Tim Blair

Wondering if Latham is known for having a hot temper when in Parliament? Does he blow up a lot during debates, etc.?

Howard is being treated just like Bush. Damned if you do (provide payments) and damned if you don't. I don't understand the loathing that seems to be fueling the illogical attacks.

"Media reports indicate that the family payment is wreaking havoc: causing teenage pregnancy, child abuse, gambling addiction, alcoholism and violence in indigenous communities, and even a new stolen generation"

Funny, that's what the conservatives have been saying in the US for forty years

Does he blow up a lot during debates, etc.?

Is the Pope an old Polish geezer?

Great potential for Liberal ads: people with injuries such as broken arms and collar bones - trust labor with your health?

It's probably about time someone who knows how to fight got up Latham's nose.

Those criticisms of the baby bonus are dead right. I can't understand why the Howard Government considered doing it with the Sole Parents Benefit in place - the greatest creator of poverty ever initiated.

Wayne Swan, the ALP's spokesman on families wants it to be made in progressive payments. This would be even worse. There would be a huge incentive for a repeat effort if say a $115 per pension payment was going to disappear after 12 months.

But we should be comforted by the social workers who say that girls don't deliberately get pregnant to get the money.

The pigs are primed and ready for takeoff.

And don't forget those irresponsible expectant mums profiled on the 7.30 Report who are rescheduling caesars to qualify for the bonus. All Howard's fault, of course. Look out for a class-action against Howard by less-than-perfect births about, oh, twelve years from now.

Does he blow up a lot during debates, etc.?

Does Dolly Parton sleep on her back ?

Violence in Labor campaign offices during a by-election? I thought it was practically compulsory.

In Victoria, the Labor Government Police Minister's wife has been accused of punching a Labor Party member and threatening to bomb the house of another.

Yes, the Police Minister's wife.

That's just insensitive to the Labor Party's culture. Applying Western standards of moral decency to Labor simply isn't justified. Don't you know that all party officials' behaviour must be considered equally appropriate? Making bomb threats against political opponents is perfectly fine in their cultural frame of reference.

/softleftbigotry

I look foward to Latho conscripting Barto in a joint campaign to make up for the shortfalls in Labor's budgetary projections:

"We'll roll some oldies and bagladies", say Labor/Dem Leaders.

Isn't Vivienne Schenker ex-SBS not ex-ABC?

Don't misunderestimate Latham. He dangerous - still a big threat.

Timbo how can anyone who holds 'community forums' have a small target strategy.
Perhaps you should go back and read what Johnnee really did in 1996 so you know what one is.

When you chuck money at people such as the $600 for a child and then can't reclaim it when they have got it twice because the legislation was too rushed and you stuffed it up then I agree Timbo it is incredible people should have the audacity to criticize such a well thought out public policy.

For entertainment purposes, we need Governor Ahnuld to pay a visit to our parliament.
Asta la vista, Markie.....

Mike,

She's a former Radio National morning presenter.

The Opposition Leader, shown here at one of his, er, 'community forums'.

As a former boxer, I'd like to see Mark go a few rounds with Tony Abbott. Not only is Abbott clearly his intellectual superior, but he was also an amateur boxer at Oxford. My money would be on Tony. That's the difference between Libs and Labour: gentlemean boxers as opposed to gutter brawlers.

Actually I'd also like to see a return round with the cabbie: he'd probably thrash Mark this time.

how could Latham ever make himself a 'small target'? he's got a head like a a supersized potatoe!

Media reports indicate that the family payment is wreaking havoc...

Media reports on ABC PM Radio last night had the Salvation Army claiming demand on its charity services are suddenly down 60%....

Viv Shaker was also an early 2JJJ presenter. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Homer Paxton - got get a haircut and a real job.

Bludger.

If the allegations are true (but if so, why have the claims only come out so recently?), Mark would be more suited to the Californian legislature.

I assume the same media types who have orgasmed over Moore's hackjob will be jumping for joy about the "airing" of these allegations...?

It was not violence. Labor people are never violent or otherwise nasty.

It was an altercation.

Labor have a captive audience of fuckwits willing to fence hop over the family payments and all the so called ills it creates.

I notice under Labor, Wayne Swann claimed that government payments to pregnant minors and assistance in housing to runnaway kids never increaed the instance of either. Ins't it amazing that he now claims that the Baby Bonus is making teens fall pregnant???

And as for community forums, what a fucking joke you tool.
How does a community forum amongst Labor members inform the wider community on any policies Latham might have. We all know Latham's policies come from Dick Morris and Bill Clinton. Which should mean that once someone has read Clintons memoirs to Latham we should see an avalanch of policies...

Latham is just a big mouthed thug, who gets pissed and breaks the arms of taxi drivers and I have no doubt we will hear more from his ex-wife over their marital problems. For a man who claims to have kids in mind he didn't mind stepping over his family to get to where he is...

Latham claims he has nothing to hide prior to the upcoming profile on him. Well he's kinda right. He certainly has no policies to hide...

"Where is Mark Latham?" asks the SMH’s Louise Dodson. "And why has he become so media shy?"

Has he adopted Kerry's phantom candidacy strategy? It seems to be working, sadly enough.

Does anyone else remember that CNNNN comedy programme that used to be on the ABC? During one episode the boys were giving it to the government over its alleged mistreatment of asylum seekers.

One of them went to Parliament House and stood at the entrance with an inflatable club. Joke was that departing MPs were asked if they'd care to symbolically bash a refugee by hitting the CNNNN 'reporter'. Most pols were too taken aback and confused to know how to react.

Then out walked Mark Latham, too dimwitted and steroidish to get the joke - which was on the government. He grabbed the club and smacked the surprised comic around the ear. Fucking idiot!, the King of the Kids spat.

When he realised - or, more likely, was told - it was an anti-howard parody, he came back and was all smiles.

Scary and dangerous man that.

PS: The ABC will resurrect that footage in the context of assessing Latham's temperament.

Right?

CurrencyLad,

I saw that thing. I interpreted it at the time as him turning the table on the stunt-masters.

A Election Chaser (this was before CNNNN) person wore a crash helmet the next time they decided to meet him, right?

The next occasion the Election Chaser foil met Latham was the time the oldie-basher was all smiles - he'd been told who the CNNNN blokes actually were. On the night in question, however,
Latham's reaction was more instinctive than mindful and was definitely humourless and aggressive.

This is a pattern with him, apparently. He behaves violently, then spins (and laughs) it off later in the telling.

Typical pub drunk really. Totally bonkers.