Mood:  energetic

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

* ABC radio national is the proverbial public square especially iconic Michelle Grattan pre 7.45 am with Fran Kelly given it’s archived on web, contrasting in Sydney with light often shallow probably very popular Adam Spencer. Compare tougher interviews by … anyone really post 7 am we used to get from say Phillip Clark, Andrew Olle, Angela Catterns, maybe even Wendy Harmer no slouch in the comic department and on public issues. Spencer has recently learned the “some people say” device, probably off Richard Glover. His comic inserts to life and death issues like flu pandemic interviewS – what can you say about that? Maybe people like it, more fool them.  This week it’s “Shire Shite” as Adam Spencer bravely notes himself. Is this MD Mark Scott’s way for 702 to avoid its duty as the public square in Sydney 5.30 to 7.45 am every day of the working week by avoiding controversy. Mmm

702 gravitas deficit? Probably this listener’s age and polical development too. [Just as the updates show 3000 in quarantine and 250 cases confirmed for swine flu – that’s exponential growth rate folks. But seen as seasonal flu impact … so far, unless it follows ‘a W profile’ that is coming back nastier mutations eg combo with regular flu with hybrid vigour. It’s not over folks.

* Minister Penny Wong can’t deliver the ETS Senate votes and will embarrass PM Rudd in the lead up to Copenhagen major global conference as USA moves to cement it’s policy position in time for same. Is that behind Magadon Wong losing her famous cool in Senate hearings recently? Is that why Combet her ostensible Parliamentary Secretary is the tail wagging the dog lately? Stalking her ministry perhaps?

* Wong may find she is more alike to Peter Garrett than she realizes, another metaphorical domesticated Gouldian Finch in big brain Combet’s bird enclosure. Bright plumage but a prisoner of fate all the same, put there by the tough real Green Party Senators Milne, Brown etc?

* Wong choreography of “beltway green groups” as Lenore Taylor of News Corp refers to them (Aust Cons Foundation, Climate Institute, ACOSS, ACTU head office) into their 12 month delay back flip on ETS implementation produced the quid pro quo during the week. No sooner had the tame Gouldian Finches (!) greenies provided political cover on junked election timetable for an ETS than they got a $1B solar power station and $303 Murray Darling water rights policy pay off for being good beltway trusties. ACF in particular have always strong on river issues back to the Tim Fisher campaigner days (the other one, not ex deputy PM now ambassador to the Vatican).

As per claims of ½ Sydney water usage purchased from the Twynam agri group is illogical comparison. Urban use of water has always been a minor fraction of agri usage. What fraction of agri usage out of the MD river system is it? Either locally, regionally, statewide or nationally. That’s the real statistic. It reminds of Bob Carr announcing national parks and saying it’s the biggest decision in the whole world. The Wilderness Society compiled a global list proving that was hyperbolic dishonesty.

* Laurie Oakes column yesterday in Saturday News Corp Telegraph has at least 2 howlers (and Bolt notes this as does Riley by implication though not direct) that LO is becoming a partisan player and it’s a theme we picked up way back pre election loss of Howard, at the least hints of same. A survival mode for aging LO perhaps, he might recall Einfeld aging disgracefully and consider his options. He once told this writer he would keep going for 20 years in 2005 (outside Howard’s Sydney office actually) but that’s just wrong LO and you know it. His column yesterday referred to NZ Keyes regime supporting Rudd approach to the GFC but that’s so wrong because they are not doing stimulus only deficit. And Rudd on debt presentation was blatant so to claim Rudd’s omissions were “inadvertent” to paraphrase Turnbull this morning is incredulous. Especially coming from the old boy.

North Korea focus lead in footage, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith as talent. Press roundup eg pleas to PM re Schapelle Corby.

Strong line on impotent western pollies. Smith says sanctions re UN resolutions luxury goods and weapons. Question from viewer re Corby harsh sentence. Lip service re assistance and prisoner transfer. PB – going for 5 years. “Not suggesting or pretending fair way to go on this” but was until PB called him on it.

Humour break #1 – PropsGate in parliament of “not running a sideshow” says Speaker. Mmm. John Dee in adbreak becausewecare.com.au re recyclable/reusable retail shopping bags. Also in second break.

[remember going tohis first big PR foray back in early 90ies. This guy has really blossomed using his PR skills for sustainability, well done John Dee.]

Serious panel, RN’s Fran Kelly, Fairfax Phil Coorey SMH.

First question re Copenhagen conference on climate change.

‘Yiguars’ issue from China at Gitmo – [pathetic dodging by Bishop/Turnbull that these defiant resisters of the Chinese dictatorship should not have refuge here. It will help our US ally deal with the numbers in Gitmo freeing up their options. Fits with our White Paper precautionary approach to China too.]

Smith strong important in law and policy to reject third party interference. [Just like Chen Yonglin.]

So called “curry bashings” concern of Indian students big money earner for Australia. High level talks between governments.

After 2^nd break Heather Ridout, condescending tone sledging ‘unionist’ Combet actually an MP and parliamentary secretary.

Ridout claims 138 years pedigree and non partisan politics – that’s historic revisionism, claims political outcomes is what counts. Again very condescending answer to Fran Kelly with a steely pose and body language complete with leather jacket. [Ironically suggests defensiveness, like Penny Wong, that the whole ‘fix’ is falling apart with The Greens playing hard and for keeps on saving our planet, God bless Senator Milne. Nothing Stockholm about that woman/MP/Senator.]

Meet The Press - Watch Political Video Online - Channel TEN.

[brilliant] Riley Diary 7, from 8.30am

 ‘crazy week’ in parliament. Propsgate ‘show and tell’ Laurie Oakes insertion into the package is quite surprising showing Rudd alleged hyprocrisy about parliamentary standards.

Fantastic Bob Dylan rip off re placards of famous song (Highway 61 Revisited?]. Harry Jensen speaker as not “a sideshow”. [Hockey does good Shrek angry impersonation.]

[raises the bigger issue that Hansard is way too narrow a record in the age of multi media.

Q&A shows Jensen has been partial to the govt angle. [Visual references to LO reveals awareness of weak column yesterday way too pro govt]

http://www.seven.com.au/sunrise/weekend

Senator Wong as guest, botch estimates committee 100 years stabilization goal. Putting on brave face. Bob Brown quoted as “monumental mistake”. Wong says documentation doesn’t reflect the error and that’s the main thing. [yes but her mistake is revealing of a politician under pressure and potentially cracking].

LO unconvinced on numbers, won’t get it through. LO have to make the scheme greener to get The Greens to agree. Wong says May 4 position still holds re ACF [see above re quid pro quo in backgrounders] Climate Institute, ACOSS etc.

Says Nats support for Turnbull position proves it’s a worthless position [but Wong ignores election aspect to avoid double dissolution too early]. LO follows up

Reference to Wong interview on racism suffered as child, can’t compare to Sol Trujillo. [Wong probably profile raising, sympathy grabbing, another indicator of career high water mark and feeling a hot breath on her neck?????] Smooth line about overall tolerance. Nice touch handshake back to the main desk with Cameron and Perfect Posture woman. [Jealous.]

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/oakes

Insiders 2: 9- 10am

Good morning welcome loop for the first minute at least, will have to get off the web. Reprise of the Riley Diary angle above too music and “sideshow” aspect. All the gallery notice different treatment by speaker. Propsgate continues with “sideshow” quote of speaker.

Delay of ETS, panel is Bolt (News Corp Melbourne) Atkin (News Corp Brisbane) Middleton SBS (nationally, ethnic broadcasting).

Talent is Opp leader Turnbull – advert re debt under control. “Achilles heel” Lateline last Friday Mark Arbib admitted props to offset debt argument.

Grab of Wong on Sunday 9 show ‘a few minutes ago’. Says Turnbull position is “a con” (she would know??).

First question is about a con. Devastating audio problem with Turnbull can’t be heard. For at least 3 mintues to “most notably the Americans” [Turnbull]…..at about 9.11 am. Quotes Canada [wrong conservative regime not comparable politics despite similar economy].  MT runs his delay wait on USA huge political capital of Obama scheme. Says rules and regs not published is the “dirty little secret”. No reason ‘to rush’ all about PM Rudd vanity and ego for Copenhagen.  Australian workers have to have same benchmark protection as USA. [our workers have never been compared social contract of USA – rubbish comparison.]  MT talking a good game but all about delay, avoidance of grasping the nettle, in denial of election loss. Runs distinction without a difference on MP photos at project launches as if not supporting the stimulus can still support the project, calls it “blackmail”.

Turnbull gets a good go till 9.24 am at least despite earlier audio problem of say 3 minutes.

Runs his line on being on BRW rich list is irrelevant, shows his business experience.

………….

Vox pop on ETS with “dwarfs” at basketball national team, presumably a metaphor dwarfism of Federal Govt ETS policy.

…………………..

Various chat by panel. PropsGate superceded by DeadStimulusGate. Bolt says $40M ‘wasted’, footage of PM Rudd that families of deceased benefit.

‘Prof’ Paul Kelly soliloquy – agrees debt problem for Federal Govt. PropsGate too much stunting by Govt. Opp on ETS is holding, patch up job. Says not credible Rudd go to election pre Copenhagen. Predicts deal there. New form of politics after that, either deal with Opp and Govt or double dissolution. BC quotes untenable to oppose ETS if USA makes a policy. Bolt disagrees Coalition needs to be unified re Nats, Atkins notes some Libs similar deniers.

Double dissolution discussed, footage of

Bolt attacks LO as partisan and unprofessional. [There is a point there but Bolt is off point re Heffernan ambush of so called big media alleged “ambush” of BRW rich list.

Talking pics with Mexican Hat dig at Sol Trujillo, and Chaser lad. Claims precedent on propsgate.

http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/

Inside Business with Alan Kohler

Refer http://www.abc.net.au/insidebusiness/

Posted by editor at 12:49 PM NZT

Updated: Sunday, 31 May 2009 12:55 PM NZT

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Mood:  hug me

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.  

* SAM travails on rural block ‘Froghollow’ after 6 weeks – it’s wet, damn wet but sun shines today, time to get the wood heater next to the outdoor bath and under a sheet of iron: Still no regular power but 12 Amp 4 stage battery charger (Powertech MB-3612 with LED indicators of battery level) via Jaycar, and Greenways  (Melbourne but deliver most places $40) 100 Amp hour deep cycle battery (X2, at cheap cheap $220 each promo price) are doing well, with 12 volt lights and radio, and back up on computer tower 5 hours worth (should have laptop lower draw). 300 and 150 inverters to 240 volt from Dick Smith at decent price. The key is to recharge asap from clunky petrol generator originally cheap from Aldi of all places. Now all we need is some decent solar panel deals and voltage regulator. The idea of mains eventually is rather good too. Pile burns in the rain out of fire season going well. Magnificent red dawn before the deluge. Recycled motor mower cutting a swathe. Junkyard is now 75% sorted with heavy metal and sharps - natural and otherwise - domesticated.

* As a result we still lag on newsprint monitoring or crikey forensics but groveling along.

* More corporate collapses for failure to manage debt in the GFC - Great Southern Plantations and Timbercorp, agricutlural tax driven investment schemes.

* Harry Evans clerk of the Senate and champion of democracy as opposed to vested interests is forced to resign after 21 years by legislation introduced under the Howard Govt.

* Annabel Crabb bells the cat as it were with reference to silence of $18 billion in [upper] middle class welfare not mentioned in budget speech. Must be unique, she says. But her colleagues and big media are absolutely silent except perhaps for Deborah Cameron and see below (Insiders). Ironic as the big media play gotcha on $300B public debt at 14% of GDP still AAA rated compared to UK, but say nothing on $18B handouts to their consumers of advertising to pay their own media fat wages. Pathetic really.

* Labor luvvies increase their controlling grasp over the Sydney Writers Festival leveraging tax payer funded facilities, as per Guy Rundle video of the day on crikey late last week, as per our experience in May 2008.

Our comment on Guy’s string here:

Did the UTS Paper get a run at the writers festival or was that controlled out of existence too?

In other words, what will the fangs of the Right come up with now for being excluded from the Festival this year? Shudder.

* VIP invite to SAM editor for Waverley Council’s 150^th anniversary on 14 June 2009. A bittersweet 4 years closing the $40M Waterloo Incinerator, beating off a private rail/high rise consortium, name plaque for the new Waverley library,  tripling the vote for The Greens before bailing out of the lazy bunch for their years of free riding. Fond memories of Chris Darwin, local Greens member in the news recently (big conservation donation), related to the grand old man himself. Succeeded by Cr Dominic Wykanak we campaigned hard for.

Guest is smooth talking fresh faced Peter Dutton, Shadow Health minister (?). Sounds convincing and mild tones.

First out take humour is Tony Jones on Lateline pushing Rudd to come clean on the level of debt at some 300 billion or something huge.

Adbreak nurses union heart strings advert leveraging sick children

Sharon Burrow, President ACTU calling for no freeze on minimum wage rise and affordability. Attacks Mitch Hooke low credibility, runs the renewable energy jobs off a growth trajectory. PB compere asks about what about transition. Hit the time limit, looks a bit grumpy with good story to tell.

Meet The Press - Watch Political Video Online - Channel TEN.

Riley Diary 7, from 8.30am

Don’t mention the war leveraging John Cleese skit re massive Australian debt. Shadow Treasurer Hockey “debt, debt, debt, debt ….”. Press gallery getting more feral on this point given the denialism and spin of the Rudd machine.

Hard hat Rudd on nation building tour. Capped (!) off with “macho man” via Village People.

Charity sing by Riles footage “for a very good cause”. Absolutely.

http://www.seven.com.au/sunrise/weekend

Health minister Nicola Roxon. Crew ship precautionary steps while “not yet widespread” sounds rehearsed line, as in expect widespread swine flu. LO picks the cue “how bad will it get”. Serious. [Genie out of the bottle talk.]

Earnest, competent, mousy, mild, articulate, not quite female version of Beazley but in that direction. She needs to work up her cut through over volume depending on how ambitious she is. Lacks the Gillard edge which may be a good or bad thing suggesting honesty?

30 June deadline re any federal takeover of health. LO calls it another hollow promise implying the GFC has broken that one.

Her parliamentary secretary expenses – stands by her hard working colleague.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/oakes

Insiders 2: 9- 10am

BC compere goes through the stats of rusted on Rudd at 64% personal approval and ALP primary vote at 45%.

Panel is Lenore Taylor News Corp Australian (centrist), David Marr – Fairfax (centre left), Michael Stutchbury News Corp Australian (centre right).

Swine flu grab of Nicola Roxon earlier in the day.

Tony Abbott Shadow Family, Community Services, Indigenous Affairs Minister.

Quotes Noel Pearson re Cape York hostage to green votes in Brisbane, cutting out economic opportunities. But not tub thumping as such, more mild tones. More blather.

Vox pops with Deborah Cameron at Sydney Writers Festival, labour luvvy from central casting in presentation but a bit more objective than that, labour luvvies at fest say pollies not overpaid, as they would, their team!

Share employee issue discussed, entre to Paul Kelly soliloquy again from News Corp calls Rudd childish, counterproductive. Implies unions are representing fat overpaid unioinists above $60K wages. Talks up Ken Henry tutorial of 25 years economic history re discipline, bottom line everything depends on economic reform in recession – whatever that means.

Grab of Henry, Stutch runs ‘structural budget deficit’ started with Howard-Costello [of upper middle class welfare]. True.

Humour over inhouse Gruen style advert on naming the debt, but not of their own big media blind spot over $18B welfare for the rich.

Talking pics re hard hat as per Riley Diary earlier today, parallel thinking.

http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/

Inside Business with Alan Kohler

Sound glitch lead in, 2 weeks running tech problems now.

Refer http://www.abc.net.au/insidebusiness/

Posted by editor at 12:22 PM NZT

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Mood:  don't ask

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 [still lacking power supply capacity with lack of monitoring but in the mindset again]        

* John Howard was ‘robbed’ – lost govt, lost his own seat, lost all credibility over succession planning, but still reckons Rudd is bluding on ‘his’ surplus. Mmm. Relevance deprivation syndrome again this last 48 hours from JH. Ignores GFC thread breaker. Howard is so last century now.    

* What’s more impressive – the reaction to 4 Corners across society including Ch9’s Footy Show, or ABC referring to “g*ngb*ngs” and “group s*x” on breakfast radio yesterday morning in yet quite proper Aunty tones with Geraldine Doogue on St James Ethics Centre Board. That’s what they call in the trade a mind f*ck, pun intended.    

* An angle on NRL bad habits not covered – almost certainly brian injury of high level contact sports. One serious knock a year for 10 years adds up to brain injury, social deficits, retreat into alcohol and failure of judgement in always complex gender relations. It’s obvious when you put it like that.    

* Early election talk – NSW can go before Feds constitutionally in early 2011. But the recession lends resonance to going earlier than that.    

* Premier of Tasmania – read Sutherland Shire #2 with population of 500,000 – tries to sleaze out of global responsibilities: When barely 10% of Australia has forested land cover. With barely 1% of Australia’s land cover being old growth forest, said premier argues statistics (45% of Tasmania landmass is already protected). Trouble is Tasmania doesn’t finance itself. Australia massively subsidises Tasmania and we can decide how much old growth protection THIS NATION should protect, AS A NATION.    

* Tim Blair right wing screamer with ruinous illness for initials - just read his defamatory, possibly legally actionable, attack on SAM editor here over 12 months back. ‘More crazy than Antony Lowenstein’ says TB. We’ll take that, got to have the Right (!) enemies. His peanut gallery seem to gag on moi’s academic and sports achievements – where did he go wrong they moan! 

* New Matilda censor my sledge of ex Senator Andrew Bartlett, then I cop an email data sabotage 2 days later when I protest the decision. Are the two connected? "Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc" We don’t know but editor Rod McGuinness isn’t commenting so far with email question 72 hours ago. As we recall Rod has some geek credentials? We added this to Bartlett’s crikey blog last Friday (cred to him for letting through too at    

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/bartlett/2009/05/14/brian-harradine-says-%E2%80%9Ci-cannot%E2%80%9D-to-the-gst-%E2%80%93-10-years-on/#comments ): 

   Evening Andrew. Interesting that you take up the GST topic. Recently on an Ian Lowe story on New Matilda you commented at length and I took you up on some things including about the GST as "regressive". You said I was "confused". I said gratuitously that perhaps you were with a sly comment about a glass of binge. This was a phrase that Annabel Crabb likes to use here in Sydneybig media commentary over the alcopops tax. But there is a meta aspect to my comment which might actually be real news. Within a day or so I had an email comment from the editor of New Matilda (Rod McGuinness) saying my comment was edited. I wrote back in fairly broken grammar that I disagreed with the edit because of various reasons like you are a public figure etc past on the public record, and besides you 'started it'. I got a condescending response that my correspondence was incomprehensible. So I wrote back to the editor saying they censored me once before (then editor Marnie Cordell - on a far more serious matter in the Middle East/Mordechai Vanunu)  and I reported NM's emerging culture on my Sydney Alternative Media site        

here: http://www.sydneyalternativemedia.com/blog/index.blog/1814242/new-matilda-blocking-our-analysis-on-busy-palestine-israel-string/     

And that his job was not to protect you ex Senator Bartlett. Sooo .... being busy out on a rural block these days I return to my email 2 days later and a whole email folder is missing called "SAM tech" and no less than 3 months of email part Feb, March April, part May 2009.  Including interesting the corro with NM's editor. Only I found a copy in my deleted box which hadn't been dumped yet, and printed it off. I've emailed him asked does he or his New Matilda tech boffins know anything about sabotage of my email inbox.  

No response in the last 24 hours from New Matilda. Such is our state of Australian Democracy, Andrew!

Sadly New Matilda has form in censoring us once before on the Middle East can of worms. One has sympathy for lefty websites wanting to avoid emotional violence and flames on their string to uphold the standard of their website. But methinks Howard had some truth to the comment “fangs of the Left”. That is attack rivals or critics first and think second.

To cred of Bartlett, he publishes and responds to our comment above on his crikey string.

* Annabel Crabb on Glover abc 702 early last week notes Swan at the press club budget speech noted Oct 08 Cabinet thinking was ‘must build a bridge to a recovery’. Which was exactly SAM’s metaphor we published  late 08 re Stimulus #1 of 2 (lending a Back to the Future movie angle of the train over the ravine just as the bridge magically appears in the future). Risky stuff.   

10 Meet the Press:  8- 8-30 am

Press round up re News Corp $7M in trips in some weeks [leveraging UK expenses scandal and their own global franchise/reach]

Has Finance minister axe been blunted?’ with Lindsay Tanner as Minister as guest, sounding defensive and fast talking and competent too. $62K spent on trip for 4 over 8 days bad look.

Tough questions from rolly polly Paul Bongiorno. Signals more aggressive press gallery?

Julia Irwin MP western Sydney worried about budget for unemployed. [running at 11% in her electorate].

Costello footage walking into Treasurer Swan’s view in budget speech in parlt. Tanner scathing of Costello bludging on Turnbull’s hard work in opposition.

Humour out take, briefly Senator Fielding but Guy Rundle of crikey wins the prize and he is like David Rowe quite a genius in his field. [Cousel guy – stick to your strengths stay in your field and you will  fly forever.]

Ist adbreak nurses union advert.

Panel - Jennifer Hewitt The Australian. Richardson of Access calls ALP budget as cream puffs. Tanner talks the reality down.

Peter Hartcher SMH – tough question again too. Tanner implies big media “hysterical” commentary. Defensive. Would be worried about holding his seat of inner Melbourne now.

[phone call break]

Compares Oz economy with small business lost its biggest customer. Can’t criticize media reporting the GFC he says [bit late now after calling them hysterical]. Says PR a balancing act.

Supplement guest is NRL gender equity consultant [drifted to 7 sunrise and missed this]

Meet The Press - Watch Political Video Online - Channel TEN.

[Fantastic] Riley Diary 7, from 8.30am

 Bugdet humour Goosey Rudd footage, Benny Hill music, pirate music, ship of fools (great song true it is), Tuckey footage on Jenny Macklin nasal drone, John Cleese ‘don’t Labor the point’ (ha ha).

More Goosey Rudd, and Peter Costello new website www.PeterCostello.com.au [apparently – haven’t checked link].

http://www.seven.com.au/sunrise/weekend

Turnbull looking ‘distinguished’ grey. Travel expenses [leveraging UK scandal too, today’s press lead]

Refer to Hartcher’s book. Turnbull insulation to every home Costello challenged as treasurer. Energy efficiency and pays for itself, and pays for itself. No means test. Says Hartcher’s sources unverifiable.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/oakes

Insiders 2: 9- 10am

Lead in on budget, speculating about early election [unlikely].

Albanese with Party lines. Might have said something but I didn’t notice it.

Panel is Crabb, Meglo, Toohey. Crabbies cute Recoco curls

Paul Kelly, the ‘professor’ – says ETS pretext for early election will wreck Coalition prospects and Liberals must rethink or Rudd will avoid election on a crashing economy 1 year out. “How stupid is that?” says the prof with feeling.

Compere BC notes PM Rudd redefining broken election promises as ‘policy commitments unfulfilled’.

Talking pics – funny Rudd blow drier visual gag.

Crabb evicerates Rudd on UN obsessions re ‘7 minutes on Bretton Woods”. Shades of brilliance by Crabby as camera dwells. Cheeky bright chubby Guy Rundle offset.

http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/

Inside Business with Alan Kohler

Talking point turns to colour code screen. WTF? Just as he calls for an early election because we can't afford a long pre election contest: This was 10.25 am image:

Refer http://www.abc.net.au/insidebusiness/

Posted by editor at 12:11 PM NZT

Updated: Sunday, 17 May 2009 12:29 PM NZT

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Mood:  hug me

Intro with Rudd footage on climate backflip and unhappy Green MP Milne.

Shadow minister for climate issues Andrew Robb is the talent sledging the govt on backflip last week and inconsistency on financial approach. Pure Oppositional tack.

Footage of Sharon Burrow ACTU lip service to action on climate, while supporting 12 months delay.

“Biggest structural change in the history of the country”.

Humour out take no.# Turnbull calls Rudd and Swan the Ali Barber and the 40 thieves, not Robin Hood (SDT) and Rudd sledge back that he should be selling steak knives.

Good panel talent Phillip Clark of 2GB (Sydney) and Michelle Grattan Age/Fairfax Melbourne (Canberra press gallery).

Grab of Swan. Deficits and middle class welfare questions, delay on climate change.

Budget tragic Chris Richardson/Access Economics is #2. Agrees Govt spend now as people and business don’t. Good economic protection measure.

Riley Diary 7, from 8.30am

 Mishap with prize segment but Mark recovers well with theatrics as does brains OKeefe and other compere forgot her name but smart too.

Becomes a straight description. Q re leaks ahead of time, why. Manage media cycle.

Then they got it back cool. Ali barber sledge, Jekyl & Hyde etc. Very revealing Tanner word perfect repeat. Turnbull as Paris Hilton.

Delay cuts into LO

Insiders 2: 9- 10am

Budget leaks catchup with panel. No press round up as expected. Lenore Taylor TheAustralianNewsCorp, Glenn Milne News Corp, Fran Kelly ABC RN, and

Talent is shadow treasurer, very funny preface about tv mixup on abc blue screen framing (water jet through Hockey’s ears).

Panel chat, Paul Kelly soliloquy after book project – various ponderous ponderings.

‘Beltway Green Groups’ endorse Rudd ETS back down prior to Copenhagen, well said Lenore Taylor, those most involved in ‘the political process’, that is  captured by same? Lost perspective? Most desperate for govt duchessing?

http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/

Inside Business with Alan Kohler

Refer http://www.abc.net.au/insidebusiness/

Posted by editor at 12:46 PM NZT

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Mood:  quizzical

Swine flu pandemic press round up etc.

Health minister via screen, out take ex treasurer Costello at book launch humour, panel Julie Robothom SMH/Fairfax (never heard of her) – good short first question, good second one re states takeover re health?

Other on panel is Mark Kenny Adelaide Advertiser/News Corp.

WA treasurer Troy Buswell on infrastructure and federal deficits.

Meet The Press - Watch Political Video Online - Channel TEN.

Riley Diary 7, from 8.30am

???

http://www.seven.com.au/sunrise/weekend

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/oakes

Insiders 2: 9- 10am

Defence issues in White Paper. Guest is Wayne Swan as Treasurer.

See the transcript.

http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/

Inside Business with Alan Kohler

Refer http://www.abc.net.au/insidebusiness/

Posted by editor at 12:44 PM NZT

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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.  

Talent is Treasurer Swan – drowning in red ink? First humour out take is PJ O’Rourke, [also doing all the rounds of ABC here in Sydney eg Glover RN Philosopher Hour] Hockey footage makes debt point.

Panel is Jennifer Hewitt looking fat and nasty, and a ponderous Shane Wright of West Australian one newspaper town.

Swan rhetoric of responsibility re IMF says payments are not best use of money. Dead bat to probes on leaks.

………

Last 1/3 is Obama campaign worker on foreign affairs policy Dr Aronson. Clarifies and declines ‘adviser’ role for current Admin. Good speaking voice, presents as a Michelle Grattan type boffin, even handed, idealistic. Obama is optimistic about people making change,  admits Pollyanna but sticks to it.

Makes good point about over production underlying global recession.

 Still on break? Or clash with LO below.

Insiders 2: 9- 10am

Budget, recession discussion at outset with cross media news footage. Panel is Lenore Taylor centrist News Corp The Australian, Mal Farr centrist News Corp Sydney, Bolt right of centre News Corp Melbourne.

Opposition Finance spokes Andrew Robb.

Boat people asylum seekers discussed.

Final observations – Graeme Wedderburn, most of Cabinet need media [policy?] training.

http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/

Inside Business with Alan Kohler

Timbercorp goes through the financial woodchipper in the global recession [Managed Investment Fund driven to some degree by tax minimization rather than resource economics].

Refer http://www.abc.net.au/insidebusiness/

Posted by editor at 12:09 PM NZT

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Mood:  hug me

Early shift Adam Spencer jokingly referred to "the intelligence .... 'the raw sex appeal" of his overlord CEO Mark Scott. It was rich humour but many a true word said in jest. The grovel to the boss was indeed a grovel, more so for masking behind the humour. Spencer who sits on Sydney University Board from memory knows a thing or two about ALP duchessing. He was recently reported in Fairfax Naked Eye column paid off $12K to act as 'a facilitator' at a NSW Govt workshop. That's good money there.

And yes Scott is intelligent, he may well be sexy to his wife, and he's a power player straight out of the Northern Suburbs management stream.

But what became apparent second ABC Sydney radio shift (biggest metro audience in the country) with compere Deb Cameron is the glowing interview and praise for the so called Golden Gurus - give a boomer a soap box - policy.

This was a second idea out of the 2020 talkfest summit. The ABC radio were in full craven mode here suspending critical analysis by choice of topic and inteview subject - Catherine Harris mother of Lachlan Harris - PR operative for .... PM Rudd. Never declared either.

Golden gurus aka mentors is clever politics pandering (again) to the grey vote, especially as ANZAC day long weekend kicks in and the national revelling in war glory proceeds with the veterans on the alter of gratittude. But arguably it ignores how the hell we got into this modern mess of deep recession, environmental collapse, massive inequality - the very same spoilt rotten boomers of retiring age now who refuse to shove off. After WW2 25 and 35 year olds were holding down major positions in society, but now a 35 year old is the office junior.

Arguably there is a golden guru in every internet connection - like how to repair a lawnmower we dipped into yesterday (the fuel line and carburettor needs cleaning). User discussion pages from everything from solar generators, to wireless internet availability, to bird song calls, to location of Windsor Waste Facility and fee structure and everything else besides.

Conclusion: The grey hairs will never let go of all institutions of power in our society including by adoption of 1960ies style advertising slogans like 'Golden Gurus'. How selfish can these people really be? Very very selfish.

And the ABC waved it all through until Sabra Lane of the Canberra Press gallery finally injected some objectivity. The other 900 good ideas people are very pissed off. And the odd caller too about old farts and national broadcaster bias toward government largesse. The ABC wouldn't tailor it's coverage to suit it's funding gratitude surely? You bet they would.

Never forget that as Dirt Game about the mining industry is playing on Sunday nights as a melodrama, that ABC flagship 4 Corners refused point blank to run a show on the nationwise upheaval over the Jabiluke Uranium mine in 1997-8. No doubt because the ABC at that time were under huge financial and governance pressure from the the then Howard Govt and a successful anti uranium, anti nuke campaign would have been petrol of the fire as far as pro nukes Howard was concerned. The ABC current affairs, who set the standard, squibbed it. The 'public square' was barren. Some of us noticed the tumbleweeds and shifted to community media ever after.

Posted by editor at 12:40 PM NZT

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Mood:  chillin'

Good actors, good production values, decent writing, kept me watching and justified it's time slot.

As you would expect the stereotypes are woven in there and yes they have resonance for the various audience segments.

Our perspective is the environment primarily: As pincipal of Ecology Action, and hard liner on dealing with industry because we come from industry and know their sleaze and dishonesty as a trained corporate lawyer. See for instance here

3/2004 Lake Cowal 'Environmental Trust' evidences select NSW green groups corrupt deal with NSW Govt

But not the drug (grass - commonly loosely referred to as 'green' by Labor types ) which was a cheap shot on the environment movement. This writer is teetotal and not even a caffeine drinker these days.

Having said that a group around a prominent anti mining campaigner in NSW - Alan Oshlack, successful public interest litigant did talk like that greenie character and have a prediliction for weed and wild flourishes. So there is an isolated example from reality not generally. These days grass smokers are more likely to be working in the mine itself or popping pills of various kinds than greenocrats heading green groups (think John Connor of the Climate Institute - all trainer grey men).

The mine is obviously Lake Cowal near West Wyalong and the company is Barrick Mining a Canadian monolith - which has it all

- native title

- dirty cyanide mine process ("come clean miners" protest in the story)

- sell out greenies like Jeff Angel of TEC (not your typical blonde haired beauty, rather duchessed ALP go to man in the green movement in NSW, architect amongst other things of the extended life of the Eden woodchipper, who called Bob Carr in a set SMH piece the greenest premier in the history of NSW 6 months out from the 2003 election, cutting the ground from under ever other green group and political party). Bob Carr approved the Lake Cowal gold mine and destroyed an ephemeral wet land.

As for the sharp corporate fixer, it's an obvious lift of Brian Gilbertson ex BHP- Billiton or some big mining house. The so called founder of Cockatoo Creek mining junior can't escape his role in Blue Murder as the infamous "Nipper" killed off by the Roger Rogerson character. The founder character ('Nipper') is probably based on the other infamous cyanide mine at Timbara NE NSW (Ross Mining, then Delta Gold then Placer Dome) which was closed down after multiple legal cases:

Earthbeat - 11/09/99: Cyanide Uncertainties

Good to see Lucy Bell to appear in the actors list - we have a fond memory of inspecting her flat with the rest of the reps mid 90ies in capacity as a local councillor official process in Bondi Ward and meeting her later husband at a gig at the Harkoah Club - James OLoughlin.

But the overall gist of the show is a typical ABC 'balance' to fit the political times. It's Bastard Boys with a twist. This plays well to the ALP Govt, and the CFMEU and AWU etc union backers of PM Rudd. The workers will be rough diamonds. The work of mining which underpins the balance sheet of Australia up until October 2008 when the Global Financial Crisis kicked in.

But that most likely was before this production was being put together. We will be watching for episode 2 with bells on.

Posted by editor at 9:09 AM NZT

Updated: Monday, 20 April 2009 9:18 AM NZT

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Mood:  lazy

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 relocating all week. Big job, hardly seen any press or crikey ezine. 

* Amazing that in Australia the PR opportunity is being lost by treating Afghan refugees well here to wrongfoot the Taliban in Afghanistan/Pakistan over human rights, women doctors here and western standards of education and medicine. That's the main game, not appeasing redneck One Nation style voters, as US President ramps up commitment in that war torn country.

* On the domestic front this SAM site only has about an hour a day on the web via petrol generator. Still negotiating with Integral Energy for mains supply at reasonable cost. On the upside we have worked out how to make toast on a gas flame, where to dig the composting toilet, how to get a broken pathetic 6 element tv aerial to work (no SBS so far).  

* Super Obama seeks to make peace with the leadership of 250M Latin America. Given the atrocious history of the USA there over 50 years it’s a breath of fresh air and fascinating imagery of set piece speech about ‘the future’. Indeed.  

* Briefing by Rural Fire Service on fire prevention issues in the district with plenty of reference to Victorian disaster. Moderate to poor turnout in area of serious risk. That’s a worry. Only 20K active members not 60K as per official PR of the RFS - a well informed source. Usual quiet sledging of parks and conservation zones but with no heart for a political debate. Fire in the area as early as Sept. That’s less than 4 months to clear asset protection zone, approved pile burns etc.

10 Meet the Press:  8- 8-30 am

Paul Bongiorno back in the chair. Intro re Senate inquiry on climate change. Guest is Penny Wong. Paul Howes another union automaton hiding behind immigration policy for ‘Labor’ moral values.

Press roundup – Sunday Mail in Brisbane PM Rudd’s home town – big subsidy to Indonesia enforcement re people smuggling, other topics around the country.

Minister Wong, childless union automaton, wheeled out on people smuggling atmospherics for soft left? Also selling a crock on climate change.

Out take humour is Peter Dutton refers to Rudd as Dame Edna shape changer of some kind.

Panel is Mal Farr News Corp Sydney Telegraph, also Marian Wilkinson SMH, good question on coal power stations only with ‘clean coal’? dodged the answer. Good value, smart.

Footage of Ross Garnaut economic expert hedging on Govt climate change policy.

Humour out take #2, Swan sleding Turnbull on something. But can’t beat the truly weird Hogsbreath Café pom pom girls.

Howes, strong speaking voice, takes soft left line on refugees. Admits long time since official refugee lobbyist. Talks up perspective issue here which is strong. Immigration is a net positive for the country.

Claims jobs will be the main concern of the next election. [A lot of jobs from climate change issues in megafire? In security? In national water infrastructure?] Argues steel critical to renewables energy sector. Water tanks from ethylene.

Sledges Greens and says safe Labor seats like Throsby, one in Gladstone will be lost if Greens policy is implemented.

Meet The Press - Watch Political Video Online - Channel TEN.

Riley Diary 7, from 8.30am

 No show at usual time, extended Easter break for his kids perhaps. Supplementing with story about Twitter ‘king’ (?)

http://www.seven.com.au/sunrise/weekend

Deputy PM Gillard is the talent.

Q. info on new boat? Answer being not commenting on operational matter.

Oakes says he defended the govt on first boat explosion cause. 4 days later what is the cause of the explosion. Ans. Police forensics still underway.

Q on defense and border control, sounding like an excuse and suppression of information.

Gillard ‘surprised’ in quiet tones. Oakes true Howard rushed out with wrong information on children overboard, but Navy knew within hours. JG – disagrees with premise, plays dead bat. Police has carriage of this.

2^nd boat risk of repeat without conclusive information at Ashmore Reef. JG again dead bat.

LO falls into ‘Ms Gillard’ increasingly chilly, “seen some politicians beat around the bush”. JG hitting the wall, the famous LO growl is barely contained but as female pollie knows it will be a bad look on him perhaps. Says scandal if Defence don’t know what caused the explosion after 3 days.

End of the love affair for LO with Rudd Govt?

JG sticks hard to dead bat, not beating up. Howard Coalition never trusted after kids overhoard affair so being responsible.

Hard question on mistake to abolish temporary protection visas. About striking a balance and decency.

Re press story today JG says increased funding to $40M for Indonesian re people smuggling. Already budgeted.

Another press story re schools expenditure -

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/oakes

Insiders 2: 9- 10am

Lead in on people smugglers etc re PM Rudd demonizing people smugglers.

Intro by Cassidy policy of Rudd govt closed mandatory detention,

Sunday press KAWalsh Fairfax,

David Marr theory from SMH security writers that threat if towed back to Indonesia will blow up, splashed petrol around, ignited accidentally.

DM ‘Awful line about softening had not got through’

Guest is Chris Evans Minister Immigration operational status on new boat. High alert.

-         Not received AFP advice of extra boats likely, not received by him. Not aware of it.

-         CE declines to say zero security risks from boat arrivals over the decades  but point made by BC very low as per ASIO assessments.

-         Calls refugees “unlawful arrivals” [which is a bad mistake in terminology and false description with 90% found proven refugee]

-         Puts in perspective of 15K into Italy etc etc. World wide issue due to conflicts.

‘Your shout’ section – JJJ compere about alcopops tax at Easter show, metaphor herding cats at cat pavilion. [Cat people are weird anyway, all probably carry toxoplasmosis?] Voices suggest revenue raiser. Not effective tax.

NBN a good thing, too much expense says one.

Panel on refugee policy –

KAW says Evans not believable on denials of AFP advice.

Akerman says there is a pull factor via abolish tpv, get more boats, more risk of accidents.

Marr confronts many of the myths. BC asks critically was SIEV X deaths [300 or more deaths?] the fault of the Howard Coalition if this latest tragedy was caused by the Rudd Govt.

Marr quotes UNHCR in Australia re Opposition strongest signal of soft policy actually misdescribing the actual policy. Footage of Turnbull says as much.

[missed 3 minutes here]

Continued – refer show website.

http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/

Inside Business with Alan Kohler

Refer http://www.abc.net.au/insidebusiness/

Posted by editor at 11:54 AM NZT

Updated: Sunday, 19 April 2009 12:15 PM NZT

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