico. “As for this conspiracy theory, we are going to shake it off,” she said, a tongue-in-cheek reference to one of the pop star’s hits. “But that does highlight that we still need Congress to approve our supplemental budget request as Swift-ly as possible so we can be out of the woods with potential fiscal concerns,” she continued, adding more nods.
Vote.org chief Andrea Hailey also pushed back on the implications on Wednesday. “Not a psy-op or a Pentagon asset,” she wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Just the biggest nonpartisan platform in America helping young people register & cast their vote.
‘S. Simpson @ #1219 Thursday, January 11th, 2024 – 1:19 pm
One seriously has to ponder that if the former apartheid white minority government of South Africa had the same level of influence and lobbying power that Israel has at its disposal whether South Africa would still be under white minority rule today.’
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Pssst. Jews have this secret power not available to non-jews. You can read all about it in the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Plus, they use this secret power to eat christian babies.
meher baba
Ideally, it could become a day when we remember the 160,000 or so mainly British and Irish people who were shipped to Australia against their will, many of whom were able to built a better life here for themselves and their descendants. Sure, this was at the cost of Indigenous people being stripped of their traditional lands, but that wasn’t the convicts’ idea.
I agree with this – this is what I do. But one can commemorate Australia Day without flaunting bullshit ‘patriotic’ paraphernalia – like inflatable Australian flag thongs. Every time I see these, I have the urge to find a pin.
mb
My general point is that Iran and its proxies and Israel both deserve the most extreme criticism possible.
It is within the scope of the general discussion to look at proportionality. It is within the scope of this discussion to consider the application of the term genocide.
What is NOT within the scope of this discussion is to leave one side, or the other, out of any particular aspect of the discussion.
Shogun: “To be fair to our frog-legs-eating friends, these departments have declined full independence when asked via referendum. Including New Caledonia in 2018. They have opted for integration into the French Republic.”
I recall a plebiscite in which the East Timorese voted to become part of Indonesia.
And then there’s the case of Kim Jong Un’s excellent performance in elections.
There was a vote in New Caledonia in 2021 in which 96 per cent voted in favour of remaining in France: although it should be noted that the pro-independence movement called for a boycott of that election. I would also note that the referendum held the year before (they seem to be quite regular occurrences) only recorded 53 per cent in favour of remaining in France, and would note that around one quarter of the current population of New Caledonia are French colonists. You do the maths.
MABWM:
No, I’m in Vietnam at the moment but likely returning to Indonesia when my visa runs out next month.
Ha, the roads are something else, yes. Clinging to the back of a bike while it’s cruising down the mountain and enormous trucks fly around the corners in your direction is an… experience.
‘Shogun says:
Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 3:25 pm
meher baba
Ideally, it could become a day when we remember the 160,000 or so mainly British and Irish people who were shipped to Australia against their will, many of whom were able to built a better life here for themselves and their descendants. Sure, this was at the cost of Indigenous people being stripped of their traditional lands, but that wasn’t the convicts’ idea.
I agree with this – this is what I do. But one can commemorate Australia Day without flaunting bullshit ‘patriotic’ paraphernalia – like inflatable Australian flag thongs. Every time I see these, I have the urge to find a pin.’
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Aw, diddums.
The fact is that many elements of Australian achievement deserve the utmost respect and praise. Many do not. Puking over flag thongs is a pathetic response to a nuanced balance sheet.
They should stop playing cute with it, take a page from Australia’s right-wing jerkasses, and sue everyone promoting the conspiracy theory for defamation. Treble damages for Fox “News”.
Shogun: “But one can commemorate Australia Day without flaunting bullshit ‘patriotic’ paraphernalia – like inflatable Australian flag thongs. Every time I see these, I have the urge to find a pin.”
I think they are an instance of the wonderful irreverance of Australians. If someone tried to manufacture such a product with a US flag on it, they’d probably have their factory burnt down.
@meher baba
To be fair, that comedian isn’t French, namely just a character played by the English comedian Alexis Dubus.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexis_Dubus
Pathetic Pete is calling for Australians to boycott Woolies because they have made a sound business decision NOT to stock Australia Day tack, which is mostly sourced from overseas.
I hope the Federal Minister responsible for Industry interrupts his or her summer holidays to put Pathetic Pete in his place.
The attack shouldn’t mention Australia Day – but focus on the thousands of jobs from direct and indirect employees which could be put at risk from such a stupid action and PP’s attempts to ruin commercial aspects of the Australian economy.
I would suspect that current economic conditions have also played a part in dissuading people from wasting money on inflatable crap to celebrate the glorified piss-up that is Australia Day.
One does wonder how this sacred day looks to people outside of Australia:
“So, it’s January 26 today, where we celebrate the founding of our great country.”
“Oh, cool, so what will you be doing?”
“Getting shitfaced and listening to a playlist of terrible US indie-pop curated by a select group of inner-city hipsters. As is tradition.”
Kirsdarke:
“To be fair, that comedian isn’t French, namely just a character played by the English comedian Alexis Dubus.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexis_Dubus”
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Thanks. I wouldn’t have suspected that because, unlike most French comedians, English comedians are usually funny.
Boerwar
Aw, diddums.
The fact is that many elements of Australian achievement deserve the utmost respect and praise. Many do not. Puking over flag thongs is a pathetic response to a nuanced balance sheet.
My comment was tongue-in-cheek. I do not puke over inflatable Australian flag thongs. Nor do I pop them on sight. But I do not regard them as a symbol or act of patriotism.
TPOFsays:
Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 3:21 pm
Entropy
You are living up to your name again.
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You certainly aren’t or are very selective on who you believe deserves the freedom your name implies.
Ven,
Have you been taking doomposting lessons from Rex? Lighten up, Bruce!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9nkzaOPP6g
Chris Christie drops out of the presidential race, but not before making the baffling decision to screw over the one candidate who has even a slight chance of beating Trump:
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/10/politics/chris-christie-ends-presidential-campaign-2024/index.html
Asha: “Chris Christie drops out of the presidential race, but not before making the baffling decision to screw over the one candidate who has even a slight chance of beating Trump.”
It’s not baffling, it’s entirely consistent with his past behaviour, particularly during the 2016 Republican primaries.
I’m aware that he’s a pin-up boy for a lot of the anti-Trumpers, but at the end of the day he’s just the same attention-seeking narcissist that he has always been.
Meher Baba:
Yeah, I can’t disagree with that.
Entropy: “You certainly aren’t or are very selective on who you believe deserves the freedom your name implies.”
Are you suggesting that it doesn’t stand for “take poppers on Friday” as I had always assumed?
You certainly aren’t or are very selective on who you believe deserves the freedom your name implies.
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That’s unintentionally funny on your part. I did a google search because I had no idea what you meant. I presume, following my search that you mean Rudolf Steiner’s book The Philosophy of Freedom and not the Canadian acronym for Technical and Professional Operations Facilities. It could be worse. It could be the Tea Party of Florida.
I thought it was “The Power of Friendship”, though I guess that doesn’t really fit, does it?
Didn’t the LNP try to make secondary boycotts (and promotion of such boycotts) illegal in their last term???
Dutton has made a huge enemy in Woolworths (who I think employ more people directly than mining)…
TPOFsays:
Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 3:57 pm
You certainly aren’t or are very selective on who you believe deserves the freedom your name implies.
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That’s unintentionally funny on your part. I did a google search because I had no idea what you meant. I presume, following my search that you mean Rudolf Steiner’s book The Philosophy of Freedom and not the Canadian acronym for Technical and Professional Operations Facilities. It could be worse. It could be the Tea Party of Florida.
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Actually i mean’t “eternal vigilance”. Though “Liberty” and “Freedom” are interchangeable in that quote.
Quote on how not to achieve peace:
“The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate… Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
Sue Simpson @ 2.19pm
The only difference in the governance of South Africa between then and now, is that the current ANC elite only govern for themselves and not for the Rainbow Nation.
It has taken longer but they have managed to destroy the only economic power in Africa during their reign.
All those lessons in Moscow have worked well for the comrades.
So Nathan Conroy Mayor of Frankston is apparently the likely Liberal candidate.
What is it about the Victorian Libs that they like Irishmen? – Apparently he came out to Australia when he was 19 and regards Frankston as home.
Here is his press release re the death of the former MP.
https://www.frankston.vic.gov.au/Council/News-and-media/Latest-News/Media-Releases-2023/Statement-from-Frankston-City-Council-Mayor-Nathan-Conroy
The Celt is strong in this one:
https://baysidenews.com.au/2023/11/20/mayor-continues-unprecedented-reign/
Shogun says:
Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 3:16 pm
meher baba
We’re talking about a country that still refuses to relinquish a number of its colonial possessions around the globe (French Guyana, Martinique, Gaudeloupe, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, etc., etc.
To be fair to our frog-legs-eating friends, these departments have declined full independence when asked via referendum. Including New Caledonia in 2018. They have opted for integration into the French Republic.
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Well, many in Lebanon would welcome a return of the French.
https://www.euronews.com/2020/08/06/over-50-00-sign-petition-calling-for-france-to-take-control-of-lebanon
August 6, 2020. We believe Lebanon should be placed under French mandate in order to establish clean and durable governance,” reads a petition that has collected more than 50,000 signatures.
A petition to put Lebanon under a French mandate has garnered more than 50,000 signatures in 24 hours.
President Emmanuel Macron landed in Beirut on Thursday morning to show support for France’s Middle East protege and former colonial-era protectorate after a massive explosion sowed devastation in the Lebanese capital…
The faces and Red Hair – something you would see walking down O’Connell St
Non-existently slight to resolutely firm no chance.
Chris Christie can say whatever he wants about anyone else, Trump will be the Republican nominee.
OC, Maybe the Vic Liberals have an Irishman led recovery strategy:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Wolahan
Melbourne curiosities: they queue for baked goods. Especially baked goods from Lune.
The first time I saw this was in 2022 on a trip here and eating breakfast at my hotel noticed a line forming across the street at 6.30am. It was a queue for Lune. I noticed Melbournians still queueing for Lune goods the last time I was here a couple months ago, and I’ve noticed the same thing again this trip. And the queue is all day, every day.
We don’t have Lune in Sydney, but when I was in Brisbane a few months ago there was a Lune bakery down the road from my hotel and I noticed that Brisbane people do NOT queue for Lune baked goods. So this appears to be a uniquely Melbourne thing.
Why?
Fess:
As a long-time Brisbanite, this is the first time I’ve ever even heard of Lune. I guess it’s a popular thing in Melbourne and just another bakery in Brissy?
Confessions:
Oh, I don’t disagree. But you’d think the guy who based his entire campaign around how important it is to stop Trump being nominated would want to do whatever he can to make it a bit more difficult for hi, even if it’s ultimately a futile cause.
Confessionssays:
Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 4:37 pm
Melbourne curiosities: they queue for baked goods. Especially baked goods from Lune.
The first time I saw this was in 2022 on a trip here and eating breakfast at my hotel noticed a line forming across the street at 6.30am. It was a queue for Lune. I noticed Melbournians still queueing for Lune goods the last time I was here a couple months ago, and I’ve noticed the same thing again this trip. And the queue is all day, every day.
We don’t have Lune in Sydney, but when I was in Brisbane a few months ago there was a Lune bakery down the road from my hotel and I noticed that Brisbane people do NOT queue for Lune baked goods. So this appears to be a uniquely Melbourne thing.
Why?
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I think it a general queue at bakeries on work day mornings. As lots of people like to eat fresh baked croissants etc for breakfast. On weekends the queues tend to be much latter. As these people tend to sleep in and go for brunch instead.
Asha:
I did wonder if it was because it’s too hot to queue in Brisbane 😀
Entropy:
The queue was still going strong at 2pm. And I’d understand if it was a weekend, but my trip this time is mid week!
Asha:
Chris Christie’s run was simply a reputation rehabilitation project. Trying to put distance between his words in 2015-16 and all that’s happened Trump-wise in the time in between.
Here is bad news for the dynamic duo of Google Boy and Gina’s Puppet:
https://citynews.com.au/2024/record-run-of-rent-rises-finally-over/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=canberra-daily-today-s-news-today_7801
Confessionssays:
Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 4:56 pm
Entropy:
The queue was still going strong at 2pm. And I’d understand if it was a weekend, but my trip this time is mid week!
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I guess lots of people could still be on holidays?. Normally in the suburbs at least on normal workdays people go to local bakeries before work. While you get a second peak around lunchtime as people who work locally might go there for lunch. Though the demography of the CBD might be a bit different. Possibly a lot of well off retired people live now in CBD apartments. Which could make everyday like a weekend i guess?.
Dutton’s comments might wash over well in regional and outback Queensland.
Maybe not so much in Dunkley.
The economy, stupid.
Highlights of the latest Republican debate, a.k.a. “Reasons to vote Democrat”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dDDO6RW9dw
It’s not just a bakery. It’s a croissanterie. I would consider queuing for that and then send one of my kids to queue.