Mood:  sharp

Picture: Lifted from thinly veiled anti GW Bush political movie Silver City (2005) about let 'em rip resource developer ideology, with gifted actor Chris Cooper as stumbling honky flattening all civil society democratic norms via PR and big money. Oh how the pendulum has swung post GFC, or has it? Certainly US President Obama is an opposite man on the world stage. Locally in Australia arguably different names (Rudd for Howard) same vested corporate (eg coal) interests.

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  

* ABC’s Ann Barker spat on by ‘rain of spittle’ by Orthodox Jew fanatics in Israel for ‘working as a journalist’ on a Saturday in Jerusalem. Runs AM flagship programme but no images or coverage on prime time tv news story that night. Why not? One assumes the Jewish lobby will have to 'pay' with access or other quid pro quo media currency for this, as they should:

“As a journalist I've covered more than my share of protests. Political protests in Canberra. Unions protesting for better conditions. Angry, loud protests against governments, or against perceived abuses of human rights.I've been at violent rallies in East Timor. I've had rocks and metal darts thrown my way. I've come up against riot police.But I have to admit no protest - indeed no story in my career - has distressed me in the way I was distressed at a protest in Jerusalem on Saturday involving several hundred ultra-Orthodox Jews. ……

Spit like rain

I found myself herded against a brick wall as they kept on spitting - on my face, my hair, my clothes, my arms. It was like rain, coming at me from all directions - hitting my recorder, my bag, my shoes, even my glasses. Big gobs of spit landed on me like heavy raindrops. I could even smell it as it fell on my face.Somewhere behind me - I didn't see him - a man on a stairway either kicked me in the head or knocked something heavy against me. I wasn't even sure why the mob was angry with me. Was it because I was a journalist? Or a woman? Because I wasn't Jewish in an Orthodox area? Was I not dressed conservatively enough? In fact, I was later told, it was because using a tape-recorder is itself a desecration of the Shabbat even though I'm not Jewish and don't observe the Sabbath.It was lucky that I don't speak Yiddish. At least I was spared the knowledge of whatever filth they were screaming at me. As I tried to get away I found myself up against the line of riot police blocking the crowd from going any further.

Reassurance

Israeli police in their flak jackets and helmets, with rifles and shields, were yelling just as loudly back at the protesting crowd. I found them something of a reassurance against the angry, spitting mob. …..”

 in Reporter feels mob's hate in the Holy City - ABC News (Australian ... 6 Jul 2009 And here at AM show 08:15 06/07/2009 Israelis divided over work on the Sabbath

 * Just as this happens New Matilda ezine 7 July 2009 calls time out on directing traffic on it’s comment strings on the Israel Middle East saga and tragedy with a rare editorial rejecting “holocaust deniers” etc. She is bound to be reflecting an organizational concern: 

  “Regular readers will notice that we have turned off all comments on articles about Israel/Palestine. This is not a permanent state of affairs but a stopgap while we develop the technical ability to pre-moderate comments on the site. We do this reluctantly, and in response to a handful of comment "trolls" who continue to abuse our open comments facility.”

In ·  Editorial: This Debate Needs To Take A Look In The Mirror 7 July 2009.  

* Lee Rhiannon MP in recent Salusinzsky profile variously described as a “steamroller” and “harmlessly daffy”. Wins preselection for next federal NSW senate election. The revealing profile combined with SAM editor’s knowledge of her ngo history (Aidwatch) indicates she is a catspaw for the socialist left union movement within the Green Party. Whether this leads to better environmental outcomes is arguable. For instance at a recent rally against the Eden Chipmill Rhiannon ran on the platform of wasted public finances that is corporate welfare.

Fair enough, only a few weeks earlier 600 year old tree(s) were logged by her union mates at Brown Mountain East Gippsland for the same chipper. Not a word of criticism about that. LR has a degree in botany apparently so for her information the species was Eucalyptus fastigata. 600 years old. True enough the Greens have a very catholic 4 fold guiding principle – ecology, peace, social/economic justice, grassroots democracy. Rhiannon’s character calls up which grassroots?: which principle? And how much apologia for parental sympathy for murderous Stalinism is she “proud” of, to quote the Salusinsky profile?  

* As if to underline the battle of values post GFC Crabb and Hartcher in same Saturday Sydney Morning Herald run stories on the value set of federal political leaders – the old conviction politician debate. Crabb has the edge if not the premium press acreage with marks for “Babelfish” references you would never see from old boy Alan Ramsey. Hartcher misconception about comparing apples of incumbent PM Rudd with unlike oranges of Turnbull in terms of ‘both lacking conviction scoring zero’ was a bit lame. An incumbent by definition has already made the sale to the electorate and has the option of (risky) renegotiation while Opposition leader doesn't have quite that luxury.

 * Joe Trippi in ABC RN Future Tense ½ hour was prime value listening on role of internet - more like the printing press than radio to tv - for political campaigning with a shift in power, but cautions force for good or evil like every tool depending on who holds it.  

* Doogue guest abc RN Saturday extra says green shoots will be burned off by rate of SME insolvencies to hit with a vengeance. Echoes with prominent economists calling for new people’s bank as big 4 banks post year after year obscene profits.  

* SMH sufficiently emboldened by ascendancy of coffee coloured President Obama runs multiple reports of the far right white supremacist fringe promising to electioneer like the devastating One Nation previously.   

* Joe Hildebrand finds his natural level in News Corps Sydney Daily Telegraph – political gossip column “Confidential” running shallow gibes. While colleague TB (an illness) runs interference on any action on global warming. A bit like the denial in Singapore WW2 that the war would ever arrive in the form of the Japanese invasion and massive loss of life in prisoner of war camps. In this case read 100M refugees on the march from Bangladesh to Shanghai.  

* Peter Andrews natural sequence farming about controlling water flows in “grass dams” on Australian Story x 2. Very interesting. Almost of as if Big Agri meets permaculture regarding swales and other local hydrology. As founder Bill Mollison says – water limits everything.   

* Noticed a new (?) website (actually 2006) cross referencing a story by Tim Blair about this SAM editor. Site is called Sydney Conservative with similar livery of orange and white background. http://conservativeweasel.blogspot.com/ The story we noticed was cross referencing Tim Blair (or TB – an illness) on our eviction in April 2009 from our home office 60 days notice, no grounds. Blair delights in our speculation of foul play political victimization. Certainly the new owner went around the real estate agent, advertised for a contractor who almost threw out shed stuff and cut down 95% of every tree and shrub on the site.  

10 Meet the Press:  8- 8-30 am 

No Bonge compere, Bill is the man. Lead in footage of Obama re climate threat, contrasted Sunday Telegraph (Sydney) headline ‘Rudd roadblock’ on same topic.  

Talent is Minister Chris Bowen. Stern Hu case features re Chinese dictatorship sour grapes on iron ore negotiations. 

Get Up in first adbreack on internet censorship in the first adbreak. Very slick [and appealing echo with the Youth Climate Conference crowd this weekend (ALP hidden funding via Climate Institute)] potentially though they are possibly in transit and not watching. Panel is John Stanley 2UE, Jessica Irvine SMH. Bowen is slick talker, too slick for a failed minister. [Grocery Watch, Fuel Watch, etc – talk about lack of conviction being rewarded]. 

Humour out take is Kudelka on Rudd PM as ‘holier than (thou) Pope’ fat head.  

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

Riley Diary 7, from 8.30am

 PM Rudd globe trotting theme. Blue collar language descends to Ruddish bureaucratise. “Detailed programmatic specificity”. Bruno sneaks in re language. “Big on photo opportunities” sharing stage with President Obama with UK PM and others “back up” says Riley Diary. Notes Rudd admission re Copenhagen failing us all ‘local national global’ [my words paraphrasing a Rudd grab]. Does show Obama has annexed Rudd in global politics. 

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

9 Sunday newshour Laurie Oakes interview 8.40 am 

Senator/Minister Arbib is the talent – looking like a teenager and walking skull at the same time. Pleads methodical consular agreement to manage Rio Tinto’s Stern Hu case [‘thrown to the wolves’ of Chinese legal thuggery alleged in press here].  LO sounds unconvinced because it is totally unconvincing re junior level of contact over head of multinational arrested. Australian citizenship worth? Arbib runs stimulus mantra but GFC “not over”. Runs youth compassion rhetoric re unemployed [while a cynic would say Govt is more concerned about social disruption of angry youth in crime, bad PR for govt etc] Arbib blathers on in a twee and shallow way. 

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

Insiders 2: 9- 10am

Stern Hu case lead in, with footage of Turnbull and Joyce “opportunistic point scorers”, then compromises that spin by stated it’s a “major” feature of the show today.

Press roundup Panel is Michael Stutchbury News Corp national, Milne News corp Sydney and national, KAWalsh Fairfax national/Sydney (obviously not sacked or redundant as expected).

Microphone stuff up for Julie Bishop Shadow Foreign Minister, go to Your shout segement agri industry cattleyards on economics of country.

Bishop on Stern Hu ‘taken by Chinese secret police’. Austalian Ministers not picked up the phone to their ministerial counterparts. [which sort of misconceives a 20M and a 1.1 billion size country]. Argues profile ie “sunlight” is crucial [contrary to Govt line of “methodical” consular matter.

Why is it different to tourist?  Escalated due to high level business between countries, secret police. Took her own initiative and spoke to deputy ambassador to China. Argues a range of issues for Beijing including visit to Tibetans in India enclave.

Panel discusses. Milne notes it’s a [fascist] dictatorship. Notes Defence White Paper also aggravates the situation.

Paul Kelly – vagued out on him.

Obama image of ‘the perv’ is given the benefit of the doubt with footage on American big media tv actually watching his step and helping another woman. Deceptive sleazy  picture.

KAW predicts ALP will push for double dissolution on climate threat to avoid economics of 2010.

Inside Business with Alan Kohler

Feature interview on CCS via True Energy bloke Richard MacIndoe, 10% Australian energy, ¼ of Victoria at Yallourn in Latrobe Valley. Concern to manner of transition to 80% reduction by 2050.  Says CCS important in medium to long term. But no proven technology to 2020 or really 2025.

Has to be gas fired technology and companies with financial strength to do that. Joint Venture with Ignite [oil from brown coal]. Quotes California as "very instructive" under investment causing bankruptcy. [Totally airbrushes politics of Enron corruption destroying political economy of energy in California under GW Bush.]

Says CPRS will cause underinvestment which leads to outages. [The voice of the forces of darkness on global warming, literally and several senses.]

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

Posted by editor at 12:21 PM NZT

Updated: Sunday, 12 July 2009 12:37 PM NZT

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Mood:  d'oh

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  

* Centrist icon Grattan backs Steve Lewis (News Corp) central to 'fake Treasury email' affair on abc RN with Doogue stand in for Fran Kelly. Lewis runs staunch largish article in prime Saturday SD Telegraph; in the protective wake of staunch editorial same pape, same day, probably written by John Hartigan who also ran his tough guy stance last Tuesday Press Club.

* Take note Australian Federal Police investigators.

What is the Karl Rove reverse smear? It involves a deliberately clumsy fake smear of a friendly/allied candidate/figure (who presumably is in on the gambit, but may not be too to preserve plausible deniability).  Think say ALP clumsy smear on Kevin Rudd, or vice versa Liberals on Malcolm Turnbull.

So already from the outset it is counter intuitive - but stay with us, this was Karl Rove's brilliance. Why would you put out a smear document on your own side? Here’s how it works …..

Intrinsic to the tactic is that the smear is fairly easily rebutted by allied candidate, after initial minor damage. It's all about harvesting the public's outrage at a demonstrably and well understood political dirty trick (often referred to by wonks as “rat f*cking” and see below at ***) as this 'expose' of  the fake or fraud or smear spreads exponentially through the electorate and beyond the beltway itself. People don’t like other people being smeared in a demonstrably unfair way. And they take revenge by punishing the side most identified with the 'fault' either in terms of votes or polling.

So the public turn on the most obvious or logical perpetrator of the smear being the direct rival of the target of the now flimsy discredited smear. Even it wasn't their fault as such, because that subtle nuance is too complex over a short time period.

Apparently Rove did this to gather centre swinging voters to the conservative GW Bush side by harvesting a backlash of anger from centre, and centre left voters over flimsy smears he himself put out against his own side. But it can be done by Left on Right which arguably appears to be happening in Australia with Rudd (nominally Left) harvesting voters against Turnbull (nominally Right) in the recent polls, and against Hamilton Smith.

And we hasten to add, this is the effect even if the Labor or ALP have no official or unofficial role in the recent 'fake Treasury email' (we decline to call it 'the Grech email')

A template in Australia was indirectly via the Lindsay electorate fake Muslim Extremist leaflet affair at the final week of the federal election in Nov 2007 (see picture above). In that case the Coalition activist (Right) were definitely promoting a false smear, and the backlash after it was demonstrated as false by Labour (Left) activists in quick time, front pager in News Corp tabloid, caused a crushing backlash against the Howard Govt.

All of the above whether intended or accidental is standard Karl Rove dirty tricks and rat f*cking. And time enough for the Labor activists to learn the method well. Take note AFP investigators.

*** About 6 months ago Fairfax Naked Eye recounted how PM Rudd was overhead referring to “rat f*ckers” in private conversation. Rudd and his team know all about Karl Rove and rat f*cking. As do their mates in the Democrats in the USA who were the prime victims at first, as of course do Rove’s home party the US Republicans.

* Crikey direct readership and circulation rival old media The Australian in tit for tat attacks on eachother’s credibility all week. Story is old versus new. More similar than different market and role? True enough that upon death of dame Elizabeth Murdoch that The Australian will go the way of the dodo, and Crikey ‘with added source’ time will come. True enough that hyperbole of The Oz exaggerates

* ex PM Keating runs open door policy for China engagement. Trouble is Keating almost certainly has business interests there? Undeclared business interests? Conflict of interest issues? Another complaint to the ACCC for breach of s.52 of the Trade Practices Act?

* Gillard’s prime ministerial grooming to the Jewish lobby, industry re Fair Work and standing up to violent unionism continues apace. A few weeks back our colleague Carol with the chronic disability had a chat to La Gilliotine at Prince of Wales Hospital apparently assuming Carol was on the level (?) – what the hell was that all about?

* SAM gets a 3 m USB extension doing wonders for our web connectivity. Woohoo. Gluten free diet seems to be doing us a lot of good too after barely 3 days. Next challenge to bake our own bread. Woolworths has bought out Macro Wholefoods, - note their gluten free and health food section, compared to Coles which has kids trolleys instead.

* Re big tax on cigarettes: At recent small social event of various Vietnam vets, and their family/friends – not one smoker. Wood heater seemed to suffice.

Stand in for compere Bonge, workmanlike talent too. Dep PM Gillard looking radiant and super groomed, how expensive are those clothes [Sarah Pallin?] after (serious) Middle East tour.

Sexism/misconduct comment re front pager Sydney SunHerald story Navy.

Utegate re AFP footage Mick Keelty re Turnbull is a witness and otherwise his role over.

Gillard runs Turnbull damned credibility. Humour out take of PM Rudd at school event singing Treasuere Swan happy birthday.

Panel is talent – Peter Hartcher, Michelle Grattan both serious people and worthy match. Gillard attacks reporter ‘errors’ in Education stimulus sloppy spends as per press today Sunday Telegraph.

Hartcher re ‘rediculous’ law in NSW re illegal to publish school league tables. [big debate about apples with apples comparisons re similar socio economic demographics].

2^nd guest is youngish wonk Van Onselen for the Liberal side of things. Wonks interviewing eachother. Shocking week, not dead, looked dead previously in Wentworth electoral fights but this is much bigger scale. ‘Twin Tonys’ idea more about machinations of shadow cabinet reshuffle. References A Crabb class 1996 reaching their end, lack ideological/intellectual capital. MT faced with dilemma of essential moderate going disingenuously more conservative or … something.

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

Riley Diary 7, from 8.30am

Utegate seens as traincrash for Malcolm Turnbull. MASH parallels. Awful pollie singing. Rudd sings Seekers ‘KTel’ Special.

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

Insiders 2: 9- 10am

Chris Uhlmann for Barry Cassidy (or replacing?) runs his intellectual style intro, with footage of Gillard on Fair Work,

Panel is A Crabb Fairfax, Meglo News Corp national, Bolt News Corp Melbourne.

Two Tony’s (Abbott, Smith) as conservative aspiring leadership.

Big cigarette’s tax.

Arbib palaver about ‘nit picking’ over education stimulus rollout involving a million here and there. [Like West Wing a billion here and there, what does it matter?].

Bolt lays out why we have a Govt we didn’t elect but ignores we did get a ‘mummy party’, but true not Howard Lite, and the reason is the GFC game changer no one predicted, so stupid to hypothecate 2007 and 2009, a grand non sequitur.

Unionism on the march again. Bolt talks up Gillard performance cut through in parliament etc [seems to be pushing a Melbourne torch?]. ACrabb similar wax soliloquy.

Panel talk over health issue. Pledge being made of federal takeover [ pre GFC] was driven by Howard opportunism politics, ACrabb/Bolt. Journalists were suckered. Bolt says same re climate change. “Never going to happen.”

‘Prof Paul Kelly, News Corp soliloquy on the Rudd Machine Success, Opposition only three problems Unity, Leadership and Belief. Only? Major blunder if Coalition treats climate as an ideology not a policy, if does then “finished”.

Big poll disasters history, Aug 93 Keating 20 points down, Downer late 1994, Latham April 04 31 points, the all time record down Turnbull 40 points June 2009. Discussing whether leadership is finished. ACrabb says Party is built like a Howard body suit. Lacks ideological heft says Bolt and could/should be grassroots.

Bill Leak getting up to speed in Talking Pictures.

Inside Business with Alan Kohler

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

Posted by editor at 12:16 PM NZT

Updated: Sunday, 5 July 2009 12:28 PM NZT

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Mood:  not sure

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

* Our Harry Potter/Grech reference on crikey strings takes off in all Big Media. We used Dobby the House Elf, but others prefer the Bank gnomes, or Harry himself.

Turnbull as guest lead in backgrounder on “fake” email/Grech evidence. Suffering raspy throat several times.

Senate privileges inquiry repudiated first time in a century looks bad. MT says would be a witch hunt ‘you know that’. Refers to the “fake” email. But below says “so called fake”.

Tony Burke footage re rain project $10M says favouritism is a smear. 1/5 of the UQ proposal, more than $2M desktop option.

Humour out take Albanese re Latham/Turnbull jibe.

Panel reptiles Hewitt News Corp (national), Steve Lewis News Corp (national).

Time wasting non scandal? Says been attacked viciously with smears himself by the ALP.

Lewis runs reverse attack after running big on Grech email that MT leadership is diminished. MT says Opposition very unified.

On climate change – aiming for August timeline and extra elements.

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

Riley Diary 7, from 8.30am

Riley Diary – Harry Potter theme. Choice movie grabs. Does the chronology. Hockey as Hagrid resonates. Exploding cigar visual metaphor on Turnbull.

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

Insiders 2: 9- 10am

Grech Riley style package with Bourne theme music.

51 club in Brisbane press links PM Rudd with used car and developer business social club.

Footage of Tanner on Ch9, BC calls it Today show.

Panel is KWalsh Fairfax, Atkins News Corp Bris, TBlair News Corp Sydney.

Obvious point about dumping Grocery Watch leveraging press coverage of Michael Jackson death. Deeply cynical.

Tony Abbott guest - ferocious spin is the lesson, BC challenges on coaching of Grech evidence, denied. Some strong points about Swan in hiding and then embarrassing AM interview. Claims “real” ruthless PM Rudd revealed this week.

Circus players vox pop, very good comics too.

Panel general chat nothing new.

Talking pictures – our Harry Potter Dobby reference is picked up clearly as spreading on the web (SAM’s fault probably).

Inside Business with Alan Kohler

Acciona and Pacific Hydro discussed regarding so called sustainable business in renewable energies.

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

Posted by editor at 1:03 PM NZT

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Mood:  incredulous

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  

* PM Rudd’s voice in parliament last week was loud and full of righteous indignation, too loud and too full one feels, of outrage over the Turnbull “politics of fear” and “politics of smear” over the Grant ute GFC finance affair. As we write Laurie Oakes is grilling Swan and it’s a fierce debate over ministerial favouritism for Mr Grant.  

Then Rudd’s voice on 8.30 pm ABC TV footage last Friday of late that day  press conference shows him quavering, nervous, in shock, long pauses and stumbles. Yet the abc radio news bulletins next morning, and from memory AM show have an edited version of smooth confident rejection of the allegations by PM Rudd.   Yet just as Godwin Gretch tone and manner is striking probative of honesty, so is Rudd’s quaver and stumble indicative of the opposite. Yet the ABC either had different audio from late evening to early morning or they edited Rudd’s audio in a case of political bias??? 

 Certainly whoever survives or dies politically this next few days, the beltway have seen Rudd’s political mortality starkly revealed. Rudd seems to be as much shocked at his natural human limitations to control all things and every detail including in the backyard of his own electorate.  

* PM looks to be relying on procedural rules to prevent his staffer Andrew Charlton from attending and answering estimate committee questions or even general media questions. So even if he did email Godwin Gretch or contact him in another way he will never have to answer questions directly. But Gretch will.  

* Turnbull revealed as very effectively setting the scene with admissions about Kerry Packer death threat and protection of public interest regarding Fairfax from political interfering Packer ownership. And using that to contrast allegations of favouritism to ALP political donor Mr Grant.  

* Annabel Crabb in Saturday column well off the pace with this greatly ironic comment: “ Andrew Charlton, an unnervingly brilliant young pup who is marked for greatness in Labor circles”. Charlton being the alleged emailer from the PMO’s office contrary, it’s claimed, to PM’s statement to parliament of no such contact.  One thing is for sure Charlton will never have to front the big press or an estimates committee as he is a staffer of the PM Rudd and Rudd will enforce that cone of silence.

* Similarly Lenore Taylor this weekend Oz newspaper refers in a soft piece on the scandal to post Costello period as being “Turnbull unplugged” trying to say unrestrained/louder/stronger/clear air which is a different metaphor given unplugged is less not more electrical amplification. Is she also losing perspective about federal ALP politics. Too soft?  

* Deputy Prime Minister Gillard talking Middle East role for Australia in peace negotiations with VP Biden?

  * Albanese as Left faction infrastructure minister supports doubling of aircraft movements over the next 20 years despite home seat Marrickville area copping it badly in terms of noise but also air pollution. Albanese says a 2^nd airport is critical. Richmond RAAF base is now under control of Albanese’s factional ally inner westie Defence Minister John Faulkner. But look at this picture from the Hawkesbury taken this morning. The RAAF base is on higher ground 10 km from Windsor/Hawkesbury River true but still very fog affected??? 

 * Last month as a political blogger I had a computer security problem, which caused me to confront a possible suspect, with copy to well known media analyst Margarent Simons as an honest broker.  What happened was that a very selective 3 months of email correspondence, and one email file archive called "SAMtech" was deleted. SAM is an acronym.  So my point is - emails can be deleted – as per the Godwin Gretch testimony.  

Secondly, a well known programme called TracksEraserPro can be used to delete hard drive copies of anything off a computer. You can download it for free off a trustworthy site called MajorGeeks.  SAM’s editor uses it every day to keep clutter off my hard drive.  Having said all this - emails sent via an Internet Service Provider will probably have a record of the IP no. of the computer source (DNA of the machine) and receiver - speaking as a non geek amateur. Also I suspect the geeks can insert false IP numbers or proxies to avoid detection.  Welcome to the cyber wild west..  

* Senator Brown didn't say he would be bankrupt, he said he was threatened with bankrupty by Forestry Tasmania doing the dirty work of the ALP and Coalition.  So Abetz is being deceptive and cynical. Also another false trail is that Brown already had $600K in legal funds so he was rich. Actually what he said was that he'd already paid that amount in legal costs.  What scares the majors is that Brown has such massive social capital just like Jimmy Stewart in It's a Wonderful Life, only this is real life, not a movie.  

*  Nasty misogyny, and blind prejudice, including sisterhood in ugly condescension and patronizing critique, implicit in attacks on Greens Party Senator Sarah Hanson-Young. Some of it in official commentary from political rivals and censorious older women (‘Deb’ Cameron, Pru Goward) jealous (?) of both her political reach into mainstream press and her superior success at a much younger age? Some other nastiness in redneck letters pages.

Fact is HY had the whole thing under control in the senate chamber, and it was old boy Senate Speaker who claimed he had no discretion to allow “strangers” in the house during a tedious mechanical vote on a division. Since when did experienced mothers not know how to do 2 things at once? This issue has revealed the critics as moral frauds and bullies infused with blind prejudice against The Greens.  

*  Fallout from NSW State budget was unusually mild criticism except on free trade purity which the Left wing govt won’t worry too much about. Interesting that Penberthy managed to sideline literally both Simon Benson and Piers Akerman in their Sydney Daily Telegraph comment pieces, Penbo picking up the cudgels for free trade, many will see as an arid line of debate after the GFC has blown the credibility of orthodox economics out the window. Ironically the AAA rating in NSW was consolidated and seen as smart politics when Standard & Poors helped cause the GFC in the first place with faulty ratings. Talk about flawed paradigm.  

* Peter Costello quoted “you have to know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em” is quite clear evidence that the timing of his effective resignation from future leadership role(s) in politics was highly calculated and probably self interested. The polls had turned for Turnbull, the coalition were about to split using Costello as a focus for the redneck conservatives and Nats on climate etc. And there were green shoots in the economy suggesting Rudd’s stimulus strategy may well work.

 Costello is thus revealed as a supreme chancer. We always suspected counsel for Woodside, Lisa Hamilton, was the brains behind his IR Dollar Sweets IR legal victories. A student politician by definition doesn’t have time to do the real hard legal research work.   

* Amazing synchrony of SAM feature headline and or picture this last 2 Sunday talkies and real politik following: A fortnight ago we used a title about ‘props and pollie crunch’ only to see Defence Minister Fitzgibbon walk the plank unexpectedly later that week. Then last week we used a picture of car crash in the local area into the trees to symbolise ETS hitting the wall of the Green Party/Coalition opposition. Nicholson grabbed the same visual metaphor here in the The Australian this weekend (as per image above)

  * Mark Arbib is under constant attack in the Senate these last several days. Most interesting is Arbib’s shrill, teenager style voice protesting his certainty of fact and purpose over massive education fund cash splash. Arbib is starting to realize (?) that the arrogance of NSW Right ALP doesn’t play on the national stage of federal parliament. Comes across as a spiv out of his moral depth.  

* Back to sleaze of NSW ALP politics and their “junkyard dogs”, in the agri politics bible here in NSW: The images are MPs for the Shooters Party gun nuts and right wing religous nut Fred Nile MP propping up the NSW ALP Govt in the upper house here.

1. embarrasses NSW Govt after fairly successful state budget including grudgingly by SMH itself earlier in the week. Content of story shows water supply not at threat at all, but Cox's river tributary certainly is at risk and damaged by heavy metals due to leaching via arsenic. 

2. reinforces the agenda for sell off of the public energy assets, a long running crusade of both major newspapers in Sydney 

3. Story is important but normally would have run at page 3, 4 or 5. The placement indicated the big media real politik malice. 

Golf, no broadcast.

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

Riley Diary 7, from 8.30am

LO grills Treasuer Wayne Swan on the intricacies of the $500M line to Ford Credit to sustain car dealership industry during the intensity of the GFC. And Mr Grant was to be looked after within that umbrella.

LO: ‘enormous pressure’ to look after Grant. ‘Emails show Swan was being kept up to date at home fax.]

[Calls up the whole ALP Qld political culture of Mike Kaiser cooking the electoral paperwork years ago forced to resign ministerial position, here again cooking the paperwork.]

Auditor General inquiry doesn’t include Wayne Swan in the narrow terms of reference only PMO, implying a fix. ‘Won’t resign.’

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

Insiders 2: 9- 10am

 Great opening line from compere Cassidy about a lot more than mere “car trouble” with footage of Rudd strenuous denials about the ‘politics of smear’.

Footage of Swan denials.  Gretch package in Riley Diary style.

Estimates committee David Martine cover for Gretch, profound footage of honest evidence. “Put in a position a public servant should never be put in”.

Panel is Schubert of The Age, Meglo The Oz, Toohey AFR/Fairfax.

Cross to New York for Deputy Prime Minister Gillard [talking Middle East role for Australia in peace negotiations with VP Biden?]. Email smokescreen to Godwin Gretch evidence of favouritism to car dealer Mr Grant, defending Govt reputation.

Your shout about Costello retiring.

Panel much discussion about Godwin Gretch with much footage of questioning by ALP senator Doug Cameron including journo Lewis contact with Godwin Gretch and special attention for Mr Grant but not Kay Hulls electorate related car dealership.

Talking Pictures with Peter Costello: ‘I’ve enjoyed the banter with the press over the years’ but that’s not what he said attacking the glasses of Michelle Grattan, or grump over answering questions post election defeat intentions.

Profound footage of Obama swatting fly by his own hand in front of the cameras during an interview.

Toohey sledges Costello 11 years – bloated middle class welfare and structural deficit in a boom. Hard talk indeed.

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

Inside Business with Alan Kohler

Chief at Morgan Stanly discusses over leveraging causing GFC.

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

Posted by editor at 12:30 PM NZT

Updated: Sunday, 21 June 2009 12:48 PM NZT

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Mood:  chatty

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

* Rudd language style change to quasi 50ies labour working class seems to suggest identity confusion in the man, as does the 25kg diet of his wealthy spouse. Reminds of West Wing script of Jed Bartlett insomnia and nostalgia of the child future president and cold hearted even cruel father. These things seems to relate to increased pressure forcing out flaws in the ego/id in a PM – like his climate Bill hitting the wall of Green Party no compromise. But if he is in electoral mode he will want the blue collar vote no doubt.

* Tough commentary in Fairfax back business section last week condemning The Australian News Corp rival over sellout editorial choices about global warming skepticism/denialism. Same writer again this weekend Paddy Manning in Sustainable Investing column at top banner spot on the page too. Related to Peter Manning senior journalist?

* Sixty Minutes lead story last week (7 days back) was shocking and powerful of the fatal damage to those people cruelly killed in the Victorian Central Highland bushfires. God have mercy. The subtext was unsaid but a hammer blow really – the Royal Commission must take no prisoners and go to the brazen truth of the disaster. (And the landlord here reckons a dam rather than a bushfire bunker is safe enough. Noooo, noooo, noooo. I don’t think so.)

* Reportage of Gunns Ltd moving to both annexe assets of Timbercorp and Great Southern agricultural ‘managed’ investment schemes at least as far as timber wood(chip?) products, and of a willing financier from Sweden The Oz June 11 p7, ‘Gunns set for mill deal with Swedes’

* Andrew Clennall at Fairfax may know of NSW Right agitation against faction Left premiership of Nathan Rees but the stories written so far have been flimsy and unconvincing. He knows all the players but he’s not got any probative leaks or change in the power relations: Sartor has always been a pragmatic egomaniacal grasper for more power. But does he have anything more than tyre tracks of ALP head office fundraising machine over his reputation? Damaged goods was the innuendo behind the SMH banner front pager about ‘illegal’ billion dollar land developments requiring retrospective legislation. Sartor is relying on the corporate greed of the ALP machine but would appear even less electable especially with the Coalition under OFarrell promising to rollback the developer friendly Part 3A junking of the 1979 planning regime.

OFarrell was staunch on opposing a fire sale of the public energy assets.

* Stephanie Peatling SMH runs a story about the grasping for power in the NSW Greens Party. From slippery tactics pioneered by Ian Cohen MLC, to effective branch stacking of the Eastern Suburbs Group by Lee Rhiannon MP with her office volunteers and the like (conflict of interest a la Victorian scandal recently?). A big obituary for Lee’s mother Freda Brown in the SMH a few weeks ago (memorial to be held today at the Bondi Pavillion same day as 150^th anniversary of Waverley Council woohoo, Sunday Too Far Away). Freda Brown pictured with Gorby appears to have been an avowed cold war warrior – for the other side until at least 1972 when she resigned from the Australian Communist Party. If only Stalin’s 20 million victims could speak.

Hard hats lead in, employment thrust featuring Arbib, Rudd.

Minister Macklin, Social Security. Unemployment question.

Background story on Alice Springs town camp ‘special report’ by police reporter re “smell” of poverty (Ester Lindstrom).

Panel is Mark Kenny Adelaide News Corp, Macklin “I have a responsibility to act [compulsory acquire town camps with $125M package.] “I have a lot of money to spend [for sick and elderly] and I want to get on with it.” Sounding actually emotional and idealistic with it over the nasal drone.

Panel also Natasha Robinson, News Corp national. Macklin praises Julia Gillard as potential PM successor.

Tom Calma re underlying racism in society and ethnic conflict over Indian students etc.

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

Riley Diary 7, from 8.30am

Use of language theme, with Mandarin, and strine. Great imagery from Barry McKenzie [time one caught a view of it], implies it’s a potentially contrived political strategy. [But we have another psychobabble explanation leveraging the West Wing episodes on Jed Bartlett’s insomnia and a disapproving dad, as above in backgrounders.]

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

Various IR serious questions about timetable and content relations with the unions, then on PM, living up to the trust gracious response, loving deputy PM position. Elephant reference of the comperes meaning Peter Costello.

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

Insiders 2: 9- 10am

Intro about PM Ruddish language and style.

Panel is KAK Fairfax Canberra, Milnes News Corp, G Henderson Sydney Institute.

Kooyong preselection formerly Petro Georgiou. Hendo says Frydenberg friendly to asylum seekers.

Christine Milne gets the coverage on climate change. BC notes NP and Greens oppose Govt Bill outright for different reasons. Sound problems with BC question but recovered.

On Bob Brown potential bankruptcy debt to avoid removal from the Senate. Milne calls BC a cynical view that mere fundraising. [Ignores $600K previous legal costs perhaps.]

Senator Fielding argues no temperature increase despite increase in carbon emissions. Deliberately disingenuously dodges/ignores fossil fuel funding of Heartland Institute.

[Fielding correct there is a real question but ignores parallel Global Dimming from escalating particulate pollution from China and India over the same period, ramp up of dirty economics. Trouble is air pollution is an unreliable brake on carbon/ghg driven global warming.

The guy is an Assembly of God creationist anti science type beyond mechano sets.]

Panel notes Ruddish strine. Paul Kelly soliloquy states Rudd no real history of Labor culture explains his change of language style [after touring hard hat pic facs across the land]

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

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

Posted by editor at 1:13 PM NZT

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Mood:  incredulous

The editor of Sydney Alternative Media has been experiencing the northern suburbs of Sydney commute since mid April 2009. Only in our case in reverse from Marrickville of the Inner West to the Hawkesbury/Hills district. 

As a result of this relocation and clean up work of a rural block leased by a disabled colleague we haven't been as assiduous as usual in reporting readership statistics, or indeed posting much more than our regular Sunday political talkies once a week to keep our eye in.

Our understanding is we dropped  in April 09 to about 23K pageviews, and then in May back up to 32,125. On June 10 we noticed this, in quite a bounce back despite lack of new postings:

We put this bounce back in statistics to a few factors without being absolutely sure: We posted 2 links onto well read crikey.com.au recently with original material for their readership. One was our reportage of censorship attempt at the Sydney Writers Festival in 2008 following the Guy Rundle article of 2009.

The second link recently was about the martyrdom of Nigerian writer Ken Saro-wiwa (senior) which issue we have followed for a good 10 years or so now including interview with a refugee here of eye witness accounts of oil indusry disgrace in the Niger Delta there.

In addition we had a sabotage incident of our computer in May deleting some technical files and 3 months of email. Our investigations might have stirred up some interest in the SAM micro news website. We would also like to think we have some political insights that are of regular interest via Sunday Political Talkies - an acquired taste, not an easy read, given the James Joyce style free flow of (political) consciousness: The main utility is probably the synthesis into one pithy headline.

We have many more stories to post but continue to implement our relocation into the fresh air of the Sydney fringe. Until then stay tuned.

Previous monthly reader pageview figures for 2007, 2008 verified by screen shot (web host provider monthly pageview account details) posted on or about 4th day of the month found in this thread:

•  May 2009 - 32,125 (host metrics, not screenshot)
• April 2009 - 23,421 (host metrics, not screenshot)
• March 2009 - 34,255
• February 2009 - 23,208
• January 2009 - 27,462
• December 08 - 21,858
• November 08 - unavailable, host breakdown
• October 08 - 20,343
• September 08 - 20,746
• August 08 - 25,344
• July 08 - 22,855
• June 08 - 27,440
• May 08 - 25,046
• April 08 - 19,250
• March 08 - 20,803 
• February 08 - 13,109
• January 2008 -  19, 898
• December - 11,627
• November - 10,220
• October - 9, 100 
• Sept -  8,100 roughly, no screenshot
• August - 8,845
• July - 7475
• June - 9675
• May  - 9, 059
• April  - 12,087
• March  - 6,684
• February - 5,372
• January 07 -  2800 3rd Jan - 3rd Feb 07

Posted by editor at 9:03 AM NZT

Updated: Thursday, 11 June 2009 9:32 AM NZT

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Mood:  d'oh

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.  

* John Faulkner is the new ‘tough guy’says the govt PR package – but they all omit his time as Environment Minister which was his main gig for the Keating Govt, not his time as Defence personnel or even his work in estimates committee. Indeed SAM’s editor took a walk with him in the Blue Mtns as pictured in the SMH at that time with Wombat (James Woodford) tagging along [Russel Crowe is right about lots of journalists.]  He was good and respected in that job too but he got done over by then PM Keating savagely. It was the “Deferred Forest Areas” list – best forest in the country – that Keating sent to the woodchipper and then lost the 1996 federal election when even ACF took a walk with Howard in the Dandenongs.

* Bob Debus is the real story of the reshuffle. The NSW Right are stalking his seat of Blue Mtns. He was successful Env Minister, Attorney General, but then he got shafted by Rudd in the first Cabinet and now gets shuffled out of existence. It was all there to see at the first Caucus meeting footage as Rudd barely looked him in the eye. We remember just like a West Wing episode (Josh notices footage of congressman with revealing body language and grabs the crucial vote.) Conclusion: Debus demise is the payoff to NSW Right for allowing Left Faulkner as Defence Minister in ‘their’ ministry.

* Humana as the USA principal for NIB here, in Defence Minister implosion, is covered by Michael Moore in The Awful Truth DVD early episodes and its devastating coverage of the USA health system.

* Green Party in NSW are effectively rebranded again as led by a progeny of the Stalinist local version of then Soviet party, right or wrong. The mechanism was lengthy obituary of Freda Brown mother of Lee Rhiannon MP, albeit political amazon Brown pictured with Gorbachov. Rebel with plenty of causes who resigned from the Communist Party in 1972 apparently. Not just theoretical perception either as Fred Nile MP, anti green religious right,  refuses to vote with NSW Coalition on a Greens Bill to protect farmers from coal mines based on “blind prejudice” against the Greens, and specifically says Nile not against the content of the Bill. Question for the Greens is can they really serve the community including those of the Liverpool Plains and still carry that Stalinist smear? Are they Green enough? Notice late May letter of the Week in The Land attacking the Greens (and notice the irony of social agrarians on drought assistance etc condemning centralized govt – no logic whatsoever).

Bialoguski as the spy who brought Petrov over to defection in his 1955 book refers to the peace movement here as a communist front at pages 56-59. Our grandfather Eric McLoughlin – a Menzies confidante helped write that book, ironically not that flattering to Menzies or the Australian intelligence service. One has to keep in mind Bialoguski’s family suffered Stalins fascism particularly in Poland.

Rhiannon is routinely described as more red than green and that’s a pretty fair assessment in our view. We recall Jeff Angel asking this writer mid 90ies – “who is she?” coming from a veteran of the green movement of at that stage 25 years, shows a lack of green groups pedigree and jumping political streams via her partner party official Jeff Ash (who also recruited this writer to local councilor status in the same Eastern Suburbs Greens – other notable members Ben Oquist, Chris Darwin, Ash himself, Rhiannon etc).

* Rudd PM looking very ‘relaxed’ last Monday or Tuesday night on 7.30 Report despite various big problems on his plate. Even a danger to shipping as the proverb goes. Got the impression right or wrong the wifey diet has been paying some dividends in the conjugal area.

* Tim Blair column in Daily Telegraph Saturday edition is nonsensical for 2 weeks running, and almost unreadable list of waffle.

* Post Sydney Writers Festival we await the Fangs of the Right moment. Sure enough seemingly unrelated, but akin to Bill Henson effective savaging, the Chaser bad taste skit becomes cause celebre for the jackals of the Right – Tim Blair, Miranda Devine etc. It’s surely payback for their APEC stunt against the Howard Law and Order tub thump, and another own goal again by the cultural Left.

* Chinalco pushed out by BHP-Rio Tinto joint venture in wake of global coverage of June 4 memorial 20 year anniversary of military coup over democracy in Beijing/Tianamen Square. That’s no accidental timing.

* Blob at The Australian Christopher Pearson runs quotes not denied of Kerry OBrien of 7.30 Report late at night after Budget sledging Costello as “lazy” etc. Implies not objective and if Costello gets the leadership OBrien will have to quit his ABC job (???).

* Professor of Geology book review on Science Show  yesterday demolishes Plimer’s book Heaven and Earth on Radio National ABC yesterday. Long time admirer and colleague of Plimer. Ouch.

* SAM editor comment on crikey string early in the week about “pathetic” coalition response to desperate Uigyars stranded at Gitmo going to Australia. As anti Freedom against Chinese dictatorship with June 4 coming up. The word “pathetic” was repeated throughout the week in federal political discourse on various topics. That’s what we do here at SAM.

10 Meet the Press:  8- 8-30 am

[Missed the first five minutes to just before first adbreak. No political lobby adverts]

Talent is Treasurer Swan. Panel is John Stanely 2UE, Glenn Milne News Corp Sydney Telegraph.

Big traverse of topics ETS – stays firm on timetable prior to Copenhagen regardless sof USA saying it’s crucial for business certainty for at least the framework, govt line on Chinalco, Technical Recession, Cigarettes recruitment of young women. Humour out take on Obama towing away something (capitalism?) with China to save it.

2^nd adbreak carries John Dee on biodegradable retail shopping bags.

2^nd guest new ‘moderate’ head of the AMA to build bridges again with ALP Govt. Topic around cigarettes and private insurance. Cost structures.

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

Riley Diary 7, from 8.30am

‘not out of the woods yet’ by all and sundry all the way to Obama. Alby Shultz assault on MP for Alston in party room, Fitzgibbon handover to Faulkner as Defence Minister. Grab of Barnaby Joyce about Rudd as “psycho chicken” now on YouTube.

Q & A with Riley: Notes Bob Debus to backbencher – heart not really in it. [but see my comment at backgrounders above, Rudd shafted him from the very start sop to NSW Right.] . Vindication on recession? ‘Not out of the woods’

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

Hockey as Shadow Treasurer, very friendly welcome to LO as diplomatic foray at outset given LO too friendly recently to govt  – surprised at large shuffle. Payback to faction chiefs. Sledges Chris Warren, Mark Arbib of NSW Right. Combet is “talented” payback to unions.

Trawls ute affair of PM Rudd as “political donation” bring back Godwin Getch Treasury official who was gagged in estimates.

LO quotes Tanner in AFR living beyond our means. Hockey refers to wracking up debt still. Debt burden greater than anything since WW2. AFR article 20% fall in living standards in USA and Britian.

H says not in Australia more attached to Asia. Good legacy of Coalition. Has to be very measured in our tone and words. Surge in exports, fall in imports saved the headline for the govt. Focuses on terms of trade more favourable than during Howard govt time so legacy of export.

$210 billion lost in forward estimates, can’t lose something you never had. LO what would you have done, cut that expenditure? Hockey denies that. LO gets cranky. Not spent on stimulus. Spent an extra $124 billion in last 18 months. Wouldn’t have spent $42B in cash splash. But can’t unscramble the egg even if win the next election. Claims record levels on advertising and consultants.

Costello elephant still in the room. Loyal to Malcolm Turnbull as leader.

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

Insiders 2: 9- 10am

Rips Riley Diary approach in first few minutes. ‘Not out of the woods’ gets the run.

Footage of demolition by Coalition Senator [Johnstone?] of Joel Fitzgibbon as Defence Minister via staff meeting with minister’s brother as local NIB rep for US Humana. See backgrounds above too. Prize is $200M defence contract.

Panel make their comments. Annabel Crabb, Mal Farr/Akerman from News Corp Sydney.

Breaking news Defence minister quits Brown Govt. Local elections bad for UK Labour, Europe as bad.

Mogadon Lindsay Tanner is the talent throwing wet blanket on all controversy. Safe hands but looking increasingly like a brain in a scarecrow. The job is killing him being the real economic brains of the govt,  covering for ministerial colleagues?

Tanner nervousness in 2001 and 2007 on the Greens after lower house win in WA. Argues ‘Labor voters will understand shouting from the sideline, rather than doing stuff inside and making compromises.’ BC: Climate change is a big issue and your seat is marginal.

Argues statistics over ETS, climate change policy. BC double dissolution would make policy even more stark. Says doesn’t want election. Tanner pushes the sleazy line about Greens just shouting from the sidelines, not making any difference. Leveraging incumbency and looking like death warmed up as he says it. Tanner leans on Wilcox report – moderate judge – to avoid union pressure.

Your shout segment on reality/science fiction of recession. Star trekkies exhibition.

Various chat [about issues covered in other shows above]. Footage of PM Rudd very angry about claims of sleazy donations for ute. Calls Turnbull “you grub”[which is exactly what Debus said to Coalition in NSW Parliament before running against Howard Govt in federal sphere. How ironic given Debus shafted this week.]

‘Prof’ Paul Kelly soliloquy: Says reshuffle makes Govt stronger. In Faulkner cheer squad.  Says govt big news not in technical recession.

Crabb argues for Gillard on gender grounds as lone woman on panel with footage of Gillard confronting violence in the union movement at Melbourne conference.

Great footage of Obama noticing an Egyptian carving in the Pyramids.

Tips – Crabb something about immigration.

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

Inside Business with Alan Kohler

Chinalco fallout with

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

Posted by editor at 12:34 PM NZT

Updated: Thursday, 11 June 2009 8:37 AM NZT

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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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