Tim Blair

You do know that cs will be all over you to explain how 2004 and 1986 are not overnight?

Flip Flop Flip Flop .......

'Cause, like, the terrorists are a threat to world peace and security and, like, Soviet Union wasn't a threat and stuff, eh, Peter?

"Short memory, must have a, sho-or-ort memory..."

Wow! What a blisteringly fast conversion. Just shows does'nt it. It's ok to talk shit and agitate for lunacy on the fringes of political life i.e. (your average nut eating green) but join the real world, with real responsibilities and demands and such idiotic and dangerous ideas are ditched quick smart. Garrett has just grown up after years of delusional thoughts.

What Garrett actually said (oh, why don't I have the email addresses of all those Lefty scumbags from uni in the 1980's!):

JOURNALIST: Do you still believe Pine Gap should be closed?

GARRETT: I don't believe Pine Gap should be closed. I'm fully prepared to accept the position that Labor has taken. There's no doubt about that it's the threat of terrorism and the intelligence that we can gather from terrorism that is now one of the primary and most important things that Australia, in terms of our national security, needs to consider. I'm not in favour of Pine Gap being closed.

All of which proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Ronald Reagan was more important in bringing about lasting peace a freedom in this world than any bunch of bald headed whackers at Palm Sunday Peace(appeasement?) Marches - which, by the way, we now know were funded by the USSR throughout the West.

A case of fine Australian wine - a US favourite - to Peter for being the first to quote the bleeding obvious lyrics to 'Short Memory'.

I vaguely remember being frightened as a child in the late 80s or so when I saw video clips of Midnight Oil. Garrett haunted my dreams for weeks after that, but then I forgot completely about it.

He's still frightening as all hell.

Here's another error for Margo to fix from her June 9 rant about the Tampa.

She says the Tampa responded to an SOS from the Australian Coastguard.

Well apart from the fact that there is NO Australian Coastguard, the Tampa responded to call from the Australian Government for any ships in the area to help a sinking Indonesian fishing boat. The Tampa was not responding to an SOS at all.

A subsidiary point to make, of course, is that without the Australia Government involvement (the sinking boat was spotted by a Customs Coastwatch Aircraft and the broadcast for any ships in the area to help the stricken vessel came from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority) those on board the sinking ship would have died. This is conveniently overlooked by people who heap praise on the Tampa crew for their fine work, but fail to acknowledge that the Aussie Govt had more than a little bit to do with the rescue. You can't have an egg without a chicken....unless you're Margo Kingston.

I'm waiting for him to come out in favour of marriage only being between a man and a woman, then we'll know his conversion to ALP drone is complete.

These shall not be forgotten years...

Now come on, Tim, you're on shaky ground with the Code of Ethics comment.

The stated Code of ethics says: "will disclose and explain any inadvertent breach of my ethical duties".

Clearly there's no intention to explain deliberate breaches.

How can they allow someone who has spoken out against absent-minded arabs for so long?

Short memory Mustafa. Sho-o-ort Memory.

So Pete's against Disarmament now? Does he realise Australia still has 15-odd disarmament treaties lodged with these guys

PG is telling porkies - if he reckons he voted, then before the scrutineers hand over the voting slips, your name has to be cross checked on the roll, where ever you are, and ticket. Postal votes require you to be on the roll. Absentee votes also require electoral roll cross checking before you get the forms.

One therefore concludes PG never voted at all and as Greg Sheriden wrote in the Oz today, he is a lying hypocrite.

So presumably Mr Dunlop has no problem with the wrangling that went on in Wentworth? I had a few problems with it.

Eat shit and die electors of Kingsford Smith, now that you've been shown that your veiws don't count in who we at HQ decide will represent you, we expect you to trot out loyally at the next election and say clearly you like taking it up the
arse.

If there was an Australian edition of "National Review", this month's cover would feature a picture of Peter Garrett, with the heading:

"PLEASE Nominate this Man"

ABC Radio- World Today- 10 June 2004

PETER GARRETT: “I don't believe that Pine Gap should be closed. I'm fully prepared to accept the position that Labor has taken. There's no doubt about it that it's the threat of terrorism and the intelligence that we can gather from terrorism that is now one of the primary and most important things that Australia, in terms of our national security, needs to consider. I am not in favour of Pine Gap being closed.”

Pine Gap - 1986

PETER GARRETT: “And Mr Hawke and Mr Hayden and Mr Howard and the procession of compliant souls that have dominated and lived in Canberra for many years accept that that’s the way the world is… Today [at a Pine Gap protest] is part of saying ‘No, I’m sorry, it’s not acceptable any longer. Not for Australians. Not for Australians who believe in a future…I know that there are [sic] a heap of people around this country who believe in the necessities of change, who believe in the necessity of doing something like closing Pine Gap.”

[Cutting the tape at the launch of the anti-Pine Gap campaign] “It’s a little bit like launching a ship, except that this one will not sink, I can guarantee it. I declare this campaign open and this base closed.”

All quotes from ‘Strict Rules’ by Andrew McMillan.

Great work, templar!

Thanks Tim.

There's plenty more, as you can imagine, it's pretty simplistic and long-winded.

Louis

I believe in today's Australian there is a report that an unnamed ALP offical has claimed that the Great Bald One told the ALP that he was on a silent electoral roll. Such a beast does exist for instance Family Court Judges and their families are enrolled on silent rolls, so are victims of stalkers and victims of domestic violence.

The only query I would raise is this why didn't the GBO come out with this himself rather than an unnamed offical. [Conspiracy Rant] Is it because political hacks know of the silent roll, which because of its very nature does not lend itself to independent verification? and balding has been rock stars to lazy to vote might not? [/Conspiracy Rant]

I was watching Channel 31 last night and who should pop up but Peter Garrett, telling us the evils of uranium mining. I wonder if he'll change his position on that too.

There was a moment of potent symbolism on tonight's Channel 10 newscast this evening when Latham and Garrett - standing shoulder to shoulder before an array of cameras and reporters - were prattling on about Garrett's recruitment, his talent, etc.

Into the throng walked an old grey-haired gentleman, casually attired, wanting to have a yarn with the two stars. Turns out he was, I think, the branch secretary of the Kingsford-Smith ALP, whose members are irate over the Garrett Geronimo job.

"We're just talking to the cameras now mate", said Latham.

In other words: Fuck off and die old-world Laborites, we're doing a gig.

Correction

As has been noted in the thread following this one. It is only your address that is not listed on the roll following a request as per s.104 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 so baldy's name should still have been on the roll. Ergo the claim shows that he is, to use a technical legal term, full of shit.

so Pete's a 'self made millionare' eh? there must be money in that socialist drivel he's spouted over the years...

I wonder if Garrett will 'give back' his Southern Highlands property to the local aboriginal tribe.

Just saw Kerry Obriens lame interview with P Garret . What a arselick
Sorry , I forgot ,the ABC is unbiased , isn't it?

Just watched Garrett with Red Kerry. I'm now thinking that he should've of joined the liberals. The Midnight Oil political thing was one big commercial to promote sales to a niave audience. This bloke will say whatever is needed - principles out the window.

Peter Garrett is an australian icon,Tim Blair is not.
Lets send Garrett to Washington to explain Australia's problems with America's foreign policy.
To be a suckhole is un Australian,whether one is Blair(Tim or Tony) or Howard.
You know it makes sense.

His work as a founding member of the Surfrider Foundation its pretty decent stuff. Big cred among surfie/coastal types where I grew up at least.

there's a pine gap? plant more trees! we'll teach those russkies yet!

If this peter garrett is such an electoral liability then why is the right getting their knickers in such a twist about him.
Surely the electorate in kingsford smith wouldn't prefer some time serving union hack v an australian icon-whose hand would you prefer to shake?

Mr Latham, I for one would like an Australian icon.

But the only name I keep hearing is Peter Garrett. When are they going to reveal the identity of the icon?
Sounds good.

On tonights news interviews Garret has claimed he was on the electoral roll but seems to indicate it was on a special basis like having unlisted number. Does anyone know how this works and how i can get one too ??

On tonights news interviews Garret has claimed he was on the electoral roll but seems to indicate it was on a special basis like having unlisted number. Does anyone know how this works and how i can get one too ??

No idea. But the tale seems to be growing in the telling. Next thing you'll know he'll be given his own private electorate...

oh wait.

Silent Enrolment is a sub-list of the Electoral Roll.
It exists to suppress the publication of private addresses....for security reasons....in a public document (Electoral Roll).
The name is not suppressed.

Probably the ASIO Head Honcho is on this list....Garrett possibly but extremely unlikely.... HOWEVER the fact remains that unless your name is on the Electoral Roll you cannot vote.

No exceptions....Prime Minister....ASIO....Governor General ....have to be on the Roll to qualify to vote and each individual is quite literally ticked off the Roll when a vote is cast.

All other methods Postal, Overseas etc require positive identification....which is recorded.... before a vote is accepted, so that shuts down that escape route.

So....ummmm....errr....somebody is trying to pull an impossible swifty.

Might be more than a little dyspepsia in the Labor Camp as the Government dines on this one.

The (Tim) Blair Watch Project, Volume III is up.

"...But furry Blair stupidities have popped up and need to be smacked down with a mallet in the game of cerebral whack-a-mole that is the blogosphere..."

"(Special note for the wilfully irritable: I’m not saying that Clinton would have prevented September 11 if he’d had a little more freedom to move but it didn’t help, did it?)..."

I happen to run an electoral booth in Kingsford-Smith, and PG is indeed mistaken that he was a silent voter. It is not possible to cast an ordinary vote unless your name and address is on the roll. If the name is present but the address is not, you are a silent voter, and you get directed to the section votes table - there can be no mistake about this process.

If you aren't on the roll at all but you think you should be, your address is checked and you can either make an absent vote or a provisional vote, or refused to be allowed to vote. In the latter two cases, he would have been handed an enrollment form as a matter of course.

I suppose it is barely possible that he always tried to vote in a different electorate from where he thought he was enrolled - so he voted absent but his vote was later rejected. If so, he should have been contacted by the Electoral Office at the address he put on the absent ballot envelop... but it would not be unheard of for this step not to be taken.

PS. For anyone wanting to become a silent voter, the best method is to have a credible threat of death against you that requires official protection. Be a witness against a really violent criminal sindicate, or a defected agent of an enemy country would do it.

Yes, it's all so unfair, isn't it.

I can understand your sympathy for the honest grass-roots foot-soldiers of the NSW ALP. They should be left alone so that they can send to parliament more outstanding statesmen-orators like...let's see...Laurie Brereton? Leo McLeay? Laurie Ferguson? Daryl Melham? I know that Tim B and other regular commenters at this blog have always championed these guys and their many achievements.

Give me a break.

And just BTW - it seems to me that one of Tim B's recurring themes is that he used to be a socialist idiot until he had a road to Damascus-type conversion. Is it at all possible that Garrett's views might have also evolved over a period of a mere 18 years? Might he be allowed even a scintilla of a shred of the benefit of the doubt, or as the nominated leftie target du jour, is it compulsory to shoot as soon as his head appears over the parapet?

There was once a fine and venerable tradition in Australia called the fair go, now sadly largely extinct. Let the guy run for parliament and see how he fares - can he really be so much worse than the current backbench seat-fillers on both sides? If he stuffs up and it all ends in tears, feel free to resume sneering. Until then, how about picking on someone your own size.

Chimpy, just to be rigorous, there is an organization called the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard (http://www.coastguard.com.au/main.htm).

Cant wait to see the big limp wristed bald feller wearing his 'sorry' t shirt at lathams post election loosers speech

Just to clarify a point for an American who knows nothing about Australian electoral systems, what exactly is Garrett being appointed to? Is he being appointed as a party candidate (and will then need to be voted in) or is he being appointed to the seat itself?

Thanks,

How bout fucking off Tim g...

In a party that professes to be democratic, your butt buddy latham invoked a neolithic marxist approach to party members in Kingsford Smith. "Fuck your democratic ballot, Im Mark Bling Bling, Lath Daddy, Boss man Latham and yous will all do as I fucking say or I'll slap ya like an irate taxi driver".

CurrencyLad Yep I saw that old goose, he was the most vacal opponet to PG only 2 days ago and now he's swallowing not spitting.

Latham is a cockhead so it figures he'd want a bigger cockhead in parliament to make him look good. Enter one Peter Garrett.

PG can re-write an old fav, something like this.

The time has come
To say fairs fair
To enroll to vote
To grow my hair

Labor combining multiple views and pretty lights. Is this another tilt at labors communist party???

He's being given the keys to a 'safe' alp[read democrat)seat...ususlly a quick way to power

and remember pete its suck dont blow

I guess no one visits Nick's site, so I'll repost my comment here.

Nick wrote:

"I’m not saying that Clinton would have prevented September 11 if he’d had a little more freedom to move but it didn’t help, did it?"

Exactly how much room to move do you have with an intern's face in your lap?And are you seriously suggesting the evil, war-mongering Republicans would have stopped him from blowing up terrorists?

Compare and contrast: Our boy Tim, sitting safely in the stands spitting out his too-clever-by-half insults for the pleasure of the peanut gallery and Peter Garrett, having a fair-dinkum go in the greatest traditions of Australia.

Sure, the Gipper makes Bush look like an imposter, but he has nothing on Garrett over Blair.

The point is that Garrett is NOT "having a fair dinkum go", he's being handed his new position on a silver platter. If it was just a cush consulting gig as reward for his career as a lefty propagandist it wouldn't raise an eyebrow...

but it's not; it's a position that should be decided on by the people. For a party that's allegedly all about power to the working man it is a particularly piss-poor decision.

Of course you know that though, you were just looking to have another go at Tim, right?

It's always hilarious when the left rehabilitates a sell-out or a millionaire. But the way they make excuses for a sell-out and a millionaire is priceless. Reminds me of the Hawke years when little Bob used to take every opportunity to suck up to Packer, Bond, Connell and the rest. Or Keating with his antique clocks of the French Empire period, Mahler and Asia as "the place you fly over on your way to Paris."

This precious spectacle is with us again in the form of an anti-US rocker who's backed down on Pine Gap; a man who believes economic growth is bad but who has accumulated millions for himself; a left-winger who would be happy to run every timber-worker in the country out of a job, yet who lives in a mansion that aint made out of red-brick.

The fun doesn't end there. We have four party leaders in Canberra. John Howard and John Anderson are decent, temperate men and are widely regarded as such. The leaders of the peace-loving parties of sweetness and light are Mark Latham and Andrew Bartlett. The former is a violent thug and drunk, a foul-mouthed advocate of hatred whose ex-wife found frightening. The latter is a violent drunk who assaulted a woman in the senate chamber of the Australian Parliament.

God help me - I, love this, I just can't look away. Watching the modern left is the best and funniest show in the world today!

Hey, that was political and it rhymed - parachute me in to a safe seat Mark. I rock. Geronimooooooo!!

Cugel, I don't understand. Is Garrett standing for a general election, or is he being appointed, or what?

I can't accept that supporters of the Latham/Brereton/Garrett machination are ALP members.

It is a celebrity appointment more in tune with the public relations department of the Nine Network than with the social democratic traditions of Australia's oldest political party.

The party desperately wants to win the next election but surely it is starting to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Three months ago the ALP was so far in front that even a drover's dog could have won.

Then Latham, in an instant, threw out the party's cautious, pro-US-alliance position, and immediately played to the government's strengths on security issues.

Now the celebrity deal to break the hearts of party members: 1) No prior approval from the party's national committee before inviting Garrett to fast track into the party and into one of the ALP's safest seats; (2) No preparation of the party branches in the seat for the sudden resignation of its member and simultaneous imposition of a non party candidate; and (3) failure to fully check the outsider's background.

In comparison, Democrat John Kerry talks strongly about maintaining credibility in the Iraqi theatre and his campaign "has begun background checks of top running mate prospects, including former rivals Dick Gephardt and John Edwards, while other hopefuls anxiously await word that they're worthy of a ashington "vetting."

See http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,118460,00.html

looks like kerry's found his vp

I especially enjoyed reading how Mr. Garrett believes he is qualified to represent an area he doesn't live in and whose issues he probably isn't familiar with. Since it worked for Hillary Clinton when she ran as Senator from New York, I suppose it will also for Mr. Garrett.

Here's a quote from one of the articles mentioning Mr. Garrett's familiarity with the area he will represent:

" He says he has long had connections in the Kingsford Smith area, as one of Midnight Oil's first gigs was held there, he has surfed there and entertained people at local hotels."

If I lived there, somehow this wouldn't convince me that he was really interested in being my representative.

John Nowack -- Garrett is being appointed as Labor's candidate for the seat of Kingford-Smith at the next general election.

Usually the unions and local members vote on the candidate, but in this instance the ALP's National Executive has decided to intervene and appoint a candidate.

Thanks, Robert!

Okay, I get you -- Latham's bypassing his own party and foisting someone on them instead of allowing them to select one.

Hmm, seems to me that the only benefit of having a star - turned - politician is that his popularity might overcome concern over his lack of experience, like Arnie. So why toss Garrett a seat anyone could win?

God help me - I, love this, I just can't look away. Watching the modern left is the best and funniest show in the world today!

Hey, that was political and it rhymed - parachute me in to a safe seat Mark. I rock. Geronimooooooo!!

CurrencyLad - Tell me you have your own blog (please, please, please...)

As to the post saying that since Tim has changed some of his leftie ways then why cant PG do the same? Its the same as saying that many people in Australia dont vote so why should it matter what PG has done?

I think in both cases the rules change a little bit if you are running for election. Then people really need to know why you have changed your views and why you couldn't be blowed voting. Sure, Peter has fought passioniately for causes over the years but it is time to set the record straight so that people know which of those views he has changed and why, otherwise he will just be seen as another political opportunist who will tow the party line to get what he wants.

I wonder if anyone could imagine Peter Garrett joining the ALP if Simon Crean was still the leader.

Anyone?

Yeah, CurrencyLad. Where's the blog?

Whatever happened to Labor's policy on selecting a large quota of women in safe seats?

Re Rob's comment:
"... and why you couldn't be blowed voting ..."

I think American readers should be assured that this doesn't relate to a benefit from our compulsory voting system but to a mild oath, a euphemism for “damn” or “damned”

Did anyone else here PG say on the 7:30 report last night that he definately did vote, and VOTED OFTEN at previous elections?

Is this the standard left-wing - "It's not cheating if we vote several times at the same election because we're morally pure and our political enemies are evil"?

"he entertained people at local hotels",ie paying guests - fans of the band. Makes it sound like he was there meeting people in the community etc, while he was there for maybe 3 hours on a Friday/saturday nite once every few months.

So the drivel continues!

We had this in the Herald: Mr Garrett named his local credentials: he said one of Midnight Oil's first shows was at Kingsford, he'd body surfed at Coogee and had "a few beers" in the Coogee Bay Hotel.

Well, he'd probably taken a dump that ended off the coast at Bondi, does that qualify him to be the member there as well?

What annoys me is the leftist media lapping up such blatant stupidity.Despite his lefty credentials, Anti American (tick) Aboriginal rights(tick), Concern for the environment (tick) I can only feel sorry for the members of the electorate that will have to put up with grand-standing at the expense of local representation. It reminds me of that old Australian saying "Just because your grandmother can bake scones doesn't mean she can run a cake shop"

Pah!

Mark Cornwall's cartoon comment here.

Re Procrustes comment, well, blow me down!

Just read a headline on ninemsn-"ALP may reconsider Iraq timetable" but for some reason I can't read the story.
Is this a flip flop, worthy of Mr Garrett.
Enlightenment anyone?

Yasonas, there's some comments and a link on GnuHunter.

nic, he probably took a dump in the Coogee Bay Hotel as well. But then we've all done that.

Thanks Mr T

Huddo: Yeah, I heard him, he did say that he voten often, definitely remembered he voted in at least one election, remembered voting in NY, absentee. What did he do when he got the letter from the AEC letting him know that he wasn't on the electoral roll and his vote wasn't counted?

oops, long day

voten should be voted

scott and currency lad thanks for the laughs. Great work LMAO.

>I think American readers should be assured that this doesn't relate to a benefit from our compulsory voting system but to a mild oath, a euphemism for “damn” or “damned”

Cripes -- here I was getting ready to emigrate.

A Random Thought from Beyond Fraulein Andrea's Iron Curtain.

Personally, I have no problem with the elevation of Mr Garrett. All part of the democratic process. Hopefully a strong Independent will emerge and make this safe seat unsafe for the ALP.

Much like in Wentworth, really, though I'm not sure your man Malcolm would necessarily agree.

Yeah, guys, look what profound "thoughts" are having a hard time getting through my "Iron Curtain."

Is this the standard left-wing - "It's not cheating if we vote several times at the same election because we're morally pure and our political enemies are evil"?

Reminds me of an astonishing conversation with a friend who said that it was ok for Michael Moore to lie because he was countering even bigger lies perpertrated by the vast rightwing conspiracy!

Well, if Michael Moore lies, and the right-wing conspiracy also lies, that means they're morally indistinguishable (after all, lefties always tell us that everything's equivalent). The "logical" conclusion from that is that Moore must be an agent of the right-wing conspiracy, employed to spread disinformation and distract from the real, important conspiracies by endless blathering about unimportant or imagined conspiracies.

In other words, I'm pretty surprised that your friend actually admitted that Moore lies. Doesn't that kind of careless statement lead to huge amounts of cognitive dissonance when run through lefty logic?

PW, I have this image of a dog chasing his own tail.......