the ghost of maggie

Let me see if I got this right, last week, Joe Hockey, the minister of whatever portfolio needs a Santa figure to sit the public on its knee and mouth fictional, feel good, platitudes, said these exact words on numerous occasions:

"This government is not for the turning on IR"

Well the General Belgrano has been torpedoed in international waters once again and the Sheffield is ablaze.

Now, its turning, flipping 180 degrees and putting in legislation that 12 months ago it specifically rejected. So now what happens to the logjam of incredibly unfair AWA's that have already been sign, sealed and slashed into the national psyche?

Will the Spotlight workers have thier 2cents an hour pay increase taken away from them and their penalty rates, loadings and overtime reinstated?

Even Howards shill, Peter Hendy, is complaining (my god a first, must be a fitup)

"the Government is reacting to the union movement's anti-WorkChoices campaign and will increase red tape for businesses. We're disappointed, they are changes to the WorkChoices that didn't need to be made, we think they're completely unnecessary," he said.
"They're strengthening the workplace safety net, but it doesn't need to be strengthened, it was strong enough under WorkChoices as it stood."

But of course he refuses to repeat what he did of the Labor IR laws, whereas Labors laws will destroy jobs and decimate the economy, these will of course do nothing of the sort, he just finds them a bit slimey and union inspired.

As if Howards boot-in-arse man, seasoned troglodyte, Bill Herffernans comments condeming his fellow Liberal front bencher, Julie Bishop (she is after all "barren" and in a position of some leadership) were not enough to suggest that this government is in utter flailing panic mode, now we have a complete flip flop on something that was set in concrete in the space of a mere 7 days.

Deputy Labor leader Julia Gillard says it is pre-election window dressing.
"The cynicism just reeks doesn't it?" she said. "I'm sure they've looked at the polls and they've said to the pollsters, what would get us through, what would give us some ice to skate on?
"And it's because it's just ice to skate on, not something that they really believe, that Australians should be deeply suspicious of it."

Joe, Johny, just release the data that has you in such a spin over AWA's, it cant be that bad, can it? Although if you are prepared to spin your entire IR laws 180 degrees, I am looking forward to the Governments commitment to transparency...

...........................................................

The GOP Presidential Debate Part 1, the first of the coming season

meanwhile a bunch of doomed middle aged white guys shoveled shit over burning coals in the first Republican debate for the poisoned chalice of GOP Candidate for the 2008 Presidential election.

All want to be Ronald Regan, as if that were something anyone with any sense would aspire to, trickle down economics still workin, eh Mr Bush or the military buildup still sending the country broke, or what about StarWars, hear Poland is getting a bit nervous about that one, how about mining iranian harbors, worked in Nicuragua, or funding and arming deaths squads in Honduras, Negroponte can be flipped into the new administration and give you a few clues about how he did that (oops, already been there and dont it in Iraq), blowing up civilian airliners? That should teach the Iranians another lesson. What about they treat Iraq just like Regan treated Lebanon, he said that the US was in for the long haul, then promptly withdrew all troops and started shelling Beruit from the safety of the USS missouri, theres a lesson there, no? What about selling arms to the Iranians in exchange for, whatever, then watching as the arms were used to blow up US forces in Lebanon (hence his flip flop on the long haul commitment), theres a message there.

Cant we just treat serious complex issues as Regan did in the war on drugs and just boil it all down to a simple mantra "Just say No". No to any of the following fools getting anything but the arse whuppin they deserve in the not so, yet still too far, near future.

the esteemed candidates

Duncan Hunter, R-Calif.,

who the fuck is he and how come he wants to drive the truck?

Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas,

doesn't believe in evolution, another great forward thinker in the whitehouse. Most likely is suspicous of this electricty thing. Would have fired Rumsfeld and bitch slapped his mother, a plus, in my book, I love seeing old men hit even older women, makes for a great photo op and oodles of free publicity.

"I Would Have Fired Rumsfeld "Before The Election"

Jim Gilmore, former governor of Virginia

unknown to me or anyone else outside of close family circles, relying upon the success of the Gilmore Girls to piggy back him to brand recognition victory, shocked the show has been cancelled, will pull out very soon and give his vote to a stretch of highway.

Mitt Romney, former Massachusetts governor

Mormon, apparently the most hated religion in the US, with more voters willing to vote for a woman or a black candidate (76% would not vote for-15% MNVF-7% WNVF), so a bit of a set back for everything except intolerance. Is both for and against abortion, for and against the war in Iraq, for bombing Osama Bin Laden and against doing that very same thing. May have a few issues to overcome, however

"Fitzgerald Was "Outrageous" For Going After Scooter Libby"

so is pro-treason, pro-perjury, a real vote winner. Promises to burn a US flag at his inaguration.

"Bin Laden Is Going To Pay And He Will Die"...make sure he pays before he dies, otherwise its a bitch to get a dead man to pick up the check on anything.

Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan.

A catholic who ignores the Popes directive to believe in evolution, may be gay and a secret abortionist as well, if he is prepared to ignore his own infallible religious leaders word, is clearly capable of anything. Plus he is from Kansas where the biology class readings are taken directed from the old testament and slavery is still legal. Will win if his secrets are not revealed and never speaks in public. Will lose if anyone besides himself shows up on election day.

Banning Roe v. Wade Would Be A "Glorious Day Of Human Liberty"

Freedom"..."The Life Issue Is What Separates Us From Islamic Fascists...

Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas

Do you imagine that anyone would ever vote for anything to come out of Texas ever again? Likely personally executed an 15 year old mentally retarded drunk driver for the fun of it, so will win a few evangalicals over. Believes that evolution is possible in some universe's, maybe even this one.

"Karl Rove Would Certainly Not Be In The White House That I Inhabited" Yes, but answer the question, what about your bathtub?

Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo.

Another who finds science and evolution distasteful, also doesnt believe in NASA or that bowels are used to digest food. Despite having the Grand Canyon in his backyard, believes it is not there, just an illusion created in the mind of the beholder as God intended a few minutes ago. Will run batshit crazy over the bill of rights and the constitution if elected, running on the Bush legacy. Promises much, looks good in a wetsuit and owns a gun, dont open the door if he knocks, believe me, you will regret it, he may not leave, ever.

Tommy Thompson, former secretary of Health and Human Services

With his busy acting career hasnt had time to read the papers or watch anything besides his own repotoire on the box, states that there have been"Several Thousand" Injured In Iraq. He may of course just be talking about the last few days to be fair. Promises that he is Ronald Regan reincarnated, but with a firmer grasp of facts and the english language. On the plus side, he has never killed anyone that counts, has only occasionally partied with Phil Spector and is willing to abort feotuses personally. Strong chance of winning if he just sits there and smiles politely at inane or topical questions, less if Law and Order keeps going down hill in the ratings.

Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor

Let me count the ways of losing:

a republican who is: pro-gun control, pro-abortion, divorced about a million times (announced he was leaving one of his wives at a press conference before he told her), picks up teenage prositutes in his mayoral limo for "counselling", has ties to the mob and endorses their candidates, frequently pictured in a dress, pro-gay weddings, has touched Hilary Clinton, comes from the home of gay, communist terrorists and may well be one.

Current frontrunner, until evangalicals and republicans hear him speak about any issue that they care about. On the plus side, will defeat all terrorism in the world the instant he takes office and bomb Iran, his only platform of note to date. Also still has time to reverse his postion on everything he stands for so far. Will win and be executed by one of his mistresses before he takes office.

A Nuclear Iran "Is The Worst Nightmare Of The Cold War, Isn't It?"...

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

In the last contest (2000), this highly decorated, vietnam war veteran and North Vietnamese POW, was photoshopped into a picture giving a blowjob to Ho Chi Minh by Karl Rove, who then covertly sent stories of McCain directing Vietcong guerrilas against US troops and of how he was fathering negro children at the rate of ten a day. Suffice to say, these highly believable stories were secretly printed and broadcast on every channel and newspaper, ensuring a Bush win in the primaries. Never underestimate the stupidity, racism and blatant idiocy of the Republican base is the message that McCain took from that bruising encounter.

Reknowned as "the maverick", the "straightshooter, the man who speaks his mind and calls a spade a card in a deck of four suits, this giant on the political stage has spent the past two years backtracking and completely reverseing his position on everything he has ever said, doing the only honorable thing and caving in on each and every issue the far right evagalicals love. Is willing to stick his tongue up Pat Robertson and every right wing hate mongers bum, as far as it will go, and wiggle it till they smile in Jesus inspired bliss.

Will win if he can shave 30 years off his birth certificate and nobody questions him to closely or reads anything he may have said prior to his "conversion". On the other hand his desire to follow Osama "To The Gates Of Hell", may be as damaging as his admission that he will follow the Bush path on the war in Iraq "To The Gates Of Hell", with both of them polling about equal in the US.

"I Think The War Is On The Right Track"