Picture: Mount Aspiring  in New Zealand (via google earth, photo by Kevin Bracy Knight http://www.panoramio.com/user/3821, ) Climbed by this writer in 1988/9 and what a hoot it was. Not the highest but perhaps most beautiful peak in our region of the world, just as Opposition Leader Rudd aspires to his own beautiful peak, PM of Australia, but says the ALP are still "at the base camp" despite good polling causing 'altitude sickness' (Mark Riley, 7) . And Kevin beware allegations of 'deceptive conduct' on the journey Aussie arrested for illegal guiding in Mt Aspiring - New Zealand ...

This aspect of Aspiring shows a 1,000 metre final pitch from base to summit at 3,033m above sea level , comparable to any  European peak for hardship I've been told, a 6 hour time warping 100% focus. Rudd will need similar to wrest control from the Coalition and like this writer's ascent that lovely day you only get one chance no reverse gear. Not least because it will melt (if not already) in the age of dangerous global warming.

Author’s general introductory note (skip this if you know this regular weekly column):

 

This is not a well packaged story. It’s a contemporaneous traverse of the Sunday television free to air political talkies indicating the agenda of Establishment interests: Better to know ones rivals and allies  in Big Politics and Big Media. ]

 

Indeed it’s the tv version monitoring task similar to what Nelson Mandela refers to here in his book Long Walk to Freedom (1994, Abacus) written in Robben Island prison (where he was meant to die like other African resister chiefs of history in the 19C), at page 208

 

“..newspapers are only a shadow of reality; their information is important to a freedom fighter not because it reveals the truth, but because it discloses the biases and perceptions of both those who produce the paper and those who read it.”

 

Just substitute ‘Sunday tv political talkie shows’ for "newspapers" in the quote above.

 

For actual transcripts go to web sites quoted below except with Riley Diary on 7. And note transcripts don’t really give you the image content value.

 

Picture: Mt Aspiring from another angle. Still 'at base camp' says 'saint' Kevin Rudd  to his ALP congregation with the climb all ahead despite 'high altitude' polling according to the Riley Diary today.

10 Meet the Press 8-8.30 am

Deborah Knight presenter, looking smart and also gorgeous, a fine combo. Paul Bongiorno don’t stay too long on holidays.

Khaki headlines in “all press” with footage of panicky PM in smoke filled RAAF flight emergency in Afghanistan. [A footnote to a fizzling twilight political career?]

Robert McLelland, shadow minister (Foreign Affairs?) fields diverse questions from Steve Lewis (The Australian) and Tom Allard on the panel and Knight also re govt  minister Santo Santoro self destruction, politics of smear, international security questions.

Rubbery figures intensely funny honeymoon metaphor with right wing voter snogging Rudd enthusiastically but implying it’s a temporary affair until thee rednecks return to Howard’s arms.

Pro Debnam attack advert on ALP in 2^nd break.

Ethics expert Simon Longstaff (getting pudgy) correctly identifies opportunistic blood sport about character test of federal pollies many are failing. Not a noble process of accountability if the goal is not to win with integrity, [not simply to win (as per Gandhi dictum)]

Allard on Rudd in religion? SL says it’s a virtue for politicians to have good personal convictions, yet secularism is necessary for public interest representation by elected politicians, not crusading personal faith.

Transcript in due course www.ten.com.au/meetthepress

7 Weekend Sunrise, 8.35-40 am Riley Diary

Humourous, quite edgy as usual.  Andrew O'Keefe and Lisa Wilkinson co-hosts and other media express implausibility of khaki PM moment in the press filmed running from the plane, but how did the cameras get out first in position, they ask. They know the public are bored with the PR tricks and the group laugh and skepticism is more revealing than the subject matter itself: Howard has a big credibility gap on a former policy trump.

[The knowing poise of Lisa staring right down the barrel of the camera unflinching as Andrew guilloutined the group cackle before it got risky said a lot. Normally she makes diversionary twitches when it’s a no go political risky area. This time its Andrew who does the reining in for a change with “Thanks kids”. Speaking of which Howard’s son doing “strategy” for 7 will be watching a tape of this for daddy O with consternation.]

Footage of vaudeville theatre by Abbott and Bishop federal north shore pollies diversion from woes of Santoro sacking for breach of share investment code of condust.

Riley slums down to NSW politics with Debnam satire as Frank Spencer physicals but not intellect which is out of his scope usually being Sydney not Canberra. But it does underline that there is really significant crossover of the two fields of power play in the Australian polity especially this double election year.

Amusing metaphor of Rudd with “altitude sickness” being so high in the polls.

Same attack advert for state election runs. Just as Debnam speech ran on ABC tv last night (just before West Wing on my tape). Live footage at Harbour Bridge 75^th Celebration. More credibility gap about crowds and transport.

Web page here but no transcript usually: http://www.seven.com.au/sunrise/weekend

[2 and 9 shows to follow later this morning]