Tim Blair

onya stevo! _uckin legend!

Crikey!

You just gotta keep the feeling!

On the topic of who supports Howard and who doesn't, I looked at the Newspoll in the Australian newspaper today. I am always interested to see the break up between party support in the 18-24 year old group. I then like to tie it back to the editorial slant of Australia's government funded youth radio station, JJJ, where I understand the PM was referred to as a "right-wing pig rooter" on the breakfast programme.

Real Australia vs Lefty Australia, this is becoming a tedious and old topic to some. Not me. I'm loving the culture wars and it is just the begining as far as I'm concerned.

I now fully expect the artisan classes to boycott Steve Irwin's zoo ... and patronage, profits and general public support to go throw the roof!

BTW it was Richard Alston who was referred to as a "right wing pig rooter" but I am sure that the sentiment was meant for all of Howard's team and no one at JJJ would be offended that the comment has been directed at Howard. That filth steal my money and yours to broadcast that sort of crap!

I thought Steve Irwin was an idiot and possible lunatic until I read this, now I think he's a legend.

Death to tripple J and their stupid fucking hottest 100.

AGREED!

As a member of the 18-24 year old group, may I say that I "grew out" of listening and paying attention to JJJ a long, long time ago. Fuckers.

triple j went to total shit once helen razor and michael tunn left. fuck the faggots on the breakfast show.

steve is one of my clients, and he is crazier than a shithouse rat; he's on the money here, though- that's why the left hate Howard so much- he has twice the credibility of their hero Gough, and is approaching Menzies as the best regarded public figure in Australian history.

meh, as much as I dislike Wil Anderson, it was a joke when he said it.

The morning show is the worst offender, for their bland and predictable stories more than anything.

You are all pathetic.

Listen to yourselves.....you all sound like you are auditioning for the FOX network.

The reality is the Libs are a right wing nationalist party as opposed to the previously Labour left wing nationalist party.

They "inadvertantly" disenfranchised half the country and the Libs, as a reaction, are disenfranchising the other half.

Isn't it time more celebrities were outed?

blast you for this.

My kid has a wiggles/croc hunter tape that has this inane "crocodile hunter - it's steve irwin - crocodile hunter - action man" (as only the wiggles could do) song that's a total ear worm.

and now it's stuck in my friggin head. action man, indeed.

curses upon you and your house.

For the benefit of those that are not from the beautiful and mysterious Australia (like me), could you please explain what in the crikey is a "JJJ?"

Did Steve Howard rub the top to the Prime Minister's head?

"Look at this beautiful scalp! Isn't he amazing?"

As I was leaving Australia, a young man of my acquaintance told me that he knew Irwin was a redneck because he called his wife "mate".

JJJ (Triple J) is a radio station/network.

"what in the crikey"

Crikey is never used like that. You use it the same way you might use "Holy Shit!"

errr... Steve Irwin... not Steve Howard. Unless he's the Prime Minister's love child and we don't know it.

I've never heard Aussies describe Steve Irwin as a "celeb" before. Usually they're horrified to find that in the US, not only is he far better known than any Minogue or those tedious feminist filmmakers, he probably has more name recognition than the rest of Australia put together.

heh. yeah, we love the croc hunter over here. you know he's got like four different shows now? you can catch that man on tv nearly any hour of the day. he's even got a croc hunter for kids type show that comes on nbc in mornings.

now, if only his show came on in high definition. don't you have hd cameras down there in oz yet?

"Did Steve Howard rub the top to the Prime Minister's head?"

Now I'll just jam my thumb up his butthole. Crikey! That really pissed him off!

I visited Australia in the fall of 2000, and drove up the coast from Sydney to Queensland.

I found Steve Irwin's reptile zoo very impressive. Too many zoos for big lizards are just watery concrete pits. This is the case at my local zoo in Detroit, with its' 1950's era reptile house.

His zoo has large sandy pens for the crocs and the alligators. The zoo was clean and well-maintained, and all the animals seemed healthy and content.

Even if Steve Irwin is funny as a three dollar bill, I don't begrudge him his fame and money at all if he is using it to help his zoo.

Snore, well, he certainly isn't using that money on fancy clothes or cars!

I spent a week taking a wolf and canid bahavior course; the people running the course were impressed with Irwin's technique. He's sort of the Jackie Chan of animal handling; he's so damn skilled he can afford to cut up on camera. Scary.

Irwin's for real. A fighter pilot friend of mine flew him in an F-16 a few years back. On their way to the base, which was out in the Arizona desert, Irwin suddenly yelled "Stop the car!" They pulled over, and he ran over to a nondescript pile of rocks--then reached in an pulled out a particular snake, just like on the TV show.

Smash (the pilot) said the dude is 'like that' whether the cameras are on or now...

Irwin's for real. A fighter pilot friend of mine flew him in an F-16 a few years back. On their way to the base, which was out in the Arizona desert, Irwin suddenly yelled "Stop the car!" They pulled over, and he ran over to a nondescript pile of rocks--then reached in an pulled out a particular snake, just like on the TV show.

Smash (the pilot) said the dude is 'like that' whether the cameras are on or not...

I havent googled for verification, but I was told all of Irwin's profits go to charity. He's certainly a top guy. Im not saying this because of his support for Howard, but because he's so enthused about life.

`Irwin is for real', but it gives me the willies watching him frolic with snakes and crocs and other friendly beasts. I just can't watch it.

My respect for the man has gone up tenfold. Good on ya Steve - say what you think and say it loud crikey!!!

So Irwin is the new face of Australia as far as the larger world is concerned. That used to horrify me but now, you know what? I am content.

As for his reptile zoo having nice pens, I hate to tell you this but to an aligator a concrete pen with 4 foot of filthy green water in it, into which they throw dead animals, is paradise. You don't have to go anywhere, you can sit in the sun, half-submerged, all day and eat. All day.

The artful fern fronds, sandy embankments and so on are for the humans.

Asked whether he would consider a career in politics, Mr Irwin said: "Crikey mate no way, I'll stick to crocs, they are far safer."

Hahahahaha !!!

Hmmm. You lot are sad. As Tim pointed out, our Steve was introducing our PM to a boa constrictor at the time.

"Here's the world's greatest leader, by crikey! Give him a little hug!"

Pretty picture.

I saw that item on 10 last night, and Steve also said "and I love him like my own father" (or something like that).

To see Steve Irwin so emotional, and John Howard being quite a shy guy was quite moved in a bashful way.

It was a wonderful happy/funny moment...

"I hate to tell you this but to an aligator a concrete pen with 4 foot of filthy green water in it, into which they throw dead animals, is paradise"

eh? they aren't total aquatic creatures, they need to come up on land too. besides, how would YOU like to be stuck in a small concrete pen, where your nose gets scraped everytime you bump into a wall?

here we go... another pro-animal anti-humankind rant. i dont think anyone here actually gives a shit samkit! crocs... KILL 'EM! snakes...KILL 'EM! sharks KILL 'EM ALL I SAY!

Irwin is spot-on about John Howard. I read and hear your PM's words and despair that our Prexy's tongue is permanently tied. Howard has that same spark Maggie Thatcher had...magic.

As an aside, I wrote your PM and thanked him for his unwavering support for the US and received a very nice letter (not a form letter) in return. What a great guy. What a great country.

Actually Wil Anderson referred to Richard Alston as teh Pig Rooter.

Alston was as incompetent as they come in his role as Comm Minister- so Pig rooter could be about right.

Steve Irwin is a crocodile dude, pure and simple. His opinions on politics are cute- like asking Nikki webster.

but hardly relevant.

The only difference TIGGA is that Steve is old enough to vote. Hmm, wonder which way he votes?

Oh I Get It.
Because he's an entertainer, his opinions don't count for anything.
Well gee, thats a relief. I'll keep that in mind next time I read about nitwits like this, this and this, not to mention these.
Cos I gotta tell ya, for a minute there I was taking them really seriously........

Steve Irwin is immensely popular in the USA. As someone mentioned, it's impossible to turn on the TV without seeing his little blond-capped mug appear on some channel or another, and hearing him wax enthusiastic about the charm and beauty of some repulsive creature that everyone else hates.

I appreciate Oz's steadfast support in the war on terror, but I really think a little bit of Steve goes a long way. Frankly, considering his affinity for describing the not-readily-apparent virtues of hideous-looking and dangerous reptiles, I am not sure I would consider his endorsement of PM Howard any kind of favor.

No OPP, I don't think you understand. Those others are principled performers who are standing up to an unjust regime that is pushing for war on behalf of the jooooooos and the military industrial complex. Steve Unwin is an unprincipled hack who is a traitor to his class and position in this racist country. He should be immediately shunned and never again tolerated in the entertainment industry.

But don't forget that the voices of protest are being silenced and oppressed.

Sorry, forgot to mention that its all about OOOOIIIIILLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!

Someone tell Steve to check the Keating pen. The bastard got out a while ago and tried to savage our only real historian. As usual, he had no effect.

Todd, thanks for setting me straight.
Just a clarification: I take it by "principled performers" you mean "they stand for any principle which allows them to get another 5 minutes of face-on-tv time to remind everyone they are (unfortunately) still alive and searching for a gig".

News flash Paul,
Mr Keating was taken from his pen, mounted and stuffed. By Phillip Adams.

Then after a long, satisfied cigarette, Phil put him back in the pen.

Austrailian Elvis

"CRIKEY"

I am a dipshit.

Thanks for the definition and thanks for the insight.

Signing off from Texas.

We love that Croc Hunter guy here in America. Even more so now that we know his politics don't lie with those lefty tax and spend tree huggin', whale savin', gay rights lovin', abortionist scumbags that are trying to destroy the world. Go Steve. And John Howard too!

Tim said: Last year a female celeb friend of mine actually whispered to me that she’d voted for John Howard. Her friends were nearby, and she didn’t want to risk them overhearing. Dissent is not tolerated.

I know a leftist mathematician of some note in his subfield who told me, secretly, that after 9/11/01 he became glad that Gore had lost the election. I don’t think that there is any question but that the Left’s modus operandi of socially reinforced intolerance reinforces key conformities of opinion where otherwise there would be more questioning & diversity among “their own.”

This meeting between the croc hunter and howard, it didn't happen by chance did it? The Short Man didn;t just happen to be there on a reckie for his daughter's honeymoon venue, and just happen to run into Steve on a whim, now? No, I;d say this was another carefully stage-managed event designed to make the PM look a man of the people. Who paid the costs of getting howard up there for this stunt? Oh, you and me you say? Only if you are stupid enough not to have all your cash buried in family trusts of course.

Yeah, steve's just bonza. Just you the PM and his merry flock of fawning fucking sheep. Like Tim.