Mood:  quizzical

Above: Byron Bay Echo page 5, 12th June 2007

Ian Cohen MP is there on p11 of the Sydney Daily Telegraph in typically sensationalist terms apparently facing a complaint to police by a "Byron Bay business woman Donna Davis" alleging assault of some kind. This could be an allegation of anything from an unwelcome chinese burn to the wrist, to something more serious. Who would know.

One takes a sceptical view not so much of the woman making the complaint per se but of the purveyor of the story, and therefore it's truth.

How so? Let me count the ways, and subject to a reservation found below:

1. The Telegraph, and specifically this editor, David Penberthy, have a proven unsafe track record when it comes to reporting the private life of political enemies of conservative politics. John Brogden was a moderate targeted by the ultra right loyalists to John Howard. The blowtorch was so exagerated especially (from memory) the gratuitous third front pager the anxiety riven MP and Opposition leader tried to commit suicide in a fit of deep depression. The Liberals lost the seat of Pittwater there was such a blow back.

2. Again from memory Cohen has won an undisclosed defamation payout from the Telegraph for falsehood written by Piers Ackerman via top barrister Clive Evatt for Cohen. I seem to recall Cohen having another defamation proceedings under way though memory is vague on that. If this is so, we could be seeing a nasty revenge tactic, just as News Ltd run knee jerk attacks on Ch7 - owned by Kerry Stokes as Stokes sues them for alleged business thuggery over the marginalisation of the Stokes C7 pay tv venture (notice too James Packer another party defending the C7 litigation as owner of PBL/Ch9, has effectively sold out of the litigation with sale to private equity).

3. The timeline in the story itself is curious. The incident is said to be June 2 2006 but the complaint was made to police in January 2007 just prior to the state election. It was so damaging (not?) as to have been unheard of prior to the state election in March 2007. Even accounting for Cohen not being up for re election himself, it's hard to believe such ammunition, if it had strength wasn't flushed out in that seriously adversarial climate. The timing does seem equivocal as to whether the complaint was delayed for entirely human reasons, or to leverage the pressure of the election which would be quite cynical but sadly pretty common to relationship breakdowns.

4. In a reading of his book Green Fire at its launch in the 90ies Cohen outlined a moving account of domestic violence by a male protester in the Chaelundi forest protest camp around 1990, where the sisters in the blockade all lined up and literally spat on a young man who had offended their own social code. And how that young man took his humiliation in front of the whole camp. Powerful stuff. Is that the kind of guy who has lost his sense of right and wrong? Even in a tense relationship breakdown?

5. There is an overt feminist, but really power politik battle being fought for the female vote in the lead up to this tough federal election, and one of the covert battle fronts is in NSW State Parliament, including leverage of the media. So people are playing angles, Prue Goward MP, ALP Leader Iemma MP with his telegenic policy yuppies, and if Cohen is collateral damage well all to the good would be the attitude of the duopoloy major party gerrymander.

6. Then there is what I would call the Byron Bay factor. Fraught internecine social and no doubt sexual power politics amongst the new age and business hippie crew trying to invent a new society up there.

The one qualification is that the story is not by the usual attack dog Luke McIlveen, but a double headed byline of old hand Bruce McDougall with Kate Sikora. There is also mention of witnesses.  On the other hand the hallmark ridicule of the Greens Party by reference to Cohen allegedly "fond of surfing, cycling, colourful [also described as "outlandish"] suits and slip-on shoes" is there for daring to stand against said duopoly gerrrymander/Big Media complex. Pathetic journalism really which trivialises the serious questions underpinning the story.

In all the context, it looks very much like an innocent until proven guilty type situation. Time will tell.

This writer can't say Ian Cohen is our favourite MP even if on roughly the same side of politics, given we don't like the haughty culture of parliamentarians in general. Nor can we say that Cohen is above power games at the expense of his rivals inside and outside the green movement. But it's a whole different thing to join in an invitation to emotional and professional thuggery by the Daily Telegraph, or one David Penberthy.  

I mean we just don't know if staff of the Daily Telegraph have stopped beating their own wife, spouses, girlfriends or children yet? We do know they are episodic drug addicts (Stephen Mayne reports of culture there), serial defamers (senior reporters regularly and successfully sued), racist abusers of an ethnic security guard (refer IR legal decision), apologists for mass murder in Iraq (refer pro Bush war coverage) etc, and an insult to real editorial standards (common mentions Media Watch ABC) but that's a whole different matter. Or is it?

Declaration: The writer, Tom McLoughlin, was a member of the Green Party from 1993 - 2000, an ex girlfriend was a parliamentary staffer for Ian Cohen 97-99 or so.

Postscript #1, 13th June 2007 When we spoke yesterday 12th June neither Ian Cohen MP's office, nor Andrew Clennell state political editor at the Sydney Morning Herald seemed to think there is any relation in the timing of the report out mid yesterday that Paul Gibson MP of the NSW ALP would not be facing formal charges of domestic violence from some 17 years or more ago, involving alleged victim then MP Sandra Nori:

Nori: why I had to cut myself free

SANDRA NORI has broken her silence on her refusal to give a police statement about allegations that she was assaulted by her former partner and fellow Labor MP, Paul Gibson, saying she "has had enough of this issue to last a lifetime".

We are indeed more cynical. The Cohen story as flaky as it sounds does take the edge off the Gibson 'not charged' ALP embarrassment story, but even more significantly off MP Nori, who refuses to lodge a witness statement so she can move on with her life. For instance you can expect female MP friends colleagues of Cohen will have just that much greater pause to not engage on the Gibson/Nori matter today.

For instance that's a hallmark of systemic patriarchal abuse really that Nori does not feel free to tell the facts, which if she did would all likley echo back to say .... professional sport like rugby league ... do yer think?:

League man 'paid off rape victim' - leaguehq.com.au, League man 'paid off rape victim' - National - brisbanetimes.com.au,

A scandal story not so easy to find via google as it appeared front page Sydney Morning Herald on June 1st 2007.

Who released the details of Cohen allegation? Apparently it ran in the Fairfax Sun Herald of 10th June, then quite big story as above Murdoch Daily Telegraph 2 days later. The kind of story police might have organised, or ALP to diverrt attention of their own? That would never happen in Sydney surely not.

Here is that Sunday Sun Herald first story which indeed was issued by NSW Police

MP assault claim inquiry

Date: June 10 2007

Angela Cuming

A NSW MP has been accused of assaulting his former partner.

In a statement issued to The Sun-Herald on Friday, police confirmed they were investigating the alleged domestic assault.

The statement said that on January 31 this year a 56-year-old woman contacted police alleging that an incident took place on June 2 last year where she was assaulted by the man, whom she knew.

Detectives then launched an investigation.

A police spokesman said it took several months for key witnesses to come forward.

After further inquiries, several new witnesses were identified.

No one has been charged.

The police spokesman said that while investigations into the alleged assault continue, no further comment would be possible.

...............................

SAM news blog draws these conclusion: A media story management fix is in at the expense of the Greens, motivated by perhaps the NSW Police, perhaps the ALP Iemma Govt ministers.

Posted by editor at 12:37 PM NZT

Updated: Wednesday, 13 June 2007 7:49 PM NZT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Mood:  d'oh

 http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/articles/2003/11/05/1067708243860.html

Premier's warning to coal industry

By PAUL McINERNEY
November 5, 2003

 AUSTRALIA'S coal export industry must embrace greenhouse gas "offsets" if it
wants to do business with Europe and Japan in the future, Premier Bob Carr
said yesterday.
The Premier's warning of hardening attitudes to carbon and the
"indisputable" evidence of global warming came as he formerly opened BHP
Billiton's Dendrobium colliery at Mt Kembla.
"When I was in Europe a few weeks ago talking to a big bank in Holland, they
revealed there are two Australian coal suppliers who have been told by
European buyers that not only should they present them with coal, but
greenhouse offsets," Mr Carr told a gathering of company executives, miners
and guests.
"That's a challenge for us, to see our coal being sent overseas accompanied
by a certificate that in effect says measures are being taken back in
Australia to offset the release of carbon that comes when the coal is
incinerated making steel or in power generation plants.
"New mines like Dendrobium will provide new jobs for the Illawarra and put
millions through the economy, but we have got to plan for the day when the
markets in Japan and Europe demand we do something to compensate," Mr Carr
said.

"That's a warning and a challenge."
BHP Billiton has invested $284million in Dendrobium - the once-bustling
Southern District's first new mine in 20 years.
During its expected 30-year life, the mine will inject about $400million
into the Illawarra economy and at full production 2.6 million tonnes of
coking coal and one million tonnes of thermal coal for electricity
generation will be won from the mine each year.
Mr Carr described the environmental constraints placed on the mine's
production and the involvement of the community in its development and
on-going operation as a benchmark for the nation's entire coal industry to
follow.
Later at a media conference, the Premier said because there was no dramatic
easy alternative to coal, it was all the more important to have some sort of
offset, and timber plantations was one option.
Mr Carr said NSW was already operating a carbon credit system with overseas
companies investing in plantations.
He said investments in other forms of energy will help companies get some
offsets that would help them sell their coal to Northern Hemisphere
countries increasingly concerned with greenhouse.
The Premier was uncertain about the impacts on state initiatives of the
failure to ratify the Kyoto Treaty on global warming.
"I think Europe will move towards its own controls on carbon regardless of
whether the Kyoto treaty is ratified or not and so will Japan," he said.
"One way or another this is going to be an issue that will not go away and
Australia must be ready to respond to it," Mr Carr said.
In a brief but hectic Melbourne Cup Day visit, Mr Carr also launched
Futureworld's Eco-Technology Centre at Coniston.
Mr Carr said the centre was set to become one of the Illawarra's foremost
education and tourist attractions allowing companies to promote the latest
environmental products.

Posted by editor at 1:22 PM NZT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Mood:  sad

#1

Posted by editor at 11:22 PM NZT

Updated: Sunday, 10 June 2007 11:32 PM NZT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Mood:  sharp

This article in the Weekend Australian, Noel Pearson

The ideal equilibrium | The Australian Your Say Blog

should have read - John Howard’s 1996 betrayal of “practical reconciliation” $40M broken election promise for Cape York Land Use Agreement (CYLUA). Because those are the seeds of the desperation that Pearson is complaining about but refuses to acknowledge in his article:

Here is the reference for that broken 1996 election promise, compounded again in 1998 with another broken pre election media release promise of Minister Robert Hill

$40 Million in Federal Funding for Cape York Plan Media Release 16 ...

The money was never paid to jump start employment in the Cape and the CYLUA became a dead letter despite 1996 promises to support it prior to the Howard election ousting Paul Keating. The Wilderness Society corroborates this real history of Noel Pearson's new friends amongst the conservatives:

The Wilderness Society - Cape York and Robert Hill's folly

Noel Pearson makes egregious slurs in his column this weekend. A slur that must not go unanswered. Nor should his airbrushing of the Howard Govt’s wicked failures in regards to implementation of the Cape York Land Use Agreement of 1996.

First the slur

“Few tears are shed when thousands die and billions suffer. It may be the underlying psychology of extreme Western environmentalism is that mass depopulation from disease and starvation would be an ecological benefit.”

But who exactly, specifically holds these views in Australia, Mr Pearson? The truth is the sensitivity to the rights of the environment springs from the same respect for all life and Indigenous People and culture.

I want to know if Pearson is accusing this writer of such. Specifically. If he is I will be looking at a defamation action.

In all of his article this weekend he omits in the most sleazy way the history under Howard that he lauds including achievement via one Greg Sargent of The Wilderness Society who tragically died of skin cancer some years ago, and can't speak for himself.

The context of the weasly Pearson article above such as disgusting editorial here and accompanying articles by “environment reporter” Matthew Warren here 

Extreme greens prevent growth

and here

Green means go for show | Science & nature | The Australian

tells its all.

Warren is the anti climate change green writer from the Coal Lobby that puts mafia in the phrase 'greenhouse mafia'. What will sea rise do to the Cape or the wetlands I wonder? And let's not forget Warren's pro uranium mining position for his paper, after the weapons testing in the jungles up there on the Cape decades ago. Here is the referencing ABC TV Documentaries: Fortress Australia

(We are advised that film by Peter Butt refers to a simulated nuclear test in the Iron Range National Park around 1972, and the local police sergeant died of a mysterious illness 10 months later.)

So we feel Pearson is indeed being positioned as the catspaw of big capital against independent and committed green movement which includes the The Wilderness Society, not beholden to any political party, unlike WWF to the Coalition, or ACF to the Labor Party, both big business in alliance setting.

It is all so pathetically transparent and immoral as the smear by Waren of Kevin Rudd’s Prius presumably chosen not only for greenhouse claims, but also for it's low particulate pollution impact, in urban areas at least as important an environmental agenda, and probably recyclables. These latter criteria are totally airbrushed in that article same edition of the paper. Typical. Toyota no doubt make other claims about their environmental performance that can be debated but at least they are pitching.

Why no mention of the Howard betrayal of “practical reconciliation” with the broken election promise of $40M to implement a pro cattle and agri industry model in that CYLUA? There was plenty of industry agenda within that CYLUA under Farley, Sergeant and Jacko.

That’s Pearson’s political bias and pandering to the current Howard govt, as charged by Mick Dodson in the Fairfax Press 2 weeks ago: Favoured leaders slated as government 'pets' - National - smh.com.au

I personally find the slur above an outrageous smear, and a disgusting wild exageration. Only weeks ago I was doing legal checking to reinforce Sam Watson’s interview on the Palm Island Death in Custody scandal for broadcast here on Ch31 Sydney, the same Sam Watson who features on the same page as Warren’s sleaze piece: 

Symbol clash at Palm cop's trial | The Nation | The Australian

In 1989 I completed my honours thesis: A legal foundation for Aboriginal Land Rights at ANU Law School virtually predicting the Mabo no.2 High Court decision in favour of native title rights, that launched Noel Pearson’s public profile. And I've kept faith with that 15 years since.

So the evil ultra violence inflicted on the Aboriginal people, which has precious little to do with the environment movement and who have been horrified by these historic wrongs, have taken their course with Pearson seeking revenge against the white people who love(d) him and love the Aboriginal culture possibly the most from our side of a wide gulf.

Isn’t it always the way, that you hurt the people who love you most simply because they are closest on the political spectrum. That’s another form of victim mentality, and shame. Stop taking your pain out on the greens Noel. It's not right. And it's not fair.

...............................................

Postscript #1 Monday 11th June 2007

What appears to be happening with Noel Pearson from the recent  Australian Story Cry Me a River is that he is getting fat and middle aged, tired and jaundiced. He says as much that he 'is sick of this struggle' and wants a normal life. But the hard, profound truth from one who knows, is in a vocation regarding huge historical issues like social and land justice for Indigenous the world over, and environmental destruction by Big Capital the struggle is NEVER over.

It's not a timeline based on one person's life cycle or what life stage they have arrived at.

Later on yesterday after our angry repudiation of Pearson's generic smear we read this below at the heart of Pearson's media and industry allies at The Australian same edition page 40 9-10 June 2007 - shale oil extremism, as an indicator how these guys just don't get climate change imperatives AT ALL let alone sustainable development:

"In the high desert near Rifle, Colorado, rods 600m underground to heat the shale to 370 degrees Celsius, the tempereature at which Teflon melts. The heat will be applied for the next four years to convert the hydrocarbons ....into high quality crude ....

"The old technique required them to dig the equivalent of the Panama Canal every month", said former Colorado governor Richard Lamm, whose tenure from 1975 to 1987 included the last attempt to extract oil from shale. "This new approach is a much more sane process, but that's all relative," Lamm says. "They're doing this in an immensely fragile area where wagon ruts from the Oregon Trail in the 1840's are still visible. It doesn't excite me because I think they're about to indelibly change our state."

And this shale is not some boutique aspiration, as the lead in says:

"Colorado and Utah have as much oil as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Venezeula, Nigeria, Kuwait, Libya, Angola, Algeria, Indonesia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates combined." 

and later

"If we waited a few million years, all this stuff would turn to oil" Rand's Bartis says. "Some people don't want to wait that long."

You can't get a better warning about extreme capitalism to the custodians of a 40,000 year old Aboriginal culture than that on Cape York. And there is shale oil in Qld too The Stuart shale oil project: will it be Beattie's Ningaloo or his ... , but if not shale oil someother extreme developer agenda. And if Pearson thinks he can ride that kind of bucking monster into a tame pony he is living an illusion. Big Capital is not like that and not interested a jot in respecting the human and environmental values of the Cape. It's all about big money and power. And vulnerability of middle aged men.

Postscript #2

Part A 

The Australian declined to publish my submission last night on their comments page to the story above:

This is what we wrote this morning, as well as copying the above to the Pearson's Cape York Insitute by email, and notice the challenge to the Murdoch press to publish this below or be exposed for censorship:

at 10.35 am 11th June 2005

http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/yoursay/index.php/theaustralian/comments/the_ideal_equilibrium/P20/

It was John Howard and his minister Robert Hill who refused to support the pro economic development Cape York Land Use Agreement with greens and pastoralists as promised at both the 1996 and 1998 election.

Howard's regime destroyed that living treaty causing Pearson's cries of desperation now. And now he seems to be doing Howard's work as a wedge and a catspaw, as pointed out by Mick Dodson in the Fairfax press, as described on my blog.

Prove it isn't so, if you can, Noel Pearson in the lead up to this federal election. I am copying this to my blog to see if The Australian has the guts to publish it.

Unlike the censoring of my submission of last night ... tsk tsk, democracy of the blog, but only as far as you can control it?

www.sydneyalternativemedia.com

..................

Part B

Posted by editor at 9:32 PM NZT

Updated: Saturday, 16 June 2007 10:25 AM NZT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Mood:  caffeinated

Media backgrounder:

Picture: Tim Blair right wing blogger has realised like Wendy Deng wife of Rupert Murdoch, that Kevin Rudd's language skills are a profound change for the better when we have many big issues with China on climate change and security this next decade. Inset is the wonderful David Rowe in today's Sydney SunHerald echo of this below - great outdoor chess set at local community centre.

- good economic figures airbrush under employment figures but never mentioned

-         Keating riposte to Costello alleged economic mastery on Lateline

-         G8 on climate change preface to APEC in Sept 07

10 Meet the Press 8-8.30 am

Kevin Rudd front, sounding  a little head cold fluey but clear and moderated.

Petrol monitoring.

Kyoto attack by PM footage. China and India massive increase coal generated ghg.

Rudd attacks ‘Pledge and Review’ back to late 90ies. Sounds strong. Carbon target, carbon trading. Canada 20% by 2020. Q. Nuclear as there? KR dodges saying market is the answer.

Never ever silly on nuclear. Leave to market. Sounding strong on clean renewables. Rich array achieve without taking on extra safety and environmental problems.

Joe Hockey as shrek with nice Scottish accent. Keating watched it shows he’s got too much time on his hands?

Panel quality of 2, Michelle Grattan Age Melbourne, Clinton Porteus Courier Mail Murdoch Brisbane, this is the Keating fall out section …

MG kicks off …even Keating says …..

Even under Keating …. In 90ies 3.2% productivity growth – straight out paraphrase of Keating on Lateline. All these road tested lines coming out re world boom IMF, World Bank.

Union threats – KR refers to Hawke Accord examples of 80ies. Fundamental economic reforms. Proud labour history – again responding to PK concerns.

Union knocked off Linda Kirk endorsed by Shoppies official asks MG.

CP – unemployment – ignores question goes to productivity, great silent story. PB brings him back – goes to training.

Max Gillies – via Get Up “claims to be independent” runs YouTube piece link

Footage of Howard change for the better mantra – time for change idea faltering?                     

No restore the balance, work family balance, housing affordability, Iraq, climate, education, new technology.

CP doing the Murdoch press job, Qld full page adverts in central QLD take on Beatie. Disagrees on local govt amalgamations. Voluntary.

MG – donate a home for the PM, by the business community in Melbourne. KR - Shouldn’t use Lodge or Kirribili for fundraising.

MG – Shergold playing political role, public service heads. Restore westminister. Times up.

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

7 Weekend Sunrise, 8.35-40 am Riley Diary  -

Very interesting and amusing again. Satire of PM but equally cutting of Rudd stuff up IF he were PM.

Mostly entertaining. Female compare in her stride too. Andrew is still the most natural with his chisel/dentist comment.

2 and 9 to follow

Sunday 9

http://sunday.ninemsn.com.au/sunday/default.asp

Insiders 2

Conroy on IT future, praises Hawke Keating achievements.

Everyperson segment – missed it.

Panel – Middleton SBS, Marr SMH, Ackerman Murdoch Sydney tabloid Sydney Telegraph.

Paul Kelly Murdoch broadsheet – on economic figures -

Panel talk on Keating stuff.

G8 climate change, Pell in NSW, Milne cracker story hurting PM Howard

Talking pics with Peter Andren MHR independent.

Akerman foreshadows more stories of nasty union behaviour this week.

Home page is http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/

Posted by editor at 10:59 AM NZT

Updated: Friday, 18 January 2008 11:11 AM EADT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Mood:  accident prone

We took these pictures off Lateline webcast Friday night show just now, following the Thursday night big blast (also below). And see commentary below. If PK is not "ginned up" in some sections, to borrow Barak Obama's phrase then it's a good impression all the same.

Of particular interest is the picture of Keating hobnobbing with one of the other 4 amigoes of the Old Sussex St NSW ALP Right Laurie Brereton involved in recent years in smashing the NSW Planning legislative framework in order to expand Port Botany against the Inquiry of Commissioner Kevin Cleland, via a qango called the Freight Infrastructure Advisory Board. Is Keating on the payroll? We would love to know. The event is the May 2006 launch of the book The longest decade, by moderate political economic writer George Meglogenis of The Australian Murdoch press and often on Insiders.

Another jarring moment was the audio of the "incompetent unions" compared to the saintly pose of Greg Combet who helped centrally to deliver a $4B asbestos compensation fund to victims across all strata of society. Shamefully cavalier language from Keating really.

We haven't pictured Julia Gillard shadow minister below, because we feel she is well out of this somehow particularly male egomaniacal context. What we also liked was the humour in Rudd's reaction, shown below leaning forward on his toes, as if to emphasise a charitable response, for a charity case. Mmm. Quite appealing and impressive actually.

 Pictures, from top: face pulling by Keating, Greg Combet unionist, Keating looks away constructing a line about Julia Gillard in his mind that fits the exagerated thesis, Rudd's charitable reaction, Beazley Gray and Epstein 1998, Keating with ex federal minister Brereton 2006.

More commentary

We've been mulling over Paul Keating's psychology these last 24 hours. The political consequence of going the bash on his own team is obvious - humour for the enemies of the ALP, and gnawing self doubt for the ALP Family when confidence and morale is a premium.

So the question becomes twofold 1. why did PK do it? and 2. is it true?

The answers to both we suspect, confusingly are related. We keep having images of Glen Milne going the swing at Crikey staff. Glen was so embarrassed professionally he quit drinking so it seems. Milne's work has revived in quality and quantity in the press. Well done.

Then there is our own experience: Alcoholic father and grandfather. We went tea total 12 months back, and feel great for it too. Just stay away from my coffee. My work has revived similarly along with my mood.

Then there is Bill Leak accused by his ex girlfriend of being "a cruel bastard". Bill is on the wagon too, hearing tunes in his head and drawing inspired cartoons about Kevin Ruddy/Tintin and double backflips with bellyflop. That's revival. Beautiful stuff.

Paul Keating after a life long of fine reds? The odd Glenfiddich double malt, 21 years? We wonder. We know how these secrets run their course.

Because this is where the truth question kicks in. Or rather, how true is more like it? Gary Grey ex federal ALP ex Woodside now candidate, David Epstein et al are "no value" people says Keating?  

Paul Keating on the lead-up to the federal election

07/06/2007 The former Prime Minister, Paul Keating, speaks with Tony Jones about the political climate in the lead-up to the federal election.

We in the law know a categorical exageration when we see it and how evidence in such terms is bound to be misconceived. Never ever, 100%, Black and White, Pure Certainty. These absolutes are not the real world. When a witness goes that way you can tell they are leaning into the answer.

So it's safe to say these senior ALP folks do really "have value". It's probably safe to say they are not quite A1 quality as per the Keating sledges, as Rudd would say and hope, this side of a near election contest. But similarly that they have the potential, as likely we all do.

But it's even more likely, Keating is a genius gone sour, compares his huge talent (or perhaps more accurately the memory of such talent) with lesser mortals, and wounds them cruelly projecting his own ugliness (read drink?) rather than lift them up or take them with him. After all Paul, politics is essentially about popularity no matter how right or good, a cruel and unfair master at the best of times.

Mandela says - 'a leader lets the most nimble go forward and find the path' and 'a leader's duty is to keep the group together, those in front and those straggling behind'.

These comments say so very much. That a good leader humbly acknowledges the skill and wit of his 'followers' even beyond his own, is not threatened by their abilities, and understands the deep truth that we are all limited human beings and no one can be it, and do it, all.

It also says - not all can be as gifted or "keep up" with the genius or ability of the leader or his closest helpers. Yet a real leader works at, and keeps an eye to the whole group's cohesion and well being, even the slow ones. And why do that if you are concerned with victory first and foremost? Why not just cut 'em loose as PK implies?

Because everyone at some time in their life is bound to be straggling, when before they were leading. First and last depending on the snapshot. Even Paul Keating. That's life. We all intuitively know it. So if you are a compassionate leader who cares for the stragglers even the fast ones feel better and safer for it, and love you for that too, and work above and beyond the call of duty. Love, Paul, not obedience per se. They reach for their A1 quality and even achieve it. Becasue we all know one day that could be, will be, me if bad luck strikes.

But it's not all bad luck. In many ways where you finish up at the end of life's journey, leading, stone mother last, or in the middle is a personal choice: Such as faith in the great deceiver, alcohol, or not. This nasty drug takes you up but always leaves you further down than when you started until you end up gasping for credibility in the dangerous white water rapids of a Tony Jones Lateline hazard.

We will now go and see if Rudd has been swallowed by the same rapids, as those poor victims of the floodwaters yesterday, and Paul Keating the day before has already been (even if he thinks not):

Rudd defends party against Keating attack

08/06/2007 Labor Leader Kevin Rudd has defended his party against suggestions from former prime minister Paul Keating that its members are not capable of winning the election.

It's almost as if Keating is being "defeatist" to quote Gillard, that if he lost against Howard in 1996 everyone else must too or be seen as better than the great PK. But who is to say they are not greater? We will see in due course. Because no one knows. Not John Howard, not Paul Keating, Kevin Rudd, Grey, Epstein, the gaggle of commentators and definitely not this writer.

Postscript #2 - late Saturday 9th June

Well live and learn. We went back to the main interview of last Thursday night, all 25 minutes of it

Paul Keating on the lead-up to the federal election

07/06/2007 The former Prime Minister, Paul Keating, speaks with Tony Jones about the political climate in the lead-up to the federal election.

 after reading Matt Price in The Oz Murdoch press today:

Matt Price: Paul just getting better all the time

because he said staffers in parliament (party non specific) were playing and replaying the interview, which pricked our interest, and to give PK a fair hearing, not second hand from big media hacks generally.

And a re- appraisal is in order. We don't fully retract the tone of our sledge about a punchy ginned up personal aggression of Big Paul Keating. But we do say this:

For the first 10 minutes of a long long interview it is a bravura performance explaining even to an economics amateur like me where the political economy of the country has been. Especially the Hawke Keating govt role. A role the party of the bosses would be proud of in terms of productivity, killing the inflation dragon, enterprise bargaining replacing centralised wage fixing/pattern bargaining, raising wages 2 per cent per year over 20 years but also critically floating the dollar and absorbing both Asian economic shocks and booming mineral exports now.

And the rest of the interview full 25 minutes interview, on national tv no less, one to one talkies is mostly high level analysis too. It pays to replay in parts because like the West Wing the content is dense. But though I am no economics trained observer I notice a major flaw apart from the psychological violence on his rivals within the modern ALP, as above:

PK notes Howard had interest rates running at 21% in 1982 - and lost the 1983 election. Keating had interests rates 16% or so 1995-6 - and lost that election. But PK actually has the gall to say interest rates were not an issue in 1996. Wrong. Very wrong. For whatever reason they were, unlike the 1993 election though rates were of similar magnitude. Maybe because people's exposure was just so much greater on higher capital investments/mortgages etc (a bit like a climber 100 feet off ground same objective difficulty as 3 feet off the ground, but much much scarier)?

But apart from this, some criticism above - and lastly PK's inconsistency of junking "comparative wage justice" [ie pattern bargaining across sectors] "which had to go" yet defending the right of collective unionism, which surely is the localised version of the same thing - there is a hell of a lot to recommend Keating's 25 minute lecture. It pricks the puffery of Costello's alleged economic mastery. Rather implies Christian Kerr's sledge of laziness.

Subject to the GST being alot bigger deal than Keating is willing to acknowledge - bailed out the social services budget which was bleeding as per the Democrat thesis.

In that sense it becomes clear why Rudd was looking so happy with the whole thing. It will shock the govt as much as bruise the ALP egos.  Younger egos that will mature and grow from the lecture, which could have been given without the intergenerational spite and acid we have come to expect from the inflated boomers PK included.

We have never forgetten PK's disdain for the environment, not least the loggers who thrashed him in 1994, dudding Faulkner in the process, and we noticed a PK rare past confession as to this very profound failing.

In conclusion not so much a "sad" or "charity" case, as one to be analysed carefully. Just as his preselection was built on sharp tactics a good 30 years ago, and now is laced with selectivity and exageration. Common trait of geniuses actually.

Posted by editor at 12:09 PM NZT

Updated: Sunday, 10 June 2007 10:52 AM NZT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Mood:  quizzical

It's an inside day. It's wet in Sydney. There is disaster afoot and best to cocoon, right?

But this chilly greasy cold, of closed windows and high humidity has caused (?!) the smashed teapot above. One thing about being teatotal, you take your tea very seriously. A very small disaster in the scheme of things but then again I want my hot invigorating ginger laced tea damn it.

Another receptacle to brew my lean chai. What? A glass jar? A tin pot? Nah, the thermos of course. So cheap at KMart. Then I get to thinking. Why not always use it instead anyway?

How much energy would be saved using a thermos like they do in cold poorer countries like Chile? Typically in meeting rooms there it is, the vaccuum flask along with the table, chairs, no central heating and extra layer of clothes.

Save energy? Well we remember Richard Glover on 702 radio making a blow for domestic energy bills everywhere by not heating the pot under the running hot water. Why not not heat the pot at all? (Well done on the deletion of shampoo there too Richard, I'm a convert.)

First you don't have to keep the pot warm on the stove on super low heat. You don't need to reboil and top up the pot, or worse chuck out and remake. The ginger prevents stewing (really, try it). This may bear alot more life cycle analysis - like how much energy to make the thermos versus a crokery fired teapot? Still you don't even need a tea cosy. All courtesy of the insulation benefit of a vaccuum. And notice the new design of thermos have a neat release valve without unscrewing for those frail hands.

Mmm, a silver lining to a broken teapot, maybe.

Picture: Muesli pancake: Mix wholemeal flour, one egg, shape milk, cheapest muesli homebrand. Don't let it stand long. Cook on medium heat pan, lid off, on a little oil. Flip once. Eat and listen to Liz Farrelly on radio, doesn't get better than this.

Posted by editor at 10:35 AM NZT

Updated: Saturday, 9 June 2007 11:19 AM NZT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Mood:  happy

 Linda Burney MP launches NAIDOC week action at Addison Gallery 2pm Sunday 8th July 07

In sympathy with the lead article running in the crikey.com.au ezine today here we suggest Paul Keating does indeed get busy again with Indigenous empowerment projects:

Get a job! Therapy for Paul Keating

At Crikey, we love Paul Keating. We love him for floating the dollar. We love the way he and Hawke and Walshie bashed the economy into something fit for the twenty first century. But we worry about old Paul. Hanging out with Jack Lang was pretty cool. Tuning into Jack Lang isn’t.

Postscript #1

We've been mulling over Paul Keating's psychology these last 24 hours. The political consequence of going the bash on his own team is obvious - humour for the enemies of the ALP, and gnawing self doubt for the ALP Family when confidence and morale is a premium.

So the question becomes twofold 1. why did PK do it? and 2. is it true?

The answers to both we suspect, confusingly are related. We keep having images of Glen Milne going the swing at Crikey staff. Glen was so embarrassed professionally he quit drinking so it seems. Milne's work has revived in quality and quantity in the press. Well done.

Then there is our own experience: Alcoholic father and grandfather. We went tea total 12 months back, and feel great for it too. Just stay away from my coffee. My work has revived similarly along with my mood.

Then there is Bill Leak accused by his ex girlfriend of being "a cruel bastard". Bill is on the wagon too, hearing tunes in his head and drawing inspired cartoons about Kevin Ruddy/Tintin and double backflips with bellyflop. That's revival. Beautiful stuff.

Paul Keating after a life long of fine reds? The odd Glenfiddich double malt, 21 years? We wonder. We know how these secrets run their course.

Because this is where the truth question kicks in. Or rather, how true is more like it? Gary Grey ex federal ALP ex Woodside now candidate, David Epstein et al are "no value" people says Keating?  

Paul Keating on the lead-up to the federal election

07/06/2007 The former Prime Minister, Paul Keating, speaks with Tony Jones about the political climate in the lead-up to the federal election.

We in the law know a categorical exageration when we see it and how evidence in such terms is bound to be misconceived. Never ever, 100%, Black and White, Pure Certainty. These absolutes are not the real world. When a witness goes that way you can tell they are leaning into the answer.

So it's safe to say these senior ALP folks do really "have value". It's probably safe to say they are not quite A1 quality as per the Keating sledges, as Rudd would say and hope, this side of a near election contest. But similarly that they have the potential, as likely we all do.

But it's even more likely, Keating is a genius gone sour, compares his huge talent (or perhaps more accurately the memory of such talent) with lesser mortals, and wounds them cruelly projecting his own ugliness (read drink?) rather than lift them up or take them with him. After all Paul, politics is essentially about popularity no matter how right or good, a cruel and unfair master at the best of times.

Mandela says - 'a leader lets the most nimble go forward and find the path' and 'a leader's duty is to keep the group together, those in front and those straggling behind'.

These comments say so very much. That a good leader humbly acknowledges the skill and wit of his 'followers' even beyond his own, is not threatened by their abilities, and understands the deep truth that we are all limited human beings and no one can be it, and do it, all.

It also says - not all can be as gifted or "keep up" with the genius or ability of the leader or his closest helpers. Yet a real leader works at, and keeps an eye to the whole group's cohesion and well being, even the slow ones. And why do that if you are concerned with victory first and foremost? Why not just cut 'em loose as PK implies?

Because everyone at some time in their life is bound to be straggling, when before they were leading. First and last depending on the snapshot. Even Paul Keating. That's life. We all intuitively know it. So if you are a compassionate leader who cares for the stragglers even the fast ones feel better and safer for it, and love you for that too, and work above and beyond the call of duty. Love, Paul, not obedience per se. They reach for their A1 quality and even achieve it. Becasue we all know one day that could be, will be, me if bad luck strikes.

But it's not all bad luck. In many ways where you finish up at the end of life's journey, leading, stone mother last, or in the middle is a personal choice: Such as faith in the great deceiver, alcohol, or not. This nasty drug takes you up but always leaves you further down than when you started until you end up gasping for credibility in the dangerous white water rapids of a Tony Jones Lateline hazard.

We will now go and see if Rudd has been swallowed by the same rapids, as those poor victims of the floodwaters yesterday, and Paul Keating the day before has already been (even if he thinks not):

Rudd defends party against Keating attack

08/06/2007 Labor Leader Kevin Rudd has defended his party against suggestions from former prime minister Paul Keating that its members are not capable of winning the election.

It's almost as if Keating is being "defeatist" to quote Gillard, that if he lost against Howard in 1996 everyone else must too or be seen as better than the great PK. But who is to say they are not greater? We will see in due course. Because no one knows. Not John Howard, not Paul Keating, Kevin Rudd, Grey, Epstein, the gaggle of commentators and definitely not this writer.

Posted by editor at 4:46 PM NZT

Updated: Saturday, 9 June 2007 9:44 AM NZT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink