Thursday 21 July 2016 1 Sometimes the wisdom of a child can put words into action that convey the simple truth that we are more like each other than we care to admit. A fact that some through their inherited hatred, or ignorance, are afraid of admitting. “I’m proud of you, and I’m a proud…
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce rejects the policies of senator-elect Pauline Hanson, as a Coalition backbencher suggests banning Muslim immigration from areas considered hotspots of violent extremism.
By Dr George Venturini* Testing the thesis (continued) 14 (Fraudulent elections) Strictly speaking, and barring some rare, isolated cases, there is no electoral fraud in Australia if by that one means ‘illegal interference with an election process’. None of the defining instances of ‘electoral fraud’ is present in Australia – not intimidation, vote buying, misinformation,…
Banking, finance and insurance is perceived as the least ethical sector of Australia’s economy, according to a new survey.
Source: Ethics survey: Banking, media and big business on the nose
Wednesday 20 July 2016 The debacle that was Pauline Hanson on Q&A Monday night serves to remind us just how counterproductive appearances on television by people like her can be. This was manifestly demonstrated by the person who suggested that instead of bringing people together as ‘One Nation’ she was actually dividing us. You cannot…
Source: Day to Day Politics: Not a coherent word did she utter. – » The Australian Independent Media Network
By Dr George Venturini* Testing the thesis . . . Rampant cronyism and corruption (continued) The Iraqi wheat-for-weapons scandal was set to reignite headlines again in 2016 with former Australian Wheat Board – A.W.B. chair Trevor Flugge due to face court in a lengthy civil trial examining his central involvement in the bribes controversy. A.W.B.’s…
Source: The facets of Australian fascism: the Abbott Government experiment (Part 47) – »
Hanson’s comeback is a political embarrassment for Australia and a source of shame for the politics that spawned her.
A senior police officer who was in charge during the final hours of the Lindt Cafe siege accepts responsibility for the deaths three people.
By Dr George Venturini* Testing the thesis . . . Rampant cronyism and corruption (continued) The late Chalmers Johnson, reviewing a book by the already mentioned Emeritus Professor Sheldon S. Wolin, who for well over two generations taught the history of political philosophy from Plato to the present to Berkeley and Princeton graduate students, made…
Craig Thomson discusses Australia’s ugly immigration policies – past and present – and how they have allowed modern racism to flourish.
Source: Freedom of speech according to Kruger and Hanson: Racism by any other name
CLEVELAND – (CT&P) – Trump delegate Billy Bob McSneed from Deer Tick, Tennessee missed the entire first night of the GOP convention after going on a two-day bender after he arrived in Cleveland early Saturday morning.
McSneed, a part-time slaughterhouse janitor and respected meth cook in Hemophilia County in the Appalachian foothills, told the leader of the Tennessee delegation that he became overly excited because it was the first time he had been out-of-state since 1994, when he was fleeing police on crack cocaine charge.
“Listen, Saturday was the first time I ever rode on a flying machine and it really pumped me up,” said McSneed when interviewed by a local television station. “I just felt like lettin’ my hair down a little bit and me and some gals I met in the alley behind the motel just had us a little party, that’s all. I’m all in for Trump. He’s my man!”
According to WKYC in Cleveland McSneed has agreed to pay for damage done to his room and an elevator during the “party” and will be allowed to stay the rest of the week provided he is supervised by other members of the Tennessee delegation.
Saying it was becoming too easy for some people to hide their Muslim identity, One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson has called for the implementation of an identification badge or symbol to be worn by Muslims in Australia.
The plea comes after Ms Hanson’s appearance on Q&A, where she realised she had been tricked into thinking Labor Senator Sam Dastyari was not Muslim.
The firebrand politician said there are a number of ways the identification system could work. “Maybe it’s a badge. Maybe it’s a small piece of cloth that they pin on their shirt. It doesn’t have to be complicated. We just need to know where they are”.
Following her appeal this morning for Muslim immigration to be banned, television personality Sonia Kruger has called for a wall to be built on the Australia-Mexico border.
The former Dancing With The Stars host said it was the only way to stop an unending flow of illegal Mexicans into the country.
She said she would make Mexico cover the cost of building the wall and would work closely with US President Donald Trump – who is facing a similar problem on the US-Mexico border.
She provided assurances that some of her best friends are Mexican.
The Guardian highlighted the long and widespread sexism and misogyny of Fox News following the reported firing of Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, amid charges of sexual harassment made by former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson.On July 19 it was reported that Ailes was given until August 1 to resign or be fired. This ultimatum came as a result of a law
Source: The Guardian: Firing Ailes “Can’t Turn Around The Mess Of Misogyny That Is Fox News”
The conservative Drudge Report is reporting that Fox News chairman and CEO Roger Ailes is leaving the network. New York magazine writer Gabriel Sherman reported today that parent company 21st Century Fox had given Ailes a deadline of August 1 to resign or be fired in light of its investigation into his alleged sexual harassment.The Drudge R
Source: UPDATED: Media Reporting That Roger Ailes Is Leaving Fox News
Dragging a party from certain devastating defeat to governing in your own right and with a more manageable Senate seems like an incredible achievement to me.
Source: Malcolm Turnbull saved the Coalition from an election wipe-out
Freelance correspondent Ben Bohane goes on patrol in Manila, where 200 drug dealers and users have been shot dead in two weeks as part of the Filipino leader’s war on drugs.
David Tyler discusses the Coalition’s continuing civil war between its own factions and the ramifications for Turnbull’s ability to deliver “stable government”.
Source: Millionaire Mal and the fortunes of the Liberal Party
More than $1 million worth of jewellery has been stolen from the Toorak mansion of millionaire businessman and former Liberal Party powerbroker Andrew Abercrombie.
Source: Million-dollar jewel heist from Toorak mansion of former Liberal powerbroker
New UK PM appears to understand fundamentals of conflict despite close ties to Israel lobby.
Source: Theresa May: Palestinians must have “full civil rights” | The Electronic Intifada
By Dr George Venturini* Testing the thesis (continued) 13 (Rampant cronyism and corruption) Cronyism and corruption have lived so long amongst humans that it is fair to say they preceded The Bible, where many precedents are recorded. This is not to say that in Australia cronyism and corruption are all around. Transparency International provides every…
Activist Mariam Veiszadeh criticises Q&A for giving Pauline Hanson a platform to advocate for her hateful views.
The Muslim share of Europe’s total population has been increasing steadily, growing from 4% in 1990 to 6% in 2010.
Source: 5 facts about the Muslim population in Europe | Pew Research Center
US, China, Japan, Germany, France and UK accommodate just 2.1 million refugees, according to Oxfam report
Source: Six wealthiest countries host less than 9% of world’s refugees | World news | The Guardian
The notion that super tax breaks are some kind of reward for Liberal party supporters’ votes and donations is macabre and disturbing
Society should focus on cultivating understanding and empathy, not peace.
Source: The real reason behind Nice lorry massacre – Al Jazeera English
“I knew as soon as it happened that they would blame Muslims, say terrorists are behind it, we are used to that now; we expect nothing else from the authorities here,” declared Rachid, standing at a street corner with a group of young men. “They humiliate us and then they are surprised when there is violence.” There were nods and murmurs of agreement among his friends gathered in a circle. Young Frenchmen, Muslims, who see the French state as an enemy, feel alienated from the rest of French society and see nothing but a bleak future of strife ahead.
Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has called on his followers to “target” the new US troops that are about to be sent to Iraq to fight Islamic State. The statement comes after US Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced the deployment of 560 more troops.
Source: US troops in Iraq now ‘target’ for Shiite militia, influential cleric preaches — RT News
France’s foreign minister has said Turkey may no longer be a viable partner in the fight against Isis in Syria, while Syrian state media has claimed the failed coup in the country was fabricated by President Erdogan to tarnish the military’s reputation.
The sweeping purge of soldiers and officials in the wake of the failed coup in Turkey is likely to be conducted with extra vigour because a number of close associates of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are among the 265 dead. The number of people detained so far is at 6,000 including soldiers, and around 3,000 judges and legal officials who are unlikely to have been connected to the attempted military takeover.
The Murdoch media and the Coalition are ramping up the war on renewables in the wake of soaring gas prices, writes Giles Parkinson.
Source: Murdoch and the Coalition: This week targetting renewables
In a special on religion, we speak to Karen Armstrong and debate New Atheism with Lawrence Krauss and Greg Epstein.
Source: Is religion to blame for violence? – Al Jazeera English
The inequality and alienation of globalisation has seen a backlash in the UK, U.S. and now Australia. John Menadue flags a serious gathering storm ahead.
Source: Globalisation: Winners and losers in the gathering storm of alienation
Two police officers have been removed from the police force in the state of Florida, United States, over allegations that they belong to a local branch of the White Supremacist group, the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). According to the Fruitland Park police, Deputy Chief David …
Source: Two Police Officers in Florida Forced to Step Down from Their Posts over Links with KKK AnonHQ
“The police never did anything while her husband beat her up, but now she is under arrest as some kind of a terrorist for something that her husband, someone she hated, had done?” A neighbour of Khalfallah Lahouaiej-Bouhlel expressed her disbelief.
Settlers are trying to spin water shortages as a problem that affects both Palestinians and Jews in the same manner. That couldn’t be further from the truth. By Dror Etkes The recent reports on water crisis in Palestinian areas of the West Bank were accompanied by a story of another water shortage: this time in Israeli settlements. Let’s get one thing straight — there has never been a “water shortage” in the settlements. When settlers open up the tap at home or in their garden, the amount and quality of the water is identical to that which comes out in…
Source: Using stolen water to irrigate stolen land | +972 Magazine
A far-right blogger took offence at the event and called for followers to give the Lord Gladstone a bad rating. But with some help from the Halal Snack Pack Appreciation Society, the pub hit back. Max Chalmers reports. A Sydney pub will go ahead with an anti-Pauline Hanson themed event, despite receiving threats to theMore
The coup plays right into the hands of authoritarian president Erdogan.
Source: Nightmare Scenario Emerges in Aftermath of Failes Turkish Coup
Nearly 3,000 soldiers arrested and 2,700 judges fired as Turkey begins punishing those linked to attempted coup.
Source: Turkey: Government launches purge after attempted coup – News from Al Jazeera
Istanbul’s international airport has reopened with Turkish Airlines resuming flights on Saturday following a failed coup attempt.
Source: Turkey coup: President Tayyip Erdogan’s message for Barack Obama
By Dr George Venturini* Testing the thesis . . . Obsession with crime and punishment (continued) Preventive detention and ‘control orders’ are the tools of fear-inducing State power. One such ‘control order’ was imposed for the first time in 2006 on an unfortunate Melbournian. A recent convert to Islam, he was on a visit to…
WASHINGTON – (CT&P) – Former Speaker of the House, former possible running mate for lunatic Donald Trump and former sane person Newt Gingrich has come up with a sure-fire plan to root out terrorists living in or trying to enter the United States.
A simple questionnaire, which quizzes suspect individuals about sharia law and how they feel about it would be an invaluable tool in keeping America safe, said Gingrich during a telephone interview last night with Fox News’ colon rodent Sean Hannity.
“Let me start where I am coming from and let me be as blunt and direct as I can be — western civilization is in a war. We should frankly test every person here who is of a Muslim background, and if they believe in Sharia, they should be deported,” Gingrich said.
“Sharia is incompatible with western civilization. Modern Muslims who have given up Sharia — glad to have them as citizens. Perfectly happy to have them next door. But we need to be fairly relentless about who our enemies are.”
Gingrich reiterated his support for the questionnaire this morning at a press conference outside his home in Atlanta.
“Once we implement this strategy and get rid of all the terrorists, we can then use a similar questionnaire to deport black people or anyone else who shows sympathy for the Democratic Party,” said Gingrich, as he scanned the crowd for possible new wives.
So far there has been no comment from law enforcement or the Obama Administration on whether or not Gingrich’s brilliant plan will be adopted.
NEW YORK – (CT&P) – Advisers and aides to Donald Trump had to scramble this afternoon to locate maps and a globe so they could show him just where the fuck Turkey was.
“We showed him two or three times and then tested him by showing him a map without the names of the countries on it,” said an aide speaking on condition of anonymity. “After about a dozen attempts he finally figured it out.”
Trump, not known for his knowledge of anything, is particularly ignorant when it comes to foreign policy.
“He is completely inept when comes to geography,” said the aide. “Ask him to point out Australia and he may point to Antarctica or even Corsica. He’s a real fuckwit.”
After briefing the GOP nominee on where Turkey was located and the difference between Asia and Europe, his staff then wrote out a detailed response to the coup that he could send out on Twitter.
No one on Trump’s staff believed he had any idea what the statement meant.
Turkey’s military has claimed to have seized power of the country – but President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the attempted coup would be put down. If successful, the overthrow of Mr Erdogan, who has ruled Turkey since 2003, would transform one of the most important US allies in the region while war rages on its border. “We will overcome this,” Mr Erdogan said, speaking by mobile phone to the Turkish sister station of CNN. He called on his followers to take to the streets to defend his government and said the coup plotters would pay a heavy price.
A photograph has been emerged showing the inside of the flat where the man who killed 84 people in an attack in Nice lived.
It is an image seared in the minds of war-ready and war-weary Americans alike.
Source: Iraqi man who took a sledgehammer to Saddam Hussein’s statue wants him back
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