Brendan Nelson announces the end of his political career
One of the great joys about being in government is watching those bastards on the opposition benches collapse into a confused rabble.
The Libs have never handled opposition that well. They were originally created in 1944 to grab and hold political power and opposition makes them feel uneasy (incidentally, the Labor Party is always a bit uneasy about winning elections. The Labor heroes; Keating, Whitlam, Chifley all lost elections. The exception is John Curtin but he sneakily died while in office).
A special joy is the announcement that former opposition leader Brendan Nelson is retiring from politics at the next election.
Labor types had a special hatred for Nelson, in part because of suspicions that he’s a “class traitor”* and in part because he gained the leadership by appealing to the legacy of the “Howard years”**.
The Libs have never handled opposition that well. They were originally created in 1944 to grab and hold political power and opposition makes them feel uneasy (incidentally, the Labor Party is always a bit uneasy about winning elections. The Labor heroes; Keating, Whitlam, Chifley all lost elections. The exception is John Curtin but he sneakily died while in office).
A special joy is the announcement that former opposition leader Brendan Nelson is retiring from politics at the next election.
Labor types had a special hatred for Nelson, in part because of suspicions that he’s a “class traitor”* and in part because he gained the leadership by appealing to the legacy of the “Howard years”**.
The other thing that irked me was his habit of taking random goods (jars of jam, I recall, were a particular favourite) into the chamber and angrily shaking them at the Government. I think it was meant to represent political passion but to me it suggested a slightly dodgy shopkeeper, going out of business.
Bye Doc. Can’t say you’ll be missed.
*Yes, we are that petty.
**Whatever that may be.
The jam jars... When he was President of the AMA I remember he was famous for having an ear-ring.
ReplyDeleteHe's always done props.
His retirement from politics will create a stir that will last until tea-time tonight, then he'll be forgotten forever.
His contribution to Strayan history? A stupid speech on Sorry Day. That is all.
Pretty much sums him up, Pers.
ReplyDeleteHe always was a chancer.
He's a tosser.
ReplyDeleteGood riddance to bad rubbish I say
And you're right, the conservative cause is in a state of complete disarray.
I love the snide comment Nelson made, I assume he was referring to Peter Costello. "One thing I'll never be is some sort of seat warmer."
ReplyDeleteJulia Gillard must feel like a cat that's had its favourite squeaky toy taken away.
ReplyDeleteCan I ask a question that is only relevant in that it's about politics. Anyone remember a Stephen Smith years ago being in a scandal when his assistant or secretary or something got pregnant with his child? And it was huge news? IS that the same Smith that is a minister now?
ReplyDelete?
Thanks.
Dunno about that Melba, but he was named "Crikey's sexiest male pollie for 2008".
ReplyDeleteKate Ellis was the sexiest female pollie.
Hope this helps.
No it doesn't. I thought you of all people would know.
ReplyDeleteYou don't even remember the scandale?
I'll do some 'research' and come back because I know you are now intrigued.
Ok I've got a headache now. Maybe it was Ian Smith, but not the Harold Bishop one.
ReplyDeleteLeaving it alone now.
Maybe it was Robert Smith.
ReplyDeleteIt was Jeff's finance minister, Melba.
ReplyDeleteOf course, Ian Smith!
ReplyDeleteHe was a bit of a cunt.
I love that he has assured the patients of Australia that he won't return to medicine.
ReplyDeleteI'm more concerned that he might return to guitar playing.
ReplyDeleteThe prospect of seeing "Half" for a delicate medical matter is as about appealing as seeing Peter Reith for grief counselling.
ReplyDeleteIntroducing Dr Brendan "Half" Nelson, GP:
ReplyDeleteSpecialising in amputations, erectile disfunctions, and Brit Milah.
God commanded Abraham be circumcised at 99 years old!?
ReplyDeleteGee, God really is a bastard.
Ramon, that ain't the half of it. Later God told him to kill his own son.
ReplyDeleteAs Richard Dawkins says, "The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction ..."
Yeah, but to be fair Ramon, at that age his foreskin would have been 30cm long and had no feeling left.
ReplyDeleteI feel sorry for all the adult male members (hur hur - double entendre) of his tribe. Can you imagine the announcement...
Abraham: Ok, men, can I have your attention please? God has commanded me to take a knife and chop the excess skin off your penis, or you're all going to hell.
Men: ?!?!?!
For somebody who was opposition leader until pretty recently, his story got very little attention in the papers.
ReplyDeleteJust like John Hewson is now famous for his GST Cake debacle, Nelson may well be remembered not for the jars of jam, not for the earring but for his declaration that he would never in his life vote liberal. I suppose he meant he'd just lead them.
Over at Crikey, First Dog on the Moon notes;
ReplyDelete"In other news, total failure Dr Brendan Nelson has sadly decided to leave politics and return to his former life as a singing ant."
God I love you, First Dog.
The only thing that's changed since yesterday is the cheeky line above "The followers".
ReplyDeleteAnd what a 'cheeky' line that is Wari :)
ReplyDeleteThe line that says
ReplyDelete"People who saw Perseus' bum and now need counselling and corrective vision surgery"
Aesophia.
Indeed Aesophia.
ReplyDeleteI'd sign up there but I have this thing about being a "follower". It's a bit too cultist sounding for me.
You are hereby exempted from being a "follower", Wari.
ReplyDeleteWhich means you don't get the party hat and balloons.