November 20, 2004

THINK ABOUT IT

The Sydney Morning Herald's Alan Ramsey asks:

Do you really think Tony Windsor, after 13 years of a political career in a country town sustained only by local trust and confidence in his honesty and integrity and not by party political clout or organisation, would throw it away on a wild story with no basis whatever? Think about it.

Okay, Alan; consider it we shall. Do you really think Alan Ramsey, after 1,468 years as a political columnist in an industry sustained only by local trust and confidence in his honesty and integrity and not by political bias or ignorance, would throw it away on a wild story with no basis whatever? Think about it.

Elsewhere: Currency Lad salutes Mike Carlton’s comic genius, Tim Dunlop meets Americans who are too scared to visit the South, Bernie Slattery unburdens himself of certain thoughts involving Kerry Nettle, and Adrian the cabbie apologises for not attending a Sydney blogger meet-up.

Posted by Tim Blair at November 20, 2004 12:03 PM
Comments

I did a stupid thing - I clicked on the Ramsey SMH link - my God does he go on and on and on and on and...think of the trees!

Posted by: yellerKat at November 20, 2004 at 12:43 PM

This was quite insightful.

you criticise Don't call me al without addressing any of the issues he brought up.

Three people say one thing and one person the direct opposite.

They know each other VERY well so how on earth a misunderstanding can occur is interesting to contemplate.

Given both Windsor and Anderson I find it unlikely that either is lying.

This leads me to speculate that Sandy & John were talking about how Tony could be levered out of his seat without ever putting any specific policy inot practice.
Then Mr Macguire proceeds to tell tony he should accept a sinecure for vacating his seat believing he is helping both his mate of ten years and his party as well.

Posted by: Homer Paxton at November 20, 2004 at 12:59 PM

Homer, I reckon you are probably close to the truth.

And Tim, get over the 'plastic' turkey will you, please. And what do you know about Christopher Egan.

Posted by: BH at November 20, 2004 at 01:16 PM

Well I think tim (and everyone else) will get over the "plastic turkey" when it's finally acknowledged as the lie it is. However, I am not holding my breath.

Posted by: Andrea Harris at November 20, 2004 at 01:56 PM

I live in Windsor's electorate of New england; we get to hear from our MP fairly often. I reckon this is a case of a feud gone feral; and Windsor panicking before the election that he wasn't going to get back in and that this supposed allegation might do the trick (after all he said nothing about it till about three weeks before the election when supposedly it happened in May). the pages of the local papers have been filled for years with tit for tat attacks between Windsor and the Nats--i think he thought this was a good way to get back at them.
Truth to tell, I think he was a very good state MP who is just too inept to be in Federal politics. His real interests are in community issues--roads, hospitals, health etc. He knows nothing of the world--for instance not only did he lend his support to a very noisy anti-Iraq war group in Armidale last year but he actually spoke at their rally, at which Bush and Howard were compared to Hitler with not a mention of Saddam Hussein. He lost my vote that day. (he's not a lefty, but the old type of isolationist who thinks why the hell do we want anything to do with foreign parts)
The man is a Tamworth frog who's jumped into a pond too big for him. Indeed, the whole thing smells like overcooked Tamworth politics gone onto the national stage. It's all rather inept and embarassing.

Posted by: Sophie at November 20, 2004 at 02:43 PM

Agreed. The whole thing was bizarre.

Why would John Anderson offer a diplomatic post to an enemy who

A) Likely wouldn't accept it.
B) Likely to blab about it

but equally bizarre was why would Windsor make it up?

I'm leaning on

A) Misunderstanding
B) Windsor has finally cracked under the pressure.

Posted by: Quentin George at November 20, 2004 at 04:11 PM

Well gee, I was going to feel a bit sheepish about going OT, but a few folks above have already broached the topic of the ..... plastic turkey.

For those interested in the infamous synthetic (and mythical) bird, check this out:

http://www.nrbookservice.com/bookpage.asp?prod_cd=C6278

Just in time for Kwanzaa.

Posted by: IceCold at November 20, 2004 at 04:32 PM

Windsor had made use of his parliamentary privilege just before the state by-election for the seat of Dubbo. There might have been a bit of timing in his outburst in parliament.

Posted by: madison at November 20, 2004 at 04:51 PM

nice post there homer! good word count and ok use of syllables and stuff. rating - 4/10

Posted by: rosceo.p.coltrane at November 20, 2004 at 05:18 PM

I caught the train up from Newcastle to go to the blogger booze-up. When I introduced myself to one of the girls there by my first name, this was the conversation:

"Hi, I'm Tim."

"Not - Tim Blair?"

"No, Tim Train. My blog's Will Type For Food."

"Oh." - looking visibly relieved. - "I was a bit worried for a second..."

Your reputation precedes you, Tim ... a pity that you didn't turn up...

Posted by: TimT at November 20, 2004 at 05:19 PM

Tim T, there were women at a blog party? Must have a look at your site, since I have come across a couple of good ones today (like the cabbie).

I know that Tim B will be up in Brisbane next month for the Straight Out of Brisbane festival, and I am looking forward to hearing him speak. Not for a moment do I think he is a big spunk or anything, just that he should provide a nice balance to the event. Last year I went to a forum that featured some bloke from Indy Media and a couple of fellows from The Chaser, and I actually remember just staring with a slight Elvis lip when the Indy Media guy said they have lots of good satire on their site, especially all the George Bush impressions. Lots of other people laughed though.

Posted by: Darlene at National Forum at November 20, 2004 at 05:39 PM

I think Tony Windsor is telling the truth - as he knows it. Somewhere along the line facts inferences and assumptions got all jumbled up.

At one stage he was courted by State pollys as he held balance of power (along with 2 others). Those were the good old days, he could make things happen in Tamworth.

Now he is irrelevant , a feather duster and its not sitting well.

Posted by: rog at November 20, 2004 at 05:47 PM

Cheers Darlene, hope you like it. That girl I mentioned, Jess, actually had a hand in running the website, and she's got a good blog herself - www.ausculture.com/blog.

Going to the SOOB festival? Let me take the opportunity to give a plug for Gempires - http://gempires.blogspot.com. Gem's a Surry Hills blogger (couldn't come to the blog-meet last night) and she runs a great blog on personal subjects. She'll also be going to the festival, maybe even be on a panel or to - so introduce yourself to her!

Posted by: TimT at November 20, 2004 at 06:19 PM

Andrea is spot on BH. Many on the left have taken an incredibly high ground stance on "lying", yet seem so perfectly willing to look the other way when there own travel down the liars highway at full speed (e.g. lathams supposed troops home by Christmas caucus decision and his non existent Iraq discussions with Bonington, Scraftons porn "research", etc)
When the likes of Phillip Adams and Alan Ramsey stop lying about the turkey being biologically challenged then perhaps it would be time to Tim to let it go.

Posted by: Michael at November 20, 2004 at 06:37 PM

This Windsor crap is nothing more than blatant abuse of Parliamentary Privilege. It is an insult to my intelligence.

He may as well have called John Anderson a fag, at least he'd have shown his true colours.

Posted by: Sheriff at November 20, 2004 at 07:39 PM

Tim

A test that never fails: any reporter who falls for the plastic turkey meme can not be trusted to report facts. Because you have never wavered, never tired in keeping truth alive, you are eligible for the George W. Bush "Turkey Dinner" Action Figure which for sanitary reasons is plastic. A production run of only 5000 is planned. GWB plastic turkey.

Posted by: Jille at November 20, 2004 at 11:33 PM

I think what was more telling in Ramsey's piece was that he couldn't find a SINGLE Liberal MP to give him the figures for the first round of the ballot to elect the Speaker. Must be oozing with credibility with the Libs, is our Alan. Not.

Also interesting to note that the first two to go in the ballot were the last 'Cardinals' left standing in Parliament (i.e. the ones that went on Four Corners to explain how they removed John Howard from the Liberal leadership the first time around in 1989).

Posted by: Alex at November 21, 2004 at 08:46 AM

Andrea and Michael,

I just reckon Ramsey and Adams will NEVER admit they're wrong, that's all.

Posted by: BH at November 22, 2004 at 01:08 PM