Category: Uncategorized

Are World’s Democracies finally turning on Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp/Fox ‘Cancer on Politics?’

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There is mounting evidence that Australia is sick of Rupert Murdoch and the political propaganda machine he runs in the guise of a news organisation.

In January, [center-left Labor Party leader] Bill Shorten rebuffed an open-ended offer to meet Murdoch whenever the opposition leader was in the United States. According to the ABC’s 7.30 political editor, Laura Tingle, Shorten replied that any dealings he had with News Corp would be conducted with the company’s representatives in Australia.

Shorten’s refusal to meet Murdoch, the searing attacks by him and other politicians on the Daily Telegraph, the criticism from News Corp-related journalists and the attacks by rival publishers suggest something is happening in the political zeitgeist, and not just in Australia: that at some level, democratic societies have had enough of Murdoch and his propaganda operation masquerading as a news service.The Conversation

via Are World’s Democracies finally turning on Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp/Fox ‘Cancer on Politics?’

John Lord’s Election Diary No. 15: What are we voting for? This might help – » The Australian Independent Media Network

via John Lord’s Election Diary No. 15: What are we voting for? This might help – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Federal Election 2019: Labor to consider Julie Bishop as US ambassador if elected

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via Federal Election 2019: Labor to consider Julie Bishop as US ambassador if elected

Old Dog Thoughts Abbott has appeared on the Bolt Report 50% as much as Andrew Bolt 352 ++ times to claim he’s a victim

Andrew Bolt’s Blog,14/5/19 Guess who had the greatest No of appearances 352++ on Bolt’s show; Palmer Paid for the LNP; Racism is personal;

Neutering News Corp: How To Castrate The Swinging Dicks Of A Tyrannical Media Empire – Situation Theatre

Screencaps from ABC News and The Telegraph

via Neutering News Corp: How To Castrate The Swinging Dicks Of A Tyrannical Media Empire – Situation Theatre

How Does Donald Trump Keep Getting Away With It? | The Nation

Trump Baseball Bat

People know the start of the Frederick Douglass quote “Power concedes nothing without a demand.” But most forget how the passage ends: “The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.”

How does Trump keep getting away with it? Because we let him.

via How Does Donald Trump Keep Getting Away With It? | The Nation

Behind The Scenes, Trump Diligently Tries To Slash Social Programs | HuffPost Australia

How easy is that. Just redefine News as “fake” and now redefine “povert” and problems all go way. (ODT)

This month, the administration signaled it would like to change how the government adjusts its official poverty threshold for inflation every year, which could result in millionsfewer Americans qualifying for a wide range of benefits over time.

It’s only the most recent of many unilateral moves Trump has made on social policy, which all seek to fulfill an Inauguration Day promise to “get our people off of welfare and back to work.”

via Behind The Scenes, Trump Diligently Tries To Slash Social Programs | HuffPost Australia

A CBP Team Targets Travelers After They Pass Immigration

Trump’s secret police and “gotchya” moment making a bad situation even worse. (ODT)

via A CBP Team Targets Travelers After They Pass Immigration

It will be Very Hot and very Wet–We’ve exceeded 415ppm of Carbon Dioxide for the first Time since the Pliocene

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via It will be Very Hot and very Wet–We’ve exceeded 415ppm of Carbon Dioxide for the first Time since the Pliocene

Scott Morrison’s top ten election campaign deceptions

via Scott Morrison’s top ten election campaign deceptions

Ah, Josh Frydenberg, The Man Who Told The Truth…Eventually! – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Now as a member of the Kooyong electorate, I’ve been subjected to so many letters from Joshie that I was starting to wonder if I could consider it stalking. Every day for the past week, I found at least one letter for either my wife and I or my son who is now of voting age. These letters were very informative. They told me such things as how my private health insurance was at risk, how rents would go up (did nobody consider that some of the good people of Kooyong may be rubbing their hands and thinking how good that would be thanks to the 83 properties they own?), how the economy might stall under Labor when thanks to his sound economic management growth was 2.75% and not 2,5% that the Reserve Bank has adjusted it to, how the Liberals had a plan for reducing emissions but not by so much that it would hurt anything including businesses because we all know that a strong economy which burns coal 24/7 is the best way to reduce emissions, and…

Ah, Josh Frydenberg, The Man Who Told The Truth…Eventually! – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Compare the pair: key policy offerings from Labor and the Coalition in the 2019 federal election

via Compare the pair: key policy offerings from Labor and the Coalition in the 2019 federal election

Old Dog Thoughts- Sniping from the sidelines

Andrew Bolt’s Blog,14/5/19; Bolt and the Di Natale Green egg thrower; Ghosts from the past; Wise words from Dempster

‘The President’s Obstruction Continues’: White House Reportedly Asked Key Witness to Say Trump Didn’t Obstruct Justice

What threats what promises are being heavied on witnesses in order to protect this manchild? (ODT)

via ‘The President’s Obstruction Continues’: White House Reportedly Asked Key Witness to Say Trump Didn’t Obstruct Justice

Trump Has Defied Nearly All Subpoenas. What Can the House Do?|The Smirking Chimp

After the redacted Mueller report was made public, Donald Trump tweeted, “No Collusion, No Obstruction, Complete and Total EXONERATION.” But when the House Judiciary Committee asked to see Mueller’s full report, Trump said no way.

Trump Has Defied Nearly All Subpoenas. What Can the House Do?

 

SNL Rips Mr. ‘Art Of The Deal’ For Losing Over $1 Billion | Crooks and Liars

His father was a developer paying his taxes what did his son say to him? (ODT)

Saturday Night Live’s Colin Jost and Michael Che took apart Trump, his enablers over on Fox “News” and the Senate, and his unhinged rally in Florida during their Weekend Update segment last night.

via SNL Rips Mr. ‘Art Of The Deal’ For Losing Over $1 Billion | Crooks and Liars

The Israeli right is now openly saying it wants to keep Hamas in power | +972 Magazine

Hamas supporters attend a rally marking the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Hamas movement, Nablus, West Bank, December 15, 2017. (Nasser Ishtayeh/Flash90)

As the latest round of fighting in Gaza and southern Israel died down, it became clear that keeping Hamas in power has become a central tenet of the Israeli right.

via The Israeli right is now openly saying it wants to keep Hamas in power | +972 Magazine

Mounting evidence the tide is turning on News Corp, and its owner

via Mounting evidence the tide is turning on News Corp, and its owner

A message to our Government: Now is the time for decisive climate action

The silent convert who now supports Climate cahange and the Paris Agreement

via A message to our Government: Now is the time for decisive climate action

John Lord’s Election Diary No. 14: Have you thought about why we are voting? This might help. – » The Australian Independent Media Network

via John Lord’s Election Diary No. 14: Have you thought about why we are voting? This might help. – » The Australian Independent Media Network

A free ride on the gravy train – » The Australian Independent Media Network

When Tony Abbott rolled Malcolm Turnbull for the Liberal Party leadership back in 2009, he immediately threw out the constructive negotiations towards an emissions reduction scheme.

“Oppositions are not there to get legislation through,” Abbott intoned, heralding his approach for the next 4 years.

There would be no discussion, no amendments, no working together to improve legislation. It would just be NO to everything.

So used to this approach did the Coalition become that, when they did finally become the government, they had nothing to offer. They have spent six years still opposing Labor’s ideas.

Our overly generous property tax concessions are a prime example.

via A free ride on the gravy train – » The Australian Independent Media Network

ScoMo’s campaign launch flops ending a week of catastrophic failure. – » The Australian Independent Media Network

“It’s difficult to know where the government ends and News Corp begins.” Bongiorno

via ScoMo’s campaign launch flops ending a week of catastrophic failure. – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Bill Shorten says a million Australians are doing two jobs and a million are underemployed. Is he correct? – Australia Votes – Federal Election 2019 – Politics – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Bill Shorten points in the Parliament.

The jobs the Liberals helped create (ODT)

via Bill Shorten says a million Australians are doing two jobs and a million are underemployed. Is he correct? – Australia Votes – Federal Election 2019 – Politics – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

‘Lebanese gang’ bungle: Police apologise to man injured in Fitzroy arrest

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5-6 “heavily armed police” really fucked up and it’s not the first time. This squad seems to have made quite a habit of injuring innocent people while not doing anything about apprehending guilty ones. They seem to enjoy breaking bones. They will now be “investigated” by none other than the police in “fairness to the members”. Why have the police pointed to the “Lebanese community as if that is sufficient explanation rather than just a “gang” of Australians. Has racial or ethnic profiling become an explanation or an excuse for the use of such violent apprehension methods?  No doubt they will take their time about it and maybe when the heat and light have been taken off this very, now public issue, they will try to mitigate the reality of what occurred to be “fair” to those members involved leaving an injured citizen having to fight legally for his rights to compensation. For some citizens that process has taken years with the state turning it’s back altogether. Will the Police raise restisting arrest charges against Nik D to protect themselves? These officers haven’t even been suspended while being investigated. (ODT)

http://Victim of mistaken arrest undergoes surgery as lawyers called in

 

Old Dog Thoughts-Election 2019

Image result for Images Oliver Yates and Julian Burnside

How is it these unpaid for ads donated by News Corp aren’t ever declared DONATIONS?

Andrew Bolt’s Blog 13/5/19; Bolt from the safety of the News Corp Wall electioneering;

Independent Australia

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via Independent Australia

Murdering Muslims Is Not Extremism. In Australia, It’s Business As Usual – New Matilda

This is the context for the man who murdered dozens of Muslims in New Zealand.

The Australian man did so in the name of a fascist ideology. If he had joined the Australian government, perhaps he wouldn’t be in jail. He could support the large-scale murder of Muslims in numerous countries, on a bigger scale. If he used the right words, he could applaud the policies responsible for the mass murder of Muslims in Yemen, Egypt, Palestine, and more. Then he wouldn’t be considered an extremist. He could fit into the mainstream Australian political spectrum. If he had developed a political career where he fought to boost our military exports to Saudi Arabia, he might be able to retire and be considered a “moderate”.

Being complicit in the threatened murder of millions of Muslims is just business as usual in Australia. It is part of the normal political spectrum. As our record makes clear, a basic premise of our political mainstream is that Muslim lives do not have any value.

When the slaughter of Muslims in New Zealand exits the front pages, Australian foreign policy will continue on as it has. We will continue to be complicit in the murder of Muslims. It just won’t be news anymore.

It will be given continued support from the Murdoch Press

Murdering Muslims Is Not Extremism. In Australia, It’s Business As Usual – New Matilda

Five pillars of financial crime (part 3) – » The Australian Independent Media Network

has anyone been charged or will this process be put aside like the GFC, the Panama Papers and allow everyone to keep the spoils? (ODT)

While the scale of illegality and unethical behaviour in the Australian financial sector might be news to many Australians, the scale of fee-gouging, profiteering and the terrible treatment of customers should be no surprise to our regulators or politicians.

What s likely to remain, as a primary cause of the decade-old malpractice governing the industry and surrounding collaborators – as eloquently shown by K. Lee is ‘The incestuous relationship between government, the financial sector, the regulators, and the legal firms the use’, theaimn.com, 3 October 2018).

via Five pillars of financial crime (part 3) – » The Australian Independent Media Network

News Corp gives Foxtel a $300 million lifeline

News Corp has tipped in $300 million to Foxtel.

Keeping Sky News alive? It should wither on the line (ODT)

Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp has handed Foxtel a $300 million lifeline, without backing from fellow shareholder Telstra, amid further signs of weakness for the pay TV provider.

News Corp, which owns 65 per cent of the pay TV provider, used its own balance sheet to provide Foxtel with a $300 million shareholder loan to cover debts maturing in April.

via News Corp gives Foxtel a $300 million lifeline

Jimmy Kimmel And George Clooney Launch Campaign For Science | Crooks and Liars

via Jimmy Kimmel And George Clooney Launch Campaign For Science | Crooks and Liars

Bolton Is Spinning Israeli ‘Intelligence’ to Push for War Against Iran | The Smirking Chimp

America’s history of entering wars since Vietnam has been based on lies (ODT)

Bolton presented his threat and the deployments as a response to alleged intelligence about a possible Iranian attack on U.S. targets in the Middle East. But what has emerged indicates that the alleged intelligence does not actually reflect any dramatic new information or analysis from the U.S. intelligence community. Instead, it has all the hallmarks of a highly political case concocted by Bolton.

via Bolton Is Spinning Israeli ‘Intelligence’ to Push for War Against Iran | The Smirking Chimp

Trump Strangelove: Or how America learned to worry and hate Empire — RT Op-ed

Trump Strangelove: Or how America learned to worry and hate Empire

 Trump Strangelove: Or how America learned to worry and hate Empire — RT Op-ed

President Donald Trump seems to be making Americans hate the empire again, by embracing war – or maybe only pretending to do so – against Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, North Korea and who knows where else.

and

With all eyes on Venezuela, Trump is quietly targeting Cuba

There are many reasons not to impeach Trump. The House should do it anyway | Robert Reich | Opinion | The Guardian

U.S. President Trump responds to questions from reporters at the White House in Washington<br>U.S. President Donald Trump responds to questions from reporters in front of a portrait of President Theodore Roosevelt after an event centered on a proposal to end surprise medical billing in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 9, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

It’s important to uphold the constitution through impeachment – even if it goes nowhere, even if it’s unpopular with many voters, even if it’s politically risky

via There are many reasons not to impeach Trump. The House should do it anyway | Robert Reich | Opinion | The Guardian

Old Dog Thoughts- News Corps Churnalism vs Journalism

Andrew Bolt’s Blog,12/5/19; Trump’s admission Fox Corp are liars;

Trump Reportedly Asked Don McGahn To Say He Didn’t Obstruct Justice | HuffPost Australia

Real News (ODT)

After Mueller’s report came out, the former White House counsel was reportedly asked to say it wasn’t obstruction when Trump told him to fire the special counsel.

via Trump Reportedly Asked Don McGahn To Say He Didn’t Obstruct Justice | HuffPost Australia

The Fuel for Global Rivalries, Iran to Venezuela: They’re All Wars for Oil!

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 The Fuel for Global Rivalries, Iran to Venezuela: They’re All Wars for Oil!

and

New High Speed Rail Will Run Between Sydney & Melbourne Once Every Election Year – The Shovel

via New High Speed Rail Will Run Between Sydney & Melbourne Once Every Election Year – The Shovel

Ex-Murdoch lieutenant Chris Mitchell says criticism of News Corp ‘worth thinking about’

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via Ex-Murdoch lieutenant Chris Mitchell says criticism of News Corp ‘worth thinking about’

Andrew Bolt was never a “chief lieutenant” so he just hung on the tail of the rise (ODT)

Rupert Murdoch’s former chief lieutenant in Australia, Chris Mitchell, says criticism of News Corp’s political reporting from current and former journalists is “worth thinking about”, amid outrage over the media empire’s election coverage.

Mr Mitchell – who was editor-in-chief of The Australian for 13 years until 2015 – praised this week’s two most prominent News Corp critics as excellent journalists, although he argued the furore about the company’s coverage was overblown.

Has News Corp gone too far? It looks like it hahahaha HOORAY! | First Dog on the Moon | Opinion | The Guardian

via Has News Corp gone too far? It looks like it hahahaha HOORAY! | First Dog on the Moon | Opinion | The Guardian

News Corp’s army of apologists defend ‘Mother of Invention’ attack on Bill Shorten | The Weekly Beast | Media | The Guardian

Tim Blair, Miranda Devine and Ray Hadley jump to Telegraph’s defence. Plus: Nine winds back clock at former Fairfax mastheads

via News Corp’s army of apologists defend ‘Mother of Invention’ attack on Bill Shorten | The Weekly Beast | Media | The Guardian

Morrison: Oppressive nihilistic negativity

This is the man the Christian man who saw political opportunity in the Cronulla riots in 2005. He’s been denying it ever since. Is he believable or is it an “on the water moment”? (ODT)

Morrison: Oppressive nihilistic negativity

Angus Taylor and Tony Reid: Joined at the business hip

If there’s so much doubt and smoke why vote for him?(ODT)

THE STORY of #Watergate – the $80 million water buyback fiasco – has now been widely canvassed. However, questions surrounding further mysterious parts of the issue still remain, especially concerning the long and very close relationship between two of the key figures in the story — Angus Taylor and Dr Tony Reid.

via Angus Taylor and Tony Reid: Joined at the business hip

John Lord’s Election Diary No13: Shorten has dared to go where other Labor leaders have not – » The Australian Independent Media Network

via John Lord’s Election Diary No13: Shorten has dared to go where other Labor leaders have not – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Old Dog Thoughts, News Corps place without ethics

Daily Telegraph waged a 'campaign' against Rush after defamation win, court hears

Andrew Bolt’s Blog,11/5/19; Morally bankrupt Daily Telegraph; The financially divided Liberal Party; Waleed Aly Shoten’s Mum and Election; Trump the eager enabler of violence and division;

Late Night Hosts Mock Fox And Friends On Trump’s Taxes | Crooks and Liars

via Late Night Hosts Mock Fox And Friends On Trump’s Taxes | Crooks and Liars

Deconstructed Podcast: Is Donald Trump a Fascist?

via Deconstructed Podcast: Is Donald Trump a Fascist?

Here’s How Congress Is Fighting To Get Answers From Trump | HuffPost Australia

His administration won’t give the House answers on the Mueller report, Trump’s obstruction of justice and his personal finances, among other things.

Here are all of the investigations the Trump administration is fighting and seeking to thwart:

via Here’s How Congress Is Fighting To Get Answers From Trump | HuffPost Australia

Thousands of Innocent Palestinians in Gaza at Risk of amputation from Israeli Sniping

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via Thousands of Innocent Palestinians in Gaza at Risk of amputation from Israeli Sniping

Where The Leaders Stand On The Major Issues – Your 60 Second Guide – The Shovel

via Where The Leaders Stand On The Major Issues – Your 60 Second Guide – The Shovel