Mood:
caffeinatedTopic: election Oz 2007
Author’s general introductory note (skip this if you know this regular weekly column):
This is not a well packaged story. It’s a contemporaneous traverse of the Sunday television free to air political talkies indicating the agenda of Establishment interests: Better to know ones rivals and allies in Big Politics and Big Media.
Indeed it’s the tv version monitoring task similar to what Nelson Mandela refers to here in his book Long Walk to Freedom (1994, Abacus) written in Robben Island prison (where he was meant to die like other African resister chiefs of history in the 19C), at page 208
“..newspapers are only a shadow of reality; their information is important to a freedom fighter not because it reveals the truth, but because it discloses the biases and perceptions of both those who produce the paper and those who read it.”
Just substitute ‘Sunday tv political talkie shows’ for "newspapers" in the quote above.
For actual transcripts go to web sites quoted below except with Riley Diary on 7. And note transcripts don’t really give you the image content value.
Meet the Press
Press round up – none focus on successful Sydney protest because there is no pro Establishment riot story – pathetic really.
Guest is Foreign minister Downer, with heavy talent on the panel Michelle Grattan and Mal Farr of Age and Daily Telegraph respectively. Heavy weights indicate leadership skids are real, subtext is Downer is Howard man.
Talks up Howard resilience.
Downer claims dubious climate police from leaders APEC meeting [as enforceable as one of those Russian contracts against corrupt business there?! ].
Downer slags Greens for wanting to save Oz forests too.
Animation shows Howard Downer wanting to escape Iraq.
First adbreak has the brunette Barbara Bennett pro Govt IR advert with blather.
2nd half of show is mostly self referential blather – no tough leadership probing.
As camera closes out and music rolls protagonists pick up the threads and Mal Farr launches a big double handed flourish a bit like John Travolta on Saturday Night Fever. WTF?
Transcript in due course www.ten.com.au/meetthepress
7 Weekend Sunrise, 8.35-40 am Riley Diary
Footage of APEC meeting proper, none of the protest.
Fascinating footage of Riley with first question to W Bush at the first press conference, noting concrete and steel barriers. Bush knows Howard picked Riley for the honour of first question because he has the highest rating network (and highest gallery pay rate?).
The most intense aspect was the charming deference of Riley’s facial expressions but the hard as steel content of his words about the “inconvenience” to quote W Bush – who got it straight up and was “maybe feeling guilty” noting “protesters who might be violent” playing firmly into John Howard’s law and order, Daddy Party electioneering tactic against the memory of a Feb 2003 peace rally that condemned him in Sydney, and did again yesterday.
W Bush fixed an unblinking, rattlesnake look of executioners practised power of death at Riley totally unconcerned by this brazen serious attack on W Bush from Australia's domestic side of politics which was a mosquito bite on W Bush’s Modern Roman Empire side of global real politik.
But you did good Mark Riley, you did good for self and profession. Looking into the volcano of Mordor and living to work another day in your gallery. Not a hint of nerves except perhaps “didn’t mean to blame you personally sir”. Ouch. That’s exactly what you did mean to do. As per Sunday Talkies 7 days ago – “Sydney is not looking very free for the Leader of the Free World” is what you said Riles, God love yer. You are no Chris Reason, that’s for sure.
http://www.seven.com.au/sunrise/weekend
Insiders 2
Lead in re Rudd success at APEC and Howard leadership problems.
Jim Middleton wrap up of conference, missed the start of it. How quickly Sydney return to normal? 3,500 police to stand down soon etc.
Cross to Mark Vaile – increase forests by 20M ha [NSW by comparison is 80M ha in size] so yes it’s a big area. ….transcript. Parts of country have to accept permanent drought. Earnest blather.
Missed a lot more BUT Vaile dodges if PM Howard should quit, question on no poll jump from APEC? Again claims boost and sledges Rudd as if he is already the PM, sounding like a carping Opposition and negative.
Sings the loyal song for Howard, which is really loyalty to National Party agrarian socialist boondoggles via Howard. Tired boring 10 minutes interview with so called Deputy PM.
Paul Kelly, Rudd gatecrashed APEC said with a smile. Rudd “will make a fairly effective Prime Minister”.
Kelly says Howard will lead govt to the election [echoes Oakes on 9].
Footage of PM Howard claiming climate change Sydney Declaration contrary to lead story abc 7.45 am radio news. Lenore Taylor AFR says grievously misled on Sydney APEC – feeds into vain and dishonest. Taylor savages him, really gets on her high horse, big damaging spray.
Panel – Toohey says trivial. Bolt even trashes Liberal Party “air of unreality”. Crazy. Voters are bored by global warming. Taylor disagrees. But Bolt sound that won’t sell for Howard – not credible champion – derr the pulp mill, tas forests etc etc.
APEC observations – Big gas deal, security updates/trilaterals, chaser stunt, Rudd mandarin, Bush curious language, footage as per 10 MTP. Toohey speaks sense on China needing to trade more, stop saving so much distorting currency markets.
Security expense $170M value for money? NSW police disturbingly collecting names of people against Iraq War, says Toohey. Bolt notes G20 trouble means justified. Bolt goes quietly while making his point. By and large peaceful by Taylor. Bolt gets it wrong SBC predicted 10,000 not 20K as he claimed. It was Police who said 20K but overall intent is gracious to protest civil society groups – that’s some achievement in the political dynamic. Rain kept numbers down or adverse police publicity.
Polling 58-42 trend still going toward ALP, extraordinary result.
Bolt savages Liberals air of denial fat complacency. Footage of Costello not serious, not real. Gap so big won’t turn around much in the campaign says Taylor. Bolt nodding but also concerned
Bolt says Downer after MTP should do his duty and change the leader “today”.
Lots of chat, Bolt correctly notes Chinese dictator Hu deserved a lot of protest but didn’t get very much, but actually Falung Gong did go at China all week but not so much Saturday so yes and no.
Home page is http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/
Sunday 9
Neslon as Defence minister with Oakes at 9am already about Howard leadership skids, in particular. Bland as batshit and not very trustworthy either. A spiv if ever there was.
Ellen Fanning stand alone compere, starting from 8am now?
Long interview with Oakes. Softy spoken merciless focus on the hard questions. Both know its playing for power keeps now, no time or energy for theatrics. Just the facts Maam.
Nelson’s grey hair burgeoning. Big play on Al Qaeda killed Australians in Bali – actually it was JI. ASIO tipped off by CIA prior to Bali bombing as per report in The Australian early 2007?
Sounds like a carping negative Opposition to ostensible PM Rudd.
Big arts story re Paul Getty Museums with Oz manager, polo extreme sport story.
Adverts x 2, nurses against federal govt IR laws.
Ciao Pavarotti.
http://sunday.ninemsn.com.au/sunday/default.asp
