Day to Day Politics: Bolt, Abbott and Trump.
Saturday 15 October 2016
On October 12 2016 Andrew Bolt wrote these words for the Herald Sun. Notwithstanding the austerity of his thinking, I took umbrage at the implication, or suppositions he was making.
Take this for example:
”As for Obama, he proved even the totally unqualified could now become president if he represented the right victim group in this whining age of victimhood”.
Firstly he is implying that Obama was totally unqualified to become President. He does so without backing his opinion with substantive evidence. But it is the second implication that intrigues me or better still maddens me.
In typical Bolt fashion he clouds his opinion in the hue of racism, or at least leaves it open for the reader to interpret it so. Clearly to me he is suggesting that Obama belongs to a minority black cohort who are continually whining. Again without attaching any evidence.
There is not a mention of the proven fact that there was a Republican plot to obstruct President Obama before he even took office.
”If he was for it,” former Ohio Senator George Voinovich explained, ”we had to be against it”.
And so it went for 8 years. Republicans hated him with a vengeance. He only ever controlled both houses for a short period of 6 months. In spite of that he has done much good work for his country.
In office he has presented a calm dignity and unflappable demeanour that should be written about and copied by other leaders.
But back to Bolt
Firstly, it must be said that Andrew is a convicted racist and has been found to on many occasions lie in his writing, particularly on the environment. In addition he has been convicted of defaming a female magistrate. He wants the law changed so that in the future under the guise of free speech he will be able to vilify at his heart’s content. Indeed, the question needs to be asked ”what does he want to say that he can’t say now”
I have no doubt that he is paid extraordinary amounts of money to proliferate the pages of the Herald Sun with this sort of gutter journalism. Let us not forget what Justice Bromberg, said about Bolt’s use of language.
He said:
”His style and structure is highly suggestive and designed to excite. His style was ”not careful, precise or exact” and the language not moderate or temperate but often strong and emphatic”.
”There is a liberal use of sarcasm and mockery”.
”Language of that kind that has a heightened capacity to convey implications beyond the literal meaning of the words utilised. It is language, which invites the reader to not only read the lines, but to also read between the lines”.
We should also remember whilst we are on the subject of racism that during the London riots, of the not too distant past Bolt in one of his pieces used the word ”aped” to describe the copycat behaviour of some people. The use of the word was legitimate in that sense until you appreciate that he was talking about black West Indians, and then the word became racist. And there we have the clouded hue of racism again. Bolt went on to say that.
”But surely some of Trump’s beaten Republican rivals were better. Marco Rubio is a tyro talent and Ted Cruz deeply informed on foreign affairs”.
Tyro means novice, beginner or greenhorn. Again it’s difficult reading ‘’Bolt speak,’’ trying to understand exactly what he means by this statement.
He is like a modernist artist who asks you to interpret a painting so that it doesn’t matter what you think the artist will always be right. Art lovers will know what I mean by that.
Here are links to both candidates’ policies. You work it out.
Another headline that took my attention this week was this illuminating one of Tony Abbott’s opinion of Donald Trump. Surely it’s a headline no one would want to own.
”Tony Abbott says Donald Trump’s policies are ‘reasonable enough’ and his voters aren’t deplorable”.
An observation.
”Some countries make a habit of institutionalising mediocre minds”
When I read the article it occurred to me that whilst Abbott was critical of Trump’s behaviour with women, that Abbott himself, in this area, was not exactly Lilly white. And while the rest of the world, and politicians of all persuasions are outraged by Trumps policies and scandalous conduct, here we have the former Prime Minister of Australia more or less agreeing with the general thrust of his beliefs.
Remember these from Abbott’s past.
1 He referred to a woman Chairperson as ”Chairthing”.
2 He was accused of assaulting a woman at University, and was later acquitted. He was defended by a QC and the girl defended herself.
3 Another woman accuses him of throwing punches at her. And hitting either side of a wall she was standing against. He says it never happened but others corroborate her story.
And these views on women.
”The problem with the Australian practice of abortion is that an objectively grave matter has been reduced to a question of the mother’s convenience”.
”I think it would be folly to expect that women will ever dominate or even approach equal representation in a large number of areas simply because their aptitudes, abilities and interests are different for physiological reasons”.
”I think there does need to be give and take on both sides, and this idea that sex is kind of a woman’s right to absolutely withhold, just as the idea that sex is a man’s right to demand I think they are both they both need to be moderated, so to speak”.
”What the housewives of Australia need to understand as they do the ironing is that if they get it done commercially it’s going to go up in price and their own power bills when they switch the iron on are going to go up, every year”.
An observation.
”Be as humane as you possibly can”.
Why any politician would want to draw attention to oneself via an interview about Donald Trump beggars belief but we live in strange political times. And the three aforementioned can also described as a strange political animals.
My thought for the day.
”We see what we are thinking and feeling; seldom what we are looking at”.
22 comments
Login here Register here-
stove_pipe -
helvityni -
Clean livin -
oldWombat -
helvityni -
Jaquix -
Winston Smythe -
Jaquix -
Lance -
Jerry -
Terry2 -
Graeme Henchel -
helvityni -
required -
wam -
Möbius Ecko -
crypt0 -
Jerry -
Möbius Ecko -
Jexpat -
silkworm -
Michael Taylor
Return to home pageI would rather have a wolf than a wolf in sheeps clothing, regarding Obama. The man is smooth, but the government he has been at the apex of has done some terrible things against democracy.
We had Abbott, now Turnbull, those two put together, do not an Obama make, I’m envious of US for having a man like him as its leader.
When Bill Shorten once said something slightly critical of Trump, Turnbull had to chastise him. WOW !
As for Bolt, seeing him once on Insiders years ago, was once too often.
Only time I hear of Bolt is thru columns like this. I have never heard, nor seen this person, nor do I want to, based upon what I read about him.
My suggestion is to ignore him, after all, it seems he really is a nobody with a big unsavoury mouth!
”What the housewives of Australia need to understand as they do the ironing is that if they get it done commercially it’s going to go up in price and their own power bills when they switch the iron on are going to go up, every year”.
As abhorrent as it sounds there is a little hidden gem here that would argue against one of the lnp’s core mantras, privitisation – if you commercialise something it gets more expensive
What is it about this Lycra clad man that makes him obsess about ironing so much…do HIS women still practice is out-dated task from the past…???
Andrew Bolt is himself the epitome of whining victimhood.
Fundamentalism like Fanatic Religiousness or Black and White thinking is a symptom of flawed cowardly weak mean- spirited minds; unbalanced egos,chauvinism,racism and fear.All based on a hunger for power. Andrew Bolt, Steve Price, Gerrard Henderson and who could forget the horrible Stan Zemarnick. Doctor Phil has a great quote about people acting out their same bad behaviour time after time without ever trying to understand it;even though; they have been told, enlightened and informed time and again. Yet refuse to acknowledge it. To quote Dr Phil.”They do it because it’s working for them”. A perfect example of this behaviour is Sam Newman or a Tony Abbott. These people would rather ride it out; by crashing through like a petulant child; thereby causing untold damage than doing any type of self examination of what makes them tick. Sometimes I even agree with an Allan Jones on some issues. Yet; these type of people have sold their soul to the Capitalist mantra by joining in on The Conservative Club. All these types were lost sheep and probably still are. Though; they all hide behind the opaque wall of power, position, money, greed and glory. Many of these types just lack empathy.
Great article John!
Winston: Dr Phil is so right – and Pauline Hanson is another for whom “its working” for, big time.
Regarding Bolt’s salary ——-“I have no doubt he is paid extrordinary amounts ”
he let it be known ,once he was paid directly out of a New York -(Murdoch ) account .
Thus, is it fair to ask does he contribute a fair component of Tax deductions in line with Australian Tax Laws?
it would be interesting to know –because it would make a mockery of everything he has ever written
and if it was found out he was just a cash for comment sloppy opinion parrott echoing Ruperts every dark thought and whim and not contributing to a fairplay Australian tax system obligation .
just sayin’ .
Just watched Abbott come out of a meeting and being interviewed . His mid brow was so pushed down and it was very revealing, he is Super stressed .This man is on such a mission to claim Liberal leadership.No doubt that he still takes directions from John Howard and Alan Jones.
Initially I thought, One Nation in the Senate, so what, they can’t do much on their own. But then I learned that Pauline Hanson and her One Nation team had agreed to support Turnbull with his legislation to “protect” Victorian volunteer firefighters and the changes that have been made to the Fairwork Act. It also appears that One Nation will support the ABCC legislation when this comes before the Senate.
These events have quite alarmed me as Hanson hasn’t done this just to help out the coalition in the Senate : some sort of deal, some sort of trade off has been done . One of the prominent policies of One Nation concerns Islam, this extract from One Nation’s website:
“We will enact the following:
Call for an inquiry or Royal Commission to determine if Islam is a religion or political ideology
Stop further Muslim Immigration and the intake of Muslim refugees
Ban the Burqa and Niquab in public places
Driver’s licence cannot be obtained without showing the full face and having photo ID on driver’s licence
Surveillance cameras to be installed in all Mosques and schools. Mosques to be open to the public during all opening hours
No more mosques to be built until the inquiry is held
Oppose the introduction of Sharia Law
Investigate welfare payments paid to Muslims who may be in multiple marriages, having multiple children
Ban Halal certification. Halal certified food not to be provided in prisons or the armed services. Companies may comply for export but no monies must be paid ”
One Nation’s votes in the Senate come with a quid pro quo and we need to be very apprehensive about what the coalition may have promised particularly as Michaelia Cash has been ‘providing assistance’ to One Nation’s Senators – note the term “We Will Enact”.
Abbott and Trump are much the same
Both liars, deluded and mediocre brain
Both misogynists dicks with simplistic slogans
Both appealling to low IQ bogans
Both tapping the dark underbelly of race
Both devoid of empathy and lacking in grace
Both vindictive and threatening towards their foe
Both with no limit to how low they go
Both incompetent without any plan
Both like a schoolboy instead of a man
Both unable to think on their feet.
Both of them failures, hoist on conceit
Both ego bent whilst abusing their nation
Both destroying their parties for a generation.
Abbott and Trump two of same mind
Boorish buffoons who’ll find history unkind
G H, again, very good… 🙂
Terry 2, not a very good combo; Hansonites working for the Liberals. Anything can happen…beware of Michaelia….
the whole obama administration has been about nothing but war since he became president, and people here cheer him on..
spot on Helvityni
cash is a closet mirabella the rabbott’s ‘exception’ to his women can never be equal.
The difference between ‘opinion’ and ‘belief’ has had me at odds with rabbottians. Surely the rabbott (and many of his merry men like andrews???)has never had an opinion only a belief? Opinions are formed by evidence, thought and reason. Has anyone evidence that the rabbott has used that trinity?????
Swing against Libs in ACT election. Labor will hold on as the rout against the L-NP/LNP continues at the State and Territory level.
Of interest is the the ABC surreptitiously supporting the Libs by continuously calling the light rail proposal a tram.
GH … hate to be a nitpicker, but you missed one …
Both incredibly popular with large portions of their ignorant unthinking fellow citizens.
Who would think that the two in the pic at top of page could possibly be against SS marriage ?
Nothing on Trump. I just happened to check for News on Rupert Murdoch news offerings; The Daily Telegraph and The Herald Sun and wait for it….There’s nothing on Trump. Zero articles that is; at a reasonable scour. Though as we all know there is something on Trump on many other news outlets.So if you are looking for a conspiracy. Here it is in a nutshell. No doubt there was a decree from Rupert .”There be nothing on Trump”. Until you hear from me; Rupert that is. Living in interesting times.
Wrong Jerry. Trump has accused Clinton of being on performance enhancing drugs, coming out in the debate all pepped up and fading at the end. He wants a drug test before the next debate.
Bolt is deplorable, no doubt racist- and without doubt had racist intent. Having said that, there’s no denying a nub of truth in part of the statement.
Obama was in fact unqualified and too inexperienced for office. This contributed to his administration’s repeated political bungling and policy mistakes, along with its penchant for backhanding, backstabbing its own constituencies. All the while pandering to the right and handing out get out of jail free cards to nearly every bankster, fraudster, torturer and war criminal in the wake of the global financial crisis and the unconscionable invasion of Iraq.
This led quite on its own and quite predictably to the largest swing against any major political party in US history in 2010. A redistricting year, no less.
Partially, this reflected a failure to appreciate the expectations game. Candidate Obama made many promises and statements about policy that he had no intention of following through on. And when invitably he didn’t, he disillusioned his many of his supporters. Moreover, he repeatedly demonstrated a lack of understanding of elementary game theory as applied to negotiation and decisionmaking, earning the moninker of “captain cave in.”
Indeed, in some ways, Americans are fortunate that Republicans obstruction took the form of oppositional defiance, because at least twice he offered to gut Medicare and Social Security in the vain hope of some grand bargain with the most sociopathic elements of the Republican party.
Trump calling Hillary for a drug test is just a projection and deflection from his own drug taking. His constant sniffing during the second debate led many to suspect that he had been snorting coke just before.
I get that impression too, silky.