Author: peterimrich
It’s not me driving you nuts, he suggested implicitly to people watching the press conference at one point, it’s the pandemic making you cranky, wearing you down. “It’s the pandemic, that’s the reason why these things are happening, and happening not just in Australia but in all places around the world”. Yes, it’s the pandemic. For sure. But Morrison can’t absolve himself of responsibility for the roads not taken. The coronavirus didn’t stop Australia getting Pfizer, or failing to vaccinate workers, or failing to roll out dedicated quarantine facilities. That’s on him.
This week’s Newspoll, conducted June 23-26 from a sample of 1,513, gave Labor a 51-49 lead, a one-point gain for Labor since the previous Newspoll, three weeks ago. Primary votes were 41% Coalition (steady), 37% Labor (up one), 11% Greens (steady) and 3% One Nation (steady). Figures are from The Poll Bludger.
Source: Labor regains Newspoll lead as COVID crisis escalates; is Barnaby Joyce an electoral asset?
Dozens of people walked out of a rally in Ohio over the weekend as former President Donald Trump was speaking.
It was a big week for former president Trump, who on Saturday held his first rally since January 6, which ended with the deadly riot at the US Capitol. And it was a big week for his loyalists, many of whom appear to be attempting to distance themselves from their former leader.
Source: A Parade of Trump Loyalists Are Having Second Thoughts – Mother Jones
AOC responded to her attacks later on Twitter, writing “First of all, I’m taller than her.” Which is all that needs to be said for Greene’s trolling.
Source: AOC Destroys Greene On Twitter With One Word: ‘Taller’ | Crooks and Liars
For decades, Europe 1 has been one of France’s most respected radio networks — but under pressure from its new billionaire owners, it’s being merged into the Fox-style CNEWS. Last week, journalists took strike action, trying to stop a French broadcasting icon from becoming yet another far-right echo chamber.
Source: Billionaire Tycoons Are Turning French Radio Into a Copy of Fox News
My thought for the day One of the oddities of political polling is trying to understand how 50% of the voting public would willingly return a party that has governed so abysmally. (John Lord )
Source: The Untouchables – » The Australian Independent Media Network
There is no better illustration of the dangers of biased media narratives – media inequality – than the differing perceptions about COVID-19 in NSW, as compared to Victoria.
Source: The dangers of biased media narratives – » The Australian Independent Media Network
“Hi Ben, I think it’s your shout.” ”Ok, two beers, thanks.” “We better drink ‘em quickly before Dictator Dan gets back and shuts the whole state down.” ”Like in NSW you mean?” ”Nah, they’ve just got a stay at home order. That’s not a lockdown. Glorious Gladys doesn’t do lockdowns. She keeps the state running..” ”Actually I believe they’re calling it a lockdown now so you may have to stop calling Gladys ‘glorious’!” “Well, even if they are locking down, it’s not really her fault.” ”How do you figure that?” ”Well all those other premiers were locking down unnecessarily when they only had a handful of cases, so she presumed that she wouldn’t have to because NSW would only be a handful of cases too.” ”Isn’t it possible that it’s because they locked down early that they only had a handful of cases?” ”I don’t think you can say that. As Scott Morrison said last year, we can’t hide under the doona forever.”
Source: Why A Stay At Home Order Is Better Than A Lockdown! – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Borrowing from Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Joyce will confuse personal interest with the public interest and believe his new ministers are best for the country. Deep down, they are not.
Every transaction tells Australians what to expect from the Nationals leader now he is restored to what he sees as his rightful place as Deputy Prime Minister. It should embarrass ministers who like to think they gain their positions on merit.
Source: Four words sum up the Joyce reshuffle and none benefit the country
Henry Reynolds has demolished the apologetic arguments of conservative intellectuals, showing that the British colonization of Australia was a crime even by the standards of its time. Reynolds makes a powerful argument for recognizing Aboriginal sovereignty.
Source: Australia Was Founded on an Act of Genocide. It’s Time to Make Amends.
Still, it’s deeply concerning that the rhetoric of justified violence is increasing, and not just in fringe social media circles, but on cable news networks being projected into millions of American homes. It’s also timed alongside this Arizona “audit” and its accompanying conspiracy theories, and placed in the summer months, when people are far more likely to be out and ready to gather in person than in the dead of winter, when the Capitol riot happened. The fire may not spark, but there can be no mistaking the immense amount of fuel that right-wing media is gleefully pouring over the kindling.
Source: Filling the Trump Void: Right-wing Media’s Calls for Violence Grow Louder | The Smirking Chimp
73 Democratic Congressional representatives wrote a letter to President Biden on Friday urging him formally to withdraw from Trump’s so-called “deal of the century,” which actually authorized Israel unilaterally to steal large swathes of Palestinian land. And these representatives frankly say this. They want an outbreak of frank talk and a reversion to the discourse of international law. The Palestinian Territories are militarily occupied by Israel. Period. The late casino mogul and Likudnik Sheldon Adelson attempted to make calling Palestine “occupied” taboo in US politics, wielding his checkbook in that battle and sidelining Chris Christie when he would not agree. Not only are the Palestinians an occupied population, these representatives say, Israel’s squatter-settlements in Palestine are illegal. They are illegal, by the Fourth Geneva Convention. Except in the anti-Palestinian US, this point of law is disputed nowhere in the world.
A Navy training document asks, “Anarchists, socialists and neo-nazis represent which terrorist ideological category?”
Source: Military Training Document Says Socialists Represent “Terrorist” Ideology
However, Barnaby 2.0 also poses one of the great questions about the modern-day redemption of public figures: why are we more forgiving of our politicians when scandalous episodes – even if relatively trivial – can spell career and social death for others in the spotlight?
Source: Rehabilitation comes more easily to some than others in the public eye
In correspondence between an employee and Dow regarding a query by Guardian Australia on available aqueous sources, it was suggested “we do not give [the paper] anything more than what is already on the public record from us. They are clearly struggling to work out where we are getting our water, so I don’t think we give them any further clarity.” Dow approved of the measure.
Source: Let the Vandalism Begin: Adani Strikes Coal – » The Australian Independent Media Network
The UK Health Secretary has just admitted his government’s “moral responsibility” for the UK’s contaminated blood scandal of the 1970s and 1980s. Meanwhile, the Liberal/National government still refuses to apologise and offer financial support to the up to 20,000 victims as recommended 17 years ago by a Senate Committee. And Labor, which has similarly ignored the recommendations, has just acknowledged the “historic injustice” but says it can’t do anything. Why is it so hard for the victims asks Elizabeth Minter? Is it because CSL, the darling of Australia’s business community, lies at the heart of the scandal? “The Government is just waiting for us all to die.”
Australian conservatives claim that “woke” students and left-wing lecturers pose a threat to free speech on university campuses. But the real “cancel culture” is coming from the Right.
Source: Conservatives Are the Ones Attacking Free Speech at Universities
For a long time now Scott Morrison has cruised along on a message that, when you strip it down, essentially amounts to: “Be grateful.” You can hear it every time the government talks about its great success keeping Australians safe. You can hear it every time ministers cite the death tolls abroad. You can hear it every time the Prime Minister demands the opposition support the team and drop its “carping negativity”. But how long can this really pass muster as our COVID-free paradise fast becomes our prison?
Source: Morrison’s leadership is missing and there’s no sign of it on the horizon
Experts in the legal and journalism world are weighing in on the bombshell news that the Trump Organization “will be criminally charged” and “will have faced criminal charges” by this time next week, according to an on-air report from MSNBC’s Tom Winter reports. The New York Times published a similar report stating charges could come “as soon as next week.”
A civil war within the Fox News ranks broke out on Thursday evening, with host Sean Hannity melting down on-camera over reports fellow primetime star Tucker Carlson has spent years dishing to other media outlets about internal goings-on at the network. The drama started with a muckraking column from New York Times media columnist Ben Smith, outlining the ways Carlson has served as an important source for a wide variety of outlets that he’s spent years railing against publicly. “Tucker Carlson Calls Journalists ‘Animals'” the article’s headline reads. “He’s Also Their Best Source.”
On Thursday night, Fox News prime-time host and leading network voice Tucker Carlson delivered a tirade against Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, following the general’s comments to the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday on the importance of understanding the historical and ongoing issues of racism in America, as well as the “white rage” that led to the January 6 attack on the Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump. “Mark Milley is the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He didn’t get that job because he’s brilliant or because he’s brave or because the people who know him respect him. He is not, and they definitely don’t,” Carlson said, going on to describe Milley as “obsequious,” a “pig,” and “stupid.”
That’s the conclusion we must draw from Republican state laws written to “ban” critical race theory from classrooms and schools but written so vaguely as to cover virtually anything related to race, racism, whiteness, white supremacy, the history of slavery or even unkind interpretations of American history. In a very real sense, we are just a few small steps from “banning” ideas to burning books. It’s not enough to just explain what critical race theory is, because while we’re doing all this explaining, the republic’s enemies are in the early stages of forming state and local thought police.
Rightwing politicians and media outlets are attacking a strawman version of antiracism. A disappointing number of liberals and leftists have bought into it
Though the 1.5°C target might be possible, there are currently no grounds for optimism that we will meet it. But perhaps our findings will provide exactly the motivation we need to make it happen.
When handweaver Mary Burgess moved in to a studio in the Nicholas Building seven years ago, it felt like a gift. Yes, from her fifth floor window there is a stunning view of Flinders Street station, but it was the feeling of being in an artists’ village that won her over.
Source: Artists, artisans unite in bid to save the ‘heart of Melbourne’
Gaslighting, talk. spin and promises are a typical LNP strategy of “seeming” to be aware of the direction without any actions necessary to be taken. Tudge, like Morrison announcing what is needed as if it’s being done. Such as the bullshit that we were first in line to get vaccines the deal signed done and dusted when it wasn’t.
How do we attract high-performing school leavers into teaching? Everyone knows the answer. That is, except the Federal Education Minister.
Source: Alan Tudge wants Singaporean education excellence on the cheap
Death of a Salesman. If this doesn’t amplify the need to know why Morrison was sacked in NZ and Sacked by Aus Tourism what does? What are the reasons Australian people need to be kept in the dark? This seems to be the origin of the bullshit Morrison term “underwater matters” the cover-up for total incompetence.
Public relations has trumped public health as the Prime Minister targets the AstraZeneca vaccine as a scapegoat to shift blame from his own incompetence, writes Paul Begley.
Source: Scott Morrison shifts vaccine rollout blame with planned PR strategy
New York: An appeals court suspended Rudy Giuliani’s law licence in New York because he made false statements while trying to get courts to overturn Donald Trump’s loss in the presidential race.
Source: New York court suspends Rudy Giuliani’s law licence over bogus election fraud claims
Gaslighting describes the practice of making someone question their perception of reality in order to control and abuse them for the perpetrator’s benefit. The term is often talked about in the context of relationships, romantic or other, and usually refers to individual behaviors. But what happens when an entire group acts as gaslighters? Or worse, when an entire society becomes the victim of gaslighting?
On trade, finance, migration, food standards and more, the UK suffers fresh ignominy on a daily basis
In 1991, senior ice researcher Ken Croasdale of Exxon’s Canadian subsidiary told an engineering conference that “any major development with a lifespan of say 30-40 years will need to assess the impacts of potential global warming.” This was particularly pertinent “of Arctic and offshore projects in Canada, where warming will clearly affect sea ice, icebergs, permafrost and sea levels.” Not wishing to bite the hand feeding him, Croasdale brightly considered the benefit a warming planet might have for company operations in the Beaufort Sea: “potential global warming can only help lower exploration and development costs.” This is no longer the case: the investors and funds are in revolt and such large oil companies are counting a different set of costs.
Source: The Insurgency Against Big Oil – » The Australian Independent Media Network
On Friday 4 June, Kristo Langker, producer of YouTube series Friendlyjordies, was arrested by the NSW Fixated Persons Unit for allegedly stalking Deputy Premier John Barilaro. Xenophon Davis partner Mark Davis, who is representing Mr Langker, released a letter written by his client on 19 June:
Source: An open letter from Friendlyjordies producer Kristo Langker
With Australia raising its hand to be part of joint naval exercises in the South China Sea, its departure from the G7 in Cornwall continues the “down-under” tradition of following U.S. foreign policy.
Source: Australia’s collective voice should silence the ‘drums of war’
86 View all comments Nationals MPs fear a ruthless reshuffle of their federal cabinet posts to reward those who voted for Barnaby Joyce to lead the party, amid Labor scorn that he will join a cabinet taskforce on women’s safety.
Source: Nationals MPs fear ‘vindictive’ reshuffle of cabinet posts rewarding Barnaby Joyce backers
Since Barnaby Joyce’s sensational return to the leadership of the National Party and consequently the Deputy Prime Ministership, much has been written about what this means for Scott Morrison and the Coalition Government he leads.
Law enforcement agencies have a cavalier attitude to the right to privacy and a “whatever it takes” attitude to raiding databases of personal information, writes Greg Barns. Given the treasure trove of information now available from all the Covid tracing apps, strong penalties and laws are needed to ensure evidence obtained from those apps cannot be used in legal proceedings.
Source: Privacy rights jeopardised with Covid apps tracking every move – Michael West
In an effort to outdo Tucker Carlson
Fox News’ Sean Hannity has been on a rage-filled jag of late (more than usual) about the New York Times, and Tuesday evening he hit the jackpot of Crazytown. Hannity did a sort of conservative stand-up comedy routine last night, which on one hand sounded like he was correctly criticizing himself and Fox News as lying liars.
Source: Hannity Bashes ‘Media,’ But He’s Clearly Talking About Fox | Crooks and Liars
There isn’t any doubt that Trump would like to rule as al-Sisi does in Egypt or Khamenei does in Iran, and that his acolytes and his cheerleaders at Fox Cable News would be perfectly all right with that.
Source: In Siccing Justice Dept. on Jimmy Kimmel and SNL, Trump Channeled worst Mideast Dictators
Public universities in Florida will be required to survey both faculty and students on their political beliefs and viewpoints, with the institutions at risk of losing their funding if the responses are not satisfactory to the state’s Republican-led legislature.
For 15 years political parties have blocked action on stopping money laundering through Australia. Labor is planning to bring on a vote today for a parliamentary inquiry that could finally end the stalemate and ensure the nation is no longer a haven for the proceeds of foreign crime and corruption. Nathan Lynch reports.
“The U.N. vote… on Cuba was a chance for President Biden to show global leadership,” said CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin. “He failed miserably.”
Source: US and Israel Vote ‘No’ as 184 Nations Condemn American Blockade of Cuba | Common Dreams News
OPINION: Critical Race Theory isn’t the most racist theory of the past 30 years, it isn’t on the wrong side of history and it isn’t a worldwide movement to view all white people as privileged and innately racist, writes Luke Pearson and Natalie Cromb.
Source: OPINION: Critical Race Theory – what it isn’t | NITV
In the race between infection and injection, injection has lost. Public health experts estimate that approximately 70% of the world’s 7.9 billion people must be fully vaccinated to end the COVID-19 pandemic. As of June 21, 2021, 10.04% of the global population had been fully vaccinated, nearly all of them in rich countries. Only 0.9% of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose.
Former St Kilda great Gilbert McAdam has revealed that he offered columnist Andrew Bolt a chance to listen to his father’s story of being stolen.Bolt has continually used his platform to question the validity of the Stolen Generations, going as far as describing them as ‘preposterous and obscene’.Speaking on NITV’s Yokayi Footy, McAdam spoke about his family’s personal experience. “My dad is Stolen Generation… He got taken away cause he had white (skin),” he told fellow panelists.
Source: AFL legend Gilbert McAdam calls out Andrew Bolt over Stolen Generations | NITV
My thought for the day Current experience would suggest that the Australian people need to take more care when electing its government. ( John Lord)
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