Author: peterimrich

Putin

The last thing we needed was another crazed dictator – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Hitler killed himself he only had a gun. Putin will kill every one else;

The Russians will not thank him for destroying their economy, the Russian troops’ parents and families will not thank him for killing their sons, and the Ukrainian people will never accept the reason for the invasion, or its apparent objective: The subjugation of its identity and status as a sovereign nation. The death and destruction means there will never be reconciliation between Russia and Ukraine.

Putin’s war is a grave mistake, and hundreds of thousands will pay the price. The greatest threat comes from Putin, and his absolute hold on power. He, if cornered, might pull out all the stops, and attempt to bluff the Unites States and Europe with the threat of nuclear war. The possibility is there, and it looks to be Putin’s last card.

Source: The last thing we needed was another crazed dictator – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Fight against Fake News, Fighting Fake News

Old Dog Thought- SS LNP is sinking and its members are abandoning the ship. Frydenberg has proven to be devious as his captain

Fighting Fake News with REAL 23/4/22; Deves; Frydenberg; China; Liberals abandoning the Party;

Informed Comment

Julia Banks: Voters are losing faith in political integrity. They’re partly right

voters Julia Banks integrity voters

Time for integrity

Once, when I was a government MP under Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership, I was watching him in a TV interview. At the end, the host held a ‘fun pop quiz’ requiring ‘one-word answers only’. What’s the most important quality in a Prime Minister?: Without hesitation came the then-prime minister’s answer. Integrity. I believe him.

The aspiring prime minister Anthony Albanese has said of himself, “what you see is what you get”, and I will treat you with ‘respect and integrity’. And he also says he will implement an Integrity Commission. I believe him.

Aside from MPs on the cross bench and in other parties, I have lost count of the number of current and former Liberals MPs and members – many of whom I know personally – who, in addition to the ones who have ‘gone public’, say that Morrison can’t be trusted, is only interested in power not people, and has no integrity. I believe them.

Source: Julia Banks: Voters are losing faith in political integrity. They’re partly right

LNP, LNP Tactics

Josh Frydenberg forced to alter federal election campaign posters after scout complaint – ABC News

 

Source: Josh Frydenberg forced to alter federal election campaign posters after scout complaint – ABC News

Media

Media bias and the public agenda: Gotcha questions examined – » The Australian Independent Media Network

 

Sunday’s episode of ABC Insiders showed viewers exactly what media bias is all about and how, come election time, even some of the most respected journalists can fall into the trap of playing double standards.

Despite some criticism of the Liberal government’s election campaign, more of the discussion focused on gotcha moments than actual policy.

Political Editor for news.com Samantha Maiden began the discussion by declaring that Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese needed to “sharpen up”, having days earlier been unable to provide the exact statistic of people currently unemployed across Australia.

In the same breath, when referring to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Maiden merely stated that he had committed a “blunder” at not knowing the price of bread and milk.

Maiden’s false equivalency between the two failings shows just how the media’s bias against the Labor party has flourished over the years.

Source: Media bias and the public agenda: Gotcha questions examined – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Media

Now is a crucial time for journalists we can trust

With the mainstream media more compliant than ever, there is a need for credibility from our journalists during the election campaigns, writes Paul Begley.

Source: Now is a crucial time for journalists we can trust

Scott Morrison

Factcheck: the Coalition says Labor always ‘takes China’s side’, but are the parties’ positions so different? | Australian election 2022 | The Guardian

The flag pole of the Australian Parliament is seen behind the roofs of the Chinese Embassy in Canberra,

Morrison is doing a lot of political whining about fairness in our Democracy just as Abbott once did when complaining against the ABC. “Why aren’t they supporting us” he cried and banned MPs from the from any interviews on our national broadcaster, cutting funding by a $1bn over the past decade. “We are the Government and we should be supported” has been Morrison’s catch cry as well. The LNP wants flag-waving, not questions.  Morrison is doing an Abbott crying, and always loudly that nobody loves his government loves or supports him despite the fact that all he’s done for the past 3 years has been campaigning for this election and doing it badly.

1) Abbott closed down Radio Australia and created a vacuum in the region

2) Abbott was far more interested in Europe War Memorials, Knighthoods and Shirt-fronting Putin. Being a Friend of China was a political and economic advantage.

3) However Murdoch Media were constantly rubbing China the wrong way and China asked the Abbott government to intervene but they ignored it because Murdoch was a far more essential associate of the LNP. He was their publicist.

4) Morrison and Dutton have always known “impressing Murdoch in Australian politics was a must”. More so than being friends of China’s and so they set out to do just that as neither were really Murdoch’s picks. China simply ran second to Domestic politics, the next election was always in the front of mind. Without Murdoch Media the LNP were dead in the water. It’s Murdoch that makes MORRISON’s MIRACLES HAPPEN.

As the Coalition campaign seeks to revive the talking point that Labor always “takes China’s side”, Scott Morrison implored reporters to “just look at the record”. So we did just that and found the claims by the prime minister and his senior ministers are either factually inaccurate, misleading, or lack context.

Source: Factcheck: the Coalition says Labor always ‘takes China’s side’, but are the parties’ positions so different? | Australian election 2022 | The Guardian

Scott Morrison

Lockheed Martin and Friends Don’t Want You to Know What They’re Up To

Australia’s PM Morrison wants our manufacturing to become a much more active participant in the global Industrial Military Complex about which questions can’t be asked. Just as he created an “On the Water Matters” to brush off embarrassing information about the treatment of asylum seekers. Making  government supported manufacturing a ” National Security Area” a zone of privileged information exclusive to the LNP and its friends.

The boards of defense companies like Lockheed Martin and Boeing are encouraging their shareholders to vote against transparency measures. Maybe the US government shouldn’t fund companies whose profits would be harmed by the collection of human rights data?

Source: Lockheed Martin and Friends Don’t Want You to Know What They’re Up To

Trump

Bannon Associates Plead Guilty in ‘Build the Wall’ Fraud Case

Bannon court

Trump pardoned Steve Bannon as one of his last acts in office. 2 other associates in Bannon’s criminal case just admitted to fraud.

Two of the defendants in the “Build The Wall” fraud cases that involved Steve Bannon entered guilty pleas in federal court on Thursday.

Source: Bannon Associates Plead Guilty in ‘Build the Wall’ Fraud Case

Informed Comment

We’re running out of time to hold Donald Trump accountable | Robert Reich | The Guardian

FILE PHOTO: Rally held by former U.S. President Donald Trump FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Donald Trump looks on as Michigan Secretary of State candidate Kristina Karamo speaks during a rally in Washington Township, Michigan, U.S. April 2, 2022. REUTERS/Emily Elconin/File Photo

 

Trump’s indictment and conviction must occur as quickly as possible. The upcoming midterm elections will not simply be a battle between Republicans and Democrats. They will be a battle between Trump acolytes and fair election supporters over protecting the integrity of our elections and our democracy. The sooner Trump is held accountable, the safer American democracy will be.

Source: We’re running out of time to hold Donald Trump accountable | Robert Reich | The Guardian

Fight against Fake News, Fighting Fake News

Old Gog Thought- How many graphic facts does it take to show Morrison was heading in the wrong direction before the pandemic

Fighting Fake News with REAL 22/4/22 ; Morrison Morrison go down to the edge of town and just vanish

LNP

Thread by @BrentHodgson on Thread Reader App – Thread Reader App

Thread by @BrentHodgson on Thread Reader App

.... line to say Josh Frydenberg is politically inexperienced – but it points to a HUGE blind spot. He is EXTREMELY GOOD at networking upwards. He can work a room of CEOs like nobody else.

But he has proven to be EXTREMELY BAD at connecting outwards – a key campaign skill any rep needs.

He has no idea about “ordinary folk”. He has never seen much value in them.

The worlds he lives in are the Kooyong/Canberra/CEO bubbles – where they slap his back and tell him he’s clever and smart with lines like “fake independent”.

Let’s recount his history and career and I’ll show you what I mean…

Source: Thread by @BrentHodgson on Thread Reader App – Thread Reader App

Morrison

PM faces heat over ‘blessed’ disability comment

Morrison said it,

didn’t regret it,

until he read it

and heard it

in the…….NEWS

days later

“Blessed” to be the Father who hasn’t handicapped daughters, isn’t the only thing Morrison feels “blessed about. To be Male, to be White, Heterosexual, and a Christian. To have a wife like Jen, thave $52 M and feel wealthy and especially to be blessed to havebeen chosen by God lead us and not elected by the rabble. “How good is Australia where Miracles happen”

Misandry, Racism against Whites, Non-believers, Bludgers and a host of other sinners trying to the Cancel Culture that constitute 90% of Australians but “The Elect” rule.

Senior Liberals have defended the Prime Minister’s comment that he was “blessed” to have children who did not have disabilities after a backlash. Labor’s finance spokeswoman Katy Gallagher said the comment was insensitive and hurtful to parents and children with a disability.

Source: PM faces heat over ‘blessed’ disability comment

Scott Morrison

Scott Morrison’s Major Gaffe – » The Australian Independent Media Network

This man’s blind arrogance and  the simple fear of being discovered for what and who he is has shown

Mr Morrison’s behaviour over the past day is consistent with him not being fit to lead this country.

Source: Scott Morrison’s Major Gaffe – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Uncategorized

View from The Hill: Undecided voters give narrow victory to Albanese

The vote among the 100 undecided voters at Wednesday’s Sky News/Courier Mail people’s forum was a modest 40% victory for Anthony Albanese. Morrison was rated the winner by 35% of the audience, while some 25% were undecided.

Source: View from The Hill: Undecided voters give narrow victory to Albanese

LNP, LNP Economic Management, LNP Government

Election 2022: Fact checking budget claims made by Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese during leaders’ debate

FACT CHECK 1: “In the last 12 months, the budget has turned around by over $100 billion. That is the single biggest turnaround in a budget in 70 years. And the reason for that is we’ve got people into work, off welfare and into work.” Prime Minister Scott Morrison, leaders’ debate, April 20.

On the face of it, this does represent an improvement of “more than $100 billion”. The trouble is, the biggest deficit year – 2021-22 – has dropped out of the latest budget period.  Put another way, a big part of the improvement referred to by Morrison happened simply because of the end of the pandemic.

not because of Morrison’s “perfect management”

FACT CHECK 2: “It’s important to remember that they [the Coalition] had already doubled the debt before the pandemic had hit.” Labor leader Anthony Albanese.

When the Coalition came to power in September 2013, gross debt (mostly in the form of Treasury bonds) was about $280.3 billion,

By the time the pandemic hit, around January 2020, gross debt was about $568.1 billion. This was, as Albanese said, about double the level of gross debt prevailing when the Coalition was elected.

According to the federal budget papers, by June 2014, about nine months after Tony Abbott won the 2013 election, the ratio of net debt to GDP was 13.1 per cent.

By June 2019, on the eve of the pandemic, it had risen to 19.2 per cent.

A rise in which Morrison leadership was very much involved .

Source: Election 2022: Fact checking budget claims made by Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese during leaders’ debate

LNP, LNP Economic Management, LNP Government

How does the Coalition pay for Labor’s big ideas? – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Perhaps the most important takeout from the leaders’ debate was when Scott Morrison admitted that it is Labor that introduces the big social reforms – Medicare, the PBS, the NDIS, paid parental leave, compulsory superannuation for example. Labor might have the ideas but it was the Coalition who had to pay for them, sighed Scott. They market themselves as the better economic managers. This seems to be based on Howard and Costello’s strategy of selling off every profitable asset we owned, privatising everything they could, whilst wasting the profits from the mining boom on doling out huge sums in tax cuts and deductions. And they hit us with the GST.

There is no recognition of the economic benefits Labor’s “big ideas” have delivered.

Not only do this lot concede they are not the party of big ideas, they have demonstrated that they also have no idea about how to plan for the future and budget and invest accordingly.

 

Source: How does the Coalition pay for Labor’s big ideas? – » The Australian Independent Media Network

LNP, LNP Corruption, LNP Government, LNP Tactics

The Pork Henchmen: Morrison’s ministerial spies give Australian National Audit Office the cold shoulder – Michael West

Barnaby Joyce, ANAO, Watergate

Frydenberg proved to be a law of his own when he co-opted NGO CEOs to endorse his advertising in Kooyong breaking the rules that apply to all Charities.

The faceless Coalition aides conscripted to do the leg-work for the government’s billion-dollar pork barrelling program have spurned requests to comply with the ANAO audit, leaving ministers unaccountable for their spending before the Election. Jommy Tee reveals how Coalition MPs have the inside running on pushing for projects in their electorates.

The Audit Office (ANAO) has encountered a severe lack of co-operation from ministerial advisers, who have refused to participate into the current audit into the controversial Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF).

The ministerial advisers play the key role in filtering information from the Department of Infrastructure which runs the $1.4 billion program and in assisting the ministerial panel in determining who gets grants under the program.

Michael West Media (MWM) has been informed that the first draft of the Audit Office into the beleaguered and controversial BBRF contains damning commentary about the administration of the program.

Serious deficiencies have been highlighted including lack of robust reasoning as to why particular grants were awarded by the various ministerial panels. We have previously exposed how applicants that r

Source: The Pork Henchmen: Morrison’s ministerial spies give Australian National Audit Office the cold shoulder – Michael West

Teriary Education

In Australia, Precarious University Workers Are Stepping Up the Fight

Australian universities have been hit hard by decades of neoliberal austerity. Now, after countless job losses and rising workloads, university workers are taking the fight to managers and vice chancellors.

Source: In Australia, Precarious University Workers Are Stepping Up the Fight

Pork Barrelling

Morrison government’s $7.4bn in dam commitments could be ‘biggest pork barrel in history’ | Queensland | The Guardian

Urannah creek

Exclusive: Report says majority of funds ‘allocated to where the National party vote is highest’

Source: Morrison government’s $7.4bn in dam commitments could be ‘biggest pork barrel in history’ | Queensland | The Guardian

Scott Morrison

Coalition spending on fossil fuel subsidies tops $1.3 billion in first week of campaign | RenewEconomy

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Energy Angus Taylor at a press conference during a visit to Geelong Oil Refinery. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

Morrison feels Blessed with Taxpayer Money and he gives it to his anointed group of Corporations

Coalition spending on fossil fuel subsidies tops $1.3 billion in first week of campaign

Just one week into the official election campaign, the Coalition has already racked up promises to channel almost $1.3 billion in fresh subsidies to the fossil fuel industry – spending nearly $150 million a day.

The largest subsidy, announced right before the start of the Easter long weekend, will see a Coalition government spend $660 million to accelerate fracking in the Northern Territory’s Beetaloo Basin. It’s a massive spend that dwarfs the Coalition’s commitments to support clean energy projects and one that will underwrite the expansion of Australia’s fossil fuel industries and its emissions footprint.

Source: Coalition spending on fossil fuel subsidies tops $1.3 billion in first week of campaign | RenewEconomy

LNP, LNP Corruption, LNP Government

The rorting, taunting Coalition Government

Is it any wonder that, despite promising to introduce one, the Morrison Government has voted against a federal integrity commission 31 times?

Is anyone surprised that the PM blames Labor and refuses to discuss it further? And, is anyone shocked that the media lets this Government set the agenda each week, claiming that the majority of us don’t want one? Well, Independent Australia wants a Federal ICAC, our investigations editor has started a political party, Federal ICAC Now, to do everything possible to facilitate one and we know our readers overwhelmingly support its inception.

Source: The rorting, taunting Coalition Government

Fox

For Democrats, the benefits of going on Fox are illusory at best | Media Matters for America

Dems Fox

How was it that the First Debate of the 2022 Election was held on Murdoch’s pay to view Skye News Channel and sponsored by News Corp followed immediately after by a Q&A style panel anchored by Paul Murray of Skye News After Dark? That Declared Albanese weak? Should we be surprised? I think we are turning American

Fox is a GOP propaganda outlet, a cornerstone of the modern conservative movement, and a megaphone for the right’s most malevolent and extreme messages. The network’s biggest stars regularly promote unhinged conspiracy theories about the Democratic Party and vilify its key constituencies, including but not limited to Black, Asian, and LGBTQ people, women, college students, unions, and immigrants.

Over the last 18 months, Fox has laid the groundwork for the January 6 insurrection by undermining the validity of the 2020 election, branded itself as the “loyal opposition” to President Joe Biden, and successfully discouraged its viewers from getting vaccinated against COVID-19. It is currently force-feeding its viewers the knockoff QAnon message that Democrats and teachers support pedophilia and are “grooming” their children.

Source: For Democrats, the benefits of going on Fox are illusory at best | Media Matters for America

Uncategorized

Election 2022: Australia spent a million dollars training me – and now I’m leaving

Miro Astore has accepted a research position in New York.

John Howard approached ultra-conservative religious sects for money and votes and struck oil in the flood of Pentacostalists to the Party. They could all spoke fast in toungues and felt blessed and a nation unto themselves.

Morrison’s investments certainly don’t favor a smarter or dignified economy, do they? Personally he doesn’t really  care how Australians “feel” does he? He has all those abstract numbers to tell him.

Scott Morrison stands apart from us and  feels “blessed”.

However, Morrison hates educated people as they are the ones who tend to see through him. They don’t seem to fit the demographic that votes for him. He’s cut research funding, casualized teachers, so much so they can’t get bank loans and are quitting their jobs. Only 1% of 150k tertiary teaching staff were offered tenure last year and at the same time they were found to have been underpaid and ripped off. A broken system it sure is!!

Stuart Robert canceled research funding for 9 projects that in fact had been accepted by the appropriate independent funding body. No explanation given other than it was the Minister’s perogative. No surprise to us however they all had something to do with Climate Change or were Humanities or Arts based.

For the last four years I’ve been learning how to use these powerful computers to simulate the motion of atoms inside the body to treat disease. These methods have gained a lot of attention during the pandemic and not many people are trained to use them. I’m happy with what I’ve learnt and the research I’ve produced. But in that time I’ve also learnt a lot about the truly broken system in which researchers are expected to work in Australia. This system has been ruthlessly attacked by the current government and I feel it is important I write down what it’s been like to be a young researcher.

Source: Election 2022: Australia spent a million dollars training me – and now I’m leaving

Fight against Fake News, Fighting Fake News

Old Dog Thought- The Public Response Albo won. The Media’s Response Albo was a little better BUT

Fighting Fake News with REAL; 21/4/22; Facts 1) Morrison Lies Albanese Doesn’t 2) No ICAC because Morrison doesn’t trust the LNP 3) Frydenberg says “Fuck the Rules”

Media

Political journalists are framing the election – » The Australian Independent Media Network

The mainstream media is shaping the narrative of the 2022 election into a battle between two leaders. Perhaps one of the more remarkable journalistic observations last week came from ABC’s political editor Andrew Probyn, when he declared on Insiders on Sunday that “Only certain political messages get through”. Probyn appears to be entirely unaware of, or unwilling to admit, the role of his profession in determining which of those messages will “get through”. For example, on Monday, ABC breakfast presenter Patricia Karvalas amplified an article in The Age written by journalist David Crowe, with the headline: ‘Albanese pays a price for gaffe as voters swing back to government.’

Source: Political journalists are framing the election – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Informed Comment

Lies, damn lies and falling cats – » The Australian Independent Media Network

So when the prospective politician, regardless of their allegiance to orange, yellow, blue, red, green, teal or any other colour promises you the world on the glossy brochure, the well-produced television spot or the slick social media post during this election campaign, remember the term survivor bias and ask yourself if this is the answer to the real question. You also have the right to ask the ‘real’ question of your candidate and expect a reasonable and considered response. After all, if they get to Capital Hill, they are supposed to be working for you, not the ‘party hierarchy’ or political donors who expect a return on their investment.

Source: Lies, damn lies and falling cats – » The Australian Independent Media Network

LNP, LNP Government

Anne Ruston tries to outdo Morrison and Frydenberg on greatest deceptions

“We inherited 5.7% unemployment and today it is at 4% and 1.7 million jobs [were] created over the term of this Government.” ( Rusden )

That is a whopper of almost Trumpian proportions. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), File 6202, Table 1, the increase in jobs over the term of the current Government is a modest 531,200. That’s nowhere near 1.7 million. Clearly, this Minister is ambitious for promotion.

Source: Anne Ruston tries to outdo Morrison and Frydenberg on greatest deceptions

Media

The ongoing media fixation on Albo’s ‘gaffe’

Living proof that “free media” in  Capitalism is a myth and what we have is cash for comment MSM melee. Corporate Media at this time have all become the organ grinders’ monkeys and not the organ grinders. Would any of the MSM not dance for those with the money? The money hasn’t been with the ALP or its supporters for decades. So it’s hardly surprising Murdoch, Costello, and Stoke’s business models are there to serve the LNP, IPA, and Clive Palmer and consequently advertise the dark and fake side of news and information because their future bottom lines depend on it. As a result Morrison’s lies gaffes and soap bubble promises are let go to the wicketkeeper and are reported with humour like ” I only missed it by that much”!  Or not calling it a gaffe when Morrison is seen promoting jobs at Rheem a company that’s downsizing 30% of its workforce and sending the work to Vietnam.

AS MOST READERS will probably know, on the first day of the election campaign, Labor Leader Anthony Albanese was asked to specify the unemployment rate and the official cash rate, which are 4% are 0.1% respectively. Albanese did not initially offer a figure for the cash rate and said the unemployment rate might be 5.4% then added he wasn’t sure of that figure. Such a response is unsurprising given that, up until now, we have not expected our politicians to be focused on memorizing figures to such a precise degree.

Source: The ongoing media fixation on Albo’s ‘gaffe’

Truth in Humor

Campaign gaffe still in the headlines, say headlines | The Shovel

An election campaign gaffe has entered an incredible ninth day in the headlines, say the organisations that create those headlines.

Opinion pieces across major mastheads said it was astonishing that we were still talking about the slip up well into the second week of the campaign.

“This happened more than a week ago – that’s an eternity in politics. But yet somehow it’s still all over the news,” one report headlined ‘Why the gaffe is still in the headlines’ read.

One news outlet, which will run a special two-week anniversary lift out special about the gaffe, said it was amazing the story had persisted so long. “I’m not sure how or why, but we’re somehow seeing a new story about this nearly every day”.

The outlet will also publish a special report tomorrow called ‘How the media covered the gaffe’, followed next week by ‘How the media covered the media’s coverage of the gaffe’.

Source: Campaign gaffe still in the headlines, say headlines | The Shovel

Informed Comment

‘Gotcha’ fact checks and other important things – » The Australian Independent Media Network

My thought for the day We must have the courage to ask of our young that they should go beyond desire and aspiration in a changing world and accomplish not the trivial but greatness. They should not allow the morality they inherited from good folk to be corrupted by the immorality of nefarious governments. ( John Lord )

Source: ‘Gotcha’ fact checks and other important things – » The Australian Independent Media Network

LNP Government

The Liberal Party wants us to ‘look at the facts’. But just whose facts?

Analysis / Politics The Liberal Party wants us to ‘look at the facts’. But just whose facts?

Of nine claims in the Liberals’ new ad campaign, one is correct, two are deceptive and six are barefaced lies.

Source: The Liberal Party wants us to ‘look at the facts’. But just whose facts?

Polls

Poll: Coalition climbs after Labor’s disastrous first week

Anthony Albanese Labor

Is it REAL or FAKE? If the ALP are ahead we are told its FAKE if the LNP are ahead it’s REAL. Even the polling has become product to sell rather than a source of information.

The Coalition’s projected vote share after preferences is up 2 points after the first week but still remains on the wrong side of a commanding 55 to 45 per cent lead. After this early campaign tightening, the two-party preferred gap between the two major parties is closer than it has been for six months. On primary votes a shift in voters’ support is more pronounced. . The Coalition’s primary is up by 3 percentage points to 35.5 per cent; Labor’s is down by 1 percentage point to 35 per cent.

Source: Poll: Coalition climbs after Labor’s disastrous first week

Scott Morrison

Why Morrison is dodging an Integrity Commission – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Morrison simply doesn’t trust the LNP so he wants to CONTROL IT

There is a very simple reason why Prime Minister Scott Morrison broke his pre-2019 election promise to introduce into parliament legislation to establish a Commonwealth integrity commission. It wasn’t that it was attacked as being too weak by the Labor Party, independents, retired judges and some of his own backbenchers. It was because if he had brought the legislation into Parliament he would have lost control of it. He knew he could not trust all of his backbenchers to support the government’s line, and that a few of them – enough of them – would have voted with Labor and the independents to transform his proposed ineffective integrity commission into one with teeth, one that could investigate the misdeeds of politicians such as himself, and hold public hearings that could damage them politically.

Source: Why Morrison is dodging an Integrity Commission – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Truth in Humor

The Upside Of Scott Morrison Winning The Election! – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Yes, I could go on pointing out the differences and it wouldn’t soothe the nerves of those who fear that Morrison will do it again. And who knows, he might. So with that in mind, I thought I’d concentrate on the upside of Morrison’s win. He’ll destroy the Liberal Party.

Source: The Upside Of Scott Morrison Winning The Election! – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Informed Comment

Scott Morrison, Angus Taylor stack clean energy agencies with fossil fuel mates – Michael West Media

CEFC, ARENA, Snowy Hydro

The Morrison government has slashed renewables funding and stacked Australia’s renewable energy agencies with fossil fuel executives, leaving the likes of ARENA, CEFC and Snowy Hydro controlled by potentially regressive political appointees for years. Callum Foote reports.

Source: Scott Morrison, Angus Taylor stack clean energy agencies with fossil fuel mates – Michael West Media

Informed Comment

The Trump-Bannon Plan to Take over Elections

The Australian LNP is fast becoming a GOP Republican Party franchise. It operates on and with the same attention to the American characteristics. Just as Murdoch media is doing here following in the footsteps of Fox.

They are now intent on the selling of a brand rather than a service. As a service to the Australian public, they are divided and certainly don’t operate as a team and merely try to appeal to us as one every 3 years. In between times they work for the highest bidder on a quid pro quo basis. Their only certainty going forward is to control the election process. How the fuck did the debate last night become a pay-to-view Murdoch/Skye/News Corp event? The LNP need to control the media, the money, and now even the AEC our very electoral process just as the Bannon Trump Republicans are doing in the US. The only upside is that they are destroying their own Party but with it Democracy.

Donald Trump | Election Integrity | Steve Bannon by Robert Reich | April 19, 2022 – 6:11am

Fight against Fake News, Fighting Fake News

Old Dog Thought- Is Morrison Ken in a snowcone. Shake it he’s a pilot shake it again a welder. No he’s a pitbull master and Deves is one who he’s set on and harm some children to gain some religious cult appreciation and votes

Fighting Fake News with REAL 20/4/22; This Week on Wednesday, Keeping it Real; Ben Davison, Van Badham; Morrison the Monster Deves his agent of harm;

Uncategorized

Why Australia must not deliver Mad (Prime) Minister Morrison his second ‘miracle’

Australia’s consolidated and over-concentrated private media corporations are about to try to raise Morrison like Lazarus from the zealots’ plastic snow dome he built for himself all in plain sight of us all. You only had to blink and there he was in a pilots uniform fixing QANTAS  with $$$ only now QANTAS doesn’t work. There he was in a hard hat welding or at Rheem spruiking Jobs Jobs Jobs only to discover Rheem was sending 30% of its workforce to Vietnam. Yes Morrison was always wrapped in plastic never in the real world just the PM doll who if in trouble turns to Barbie Jen to bail him out and to pretend he’s real.

THE FIRST TIME Scott Morrison was elected Prime Minister, he called it a “miracle” and soon after took a trip to Hawaii. In the middle of the most hellish bushfires this nation had ever suffered.

He and his uneasy Coalition of big business plants, anti-worker activists and wide-eyed religious zealots sunk immediately behind the Labor Opposition two-party preferred according to almost every poll. They’ve lagged there since, despite the concertedly self-interested efforts of the major media operators and all their other, legion, establishment allies.

It is difficult to put lipstick on a pig, so they say. Even more so when presented with a snarling, coarsely bristled, snaggledy tusked and occasionally incontinent Morrison hog. Bedevilled by disasters, inaction, poor planning, lack of vision and constant damaging scandals, both financial and sexual, even the Murdoch Press began to eschew applying cosmetics. Only the famous apathy and prodigiously poor memory of the Australian public could save his bacon now.

Source: Why Australia must not deliver Mad (Prime) Minister Morrison his second ‘miracle’

Informed Comment

Informed Comment- ICAC, Morrison’s avoidance

Why is Morrison dodging an ICAC because he doesn’t want the exposure? ICAC is a principle to keep the bastards honest.

Weekend Wrap Easter Election: Insiders calls out Morrison’s bigot strategy, Morrison dodges ICAC, a new health minister & disinformation warfare

Media

Paul Bongiorno: Not being Scott Morrison is Albanese’s best shot

Scott Morrison could be looking ahead at political blue sky if voters deliver a hung parliament.

On Sunday it was Scott Morrison’s turn to come up with a “Freudian slip” – you know, the brain explosion that everyone pretends to dismiss while at the same time believing is deeply significant. Three times at his news conference the Prime Minister addressed the assembled media scrum according to the parliamentary protocol of speaking through the chair. He was wriggling around the issue of who will have specific cabinet portfolios after the election, and said “of course, Mr Speaker” all of the portfolios are important. When interrupted, he started to say it again and after the third time pulled himself up, trying to dismiss the gaffe with a smile: “There you go, I’m back in Parliament”.

Source: Paul Bongiorno: Not being Scott Morrison is Albanese’s best shot

Newspoll

Labor retains 53-47 lead over Coalition in latest Newspoll

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The most Conservative Murdoch Commissioned pollster Newspoll still has the ALP 6pts ahead despite the Churnalism they pour on Albo and largely by all the MSM this week while selling brand Morrison. No real mention of the shellacking Frydenberg is taking in the ALP exclusion zone of Menzie’s Kooyong in Victoria. Or the hiding Deves is taking in Warringah the once sole property of the LNP. Meanwhile the cash is flowing in to the MSM in the form of those full page UAP ads we see in the papers the ads that are really there to buy votes for the LNP and a backroom anything you want deal for Clive at the expense of the Nation.

The exclusive Newspoll conducted for The Australian between April 14 and 17 found support for Labor had fallen to 36 per cent, down one point from a week ago, while the Coalition’s primary vote also dropped one point to 35 per cent. It translates to a 53-47 two-party-preferred lead for Labor based on preference flows at the last election. This would ensure a majority ALP government. The six-point margin is the same as a week earlier when the election was called.

Source: Labor retains 53-47 lead over Coalition in latest Newspoll

Tasmania

Bass and Braddon in the balance as Tasmanian voters excoriate Scott Morrison | Australian election 2022 | The Guardian

Fishers on Burnie jetty, in the Tasmanian seat of Braddon, are dwarfed by mountains of woodchip ready for loading.

While the Liberals grabbed the two seats from Labor in 2019, locals aren’t sending the Coalition any herograms. In the north and north-west of Tasmania, it’s reasonably hard to find a voter with a good word to say about Morrison. In the port town of Burnie, office workers Brad Lucas and Adam Koutsoukos are returning after a lunch break. Lucas doesn’t think much of Morrison. “He’s useless,” he says. “Through all the crises that we’ve had, he’s been useless. I’m trying to do this politely.” Koutsoukos picks up the excoriation: “I don’t think he’s fit to lead, he’s only interested in consolidating his own power and status. He’s not interested in the people he’s supposedly serving and it just shows through his actions. He’s not a leader.”

Source: Bass and Braddon in the balance as Tasmanian voters excoriate Scott Morrison | Australian election 2022 | The Guardian

Pacific Region

US delegation to visit Solomon Islands on China pact concern

Remember when Abbott was declared the “Pivot of the Pacific” he turned out to be a Europhile and ignored the title and got rid of Radio Australia. Meanwhile, Morrison and Dutton began to really prod China and he and Dutton have rapidly become the twin “Pillocks of the Pacific”. They lost our biggest trading partner and the respect of the now American government who have rushed in to form AUKUS and are setting up an embassy in the Solomon Islands because dumb and dumber were making such a mess of things. Biden couldn’t even remember Morrison’s name.

The LNP had cut Foreign Aid, They turned Aid into a quid pro quo transactional and commercial arrangement while Dutton publicly mocked the Pacific region’s concerns about Climate Change. As a result, the Americans have sent in the cavalry. However, not only because of Australia’s neglect in the Pacific but their neglect at home. They are about to occupy Australian sovereign territory itself, and guess what we are leasing and paying for the privilege of allowing them to storm in and make us a new global target. Do the math  90% of Australians live in just 5 cities and the American bases we are about to pay for aren’t going to be in any wilderness. America has left the Philipines and are about to relocate here and we will pay.

In February, the United States announced it would open an embassy in the Solomon Islands, part of an effort by the Biden administration to commit more diplomatic and security resources to the Indo-Pacific to counter China’s drive for greater influence. The Solomon Islands said in March that it was creating a partnership with China to tackle security threats and ensure a safe environment for investment in what would be a major inroad for Beijing in a region that US allies Australia and New Zealand have for decades seen as their “backyard”.

Source: US delegation to visit Solomon Islands on China pact concern

LNP, LNP Economic Management, LNP Government, LNP Policy

France’s Macron: “I am combating the Project of the extreme Right … which is to put an End to Renewable Energy”

We know where Morrison stands on Climate. He won’t put his signature to any International agreements while pretending and posturing he’s onside. Morrison is leaving it all up to the corporate world to solve  Climate Change. He isn’t about holding any hose he says.  It’s up to the commercial genius of the corporate world to save the planet according to the LNP. A world whose interests run counter to any effort or need to accelerate the transition to green energy as fast as possible. Never mind Morrison is lying while subsidizing the continued activity of Mining, export and Industry’s use of fossil fuels while saying. “I don’t hold the hose but making sure there’s only one hose to hold and it’s not green.

The two frontrunners in France’s presidential election who now face a run-off election against one another, Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen, have diametrically opposed stances on the climate emergency and renewable energy.

Source: France’s Macron: “I am combating the Project of the extreme Right … which is to put an End to Renewable Energy”

LNP, LNP Government

DeSantis Goes Full Fahrenheit 451: Bans 41% Of Math Books | Crooks and Liars

DeSantis Goes Full Fahrenheit 451: Bans 41% Of Math Books

With no policies to draw on other than the total privatisation of education and the welcoming of the dark ages Education Ministers Tudge and now Robert have turned to America to ape what conservative Republicans are doing there to alter the course of education and the teaching of history. The have been intent on censoring what can and can’t be taught in our schools. They are intent on continuing mythologising rather than facing the reality of this nations origins. Their focus is to eliminate 40,k years and  fabricate the past 200 and eliminating any CRT Critical Racial teaching from our Educational Programs. It’s the eqivalent of Germany eliminating any critical analysis of its part in WW2.

We saw the introduction of the Ramsay Foundation’s introduction of a private degree solely on Western Civilisation introduced to some of our Universities under the LNP and their efforts to establish the Coppenhagen Consensus Center under Dr B Lomborg here. Tony Abbott was prepared to offer any campus $4M to situate Dr B Lomborg’s Climate denialist center here. Now its a  concerted effort to eliminate CRT from our schools, forsake history curriculums,and to mythologise a mere 200 years of White Colonial history. They simply do what America is doing despite the fact we are Australia and have a unique Indigenous past of our own not yet told or discovered.

Continuing the critical race theory con, the Florida governor claimed publishers were slapping paint on their books to hide the fact we were trying to indoctrinate children. Florida’s Department of Education, led by DeSantis’s new rules, released this statement, “The highest number of books rejected were for grade levels K-5, where an “alarming” 71% were not appropriately aligned with Florida standards or included prohibited topics, the release said.” Let’s look at some examples of CRT being taught to the kids: Oh, wait. They didn’t offer any. To begin this discussion, Fox News’ chyron screamed, “FL DEPT OF EDUCATION REJECTS 54 MATH TEXTBOOKS.”

Source: DeSantis Goes Full Fahrenheit 451: Bans 41% Of Math Books | Crooks and Liars

Informed Comment

The United States vs. Donald J. Trump — Why It Must Happen Soon | The Smirking Chimp

Democracy protects the rights of its enemies to its own detriment at times.

Trump’s indictment and conviction must occur as quickly as possible. The upcoming midterm elections won’t simply be a battle between Republicans and Democrats. They will be a battle between Trump acolytes and fair election supporters over protecting the integrity of our elections and our democracy. The sooner Trump is held accountable for his criminality, the safer American democracy will be.

Source: The United States vs. Donald J. Trump — Why It Must Happen Soon | The Smirking Chimp

Russia

Russia-Ukraine war: Donbas battle begins after Kyiv attempt fails, Kreminna ‘levelled’

Destroyed structures in Irpin, Ukraine. The Kyiv suburb was heavily damaged in fighting between invading Russian forces and Ukrainian troops weeks ago.

Russia will feel the impact of this historic uncivilized fascist carnage a century from now and yes Putin will go down with Stalin, Pol Pot, Hitler, as humanity’s greatest shame. Maybe not in scale but in unsubtle threat and intent. Russians rich and poor left or right will come to know the truth of what’s being done in their names.

Ukraine has again been unable to secure Russia’s agreement on establishing humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians trapped in cities and towns, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk says.

The Donbas is the country’s mostly Russian-speaking industrial heartland in the east, where Moscow-backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian forces for the past eight years and have declared two independent republics that have been recognised by Russia. In recent weeks, the Kremlin declared the capture of the Donbas its main goal of the war after its attempt to storm Kyiv failed. After withdrawing from the capital, Russia began regrouping and reinforcing its ground troops in the east for an all-out offensive. “No matter how many Russian troops are driven there, we will fight,” Zelensky vowed. “We will defend ourselves. We will do it every day.”

Source: Russia-Ukraine war: Donbas battle begins after Kyiv attempt fails, Kreminna ‘levelled’

Fight against Fake News, Fighting Fake News

Old Dog Thought- The meaning of Shellacking seems self-evident in the LNP’s Menzie’s electorate of Kooyong

Fighting Fake News with REAL 19/4/22 Dr Monique Ryan Polls for Kooyong; Team Rorters; BluesFest; “No cuts” is back;

Informed Comment

The daggy dad’s empathy vacuum – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Has anyone noticed what an Automaton Scott Morrison is? He’s protected from real voters at every moment while hearing the call “lights, camera and action”. So much so Mr Spontaneous doesn’t even know where he is because it’s all a totally staged and move on experience. “Mr Speaker” oops, “I thought…” no Scott Morrison that’s the problem you didn’t.

“Jobs Jobs Jobs” sorry Mr PM there aren’t any knew jobs at Rheem they are downsizing their workforce by 30% and sending them to Vietnam. Your totally faking it ScaMo. Yes,Morrison is all lights and cameras and risk devoid when and wherever he goes and a AAA fake. If he does see a smile and tries to engage with a voter off script he’s surprised again and again by the disaster. They don’t fall down and bow to his Christ like appearance. He in fact runs, runs and runs away and we have seen it happen time and time again while his security just can’t stop it.

Anthony Albo Albanese walks and talks and mixes with all people, and unlike Morrison doesn’t treat any voters like a risk. He listens and answers their questions. How can we forget when Morrison was just too “busy” to meet the women demanding to speak with him in Canberra.

Scott Morrison has worked very hard on selling himself as an ordinary bloke who wears baseball caps and board shorts and thongs, a daggy dad who loves his footy and cooking curries, a good Christian family man. At least, that’s the marketing. But time and again, the veneer cracks and we see the real Scott Morrison – a power-hungry, political animal, devoid of empathy.

Source: The daggy dad’s empathy vacuum – » The Australian Independent Media Network