California’s top election official is investigating reports that the state’s Republican Party has set up unauthorized ballot drop boxes posing as “official” in several major counties, an illegal practice that could deceive voters into depositing their ballots at unsecure locations.
California GOP Accused Of Posting Fake Ballot Drop Boxes | Crooks and Liars
Paul Sakkal By Paul Sakkal October 12, 2020 — 8.30am View all comments The virus that causes COVID-19 can last up to 28 days on surfaces like mobile phone and ATM screens, much longer than previously thought, but lasts for much less time on softer surfaces, new CSIRO research shows.
Coronavirus Australia: COVID-19 can last almost a month on smartphones, ATMs, CSIRO finds
Most Oil Workers Haven’t Heard of the “Just Transition” — But They Do Want To Save Our Planet
While the Green New Deal argues for a “just transition” for fossil fuel industry workers, a new study shows few such workers have heard of the term. Workers can play a decisive role in greening the economy — but only if their own concerns and expertise are central to the transition process.
Most Oil Workers Haven’t Heard of the “Just Transition” — But They Do Want To Save Our Planet
THE COMPLETE FAILURE of the Morrison/Frydenberg Budget to address the catastrophic state of Australia’s environment is well demonstrated by the user guide in the budget paper for agriculture, water and environment portfolio (page 9). Not one mention of biodiversity.
Federal Budget condemns our wildlife to extinction
How is the Australian Government funding its deficit spending?
Budget 2020 takes Australia towards a trillion-dollar debt, but most experts say it isn’t a problem. Here’s why – ABC News
Frydenberg’s budget, based on discredited “trickle down” economics, misses an opportunity to restructure our economy, weakened by seven years of Coalition mismanagement.
The government sees itself as an agent of the private sector. – Pearls and IrritationsPearls and Irritations
Whether he recovers or not, Trump’s presidency is moribund; so utterly corrupted it is rotten to the core. Mendacity and recklessness are two of its worst traits, notes Frank Bruni. Add a third: Trump’s petty tyranny. If you wanted the boss to be happy, you left your mask at home, report Annie Karni and Maggie Haberman of The White House’s top-down culture of fear. A staff too frightened to displease their boss cannot tell him the hard truths he needs to know. In the end, this is the illness that has undone Trump. He is the architect of his own decline.
Trump is the architect of his own decline – » The Australian Independent Media Network
The lesson of Donald Trump’s coronavirus diagnosis is not that he deserved it or that anyone should celebrate — it’s that you can’t pretend that the basic laws governing the universe don’t apply to you forever.
Trump Could Only Ignore the Reality of Coronavirus for So Long
Joe Biden in their work, but while he made a few statements that registered as not quite right, he was well within the norm of accuracy for 90 minutes of speaking without notes. Trump, on the other hand, was off the charts. According to Dale, “There were times, particularly during the conclusion of the debate, when almost every comment from Trump was inaccurate.”
Debate Fact-Checks Show Trump Lied And Lied, But One Group Of Lies Is By Far The Most Damaging | Crooks and Liars
“A serious tax cheat” is how his biographer David Cay Johnston describes Donald Trump. Johnston reports on the New York Times investigation into the finances of the US president, revealing Trump has previously lost two income tax fraud trials.
The Trump Tax Returns: Donald deducts $US70,000 for hair-styling – Michael West
Worst-case predictions say Greenland will be melting 600 per cent faster than its present rate by the end of the century That alone could add around 30 centimetres to sea levels, without accounting for Antarctic melting Cutting our emissions rapidly buys us time to adapt to rising sea levels
Greenland ice sheet loss already ‘unprecedented’ and set to accelerate – ABC News
While Ms Herriford’s lemonade stand did make a profit last year, she wanted to be clear that she does have a loan owing to her mother worth $14 – around $439,999,986 less than the loans owed by the Trump Organisation.
Lemonade Stand Paid More Tax, Made More Profit, Than All Of Donald Trump’s Businesses Combined | The Shovel
“He’s in a very precarious financial situation,” Painter said. “And we don’t know who the creditors really are. Because if Deutsche Bank makes a loan, you have no idea whether Deutsche Bank has the risk attached to that loan, or whether somebody else has made a commitment to Deutsche Bank to take on a piece of that, or all of it.” That poses national security and other risks to the United States and also highlights the legal and financial uncertainty Trump and his web of businesses may face if he loses in November. “When he’s not president anymore, we don’t know what’s going to happen,” Painter said. “And neither does he, so he wants to stay in order to continue to prop those businesses up. The minute he’s out, I think the loans could get called. And there could be a lot of investigations.”
Trump Needs To Win The Election To Keep His ‘Get Out Of Jail Free’ Card | HuffPost Australia
Hartcher seems to use the Swedish and Freedom House studies as an opportunity to focus yet again on China as the worlds worst regime. When one could have easily have said China has done more than any other country to deregulate and allow it’s citizens freedoms and conditions they never previously had. Where as we are increasingly being surveilled and our privacy shredded like never before. China has educated, extended the life expectancy housed and provided work for more of it’s citizens can we say the same? We can’t even say we are proud of the social metrics that indicate we have improved the lives of Australia’s Indigenous people the most incarcerated people not just in Australia but the world. (ODT)
One of the things that slipped by unnoticed this year was some troubling news about the state of democracy. While the world was busy with the pandemic, a Swedish research group published its annual study of the health of democracy worldwide.The topmost countries in the Varieties of Democracy report are Denmark, Estonia and Sweden. Australia ranks the 14th freest nation, the US No. 36 and China 174th out of 179. The only countries ranked lower are among the world’s hell holes of suffering and repression – Syria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Eritrea and North Korea. Australia turns out to be a beacon of liberty in a darkening world. But the metatrend towards illiberalism means that even the freest countries need to work on renewing their democracies.
Under cover of COVID there’s been troubling news about tyranny’s rise
New analysis reveals the government intends to cut billions of dollars from university research, while re announcing funds from elsewhere in the budget The government’s proposed changes to higher education funding will cut $2 billion a year from university research budgets, according to new analysis prepared by the sector’s peak body.
National Times | Facebook
I suspect the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg means Donald Trump will win November’s US election. You might think conversely that it favours Joe Biden, and you might even be right. What interests me is that everyone agrees her death is hugely significant.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death a win for Trump in 2020
People in public life tend to fall into one of two broad categories – those who are motivated by principle, and those motivated by power.
For RBG it was all Principle, for Mitch McConnell it’s all Power | The Smirking Chimp
An unprecedented leak of thousands of files from the US government’s most confidential financial intelligence database has shone a spotlight on the world’s $2 trillion-a-year dirty money habit. As Nathan Lynch reveals, this story goes much deeper than the glib “bad bankers” narrative being trotted out by the world’s media.
Dirty money leaks shine a spotlight on kleptocrats devouring our economy – Michael West
“The whole world is focused on China now; it’s actually the defining story of our age,” Grant said. “It’s probably the thing that is most going to set the course of the 21st century: the emergence of an authoritarian superpower like China, which is on track to become the most powerful economy in the world and by some measures already is, set against what is seen as a weakening of democracy in the world and certainly a more damaged United States.”
Stan Grant has joined ABC News as international affairs analyst
As Australia-China relations continue to plummet and talk of a new Cold War intensifies, how much do we really know of a nation that is set to define the 21st century?
China has told us how they see their place in the world. The question is, can we live with it? – ABC News
Forget about holding a Supreme Court seat open like in 2016 — because Republicans are in charge now
As soon as the news broke of the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at age 87, a number of right-wing media voices urged the rapid confirmation of a new justice — while the presidential election is less than seven weeks away.
“Let’s go for it.” Right-wing media immediately urge SCOTUS appointment during election | Media Matters for America
Switzer seems to have ignored totally the sudden origins of the current hostilities. The benefit it has for Trump’s American domestic politics. How the LNP has dependantly fallen into step behind Trump and How Murdoch and our media have amplified a state of affairs as was done in the 60’s to take us into a real and physical war Vietnam one we should have ignored.
China certainly hasn’t been proactive but understandably reactive to it’s sovereign right to progress (ODT)
The Sino-American rivalry is likely to be the defining feature of international relations in the century ahead and it’s mainly going to take place in our neighbourhood. This is not a welcome development by any means, but it is our future.Why can’t our leaders just repair relations with China? If only Canberra toned down its rhetoric, restored a dialogue and rebuilt trust with Beijing, all would be well. Instead, the federal government needlessly provokes our largest trade partner by implementing foreign interference laws, rejecting the Huawei 5G network bid, and calling for an inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus.
The good times with China are over. Get used to it
Coronavirus US: Trump claim on COVID-19 vaccine contradicted by top health official
Trump says the “best” Scientists in the world are wrong spreading the confusion division and chaos around Covid in the USA. Who would want to “buy American” when Trump says the best are wrong? (ODT)
One of the United States’ top health officials has contradicted President Donald Trump’s promise for a coronavirus vaccine by mid-October, telling Congress it may not be available until well into next year.
Coronavirus US: Trump claim on COVID-19 vaccine contradicted by top health official
Years ago the “I see no evil, I hear no evil, I speak no evil” 3 wise monkeys ornaments were frequently on display. Abbreviate that to “Blind, Deaf, Dumb”, drop the word ‘wise’ and use the modern connotation of Dumb as being Stupid, and you have summed up Morrison.
Why is Morrison like the 3 monkeys? – » The Australian Independent Media Network
“I thought I’d find it funny watching this, but instead it’s just chilling: as the West Coast faces a climate catastrophe, the president laughs at them and denies the problem exists.
“It’ll Start Getting Cooler, You Just Watch”: Trump Spits Climate Denialism Right in California’s Face | Common Dreams News
We were always told what to think; what is correct and what is wrong. By the white dudes living in or coming from Europe and North America. They knew everything. They were the most qualified.
The West should sit on its backside, shut up, and listen to “the others”
Morrison hasn’t moved on from “on the water matters” and ” Matter of National Security” That is the Morrison LNP Government other than the of course Abbott’s blame game. They can fight as they have the help of the IPA and Murdoch but they can’t and don’t govern as they have no plan. As a consequence their eye is firmly fixed on Trump (ODT)
Rejecting the premise or the characterisation of the question points to trickiness and deceit. Taking the time to provide an explanation is much more open and a discussion around why the question was inane, irrelevant or pointless demonstrates there is nothing to hide. While we have seen traces of real leadership and communication during the current pandemic period, at this stage it is certainly too soon to be able to call most of our political ‘leaders’ authentic leaders and communicators. We have an opportunity to embed a ‘new normal’ in political and business life into the future — our future leaders need to answer the question rather than reject or deflect them. Who knows, they might engender trust if they do.
I reject the premise – » The Australian Independent Media Network
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The problem isn’t only that Elon Musk has a net worth of about $100 billion when tens of millions of Americans are barely getting by. It’s that he’s made this money while treating his workers so badly. His wealth quadrupled during the 4 months Tesla forced all workers to take a 10 percent pay cut.
Citizen Musk | The Smirking Chimp
Critics accuse Trump of attacking mail-in balloting as part of his strategy to manipulate the election in his favor by suppressing the vote. But the president is also sowing doubts about the process so that in the event of his loss to Democratic nominee Joe Biden, he could challenge the result by claiming widespread fraud, critics predict. In the meantime, DeJoy — a prominent Trump campaign contributor — appears to be crippling the U.S. Postal Service operation ahead of the election by ripping out hundreds of mail-sorting machines and letter collection boxes, and eliminating overtime and extended mail deliveries.
New Mail Wrinkle: USPS Sending Out Inaccurate Mail Ballot Info, Warns State Official | HuffPost Australia
At the heart of Biden’s climate change package is a determination to decarbonise the nation’s electricity system by 2035 before reaching net-zero carbon emissions for the entire economy by 2050.
Biden’s radical climate change plan could overturn the world’s efforts
Focusing on national counterterrorism efforts against both Islamist extremism and far-right extremism acknowledges that there are differences between these two violent movements. Focusing solely on one, while ignoring the other, will increase the risk of domestic terrorism and future acts of violence.
19 years after 9/11, Americans continue to fear foreign extremists and underplay the dangers of domestic terrorism
Leadership: The LNP is practiced in not giving answers when asked quite the opposite can be said of Dan Andrews.
That made no sense to me. During the course of a 23-year career in DFAT, which involved briefing ministers and ministerial advisers, I cannot recall the provision of such simple and straightforward information not being provided under the circumstances prevailing in this matter. I went back:
China policy: Our trading relationship is being ruined by the Right wing
Trump’s incoherence, his temper, his impulsiveness, his breathtaking ignorance — all of it was well-known among the top tiers of the Republican machinery. … Not once did I ever hear any concern that just maybe they were working to install a useful idiot who truly was an idiot.
The Useful Idiot | HuffPost Australia
The Police didn’t notice his Ethnicity when calling him a “Black Cunt”
An Aboriginal man says police officers threw him off his bicycle, pinned him to the ground and called him a “black c—” while he was riding to work at dawn without his bike lights on. Korey Penny, who works on Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel project, said he wanted Victoria Police to be held accountable for the incident that hospitalised him, which he said would never have happened to “white guy in a suit”.
Aboriginal man accuses police of violent assault and racist abuse
“Defamatory BS from a repeat offender” she said. “Tony Abbott should consult a lawyer. These unfounded slurs, pushed by his loony Left political opponents, are stated as fact by ‘journalists’ in the UK.”
Sky falls on Tony Abbott as News Corp columnist urges him to sue for defamation | The Weekly Beast | Media | The Guardian
Chinais far far more aware that the LNP is doing a Trump in thei Foreign Policy approach to China. We are fast tracking to be the 51st State of America. The problem is that there is far less certainty in our relationship with the current American administration under President Trump. There is an old saying it’s easier to break up a marriage than it is two partners in business making a profit. (ODT)
This week, a piece in China’s state-run tabloid The Global Times opined that Australia risks becoming the “poor white trash of Asia” if policymakers push forward with economic decoupling from China. A man pushes a motorbike past a casino in Bavet in Cambodia. Chinese developers are pumping lots of money into countries like Cambodia.(ABC RN: Antony Funnell) “We are seen in Beijing as the little brother of the US. In Washington, we’re expected to support American initiatives almost reflexively,” Strangio said.
China is ‘unimpeded’ in South-East Asia. Here’s how its influence may shape the region – ABC News
Scott Morrison is under pressure to wind back Covid income support – but it is far too early to be standing on the exit ramp
Australia’s economy was already weak – and the coronavirus pandemic has belted it into recession | Katharine Murphy | Business | The Guardian
The US reported its six millionth coronavirus case, and deaths are headed toward 200,000. It is hard to explain just how bad the US death rate under Trump from the novel coronavirus is.
6 Million Stricken with Covid-19: Trump has turned the US into a Sh*thole Country
THE MOST PROFOUND challenge arising from Australia becoming the worst developed country for government debt is not the economic hardship this will impose on those having to pay the interest and repay the principal. A more serious issue is that most citizens haven’t a clue what is actually happening.
Coalition adds more debt in nine months than Labor did in under six years
“#Unfit” might not be potent enough to fully indict Trump, and it could arrive too late for anyone to listen to its warning. If nothing else, though, it allows Gartner and his peers to be secure that they made their best effort. “I am more confident in my diagnosis of Donald Trump than I have been of any other diagnosis, because I have more information,” he says. That we can believe.
“#Unfit” delivers a Trump diagnosis we all know and warns of dire consequences for ignoring it | Salon.com
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