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To be truthful, “sorry” is a word so hard to say

When you think there isn’t much to write about in politics, the system spews out an avalanche of year-ending scandals, policy decisions, election results and reports.

The year is approaching its final sunset before a new year reinvigorates us with good intentions. Some will reach fruition, and others will perish on the vine. “Sorry” will remain a challenging word.

1 For those who have followed the political career of former Prime Mister Scott Morrison, the knowledge that he was a first-class pathological liar, bible-thumping hypocrite, a devious long-winded speaker who gave the impression he knew everything about anything, and it would be clear to you. If it wasn’t, he would be happy to tell you.

He failed to achieve anything during his combative, disreputable, pathetic tenure as the worst, most destructive, totally corrupt and callously inhumane PM in living memory. People debate the purpose of his tenure, but we can be assured there wasn’t one.

Importantly, in addition to those characterisations, you would be aware of his incapacity to apologise for any error he made, regardless of its significance.

Such was the case when former high court justice Virginia Bell, whose detailed report was released last Friday said:

“We now have three new adjectives for the saga of Scott Morrison’s secret, multiple ministries: ‘unnecessary’, ‘exorbitant’, and ‘bizarre,’ she said in describing his break-glass-in-case-of-emergency powers.”

You can read Scott Morrison’s complete response to Bell’s report here but let me tell you that the word “sorry” doesn’t appear anywhere. Why? Because having the ability to admit that you are wrong is an absolute prerequisite to having the respect of your colleagues, and it’s a little late now. He would therefore be well advised to leave the parliament ASAP.

It’s not the weak who are unable to say sorry. It’s the strong and privileged.

2 In Victoria, Labor had a 6 per cent swing against it with a surge in support for the Greens and independents for a comfortable parliamentary majority. And on my reckoning, they will need to win 22 seats to gain government in four years’ time.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has announced he will resign as leader of the Victorian Liberals after successive massive defeats.

Daniel Andrews is the most dominant political figure of his time. Does anyone think I’m wrong?

 

 

3 On Facebook, Michael Brooke commented on my post for The AIMN; A view of Trump from Down Under:

“It’s never the man. It’s always who and what the man represents. Trump is an ulcer on the USA’s backside. John Lord, he’s absolutely as awful as you describe him, a festering sore, a pustule that is uniquely American – he is a symptom of a nation in decline, a failing empire, a once-democracy that has become a mere money-market. Demonising Trump is too easy: picking at America’s democratic scab is more to the point; one discovers, horrified, that the nation is a plutocracy; a nation ruled exclusively by the wealthy, either directly or indirectly, by subterfuge, only the wealthy rule.”

It’s hard to argue with that.

4 Stuart Robert’s in trouble, yet again. This time the:

“Nine newspapers have published leaked emails that suggest Mr Robert, a Queensland Liberal MP, secretly advised Synergy 360 in 2017 and 2018 and helped the company meet senior political figures.

Cabinet Minister Bill Shorten has ordered an urgent investigation into government contracts secured by a lobbying firm that allegedly has close links to former Coalition minister Stuart Robert, while using parliamentary privilege to warn against corruption.”

5 Ricky Pann posted on Facebook:

“Every time I hear delusional Greens say ‘Labor adopted our policies’ it reminds me of what a disappointing unrepresentative, arrogant rabble they are. The greens are a product of middle-class privilege & hollow rhetorical nonsense. It is why they will always stay on the fringe of governance as, like the Nationals, they are a brand that misrepresents their proper position.”

6 And I should keep Andrew Bolt on my list.

“I’ve never in history seen a Facebook post with purely laughs. No likes, no loves, just 500 laughs. Someone notify Andrew Bolt.” (David Fowles, Facebook).

 

 

My only thought on this nonsense is that Murdoch’s mainstream media will only ever print or say whatever is in its best interests. Then it might say something interesting and truthful.

7 It’s been going on for four years, so you must admire Guardian Australia; they don’t give up easily. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water had taken legal action to block it from accessing documents about an investigation into illegal land-clearing by Jam Land Pty Ltd. The shadow treasurer, Angus Taylor, and his brother Richard have an interest in the company.

Last month the Australian information commissioner ordered the release of 11 documents. Then a week ago:

“… the department took the unusual step of appealing against the commissioner’s lengthy ruling in the administrative appeals tribunal. The case is likely to be heard next year.”

It concerns:

“… the department’s site visits to the Monaro plains in late 2016 and early 2017 to inspect the damage to endangered native grasslands, which were sprayed with herbicide in late 2016.

The case has been controversial because Taylor sought meetings in 2017 with senior environment officials and the office of the then environment minister Josh Frydenberg about the laws that protected the grasslands while the investigation was under way.”

8 The 27th United Nations climate conference, COP27 drew to a close with fears it would end in total disaster:

“There appeared to be no momentum towards consensus.

Some countries were pushing to drop the ambition to keep global warming below 1.5 Celsius. Others said they would rather reach no agreement than accept such an outcome.

Before the meeting began, commentators had noted that because of the various crises distracting nations – wars, natural disasters, energy shortages – a “win” for COP27 might’ve been as simple as not backsliding from the ambitions set previously.”

On the subject of climate change. Think about this: If we fail to act and disaster results, then massive suffering will have been aggravated by stupidity.

9 A transference of votes started in the May 2022 federal election, and will continue. Anyone who follows political polling would know that the constituency of the conservative parties has always been older people. Every poll I have ever looked at proves it. It was always apparent to me that, at some time, these folks would pass on. At the same time, the left’s constituency has always been the 18-year-olds upwards. I’m surprised the LNP doesn’t realise that.

We must have the courage to ask our young that they should go beyond desire and aspiration and accomplish not the trivial but greatness. They should not allow the morality they inherited from good folk to be corrupted by the immorality and lies of evil minds.

My thought for the day

Sometimes I allow myself the indulgence of thinking I know a lot. Then I realise that in the totality of things, I know little. However, there are known facts in the world because science proves them.

 

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17 comments

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  1. Ross

    John Lord, “A first-class pathological liar, bible-thumping hypocrite, a devious long-winded speaker who gives the impression he knows everything about anything” is the basic job description of Liberal Party prime ministerial aspirants. A desire to achieve precisely nothing is also a trait highly sought after in Liberal party Prime Ministers. I give you the last four as ample evidence.

  2. pierre wilkinson

    and yet smirko has claimed that his governance was one of probity and success, to the acclaim of his parliamentary cohorts, proving once again that they have learned nothing

  3. wam

    I needed a warming giggle this morning, lord, the 100mls of icy rainwater made the top 4 inches of the pool cold.
    You know a lot, lord, as we all do, but we strive to know more. eg There are many reasons for russia to attack parts of ukraine to keep the yanks, frogs, huns and ities from her borders but stalingrad should have prevented the russians from doing such destructive things to the poipulation.
    It is unintentional but to put ‘should’ after ‘ask’ becomes ‘tell’ and the young no longer cop that from the old? ps in chasing Pann I came across: I think it was Ricky Pann who asked me for my top movie list. Here goes. My top 15 Movies 1 Citizen Kane 2 To Kill a Mocking Bird 3 Schindlers Ark 4 West Side Story 5 Midnight Cowboy 6 2001 A Space Odysey 7 A Clockwork Orange 8 Psycho 9 Dead Poets Society 10 Brokeback Mountain 11 12 Angry Men 12 Saving Private Ryan 13 On the Waterfront 14 A Streetcar Names Desire 15 Lord of the Rings These are septic films, did you not see the seven samurai, la dolce vita, rashomon(truth), stalingrad, wild strawberries, or zulu, rebecca, saturday night and sunday morning, billy eliot. the bridge on the river kwai, brief encounter(tear jerking), red shoes and my 2nd best ever lawrence of arabia or another 50 films not made in america(my top is ‘kapo’ a character forming film exposing jews and germans) Is ‘the rabbit proof fence’, romper stomper, gallipoli, strictly ballroom sunday too far away wake in fright or the castle not as good as any on your list?

  4. leefe

    It seems to be a thing for Lib and Nat pollies, this difficulty with saying a certain simple word.

  5. Lawriejay

    The only coherent creditable support for Morrison in the censure motion debate was the indefatigable Bob Katter?

  6. Phil Pryor

    S. Robber, a former minister for rent, needs extra investigation, for failing to succeed in criminal activity…disgusting plop…

  7. Florence Howarth

    One needs to recognise they are wrong before one can say sorry.

  8. Terence Mills

    I stand with Bridget Archer – how can those who know that what he did was wrong hide under the desk when it comes time for parliamentary action.

  9. GL

    Terence, we must never forget that the LNP are the past masters of sudden onset selective amnesia.

  10. totaram

    TM: a “Parliamentary action” that actually does nothing in real terms? No wonder the Dutton calls it a “stunt”. Maybe he has a point, without actually intending it?

  11. Michael Taylor

    From Samantha Maiden:

    BREAKING New medical evidence detailing the impact of a second trial on Brittany Higgins’ mental health is expected to result in the charge being dropped and the trial not proceeding.

    WTAF. 😲

  12. Terence Mills

    totaram

    A censure is an important act for a parliament to show it’s disapproval for the behaviour of a member of parliament – it is not meant to be punitive but it certainly has political and career consequences.

    Spudley calls it a stunt so he would probably prefer a public whipping or, being a former Qld copper, he would take the offender out the back and rough him up – some would say that we have moved beyond that sort of thing.

    We all know that Morrison didn’t break the law, he merely trashed conventions, the unwritten rules by which our society operates. It’s a bit like pissing in the shower, not illegal but to be discouraged and worthy of censure.

  13. Florence Howarth

    Thank you is another word Morrison finds hard to utter. Not so for our current PM, who goes out of his way to thank people.

  14. GL

    And now for something a bit off the wall –

  15. Albos Elbow

    There is no honour among thieves, liars and corrupt politicians.

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