Sunday political talkies: G20 grip and greet, IMF grin, China grabs
Mood:
lazy
Topic: aust govt
Author’s general introductory note
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.
For actual transcripts and/or video feeds go to the programme web sites quoted including Riley Diary on 7. And note transcripts don’t really give you the image content value.
Other sources of pollie talkies on Sunday include SkyNews paytv Sunday Agenda, Radio National Monica Attard Sunday Profile show. And of course Sunday night shows SBS Dateline, Sixty Minutes and now Sunday Tonight on 7.
Media backgrounders Preface – been off the coal face latter this week doing farmhouse work at Cattai (just like last week). Quite a few papers, crikey ezines to catchup.
* Gavin Gatenby/Ecotransit in crikey reveals massive false (?) escalation of rail costings in NSW compared to similar project – apples with apples – in Perth. What teeth grinding disgrace if it proves to be true. Source of comparison is ex ALP transport minister too. And see twist next two items in this list.
* We noticed late last week Gawenda sledge News Corp and we took the trouble to comment on the string (as we do) and ring with personal message to head of local News Corp affairs with moral support re Right To Know Coalition achievements making space for a range of intitiatives in democracy building. Which leads us to what happened next …
* Front page blowtorch on Sydney Daily Telegraph from Simon Benson about corruption in RTA blocking FoI with legal trickey – ostensibly a RTK agenda – but also a profound leverage by the Ombudsman via SDT of the Gatenby story of hyper escalations of rail costings. Which leads to what happened next …
* Roads minister ex NRMA lawyer road lobby Michael Daly, right winger seat of Maroubra (ex Bob Carr seat) oversight of Macquarie big road rollouts 1996-2007 said ‘pure coincidence that Les Wielinga quitting RTA chief job for new over priced Metro project … just a coincidence. NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ABC Local - 'Cover-up': NSW roads chiefs investigated for corruption
* Peter Hartcher on ABC Glover political forum – “why we hate this state government”. Tell us what you really think Pete – not as interesting as Ramsey – Hartcher. Referring to bikie laws after the horse has bolted, lacking substance. But might have been also referring to RTA cover ups above, or power blackout x2 for the protected species of Sydney’s East.
* Obama West Wing style re-run episode of shooting siege in New York State – this time ends badly unlike tv land – 13 dead. But no one much is reporting claim by Pakistani/Afghani militant leader (‘more dangerous than Osama Bin Laden’) claim that it was his instruction to commit the mass murder, heard on ABC RN Doogue yesterday morning. Goes by the name of Baituallah Mehsud . Rejected by FBI, but then they would say that? FBI rules out Taliban claim on New York killings - 10 hours ago
* There is a streak (!) of the Melbourne Truth in every newspaper editors heart manifest by scanty colour page 3 girls as per today’s Sunday Telegraph (bras), as per The Australian (fashion), and Fairfax Sydney Morning Herald too. They are all harvesting the position of falling sales and circulation by which we mean harvesting their credibility.
* 200K renters facing eviction – we know 60 days notice no grounds. Echoes much bigger story front pagers today on mortgage freeze from deal with 4 big banks and federal govt for anyone losing their job.
* Quality journalism forum last week to be broadcast next Saturday abc RN in place of Doogue, probably on abc Fora too.
* China syndrome continues with strong Milne story today and Henry Tsang MP in NSW ALP loyalist sophistry in SunHerald Sydney Fairfax completely ignoring undemocratic ruthless dictatorship of China. Local Tibetan says every country is the same as here for Chinese influence peddling. What indeed happened to the Tank Man???? Milne supplements with piece today rejecting racism smokescreen to avoid transparency eg “smuggling” in the no.5 Chinese propaganda chief. Big Media journos today showing incapacity for perspective too close to the Govt drip.
10 Meet the Press: 8- 8-30 am
Lead in images of G20 UK Brown, USA Obama, Rudd Australia. “Global statesman thing is working for him”.
Press covers big story of day re mortgage freeze for a newly unemployed. Spin about red meat diet for PM Rudd
Talent is Hockey as shadow treasurer. Claims ‘backslapping’ at G20 misconceived. G20 “Obama moment”. Hock uses “backslapping” echo of my thoughts! “Rudd is no Obama, let’s get real about this”.
Humour section about meal spat? No for real – Hock leverages to dishonesty of the office about whether it happened – Lachlan Harris [refer West Wing Josh Lyman in the news, not the flak’s role to get in the story].
Humour section – grinding teeth moment footage next to femme fatale Chinese diplomat. [Suitable advert juxtaposition for Andre Reiu shmultz melodrama in local series Neighbours?]
Panel is Steve Lewis/News Corp grey streaks sublimating his inner centrist at Fair & Balanced, Jessica Irvine makes her way for Fairfax brainy younger (?) woman, and a pear in sympathy with Therese Rein.
Hock uses metaphor flash flood to solve a drought. Has some resonance. Simply a loan – have to pay in higher interest rates or increased taxes. [Ignores that rollback effect of GST regressive nature – sweet revenge of lower paid? Arguble as cash splash is also somewhat regressive? Think no.]
Hock misses the chance to make constructive points about the May budget. Should have had some positives to grab the initiative after the effective sledging. Hock seems to suggest Coalition will block the money bill in budget? Lewis asks racism question. “Repugnant” smokescreen says Hock, really about transparency. [agree, it’s emotional violence by the ALP to avoid scrutiny].
Hock claims its one single foreign govt in equity and debt side of the national economic equation. [implicit a dictatorship like China, not just any foreign govt].
Humour out take is Moir on G20 cartoon but really its advert juxta Hogsbreath Café truly weird pink cheerleaders routine. At least 20 seconds too long but made me watch as truly truly weird.
Irvine plays populist line on Peter Anderson proverbial grey man in part 2, from ACC&I. Anderson looks like an ideologue perhaps contact lenses, unblinking, but MTP poll shows tax relief is preferred massively supporting his line. Agrees 2 negative quarters of “recession”.
Meet The Press - Watch Political Video Online - Channel TEN.
Riley Diary 7, from 8.30am
- G20 images with London Calling soundtrack. Rudd asking self questions again. Grip and grin. Never mind the bollocks [Robertson says it was almost Never mind the Stones] of revolting (?) protesters. Albanese grovels to the royalty. Good show
- No doubt due to time difference no Q&A with Riles, disappointing. But chatty compares news reader cracks it with ‘how can they rule the world if they can’t organize a group photo?’ Quite. Then Andrew O’Keefe oversteps the mark with a dodgy joke about being “out on the piss” referring to an Indian prime minister Hindu sect. Geddit? OKeefe neurotic about his binge drinking embarrassment telling jokes at the expense of a country of 1 billion people.
Just give up the booze Andrew – it really is as simple as that. Give it up. Said with love.
http://www.seven.com.au/sunrise/weekend
9 Sunday newshour Laurie Oakes interview 8.40 am
Talent is minister for hair loss with patented drone, with brain almost exploding out of his forehead to keep it altogether for his pretty political bosses. Greyish edges tell the story.
Kicks off with Rudd’s diet tantrum, underlying neurosis about Howard’s fitness walks? Or pear like wifey? The politics of fat are oh so personal.
Tanner refuses to confirm car loans included in mortgage freeze for 12 months in deal with the 4 big banks.
Won’t confirm length of GFC – says small positive signs like USA sharemarket. [Small is right.]
“Difficult choices …. must maintain stimulus as temporary.”
One of the things we have learned over the last year [actually only 6 months] is that we shouldn’t rule anything in or out. [Which is exactly what Julie Bishop as shadow treasurer said in terms of “wait and see” – how hypocritical to attack her in parliament then.]
Tanner calls Turnbull to nationalism to stop using Senate to govern while in global financial storm, trying to grab the wheel held by captain Rudd.
LO throws to compares who refer to “the fun part of the show” … but you have to say it was better interview than expected at the start, from Drone.
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/oakes
Insiders 2: 9- 10am
G20 backslapping imagery. Nothing contradicts Alan Kohler jibe as spectators.
Barry Cassidy breaks story about links to bikie breach of security at The Lodge for an hour. Assuming it is true might be big or small embarrassment.
Given the comments by Tanner, ironic that Julie Bishop as foreign minister shadow is talent.
Panel is Taylor/Australian News Corp centre, Milne News Corp centre right, Toohey Fairfax AFR centre.
Press round up Rudd in defence damage control in C/Times. Taylor on bank freeze, non bank lenders also shut out implies Hock. Milne refers to Chinese Optus joint venture. Banned in USA for security reasons, sanction buster in Iraq. Not at arms length. Helps Telstra campaign to bust back into the NBN.
Julie Bishop all white ‘honest’ symbolism. Argues not out of step with world – problems for Rudd didn’t get what he wanted on exec pay, lots of things also not following Rudd script at G20. Constructs a fair claim. China vote in IMF off to 2011.
Leaders at g20 modest outcome – not failure. BC counters – G20 forum was a success as Rudd hoped.
Come back interview for Bishop – goes hard and clear on range of topics with mastery of detail of her case – Chinese duchessing of Govt, repudiates positioning by ALP of Coalition as dog whistling when a whole list of commentators have adopted the tag “Manchurian Candidate” around “lack of judgement” about China’s influence. Fitzgibbon not credible with lack of transparency of paid trips by China lobby.
Spoils the hard line with exageration about hunger/hypoglycemia temper tantrum by PM Rudd in January 09. Yawn. Bullying of defence personnel?[– obviously all dainty flowers.] Agrees potential international consequences of security breach at the Lodge – earlier hyperbole makes perspective difficult.
Out take shows a steely and ruthless Julie Bishop with fixed smile. Is she human?
Everyperson segment abc reporter in Melbourne at some festival.
Panel chats on May budget, Bradley report, trade figures unexpectedly good (‘green shoots’ jargon).
…………………..
‘China Syndrome’ topic – Abbott on AM [pushing our line (?) in crikey comment string about Olympic riots for Beijing, known network of informants, yes trade but show perspective]
Very uncomfortable footage of Rudd almost certainly lying in diplomatese about mate from UK seating arrangement. [Those images are a template and a tell – the slight look away and back as the synapses very very fast construct a line that he believes will work.]
Taylor says Coalition accusing Rudd of putting China first is “a very serious allegation”.
China is NOT a market economy, is undemocratic. [meaning dictatorship]. China is the pre eminent hackers Milne quoting Downer.
Taylor sucked in about racism allegation. Toohey agrees Bishop hyperbole about Rudd behaving like a member of the Communist Party of China.
Toohey says NSA head and shoulders above China but catching up.
Lachlan Harris, PM press secretary “lied”. Press gallery won’t cop lying distinct from omissions or mistakes.
Panel agree Opposition not helping with sandbags as per 74% man PM Rudd, compare with record of Hawke Nov 1984 at 75%. Need to be far more constructive about GFC to avoid stereotype of Oppositionism.
Talking pics – solid. Profound image of Obama shaking policeman's hand at no.10 Downing St. Heart melting stuff.
Tips - Taylor Jobs Services Australia story to go a lot further. Toohey says Howard has Chinese artist doing his portrait. Milne says inquiry into Fitzgibbon Defence snooping “should be made public”.
Week’s break for religious programming.
http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/
Inside Business with Alan Kohler
Feature interview with Rob Ferguson IMF, former BT investment bank
Bris Connections/Macquarie float farce – IMF litigation firm helping small shareholders facing financial ruin. PDS – up for another $2. “Installment warrants” different to partly paid shares, not up for the balance.
Whose fault? Promoter of the scheme Macquarie. Shares worth minus $1.50.
All the worst features of this cycle. Rediculous leverage.
Ran BT in 70ies and 80ies. Agrees G20 is a talkfest won’t make much difference. Sharemarkets go up when people innured to bad news, not calling the bottom.
Talking point quotes Obama re G20 – did OK. IMF is the biggest winner up US$250 to 750M.
No one knows how long or when the bottom of the sharemarket.
Day spa small business feature story. Week’s break religious programming.
Refer http://www.abc.net.au/insidebusiness/
Posted by editor
at 1:00 PM NZT
Updated: Sunday, 5 April 2009 1:06 PM NZT
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