Webdiary - Founded and Inspired by Margo Kingston

Actually Kathy Farrelly, I was so sceptical when I heard Kevin Rudd had taken the helm of the Labor Party I thought all was doomed and the election that was going to be handed to Labor on a plate (after my initial celebrations with the advent of WorkChoices) wouldn't get off the ground which is a good reason why they don't actually consult me on these things.

I've always thought that Malcolm Turnbull was the greatest threat Labor would face - until I heard about Therese Rein's wealth.

At least it's an equal race. Sadly, I predict (with certain accuracy as I'm never wrong) there never will be a Turnbull PM which is possibly a shame as he is obviously an intelligent and clever bloke.

Aussie Liberal supporters just have to get used to it. Kevin Rudd is Howard without the horrid bits and it works.

 A belated comment Richard.

I believe that Brendan was elected by the Liberals as a sacrificial lamb.  As everyone knows, the first year of a defeated government party is the hardest and the most debilitating.

IMHO, the "New Order" understood this and were prepared to put Dr. Nelson's loyal but less vicious attitude to see what effect he could have in puting forward the Liberal doctrine.

He took the hard knocks and one must wonder - how will the new leader handle parliamentary protocol with an unbiased Speaker, when he has so successfully used the Court system to improve his own personal wealth.

Cheers Ern G.

Here.

And Alan, you are disgusting, aren't you, mate? Rudd pimping for his wife?

The commentators in this forum very quickly demonstrate their politics.

However, I have noticed that the neo-conservatives NEVER give an inch for any opinion even slightly different to their individualism.

Nevertheless, there are many contributors who, while appearing to be for the people, the nation and our future, can give credit where it is due.

This according to the Howardists is simply weakness, but we can fight and die for their wars while they EMPLOY into their ranks the undoubtedly brilliant, but totally selfish people like Malcolm Turnbull.

I also believe that Howard appreciated the way in which Turnbull eliminated his predecessor Mr. King.  Howard always believed in cuddling up to the most powerful - the big businesses, the schoolyard bullies - and here was one of those bullies, and he sponsored him.

Just think of the bullies of this modern world, Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Saddam, Peron, Mugabe etc.  All megalomaniacs.

Just watch to see how the Turnbull (Goldman Sachs protege) handles the attitudes of humility, honesty and the claim that he is an expert in financial matters - especially concerning merchant banking!

"pimping on his wife"

I suppose it would be best to leave it to others as to how they wish to label Alan's wife.

I bet Mrs Rudd would have the wisdom not to waste her time with such nonsense.

I gave it 8 weeks:

Costello's memoirs already bargain binned:

JUST three days after it went on sale, copies of The Costello Memoirs have been dumped in the bargain bins.

Staff at the Paperchain Bookstore in Manuka, the closest bookshop to Parliament House, reported "pretty decent" sales yesterday at the full price of $54.99.

But at the Borders in the Canberra Centre shopping mall, The Costello Memoirs had already been discounted down to $34.95 and the book was available at the Big W in the same complex for the bargain basement price of just $32.95.

Marilyn Shepherd: "Kirribilli has always been the other residence of the bloody PM."

Finally.

The lights at Kirribilli House were ablaze again last night.

Kevin was in town for the White Ribbon Awards and so stayed over at his official Sydney residence, Kirribilli House, with its stunning views overlooking Sydney Harbour, including the Opera House, its sweeping lawns, winding gravel drives and carefully manicured gardens set on acres of prime Sydney real estate.

Turnbull's history is a legitimate target for examination given he was a merchant banker and today's collapses under the corporate deregulation of the past 30 years by conservative governments in the US and UK. Toss in his work for Kerry Packer, an advocate for the same. .

I hardly see how Kevin Rudd can be seen as "pimping off his wife" when he has been working his entire life as a professional diplomat, political adviser, MP amd now PM where he perhaps "pimps" off the Australian taxpayer but no more than any other politician.

Trying to reduce the argument to a comparison on wealth is a diversion and Annabel Crabb does it well today in the SMH with the Monty Python's shoebox sketch! 

It's hard to tell whether Turnbull's wealth will be an asset or hindrance in his political career, but the way he made it could be interesting and a future examination of the HIH matter will be fascinating.

Kirribilli has always been the other residence of the bloody PM.

But only one has lived in it instead of the Lodge.

Marilyn Shepherd: "Now enough of this nitpicking bullshit from you please."

Oh, thanks Marilyn. The Prime Minister's own website decribes Kirribilli House as an official residence of the Prime Minister. This unambiguous and indisputable fact has been acknowledged by others on this thread.

Best wishes.

Yeehah, another one of the Howard mob bites the dust.

The Lodge is the official residence of the PM. Howard spent $20 million of our money to avoid living in it.

Kirribilli has always been the house used for official visits from dignitaries but is allowed to be used by the PM.

This PM has donated it to groups for 10 or 12 fund raisers per annum for approved charities.

Now enough of this nitpicking bullshit from you please.

Richard Tonkin: "Ok I've checked your sites.  The PM's Home Page does indeed list Kirribilli as one of the office-bearers two availble residences."

Gosh. Really? 

Michael de Angelos: Simply fudging the wording doesn't make it so. "Sydney" residence is correct. This is not the same as moving the PM's 'official' residence from Canberra to Sydney. Canberra is the capital of Australia."

Once again, Michael, the Prime Minister's own official website refers to both The Lodge and Kirribilli House as Official Residences thusly:

 Official Residences

• The Lodge
• Kirribilli House

Have a look yourself. Neither one nor the other is afforded some prior status.

It says;

• The Lodge is the official Canberra residence of the Prime Minister and his family.
• Kirribilli House has been the Prime Minister’s official Sydney residence since 1956.

They are both the "official residence" of the "Prime Minister".  Can you see that?

And I assure you, the Rudd family uses Kirribilli House even when the Prime Minister himself is away from Sydney.

I mean, I don't mind. After all, it's the Prime Minister's prerogative. It's his perquisite while he is in office. They're his family.

But there is just one more admittedly facile example of the bizarre double standard by which John Howard is judged against one set of standards, and Kevin Rudd is accorded separate status and so judged differently.

It goes on and on and on. So, when Rudd's trying to cover for Swan's incompetence he, and his entire claque, will simultaneously cheer the "fundamental strengths of the Australian economy", the "stability of Australia's financial sector" and our "excellent situation in relation to the booming Chinese economy" (until yesterday at any rate),  but yet immediately bemoan "the economic mess we've inherited" when it comes to explaining current interest rates or growing inflation or slowing jons growth.

The health of the Australian economy depends entirely on whether it is Rudd's stewardship or that of John Howard which is up for discussion.

When Rudd cranks up restrictions on refugee intakes over the level of the previous government, for example, Rudd's just protecting our way of life and ensuring our territorial integrity, while Howard was racist and a fear monger.

When Rudd sends Australians off to die in Afghanistan, he's helping the Afghanis in their struggle for democracy and fighting against the Taliban,

When Howard does it, he's a Yanqui imperialist running dog making unprovoked war on the Afghanis.

It really is laughable that this absurd double standard now extends down even to pretending that when Kevin Rudd sleeps at Kirribilli House, he's doing one thing, but when John Howard did it, he was doing something else.

I know. As Australia slides further and further into recession, we can congratulate Kevin Rudd for "more effectively conserving our economic resources and efficiently marshalling our labour force between employment opportunities" as opposed to to the "years of reckless, materialist waste and greed" fostered by the Howard/Costello during 10 years of full employment and low inflation.

I should point out, too, that Keating lived mostly at Kirribilli House when he was PM. But, of course, that was different. He was Paul Keating.

By the way, one of the staff at Admiralty House (which adjoins Kirribilli house and shares a common garden) tells me the Governor-General's staff still refer to Kirribilli House as "the servants quarters".

Simply fudging the wording doesn't make it so. "Sydney" residence is correct. This is not the same as moving the PM's 'official' residence from Canberra to Sydney. Canberra is the capital of Australia.

Cast  your mind back to the outrage when the Australiana Fund purchased a Thai teak table for $17,000 for Kirribilli House and the absurd splutterings of the NIne network (including the odious Laurie Oakes) and News Ltd newspapers that this was yet further proof of the "arrogance" of Paul Keating. Despite the fact that he has nothing to do with choices made by that Fund.

Keating stayed at Kirribilli House, correctly, when in Sydney - he lived at the Lodge just as every PM before and since John Howard has done.

Richard: "Sydney residence" is slightly different to "home", isn't it Eliot, or do you call that quibbling?"

Well, if you look again you'll see the website also refers to The Lodge as "the official Canberra residence of the Prime Minister and his family".

So, unless the Prime Minister is officially "homeless", then Kirribilli House and The Lodge have the same residential status and function, according to the Prime Minister's own website.

Then there's this pesky dictionary definition of "residence" which includes

• House
• Home

I mean, perhaps one says "The butler is in the residence" and "The Prime Minister is home".

Anyway, Malcolm will doubtless have it refurbished.

Michael de Angelos: "The purpose of Kirribilli House is to host functions for visiting dignitaries and for the PM to host official functions when in Sydney."

Not according to the official website of the Office of the Prime Minister. There it says "Kirribilli House has been the Prime Minister’s official Sydney residence since 1956."

The Prime Minister's own official website says;

"In 1956-57 the Commonwealth Government restored Kirribilli House for use as a residence for overseas guests of the Commonwealth and the Prime Minister of the day and his family."

Really, comrades, I don't see why we should be making excuses for the exorbitant opulence of the Prime Minister, his millionaire wife and pampered progeny.

Richard:"Sydney residence" is slightly different to "home", isn't it Eliot, or do you call that quibbling?

The purpose of Kirribilli House is to host functions for visiting dignitaries and for the PM to host official functions when in Sydney. That has been its official purpose since the 1950's  (by an Act of Parliament). Kevin Rudd uses it for its correct purpose. Howard appropriated it for his personal use and set up two households at our expense.

The suggestion that Howard is "old news" is a fallacy. Are we to be reminded daily of the glorious "economy" gifted to the Rudd government by the previous government without comment?

Although I do expect Malcolm Turnbull may play down this as he is - not as McCain and Palin would have us believe they are - the true "maverick". This will make politics in Australia more interesting as we see how Turnbull's leadership unfolds but it could be his undoing.

I cannot recall in political history such a politician surviving in either Labor or the Liberals. A loner can receive more poison than a factional warrior. This is the problem facing Nathan Rees in NSW. Being from the far left he is also from the smallest faction. The compromises Rees faces will be immense although NSW Labor - even the right - becomes more consolidated than the Liberals when under threat of extinction. It's the hard right who have been losing NSW for the Liberals for years.

The mindset that infused the federal Liberals over the 3 or 4 years of their demise was an aberration. They began to believe in their own leader's "mystique". They began to believe the endless media political writers who pushed this myth of the unassailable Prime Minister who was "master politician" when he was anything but. Lucky, ruthless yes, masterful, no.

Anyone making judgements on the Rudd government at present is fantasising. Labor's policies haven't had time to kick in fully; we won't know their effects for 2 or 3 years. Even the dismanling of the greatest blunder of Howard and Costello, "Work Choices", is taking time.

I already see Turnbull making mistakes on his first day. Just as Nelson, from 9 months ago, was blaming all Australia's ills on a just installed Labor government, voters know this simply cannot be true. Turnbull has weighed in as of yesterday as though Labor has ruled for years. His first speech was basically an insult to the majority of voters for having the temerity to not choose him and his friends again.

I was amused to read Malcolm B's perspicacious post of 2.38 yesterday.   I will admit to having been a Grammar boy myself, and that I knew Malcolm at school (Turnbull, that is).  How shall I put this politely?  The story of MT's impoverished youth has left me somewhat surprised, particularly the article in today's Telegraph which stated that he was discriminated against because his parents were divorced. 

Frankly, and Malcolm B may be able to provide an up to date legal opinion on this, I would have thought that it would be hard to discriminate against someone on the basis of a fact that you did not know.

Richard: "Umm, Kathy... Howard claimed Kirribilli as his own palace, though Rudd has done no such thing."

News for you Richard. Not only does Rudd use it, but the rest of the family are seen coming and going on a pretty regular basis, too. Also, Therese's Prius is not so much in evidence these days as are the long lines of white CommCar limousines. Kirribilli House is definitely the 'flat in town'.

Bartender? Can I have scotch and soda? Thanks...

Kevin Rudd lives in the Lodge. Howard spent years and $20 million extra to live in Kirribilli House.

Nothing much has changed for ordinary people in Australia since the last election as far as the economy goes.

 It's really stupid to try and claim that Rudd is responsible for the crash on Wall street, the sub-prime disaster and so on.

Why aren't you gloating and thanking Kevin Rudd because oil has now fallen 42% in the last couple of weeks.

Now get a grip on reality.

I am delighted. 

The faction around him during the Republic Convention were known affectionately as the Turnbullies. 

The sooner the Oz electorate gets to see his Lathamesque charms at work the better.

Since Brendan Nelson was elected leader, there have been numerous lib politicians, in interviews, saying that they were loyal to him committed to him, and vowing that he would be holding that position at the time of the next election.

It seemed to me that a more intelligent response might have been that, in their position, they had the freedom to try out various people in the role, and see who performed best. 

The chances of Brendan still being there by the time of the next election seemed remote, but the pollies evidently preferred to appear loyal now at the risk of appearing later to be idiots or liars.  

Political-watching is a disspiriting business.

Marilyn Shepherd: "Kevin Rudd is not a fraud, he is simply trying to fix the revolting mess the Liberals made over many years and has achieved more in 10 months than Howard and co did in years."

Actually, according to Ross Gittins:

The incomes of the nation's poorest households rose more dramatically than those of the richest Australians in the final years of the Howard government, buoyed by rising wages and bulging welfare payments.

 And according to Professor Andrew Markus of Monash University, at the end of the Howard era:

In response to a special nationwide survey of 2000 people, almost 90 per cent indicated that, "taking all things into consideration", they were happy with their lives. Almost as many expected their lives to be the same or improved in three to four years' time. And 80 per cent agreed that "Australia is a land of economic opportunity where in the long run, hard work brings a better life"

That all seems a long time ago now, doesn't it?

Allan Curran, presumably to Michael De Angelos:

"You were wrong about ...Carlton. You said he would be back but he's not, thank goodness".

Charming. Gloats at the persecution of an innocent man by power-drunk bigots and delights in the trashing of that diversity of ideas that is essential to the future of democracy.

Now, as to the thread, Nelson is the second pollie to go troppo and head for the hills under pressure, following Carpenter. Chokers, both.

Can we finally say a provisional farewell to that hopelessly self-infatuated infantile narcissist, Costello, in his fantasy world?

Finally, Nelson's rush of blood brings Turncalf to his party's leadership at the wrong time, although he could well get up the election after, if he is lucky. But I wonder if he is not a soufflé politician, like Peacock back in the 'eighties. Then, I suppose that's what people have thought of Nelson, so who can say where the substance lies with the coalition. Abbott? Tuckey?

But what deplorable spin and twaddle from Minchin. He really is a politician's politician and someone parliament really could well do without.

..people would simply do as I say, Alan Curran, as I am invariably correct.

[Richard: and here I was thinking it's your wife who's clairvoyant]

The SMH's advertising revenue is plunging along with readership and the morale of staff. It need not be that way.

Who knows how Malcolm will turn out ? Certainly Lucy is very nice and Mal is more personable in person than he appears on the teevee. But his performance with his last Kerry O'Brien interview was tragic - he tied himself in knots without Kerry's help. He has a long way to go in learning how to be a "politician" and I think he may be too old to learn although that prize as PM is so tempting he could pull a rabbit out of a hat. Then again, that Costello chap could be biding his time.

Events of the past week, both federally and in NSW and WA, have yet again proved that British PM Harold Wilson was never more correct when he said :

"Seven days is a long time in politics".

And Malcolm, us refos used to call it Bubble Bay as every business there seemed to go bust.

The last flat that Malcolm stayed in was a luxury apartment in Canberra owned by Lucy, to whom he paid his travel allowance as rent.

What a hoot.   When he says he was not born into affluence like some, who was he talking about? It can't have been Kevin Rudd, who was born into a family of dirt poor share farmers.

Malcolm always sounds like a belligerent pig ranting at people without ever saying anything.

Kevin Rudd is not a fraud, he is simply trying to fix the revolting mess the Liberals made over many years and has achieved more in 10 months than Howard and co did in years.

You really need to get some sort of reality check on your hatred you know.