Mood:  don't ask

We sometimes feel normal people don't watch NSW Stateline on ABC TV, only wonky tragics, the terminally bored, or dateless. Or all three? Or maybe 1 follows 3 causing 2? Never mind. We never aspired to normality as such. Leadership is more our style, or as Damien Minton, gallery owner, suggested earlier this year "you've always been good at getting in front of things". Well thankyou for that DM.

The point is Nick Grimm - who once conceded he does refer to SAM micro news here on occasion - and the usual compere Quentin Dempster at Stateline (recovering from a little heart corrective surgery according to the 'iguanas' at the Sunday Fairfax Naked Eye column (a week back), are two of the state's best journos. And Deborah Rice is rather nice too as stand in compere (though we often get her mixed up with a doppleganger on Ch10). And they got up on their hind legs with this story:

Extreme Dissatisfaction A medical researcher receives rough justice.

by Nick Grimm and Renata Gombac from the ABC's Investigative Unit.

 

 Now if Minister Hat did get extremely angry, he will have a coronary about this story because, as they say in the classics, the truth hurts. Some choice quotes, with bold added:

 NICK GRIMM: It all raises questions about the extent to which academic freedom has been eroded at Sydney University under the watch of this man, Vice Chancellor Gavin Brown, who this evening will be celebrating the last day in the job he's held since 1996.

In contrast, not only has Michael Booth seen his promising career destroyed, but years of medical research have been laid waste and the fight against childhood obesity and other health problems has received a significant setback. ....

NICK GRIMM: Not so long ago, Michael Booth enjoyed a high public profile as a Director of the NSW Centre for Overweight and Obesity. He held a coveted senior research fellowship with the National Health and Medical Research Council and he was a regular expert media commentator on Australia's burgeoning public health crisis.

MICHAEL BOOTH (archive footage): And if left unchecked, will probably shorten their lives considerably.

WAYNE SMITH, PUBLIC HEALTH, SYDNEY UNIVERSITY: Michael is a talented researcher. We don't have that many talented researchers and for his career to be at least interrupted and perhaps cut short is a shame for research. .... 

BEN FREEDMAN, ACTING DEAN, FACULTY OF MEDICINE (voiceover): "I have pleasure in informing you that you have been awarded the title of Associate Professor. May I take the opportunity of congratulating you on your appointment and thanking you for your willingness to contribute to the University's activities."

NICK GRIMM: Somewhat controversially, the key finding of the SPANS research was that it's over-eating and not lack of exercise that's the key cause of Australian children getting fatter, contrary to the arguments of the fast food industry. He also had data showing that without urgent intervention, large numbers of young people were likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes.

MICHAEL BOOTH: They were really quite explosive data.

NICK GRIMM: And in April 2006, Michael Booth was asked to discuss these findings at the NSW diabetes summit. He showed Stateline a series of emails illustrating that he first requested and received permission to do so from NSW Health. .... 

NICK GRIMM: Michael Booth soon discovered he was in deep, deep trouble with the Minister. John Hatzistergos had had Michael Booth's report in his possession for eight months but had not yet officially released it.

...... 

NICK GRIMM: Documents shown to Stateline reveal that Gavin Brown himself referred the matter that had so offended the Minister to the investigator who would eventually recommend Michael Booth's dismissal, officially for ethical misconduct. ...

 NICK GRIMM: Dr Booth did eventually succeed in forcing the university to conduct a review of his dismissal. In April this year, the university's review committee, which included a retired Supreme Court judge, found that his sacking was unreasonable because he had not been afforded procedural fairness when the matter was investigated. Michael Booth says that's now cold comfort. ....

NICK GRIMM: Stateline isn't suggesting that the Minister directed the actions that led to Michael Booth's dismissal, but it does appear that his anger may have been instrumental in what some might argue has been the university's overreaction to his alleged misdemeanours. ....

NICK GRIMM: Within 24 hours of Stateline advising the university we were doing the story, Dr Booth received a settlement offer from its lawyers. However, the compensation offered falls well short of covering his legal and medical bills, already in excess of $100,000. Michael Booth does not intend to accept the offer. .... 

DEBORAH RICE: We sent the Minister's office an invitation to respond to allegations about his role in the fall of Michael Booth. A spokesman told us Dr Michael Booth has been under investigation by the University of Sydney with respect to allegations of serious impropriety. The matter has not been finalised. .....

 

One other piece of background: We took an interest in ex Minister for Health, now super minister John Hatzistergos, when he first appeared on the front cover of the NSW Law Society. This spoke volumes to us at least about the creeping annexation of all things State of ALP to be on the lawyer's union magazine cover in matey pose when he is actually the lawyer's boss in many ways - oversight of courts, govt legal business and departments etc. Frankly we felt that front cover was inappropriate lack of independence, though a fair enough subject of reportage of the new man as AG.

(Indeed we reflected recently how lucky we are, at least presently, to have a paralegal temping job through a regular job agency - to our surprise we have 57 words per minute on the keyboard -currently placed in one of the few firms surely outside the pervading ALP influence. We are doing document admin/integrity in corporate restructures - on a strictly confidential basis - strictly, otherwise go to 'gaol' in the Monopoly game sense or even real sense, do not pass go, do not collect $200. Or more likely goodbye practising certificate - disgraced for breach of solemn oath - we struggled mightily to achieve off a low base.

Ironicly for a greenie, it's a job we are probably well suited for, being totally cured of affluenza way back in 1992 if not earlier. If we must work for Da Man, actually a woman, to earn an honest living it might as well be nuts and bolts work on sound corporate process.)

We also took notice of The Hat some many months back in an amusing column by Joe Hildebrand in the Daily Telegraph on state parliament rounds, as alter ego for that organ to Simon Benson. Each ingratiate themselves with either major 'party' meaning Coalition Opposition (Lib Nat), or ALP, respectively, to get their access. Access which means of course stories for you dear reader from each side of institutional power. That's how it's done. Same for Fairfax with say Coorey into the Coaliton at federal level and Hartcher the Rudd Govt. Or something like that.

Hildebrand wrote of the menacing tendencies of 'The Hat' Minister Hatzistergos, who according to Joe had issued a fatwa against him. The article was important, even for the satirical back pages Saturday edition, because by going public JH and editor were calling The Hat's bluff. It was good copy too, and you could hear the Coalition cheering 'their' man at The Daily Blowtorch aka The Terror on.

The Hat presents as a serious behind the scenes kind of guy, but also no slouch with set piece media choreography. He's slender so no obvious physical addictions. He's a lawyer by training if memory serves. He was Health minister in the cracking story last Friday by Stateline but now is Attorney General but also super minister picking up sidelined Education Minister Della Bosca's duties. He doesn't play act in the upper house from our direct observation, distinct from Costa or Della. He gives every impression of doing power paper work or wanting to be back at his desk pulling the wings off bureaucrats and activist academics. But does he have a touch of the 1970ies Greek fascist generals about him?

 The Hat, so says NSW Stateline above last Friday in a 15 minute tour de force, not least via horror backing music 3 times akin to the famous Jaws or Psycho shower scene, is seriously implicated in doing over a child obsesity expert Dr Booth at Sydney University. Raising questions of academic independence, says Stateline (under our old friend departing Vice Chancellor Gavin Brown on around $600K pa, whose people had us evicted for 9 months off campus in a wanton abuse of power reported here:

5 March 2008

NSW Ombudsman helps protect community media 5th estate free speech on uni campus
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: independent media 

Further The Hat sat not on a mat (!) but on this expert Dr Booth's report for 8 months suggesting as we paraphrase it, Minister Hatzistergos was suppressing the potentially financially and politically "explosive" academic research finding that it was over eating by children, and not lack of exercise that was a main cause of obesity. This in turn directly implicates the fizzy drink makers and fast food giants of Super Size fame with their PHD researched tv advertising dollars (refer great documentary The Corporation).

This issue of obesity is indeed big as per reportage in recent days:

Obesity epidemic: We are the world's fattest | NEWS.com.au 

THE obesity epidemic has been drastically underestimated and we're now the fattest nation in the world, a report says.

This is indeed bad: For the economy, for gross national happiness, for health, and if climate threats are as bad as some say, bad for our prospects of survival when the going gets tough. Time to get in training folks to work off the flab - institutionally as per these pathetic power games above, and personally.

Notice this research on donations by The Green Party regarding one big fat food corporate Coca Cola Amatil no doubt via their profound democracy for sale website, in another context of waste management but equally applicable to influence on health policy:

"Ian Cohen recently called for a moratorium on all political donations from beverage companies, particularly whilst a national review of the viability of a container deposit scheme is underway. Coca Cola have donated over $900,000 to the ALP over the last nine years."

Ian Cohen MLC, The Greens, media release NSW Government joins in Coca Cola greenwash 21/05/2008

and

“Coca Cola have donated almost two million dollars to the major political parties in this country over the last nine years,” said Upper House Greens MP Ian Cohen.

“What the developer donations scandal has revealed in NSW is that political donors make donations in order to gain preferential access to and/or treatment from MPs and Ministers.

“He who pays the piper calls the tune. There should be a moratorium on all political donations from beverage companies, particularly while a national review of the viability of a container deposit scheme is underway.

“Voluntary waste management schemes have consistently failed to achieve targets for recycling and resource recovery."

Greens to Coca Cola: “stop political donations, start container deposit” 15/05/2008

 

One assumes the other big food corporates are making similar donations to the State of ALP? Might this be the root cause of the Minister's anger and indeed sitting on such a report for 8 months? We do tend to think so.

Interestingly CCA PR flack is Sally Loane now, ex ABC, and married we understand to district court judge Robert Sorby whom she reports they met in Canberra when she was in the Press Gallery. Mr Sorby did what exactly? Federal ALP opposition staffer? We have no idea. It appeears he was appointed under the current ALP govt at least as far back as 2001. As far as we know it's all proper and at arms length.

We notice Judge Sorby drawn into this media - law controversy over free press and administration of justice recently. He aborted a trial in 2006 reported on by the SMH's Sexton who is hanging tough in the face of criticism, retracted in confusing form.

The informal political networks run deep of colleagues and mates, innocent or otherwise, including across the sisterhood in the health and Sydney Uni sector (Bashir, Firth, Loane, Burgmann etc all here as per this website for the worthy cause of breast cancer research).

Now we recall Nick Grimm as a gun former 7.30 Reporter. We also recall he is no slouch on legal issues. We think he has nailed the alternatively slick and lethal Hat to the wall. For the sake of children's health here and nationally we hope that the Hat gets the kind of big media blowtorch over the buried obesity expert's report that Belinda Neal is getting over alleged abuse of power, or other arguably more shallow matters.

But that would mean confronting fat food advertisers and retailers who 'feed' the big media, tv and corporate press.

One cannot help but feel proud of the ABC sometimes. Well done NSW Stateline. Dempster may have been physically missing but his Macduff like influence could be felt across the airwaves. Get well QD. Beware the witches!

Postscript #1

Sent: Sunday, June 22, 2008 11:08 AM

Subject: HATSZSTERGOS & LAWYERS UNION

> Dear Sam,
>
> Regarding your surprise that Hatzistergos should
> appear on the front pages of your conservative lawyers
> union here is a chronology :
> 1. January 2007 - Geoff Dunlevy becomes President.
> 2. March 2007 - election and Hatzistergos becomes
> Attorney General.
> 3. September 2007 - Dunlevy is appointed to the bench
> as a magistrate.
>
> Mr Dunlevy was very Labor 'friendly'.
>
> An article by Chris Merritt in the Australian
> newspaper on 30 August 2007, Law Society chief made
> magistrate:
> http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22331469-2702,00.html
> 
> I do not suggest  Mr Dunlevy was other than admirably
> qualified for appointmnt as a magistrate or there is
> anything untoward in the timing of events.
>
> BUT they are the historical facts.

Posted by editor at 6:30 AM NZT

Updated: Tuesday, 24 June 2008 6:13 AM NZT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Mood:  a-ok

We got a text from the teacher in the subject of this cracking, and yet confusing story, that we provided some free legal advice and correspondence in support about 12 months back:

17 June 2008

Teacher's pest: top health official sacked - National - smh.com.au [top of page 6]

Trouble is we missed the story! We have been back in the waged workforce some 3 days now. It's cramping our ability to follow all the power media threads. We feel a bit like HAL singing DAISY as we lose our edge with the big media deconstructions.

Then our host server for email, not website, went down for an incredible 3 days, the time it took Christ to rise from the grave.

Cie la vie. That's what a maxed out credit card will do for ya, even as we drink powder skim milk and cycle to and from the CBD.

But we are not finished yet in the story that is the SAM micro news blog.

In the meantime we enjoyed the Sydney posters stoush being played out on a wall or pole in an inner suburb near you:

Posted by editor at 9:00 AM NZT

Updated: Friday, 20 June 2008 9:17 AM NZT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Mood:  chatty

Author’s general introductory note (skip this bit 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.

Media backgrounders

- secrets of hitman in SunHerald scary.

- missed reading time a lot (doing 160 page affidavit content v Coca Cola bottled water case) of the press and crikey this week, so bound to miss detail and unintended revelations.

- We noted the increasingly feral tone of the Sydney Telegraph, of News Corp, which reads increasingly like the Liberal Party newsletter. But they are tearing strips off the Iemma Govt and for that alone readers will probably cheer out of weary animosity and desire for change. Della is suing for defamation about drinking, but today’s follow up edition is pretty much as willing with 4 staff with stat decs hanging tough as if to say we have our witnesses for the defence in the defamation proceedings.

- Our own view of the Della/Neal story is that it’s a crude demonstration of brute News Corp power of the terror blowtorch for not much gravity. A real bootstraps exercise, Reptiles of News Corp stripe v Spivs of ALP stripe, ramped by public energy assets debate. As John Robertson has said, it’s going to get ugly, but he could never have imagined the snake of big corporate media slithering in this direction. Koperberg confirms he will cross the floor against the sell off too. As Michael Kirby High Court Judge has asked rhetorically of Andrew Denton: Doesn’t the media run the country?

1 he wasn’t drinking as claimed – strike one;

2. It proves nothing he drafted an apology like lawyers do every day as part of defamation mitigation processes, a false issue – strike two;

3. an argument in a hotel involving hostile staff possibly Liberal Party provenance – suspicious – a key to all this is the really obnoxious atrocious impudent snide attitude that some Young Liberals can manifest. One has to have been on a polling booth to really know what some of these uglies are capable of in provocation. Is that the case with one or more of these staff? We do wonder. Like in 1996 making jokes about Murray Matson the Greens candidate having AIDS to all the voters going into the byelection . Even Peter Debnam had to counsel them Later one of them was expelled from the Liberal Party. But it was all a game to these young thugs of emotional violence.

4. As Stateline reveals last Friday the language in the staff stat decs is not natural – suggests police language like shadow police minister Gallacher ex under cover copper might use?

5. So what’s the case really? Neal has a history of temper way less than criminal. Sure address that hardly a ‘federal case’ as they say in the movies. Give up coffee (not so bad we found lately) which both irritates the digestion and causes dehydration without realizing it

6. News Corp looked to after a revenge attack on the ALP over their alcohol advertising dependence – which now has morphed into an attack over dishonest stat decs.

7. It’s not corrupt to swear differing views of witnesses. Indeed the classic movie 12 Angry Men is an allegory about exactly that. Great script and movie with Henry Fonda – check it out. Ironic because the Daily Telegraph ran a story about the same thing a few months ago.

Our suggestion would be stake out the Shakespeare or similar hotels near Holt and take pictures of News Corp staff getting pissed. Because this looks like a revenge on the ALP generally on curbing the alcohol industry which are major full page advertisers. We have recommenced our count of these since early June as per previous counts from May 20. It’s adding up to a lot of retail dollars.

Big storms in US mid west, intensity of climate change?

Alan Jones rumours in press winding back at age 67.

World Youth Day could still be a big impact on Iemma’s credibility. Clover Moore stoush today over failure of Catholic Church to pay $150K bond for 3 month use repair of up to half of Hyde Park.

9 Sunday 7.30 – 9.30 am

Line about Venezeula only 5c a litre for petrol, full tank at $3.

Ellen does story about splittist group in Tibetan Budhism critcising the Dalai Llama. Quite persuasive westernized speaker, head shaven, maybe natural variation in doctrinal views. Talk about yellow and red which looks very suggestive of China for red tactics by the Dalai to keep the flock onside.

Ross Greenword tips re tax and cars

Buy in story about excessively super rich. 1930ies 50% wealth was inherited in US, now new wealth. Author refers to Richistan.Top 10% with $70 trillion more than GDP of Japan etc.

Lifestyle story about an obscure illness. Ellen is suitably skeptical.

Another ‘big’ story about death row pets and banning pet shops like they do in City of Sydney apparently. Clover Moore in the story when I return from Riley Diary.

Macdonalds advert “proud partner” of Beijing Olympics, no doubt like that well known ‘health’ drink Coca Cola?

Ellen does the big interview with Lindsay Tanner, second week Laurie Oakes is MIA, despite weekend Telegraph column. Maybe he’s been pushed finally. Starts latish like 8.48, 10 minute quickie before 9 am.

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

10 Meet the Press:  8- 8-30 am

No show, golf coverage. NSW Teachers advert runs as usual in golf show, not such good match of viewers? Maybe okay. Great supa cheap auto advert, [apparently moving into bicycle market too]

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

Riley Diary 7, 8.35 am

Great footage of Japanese visit by PM, with Riley. Aussie beef bbq invite to PM Jap.

[Notable for no melt down on whales as per out thesis it’s all a sublimation of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuke bombs in WW2 and a call for understanding and sympathy over that mass carnage from that human family, all from Africa after all.]

[Segment reminds of a great 70 minutes film Sanshiro Sugata, first movie 1943 by Akira Kurosawa from local video ezy, watched last night.]

Della Neal controversy. Pattern of unacceptable behaviour. Anger Management Movie

US comic.  [Footage reminds of aggressive questioning via Stateline of Clennell off camera ‘it’s alright to lie to the media but not to you?’aimed at Iemma presser, implying Della and Neal no stat dec, bald denials to the media a political lie?

Acting PM Senator Evans – last ice skater standing principle. Lookalike joke very good re Damo at 7. Not enough ego, they reckon.

OKeefe jokes that if the place was named Iguana Joes it would have blown over already. Fair point I thought.

Bit of impromptu legal commentary by Andrew OKeefe post Diary [having been at Allens previously] but as he possibly knows under the Legal Professions Act 2004 unless he has a current practicising certificate he can’t hold himself out as a lawyer, but he was ambushed on live tv having “a legal mind”, quite innocent. What he said sounded right that a stat dec is on oath and thus [possibly if not an innocent mistake?!] perjury if retracted.

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

Insiders 2: 9- 10am

Della Neal cramping Rudd on profound inter country diplomacy on nukes and regional cooperation. Trivial overwhelmed the profound says Barry. Led into Iemma’s leadership speculation.

Talent is Foreign Minister Smith.

Press roundup – Sunday Age subsidies in developing countries problem says Martin Ferguson. Not such a good look.

Milne talking about pre mix drinks of ute drivers – quite a look given Milne problems – election advert could be called ‘whingeing Warren’ with his Canadian axe head which I’m not sure a real bush boy would use instead of a regular axe head. And that ute didn’t have many scratches in the tray. But his eyebrows did heroically attempt to meet in the middle.

Stephen Smith – mogodon man really – but safe with it, some chat about $35M for hybrid cars.

Everyperson segment middle aged air club of some kind, chat about $70M state federal subsidy to private car company Toyota. A lot of skepticism. Nearly out of date already, need better, newer stuff [million cars sold a year, what a waste of national wealth.]

Panel – Lenore Taylor argues not innovation, rather current technology. Rudd footage ‘a new business’ claims its innovation. Manufacturing not R&D subsidy. Car he was next to as plug in will not be the plug in here says Brian Toohey.

Lenore Taylor, Milne, Toohey deconstructing the policy in a tough way. May be answers but not coming through from the govt.

Not a lot of money, compare $5 billion assistance. Nelson asks question about where 35M will go, Toyota man hasn’t allocated money. Local Toyota quotes damaging already underway with out subsidy. [all this ignores foreign relations]

Paul Kelly – praises Rudd effort in Japan. BUT calls for reality check. Won’t reduce emissions, no innovation dividend, Rudd govt new form of industry policy by green politics. Great risk – won’t be very effective at all. Great orthodox brilliant politics – running The Australian free market line as the ship of state leaves the News Corp/The Australian dock.

As to Della PK says – Della machine man critical, Iemma looks weak. Says the coverup is the morality tale. Worse than the error. National implications? Epic struggle in NSW trying to privatize electricity opposed by NSW conference, unions, strong against vested interests. Important issue, tied to national electricity market, reforms pushed by the Rudd govt. Better result through COAG, needs NSW working cooperatively.

BC notes pics in Sunday Telegraph – contrary to work choices treat staff with dignity and respect [ignores the Young Lib obnoxious factor as a real potential].

Why the fascination with it asks BC? That’s the media introspection story totally ignoring the News Corp malice of which Taylor, and Milne are egg beaters with their excuses. Milne talks about ‘knows no boundaries’ great after swing at rival Stephen Mayne live on stage. Joke.

Neal – caught with an acid joke against Coalition MP Mirebala, tried to split hairs after being called out on it. Cover up worse than the offence.

Iemma pretext not told about drafting of apology by Della – won’t change regardless of quasi legal issues of police investigation says BC and Cassidy.

Julie Irwin runs the sexism line, as ALP MP. Taylor notes the devaluing of currency if the facts are not there. Prue Goward rejects (footage on sbs insight by the looks).

Nuclear disarmament non proliferation – important agenda agrees Toohey. Serious problem of [dual use], what has stopped nuclear war is [MAD] correctly notes shield agenda of [Star Wars], wrecks the anti ballistic missile treaty of Nixon. Yet Stephen Smith implied earlier this year says Toohey that they will cooperate with US shield agenda. Milne agrees important agenda.

Taylor says lacking detail re co-chairman. General theme says Milne as too shallow. Thought bubble, bumper sticker. A lot of this is naysaying of moribund Big Media who need a clean out for a 21C political economy [e.g. moi!].

Japan relations – footage of Japan visits to Australia as zero. Question of over reach in China? [The concern is mitigated I would say with visit to Hiroshima etc]

Garrett low numbers on whaling issue as hypocritical ‘over promised’. Greg Hunt quotes 10 clear statements  of Rudd re IWC better to Int Court Justice better pre election, but not now. Taylor says no court is wise. But she is wrong. That’s what courts are actually for.

Discussion about national economic tensions.

Talking pictures – Rudd in Japan, hybrid cars,

WYD over $130M expense, Toohey rips into the expense re parks affected etc.

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

Posted by editor at 12:03 PM NZT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Mood:  a-ok

Dated 13^th June 2008

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

For the affidavit of evidence (but not including the 151 pages of 40 annexures supporting the application) go here

Posted by editor at 11:57 PM NZT

Updated: Sunday, 15 June 2008 12:02 PM NZT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Mood:  chatty

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

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.

Media background

- Charming Annabel Crabb smh seems to have a biological clock ticking with her albeit accurate themes of voyeurism by Rudd ‘likes to [fuel] watch’ etc, and then the literary content of orgasmic Nelson and Rudd. Very clever writer.

- Rudd trumps fuel politics with formal exit from Iraq combat role early in week.And maybe SAM here pointing out that Fuelwatch is like highly successful cyber pressure group Get Up, and not so stupid as regards political economy. Also how Nelson can sustain his hypocratic oath we just don't know eg do no harm.

- ex PM #1 and #2 Hawke and Keating who are both likely interested in the yellow cake export agenda along with Martin Ferguson as energy minister, don't want Rudd to get too involved as an anti nuclear type Prime Minister?:

Australia could lead safe path to nuclear, Jonathan Pearlman, Foreign Affairs Correspondent
April 10, 2008

Bob Hawke might be back to celebrate saving of the Franklin River in 1983, 25 year anniversary but he got his nickname Yellowcake Bob for a reason. He was advocating an international dump called Pangea for Australia not so long ago too.

7.30 Report - 27/09/2005: Hawke floats a rubbish idea

 - We at SAM urged the federal govt Garrett and PM Rudd to approach the whaling issue between major trading partners as a western diplomatic issue sourced ... to use of nuclear bombs in WW2 on Japan. Yes we know there is no great logic or rationality to on the one hand whaling and on the other nuclear disarmament.

But we see Japanese stubborness as their way of expressing their psychological pain over the western arrogance of nuclear weaponry causing mass mortality compared to mere whales. If so sensitive to animals why not the great suffering of the Japanese people. It's a dysfunctional spiral of emotional violence. So going to the peace shrine at Hiroshima is exactly the right place to start for PM Rudd:

Sunday, 23 December 2007

Cruel 'scientific' whaling today, cruel nuclear bomb science 1945
Mood:  d'oh
Topic: peace

Japan halts humpback whale hunt: US

Wednesday Dec 19 20:09 AEDT

 

- Lots of obsessing of Obama/Hillary contest genuinely historic time, and real life versions of great West Wing series (so very educational and quite realistic).

Long weekenditis – missed the first 40 mintues, usually fluffy, Ross’s tax tip, web shows a feature on fuel costs with Virgin airways guy – would have been good – article about down dip in KSA airport patronage is the big news, change in cost of airflight, maybe noise politics.

Novelty story about throat singing, probably very good, missed it (sadly music language of the soul).

Buy in after 8 am rose coloured view of the grunt soldier – compare great movie Jarhead as above for the real thing, or Rampage film about Brown Sub Miami hood for the class role of the war (by George Gittoes, haven't seen but looks a must), a follow up to Soundtrack to War. Especially the road from Baghdad 1991 a cemetery of civilian burnt out cars trying to escape mass murder via Saddam miliarism or USA bombers. Those poor innocent people.

Report by Ellen on story behind the story of Nixon with David Frost with war critic researcher, and play of the media work behind, Jim Reston. Essentially a voyeuristic journey for parasites on power in the 4^th estate. Reston does his best to reveal the strings on the choreography. As if a presidential humbling makes up for millions of deaths.

Some resolution with praise of masterly Frost (finally) after some 15 hours of taping to get him. Like Nixon on the couch. Ellen interviews Frost reprising her SBS doco Fine Line (or something like that). Really good feature story.

Ellen does the Oakes segment, who still appears in his column in the Daily Telegraph – this is a real change one thinks. Unless he appears after 9 and I miss them 2 weeks now.

 Fullilove from Lowy Institute from USA has the conch on USA election – (great interview with abc radio current affairs (?) show recently too).

Tuned out a bit on the chat.

Full grab on Greg Hunt stunt takes focus of stupid Jason Wood, and does it well. The man has got real talent. Like him a lot. Panel impressed.

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

PM Rudd is talent from 8.10 missed the first 10 minutes.

Caught laboured response to why gone soft on whaling as per Paul Bongiorno in Canberra sit down. Was a signal to the wise in The Australian about 2 or 3 months back we spotted ditching the green agenda for trade imperatives with Japan, mixed messages punters in tabloids versus big business. Sneaky Rudd govt?

Might have been tech issues with the cross but Ruddbot was on display, showing extra slept.

“after the dinner break” hopeless read by an MP, maybe missing his glasses.

Leak on slave driver Rudd in out take.

Rudd on US presidential nominations. Safe bat

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

"Take Our Energy, Our Passion, Our Strength And Do All We Can To Help Elect Barack Obama"

WaPo: "A Full-Throated Endorsement"... Andrew Sullivan: "Did All She Needed To Do"... Jeremy Gerard: "A Great Speech And A Heroic One"... Hilary Rosen: "Cemented Her Place In History"... Watch Speech

Riley Diary 7, 8.35 amRiley diary features Jason Wood Liberals with organism/organism stuff up. Get’s a free mitigation card via self deprecating humour. Probably fatal stuff up. Quite possibly drunk when he spoke. The Liberal answer to Mark Latham? Might be the balancer to Young Labor “animals” drinks story in News Corp tabloids early this week.

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

Footage of skydiving interview of Greg Hunt on solar. Classic opposition stunt work literally. He’s clever and courageous to have a go.

Cross to Hilary concession speech throws her full support behind Barry Obama. Most think not VP.

Footage of Rudd on Rove re Barry Obama. Dennis Atkins Courier. Kerry Anne Walsh reptile from SunHerald Fairfax. Front pager blowtorch on Della Bosca with Akerman waxing lyrical with cooperation of Cassidy. Hopeless lack of contextualizing over electricity privitisation stock standard blowtorch friendly fire as Iemma literally fights for his premiership. True enough that both Neale and Della have many rough edges. As seen by her read of a question in federal parliament.

Cross back to MTP re visit Rudd vision policy for Asia. Longish grab.

Interview with Julie Bishop. Unforgiveable treatment of Japan she says – hypocritical boosting by her of whales issue while saying should promote trade. Also Japanese PM was shaky on the way out first several months.

Nothing to say of great significance given the numbers? Presents as very sharp but also like an SS officer in drag. Extremely ruthless in style, ice maiden, persona. Very ideological out of the Howard ideology of the market, leavened with self interest.

Does get her point in about alcopops as a tax measure not health – see our story about News Corp big business adverts dependence, Coalition doing work of alco drug pushers.

Bishop takes the sisters unity line across party lines. If not illegal here, not apply to aid dollar. That’s impressive about female emancipation.

Domestic violence approach by Plibersek versus Bishop, hopeless lack of challenge by Cassidy. Horrific murder of mother and daughter case in Sydney dumped off Echo point. How did it come to this. Plib is right to dig into this. Cassidy let bishop off, folding to tabloid blowtorch on Plib.

Gets it wrong on McCain “easily” beating field of credible candidates, actually he had some near death experiences along the way. Sidesteps Howardism attack on Barry Obama (the hybrid vigour candidate).

Everyperson segment – art lovers, guy with tremour very articulate, interesting choice of society, middle aged older folks.

Panel discussion to see Kerry mind at work for first time on panel. Very experienced. Atkins ASEAN, East Asian forums. Rudd has a habit announcing of what he wants then goes ahead with the meeting. KAW waffles a bit but confident with it. Appealing presence I would say for tv actually in this setting, chuckling natural.

Paul Kelly soliloquy. Asian vision nay saying issues. Presented in most confusing way. Dick Woolcott only hours before approached to do this. Pictures of Rudd and Rein, both looking their dumpy selves, long shot top of airline steps which doesn’t quite flatter re girth.

World Env Day PM speech on car industry. Extremely contentious idea green car industry. Next generation fuel efficient cars. Dismissive of warnings of Prod Comm warnings. Very powerful signals and Rudd will be fighting for these signals.

Grab from Ruddbot again MTP 10. Consensus Rudd has credibility gap (my words) on overworking of public service. Losing judgement though caffeine, overwork

KAW is doing well at this level, sceptical of Piers, some strong points. Bring her back. She is visual chaos with a brain, reasonable speaking poise and voice, a human  kaleidoscope on tv, good talent. No nerves. Cassidy warms to her contributions.

[here’s the drill, quit all alcohol, and then quit coffee which is the complementary drug of impact, and relax into the work, with wit and grace]

Jason Wood embarrassment gets the run after all. The 3 second theatrical pause (shortened from 7 seconds for tv) to let the hilarity speak for itself, no egg beating. KAW gets the conch and handles deftly with appealing humour. All pretty light hearted, lucky for Jason Wood, 2^nd chance material.

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

Posted by editor at 1:25 PM NZT

Updated: Monday, 29 December 2008 11:57 AM EADT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Mood:  accident prone

We had three public interest legal cases to assist with yesterday 6 June 2008 in the Sydney CBD - one as tutor to our ecology action volunteer Carol and her solicitor Pam Suttor. Another as agent for one veteran agitator on public interest issues Neville Diamond in the Coca Cola/Gosford Council water bottling case in the Land & Enviroment Court and thirdly searching out the subpoena procedures for a civil liberties case in the local court.

Also firming up the detail and process for application for sole practitioner status to continue providing pro bono legal advice after 2 years part time with little AAT Legal (and sundry other legal experience). All this keeping us off our regular mico news blog work yesterday. The previous day was testing and interview for legal temping work, another next Tuesday with a big law firm who can use our 57 words per minutes in an admin role.

But even with these challenges we felt a big twinge of sympathy for this public bus driver and his  "NOT IN SERVICE". There he was with yellow flashing lights looking disconsolate, and obviously broken down stuck like the proverbial cork in the bottle corner of Market and George St at about 11.30 am. What a metaphor. It's all relative. 

Then this guy just a bit further down in George St. Ouch.

Posted by editor at 1:40 PM NZT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink