"I'm very impressed by the National Broadband Network"
How doth the little crocodile
Improve his shining tail,
And pour the waters of the Nile
On every golden scale!
How cheerfully he seems to grin
How neatly spreads his claws,
And welcomes little fishes in,
With gently smiling jaws!
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45 comments:
I think me trying to guess who this refers to is even more stupid thank asking a stupid question:
Who does this refer to?
And what the fuck is happening? Do we have a government yet?
We do have a government, Melbs.
It's lead by one Gillard, J until the House of Representatives decides otherwise.
You know what I mean. Do we have the new government yet.
And you didn't answer my question.
That crocodile doesn't look right
So it's left then. And it's green. Bobby Brown?
I agree about the crocodile. Still, at least he looks happy.
I hear The Katter is demanding a substantial devaluing of the Aussie dollar. Does anyone want to try to call which way the ex-Nats are going to go? There could be a prize* for anyone who gets three out of three.
*But probably not.
I reckon they'll all go one way. Have to.
But which way will they go, Melba? I'm going to throw my hat in the ring and suggest that they'll all back Labor. Primarily because that would give a 77 majority and less friction with the Senate, and I haven't written the independents of as being completely unpragmatic dick-biscuits at this point. Well, except Katter, maybe.
Oh, and speaking of dick-biscuits, I do so hope that Fielding doesn't act like a total cunt-cunt between now and July. Can anyone tell me why the Senate doesn't switch over straight after the election?
I'm tipping they'll go Labor, but I tell you what, they are dragging it out and it's very annoying.
They are playing with us, and with both the PM and the leader of the opposition and it's not very nice.
At least the games should be coming to a close in the not-too-distant future, Melba. I think Oakeshott and Windsor have both given assurances that they'll have made up their minds by Tuesday. And at that point, it isn't going to matter much what Katter does.
Oh, it's the crocodile green with his temper so mean!
They're saying on the news this morning that they will decide today.
I'm with you Melba, it's pissing me off.
Squib, how does a crocodile look "right"?
And EMS, great avatar.
Wari, real crocodiles aren't teal with short, snub snouts and perfect teeth
Oh, it's the crocodile green with his temper so mean!
Where is that from, EMS? It seems to be causing an itch at the back of my brain for some reason.
real crocodiles aren't teal with short, snub snouts and perfect teeth
Reminds me of the dodgy illustrations in the dinosaur books I had when I was a kid. Bet you didn't know that some dinosaurs were pink and others had polka dots. Must have made camouflage a bit tricky.
Squib, now that I look closer, his (?) teeth are pointing in different directions!
You're right Alex! There needs to be children's books illustration police. God, did I miss an apostrophe somewhere there?
No government yet! An ungoverned lot you remain, while I bask in the glory of a stable (?) profoundly corrupt regime.
And EMS, great avatar.
Why, thank you. Glad you like it. I heart it too.
Oh, it's the crocodile green with his temper so mean!
... said he wasted his money on games. The king said: "You'll pay or in the dungeon you'll stay eating spinach and burnt toast and brains!" The croc said "No, no! Not that please!" and fell down on his knees, so the kind king forgave him his debt. He sent him away, forgiven that day, and the croc said he'd never forget.
But the crocodile green with his temper so mean, found a monkey to take for a ride. "Pay me!" he said, "Or I'll eat you instead, and I'll gobble you right up inside!" The monkey cried out and his friends gave a shout so the king came running to see.
"He's learnt nothing to day, so take him away and let the poor little monkey go free."
Now our father in heaven, through the son that he's given, forgives us our sins and our debts and he expects us to not make a fuss, but like Jesus forgive and forget.
Remember that ad? I don't know that they put it on telly anymore? Haven't seen it in years.
Oh, and happy father's day to all the TSFKA papas.
I had a pretty rockin' Father's Day, EMS.
The Boy also got a present as he argues - with prefect logic - that if it wasn't for him, I would'd be a father.
Hands up anyone who is sick to death of vacillating independents. Surely to God they're even sick of themselves by now.
First Dog on the Moon today is a pisser. "The interregnum that wouldn't leave."
Firstly, I trust that all TSFKAers based in the south-east of the country are currently safe and dry. Been some interesting weather down there, I understand.
Secondly, sorry Wari, but unlike you and Melba, I don't have any serious gripes with what's been going on over the past couple of weeks. I'll save my griping until after I start to see some outcomes. I do, however, have a couple of completely unrelated questions for the wise political minds around here:
1) If you (as a political party) simultaneously promise lower and lower taxes and bigger and bigger budget surpluses; is that not pretty much the same as promising shittier and shittier public services?
2) Do we need state governments in this country?
Any thoughts?
Alex,
1 Yep. Pretty obvious. Even I as a committed conservative admit we will always have to be a relatively highly taxed nation, given how huge the joint is and how few of us live here.
2 Nope. Given the above, 3 levels of government is a joke. But can you see any of them voting themselves into oblivion? Oh no. It's fucked but we're stuck with it. That and Tasmanian senators (with profuse apologies to EMS) who think they can run the country when a couple of hundred people voted for them and they wind up with the balance of power in the (read "unrepresentative swill") senate.
Alex, while it's kind of irritating, I do appreciate the situation and the process and would much rather these people be thorough and possibly deliver us some worthwhile political adjustments (or is that too much to hope for?)than just rush in and be silly.
And it really is only irritating. It's not affecting my day to day life.
is that too much to hope for?
I might be dreaming, Melba, but I hope not.
And cheers Wari. They were just a couple of things that I've been mulling over for a while and decided I needed some input on.
Even I as a committed conservative
I've read a little bit (not a lot) lately about the way Australia has come to think about conservatism and how it relates to the origin of the concept and so forth. Anyway, I don't mean to put you on the spot or anything, but as one of the few openly committed conservatives that I know and respect (and since you humoured me on the first two questions), I was wondering if I could ask for your take on a couple more things:
1) When you say conservative, you're talking more about fiscal conservatism, right? You're not lumping in a Tony-Abbott-esque moral stance on social issues, are you?
2) On balance, is free trade with countries that don't enforce decent labour conditions a good or bad thing?
Just saw Katter on the early news. I misquote him but you get the gist. "I have the power to decide who gets to be PM and I'm going use that power." There is something wrong with a system that gives this lunatic the balance of power. And no, I don't have a proposal for a better system.
Alex the problem with being "conservative" (and all labels I suppose) is you risk being lumped in with idiots like the above. Just as Ramon has clear left leanings (oh master of understatement I am) he's no Stalin.
In answer to your very politely posed questions, remembering these are my opinions only.
1. Yes. Definitely a fiscal conservative. I am firm in the belief that a country is no different to a business or a household. You cannot keep spending more than you earn. Eventually bad things will happen. Until the Whitlam, and more so Fraser eras, Australia agreed with me.
2. There's a tough one. Define "decent labour conditions". There are those who believe we don't have them in Australia. I live in a place where they are basically unenforceable but even so called "world's best practice" companies don't pay a living wage. Social engineering is difficult in your own country, and impossible to impose from outside. For the whole process from 3rd world (ok "developing") to 1st world to begin you have to have employment. And education, and basic health care. The biggest impediment I've seen to that (FAD MD could add something I'm sure) is a profoundly corrupt political process. This country has enormous wealth (never more apparent than now with this massive LNG project) but very few people get wealthy. I could go on and on (which I am inclined to do) but alas must get some work done.
It seems Katter has gone with The Coalition. So I guess, no matter which way the other two go (assuming they go together), the next government will have the narrowest margin possible.
smh is calling Katter for the coalition. Ramon, isn't this your job?
Just pipped me Alex! Ramon is probably in a meeting with Windsor and Oakeshot.
I imagine so, Wari. And thanks for being a sport with my questions earlier. I've recently come to the conclusion that if I'm going to follow politics long term, it wouldn't hurt to know more about history and economics, too.
In some ways, I'm not that anxious over the final result (even though I utterly despise Tony Abbott and would hate to see him as PM). I assume that the make up of the parliament is going to mean that both party's policies will get fairly even consideration (and will need the approval of The Greens to get through The Senate), and whoever forms government may end up being forced to implement a bunch of policies that they're fundamentally opposed to, anyway.
If the other two were going to go with the coalition, wouldn't they have announced it as the same time as Katter? Is this a hint that they will go with Labor? Only a few more minutes till we find out!
According to the LOLKatter, PG, he had drawn up a policy scorecard that fell in the coalition's favour, so that was it for him. The other two apparently still wanted to debate stuff.
Windsor goes Labor!
Windsor goes Labor!
Oakeshot as well.
Game over, Mr Monk.
After that fucking speech I've decided Oakeshott is actually a bigger fuckwit than Katter.
Julia is now officially (?) our first "elected" woman PM. May as well look on the bright side.
I'd say Oakeshott has been offered a ministry, Wari.
Any guesses at which ministry, Ramon?
After that fucking speech I've decided Oakeshott is actually a bigger fuckwit than Katter.
That's just being needlessly mean, Wari. It was certainly long winded, but personally, I didn't think it was as shit-filled as some speeches I've heard. Even if he did get the Highlander quote wrong. Favourite childhood movie, indeed.
It's been a gruelling few weeks for him. So happy Gillard is returned.
Something along the lines of rural development would be my guess, Alex.
I'd say you're right Ramon. Sure sounded like an acceptance speech.
Sorry Alex. But why couldn't he have come out and said, "I'm going with Labor. Here's why ..." This whole process has been so bloody awful and then (to me anyway) he adds insult to injury by crapping on for an eternity when we only wanted to know one thing. And we sort of knew already.
At least it's over. And I still maintain the Libs aren't fit to govern. I just hope Labor will stop borrowing now. Even with the "GFC" it has been a phenomenally wasteful government so far.
My take on Oakeshott would be that he knew once he announced his decision the journos would all piss off to file and he wanted to get his reasons on the record.
Because the News Limited papers will go absolutely, stone-cold, ape-shit crazy over this.
What Ramon said. Plus, one of the first things he talked about was what was going to happen in the coming parliament. After Windsor laid his cards on the table, that was just as good as saying who he was supporting. Anything else would have been another election.
I figured his media advisor had something to do with it. You spin doctors!
Will The Australian be officially in mourning? I often wonder why any Labor politician even speaks to them. They've taken partisan reporting to a new level.
It just dawned on me, isn't it going to be awkward having an independent minister? I mean, if he's got no interest in party solidarity, he could well end up criticising the very policy areas that he's in charge of. How does it work in state governments?
Oh yay.
That and Tasmanian senators (with profuse apologies to EMS)
None taken, Wari. Don't worry about that at all. I reckon he's the least of our worries.
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