Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Leading Iranian Human Rights Activist Ahmad Batebi on the 2009 Iranian Revolution
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Iranian student activist and dissident Ahmad Betebi was sentenced to death and severely tortured for years in the notorious Evin Prison in Iran. He escaped safely to the United States in late June 2008.
During a break from prison, Batebi fled Iran traveling through a free Iraq to Austria and finally arriving in Washington DC.
Today he talks about Iranian protests and revolution for freedom from the regime. Ahmad Batebi discusses Barack Obama's response to the crisis in Iran. Batebi says that his lack of response will not be regarded kindly by the Iranian people who are fighting against this evil regime.
In this segment Batebi says that the regime has dwindled the internet speed down to a minimum right now. They've disconnected all the phones. All the SMS and text messaging has been disconnected. They've thrown out Western and foreign journalists. They've closed down all Iranian newspapers. They've put filters on all of their opposition websites. They've arrested dozen of activists, human rights and civil activists. They are arresting and beating dozens of people on the streets every day. And, people need to know that if they do not stand by the Iranian people shoulder to shoulder right now, that they themselves will come face to face with this very regime. And if this regime is allowed to have a nuclear weapon it will do the exact same thing with the entire world. This regime does not represent the people of Iran. And, morally the people of the world need to support the people of Iran and not what the regime wants."
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Poland had Reagan and Thatcher supporting it as they could without starting a world war. Iran has Obama and Brown praying it doesn't hurt their election chances when they do nothing. - ed.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Video Comparison: Obama on Iran versus Reagan On Poland
What a contrast. Sean Hannity compares and contrasts Barack Obama's weak stand on Iran to Ronald Reagan's support of Polish freedom fighters back in 1981.
Headlines Tuesday 23rd June 2009
Relentless Turnbull renews OzCar attack
Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull has opened another rowdy question time in parliament, renewing the coalition's OzCar attack on the Prime Minister.
Man at centre of OzCar scandal, Godwin Gretch, worked for Joe Hockey
Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey is distancing himself from the public servant at the centre of the OzCar scandal, amid revelations they worked together. - It is Rudd that should be distancing himself from the PM's position. Rudd folding will destroy the ALP and it appears the more likely with his shrill denunciations and the supporters increasingly desperate attacks on the Opposition. All the ALP need do is censure those who mislead parliament .. it began with Swan, but has extended to Rudd, Tanner and Gillard. - ed
Godwin Grech's home egged
Eggs have been thrown at the house of Godwin Grech, the Treasury official at the centre of the...... - Rudd supporters at their most charming. - ed.
Second Australian swine flu death
A 35-year-old man from western Victoria diagnosed with swine flu has died in hospital, bringing to two the number of people with the virus to die in Australia. - Australia's health service is failing and Rudd's broken promise on health care is at fault. - ed.
Neda a tragic internet icon for Iran
A young woman killed while protesting in the streets of Tehran has become a tragic symbol of the struggle for democracy in Iran, stirring support from around the world. - another victim of Obama, who promised much and delivered little. A president like Bush would not have let Iran feel they could get away with this. -ed.
Mum guilty of daughter's starving murder
A mother has been found guilty of murder after her seven-year-old daughter was left to starve in a putrid room.
'Mass casualty event': trains collide in Washington
At least one person is reported to have died when two subway trains collided at peak hour in the US capital on Monday.
Australian journalist Peter Lloyd to be released from Singapore prison
Australian journalist Peter Lloyd is expected to be released from prison in Singapore today.
Islamic burka 'not welcome' in France: Sarkozy
The Islamic burka is "not welcome" in France because it is not a symbol of religion but a sign of subservience for women, President Nicolas Sarkozy says.
Kimberley Vlaminck admits face was tattooed with stars at her request
Kimberley Vlaminck, the girl who claimed her face was tattooed with 56 stars while she slept, has admitted she made up the story.
Why is NAB spending up big?
The National Australia Bank says it will become the country's biggest life insurer and investment platform provider after buying Aviva Australia Holdings for $825 million.
Cristiano Ronaldo already tired of Paris Hilton
Cristiano Ronaldo has lost interest in Paris Hilton, barely a week after they were first romantically linked.
=== Journalists Corner ===
Special Breaking News Hour
Police and protesters clash in Tehran!
As the turmoil continues, Shepard Smith has the latest from the troubled region!
===
The Healthcare Debate
How will the Dems pay for it and are more tax hikes the answer? Neil gets the facts!
===
Guest: Brit Hume
Brit reveals how the media in general and FOX News is covering the president.
===
The War on Prosperity
As changes give the Gov't more control, Dick Morris on why he says it's a catastrophe!
=== Comments ===
Red herrings dragged over the really fishy business
Piers Akerman
WHEN clouds of smoke billow over schools of herring one can hope at least for a kipper at day’s end.
Not so in Parliament yesterday where the ALP released flurries of red herring and enough smoke to close Canberra airport in its attempts to shield Treasurer Wayne Swan from the utterly damning Senate committee evidence of his office’s involvement in Utegate.
Neither Prime Minister Kevin Rudd nor Swan or the train of Labor luminaries who followed them to the dispatch box could disperse the fishy stench that surrounds the now well-documented push orchestrated from the Treasurer’s office to enlist the Treasury Department to get Ford Credit to provide funding for car dealer John Grant.
It was an exercise in smear and distraction which might fool casual viewers but Labor’s tag-team skirted the real point, focusing only on one email which now appears to be bogus.
The case against Treasurer Swan does not rely on a sole email. The case against him is supported by an encyclopaedic dossier of emails.
All related to attempts - above and beyond anything done for any other car dealer - on behalf of the Prime Minister’s friend to get a line of credit from Ford Credit.
The case is extraordinary because Ford Credit was at the time applying to the Federal Government for a $500 million line of credit it needed to keep afloat.
When Treasury officials met Ford Credit executives they even took with them Grant’s mobile number to pass on, knowing Ford Credit would be most amenable to assisting in anything that Treasury suggested and the company indicated it was happy to help when asked for the favour.
Some might think it is unusual for Ford Credit to help a Kia dealer, but if he is a friend of the PM and if the alternative may be loss of a business-saving handout, it is easy to see why Ford Credit found Treasury’s suggestion so persuasive.
But members of the ALP apparently believe it is appropriate to suborn public servants into keeping constituents happy by making sure that a supplicant to the Government - Ford Credit - was aware the Treasurer was anxious for a particular car dealer - John Grant - to be looked after.
That is the nub of the matter. And that is the issue that Labor will not address because it cannot address it.
Stripped of its obfuscation and persiflage, Labor looks rattled. The Labor benches sounded like a busload of losing league players returning from the pub. Rudd in particular looked uneasy because he knows that the greatest political crime a Member of Parliament can commit is to mislead the House.
But the louder the ruckus from the Labor benches, the more desperate they seemed to be to keep hidden a culture of cronyism and patronage.
We now know the Auditor-General has not put forward terms of reference for an inquiry, or indeed, whether he will accede to the request for an inquiry.
Forget false emails and protestations of threats to staffers, they don’t mean a thing. There’s no kippers here. The fishy stink flowing from this is over-powering, unedifying and unappetising. - Every call denouncing Mr Turnbull is an obfuscation in favor of Rudd. Turnbull has done nothing wrong in pointing this matter out to the public. Mr Turnbull has done nothing wrong in calling for Rudd to explain himself or quit. Yet a cabal of journalists are calling on Turnbull to quit and claiming he is making tactically poor decisions. What is tactical about pointing out corruption? Except the ALP seem to breathe it in. - ed.
===
The 'Axis of Evil' Challenges President Obama
By Bill O'Reilly
The "Axis of Evil" challenges President Obama -- that is the subject of this evening's "Talking Points Memo." Two-thirds of the "Axis of Evil," Iran and North Korea, are still causing major trouble worldwide. Of course, the other third, Saddam Hussein's Iraq no longer exists.
Let's take Iran first. There's major debate over how President Obama should react to protests against the fascist government there. Many Iranian voters believe the crazy mullahs fixed the presidential election. And now protesters are risking their lives in pursuit of a new regime.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
People wailing and grieving over the body of a woman, known only as "Neda" gunned down by Iranian paramilitary police.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Well, since Iran has cracked down on press coverage, we don't know what happened to that woman and we don't know how many protesters have been killed or hurt, but the number surely is into the hundreds.
So what should President Obama do? Critics of the president believe he should take a harder line, perhaps even supporting the protesters against the mullahs. But as "Talking Points" said last week, that kind of rhetoric could ignite more violence in Iraq and Afghanistan against American forces.
Also, as Henry Kissinger pointed out here on FOX News, if President Obama backs the dissenters, the mullahs will blame the protests on the USA. And some inside and outside of Iran will believe that. Thus, Mr. Obama must be cautious.
But he does have the human rights card to play. And now is the time to play it. The president should speak to the world as he did in Cairo and reiterate his belief that human beings, including women, have the right to freedom, not oppression. The president must begin to be more Reaganesque in that regard. Or risk being seen as weak and indecisive.
And that is what the North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il apparently thinks Mr. Obama is -- weak. Kim, a certified nut, is threatening the USA with a missile launch on the Fourth of July and a nuclear attack if we dare stop North Korean violations of the United Nations weapons mandates.
Right now, the U.S. warship John McCain, named after the senator's father and grandfather, tracking a North Korean vessel believed to be carrying illegal arms. Should President Obama order the Navy to board that vessel? That would definitely provoke Kim Jong Il, who would retaliate somehow. Mr. Obama knows that. It will be fascinating to see what he does.
If the president does nothing, Kim wins, taunting the president and getting away with it. But if the president orders the Navy to board, violence will likely occur. At this point, I don't believe the president of the United States can stand by and do nothing. So get ready.
Of course, many on the left will condemn Obama if he acts against North Korea. And these are his people. The committed left has elevated the president to power. So, another Barack and a hard place situation, no question.
Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull has opened another rowdy question time in parliament, renewing the coalition's OzCar attack on the Prime Minister.
Man at centre of OzCar scandal, Godwin Gretch, worked for Joe Hockey
Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey is distancing himself from the public servant at the centre of the OzCar scandal, amid revelations they worked together. - It is Rudd that should be distancing himself from the PM's position. Rudd folding will destroy the ALP and it appears the more likely with his shrill denunciations and the supporters increasingly desperate attacks on the Opposition. All the ALP need do is censure those who mislead parliament .. it began with Swan, but has extended to Rudd, Tanner and Gillard. - ed
Godwin Grech's home egged
Eggs have been thrown at the house of Godwin Grech, the Treasury official at the centre of the...... - Rudd supporters at their most charming. - ed.
Second Australian swine flu death
A 35-year-old man from western Victoria diagnosed with swine flu has died in hospital, bringing to two the number of people with the virus to die in Australia. - Australia's health service is failing and Rudd's broken promise on health care is at fault. - ed.
Neda a tragic internet icon for Iran
A young woman killed while protesting in the streets of Tehran has become a tragic symbol of the struggle for democracy in Iran, stirring support from around the world. - another victim of Obama, who promised much and delivered little. A president like Bush would not have let Iran feel they could get away with this. -ed.
Mum guilty of daughter's starving murder
A mother has been found guilty of murder after her seven-year-old daughter was left to starve in a putrid room.
'Mass casualty event': trains collide in Washington
At least one person is reported to have died when two subway trains collided at peak hour in the US capital on Monday.
Australian journalist Peter Lloyd to be released from Singapore prison
Australian journalist Peter Lloyd is expected to be released from prison in Singapore today.
Islamic burka 'not welcome' in France: Sarkozy
The Islamic burka is "not welcome" in France because it is not a symbol of religion but a sign of subservience for women, President Nicolas Sarkozy says.
Kimberley Vlaminck admits face was tattooed with stars at her request
Kimberley Vlaminck, the girl who claimed her face was tattooed with 56 stars while she slept, has admitted she made up the story.
Why is NAB spending up big?
The National Australia Bank says it will become the country's biggest life insurer and investment platform provider after buying Aviva Australia Holdings for $825 million.
Cristiano Ronaldo already tired of Paris Hilton
Cristiano Ronaldo has lost interest in Paris Hilton, barely a week after they were first romantically linked.
=== Journalists Corner ===
Special Breaking News Hour
Police and protesters clash in Tehran!
As the turmoil continues, Shepard Smith has the latest from the troubled region!
===
The Healthcare Debate
How will the Dems pay for it and are more tax hikes the answer? Neil gets the facts!
===
Guest: Brit Hume
Brit reveals how the media in general and FOX News is covering the president.
===
The War on Prosperity
As changes give the Gov't more control, Dick Morris on why he says it's a catastrophe!
=== Comments ===
Red herrings dragged over the really fishy business
Piers Akerman
WHEN clouds of smoke billow over schools of herring one can hope at least for a kipper at day’s end.
Not so in Parliament yesterday where the ALP released flurries of red herring and enough smoke to close Canberra airport in its attempts to shield Treasurer Wayne Swan from the utterly damning Senate committee evidence of his office’s involvement in Utegate.
Neither Prime Minister Kevin Rudd nor Swan or the train of Labor luminaries who followed them to the dispatch box could disperse the fishy stench that surrounds the now well-documented push orchestrated from the Treasurer’s office to enlist the Treasury Department to get Ford Credit to provide funding for car dealer John Grant.
It was an exercise in smear and distraction which might fool casual viewers but Labor’s tag-team skirted the real point, focusing only on one email which now appears to be bogus.
The case against Treasurer Swan does not rely on a sole email. The case against him is supported by an encyclopaedic dossier of emails.
All related to attempts - above and beyond anything done for any other car dealer - on behalf of the Prime Minister’s friend to get a line of credit from Ford Credit.
The case is extraordinary because Ford Credit was at the time applying to the Federal Government for a $500 million line of credit it needed to keep afloat.
When Treasury officials met Ford Credit executives they even took with them Grant’s mobile number to pass on, knowing Ford Credit would be most amenable to assisting in anything that Treasury suggested and the company indicated it was happy to help when asked for the favour.
Some might think it is unusual for Ford Credit to help a Kia dealer, but if he is a friend of the PM and if the alternative may be loss of a business-saving handout, it is easy to see why Ford Credit found Treasury’s suggestion so persuasive.
But members of the ALP apparently believe it is appropriate to suborn public servants into keeping constituents happy by making sure that a supplicant to the Government - Ford Credit - was aware the Treasurer was anxious for a particular car dealer - John Grant - to be looked after.
That is the nub of the matter. And that is the issue that Labor will not address because it cannot address it.
Stripped of its obfuscation and persiflage, Labor looks rattled. The Labor benches sounded like a busload of losing league players returning from the pub. Rudd in particular looked uneasy because he knows that the greatest political crime a Member of Parliament can commit is to mislead the House.
But the louder the ruckus from the Labor benches, the more desperate they seemed to be to keep hidden a culture of cronyism and patronage.
We now know the Auditor-General has not put forward terms of reference for an inquiry, or indeed, whether he will accede to the request for an inquiry.
Forget false emails and protestations of threats to staffers, they don’t mean a thing. There’s no kippers here. The fishy stink flowing from this is over-powering, unedifying and unappetising. - Every call denouncing Mr Turnbull is an obfuscation in favor of Rudd. Turnbull has done nothing wrong in pointing this matter out to the public. Mr Turnbull has done nothing wrong in calling for Rudd to explain himself or quit. Yet a cabal of journalists are calling on Turnbull to quit and claiming he is making tactically poor decisions. What is tactical about pointing out corruption? Except the ALP seem to breathe it in. - ed.
===
The 'Axis of Evil' Challenges President Obama
By Bill O'Reilly
The "Axis of Evil" challenges President Obama -- that is the subject of this evening's "Talking Points Memo." Two-thirds of the "Axis of Evil," Iran and North Korea, are still causing major trouble worldwide. Of course, the other third, Saddam Hussein's Iraq no longer exists.
Let's take Iran first. There's major debate over how President Obama should react to protests against the fascist government there. Many Iranian voters believe the crazy mullahs fixed the presidential election. And now protesters are risking their lives in pursuit of a new regime.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
People wailing and grieving over the body of a woman, known only as "Neda" gunned down by Iranian paramilitary police.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Well, since Iran has cracked down on press coverage, we don't know what happened to that woman and we don't know how many protesters have been killed or hurt, but the number surely is into the hundreds.
So what should President Obama do? Critics of the president believe he should take a harder line, perhaps even supporting the protesters against the mullahs. But as "Talking Points" said last week, that kind of rhetoric could ignite more violence in Iraq and Afghanistan against American forces.
Also, as Henry Kissinger pointed out here on FOX News, if President Obama backs the dissenters, the mullahs will blame the protests on the USA. And some inside and outside of Iran will believe that. Thus, Mr. Obama must be cautious.
But he does have the human rights card to play. And now is the time to play it. The president should speak to the world as he did in Cairo and reiterate his belief that human beings, including women, have the right to freedom, not oppression. The president must begin to be more Reaganesque in that regard. Or risk being seen as weak and indecisive.
And that is what the North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il apparently thinks Mr. Obama is -- weak. Kim, a certified nut, is threatening the USA with a missile launch on the Fourth of July and a nuclear attack if we dare stop North Korean violations of the United Nations weapons mandates.
Right now, the U.S. warship John McCain, named after the senator's father and grandfather, tracking a North Korean vessel believed to be carrying illegal arms. Should President Obama order the Navy to board that vessel? That would definitely provoke Kim Jong Il, who would retaliate somehow. Mr. Obama knows that. It will be fascinating to see what he does.
If the president does nothing, Kim wins, taunting the president and getting away with it. But if the president orders the Navy to board, violence will likely occur. At this point, I don't believe the president of the United States can stand by and do nothing. So get ready.
Of course, many on the left will condemn Obama if he acts against North Korea. And these are his people. The committed left has elevated the president to power. So, another Barack and a hard place situation, no question.
Forgotten Australians get Mental Health Funding
“Forgotten Australians, adults who suffered abuse in institutions in the 1900s, will be a target group for the next round of PHaMs (Personal Helpers and Mentors Program) funding,” Senator Sue Boyce said today.
“This will be a start, at least, for the many Australians whose lives have been seriously affected by government policies of the past. Latest statistics say that just over 10% of PHaMs clients identify as being institutionalised as a child.
“The Community Affairs Committee will table its report into Forgotten Australians and Lost Innocents on Thursday.
“As a member of the Senate Committee I heard in evidence many stories of breakdowns and mental health issues experienced by witnesses.
“The PHaMs program was set up by the Howard Government to help those suffering from mental health issues to connect back into the community. Industry experts have said it is a very effective program that helps those in need.
“The Department of Families, Housing, Community Service and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) who run the program will be soon announcing funding guidelines for Round 4 of the program with the main emphasis on the Indigenous Stolen Generation, the homeless, humanitarian entrants and Forgotten Australians,” Senator Boyce said.
“This will be a start, at least, for the many Australians whose lives have been seriously affected by government policies of the past. Latest statistics say that just over 10% of PHaMs clients identify as being institutionalised as a child.
“The Community Affairs Committee will table its report into Forgotten Australians and Lost Innocents on Thursday.
“As a member of the Senate Committee I heard in evidence many stories of breakdowns and mental health issues experienced by witnesses.
“The PHaMs program was set up by the Howard Government to help those suffering from mental health issues to connect back into the community. Industry experts have said it is a very effective program that helps those in need.
“The Department of Families, Housing, Community Service and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) who run the program will be soon announcing funding guidelines for Round 4 of the program with the main emphasis on the Indigenous Stolen Generation, the homeless, humanitarian entrants and Forgotten Australians,” Senator Boyce said.
Disability Advocate for Migration Committee
Queensland Senator Sue Boyce has been appointed to the Joint Standing Committee on Migration for its upcoming inquiry into the Immigration Treatment of Disability.
Senator Boyce, a long term disability advocate, has made a number of representations to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, about prospective migrants who have children with a disability.
“The issue of migration and disability came to prominence last year with the case of Dr Moeller and his son Lukas who has Down syndrome,” Senator Boyce said.
“It’s outdated to treat every disability as medical conditions that will inevitability drain the public purse.
“I look forward to working on this important inquiry that will hopefully bring a major change to our immigration rules to enable families with a child with a disability to contribute fully to our country, as they want to.”
Senator Boyce, a long term disability advocate, has made a number of representations to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, about prospective migrants who have children with a disability.
“The issue of migration and disability came to prominence last year with the case of Dr Moeller and his son Lukas who has Down syndrome,” Senator Boyce said.
“It’s outdated to treat every disability as medical conditions that will inevitability drain the public purse.
“I look forward to working on this important inquiry that will hopefully bring a major change to our immigration rules to enable families with a child with a disability to contribute fully to our country, as they want to.”
Monday, June 22, 2009
Headlines Monday 22nd June 2009
Key men set for day of battle
WAYNE Swan and Malcolm Turnbull will face heated demands to resign today.
Turnbull censured as ute-gate escalates
Federal police are investigating a link between the Treasury official at the centre of the OzCar affair and a former senior adviser in Malcolm Turnbull's office, according to media reports. - the most likely scenario being that a rude Rudd has upset someone so much they made the email to implicate the PM, not knowing he would do that with his defence of Swan. - ed.
'MP's rape victim had breakdown'
A WOMAN who alleges she was raped by senior Victorian MP Theo Theophanous had a breakdown and was admitted to hospital after the incident, a court has heard.
Tragic teenage face of Iran's crisis
A graphic video of young girl dying after being shot through the heart has rallied protesters in Iran and added to the chorus of condemnation of Tehran's crackdown from the West.
Taxpayers foot bill for Fadi Ibrahim's police protection
Taxpayers are reportedly paying $120 an hour for the police protection of shot underworld figure Fadi Ibrahim.
Stamp duty on home loans to be scrapped
STAMP duty on housing loans is set to be abolished in Australia.
Dozens witness terrifying armed robbery
Shots have been fired during a robbery on a cash-in-transit van at North Sydney.
Steve Jobs received liver transplant
Apple CEO Steve Jobs, whose recovery from pancreatic cancer appeared less certain when he had to take medical leave in January, received a liver transplant two months ago but is recovering well.
Record bashings by stressed-out wives
WOMEN are becoming more violent towards their partners using guns, knives, boiling liquids and irons to attack them.
JAIL BIRD: NRL star gets eight months
Shamed NRL star Greg Bird has been jailed for at least eight months for glassing his American girlfriend in the face.
Andrew Symonds tackles footy dream
FORMER Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds has made a surprise club rugby league debut.
Love cheats let fingers do philandering
SHANE Warne isn't the only Australian to land in hot water by texting, with love cheats most likely to be caught out via SMS.
=== Comments ===
AWAIT THE GREAT TAILGATE DEBATE
Tim Blair
Phil Coorey reports:
Godwin Grech, the public servant caught in the political maelstrom over OzCar, was being “looked after” over the weekend, Government sources say. “There were steps taken to make sure he was OK,” a source said.
The Herald has been told Mr Grech was afforded Federal Police protection as well, in the event there were any threats against him.
The Feds know their lefties well. Further from Coorey, whose Taligate analysis is sharp, particularly on matters tactical:
By calling in the Federal Police [to investigate the mysterious Email of Doom], however, Rudd has inadvertently done Turnbull a favour. The investigation gives the Opposition the convenient excuse that it would be inappropriate to comment.
Not that Turnbull himself has displayed tactical brilliance. Today’s Daily Telegraph editorial:
For a lawyer, Turnbull acts with unusual haste when it comes to evidence. Prior to all the facts being in - and without that crucial email - he demanded that both Rudd and Swan stand down …
Turnbull’s rush to a resignation demand reflects badly on his political judgment. At the time of his initial press conference, Turnbull held all the aces and the Government was staring at a hand that looked more like a foot.
The political poker match has now shifted and Turnbull’s bluff is being called. He’s played a potentially winning hand very poorly. For this, Malcolm Turnbull can blame nobody but himself.
Of Godwin Grech, Steve Lewis writes:
Last Friday, on the day the story was published , Mr Grech - appearing distraught and extremely nervous - appeared before a special Senate hearing, to confirm key elements of these allegations.
Yes, he did recall a “short email” from the Prime Minister’s office, surrounding the fate of Mr Grant. His testimony, however, was cut short by his Treasury senior and by a Senate committee chaired by Labor Senator, Annette Hurley.
In the interests of full transparency, Mr Grech should be allowed to deliver his testimony - without being pressured by those fearful about what he may ultimately disclose.
Let the man talk. It might be news to Lindsay Tanner, by the way, that Grech has lately been physically unwell. Ahead of today’s Parliamentary frolics, Gerard McManus chops Tailgate down to essentials:
The Government is trying to turn claims that senior officials had done favors for a friend of the Prime Minister into a question of the existence of one alleged email.
This is despite considerable evidence by Mr Grech and Ford Credit before a Senate committee last week that officials went out of their way to help Mr Grant find finance.
I’ll be in Canberra today – disguised as Mr Car – to watch Question Time. Column tomorrow.
===
THEY WANT TO STAY IN WORK
Tim Blair
Meraiah Foley of the New York Times uncovers Australian anxiety:
On the windswept streets of Newcastle, the world’s largest coal port and a hub of Australian heavy industry, people get nervous when asked to give their opinions on climate change.
Sure they do. Newcastle residents are practically as neurotic and jittery as Manhattanites. None are identified, however, nor are their nervous qualities described … so Meraiah fleshes out her piece with words from a Greens senator, a green activist, and this guy:
Chris Beverley, a 52-year-old who works as a security guard at a power station and describes himself as a “greenie vegetarian,” said he supported the government’s plan and “couldn’t give a stuff” if it costs him his job.
But, he added: “Nobody thinks like me. They’re all worried about climate change, but at the same time they want to pay the mortgage, and they want to stay in work.”
Good. They can take Chris’s job.
===
HAIL TAILGATE
Tim Blair
Besides providing kilotons of entertainment, Australia’s favourite Gate-suffixed ute scandal is protecting us from carbon laws:
Labor’s plans to have its carbon pollution reduction scheme approved by parliament are certain to be dashed in the final sitting week before the winter break.
Debate on the 11 bills introducing an emissions trading scheme in mid-2011, due to begin on Monday, was to have been the main focus before the six-week break …
But the opposition is expected to direct its focus on using question time in both the Senate and the House of Representatives to drill the government on the OzCar scandal and whether preferential treatment was given to a Brisbane car dealer friend of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
Thank you, Tailgate. Thank you from all of us.
===
SOMEONE PLEASE TELL THEM THAT BLUE INDICATES COLD
Tim Blair
British pop trash are painting their faces blue. This apparently means that global warming is real.
===
SIGNS OF SYDNEY
Tim Blair
It shouldn’t be necessary to publish a guide that tells people where they live, but have you wandered around Newtown lately? Some of those bunnies don’t even know what country they’re in. A few of them need help narrowing it down to a particular solar system.
So, as a public service to location-puzzled readers, here are your infallible multipoint instructional Top 25 Signs That You Live in Sydney:
===
AN INCONVENIENT SHELF
Tim Blair
The Crossword bookstore at Bangalore’s Garuda Mall has Al Gore figured out:
Via Rajan Rishyakaran. Meanwhile, in waterless, incinerated Sydney:
Sydneysiders can again use sprinklers and watering systems, with rising dam levels prompting the NSW government to lift tough water restrictions …
NSW Water Minister Phil Costa said the new rules end five years of tough drought restrictions …
And five years of warming alarmism.
WAYNE Swan and Malcolm Turnbull will face heated demands to resign today.
Turnbull censured as ute-gate escalates
Federal police are investigating a link between the Treasury official at the centre of the OzCar affair and a former senior adviser in Malcolm Turnbull's office, according to media reports. - the most likely scenario being that a rude Rudd has upset someone so much they made the email to implicate the PM, not knowing he would do that with his defence of Swan. - ed.
'MP's rape victim had breakdown'
A WOMAN who alleges she was raped by senior Victorian MP Theo Theophanous had a breakdown and was admitted to hospital after the incident, a court has heard.
Tragic teenage face of Iran's crisis
A graphic video of young girl dying after being shot through the heart has rallied protesters in Iran and added to the chorus of condemnation of Tehran's crackdown from the West.
Taxpayers foot bill for Fadi Ibrahim's police protection
Taxpayers are reportedly paying $120 an hour for the police protection of shot underworld figure Fadi Ibrahim.
Stamp duty on home loans to be scrapped
STAMP duty on housing loans is set to be abolished in Australia.
Dozens witness terrifying armed robbery
Shots have been fired during a robbery on a cash-in-transit van at North Sydney.
Steve Jobs received liver transplant
Apple CEO Steve Jobs, whose recovery from pancreatic cancer appeared less certain when he had to take medical leave in January, received a liver transplant two months ago but is recovering well.
Record bashings by stressed-out wives
WOMEN are becoming more violent towards their partners using guns, knives, boiling liquids and irons to attack them.
JAIL BIRD: NRL star gets eight months
Shamed NRL star Greg Bird has been jailed for at least eight months for glassing his American girlfriend in the face.
Andrew Symonds tackles footy dream
FORMER Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds has made a surprise club rugby league debut.
Love cheats let fingers do philandering
SHANE Warne isn't the only Australian to land in hot water by texting, with love cheats most likely to be caught out via SMS.
=== Comments ===
AWAIT THE GREAT TAILGATE DEBATE
Tim Blair
Phil Coorey reports:
Godwin Grech, the public servant caught in the political maelstrom over OzCar, was being “looked after” over the weekend, Government sources say. “There were steps taken to make sure he was OK,” a source said.
The Herald has been told Mr Grech was afforded Federal Police protection as well, in the event there were any threats against him.
The Feds know their lefties well. Further from Coorey, whose Taligate analysis is sharp, particularly on matters tactical:
By calling in the Federal Police [to investigate the mysterious Email of Doom], however, Rudd has inadvertently done Turnbull a favour. The investigation gives the Opposition the convenient excuse that it would be inappropriate to comment.
Not that Turnbull himself has displayed tactical brilliance. Today’s Daily Telegraph editorial:
For a lawyer, Turnbull acts with unusual haste when it comes to evidence. Prior to all the facts being in - and without that crucial email - he demanded that both Rudd and Swan stand down …
Turnbull’s rush to a resignation demand reflects badly on his political judgment. At the time of his initial press conference, Turnbull held all the aces and the Government was staring at a hand that looked more like a foot.
The political poker match has now shifted and Turnbull’s bluff is being called. He’s played a potentially winning hand very poorly. For this, Malcolm Turnbull can blame nobody but himself.
Of Godwin Grech, Steve Lewis writes:
Last Friday, on the day the story was published , Mr Grech - appearing distraught and extremely nervous - appeared before a special Senate hearing, to confirm key elements of these allegations.
Yes, he did recall a “short email” from the Prime Minister’s office, surrounding the fate of Mr Grant. His testimony, however, was cut short by his Treasury senior and by a Senate committee chaired by Labor Senator, Annette Hurley.
In the interests of full transparency, Mr Grech should be allowed to deliver his testimony - without being pressured by those fearful about what he may ultimately disclose.
Let the man talk. It might be news to Lindsay Tanner, by the way, that Grech has lately been physically unwell. Ahead of today’s Parliamentary frolics, Gerard McManus chops Tailgate down to essentials:
The Government is trying to turn claims that senior officials had done favors for a friend of the Prime Minister into a question of the existence of one alleged email.
This is despite considerable evidence by Mr Grech and Ford Credit before a Senate committee last week that officials went out of their way to help Mr Grant find finance.
I’ll be in Canberra today – disguised as Mr Car – to watch Question Time. Column tomorrow.
===
THEY WANT TO STAY IN WORK
Tim Blair
Meraiah Foley of the New York Times uncovers Australian anxiety:
On the windswept streets of Newcastle, the world’s largest coal port and a hub of Australian heavy industry, people get nervous when asked to give their opinions on climate change.
Sure they do. Newcastle residents are practically as neurotic and jittery as Manhattanites. None are identified, however, nor are their nervous qualities described … so Meraiah fleshes out her piece with words from a Greens senator, a green activist, and this guy:
Chris Beverley, a 52-year-old who works as a security guard at a power station and describes himself as a “greenie vegetarian,” said he supported the government’s plan and “couldn’t give a stuff” if it costs him his job.
But, he added: “Nobody thinks like me. They’re all worried about climate change, but at the same time they want to pay the mortgage, and they want to stay in work.”
Good. They can take Chris’s job.
===
HAIL TAILGATE
Tim Blair
Besides providing kilotons of entertainment, Australia’s favourite Gate-suffixed ute scandal is protecting us from carbon laws:
Labor’s plans to have its carbon pollution reduction scheme approved by parliament are certain to be dashed in the final sitting week before the winter break.
Debate on the 11 bills introducing an emissions trading scheme in mid-2011, due to begin on Monday, was to have been the main focus before the six-week break …
But the opposition is expected to direct its focus on using question time in both the Senate and the House of Representatives to drill the government on the OzCar scandal and whether preferential treatment was given to a Brisbane car dealer friend of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
Thank you, Tailgate. Thank you from all of us.
===
SOMEONE PLEASE TELL THEM THAT BLUE INDICATES COLD
Tim Blair
British pop trash are painting their faces blue. This apparently means that global warming is real.
===
SIGNS OF SYDNEY
Tim Blair
It shouldn’t be necessary to publish a guide that tells people where they live, but have you wandered around Newtown lately? Some of those bunnies don’t even know what country they’re in. A few of them need help narrowing it down to a particular solar system.
So, as a public service to location-puzzled readers, here are your infallible multipoint instructional Top 25 Signs That You Live in Sydney:
===
AN INCONVENIENT SHELF
Tim Blair
The Crossword bookstore at Bangalore’s Garuda Mall has Al Gore figured out:
Via Rajan Rishyakaran. Meanwhile, in waterless, incinerated Sydney:
Sydneysiders can again use sprinklers and watering systems, with rising dam levels prompting the NSW government to lift tough water restrictions …
NSW Water Minister Phil Costa said the new rules end five years of tough drought restrictions …
And five years of warming alarmism.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Ok, Cya Then!
communitychannel
June 20, 2009
...or not
Hooters is my after school care. That would be feasible if the food weren't so awful. Hope you guys are all well and enjoying a nice weekend.
x
n
Headlines Sunday 21st June 2009
Turnbull should resign: Gillard
here are calls for Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull's head if he can't produce an email at the centre of a corruption claim levelled against the Prime Minister and Treasurer. - all of which is smoke designed to hide the fact that Swan and Rudd have clearly lied to parliament about their lobbying. - ed.
Joe Hockey prepared to nail Swan on 'utegate' email
SHADOW Treasurer Joe Hockey has refused to comment about an alleged email at the centre of the OzCar affair, but says Treasurer Wayne Swan can expect a tough week in question time.
Businesses freezing pay and cutting staff
AUSSIE companies are cutting back and cancelling plans in preparation for the year ahead. - thank you Rudd - ed.
Taxi fares to rise by 4 per cent
Taxi fares are set to rise by 4 per cent as taxi operators are hit with increasing costs.
Football club 'paid off' player rape claims
FORMER footy president says club paid off women who claimed they were raped by players.
Water restrictions to be lifted
From midnight tonight, level three water restrictions will be lifted, allowing Sydney kids to once again run under the sprinkler.
No job for Costello: Gillard
Julia Gillard has ended speculation the Rudd government was planning to appoint former treasurer Peter Costello as head of Australia's $60 billion future fund.
NSW Government denies plan to axe teaching jobs
THE NSW Government says it has no plans to axe special education teachers and it is considering expanding support programs for students with extra needs.
Playground funding for fit kids
Playgrounds across Sydney will receive funding to encourage kids to lead active lives.
=== Comments ===
Openness is the first casualty
Piers Akerman
Kevin Rudd has shredded any claim of running an open and transparent government with Labor’s handling of the Senate probe into his favoured car dealer scandal. - This morning, Channel 7’s political journalist/ALP-advocate Riley was working overtime trying to blame Mr Turnbull for Rudd’s mistake. Mr Rudd in parliament clearly stated that no one in government had made representations over the car dealership and that is clearly not true. Mr Rudd specifically stated Mr Swan’s office was not involved, and we know it had been. Mr Rudd said it was a smear attempt to divert from the appallingly bad budget .. this is believable, but not that it was Mr Turnbull attempting the smear.
Tim is spot on in pointing out that such things we are witnessing are not generally isolated, but cultural to the party in power. This kind of rubbish did not happen under Mr Howard, or with Mr Costello. That was no accident .. and neither is what is happening now. - (earlier) - Piers is spot on in observing that the smoking gun is out in the open, but the ALP are trying to misdirect by looking around in the smoke for more evidence they might obfuscate. Friends of the ALP will gather around the banner saying “Youse can’t prove nuffin,” but the truth can be seen in the behavior of Rudd in other issues. Rudd would not have thought he was doing anything wrong .. in fact he might have thought this was clever politics. In fact, had Rudd admitted it it would not have been a hanging offense. However, Rudd has lied about it and involved his wimpier colleagues. Even Tanner prematurely ejaculated a request for more information .. which was given. If we had a competent Governor General this would be very dangerous for the federal ALP.
Thing is, this may fall into the hands of ALP strategists who need to get rid of Rudd because he is blocking them from going to an early election. Rudd is a liability to the ALP and they need an excuse to blame him for their woes to change the guard, like NSW did with Carr and Iemma. But it isn’t good enough to for the ALP to knife Rudd, they have to do it a special way so as to not get tarred too. So tar baby Tripodi had better stay clear.- ed.
===
TAILGATE MATE’S RATES
Tim Blair
**IMPORTANT UPDATE/CORRECTION. See end of post**
Wayne Swan’s claim:
Mr Swan yesterday told reporters that he had met Mr Grant, “a reasonably prominent Brisbane businessman”, three or four times over the years. “He’s not a friend of mine . . a few years ago I did buy a used car from him.”
Mr Swan paid $13,000 for the 2007 Toyota Hilux, which, his spokesman said, was full market value.
If he bought that Hilux “a few years ago” it would’ve been near-new. As for the “full market value”, this will depend on condition and specification; Hiluxs are available in many styles. But $13,000, even for the most basic model, is freakishly low. For example, here’s a 2007 example currently for sale:
The asking price: $18,500. Five grand discount if your name is Wayne. As John Grant says: “Mates are mates, friends are friends …”
UPDATE. Michelle Grattan’s Age report, cited above, may be wrong. Word from Swan’s office is that the Hilux in question is a 2000 model, in which case the price is much more reasonable.
===
TEACHERS REVOLVED
Tim Blair
Kevin Rudd’s education revolution begins:
Almost 2000 classroom teaching positions in NSW will be axed next year.
===
INTEGRITY QUESTIONED
Tim Blair
The Seven Network last night ran a brief extract from a press conference with Lindsay Tanner in which the finance minister questioned senior Treasury official Godwin Grech’s “state of mind” (Tanner’s precise term). No online video or text is available as yet.
If the government is prepared to go this far this early – why, Tanner seems almost to be attacking Treasury integrity – what might it indicate? Oh, and Laurie Oakes will interview Wayne Swan this morning on Nine.
UPDATE. There is a second ute:
Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan remains under pressure over “Utegate”, having admitted buying a Toyota HiLux from the Queensland car dealer involved and personally discussing the businessman’s finance problems.
UPDATE II. Piers Akerman:
Then there’s the attempt to destroy Grech’s reputation. This began yesterday with Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner claiming the officer was under stress when he made his statements.
The campaign against Grech will be cynical and directed from both within the Government and from Treasury because e-mails clearly show senior staffers in the political wing and senior Treasury officials were constantly kept in the loop about the progress of Grant’s applications for funds.
UPDATE III. The SMH’s Kerry-Anne Walsh:
Australia’s three most senior federal politicians have laid their careers on the line in a high-stakes game of political brinkmanship over a used-car salesman …
The affair now threatens the career of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Treasurer Wayne Swan or Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull.
How about … all three?
UPDATE IV. Michelle Grattan:
Emails tabled at the Senate hearing show everyone concerned with the Grant case behaving as though they thought it was to be handled with particular diligence.
There may have been nothing improper, but Grant travelled through the process gold class (although he has not received anything in the end). Who knows why? Maybe that car Swan yesterday revealed he bought from him (at market value) just runs very nicely.
===
HEART ATTACK GRILL ATTACKED
Tim Blair
“Leave the Heart Attack Grill alone!” demands long-term Grill fan Garth Godsman. “I hope to get there one day myself.” As do we all …
UPDATE. “The lard in those Flatliner Fries is health food,” emails J. F. Beck. “Do some research,
slacker.”
===
SWAN TAILED
Tim Blair
Brisbane hobby site Larvatus Prodeo finally gets around to posting on a story they’ve thus far ignored, despite compelling local angles:
Apparently, the end of the world is at hand. Kevin Rudd borrowed a ute off a bloke. Or something. It’s a scandal! Apparently.
For weeks, Wayne Swan has been similarly dismissive. Now he’s the coalition’s main target:
Treasurer Wayne Swan must resign immediately over his role in the “damning” OzCar affair, Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull says.
It has been revealed the treasurer’s office lobbied on behalf of Ipswich car dealer John Grant, who was seeking a government backed loan.
Mr Grant is a friend of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd …
“Mr Swan has offered no explanation for any of this and today should tender his resignation,” Mr Turnbull said in a statement.
Swan is sticking to his story and working the fake email angle like a demon. He seems disinclined to mention other emails, already presented to the Senate inquiry. Lenore Taylor summarises:
The Rudd government is facing a political crisis.
The evidence against Wayne Swan suggests he has misled parliament, despite the Treasurer’s assertion that this is not technically true.
The evidence against Kevin Rudd is shakier, essentially resting on the memory of a public servant who admits his recollection may be faulty, and an email allegedly in the possession of the opposition, which the government says is an elaborate hoax.
The text of that mystery email may be found here (unlike other elements of this story, which now can’t be found at all). Another Tailgate scandal – Rudd should’ve held out for a better deal:
Mitsubishi Motors is offering a free goat with every Triton ute sold before August in a novel effort at correcting the economy.
Actually, the economy mentioned is New Zealand’s, which could easily be fixed by a few free goats. Click, click, click for previous Tailgate items.
UPDATE. One of Tailgate’s more puzzling episodes, which shouldn’t be forgotten as events move on, came during yesterday’s Senate inquiry:
Labor senators and fellow Treasury official David Martine spent more than 10 minutes trying to stop Mr Grech answering a question about whether Mr Grech had seen a document from Mr Rudd’s office regarding Mr Grant.
Michelle Grattan:
One would expect Labor senators to try to be obstructionist. But why would David Martine, the boss of Godwin Grech, the man making the allegation, try to hinder evidence being given? Grech was the only one who claimed to have seen the correspondence, but at every turn Martine tried to stop him casting further light on what he might know. Martine’s motives are obscure.
Yes. Yes, they are.
UPDATE II. Now the Feds are involved:
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the Australian Federal Police will investigate whether someone impersonated a public servant and made up a fake email that is at the centre of the OzCar scandal engulfing the Government …
“Today Mr Turnbull is in full retreat on this claim,” Mr Rudd told reporters in Canberra.
===
VVZZVZWWZZZ MOURNED
Tim Blair
A DC-area widow misses her murdered husband ("He always flew home in time to tuck in our maggots …") and launches a wrongful-death lawsuit.
===
HAVE A NICE DAY!
Tim Blair
Elizabeth “Lizzie Borden” Becton, the Democrat staffer with meat-axe manners, has an entertaining email history. Here she is last year, following the publication of notes from her office:
From: Becton, Elizabeth
Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 9:55 AM
To: XXX; XXX; Democratic Schedulers
Subject: RE: We Have a Mole Amongst Us
What kind of nasty, petty, poorly written (Did these people graduate from middle school to high school?) site is http://www.wonkette.com? And what a base, narcissistic, illiterate group of readers they have! I will never venture to that site again. It was a total waste of my time. However, this email is for the mole among us. You are a poor excuse for a human being. You are not a team player. If I ever find out who you are, I will gladly advertise that it was you who forwarded the emails to the low-rent wonkette site. I will further inform the Speaker’s Office, Standards on Official Conduct, and all the other appropriate offices of what you did. And if you got paid for it, my lowly, putrid, little wonkette reader, you have committed a crime and you will be punished for it when you are found. I have contacted Telecom and I have informed them of what has happened and since it’s a quiet day, they are checking all the forwarded emails from this list serve.
And to my team players and fellow schedulers, I apologize that I had to include you on this email. This email was intended for the lowly loser among us.
Have a nice day!
Elizabeth Becton
Executive Assistant/Office Manager
Office of Congressman Jim McDermott
UPDATE. In other explosive Democrat news:
House Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) on Friday said climate change bill negotiators are heading back to the drawing board after discussions between Democrats “blew up last night.”
here are calls for Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull's head if he can't produce an email at the centre of a corruption claim levelled against the Prime Minister and Treasurer. - all of which is smoke designed to hide the fact that Swan and Rudd have clearly lied to parliament about their lobbying. - ed.
Joe Hockey prepared to nail Swan on 'utegate' email
SHADOW Treasurer Joe Hockey has refused to comment about an alleged email at the centre of the OzCar affair, but says Treasurer Wayne Swan can expect a tough week in question time.
Businesses freezing pay and cutting staff
AUSSIE companies are cutting back and cancelling plans in preparation for the year ahead. - thank you Rudd - ed.
Taxi fares to rise by 4 per cent
Taxi fares are set to rise by 4 per cent as taxi operators are hit with increasing costs.
Football club 'paid off' player rape claims
FORMER footy president says club paid off women who claimed they were raped by players.
Water restrictions to be lifted
From midnight tonight, level three water restrictions will be lifted, allowing Sydney kids to once again run under the sprinkler.
No job for Costello: Gillard
Julia Gillard has ended speculation the Rudd government was planning to appoint former treasurer Peter Costello as head of Australia's $60 billion future fund.
NSW Government denies plan to axe teaching jobs
THE NSW Government says it has no plans to axe special education teachers and it is considering expanding support programs for students with extra needs.
Playground funding for fit kids
Playgrounds across Sydney will receive funding to encourage kids to lead active lives.
=== Comments ===
Openness is the first casualty
Piers Akerman
Kevin Rudd has shredded any claim of running an open and transparent government with Labor’s handling of the Senate probe into his favoured car dealer scandal. - This morning, Channel 7’s political journalist/ALP-advocate Riley was working overtime trying to blame Mr Turnbull for Rudd’s mistake. Mr Rudd in parliament clearly stated that no one in government had made representations over the car dealership and that is clearly not true. Mr Rudd specifically stated Mr Swan’s office was not involved, and we know it had been. Mr Rudd said it was a smear attempt to divert from the appallingly bad budget .. this is believable, but not that it was Mr Turnbull attempting the smear.
Tim is spot on in pointing out that such things we are witnessing are not generally isolated, but cultural to the party in power. This kind of rubbish did not happen under Mr Howard, or with Mr Costello. That was no accident .. and neither is what is happening now. - (earlier) - Piers is spot on in observing that the smoking gun is out in the open, but the ALP are trying to misdirect by looking around in the smoke for more evidence they might obfuscate. Friends of the ALP will gather around the banner saying “Youse can’t prove nuffin,” but the truth can be seen in the behavior of Rudd in other issues. Rudd would not have thought he was doing anything wrong .. in fact he might have thought this was clever politics. In fact, had Rudd admitted it it would not have been a hanging offense. However, Rudd has lied about it and involved his wimpier colleagues. Even Tanner prematurely ejaculated a request for more information .. which was given. If we had a competent Governor General this would be very dangerous for the federal ALP.
Thing is, this may fall into the hands of ALP strategists who need to get rid of Rudd because he is blocking them from going to an early election. Rudd is a liability to the ALP and they need an excuse to blame him for their woes to change the guard, like NSW did with Carr and Iemma. But it isn’t good enough to for the ALP to knife Rudd, they have to do it a special way so as to not get tarred too. So tar baby Tripodi had better stay clear.- ed.
===
TAILGATE MATE’S RATES
Tim Blair
**IMPORTANT UPDATE/CORRECTION. See end of post**
Wayne Swan’s claim:
Mr Swan yesterday told reporters that he had met Mr Grant, “a reasonably prominent Brisbane businessman”, three or four times over the years. “He’s not a friend of mine . . a few years ago I did buy a used car from him.”
Mr Swan paid $13,000 for the 2007 Toyota Hilux, which, his spokesman said, was full market value.
If he bought that Hilux “a few years ago” it would’ve been near-new. As for the “full market value”, this will depend on condition and specification; Hiluxs are available in many styles. But $13,000, even for the most basic model, is freakishly low. For example, here’s a 2007 example currently for sale:
The asking price: $18,500. Five grand discount if your name is Wayne. As John Grant says: “Mates are mates, friends are friends …”
UPDATE. Michelle Grattan’s Age report, cited above, may be wrong. Word from Swan’s office is that the Hilux in question is a 2000 model, in which case the price is much more reasonable.
===
TEACHERS REVOLVED
Tim Blair
Kevin Rudd’s education revolution begins:
Almost 2000 classroom teaching positions in NSW will be axed next year.
===
INTEGRITY QUESTIONED
Tim Blair
The Seven Network last night ran a brief extract from a press conference with Lindsay Tanner in which the finance minister questioned senior Treasury official Godwin Grech’s “state of mind” (Tanner’s precise term). No online video or text is available as yet.
If the government is prepared to go this far this early – why, Tanner seems almost to be attacking Treasury integrity – what might it indicate? Oh, and Laurie Oakes will interview Wayne Swan this morning on Nine.
UPDATE. There is a second ute:
Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan remains under pressure over “Utegate”, having admitted buying a Toyota HiLux from the Queensland car dealer involved and personally discussing the businessman’s finance problems.
UPDATE II. Piers Akerman:
Then there’s the attempt to destroy Grech’s reputation. This began yesterday with Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner claiming the officer was under stress when he made his statements.
The campaign against Grech will be cynical and directed from both within the Government and from Treasury because e-mails clearly show senior staffers in the political wing and senior Treasury officials were constantly kept in the loop about the progress of Grant’s applications for funds.
UPDATE III. The SMH’s Kerry-Anne Walsh:
Australia’s three most senior federal politicians have laid their careers on the line in a high-stakes game of political brinkmanship over a used-car salesman …
The affair now threatens the career of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Treasurer Wayne Swan or Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull.
How about … all three?
UPDATE IV. Michelle Grattan:
Emails tabled at the Senate hearing show everyone concerned with the Grant case behaving as though they thought it was to be handled with particular diligence.
There may have been nothing improper, but Grant travelled through the process gold class (although he has not received anything in the end). Who knows why? Maybe that car Swan yesterday revealed he bought from him (at market value) just runs very nicely.
===
HEART ATTACK GRILL ATTACKED
Tim Blair
“Leave the Heart Attack Grill alone!” demands long-term Grill fan Garth Godsman. “I hope to get there one day myself.” As do we all …
UPDATE. “The lard in those Flatliner Fries is health food,” emails J. F. Beck. “Do some research,
slacker.”
===
SWAN TAILED
Tim Blair
Brisbane hobby site Larvatus Prodeo finally gets around to posting on a story they’ve thus far ignored, despite compelling local angles:
Apparently, the end of the world is at hand. Kevin Rudd borrowed a ute off a bloke. Or something. It’s a scandal! Apparently.
For weeks, Wayne Swan has been similarly dismissive. Now he’s the coalition’s main target:
Treasurer Wayne Swan must resign immediately over his role in the “damning” OzCar affair, Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull says.
It has been revealed the treasurer’s office lobbied on behalf of Ipswich car dealer John Grant, who was seeking a government backed loan.
Mr Grant is a friend of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd …
“Mr Swan has offered no explanation for any of this and today should tender his resignation,” Mr Turnbull said in a statement.
Swan is sticking to his story and working the fake email angle like a demon. He seems disinclined to mention other emails, already presented to the Senate inquiry. Lenore Taylor summarises:
The Rudd government is facing a political crisis.
The evidence against Wayne Swan suggests he has misled parliament, despite the Treasurer’s assertion that this is not technically true.
The evidence against Kevin Rudd is shakier, essentially resting on the memory of a public servant who admits his recollection may be faulty, and an email allegedly in the possession of the opposition, which the government says is an elaborate hoax.
The text of that mystery email may be found here (unlike other elements of this story, which now can’t be found at all). Another Tailgate scandal – Rudd should’ve held out for a better deal:
Mitsubishi Motors is offering a free goat with every Triton ute sold before August in a novel effort at correcting the economy.
Actually, the economy mentioned is New Zealand’s, which could easily be fixed by a few free goats. Click, click, click for previous Tailgate items.
UPDATE. One of Tailgate’s more puzzling episodes, which shouldn’t be forgotten as events move on, came during yesterday’s Senate inquiry:
Labor senators and fellow Treasury official David Martine spent more than 10 minutes trying to stop Mr Grech answering a question about whether Mr Grech had seen a document from Mr Rudd’s office regarding Mr Grant.
Michelle Grattan:
One would expect Labor senators to try to be obstructionist. But why would David Martine, the boss of Godwin Grech, the man making the allegation, try to hinder evidence being given? Grech was the only one who claimed to have seen the correspondence, but at every turn Martine tried to stop him casting further light on what he might know. Martine’s motives are obscure.
Yes. Yes, they are.
UPDATE II. Now the Feds are involved:
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the Australian Federal Police will investigate whether someone impersonated a public servant and made up a fake email that is at the centre of the OzCar scandal engulfing the Government …
“Today Mr Turnbull is in full retreat on this claim,” Mr Rudd told reporters in Canberra.
===
VVZZVZWWZZZ MOURNED
Tim Blair
A DC-area widow misses her murdered husband ("He always flew home in time to tuck in our maggots …") and launches a wrongful-death lawsuit.
===
HAVE A NICE DAY!
Tim Blair
Elizabeth “Lizzie Borden” Becton, the Democrat staffer with meat-axe manners, has an entertaining email history. Here she is last year, following the publication of notes from her office:
From: Becton, Elizabeth
Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 9:55 AM
To: XXX; XXX; Democratic Schedulers
Subject: RE: We Have a Mole Amongst Us
What kind of nasty, petty, poorly written (Did these people graduate from middle school to high school?) site is http://www.wonkette.com? And what a base, narcissistic, illiterate group of readers they have! I will never venture to that site again. It was a total waste of my time. However, this email is for the mole among us. You are a poor excuse for a human being. You are not a team player. If I ever find out who you are, I will gladly advertise that it was you who forwarded the emails to the low-rent wonkette site. I will further inform the Speaker’s Office, Standards on Official Conduct, and all the other appropriate offices of what you did. And if you got paid for it, my lowly, putrid, little wonkette reader, you have committed a crime and you will be punished for it when you are found. I have contacted Telecom and I have informed them of what has happened and since it’s a quiet day, they are checking all the forwarded emails from this list serve.
And to my team players and fellow schedulers, I apologize that I had to include you on this email. This email was intended for the lowly loser among us.
Have a nice day!
Elizabeth Becton
Executive Assistant/Office Manager
Office of Congressman Jim McDermott
UPDATE. In other explosive Democrat news:
House Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) on Friday said climate change bill negotiators are heading back to the drawing board after discussions between Democrats “blew up last night.”
GROCERY PRICES STAY THE SAME. - QLD
Regional Queensland had the lowest and highest basket of goods in the latest ShopSmart survey, Senator Sue Boyce, Senator for Queensland, said today.
“Woolworths in Cairns had the cheapest basket of goods at $63.50 and Woolworths at Gladstone was the most expensive at $70.17, costing more than Brisbane CBD stores.
“The average basket of goods across the state has gone up slightly since last month, increasing by $0.50. The Torres Strait had a small increase in their cost of groceries.
“Woolworths, this month had the lowest and the most expensive basket of goods, last month it was Coles. It just shows that customers need to be savvy when they go shopping for groceries.
“When the Choice website gets online I hope that that the millions of dollars the Rudd Government spent on it will offer consumers some real information, or will this be yet another failure of the Labor Government,” Senator Boyce said.
ShopSmart can be accessed at www.shopsmart.sueboyce.com.au
“Woolworths in Cairns had the cheapest basket of goods at $63.50 and Woolworths at Gladstone was the most expensive at $70.17, costing more than Brisbane CBD stores.
“The average basket of goods across the state has gone up slightly since last month, increasing by $0.50. The Torres Strait had a small increase in their cost of groceries.
“Woolworths, this month had the lowest and the most expensive basket of goods, last month it was Coles. It just shows that customers need to be savvy when they go shopping for groceries.
“When the Choice website gets online I hope that that the millions of dollars the Rudd Government spent on it will offer consumers some real information, or will this be yet another failure of the Labor Government,” Senator Boyce said.
ShopSmart can be accessed at www.shopsmart.sueboyce.com.au
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Headlines Saturday 20th June 2009
Newspaper publishes OzCar 'leaked email'
Emails alleging the Prime Minister's office tried to help Ipswich car dealer John Grant secure a taxpayer-funded loan from the $2 billion OzCar vehicle financing scheme have been published in a Sydney newspaper.
Senior Treasury official Godwin Grech, who is in charge of the OzCar scheme, told a Senate inquiry on Friday he had been approached by the Prime Minister's office about Mr Grant's needs.
He said he thought there had been an email which confirmed the request, but then told the committee it was possible his memory was faulty.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has repeatedly denied he or his office tried to help Mr Grant secure a government-backed loan.
Today's edition of The Daily Telegraph published emails it says were sent by Andrew Charlton, Mr Rudd's senior adviser, to Mr Grech.
A February 19 email from Mr Charlton to Mr Grant reads:
"Hi Godwin, the PM has asked if the car dealer financing vehicle is available to assist a Queensland dealership, John Grant Motors, who seems to be having trouble getting finance.
"If you can follow up on this asap that would be very useful. Happy to discuss. A."
In an alleged reply sent by Mr Grech on February 23 to Treasurer Wayne Swan and Department Liaison Officer (Economic) Andrew Thomas, Mr Grech reports on his progress.
"Andrew, as promised, I raised the case of John Grant with the CEO of Ford Credit, Greg Cohen, during my meeting with Ford Credit in Melbourne today.
"Cohen gave me an undertaking that Ford Credit will actively look at taking Grant on.
"John Grant called me earlier this afternoon (from Auckland) to say that Ford Credit had been in contact with him after my meeting."
An undated email, also allegedly sent by Mr Grech to Mr Swan and Mr Thomas, expresses concerns.
"Andrew, I told Grant to keep in touch and to let me know if Ford show concerns or resistance (I will not speak with Ford again on this unless it is absolutely necessary to push it through)," Mr Grech reportedly wrote.
"He also said that he wants to come to Canberra to meet me (and I assume you). Although I said nothing, I don't think that would be a good idea until this is settled. Godwin."
Mr Thomas thanked Mr Grech in a responding email.
"Great work," the email read.
"Just so you are aware, these emails are also going to the Treasurer's home fax. Cheers, Andrew.
Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull has called on Mr Rudd and Mr Swan to justify their actions over links to Mr Grant or resign.
---- ---- ----
Tanner urges Turnbull to show evidence
Any email purporting to be from the Prime Minister's office to Treasury concerning the OzCar affair...... - that didn't work well for the ALP or Tanner. - ed.
Rudd says Utegate email a fraud
PM says email at centre of OzCar preferential treatment allegations is an "elaborate fraud". - yet it is completely in line with what we know about Rudd, and how he operates. - ed.
California finds pot smoke causes cancer
Marijuana smoke has joined tobacco smoke and hundreds of other chemicals on a list of substances California regulators say cause cancer. - good. now thieves can sue each other for giving each other cancer. - ed.
Smoking to be banned in cars with kids
Places where smoking is prohibited in NSW will soon include cars, if any of their passengers are......
Pumpkin's dad guilty of wife's murder
A New Zealand jury has found Nai Yin Xue guilty of the murder of his wife An An Liu, whose body was found in the boot of his car in Auckland in September 2007.
Drunken Fittler in latest NRL drama
Sydney Roosters coach Brad Fittler is the latest member of the NRL to be embroiled in an alcohol-related drama after being found half-naked outside a woman's hotel room at 3am.
Little support for Senate baby rulebreaker
MUMS have condemned a senator on forums for taking her toddler into Parliament. - maybe if she had named the child 'A Little Green' in memory of that song? - ed.
=== Comments ===
TAILMAIL
Tim Blair
Tailgate becomes Emailgate:
The auditor-general’s inquiry will focus on the existence of an email allegedly sent on Mr Rudd’s behalf to Godwin Grech, the head of the Government’s $2 billion OZ Car scheme, seeking financial help for his friend, used-car salesman John Grant.
The email was purportedly sent from the computer of Mr Rudd’s senior economic adviser Andrew Charlton to Mr Grech. But Mr Rudd insisted no such email existed, with his office declaring it an elaborate fraud.
This disputed email may yet influence matters, for either Rudd or Liberal leader Malcolm Turnbull, depending on evidence produced. But there are many other elements in this case that clearly hurt the government:
Ford Credit also confirmed reports in The Daily Telegraph it had been told of Mr Grant’s financial troubles when it was trying to access a $550 million government loan under the OZ Car scheme.
Greg Cohen, the managing director of Ford Credit, said Treasury had made it clear Mr Grant was an “acquaintance” of Mr Rudd.
There are other emails, too:
Emails tendered to the Senate inquiry also suggested that Wayne Swan may have misled parliament when he told MPs on June 4 that, after receiving and passing on representations about Mr Grant’s case, he had “no idea what the outcome was”.
One email sent by the Treasurer’s departmental liaison officer, Andrew Thomas, to Mr Grech, and tendered to the inquiry, said: “Just so you are aware, these emails are also going to the Treasurer’s home fax.”
It ain’t looking good for Rudd’s friend Swanny:
Under parliamentary questioning in recent weeks, Mr Swan has said repeatedly that Mr Grant received the same assistance as other car dealer seeking assistance from OzCar.
But emails between Mr Swan’s office and the department, which was charged with assisting dealers, show Mr Swan and his senior staff, as well as the Treasury secretary, Ken Henry, were kept apprised of the developments.
Swan might be a dead duck. The Treasurer sure is acting like a misleading mallard, according to Michelle Grattan:
The motives of Treasurer Wayne Swan were absolutely clear at his bizarre performance yesterday morning before the Senate hearing. Swan’s claim that Malcolm Turnbull had threatened a Rudd staffer was absolute nonsense from anything that we know. He only further discredited himself by his refusal to give details of the threat. He explained the lack of detail by saying that he had to catch a plane and that the staffer would put out a statement.
The transcript issued by Charlton immediately after read more like a homily from the Opposition Leader to the economist than a threat. “Andrew, integrity is the most important thing in a man’s career,” Turnbull is noted as saying, telling Charlton to be truthful.
The Age‘s Katharine Murphy reports that Kevin Rudd played a role in covering that alleged “threat” – which, at the time, was seen as nothing serious:
At the same function, as Wayne Swan told reporters earlier yesterday, in some kind of effort to muddy the waters, or to pre-empt any bombshell, that an adviser to the Prime Minister had been “threatened” by Malcolm Turnbull.
A blurry photograph taken from Kevin Rudd’s own BlackBerry — and a file note of the conversation between Turnbull and Andrew Charlton — was supplied to prove the contact.
Rudd had been showing the photo to ball guests on the night — the ones not being harassed or groped by that inebriated staffer.
Rudd joked that it would be great fodder to tease his young adviser, making nice with the enemy.
By Friday morning, events had moved on and it was evidence of a threat.
The government’s attempts to portray this conversation as something sinister indicates how desperate are Rudd and Swan to swing discussion away from Tailgate. On Friday’s Lateline, Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner accused Turnbull of “threatening and bullying” Charlton:
That to me calls into doubt Malcolm Turnbull’s character and judgment, and those are fundamental things for somebody who’s standing here saying he should be the Prime Minister of this country.
If threatening and bullying disqualifies one from leadership, Kevin Rudd should quit immediately. The auditor-general’s findings will be handed down on July 31. Meanwhile, here are this saga’s main players – including The Ute, a 1996 Mazda Bravo.
===
QUEEN BEA
Tim Blair
Communist, lesbian, atheist and anti-royalist Beatrix Campbell is offered an OBE. Naturally, because an OBE is bestowed by a hierarchical, heterosexual Christian authority that oppresses the lower orders, Campbell refuses.
Or does she? As David Thompson warns: “Caution: rationalisation in progress.” Further on this royal fraud from Norm Geras.
===
FIRE IN THE HOLE
Tim Blair
An eco-warrior has been evicted from the cave he lives in because it doesn’t have a fire exit.
===
EUROPE GOES RETRO
Tim Blair
Sophisticated Europeans looked on in alarm as George W. Bush dragged the US towards fascism. They should have paid more attention at home, as Mark Steyn notes:
To promote a greater sense of Euro-harmony, the European Parliament—actually, make that the European “Parliament"—is organized into ideological blocs, ensuring that French liberals sit with Slovene liberals, and Belgian greens sit with Latvian greens, rather than hunkering down in their ethnic ghettoes. The largest bloc is the “centre-right,” the second-largest are the socialists, and the third is now the “non-inscrits,” the bloc for people who don’t want to belong to blocs. As a result of this month’s election, this Groucho Marxist grouping of “Others” tripled in size to just under a hundred seats. So, if they’re not liberals, socialists, greens, “European democrats” or the “Nordic Green Left,” what the hell are they?
Historians who specialise in the 1930s and ‘40s will be quick to answer. Further from Steyn:
Woody Guthrie used to have a label on his guitar: “This Machine Kills Fascists.” Not true, of course. Just the usual self-flattery to which singing Commies are prone. But, in the room where they cook up European conventional wisdom, they could easily pin a sign on the door saying: “This Political Machine Creates Fascists.”
===
FARFUR LIVES
Tim Blair
Two years ago, Hamas TV broadcast shocking footage proving that Farfur – the world’s favourite helium-voiced terror rodent – had been murdered by a furious Israeli:
Work the body, Jewboy! Anyway, we all grieved over this Mickey Mouse/Edward Said hybrid for a few seconds then gradually rebuilt our lives and moved on. But now:
Look at the colourful folk greeting those freedom-sack ladies. That’s Farfur right there, apparently upright and undamaged. Date of the shot: June 18, 2009. This is either an authentic miracle, or the so-called “death of Farfur” is the greatest conspiracy since 9/11.
Hi Godwin, the PM has asked if the car dealer financing vehicle is available to assist a Queensland dealership, John Grant Motors, who seems to be having trouble getting finance.Email allegedly sent from PM's office
Emails alleging the Prime Minister's office tried to help Ipswich car dealer John Grant secure a taxpayer-funded loan from the $2 billion OzCar vehicle financing scheme have been published in a Sydney newspaper.
Senior Treasury official Godwin Grech, who is in charge of the OzCar scheme, told a Senate inquiry on Friday he had been approached by the Prime Minister's office about Mr Grant's needs.
He said he thought there had been an email which confirmed the request, but then told the committee it was possible his memory was faulty.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has repeatedly denied he or his office tried to help Mr Grant secure a government-backed loan.
Today's edition of The Daily Telegraph published emails it says were sent by Andrew Charlton, Mr Rudd's senior adviser, to Mr Grech.
A February 19 email from Mr Charlton to Mr Grant reads:
"Hi Godwin, the PM has asked if the car dealer financing vehicle is available to assist a Queensland dealership, John Grant Motors, who seems to be having trouble getting finance.
"If you can follow up on this asap that would be very useful. Happy to discuss. A."
In an alleged reply sent by Mr Grech on February 23 to Treasurer Wayne Swan and Department Liaison Officer (Economic) Andrew Thomas, Mr Grech reports on his progress.
"Andrew, as promised, I raised the case of John Grant with the CEO of Ford Credit, Greg Cohen, during my meeting with Ford Credit in Melbourne today.
"Cohen gave me an undertaking that Ford Credit will actively look at taking Grant on.
"John Grant called me earlier this afternoon (from Auckland) to say that Ford Credit had been in contact with him after my meeting."
An undated email, also allegedly sent by Mr Grech to Mr Swan and Mr Thomas, expresses concerns.
"Andrew, I told Grant to keep in touch and to let me know if Ford show concerns or resistance (I will not speak with Ford again on this unless it is absolutely necessary to push it through)," Mr Grech reportedly wrote.
"He also said that he wants to come to Canberra to meet me (and I assume you). Although I said nothing, I don't think that would be a good idea until this is settled. Godwin."
Mr Thomas thanked Mr Grech in a responding email.
"Great work," the email read.
"Just so you are aware, these emails are also going to the Treasurer's home fax. Cheers, Andrew.
Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull has called on Mr Rudd and Mr Swan to justify their actions over links to Mr Grant or resign.
---- ---- ----
Tanner urges Turnbull to show evidence
Any email purporting to be from the Prime Minister's office to Treasury concerning the OzCar affair...... - that didn't work well for the ALP or Tanner. - ed.
Rudd says Utegate email a fraud
PM says email at centre of OzCar preferential treatment allegations is an "elaborate fraud". - yet it is completely in line with what we know about Rudd, and how he operates. - ed.
California finds pot smoke causes cancer
Marijuana smoke has joined tobacco smoke and hundreds of other chemicals on a list of substances California regulators say cause cancer. - good. now thieves can sue each other for giving each other cancer. - ed.
Smoking to be banned in cars with kids
Places where smoking is prohibited in NSW will soon include cars, if any of their passengers are......
Pumpkin's dad guilty of wife's murder
A New Zealand jury has found Nai Yin Xue guilty of the murder of his wife An An Liu, whose body was found in the boot of his car in Auckland in September 2007.
Drunken Fittler in latest NRL drama
Sydney Roosters coach Brad Fittler is the latest member of the NRL to be embroiled in an alcohol-related drama after being found half-naked outside a woman's hotel room at 3am.
Little support for Senate baby rulebreaker
MUMS have condemned a senator on forums for taking her toddler into Parliament. - maybe if she had named the child 'A Little Green' in memory of that song? - ed.
=== Comments ===
TAILMAIL
Tim Blair
Tailgate becomes Emailgate:
The auditor-general’s inquiry will focus on the existence of an email allegedly sent on Mr Rudd’s behalf to Godwin Grech, the head of the Government’s $2 billion OZ Car scheme, seeking financial help for his friend, used-car salesman John Grant.
The email was purportedly sent from the computer of Mr Rudd’s senior economic adviser Andrew Charlton to Mr Grech. But Mr Rudd insisted no such email existed, with his office declaring it an elaborate fraud.
This disputed email may yet influence matters, for either Rudd or Liberal leader Malcolm Turnbull, depending on evidence produced. But there are many other elements in this case that clearly hurt the government:
Ford Credit also confirmed reports in The Daily Telegraph it had been told of Mr Grant’s financial troubles when it was trying to access a $550 million government loan under the OZ Car scheme.
Greg Cohen, the managing director of Ford Credit, said Treasury had made it clear Mr Grant was an “acquaintance” of Mr Rudd.
There are other emails, too:
Emails tendered to the Senate inquiry also suggested that Wayne Swan may have misled parliament when he told MPs on June 4 that, after receiving and passing on representations about Mr Grant’s case, he had “no idea what the outcome was”.
One email sent by the Treasurer’s departmental liaison officer, Andrew Thomas, to Mr Grech, and tendered to the inquiry, said: “Just so you are aware, these emails are also going to the Treasurer’s home fax.”
It ain’t looking good for Rudd’s friend Swanny:
Under parliamentary questioning in recent weeks, Mr Swan has said repeatedly that Mr Grant received the same assistance as other car dealer seeking assistance from OzCar.
But emails between Mr Swan’s office and the department, which was charged with assisting dealers, show Mr Swan and his senior staff, as well as the Treasury secretary, Ken Henry, were kept apprised of the developments.
Swan might be a dead duck. The Treasurer sure is acting like a misleading mallard, according to Michelle Grattan:
The motives of Treasurer Wayne Swan were absolutely clear at his bizarre performance yesterday morning before the Senate hearing. Swan’s claim that Malcolm Turnbull had threatened a Rudd staffer was absolute nonsense from anything that we know. He only further discredited himself by his refusal to give details of the threat. He explained the lack of detail by saying that he had to catch a plane and that the staffer would put out a statement.
The transcript issued by Charlton immediately after read more like a homily from the Opposition Leader to the economist than a threat. “Andrew, integrity is the most important thing in a man’s career,” Turnbull is noted as saying, telling Charlton to be truthful.
The Age‘s Katharine Murphy reports that Kevin Rudd played a role in covering that alleged “threat” – which, at the time, was seen as nothing serious:
At the same function, as Wayne Swan told reporters earlier yesterday, in some kind of effort to muddy the waters, or to pre-empt any bombshell, that an adviser to the Prime Minister had been “threatened” by Malcolm Turnbull.
A blurry photograph taken from Kevin Rudd’s own BlackBerry — and a file note of the conversation between Turnbull and Andrew Charlton — was supplied to prove the contact.
Rudd had been showing the photo to ball guests on the night — the ones not being harassed or groped by that inebriated staffer.
Rudd joked that it would be great fodder to tease his young adviser, making nice with the enemy.
By Friday morning, events had moved on and it was evidence of a threat.
The government’s attempts to portray this conversation as something sinister indicates how desperate are Rudd and Swan to swing discussion away from Tailgate. On Friday’s Lateline, Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner accused Turnbull of “threatening and bullying” Charlton:
That to me calls into doubt Malcolm Turnbull’s character and judgment, and those are fundamental things for somebody who’s standing here saying he should be the Prime Minister of this country.
If threatening and bullying disqualifies one from leadership, Kevin Rudd should quit immediately. The auditor-general’s findings will be handed down on July 31. Meanwhile, here are this saga’s main players – including The Ute, a 1996 Mazda Bravo.
===
QUEEN BEA
Tim Blair
Communist, lesbian, atheist and anti-royalist Beatrix Campbell is offered an OBE. Naturally, because an OBE is bestowed by a hierarchical, heterosexual Christian authority that oppresses the lower orders, Campbell refuses.
Or does she? As David Thompson warns: “Caution: rationalisation in progress.” Further on this royal fraud from Norm Geras.
===
FIRE IN THE HOLE
Tim Blair
An eco-warrior has been evicted from the cave he lives in because it doesn’t have a fire exit.
===
EUROPE GOES RETRO
Tim Blair
Sophisticated Europeans looked on in alarm as George W. Bush dragged the US towards fascism. They should have paid more attention at home, as Mark Steyn notes:
To promote a greater sense of Euro-harmony, the European Parliament—actually, make that the European “Parliament"—is organized into ideological blocs, ensuring that French liberals sit with Slovene liberals, and Belgian greens sit with Latvian greens, rather than hunkering down in their ethnic ghettoes. The largest bloc is the “centre-right,” the second-largest are the socialists, and the third is now the “non-inscrits,” the bloc for people who don’t want to belong to blocs. As a result of this month’s election, this Groucho Marxist grouping of “Others” tripled in size to just under a hundred seats. So, if they’re not liberals, socialists, greens, “European democrats” or the “Nordic Green Left,” what the hell are they?
Historians who specialise in the 1930s and ‘40s will be quick to answer. Further from Steyn:
Woody Guthrie used to have a label on his guitar: “This Machine Kills Fascists.” Not true, of course. Just the usual self-flattery to which singing Commies are prone. But, in the room where they cook up European conventional wisdom, they could easily pin a sign on the door saying: “This Political Machine Creates Fascists.”
===
FARFUR LIVES
Tim Blair
Two years ago, Hamas TV broadcast shocking footage proving that Farfur – the world’s favourite helium-voiced terror rodent – had been murdered by a furious Israeli:
Work the body, Jewboy! Anyway, we all grieved over this Mickey Mouse/Edward Said hybrid for a few seconds then gradually rebuilt our lives and moved on. But now:
Look at the colourful folk greeting those freedom-sack ladies. That’s Farfur right there, apparently upright and undamaged. Date of the shot: June 18, 2009. This is either an authentic miracle, or the so-called “death of Farfur” is the greatest conspiracy since 9/11.
Gerald Walpin Slams Obama For "Most Incredible Smear"
Fired inspector general Gerald Walpin slammed Barack Obama today for the "most incredible smear."
Last week, Dear Leader fired inspector general Gerald Walpin after he identified millions of dollars in AmeriCorps funds that were wasted or misspent. The man in charge of Americorps is a top Obama supporter and friend. Mayor Kevin Johnson used AmeriCorps grants to pay volunteers to engage in school-board political activities, run personal errands for Johnson and even wash his car.
Today Team Obama said he was "confused" and had to be fired!!
Walpin responded:
"I think for them to say that I was disoriented was an amazing, amazing slinging of mud... Frankly what they're saying, anybody who knows me and everybody who knows me and those people who've heard me on television, those people who've heard me on radio, know that this is the most incredible smear that has ever occurred to someone only because he's standing up to the most powerful machine on earth."
Friday, June 19, 2009
Headlines Friday 19th June 2009
Claims PM used taxpayer money to fund friend's car dealership
Kevin Rudd is being asked for a ''please explain'' over claims he lobbied parliament to bail out a friend and struggling car dealer with tax payers’ money.
Rudd rocked by new OzCar revelations
Malcolm Turnbull has called on the Prime Minister to stand down after a Treasury official revealed Kevin Rudd did help a car dealer friend secure finance, despite Mr Rudd's previous denial.
Paedophile's son jailed for child sex
The 23-year-old son of a jailed West Australian pedophile has himself received a lengthy sentence......
School bullying victim wins $468K
A NSW man who was cruelly bullied throughout high school has been awarded almost half a million dollars in damages after suing the state.
Backhoe sunk in harbour after Rose Bay blunder
An excavator is stuck in Sydney Harbour after getting bogged while clearing sand.
Pilot dies mid-flight, plane lands safely in US
The pilot of a Continental Airlines flight from Belgium to the US died over the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday, but the jet landed safely with two co-pilots at the controls.
Senator humiliated after child removed from chamber
A Greens Senator, whose daughter was thrown out of the chamber, says it was incredibly embarrassing and humiliating.
----
Aboriginal man Australia's first swine flu death - although he may not have died from Swine flu
A young Australian man has died from swine flu in Adelaide, just one day after being diagnosed with the disease.
The Aboriginal man, from the remote Western Desert, was being treated Alice Springs hospital but a rapid deterioration in his condition meant he was transferred the Royal Adelaide Hospital intensive care unit on Monday.
The 26-year-old was diagnosed with the virus yesterday.
He died at Royal Adelaide Hospital today.
The man is understood to have suffered other chronic medical problems.
-----
Australian banks grow stronger, greedier
The Australian banks are claiming the need for more special treatment to stop terrible things happening, as they claim to see them.
Bruno v Borat: British satirist pokes fun at former guise
British satirist Sacha Baron Cohen has brought London's theatre-land to a standstill at the premiere of his new film "Bruno" - and jokingly rapped his former hit character Borat for fuelling stereotypes.
=== Journalists Corner ===
Not Scared, a Grudge
Just to set the record straight ... I am teasing the President about being "scared" to come to FOX. Of course he is not scared. He is simply holding a grudge. And yes, while I admit to having held grudges in my life, I think he would be smart to set this one aside since Fox has a giant audience compared to the other cable networks and audience means taxpayers. [...]
=== Comments ===
If we wanted kids in Parliament we would have elected them
Piers Akerman
The Greens have now enlisted a two-year-old child in their latest attempt to downgrade the parliamentary process.
===
GODWIN’S LAW
Tim Blair
Kevin Rudd’s ute mate received a helping hand, contrary to Rudd’s claims in Parliament:
The Prime Minister’s office approached a senior Treasury official to intervene on behalf of a friend of Kevin Rudd in order to help the friend secure crucial government financing for his struggling car dealership.
In explosive evidence before a Senate Committee in Canberra this afternoon, Godwin Grech - the Treasury official running the OzCar scheme – recalled an overture from the Prime Minister’s office concerning Ipswich Kia dealer John Grant.
Someone is going to be severely counselled after this. Perhaps even Rudd himself.
UPDATE. Rudd’s previous claim:
Neither I, nor my office, have ever made any representations on [John Grant’s] behalf.
UPDATE II. Rudd has announced an Auditor-General’s inquiry into Tailgate.
===
THEY’RE PLANNING SOMETHING
Tim Blair
I’m pretty certain this is code:
The bronze frog will appear towards the Independence Day in Kyiv.
===
WERRIBEE BATHING HORROR
Tim Blair
Shocking news from the old home town:
Naked man found in bath
===
TAILGATE
Tim Blair
A earlier ute-based controversy flares anew:
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is facing serious allegations that he misled Parliament after lobbying for a car dealer and friend to secure a taxpayer-funded financial lifeline.
Senate hearings today will pursue this. In other Rudd transport news:
The Rudd Government has smashed the annual record for VIP jet flights, handing taxpayers a $3 million bill in the process.
New figures obtained by The Daily Telegraph show VIP aircraft activity last year was up to 10 per cent more than the previous year …
Government documents state the increase was due solely to extra use by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Governor-General Quentin Bryce.
Aren’t we meant to be cutting down on this sort of thing? You know, as an example to China?
===
THIN-SKINNED LIZZY
Tim Blair
“Never call me anything but Elizabeth again,” orders Democrat staffer Elizabeth “Liz” Becton. “Also, make sure you correct anyone who attempts to call me by any other name but Elizabeth.” You got it, Libby. Er, Beth. I mean, Liza. Whatever, E-Bec.
(Via reader Lee. Whose full name is possibly Leeferstoon. Apologies.)
TOUCHY DEMOCRAT UPDATE. It’s “senator”, not “ma’am”:
===
FAITH-BASED DISCRIMINATION
Tim Blair
MIT physicist and warmy sceptic Richard Lindzen:
In our recent house fire, an 18th century oriental rug was burnt, and we needed an appraisal of its value for our insurance. We were referred to a dealer, [name withheld], who agreed to do the appraisal.
A routine enough process, you’d think. But the art dealer objected on religious grounds:
I am sorry to inform you that after some consideration, I’ve decided not to perform the appraisal service that you’ve requested. Your writing on the subject of global warming is offensive to me personally, and I feel that I would have difficulty being an impartial appraiser of value given my view on the subject.
===
How to spot a racist. Or not
Andrew Bolt
UNTIL last week, when a black man and a white man bashed Sunny Bajaj, I thought I could tell a racist thug from the, er, good one.
Not that I thought the difference mattered much, to be honest.
Broken teeth are broken teeth, after all, and will hurt just as much if the bozo who broke them has not a racist bone in his tattooed knuckles. Or so I figured.
But now I see that’s just one of the many dumb things I’ve got wrong about this new racism game.
Here’s the Times of India report:
Bajaj is the latest victim of the racial attacks that have been unleashed in Australia in the past two months and seem to be continuing unabated . . .
“I was returning to my car after shopping when two men accosted me and asked for money. When I said I didn’t have any, they began abusing me and then attacked me without any provocation. One of them was white and the other seemed to be of African origin.”
To my shame, when I first read of this appalling assault I didn’t see at first the Australian racism that the Times now informs me is plain to an honest eye.
Forgive this witless sinner, but I’d actually been relieved to read that a white Australian and a black newcomer had worked together like brothers, overlooking any trivial difference of race to focus instead on what truly united them - which in this case happened to be a mutual desire to get ahead by bashing people and stealing their stuff.
In my madness I even hummed a few triumphant bars of McCartney:
===
Gillard channels Thatcher
Andrew Bolt
IS Julia Gillard paying the building unions to protest against her?
I’ve never seen a campaign more likely to please the person it’s supposedly meant to monster.
Much more of this and the Deputy Prime Minister - once a leader of the Socialist Forum - will complete a metamorphosis into the Aussie Margaret Thatcher. And guarantee she’ll be prime minister.
One of Gillard’s several roles is Workplace Relations Minister, which is just the kind of job you’d normally fear to fall to a minister from Labor’s Left.
But Gillard, from conviction and perhaps also from personal calculation, is infuriating the union movement by not giving it what it now demands most.
The Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union, along with the ACTU, has lobbied her to scrap tough laws that the Howard government brought in to crack down on one of the most lawless sectors of the economy.
The law they most want gone compels building workers to give evidence to regulators investigating criminal activity, or face jail. But Gillard has refused to buckle, not least because Prime Minister Kevin Rudd promised to keep “a tough cop on the beat”.
What’s more, since the Howard government set up its Australian Building and Construction Commission, working days lost to strikes in construction have plummeted and productivity soared, which should already be enough for Gillard to insist that while she’ll scrap the ABCC, she’ll keep most of its tough powers in her new Fair Work Australia.
Also pushing her to stand firm will be data showing building unions are already feeling more bolshie under this Labor Government, with reports of thuggery and illegal strikes again soaring, and ABCC staff being punched.
But there is yet another very personal factor that the union boneheads ignore.
===
OReilly factor
Kevin Rudd is being asked for a ''please explain'' over claims he lobbied parliament to bail out a friend and struggling car dealer with tax payers’ money.
Rudd rocked by new OzCar revelations
Malcolm Turnbull has called on the Prime Minister to stand down after a Treasury official revealed Kevin Rudd did help a car dealer friend secure finance, despite Mr Rudd's previous denial.
Paedophile's son jailed for child sex
The 23-year-old son of a jailed West Australian pedophile has himself received a lengthy sentence......
School bullying victim wins $468K
A NSW man who was cruelly bullied throughout high school has been awarded almost half a million dollars in damages after suing the state.
Backhoe sunk in harbour after Rose Bay blunder
An excavator is stuck in Sydney Harbour after getting bogged while clearing sand.
Pilot dies mid-flight, plane lands safely in US
The pilot of a Continental Airlines flight from Belgium to the US died over the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday, but the jet landed safely with two co-pilots at the controls.
Senator humiliated after child removed from chamber
A Greens Senator, whose daughter was thrown out of the chamber, says it was incredibly embarrassing and humiliating.
----
Aboriginal man Australia's first swine flu death - although he may not have died from Swine flu
A young Australian man has died from swine flu in Adelaide, just one day after being diagnosed with the disease.
The Aboriginal man, from the remote Western Desert, was being treated Alice Springs hospital but a rapid deterioration in his condition meant he was transferred the Royal Adelaide Hospital intensive care unit on Monday.
The 26-year-old was diagnosed with the virus yesterday.
He died at Royal Adelaide Hospital today.
The man is understood to have suffered other chronic medical problems.
-----
Australian banks grow stronger, greedier
The Australian banks are claiming the need for more special treatment to stop terrible things happening, as they claim to see them.
Bruno v Borat: British satirist pokes fun at former guise
British satirist Sacha Baron Cohen has brought London's theatre-land to a standstill at the premiere of his new film "Bruno" - and jokingly rapped his former hit character Borat for fuelling stereotypes.
=== Journalists Corner ===
Not Scared, a Grudge
Just to set the record straight ... I am teasing the President about being "scared" to come to FOX. Of course he is not scared. He is simply holding a grudge. And yes, while I admit to having held grudges in my life, I think he would be smart to set this one aside since Fox has a giant audience compared to the other cable networks and audience means taxpayers. [...]
=== Comments ===
If we wanted kids in Parliament we would have elected them
Piers Akerman
The Greens have now enlisted a two-year-old child in their latest attempt to downgrade the parliamentary process.
===
GODWIN’S LAW
Tim Blair
Kevin Rudd’s ute mate received a helping hand, contrary to Rudd’s claims in Parliament:
The Prime Minister’s office approached a senior Treasury official to intervene on behalf of a friend of Kevin Rudd in order to help the friend secure crucial government financing for his struggling car dealership.
In explosive evidence before a Senate Committee in Canberra this afternoon, Godwin Grech - the Treasury official running the OzCar scheme – recalled an overture from the Prime Minister’s office concerning Ipswich Kia dealer John Grant.
Someone is going to be severely counselled after this. Perhaps even Rudd himself.
UPDATE. Rudd’s previous claim:
Neither I, nor my office, have ever made any representations on [John Grant’s] behalf.
UPDATE II. Rudd has announced an Auditor-General’s inquiry into Tailgate.
===
THEY’RE PLANNING SOMETHING
Tim Blair
I’m pretty certain this is code:
The bronze frog will appear towards the Independence Day in Kyiv.
===
WERRIBEE BATHING HORROR
Tim Blair
Shocking news from the old home town:
Naked man found in bath
===
TAILGATE
Tim Blair
A earlier ute-based controversy flares anew:
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is facing serious allegations that he misled Parliament after lobbying for a car dealer and friend to secure a taxpayer-funded financial lifeline.
Senate hearings today will pursue this. In other Rudd transport news:
The Rudd Government has smashed the annual record for VIP jet flights, handing taxpayers a $3 million bill in the process.
New figures obtained by The Daily Telegraph show VIP aircraft activity last year was up to 10 per cent more than the previous year …
Government documents state the increase was due solely to extra use by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Governor-General Quentin Bryce.
Aren’t we meant to be cutting down on this sort of thing? You know, as an example to China?
===
THIN-SKINNED LIZZY
Tim Blair
“Never call me anything but Elizabeth again,” orders Democrat staffer Elizabeth “Liz” Becton. “Also, make sure you correct anyone who attempts to call me by any other name but Elizabeth.” You got it, Libby. Er, Beth. I mean, Liza. Whatever, E-Bec.
(Via reader Lee. Whose full name is possibly Leeferstoon. Apologies.)
TOUCHY DEMOCRAT UPDATE. It’s “senator”, not “ma’am”:
===
FAITH-BASED DISCRIMINATION
Tim Blair
MIT physicist and warmy sceptic Richard Lindzen:
In our recent house fire, an 18th century oriental rug was burnt, and we needed an appraisal of its value for our insurance. We were referred to a dealer, [name withheld], who agreed to do the appraisal.
A routine enough process, you’d think. But the art dealer objected on religious grounds:
I am sorry to inform you that after some consideration, I’ve decided not to perform the appraisal service that you’ve requested. Your writing on the subject of global warming is offensive to me personally, and I feel that I would have difficulty being an impartial appraiser of value given my view on the subject.
===
How to spot a racist. Or not
Andrew Bolt
UNTIL last week, when a black man and a white man bashed Sunny Bajaj, I thought I could tell a racist thug from the, er, good one.
Not that I thought the difference mattered much, to be honest.
Broken teeth are broken teeth, after all, and will hurt just as much if the bozo who broke them has not a racist bone in his tattooed knuckles. Or so I figured.
But now I see that’s just one of the many dumb things I’ve got wrong about this new racism game.
Here’s the Times of India report:
Bajaj is the latest victim of the racial attacks that have been unleashed in Australia in the past two months and seem to be continuing unabated . . .
“I was returning to my car after shopping when two men accosted me and asked for money. When I said I didn’t have any, they began abusing me and then attacked me without any provocation. One of them was white and the other seemed to be of African origin.”
To my shame, when I first read of this appalling assault I didn’t see at first the Australian racism that the Times now informs me is plain to an honest eye.
Forgive this witless sinner, but I’d actually been relieved to read that a white Australian and a black newcomer had worked together like brothers, overlooking any trivial difference of race to focus instead on what truly united them - which in this case happened to be a mutual desire to get ahead by bashing people and stealing their stuff.
In my madness I even hummed a few triumphant bars of McCartney:
===
Gillard channels Thatcher
Andrew Bolt
IS Julia Gillard paying the building unions to protest against her?
I’ve never seen a campaign more likely to please the person it’s supposedly meant to monster.
Much more of this and the Deputy Prime Minister - once a leader of the Socialist Forum - will complete a metamorphosis into the Aussie Margaret Thatcher. And guarantee she’ll be prime minister.
One of Gillard’s several roles is Workplace Relations Minister, which is just the kind of job you’d normally fear to fall to a minister from Labor’s Left.
But Gillard, from conviction and perhaps also from personal calculation, is infuriating the union movement by not giving it what it now demands most.
The Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union, along with the ACTU, has lobbied her to scrap tough laws that the Howard government brought in to crack down on one of the most lawless sectors of the economy.
The law they most want gone compels building workers to give evidence to regulators investigating criminal activity, or face jail. But Gillard has refused to buckle, not least because Prime Minister Kevin Rudd promised to keep “a tough cop on the beat”.
What’s more, since the Howard government set up its Australian Building and Construction Commission, working days lost to strikes in construction have plummeted and productivity soared, which should already be enough for Gillard to insist that while she’ll scrap the ABCC, she’ll keep most of its tough powers in her new Fair Work Australia.
Also pushing her to stand firm will be data showing building unions are already feeling more bolshie under this Labor Government, with reports of thuggery and illegal strikes again soaring, and ABCC staff being punched.
But there is yet another very personal factor that the union boneheads ignore.
===
OReilly factor
The Real Secret
communitychannel
June 18, 2009
is that celebrities are always attractive.
Hope you're all well and enjoying your week.
x
n
A Jackson Farewell to Saddam Hussein
A corruption of the brilliant Jackson 5 number "Never Can Say Goodbye"
http://www.icompositions.com/music/so...
Thanks to CNN and news.com.au for the pictures.
Sadly, the life of Saddam was of such a nature that these images may offend.
http://www.icompositions.com/music/so...
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Headlines Thursday 18th June 2009
Toxic heavy metals leaking from Wallerawang power plant into Sydney water catchment
Sydney's drinking water is being contaminated with heavy metals and poisons leaking from a power station in the NSW central west.
Govt creates new protect category for swine flu alert
The federal government has moved to a new alert level for swine flu, creating a category known as protect.
Autopsies suggest Air France plane broke up in the air
Bodies recovered in the Air France disaster show multiple fractures in the legs, hips and arms, which experts say suggest the plane broke up in the air.
Cahill to the rescue again as Socceroos beat Japan
Tim Cahill scored both goals for the Socceroos in 2-1 victory over Japan at the MCG.
Barack Obama proposes most dramatic regulation reform since 1930s
US President Barack Obama has proposed the most "sweeping" regulatory overhaul since the 1930s, vowing to stop future meltdowns in a financial system humbled by lax oversight, greed and huge debts.
Expensive cars don't improve your sex appeal: Top Gear study
An Australian study has found an expensive car won't help a man get a girl, unless he already has a lady with him.
Johnny Depp names beach after Heath Ledger
Johnny Depp has paid tribute to his late friend Heath Ledger, by naming a beach after him.
=== Journalists Corner ===
Please Help Max
The skype video below was an accidental skype...meaning I saw that I had gotten a message some time back...so tonight I just skyped this number...and wait until you see this video. I am very happy I happened to call since maybe we can ALL help. By the way, don't let this video upset you -- instead feel determined! This gives us all purpose tonight. We can inspire each other by working together to help.)
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP MAX! Watch this video and help. All you need to do is contact the North Carolina Governor, and North Carolina legislators ASAP (Contact Info Governor Bev Perdue Office of the Governor 20301 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-0301 Phone: (919)733-4240 Fax: (919)733-2120) and tell them:
"do not cut ANYTHING from CAP-MRDD...or punish families with a co-payment on the CAP-MRDD Program." Time is of the essence because the bill apparently is on the Governor's desk. There has to be a better way to cut costs than to take from this family. I do not think you will disagree with me.
After you watch the video you will know why this is so important. This is one of those times when we all on GretaWire get together and with our numbers do something really forceful. [...]
Watch the video HERE
===
Parents BEWARE!
Has family-friendly YouTube gone X-rated? Plus, Bernie Goldberg's under attack from a Philly paper! He responds on the Factor!
===
A Major Misdiagnosis?
With the deficit already in intensive care, is pushing national health care the wrong prescription for our ailing economy? Karl Rove breaks it down!
===
Election Aftermath!
As the deadly protests in Iran continue and the world awaits recount results, how involved should the U.S. be?
=== Comments ===
Crusading Green is a lantern for tree moths
Piers Akerman
GREENS Senator Bob Brown announced last year that he might face a “$200,000 to $300,000” legal bill because of court action he’d taken against Forestry Tasmania.
===
CITY FLANNED
Tim Blair
Your four-day Sydney forecast:
Thursday: Flannery, heavy at times. Light to moderate east to southeast winds.
Friday: Cloudy with Flannery, heavy at times. Light and variable winds, turning moderate easterly during the day.
Saturday: Flannery.
Sunday: Chance Flannery.
===
PRETTY FLY FOR A HALF-WHITE GUY
Tim Blair
Barack Obama eliminates a White House invader:
PETA has sent him a handy-dandy bugcatcher … as reported by, ahem, The PETA Files.
===
Yet another warming fooled-you
Andrew Bolt
Roger Pielke Jr reveals just some of the problems with the Obama Administration’s alarmist report which this week claimed the effects of global warming were real and already being felt. (Naturally the ABC swallowed the report whole.)
Pielke notes that the report doesn’t just misrepresent his own research, which actually disputes that we’re suffering more losses thanks to global warming. It also implies that the damage done by warming includes damage actually done by an earthquake and the 9-11 terrorists.
If the proof of man-made warming is so clear, why all these exaggerations, fudges and deceptions?
===
The revolt in Iran continues
Andrew Bolt
The second Iranian revolution continues:
Supporters of defeated presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi have gathered in central Tehran for a fifth day of protests against election results.
But the crackdown hardens
===
Preferences detected
Andrew Bolt
But were the considerations racial, cultural or business?
Australian National University researchers Alison Booth, Andrew Leigh and Elena Vargonova sent out 4000 fake job applications to employers advertising on the internet for entry-level hospitality, data entry, customer service and sales jobs, changing only the racial origin of the supposed applicants’ names.
Applicants with Chinese names fared the worst, having only a one-in-five chance of getting asked in for interviews, compared to applicants with Anglo-Saxon names whose chances exceeded one-in-three.
Typically a Chinese-named applicant would need to put in 68 per cent more applications than an Anglo-named applicant to get the same number of calls back. A Middle Eastern-named applicant needed 64 per cent more, an indigenous-named applicant 35 per cent more and an Italian-named applicant 12 per cent more.
I wonder what the results would have been if the jobs applied for had been not so overwhelmingly in service industries but in, say, computer repair, surgery, physics, medical research and engineering.
===
Costello the great
Andrew Bolt
Terry McCrann:
PETER Costello is Australia’s best treasurer. Plain and simple and quite frankly undeniable.
He’s best not just among the - decidedly, mixed assorted - bunch that have variously minded, misused or just been plain incapable of handling the nation’s purse-strings in the six decades since World War II. But across the entire 108 years of federation so far and 35 treasurers in total…
From the methodical but so crucial work of putting the budget back into surplus in the early years (and then paying off the Labor debt). Through the Asian financial crisis, the GST tax reform - maybe not quite as revolutionary. To what I - and all of you - should regard as the crowning glory of the Costello treasurership. Those annual tax cuts.
===
Free money follies
Andrew Bolt
Yet more evidence of colossal spending under Kevin Rudd’s “stimulus” package on not much at all:
The veteran head of Berwick Lodge Primary School, in Melbourne’s outer southeast, pulls no punches, with claims of bungling, bullying and dubious accounting as he reveals how an upgrade to his school was mishandled. (H)is school requested a library and six classrooms under its $3 million funding allocation. It was instead offered a gymnasium worth an estimated $2.1m, although the school already had a gym.
There have been similar stories before.
===
How WHO found the pandemic that wasn’t
Andrew Bolt
Michael Fumento on how one of the world’s mildest flu viruses became one of the world’s biggest scares:
A global flu pandemic is a “when, not an if.” So the World Health Organization (WHO) has been crying for five years. Now it can boast it was right. Problem is, the mildest pandemics of the 20th century killed at least a million people worldwide, while old-fashioned seasonal flu strikes every nation yearly killing an estimated 250,000 to 500,000. But only 144 people had succumbed to H1N1 swine flu when the WHO declared its pandemic – far less than seasonal flu’s daily toll. Further, in Mexico, where the outbreak began and where it has been the most severe, cases had already peaked.
You see, ... (to) gets its pandemic, the organization used its own bizarre, unscientific new definition....
The organization’s definition for “influenza pandemic” once required “several, simultaneous epidemics worldwide with enormous numbers of deaths and illness.” But in 2005, it promulgated a new one that virtually ignores case numbers and completely ignores deaths. Now it requires “sustained chains of human-to-human transmission leading to community-wide outbreaks” in two parts of the world, with this addition: The cause must be an animal or human-animal flu virus; the latter known as a genetic reassortment.
Thus, under the 2005 definition, “community-wide outbreaks” of swine flu in two South American countries and somewhere in China could qualify as a pandemic. No deaths required. Meanwhile, a pure human flu that killed 20 million people would not qualify.
Fact is, the kind of flu WHO now freaks over is the least likely to actually kill.
UPDATE
Now experts in Victoria concede it might actually be good to contract this swine flu:
“Some good things have come from the current outbreak,’’ say the doctors based at the Infectious Diseases and Clinical Epidemiology Department of Austin Health, in Melbourne. “It is possible ... that people who caught swine flu this year may have some protection for next year’s possibly more aggressive strain.”
In which case, may it have been a mistake to try to stop more of us catching it now?
===
The friends of the Jews are on the Right
Andrew Bolt
Soeren Kern says that the Jewish groups now condemning the rise of the Right in the European elections are forgetting who their real friends are:
The knee-jerk tendency to stereotype the European right-wing as anti-Semitic obscures the fact that, with few exceptions, the only genuine European supporters of Jews and Israel are on the political right-wing. Indeed, in the bigger scheme of things, Jews have much more to fear from the European left than they do from the European far right.
===
A Gross Injustice in Oklahoma
By Bill O'Reilly
As we have been reporting, a 5-year-old girl was raped and a 6-year-old boy, her brother, allegedly sexually abused by a convicted felon. The children are poor. They have no one looking out for them. And the Oklahoma governor, attorney general, presiding judge and the DA all threw these kids away.
Let's begin with the crime. On May 13, 64-year-old convicted felon David Earls pled no contest to raping the 5-year-old girl. District Attorney Jim Bob Miller made a deal with the attorney for Earls. The monster would only serve one year in prison. Miller says he was worried about the evidence. Judge Thomas Bartheld allowed the plea, even though Earls had been previously convicted of two violent crimes, and the 5-year-old girl qualified to be a witness.
Now "The Factor" has been investigating the judge, and we found out he has put children at risk before. In the most notorious case, Judge Bartheld placed a severely abused child with a grandfather who did not protect the boy. He was beaten to death by his mother, who had abused him in the first place. She pled guilty in that case. The 2-year-old boy, Ryan Luke, died because of Judge Bartheld's ruling leading the state of Oklahoma to retrain all judges in child abuse cases. Yet, Bartheld kept advancing in the Oklahoma legal world. Why? Because he's a friend of Governor Brad Henry, that's why. In fact, they went to college together, and Henry has done absolutely nothing in the latest case of the 5-year-old rape victim. In fact, we asked the governor for a comment. He is hiding, and so is Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson, who has done absolutely nothing as well about the rape of the 5-year-old. Now the Oklahoma press is confronting Edmondson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The plea bargain in this case was made public almost four weeks ago, and yet your announcement of being outraged by it and starting an investigation was not made until yesterday, almost a week after FOX News went national with the story and the same day of your official announcement to run for governor. What do you say to those who find something cynical in your statement?
DREW EDMONDSON, OKLAHOMA ATTORNEY GENERAL: Well, I would refer to the first statement that I made in this interview today. The attorney general does not supervise DAs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
That is false. The attorney general can investigate any miscarriage of justice in Oklahoma. Mr. Edmondson is not telling the truth, and as you heard, he's running for governor, if you can believe it.
Finally, let's go back to the rapist, Earls. Recently, his own daughter, now an adult, came forward saying he raped her as a child. Despite that, Earls could be out of jail in just a few weeks. This is justice in America?
When Geraldo went to Oklahoma a few weeks ago, Judge Bartheld ran and hid. And he has good reason to hide. In addition to botching two horrendous child abuse cases, one leading to death, Bartheld sentenced Earls to county jail, not to state prison. It's obvious the judge is not fit to serve.
So let's sum up. Governor of Oklahoma doesn't care. Attorney general doesn't care. District attorney botches the case. And the sentencing judge gives incredible leniency to a proven monster. This is happening in the United States of America.
Sydney's drinking water is being contaminated with heavy metals and poisons leaking from a power station in the NSW central west.
Govt creates new protect category for swine flu alert
The federal government has moved to a new alert level for swine flu, creating a category known as protect.
Autopsies suggest Air France plane broke up in the air
Bodies recovered in the Air France disaster show multiple fractures in the legs, hips and arms, which experts say suggest the plane broke up in the air.
Cahill to the rescue again as Socceroos beat Japan
Tim Cahill scored both goals for the Socceroos in 2-1 victory over Japan at the MCG.
Barack Obama proposes most dramatic regulation reform since 1930s
US President Barack Obama has proposed the most "sweeping" regulatory overhaul since the 1930s, vowing to stop future meltdowns in a financial system humbled by lax oversight, greed and huge debts.
Expensive cars don't improve your sex appeal: Top Gear study
An Australian study has found an expensive car won't help a man get a girl, unless he already has a lady with him.
Johnny Depp names beach after Heath Ledger
Johnny Depp has paid tribute to his late friend Heath Ledger, by naming a beach after him.
=== Journalists Corner ===
Please Help Max
The skype video below was an accidental skype...meaning I saw that I had gotten a message some time back...so tonight I just skyped this number...and wait until you see this video. I am very happy I happened to call since maybe we can ALL help. By the way, don't let this video upset you -- instead feel determined! This gives us all purpose tonight. We can inspire each other by working together to help.)
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP MAX! Watch this video and help. All you need to do is contact the North Carolina Governor, and North Carolina legislators ASAP (Contact Info Governor Bev Perdue Office of the Governor 20301 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-0301 Phone: (919)733-4240 Fax: (919)733-2120) and tell them:
"do not cut ANYTHING from CAP-MRDD...or punish families with a co-payment on the CAP-MRDD Program." Time is of the essence because the bill apparently is on the Governor's desk. There has to be a better way to cut costs than to take from this family. I do not think you will disagree with me.
After you watch the video you will know why this is so important. This is one of those times when we all on GretaWire get together and with our numbers do something really forceful. [...]
Watch the video HERE
===
Parents BEWARE!
Has family-friendly YouTube gone X-rated? Plus, Bernie Goldberg's under attack from a Philly paper! He responds on the Factor!
===
A Major Misdiagnosis?
With the deficit already in intensive care, is pushing national health care the wrong prescription for our ailing economy? Karl Rove breaks it down!
===
Election Aftermath!
As the deadly protests in Iran continue and the world awaits recount results, how involved should the U.S. be?
=== Comments ===
Crusading Green is a lantern for tree moths
Piers Akerman
GREENS Senator Bob Brown announced last year that he might face a “$200,000 to $300,000” legal bill because of court action he’d taken against Forestry Tasmania.
===
CITY FLANNED
Tim Blair
Your four-day Sydney forecast:
Thursday: Flannery, heavy at times. Light to moderate east to southeast winds.
Friday: Cloudy with Flannery, heavy at times. Light and variable winds, turning moderate easterly during the day.
Saturday: Flannery.
Sunday: Chance Flannery.
===
PRETTY FLY FOR A HALF-WHITE GUY
Tim Blair
Barack Obama eliminates a White House invader:
PETA has sent him a handy-dandy bugcatcher … as reported by, ahem, The PETA Files.
===
Yet another warming fooled-you
Andrew Bolt
Roger Pielke Jr reveals just some of the problems with the Obama Administration’s alarmist report which this week claimed the effects of global warming were real and already being felt. (Naturally the ABC swallowed the report whole.)
Pielke notes that the report doesn’t just misrepresent his own research, which actually disputes that we’re suffering more losses thanks to global warming. It also implies that the damage done by warming includes damage actually done by an earthquake and the 9-11 terrorists.
If the proof of man-made warming is so clear, why all these exaggerations, fudges and deceptions?
===
The revolt in Iran continues
Andrew Bolt
The second Iranian revolution continues:
Supporters of defeated presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi have gathered in central Tehran for a fifth day of protests against election results.
But the crackdown hardens
===
Preferences detected
Andrew Bolt
But were the considerations racial, cultural or business?
Australian National University researchers Alison Booth, Andrew Leigh and Elena Vargonova sent out 4000 fake job applications to employers advertising on the internet for entry-level hospitality, data entry, customer service and sales jobs, changing only the racial origin of the supposed applicants’ names.
Applicants with Chinese names fared the worst, having only a one-in-five chance of getting asked in for interviews, compared to applicants with Anglo-Saxon names whose chances exceeded one-in-three.
Typically a Chinese-named applicant would need to put in 68 per cent more applications than an Anglo-named applicant to get the same number of calls back. A Middle Eastern-named applicant needed 64 per cent more, an indigenous-named applicant 35 per cent more and an Italian-named applicant 12 per cent more.
I wonder what the results would have been if the jobs applied for had been not so overwhelmingly in service industries but in, say, computer repair, surgery, physics, medical research and engineering.
===
Costello the great
Andrew Bolt
Terry McCrann:
PETER Costello is Australia’s best treasurer. Plain and simple and quite frankly undeniable.
He’s best not just among the - decidedly, mixed assorted - bunch that have variously minded, misused or just been plain incapable of handling the nation’s purse-strings in the six decades since World War II. But across the entire 108 years of federation so far and 35 treasurers in total…
From the methodical but so crucial work of putting the budget back into surplus in the early years (and then paying off the Labor debt). Through the Asian financial crisis, the GST tax reform - maybe not quite as revolutionary. To what I - and all of you - should regard as the crowning glory of the Costello treasurership. Those annual tax cuts.
===
Free money follies
Andrew Bolt
Yet more evidence of colossal spending under Kevin Rudd’s “stimulus” package on not much at all:
The veteran head of Berwick Lodge Primary School, in Melbourne’s outer southeast, pulls no punches, with claims of bungling, bullying and dubious accounting as he reveals how an upgrade to his school was mishandled. (H)is school requested a library and six classrooms under its $3 million funding allocation. It was instead offered a gymnasium worth an estimated $2.1m, although the school already had a gym.
There have been similar stories before.
===
How WHO found the pandemic that wasn’t
Andrew Bolt
Michael Fumento on how one of the world’s mildest flu viruses became one of the world’s biggest scares:
A global flu pandemic is a “when, not an if.” So the World Health Organization (WHO) has been crying for five years. Now it can boast it was right. Problem is, the mildest pandemics of the 20th century killed at least a million people worldwide, while old-fashioned seasonal flu strikes every nation yearly killing an estimated 250,000 to 500,000. But only 144 people had succumbed to H1N1 swine flu when the WHO declared its pandemic – far less than seasonal flu’s daily toll. Further, in Mexico, where the outbreak began and where it has been the most severe, cases had already peaked.
You see, ... (to) gets its pandemic, the organization used its own bizarre, unscientific new definition....
The organization’s definition for “influenza pandemic” once required “several, simultaneous epidemics worldwide with enormous numbers of deaths and illness.” But in 2005, it promulgated a new one that virtually ignores case numbers and completely ignores deaths. Now it requires “sustained chains of human-to-human transmission leading to community-wide outbreaks” in two parts of the world, with this addition: The cause must be an animal or human-animal flu virus; the latter known as a genetic reassortment.
Thus, under the 2005 definition, “community-wide outbreaks” of swine flu in two South American countries and somewhere in China could qualify as a pandemic. No deaths required. Meanwhile, a pure human flu that killed 20 million people would not qualify.
Fact is, the kind of flu WHO now freaks over is the least likely to actually kill.
UPDATE
Now experts in Victoria concede it might actually be good to contract this swine flu:
“Some good things have come from the current outbreak,’’ say the doctors based at the Infectious Diseases and Clinical Epidemiology Department of Austin Health, in Melbourne. “It is possible ... that people who caught swine flu this year may have some protection for next year’s possibly more aggressive strain.”
In which case, may it have been a mistake to try to stop more of us catching it now?
===
The friends of the Jews are on the Right
Andrew Bolt
Soeren Kern says that the Jewish groups now condemning the rise of the Right in the European elections are forgetting who their real friends are:
The knee-jerk tendency to stereotype the European right-wing as anti-Semitic obscures the fact that, with few exceptions, the only genuine European supporters of Jews and Israel are on the political right-wing. Indeed, in the bigger scheme of things, Jews have much more to fear from the European left than they do from the European far right.
===
A Gross Injustice in Oklahoma
By Bill O'Reilly
As we have been reporting, a 5-year-old girl was raped and a 6-year-old boy, her brother, allegedly sexually abused by a convicted felon. The children are poor. They have no one looking out for them. And the Oklahoma governor, attorney general, presiding judge and the DA all threw these kids away.
Let's begin with the crime. On May 13, 64-year-old convicted felon David Earls pled no contest to raping the 5-year-old girl. District Attorney Jim Bob Miller made a deal with the attorney for Earls. The monster would only serve one year in prison. Miller says he was worried about the evidence. Judge Thomas Bartheld allowed the plea, even though Earls had been previously convicted of two violent crimes, and the 5-year-old girl qualified to be a witness.
Now "The Factor" has been investigating the judge, and we found out he has put children at risk before. In the most notorious case, Judge Bartheld placed a severely abused child with a grandfather who did not protect the boy. He was beaten to death by his mother, who had abused him in the first place. She pled guilty in that case. The 2-year-old boy, Ryan Luke, died because of Judge Bartheld's ruling leading the state of Oklahoma to retrain all judges in child abuse cases. Yet, Bartheld kept advancing in the Oklahoma legal world. Why? Because he's a friend of Governor Brad Henry, that's why. In fact, they went to college together, and Henry has done absolutely nothing in the latest case of the 5-year-old rape victim. In fact, we asked the governor for a comment. He is hiding, and so is Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson, who has done absolutely nothing as well about the rape of the 5-year-old. Now the Oklahoma press is confronting Edmondson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The plea bargain in this case was made public almost four weeks ago, and yet your announcement of being outraged by it and starting an investigation was not made until yesterday, almost a week after FOX News went national with the story and the same day of your official announcement to run for governor. What do you say to those who find something cynical in your statement?
DREW EDMONDSON, OKLAHOMA ATTORNEY GENERAL: Well, I would refer to the first statement that I made in this interview today. The attorney general does not supervise DAs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
That is false. The attorney general can investigate any miscarriage of justice in Oklahoma. Mr. Edmondson is not telling the truth, and as you heard, he's running for governor, if you can believe it.
Finally, let's go back to the rapist, Earls. Recently, his own daughter, now an adult, came forward saying he raped her as a child. Despite that, Earls could be out of jail in just a few weeks. This is justice in America?
When Geraldo went to Oklahoma a few weeks ago, Judge Bartheld ran and hid. And he has good reason to hide. In addition to botching two horrendous child abuse cases, one leading to death, Bartheld sentenced Earls to county jail, not to state prison. It's obvious the judge is not fit to serve.
So let's sum up. Governor of Oklahoma doesn't care. Attorney general doesn't care. District attorney botches the case. And the sentencing judge gives incredible leniency to a proven monster. This is happening in the United States of America.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
The End of Despair
A game of Chess against Death. I wanted to show the chess boards when I originally posted the sounds ..
http://www.icompositions.com/music/so...
http://oddballsstories.blogspot.com/2...
Images, except for my family crest, were sourced from 'net
Iranian Regime Thugs Are Beating Foreign Reporters In the Streets
A British reporter in Tehran tells FOX News that regime thugs are beating reporters in the streets of Tehran. The regime wants reporters out of the country. Iranian thugs are keeping reporters in their hotels.
Headlines Wednesday 17th June 2009
Judy Moran's house set ablaze
Judy Moran's Melbourne home has been set on fire overnight as the underworld matriarch remains behind bars over the murder of her brother-in-law Des.
US State Dept asks Twitter to delay service maintenance so Iranians can communicate
The US government has asked Twitter to delay maintenance plans in order to allow Iranians to communicate while their government has banned other media following elections.
Alexander Downer hits out at Peter Costello supporters
Alexander Downer has hit out at Liberal supporters of Peter Costello for saying the former treasurer was robbed of his chance to become PM.
Belgian teen Kimberley Vlaeminck sues over face tattoos
A Belgian teenager says she will sue a tattoo parlour which she said covered half her face with stars while she was asleep.
8 hour siege: Maccas gunman surrenders
An eight-hour siege at a McDonald's restaurant on the NSW mid-north coast has come to an end, with the gunman now in police custody.
'Risky' Judy Moran refused bail
Judy Moran has been refused bail after appearing in court facing charges over the murder of her brother-in-law Des Moran.
Aust in new 'protect' swine flu phase
The federal government has moved to a new alert level for swine flu, creating a category known as protect.
Socceroos coach set to play it safe
Having steered Australia to the 2010 World Cup finals with minimum risk and maximum effectiveness, coach Pim Verbeek will stay true to himself in the final qualifier against Japan on Wednesday night.
British Airways asks staff to work without pay to save money
British Airways urged its staff to work for nothing in an effort to save the company money.
Rove marries Tasma in secret ceremony
Australian chat king Rove McManus and girlfriend Tasma Walton have surprised the nation by marrying in a secret ceremony in Broome, Western Australia.
Peter Andre furious with Katie Price after binge drinking at son's birthday
'Mysterious Girl' singer Peter Andre is reportedly no longer speaking to his estranged wife after she got drunk and invited all her friends to Junior's party at their marital home in Woldingham, Surrey, on Sunday.
=== Journalists Corner ===
Bail Out California???
President Obama has less than 50 days to decide this one. California is in deep, deep, deep trouble. It is now asking for the Obama Administration to bail it out. Should it? California is the 8th largest economy in the WORLD! (Bigger than Brazil, Canada etc.)
=== Comments ===
Fawlty Towers Budget has us all $45,000 in the red
Piers Akerman
FIRST, the great news—straight from Treasurer Eric Roozendaal: ``Just two short years and NSW will be back in the black.’’ Now the bad news—no one believes him. - The ridiculous circumstance is that media can still see rainbows and silver linings even in a housing crisis. I recall one media journalist proclaiming under Hawke that limited housing was good because it meant people were free to spend on other things. The truth is this state government could be worse. The tragedy is this state government doesn't have to be this bad. The shame is that the conservative opposition could still do much to improve the state's position by making sensible decisions which this sleazy, corrupt and inept state government won't do.
I am reminded here of Hamidur Rahman's death and the apparent cover up of possible negligence surrounding it. I wasn't present when it happened, but I had warned his school a year in advance of the issue and I was assured by senior school staff that the matter had been dealt with. When the Dept of Ed. became aware of their mistake, they phoned me to advise me that they had labeled me as a pest and so they wouldn't have to face up to what had happened. I was allowed to write about it, but the State Government passed a law in 2004 (Teacher's Code of Conduct) which was misapplied by a political appointment to force me to delete my writings. Harassment ensued and I resigned to be unfettered in speaking out over the issue. My local member (a state minister) threatened me and apparently pointed out to local media that my story was 'not in the public interest.'
The ICAC, Ombudsman, Police and related offices were advised of the situation, in which the incident was apparently covered up from the coroner .. to the extent that my old sites were later used inappropriately for fake kiosks so as to limit historical web searches.
I know this and can write about it freely, but the state opposition can not use it because the bodies of state no longer function under the ALP. The government 'fessed up' in the senate and there has been no follow up because those charged with responsibility of preventing corruption are not doing their jobs. The conservative parties are silenced by the majority government. In much the same way, in WA, an innocent man, Mallard, was kept in jail by the ALP for convenience sake for over a decade .. now freed, but under parliamentary operation, not exhonerated .. new parliament will not rescind the old one - ed.
===
CONFRONTED BY CHANGE
Tim Blair
Guardian swoonage over Obama’s confrontational force:
The Obama administration is poised for its most forceful confrontation with the American public on the sweeping and life-altering consequences of a failure to act on global warming with the release today of a long-awaited scientific report on climate change.
This administration forcefully confronts Americans but kisses up to those who would destroy America. God moves in mysterious ways.
The report, produced by more than 30 scientists at 13 government agencies dealing with climate change, provides the most detailed picture to date of the worst case scenarios of rising sea levels and extreme weather events: floods in lower Manhattan …
Like the 1953 flood that was caused by a high tide? Or the 1961 flood, also caused by high tides? Or maybe like the NYC floods in 1901, 1903, 1927 and 1977 that were simply caused by rain? Hey, what if New York is hit by a Paris-style flood? That would be a climate change nightmare. Further from Obama’s worst-case confrontation case file:
… a quadrupling of heat waves deaths in Chicago …
More information, please. Would that be a quadrupling of the 64 deaths during one day in 1911? The 2996 deaths across the northwest in 1936? The ten deaths in one Chicago morning 131 years ago? The 20 deaths in two days during 1900? Would the rise match the 65 per cent increase in heat-related deaths from 1935 to 1936? Might one person die every thirty minutes, as happened during a 1916 heatwave?
… withering on the vineyards of California …
Now you’re getting serious.
… the disappearance of wildflowers from the slopes of the Rockies …
Well, maybe not that serious.
… and the extinction of Alaska’s wild polar bears in the next 75 years.
Email me when I’m 119. If the poley bears are all gone, I’ll post an apology.
===
MASSES MOVE AGAINST MULLAHS
Tim Blair
Popular Science provides a helpful online guide to Iran’s massive election protests.
UPDATE. Helpful Joe Hildebrand guidance provided by Texan Sean Hamilton:
“To speak plainly, chicks don’t dig a broke guy,” said the Dallas resident, now a part-time consultant. So he came up with a strategy: “I don’t bring it up.”
UPDATE II. It might be time to launch legal proceedings against President Ahmadinejad on a charge of incitement to genocide.
===
SEPARATED AT BIRTH
Tim Blair
Orange-haired web snark Perez Hilton and blue-haired alleged insurance shark Clint Elford:
===
IT GOT TWO OF THEM
Tim Blair
Gaia believers tend also to believe in the notion of karma. What they’ll make of recent events in Colorado, then, is anyone’s guess:
Diana Barnett was driving on Broadway Monday afternoon with her 18-year-old daughter in the passenger’s seat, when she felt a blast of wind, saw a blur of green and heard a “big crash.”
Downed by the wind, a 75-year-old maple tree had pierced the windshield of Barnett’s Toyota Prius, going all the way into the car’s floorboard.
A second car — also a light-green Toyota Prius — was hit by the tree, too, but it sustained only minor damage and its driver escaped injury.
Barnett’s husband previously noted that you couldn’t throw a stick in Boulder without hitting a Prius. Says Mrs Barnett: “Today, it got two of them.”
===
How broke was Brown really?
Andrew Bolt
Senator Eric Abetz, speaking in Parliament yesterday, outlined the curious facts behind Senator Bob Brown’s claims that he might soon be driven from Parliament by bankruptcy.
What bankruptcy? How much was really owed? And will the donors who raced to save their hero have their funds actually steered to another green cause? - we know he is morally bankrupt. - ed
===
What Steve asked Penny
Andrew Bolt
Here is the list of questions Family First Senator Steve Fielding asked Climate Change Minister Penny Wong on Monday - questions to which he has yet to get an answer:
This briefing paper outlines questions put forward by Senator Steve Fielding to the Climate Change Minister Penny Wong, the Chief Scientist, Professor Penny Sackett and Professor Will Steffen.
While the questions below are those which the Senator would like answered, the supporting material has been supplied from some leading scientists from Australia and overseas.
These are questions Senator Fielding would like answered so he can make an informed decision on whether or not an emissions trading scheme is the best course of action for Australia to take to deal with climate change and global warming.
The Senator remains open minded and has requested that the government address these questions, the answers to which are fundamental to shaping any climate change legislation.
QUESTION 1.
Is it the case that CO2 increased by 5% since 1998 whilst global temperature cooled over the same period (see Fig. 1)?
If so, why did the temperature not increase; and how can human emissions be to blame for dangerous levels of warming?
QUESTION 2.
Is it the case that the rate and magnitude of warming between 1979 and 1998 (the late 20th century phase of global warming) was not unusual in either rate or magnitude as compared with warmings that have occurred earlier in the Earth’s history (Fig. 2a, 2b)?
If the warming was not unusual, why is it perceived to have been caused by human CO2 emissions; and, in any event, why is warming a problem if the Earth has experienced similar warmings in the past?
QUESTION 3.
Is it the case that all GCM computer models projected a steady increase in temperature for the period 1990-2008, whereas in fact there were only 8 years of warming were followed by 10 years of stasis and cooling. (Fig. 3)?
If so, why is it assumed that long-term climate projections by the same models are suitable as a basis for public policy making?
(No link to the briefing paper and its graphs. UPDATE: CLICK ON CONTINUE READING LINK BELOW FOR THE FOUR GRAPHS.)
I’m disappointed, but not surprised, unfortunately, that the media has shown so little interest in what questions were actually asked, and why Wong so struggled to answer. We are interested in the science, aren’t we?
===
Rudd has ways to make you praise him
Andrew Bolt
The soft totalitarianism of Rudd’s Big Government:
HOURS before Education Minister Julia Gillard rose in parliament to read a statement from a school in Kevin Rudd’s electorate praising the government’s school-building program, the Prime Minister’s electorate office rang the principal asking him for the letter.
The call followed a report in The Australian yesterday detailing criticisms of the implementation of the $14.7 billion school infrastructure program by the head of the P&C at Holland Park State School, Craig Mayne. Mr Mayne was in the office of the school principal, Anthony Gribbin, when the call came from one of Mr Rudd’s electorate officers about 10.15am....
About 2.30pm, Ms Gillard rose in question time to read a response from Mr Gribbin that she described as “a pretty glowing endorsement”.
“Dear Kevin,” the note from Mr Gribbin says. “The school community is delighted by its successful application for funding under the second round of the Primary Schools for the 21st Century in the Building the Education Revolution...”
UPATE
Christian Kerr draws the moral of this tale of spend-spend-spend waste:
Spending money in these days of global financial crisis, our rulers have decreed, is patriotic, no matter how badly - or madly - the spending is made.
For close to a week now The Australian has been raising questions about the use of stimulus funds in schools earmarked for closure or merger. We have told how money is being used to duplicate existing facilities or squandered on projects with oddly inflated costs.
UPDATE 2
When the money is free, the oinking starts:
AN undercover playground with concrete floors and no doors costs $1.8 million under the Rudd Government’s schools stimulus funding, the State Opposition says. And it says that’s just one example of how schools are being ripped off.
Other documents obtained by The Courier-Mail showed Mulgildie State School west of Bundaberg received $250,000 to build a basic 60sq m shed, after receiving a $29,000 quote from a local shed builder for a similar structure.
===
Garrett sees a melting that scientists can’t
Andrew Bolt
Two months ago, a couple of warming alarmists swapped scare stories about Antarctica:
TONY JONES (Lateline host): Another giant ice shelf has collapsed in Antarctica. (Truth here.) Are your scientific advisers telling you that this is due to global warming?
PETER GARRETT (Environment Minister): .... I don’t think that there’s any doubt that global warming is contributing to what we’ve seen both on the Wilkins ice shelf and also more generally in Antarctica…
TONY JONES: Of course, sceptics are saying that ice shelves have been collapsing for as long as we’ve been travelling down to the continent, that this latest collapse is nothing new.
PETER GARRETT: I find that pretty difficult to countenance, Tony… Now, it’s a big event. But there are many others in terms of the research that’s been identified in and around the Antarctic, and also in other parts of the world, which I think tell us unequivocally that we’re seeing climate change impacts…
TONY JONES: Here is something that is new: the report of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic research… The most scary thing it says is the upper level of those rises in global sea level could be as much as six metres - six metres - by the end of the century.
PETER GARRETT: Look, I haven’t seen that report yet, Tony, but I don’t think there’s any doubt those kinds of projections and scenarios are consistent with what the inter-governmental panel on climate change brought forward over the last couple of years.
Six metres? You’ve got to be kidding. And now for the latest research on Antarctica:
ANTARCTIC ice shelves are showing no sign of climate change, six years of unique research have shown.
Scientists from Western Australia’s Curtin University of Technology are using acoustic sensors developed to support the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty to listen for the sound of icebergs breaking away from the giant ice sheets of the south pole.
“More than six years of observation has not revealed any significant climatic trends,” CUT associate professor Alexander Gavrilov said yesterday.
Add that to falling global temperatures and cooling seas.
What else they got?
UPDATE
Chief Scientist Penny Sackett was one of the two experts Climate Change Minister Penny Wong asked along on Monday to try to answer Senator Steve Fielding’s bottom-line question: Given we’re pumping out more emissions than ever, why has the globe’s temperature actually fallen these past eight years? Doesn’t this contradict the Government’s assumption that man’s gases are causing the world to dangerously overheat?
Seems Sackett is still struggling for an answer, according to James Jeffrey:
SINCE open-minded Family First senator Steve Fielding reported on his climate change excursion to the US on this paper’s opinion pages, opinion editor Rebecca Weisser has been doing her level best to persuade the government’s chief scientist Penny Sackett to help Fielding out by writing a piece in reply. Her assistant helped Sackett dodge the bullet by saying she couldn’t possibly make the deadline (Strewth tried that tactic once; never again). Weisser offered to extend the deadline, but it must be terribly busy in Sackett’s office as no one has managed to get around to replying.
===
Wasn’t Rudd going to take out Ahmadinejad?
Andrew Bolt
Kevin Rudd before the election promised Jews he’d be tough:
A LABOR government would attempt to bring Iran’s President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, before the International Court of Justice to face charges of “inciting genocide” in an effort to force the rogue Middle East leader to justify his attacks on Israel… Kevin Rudd has committed a Labor government to take ”legal proceedings against President Ahmadinejad on a charge of incitement to genocide”.
Might be an interesting time to honor that promise, with Ahmadinejad rigging an election and blaming Jews for the furious protests against it:
The pinning of blame for Iran’s post-election turmoil on malign foreign enemies is already under way among so-called principalist, conservative factions. The pro-Ahmadinejad Keyhan newspaper today denounced plots by “politically bankrupt dictators” to thwart the popular will. ”The hopes of the imperialist triangle (America, UK and the Zionist regime) for a crawling coup d’etat in the Middle East and revival of the dead Middle East plan have been dashed,” it declared.
Or was this promise to charge Ahmadinejad just another of Rudd’s wilder schemes, like FuelWatch, GroceryWatch, charging Japan with whaling crimes and setting up a new Asia forum that Asia doesn’t want?
===
Just blame warming
Andrew Bolt
Michael Raper, a professional alarmist (and non-scientist) of the Red Cross, tells the ABC’s Fran Kelly that more people are dying each year from natural disasters caused by the villain guaranteed to get his outfit most media attention:
Michael Raper: It is clear that climate change is already upon us....
Fran Kelly: Why are you so confident, the Red Cross so confident, to declare that this is climate change in action?
Michael Raper: In some ways it doesn’t really matter, Fran. It’s not really worth debating if it is.
===
Palin accepts
Andrew Bolt
Sarah Palin accepts David Letterman’s second, belated but apparently genuine apology. It may have taken a week, but even Letterman now sees that mocking Palin’s teenage daughters as sluts or rape-bait - even if one is 18 - is way, way out of line. It remains troubling, however, that so many of the Left tried to defend or minimise it..
===
Only one hour for Earth
Andrew Bolt
NSW, home of Earth Hour, would rather keep the lights on for the rest of the year, thanks:
COAL-FIRED electricity will get a big boost in funding and the state’s greenhouse gas emissions will keep rising, according to figures outlined in the budget yesterday. The state’s second-largest coal-fired power station, which already emits about 12 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, will be expanded with an investment of $205 million.
===
The Obama network
Andrew Bolt
Drudge Report:
:ABC TURNS PROGRAMMING OVER TO OBAMA; NEWS TO BE ANCHORED FROM INSIDE WHITE HOUSE. “On the night of June 24, the media and government become one, when ABC turns its programming over to President Obama and White House officials to push government run health care — a move that has ignited an ethical firestorm!”
Dan Riehl:
Hey, I know. Let’s give the Bush White House a few hours on ABC to make a complete presentation from policy advisers and military personnel to go through the run up, execution and corrections regarding the Iraq War. And explain why bringing modernity to the Middle-east actually is a part of the war against terrorism. The media always likes to get behind a war effort, anyway. Oops, sorry, too late for that. Bet they wish they had thought of it then.
===
Justice isn’t forgiveness
Andrew Bolt
TWICE in the past month our courts struggled to impose justice on men who’ve suffered enough. And twice they’ve shown how our legal system cannot do what humans can at their best - and simply forgive.
On Saturday, a Bendigo jury finally acquitted truck driver Christiaan Scholl of 11 counts of culpable driving.
On the face of it, and even though 11 people are dead, justice was done. Legal justice, I mean. Not the real kind.
Two years ago Scholl, 50, was driving a truckload of timber towards a railway intersection near Kerang.
In his five years of taking that road, Scholl had never seen a train cross there. And he didn’t see the one that this time was coming.
===
Perfect one day, broke the next
Andrew Bolt
NSW has a rival:
Queensland has by far the worst budget position of all the states, and its citizens face the sharpest fall in living standards as unemployment is forecast to almost double in the next two years, from 4.25per cent to 7.25 per cent…
A year ago, the state Treasurer, Andrew Fraser, forecast surpluses totalling $1.8billion over the four fiscal years from 2008-9 to 2011-12. Yesterday (in the state Budget), black turned red in a big way. The combined deficits for the same period are now put at $10.1bn - a turnaround of $11.9bn. It would have been even worse if Canberra hadn’t kicked in an extra $5.8bn in grants to cushion the state budget.
The reason for Premier Anna Bligh’s decision to go early to the polls looks more obvious by the gloomy day.
===
Why would peaceful unions hate a tough cop?
Andrew Bolt
Talking tough while giving in:
EMPLOYERS have accused the Rudd government of caving in to union pressure by reducing penalties against striking building workers, slowing access to the construction watchdog’s coercive powers, and allowing projects to be exempt from the powers.
Despite Kevin Rudd’s staring down a backbench attempt to overturn coercive powers for the construction industry, employers yesterday criticised Labor’s compromise package, questioning whether it would deliver on the government’s promise to keep a “tough cop on the beat”.
Employers are furious that the government has gone beyond the recommendations of the Wilcox inquiry into the watchdog by allowing the coercive powers to be “switched off” in “peaceful parts” of the building industry.
===
Hate and Hypocrisy on the Far Left
By Bill O'Reilly
As you may remember, The New York Times published more than 50 front-page stories about Abu Ghraib, far more than any other newspaper. While the abuse at that Iraqi prison was a big story, which we covered in-depth, The Times used the situation to hammer the Bush administration, which it despised.
Now, there is no question that by hyping the Abu Ghraib story, The Times fed into anti-American feeling all over the world and created even more hatred for this country. There is no denying that.
Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger and editor Bill Keller hate President Bush because the paper initially endorsed the run-up to the Iraq War, printing a number of major articles detailing Saddam Hussein's deadly weapons program. Of course, The Times reporting turned out to be untrue. Sulzberger and Keller were embarrassed, and so they launched a hateful campaign against the Bush administration, which grossly offended their liberal sensibilities anyway.
The vitriol was led by far-left columnist Paul Krugman and Frank Rich, who brutally attacked President Bush and other people who might agree with him. The rhetoric used by these zealots was incredible vicious. Thus it was stunning to see both Krugman and Rich write columns saying the FOX News Channel and other non-liberal concerns were stoking up hatred against people like President Obama and Dr. George Tiller. The hypocrisy here is epic.
The campaign The Times and others have launched is designed to do two things: first, marginalize FOX News, which is becoming the nation's most powerful news organization, even while The Times and the liberal TV networks are failing, and secondly, to mainstream extremism.
There's no question, according to Kansas investigators, that Dr. Tiller was killing late-term viable fetuses for casual reasons. Testimony and documentation prove it. Yet, the far left sees nothing wrong with that horror. Last Friday, I asked the editor of Salon, Joan Walsh, one basic question, three times.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
O'REILLY: Do you feel that late-term fetuses deserve any protections at all, Ms. Walsh?
JOAN WALSH, EDITOR OF SALON.COM: You know, Bill, that really is the hardest, hardest issue in the abortion debate.
O'REILLY: Now, I asked you, in the first question, do you believe late-term fetuses should have any protections in the United States at all? Do you?
WALSH: I believe that late-term abortion, under the current circumstances, to save the life of the mother.
O'REILLY: I'm going to ask you once again, third time. Do you believe late-term fetuses are entitled to any protections in the United States of America?
WALSH: I believe the law should be what it is, Bill.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
All right. And we were not talking about any catastrophic health issues here. We were obviously talking about casual executions of late-term viable fetuses. That was the discussion. Had nothing to do with Roe v. Wade. And of course, Ms. Walsh would not answer, which is an answer. In her mind, late-term fetuses deserve no protections whatsoever. Later in the interview, she even said Tiller was a hero. We posted the entire talk on BillOReilly.com, and I hope you watch it.
Now Ms. Walsh's position is extreme, ladies and gentlemen. It has nothing to do, as I said, with Roe v. Wade or the abortion debate. It has everything to do with destroying human life for trivial reasons. By blaming me for Tiller's murder, the far left can avoid the human rights issue and frighten other public people who believe that destroying human life cannot be a casual thing.
Radical zealots want to intimidate, but they never explain their callousness to human life. Think about it: A newspaper whips up worldwide anti-American hatred and then calls me a hater for reporting accurately on Tiller when few others will? Amazing.
Judy Moran's Melbourne home has been set on fire overnight as the underworld matriarch remains behind bars over the murder of her brother-in-law Des.
US State Dept asks Twitter to delay service maintenance so Iranians can communicate
The US government has asked Twitter to delay maintenance plans in order to allow Iranians to communicate while their government has banned other media following elections.
Alexander Downer hits out at Peter Costello supporters
Alexander Downer has hit out at Liberal supporters of Peter Costello for saying the former treasurer was robbed of his chance to become PM.
Belgian teen Kimberley Vlaeminck sues over face tattoos
A Belgian teenager says she will sue a tattoo parlour which she said covered half her face with stars while she was asleep.
8 hour siege: Maccas gunman surrenders
An eight-hour siege at a McDonald's restaurant on the NSW mid-north coast has come to an end, with the gunman now in police custody.
'Risky' Judy Moran refused bail
Judy Moran has been refused bail after appearing in court facing charges over the murder of her brother-in-law Des Moran.
Aust in new 'protect' swine flu phase
The federal government has moved to a new alert level for swine flu, creating a category known as protect.
Socceroos coach set to play it safe
Having steered Australia to the 2010 World Cup finals with minimum risk and maximum effectiveness, coach Pim Verbeek will stay true to himself in the final qualifier against Japan on Wednesday night.
British Airways asks staff to work without pay to save money
British Airways urged its staff to work for nothing in an effort to save the company money.
Rove marries Tasma in secret ceremony
Australian chat king Rove McManus and girlfriend Tasma Walton have surprised the nation by marrying in a secret ceremony in Broome, Western Australia.
Peter Andre furious with Katie Price after binge drinking at son's birthday
'Mysterious Girl' singer Peter Andre is reportedly no longer speaking to his estranged wife after she got drunk and invited all her friends to Junior's party at their marital home in Woldingham, Surrey, on Sunday.
=== Journalists Corner ===
Bail Out California???
President Obama has less than 50 days to decide this one. California is in deep, deep, deep trouble. It is now asking for the Obama Administration to bail it out. Should it? California is the 8th largest economy in the WORLD! (Bigger than Brazil, Canada etc.)
=== Comments ===
Fawlty Towers Budget has us all $45,000 in the red
Piers Akerman
FIRST, the great news—straight from Treasurer Eric Roozendaal: ``Just two short years and NSW will be back in the black.’’ Now the bad news—no one believes him. - The ridiculous circumstance is that media can still see rainbows and silver linings even in a housing crisis. I recall one media journalist proclaiming under Hawke that limited housing was good because it meant people were free to spend on other things. The truth is this state government could be worse. The tragedy is this state government doesn't have to be this bad. The shame is that the conservative opposition could still do much to improve the state's position by making sensible decisions which this sleazy, corrupt and inept state government won't do.
I am reminded here of Hamidur Rahman's death and the apparent cover up of possible negligence surrounding it. I wasn't present when it happened, but I had warned his school a year in advance of the issue and I was assured by senior school staff that the matter had been dealt with. When the Dept of Ed. became aware of their mistake, they phoned me to advise me that they had labeled me as a pest and so they wouldn't have to face up to what had happened. I was allowed to write about it, but the State Government passed a law in 2004 (Teacher's Code of Conduct) which was misapplied by a political appointment to force me to delete my writings. Harassment ensued and I resigned to be unfettered in speaking out over the issue. My local member (a state minister) threatened me and apparently pointed out to local media that my story was 'not in the public interest.'
The ICAC, Ombudsman, Police and related offices were advised of the situation, in which the incident was apparently covered up from the coroner .. to the extent that my old sites were later used inappropriately for fake kiosks so as to limit historical web searches.
I know this and can write about it freely, but the state opposition can not use it because the bodies of state no longer function under the ALP. The government 'fessed up' in the senate and there has been no follow up because those charged with responsibility of preventing corruption are not doing their jobs. The conservative parties are silenced by the majority government. In much the same way, in WA, an innocent man, Mallard, was kept in jail by the ALP for convenience sake for over a decade .. now freed, but under parliamentary operation, not exhonerated .. new parliament will not rescind the old one - ed.
===
CONFRONTED BY CHANGE
Tim Blair
Guardian swoonage over Obama’s confrontational force:
The Obama administration is poised for its most forceful confrontation with the American public on the sweeping and life-altering consequences of a failure to act on global warming with the release today of a long-awaited scientific report on climate change.
This administration forcefully confronts Americans but kisses up to those who would destroy America. God moves in mysterious ways.
The report, produced by more than 30 scientists at 13 government agencies dealing with climate change, provides the most detailed picture to date of the worst case scenarios of rising sea levels and extreme weather events: floods in lower Manhattan …
Like the 1953 flood that was caused by a high tide? Or the 1961 flood, also caused by high tides? Or maybe like the NYC floods in 1901, 1903, 1927 and 1977 that were simply caused by rain? Hey, what if New York is hit by a Paris-style flood? That would be a climate change nightmare. Further from Obama’s worst-case confrontation case file:
… a quadrupling of heat waves deaths in Chicago …
More information, please. Would that be a quadrupling of the 64 deaths during one day in 1911? The 2996 deaths across the northwest in 1936? The ten deaths in one Chicago morning 131 years ago? The 20 deaths in two days during 1900? Would the rise match the 65 per cent increase in heat-related deaths from 1935 to 1936? Might one person die every thirty minutes, as happened during a 1916 heatwave?
… withering on the vineyards of California …
Now you’re getting serious.
… the disappearance of wildflowers from the slopes of the Rockies …
Well, maybe not that serious.
… and the extinction of Alaska’s wild polar bears in the next 75 years.
Email me when I’m 119. If the poley bears are all gone, I’ll post an apology.
===
MASSES MOVE AGAINST MULLAHS
Tim Blair
Popular Science provides a helpful online guide to Iran’s massive election protests.
UPDATE. Helpful Joe Hildebrand guidance provided by Texan Sean Hamilton:
“To speak plainly, chicks don’t dig a broke guy,” said the Dallas resident, now a part-time consultant. So he came up with a strategy: “I don’t bring it up.”
UPDATE II. It might be time to launch legal proceedings against President Ahmadinejad on a charge of incitement to genocide.
===
SEPARATED AT BIRTH
Tim Blair
Orange-haired web snark Perez Hilton and blue-haired alleged insurance shark Clint Elford:
===
IT GOT TWO OF THEM
Tim Blair
Gaia believers tend also to believe in the notion of karma. What they’ll make of recent events in Colorado, then, is anyone’s guess:
Diana Barnett was driving on Broadway Monday afternoon with her 18-year-old daughter in the passenger’s seat, when she felt a blast of wind, saw a blur of green and heard a “big crash.”
Downed by the wind, a 75-year-old maple tree had pierced the windshield of Barnett’s Toyota Prius, going all the way into the car’s floorboard.
A second car — also a light-green Toyota Prius — was hit by the tree, too, but it sustained only minor damage and its driver escaped injury.
Barnett’s husband previously noted that you couldn’t throw a stick in Boulder without hitting a Prius. Says Mrs Barnett: “Today, it got two of them.”
===
How broke was Brown really?
Andrew Bolt
Senator Eric Abetz, speaking in Parliament yesterday, outlined the curious facts behind Senator Bob Brown’s claims that he might soon be driven from Parliament by bankruptcy.
What bankruptcy? How much was really owed? And will the donors who raced to save their hero have their funds actually steered to another green cause? - we know he is morally bankrupt. - ed
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What Steve asked Penny
Andrew Bolt
Here is the list of questions Family First Senator Steve Fielding asked Climate Change Minister Penny Wong on Monday - questions to which he has yet to get an answer:
This briefing paper outlines questions put forward by Senator Steve Fielding to the Climate Change Minister Penny Wong, the Chief Scientist, Professor Penny Sackett and Professor Will Steffen.
While the questions below are those which the Senator would like answered, the supporting material has been supplied from some leading scientists from Australia and overseas.
These are questions Senator Fielding would like answered so he can make an informed decision on whether or not an emissions trading scheme is the best course of action for Australia to take to deal with climate change and global warming.
The Senator remains open minded and has requested that the government address these questions, the answers to which are fundamental to shaping any climate change legislation.
QUESTION 1.
Is it the case that CO2 increased by 5% since 1998 whilst global temperature cooled over the same period (see Fig. 1)?
If so, why did the temperature not increase; and how can human emissions be to blame for dangerous levels of warming?
QUESTION 2.
Is it the case that the rate and magnitude of warming between 1979 and 1998 (the late 20th century phase of global warming) was not unusual in either rate or magnitude as compared with warmings that have occurred earlier in the Earth’s history (Fig. 2a, 2b)?
If the warming was not unusual, why is it perceived to have been caused by human CO2 emissions; and, in any event, why is warming a problem if the Earth has experienced similar warmings in the past?
QUESTION 3.
Is it the case that all GCM computer models projected a steady increase in temperature for the period 1990-2008, whereas in fact there were only 8 years of warming were followed by 10 years of stasis and cooling. (Fig. 3)?
If so, why is it assumed that long-term climate projections by the same models are suitable as a basis for public policy making?
(No link to the briefing paper and its graphs. UPDATE: CLICK ON CONTINUE READING LINK BELOW FOR THE FOUR GRAPHS.)
I’m disappointed, but not surprised, unfortunately, that the media has shown so little interest in what questions were actually asked, and why Wong so struggled to answer. We are interested in the science, aren’t we?
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Rudd has ways to make you praise him
Andrew Bolt
The soft totalitarianism of Rudd’s Big Government:
HOURS before Education Minister Julia Gillard rose in parliament to read a statement from a school in Kevin Rudd’s electorate praising the government’s school-building program, the Prime Minister’s electorate office rang the principal asking him for the letter.
The call followed a report in The Australian yesterday detailing criticisms of the implementation of the $14.7 billion school infrastructure program by the head of the P&C at Holland Park State School, Craig Mayne. Mr Mayne was in the office of the school principal, Anthony Gribbin, when the call came from one of Mr Rudd’s electorate officers about 10.15am....
About 2.30pm, Ms Gillard rose in question time to read a response from Mr Gribbin that she described as “a pretty glowing endorsement”.
“Dear Kevin,” the note from Mr Gribbin says. “The school community is delighted by its successful application for funding under the second round of the Primary Schools for the 21st Century in the Building the Education Revolution...”
UPATE
Christian Kerr draws the moral of this tale of spend-spend-spend waste:
Spending money in these days of global financial crisis, our rulers have decreed, is patriotic, no matter how badly - or madly - the spending is made.
For close to a week now The Australian has been raising questions about the use of stimulus funds in schools earmarked for closure or merger. We have told how money is being used to duplicate existing facilities or squandered on projects with oddly inflated costs.
UPDATE 2
When the money is free, the oinking starts:
AN undercover playground with concrete floors and no doors costs $1.8 million under the Rudd Government’s schools stimulus funding, the State Opposition says. And it says that’s just one example of how schools are being ripped off.
Other documents obtained by The Courier-Mail showed Mulgildie State School west of Bundaberg received $250,000 to build a basic 60sq m shed, after receiving a $29,000 quote from a local shed builder for a similar structure.
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Garrett sees a melting that scientists can’t
Andrew Bolt
Two months ago, a couple of warming alarmists swapped scare stories about Antarctica:
TONY JONES (Lateline host): Another giant ice shelf has collapsed in Antarctica. (Truth here.) Are your scientific advisers telling you that this is due to global warming?
PETER GARRETT (Environment Minister): .... I don’t think that there’s any doubt that global warming is contributing to what we’ve seen both on the Wilkins ice shelf and also more generally in Antarctica…
TONY JONES: Of course, sceptics are saying that ice shelves have been collapsing for as long as we’ve been travelling down to the continent, that this latest collapse is nothing new.
PETER GARRETT: I find that pretty difficult to countenance, Tony… Now, it’s a big event. But there are many others in terms of the research that’s been identified in and around the Antarctic, and also in other parts of the world, which I think tell us unequivocally that we’re seeing climate change impacts…
TONY JONES: Here is something that is new: the report of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic research… The most scary thing it says is the upper level of those rises in global sea level could be as much as six metres - six metres - by the end of the century.
PETER GARRETT: Look, I haven’t seen that report yet, Tony, but I don’t think there’s any doubt those kinds of projections and scenarios are consistent with what the inter-governmental panel on climate change brought forward over the last couple of years.
Six metres? You’ve got to be kidding. And now for the latest research on Antarctica:
ANTARCTIC ice shelves are showing no sign of climate change, six years of unique research have shown.
Scientists from Western Australia’s Curtin University of Technology are using acoustic sensors developed to support the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty to listen for the sound of icebergs breaking away from the giant ice sheets of the south pole.
“More than six years of observation has not revealed any significant climatic trends,” CUT associate professor Alexander Gavrilov said yesterday.
Add that to falling global temperatures and cooling seas.
What else they got?
UPDATE
Chief Scientist Penny Sackett was one of the two experts Climate Change Minister Penny Wong asked along on Monday to try to answer Senator Steve Fielding’s bottom-line question: Given we’re pumping out more emissions than ever, why has the globe’s temperature actually fallen these past eight years? Doesn’t this contradict the Government’s assumption that man’s gases are causing the world to dangerously overheat?
Seems Sackett is still struggling for an answer, according to James Jeffrey:
SINCE open-minded Family First senator Steve Fielding reported on his climate change excursion to the US on this paper’s opinion pages, opinion editor Rebecca Weisser has been doing her level best to persuade the government’s chief scientist Penny Sackett to help Fielding out by writing a piece in reply. Her assistant helped Sackett dodge the bullet by saying she couldn’t possibly make the deadline (Strewth tried that tactic once; never again). Weisser offered to extend the deadline, but it must be terribly busy in Sackett’s office as no one has managed to get around to replying.
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Wasn’t Rudd going to take out Ahmadinejad?
Andrew Bolt
Kevin Rudd before the election promised Jews he’d be tough:
A LABOR government would attempt to bring Iran’s President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, before the International Court of Justice to face charges of “inciting genocide” in an effort to force the rogue Middle East leader to justify his attacks on Israel… Kevin Rudd has committed a Labor government to take ”legal proceedings against President Ahmadinejad on a charge of incitement to genocide”.
Might be an interesting time to honor that promise, with Ahmadinejad rigging an election and blaming Jews for the furious protests against it:
The pinning of blame for Iran’s post-election turmoil on malign foreign enemies is already under way among so-called principalist, conservative factions. The pro-Ahmadinejad Keyhan newspaper today denounced plots by “politically bankrupt dictators” to thwart the popular will. ”The hopes of the imperialist triangle (America, UK and the Zionist regime) for a crawling coup d’etat in the Middle East and revival of the dead Middle East plan have been dashed,” it declared.
Or was this promise to charge Ahmadinejad just another of Rudd’s wilder schemes, like FuelWatch, GroceryWatch, charging Japan with whaling crimes and setting up a new Asia forum that Asia doesn’t want?
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Just blame warming
Andrew Bolt
Michael Raper, a professional alarmist (and non-scientist) of the Red Cross, tells the ABC’s Fran Kelly that more people are dying each year from natural disasters caused by the villain guaranteed to get his outfit most media attention:
Michael Raper: It is clear that climate change is already upon us....
Fran Kelly: Why are you so confident, the Red Cross so confident, to declare that this is climate change in action?
Michael Raper: In some ways it doesn’t really matter, Fran. It’s not really worth debating if it is.
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Palin accepts
Andrew Bolt
Sarah Palin accepts David Letterman’s second, belated but apparently genuine apology. It may have taken a week, but even Letterman now sees that mocking Palin’s teenage daughters as sluts or rape-bait - even if one is 18 - is way, way out of line. It remains troubling, however, that so many of the Left tried to defend or minimise it..
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Only one hour for Earth
Andrew Bolt
NSW, home of Earth Hour, would rather keep the lights on for the rest of the year, thanks:
COAL-FIRED electricity will get a big boost in funding and the state’s greenhouse gas emissions will keep rising, according to figures outlined in the budget yesterday. The state’s second-largest coal-fired power station, which already emits about 12 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, will be expanded with an investment of $205 million.
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The Obama network
Andrew Bolt
Drudge Report:
:ABC TURNS PROGRAMMING OVER TO OBAMA; NEWS TO BE ANCHORED FROM INSIDE WHITE HOUSE. “On the night of June 24, the media and government become one, when ABC turns its programming over to President Obama and White House officials to push government run health care — a move that has ignited an ethical firestorm!”
Dan Riehl:
Hey, I know. Let’s give the Bush White House a few hours on ABC to make a complete presentation from policy advisers and military personnel to go through the run up, execution and corrections regarding the Iraq War. And explain why bringing modernity to the Middle-east actually is a part of the war against terrorism. The media always likes to get behind a war effort, anyway. Oops, sorry, too late for that. Bet they wish they had thought of it then.
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Justice isn’t forgiveness
Andrew Bolt
TWICE in the past month our courts struggled to impose justice on men who’ve suffered enough. And twice they’ve shown how our legal system cannot do what humans can at their best - and simply forgive.
On Saturday, a Bendigo jury finally acquitted truck driver Christiaan Scholl of 11 counts of culpable driving.
On the face of it, and even though 11 people are dead, justice was done. Legal justice, I mean. Not the real kind.
Two years ago Scholl, 50, was driving a truckload of timber towards a railway intersection near Kerang.
In his five years of taking that road, Scholl had never seen a train cross there. And he didn’t see the one that this time was coming.
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Perfect one day, broke the next
Andrew Bolt
NSW has a rival:
Queensland has by far the worst budget position of all the states, and its citizens face the sharpest fall in living standards as unemployment is forecast to almost double in the next two years, from 4.25per cent to 7.25 per cent…
A year ago, the state Treasurer, Andrew Fraser, forecast surpluses totalling $1.8billion over the four fiscal years from 2008-9 to 2011-12. Yesterday (in the state Budget), black turned red in a big way. The combined deficits for the same period are now put at $10.1bn - a turnaround of $11.9bn. It would have been even worse if Canberra hadn’t kicked in an extra $5.8bn in grants to cushion the state budget.
The reason for Premier Anna Bligh’s decision to go early to the polls looks more obvious by the gloomy day.
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Why would peaceful unions hate a tough cop?
Andrew Bolt
Talking tough while giving in:
EMPLOYERS have accused the Rudd government of caving in to union pressure by reducing penalties against striking building workers, slowing access to the construction watchdog’s coercive powers, and allowing projects to be exempt from the powers.
Despite Kevin Rudd’s staring down a backbench attempt to overturn coercive powers for the construction industry, employers yesterday criticised Labor’s compromise package, questioning whether it would deliver on the government’s promise to keep a “tough cop on the beat”.
Employers are furious that the government has gone beyond the recommendations of the Wilcox inquiry into the watchdog by allowing the coercive powers to be “switched off” in “peaceful parts” of the building industry.
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Hate and Hypocrisy on the Far Left
By Bill O'Reilly
As you may remember, The New York Times published more than 50 front-page stories about Abu Ghraib, far more than any other newspaper. While the abuse at that Iraqi prison was a big story, which we covered in-depth, The Times used the situation to hammer the Bush administration, which it despised.
Now, there is no question that by hyping the Abu Ghraib story, The Times fed into anti-American feeling all over the world and created even more hatred for this country. There is no denying that.
Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger and editor Bill Keller hate President Bush because the paper initially endorsed the run-up to the Iraq War, printing a number of major articles detailing Saddam Hussein's deadly weapons program. Of course, The Times reporting turned out to be untrue. Sulzberger and Keller were embarrassed, and so they launched a hateful campaign against the Bush administration, which grossly offended their liberal sensibilities anyway.
The vitriol was led by far-left columnist Paul Krugman and Frank Rich, who brutally attacked President Bush and other people who might agree with him. The rhetoric used by these zealots was incredible vicious. Thus it was stunning to see both Krugman and Rich write columns saying the FOX News Channel and other non-liberal concerns were stoking up hatred against people like President Obama and Dr. George Tiller. The hypocrisy here is epic.
The campaign The Times and others have launched is designed to do two things: first, marginalize FOX News, which is becoming the nation's most powerful news organization, even while The Times and the liberal TV networks are failing, and secondly, to mainstream extremism.
There's no question, according to Kansas investigators, that Dr. Tiller was killing late-term viable fetuses for casual reasons. Testimony and documentation prove it. Yet, the far left sees nothing wrong with that horror. Last Friday, I asked the editor of Salon, Joan Walsh, one basic question, three times.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
O'REILLY: Do you feel that late-term fetuses deserve any protections at all, Ms. Walsh?
JOAN WALSH, EDITOR OF SALON.COM: You know, Bill, that really is the hardest, hardest issue in the abortion debate.
O'REILLY: Now, I asked you, in the first question, do you believe late-term fetuses should have any protections in the United States at all? Do you?
WALSH: I believe that late-term abortion, under the current circumstances, to save the life of the mother.
O'REILLY: I'm going to ask you once again, third time. Do you believe late-term fetuses are entitled to any protections in the United States of America?
WALSH: I believe the law should be what it is, Bill.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
All right. And we were not talking about any catastrophic health issues here. We were obviously talking about casual executions of late-term viable fetuses. That was the discussion. Had nothing to do with Roe v. Wade. And of course, Ms. Walsh would not answer, which is an answer. In her mind, late-term fetuses deserve no protections whatsoever. Later in the interview, she even said Tiller was a hero. We posted the entire talk on BillOReilly.com, and I hope you watch it.
Now Ms. Walsh's position is extreme, ladies and gentlemen. It has nothing to do, as I said, with Roe v. Wade or the abortion debate. It has everything to do with destroying human life for trivial reasons. By blaming me for Tiller's murder, the far left can avoid the human rights issue and frighten other public people who believe that destroying human life cannot be a casual thing.
Radical zealots want to intimidate, but they never explain their callousness to human life. Think about it: A newspaper whips up worldwide anti-American hatred and then calls me a hater for reporting accurately on Tiller when few others will? Amazing.
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