I'd say part of the problem is that American's tend to put people in power based on their political beliefs (alliances) and support, more so than their experience / resume. The whole system seems a lot more politicised in America than Australia. Could be that our Justices are appointed by the GG (a politically neutral party) compared to the US who are appointed by the President (and generally who align with their political views).

The whole system in America seems more aligned with ensuring the President is surrounded by "yes" men/women than actually good governance.

Love a good Rusty rant.

Cheers Russ.

The left has completely lost the plot re Kavanaugh in the US. I knew they were already demented but this latest round of shenanigans proves they have completely broken with reality and forsaken any kind of moral fortitude. Can you imagine if the Right in Australia acted like such imbeciles? There would be riots on every street corner, mass demonstrations, hunger strikes, it would be total chaos and anarchy.

Who's Blindy?

Wow . You're so bitter . There's Blindy following a party and then there's idiots like you

Omg how amazing is Jacinta Adern! How incredible of her to juggle being a woman, a wife and mother while running the country! And how kind and compassionate was her offer to take a whopping 150 refugees from Manus! Can you imagine if Tony Abbott offered to resettle 150 refugees from a foreign country? Not a chance, those nasty conservatives would be too busy denying foreigners the right to buy property with their racist anti immigration platform grrrr..

Geez what's with all these foreign nannies lol?

Do we need to do a campaign like stop the boats?

-PB

I agree see exhibit A

but it was actually written in his decision to approve her visa which he's tried to keep hidden. Maybe it was still a little "easter egg" in case it was still found. 

Regardless, he's in a marginal seat and this sort of "extreme" (just for you rusty :kiss:) trolling is not going to play to well. Especially when the main thing that people are going to see is rich donors getting favours from him.

He, and people who agree/enjoy his work, openly like trolling whoever is to their left on the political spectrum. After all, whatever happens in his political career, he is entitled to a life-long pension. The arrogance is astounding but not surprising when you accept that most people are insufferable, self-interested c*nts. 

I honestly felt sick in the stomach the first time I read this. After all the nastiness against people truly in need...

Having worked in State Government for numerous years I see this as a common occurrence. As the old saying goes "it's not what you know, but who you know".

I've had to alter whole reports based on scientific rigour because of a Minister's personal preference (which was due to a powerful community member pressuring them). These reports were regularly audited by the EPA and green groups ... they never asked about these particular reports though.

Also found regularly that it is who yells the loudest is heard (i.e. the majority might be agreement with a decision so therefore don't speak up, but someone opposed to it is usually more vocal ... therefore Ministers more likely to bend to their will, than the silent majority).

Wow, and in other completely shocking news

Peter Dutton overruled Border Force advice when granting au pair's visa after AFL boss emailed his office

Updated 8 minutes ago

Peter Dutton overruled advice from a senior Australian Border Force (ABF) official when he allowed a French nanny to escape deportation after being lobbied by AFL boss Gillon McLachlan.

An email trail leaked by a whistleblower to Labor senator Kimberley Kitching shows Mr Dutton approved the release of 27-year-old Alexandra Deuwel despite being told there was detail "which does not support the Minister intervening".

Ms Deuwel arrived at Adelaide Airport on Emirates Airline Flight 440 on October 31, 2015, and was arrested by ABF officials after saying she intended to work, which was in breach of her visitor visa.

Officials cancelled her visa on the spot, deciding she was a "non-genuine visitor".

She told officials she intended working "voluntarily" for Adelaide pastoralists Callum and Skye Maclachlan at their Barossa Valley farm.

Emails reveal she told officials she would "receive free accommodation for three months in return for helping with this family's children, cooking and riding their horses".

"She stated that her main goal in coming to Australia is to [do] volunteer work. Client claimed she had made an appointment with the South Australian volunteer officer to seek volunteer work," a bureaucrat wrote.

"Client was given an opportunity to comment on why her visa should not be cancelled. In response she stated that she was doing volunteer work only for this family and was not being paid so her visa should not be cancelled."

Callum MacLachlan is the second-cousin of AFL boss Gillon McLachlan. They spell their surnames differently.

The pastoralist's father, Hugh MacLachlan, has donated $150,000 to the Liberal Party over the past 20 years.

AFL boss forwarded email about 'misunderstanding'

Representations were made by the AFL boss on behalf of his cousin to Mr Dutton's chief of staff Craig Maclachlan — no relation — to release Ms Deuwel, who was being held at the Adelaide Immigration Transit Accommodation, pending her deportation.

Gillon McLachlan's office forwarded to the Minister's chief of staff an email from Callum and Skye MacLachlan.

"There has clearly been a misunderstanding that she was intending to work for us when she is here to spend time with our family, as we consider her to be family," the couple wrote.

"We live in the Barossa Valley on farm and have four kids who will be devastated not to see her.

"A girl of outstanding character and integrity. She also made many friends in Adelaide and will spend time with them.

"What can we do to have this injustice resolved and have her tourist visa reinstated before she flies out tonight?"

Mr Dutton used his ministerial discretion to grant Ms Deuwel a visitor visa on November 1, 2015.

But this was not before the Minister had received form advice from senior ABF executives to the contrary.

Border Force Commander states detail 'does not support intervention'

Assistant Commissioner of Strategic Border Command Clive Murray advised that Ms Deuwel had been "previously counselled" in May 2015 about breaching her visa conditions "and there may be some financial liability to the [department] if the removal does not proceed as the airline has been formally served".

Ms Deuwel had last been in Australia on May 3 as a holder of a tourist visa, having worked for the MacLachlan family as an au pair in 2013 and 2014.

"SBC (Strategic Border Command) will be providing detail which does not support the Minister intervening," Assistant Commissioner Murray said.

Nevertheless, Mr Dutton intervened and granted Ms Deuwel a three-month visa — but with conditions.

"The Minister has also asked that, if he intervenes to grant a visa, that the client be very strongly counselled that they cannot work, even do volunteer or in-kind work, and that their visa would be liable for cancellation should they do so," a departmental bureaucrat wrote.

Documents released under Freedom of Information and marked 'Sensitive: Personal' dated November 1, 2015, show Mr Dutton wrote in relation to the case that "it would be in the public interest" to grant the woman a three-month tourist visa.

Mr Dutton said that his intervention was a "discretionary and humanitarian act" for someone with "ongoing needs" and that the decision was in the "interests of Australia as a humane and generous society".

Dutton says administrative process has been followed

The Minister this week said he received "hundreds" of representations on individual migration matters from members of the public, organisations, and other MPs.

"There are long-standing intervention powers provided to Ministers to consider and deal with these representations," Mr Dutton said.

"These powers were the same under the former Labor government.

"I consider cases on their merits. Any suggestions cases are determined on any other basis, including whether I knew the individual who referred the matter, is completely ridiculous.

"There is an administrative process to be followed and it has been followed in every instance."

Senator Kitching said the email trail showed the intervention was "anything but routine or all above board".

"This whole affair is as dodgy as it gets," she said.

"The Australian Border Force advised against the Minister intervening, and warned his intervention could have unknown financial consequences.

"Why did Dutton act against Border Force advice? Why did he expose the Australian taxpayer to this financial risk? Why did he put the integrity of his department and our borders at risk at the behest of a Liberal party donor?"

If one is in England, the mainstream media across a range of outlets is definitely  more progressive/left leaning than in Australia.

I felt like  I was well informed on Brexit.

You and I live in completely different worlds.

The Fairfax media is considerably right wing when it comes to industrial issues.

They have no end of resources:

1. To pour resources and provide maximum into the very rare occasions there is a corrupt union official.

2. They never elucidate the instances of right wing unions doing nothing for the membership.

3. Before the current laws had been changed, they provided plenty of bad press for unions who worked hard to improve conditions for members.

4. They've also provided scant coverage over the pernicious effects of the IPA/Liberal government changing laws so that federal public servants  can't demonstrate or protest  about unfair working conditions. Or that they can be, and have been, sacked for liking an article critical of the government on Facebook.

5.  They have also provided scant coverage of the Morrison Coalition govt's attempt to trial the Cashless Welfare Card or Indue Debit Card. This is  a heinous act, but has been given scant coverage anywhere in the media.

6.  They've provided scant coverage of the pernicious influence of the Institute Of Public Affairs in Australian politics.

7. They've committed few resources in Murdoch's meddling in Australian politics.

8. In terms of political instability and internal implosion, the Liberals under Abbott/Turnbull/Morrison have been constantly fracturing - the same as the Rudd/Gullard epoch in government in the ALP. The difference is Fairfax constantly attacked Labor's internal machinations taking precedence over many of the positive  ideological reforms like; the buildings in schools program, the insulation initiative to save power, the mooted emissions trading scheme,  the increased taxation on mining companies to pay their fair share of tax, and Rudd's inanity in insulating Australia from the GFC through paying money to private citizens to spend. In all this, Fairfax constantly questioned ALP stability over praising the positive intent and inherent value of the reforms. Meanwhile policyless Abbott was given an easy time by the Fairfax media.


The ABC:

1. On a personal level, Lee Sales, loves Turnbull (not Morrison). She gave Turnbull some very easy interviews when he was first elected as PM.

2. On a personal level, Lee Sales, was very frosty with ACTU leader, Sally McManus.

3. The 24 hour ABC news station constantly has right wing guests on panels, more than those left of centre. Yes David Marr, who is frequently  a panelist, is  left of centre, but it seems like the new Lib controlled ABC is restricting news content and making it more conservative than it was. IMO  it was a centrist media outlet. People I know  who've worked there in the past liked being criticised from both sides of politics -  they consider  it means they must be doing their jobs properly - being impartial and independent. 

I dare you.

Ok go.

-PB

It just goes to show how fucking nuts and crazy the left are doesnt it, that they would argue an organisation which is dominated entirely by leftists, socialists and liberals (small l) is too right wing.  But this just proves my earlier theory, that according to the left, even the centre is considered too right.

Dont you dare make me pull out the old google search..

These are guests, not presenters or journalists.  

Well I agree with Rusty that the media shitshow has been everywhere, at least where I’ve been looking.

Just on the abc, its interesting that the right will complain the ABC is too left wing, however if you go on Twitter or r/Australia which are leftist shit shows, they’re complaining that the ABC is too right wing, which was in full force during this weeks q&a ep.

I agree with what sakorny is saying on the abc.

What informs our unexpected new prime minister? A year hidden among the Pentecostal faithful gave me some insights

Prime minister Scott Morrison speaks during a cabinet meeting at Parliament House in Canberra, 28 August 2018.
‘To hear Morrison espouse his own faith associations is to be reminded of megachurch marketing techniques’ Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP
When Scott Morrison announces that he’s standing behind you, you might want to make sure his hands are empty.

It was only a week ago that then-treasurer Morrison was hugging Australia’s Liberal party then-PM Malcolm Turnbull at a media call and pledging allegiance to his embattled captain. Asked if he himself had any leadership ambitions, the member for Cook responded: “Me? This is my leader,” and embracing the man, “I’m ambitious for him.”

Turnbull had survived a leadership vote against rival Peter Dutton, 48-35. Less than a week later, Turnbull was finished and Morrison’s slimmer margin of 45-40 had seen off Dutton and he became PM.

Morrison’s established political character is thus. As immigration minister in the Abbott government he took to Australia’s brutal policies towards refugees and asylum-seekers with vim. In 2014, he was condemned for his “callous disregard” for detainees – video surfaced of him “directly threatening” those seeking sanctuary from fatal persecution elsewhere. As social services minister in 2015, he convinced the Greens to support an over $2bn cut to the pension in a welfare-shredding spree. He opposed marriage equality and refused to vote with the popular will after the resounding “yes” vote in the postal survey.

Morrison is a proud and public worshipper at the Horizon Church, which, like Hillsong, is Pentecostal
He is a neoliberal and as treasurer he has governed neoliberally. Wage growth in Australia is stagnant, underemployment is rife. One of his earliest speeches was to condemn welfare recipients as the “taxed nots”, yet the policy he was most committed to pursue was the $65bn tax cuts for corporate Australia, including $17bn for the banks – the banks that are now recommended for criminal charges, from a banking royal commission Morrison described as a “populist whinge”.

Australian politics: subscribe by email
Read more
Who is such a person to lead this country? Well, if his own propaganda’s to be believed, a very holy man. Morrison spoke of his “personal faith in Jesus Christ” in his 2008 maiden speech, in which he also thanked pastors Brian Houston and Leigh Cameron of what has been described as a “money machine”, the Hillsong Church, for their “great assistance” to him. Citing Houston as “a mentor”, Morrison is a proud and public worshipper at the Horizon Church, which, like Hillsong, is Pentecostal, and similarly an “American-style mega-church ... where the gospel of prosperity is preached in an auditorium that can accommodate over 1,000 evangelicals” as described in a 2012 profile of Morrison in the Monthly.

Drilling down into what constitutes the “prosperity doctrine” of these Protestant sects provides some context for neoliberal Jesusing, Scott Morrison-style. Walking away from materialism is something we humble Catholics understand as a “counsel of perfection” – Christ’s instruction in Matthew 19:21 is literally “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But the theology of megachurches like Morrison’s inverts these values. Here, the message is that earthly riches result as a recognition of God’s favour. It’s an apologia for wealth and privilege and delivered with some pomp – as I learned when I spent a year hidden in his mentor Houston’s Hillsong congregation.

Yes, in a collection of carefully chosen pastel outfits, I squatted among the Hillsong faithful for a year, researching a “Christian drag” act cabaret. To hear Morrison espouse his own faith associations is to be reminded of megachurch marketing techniques – the deliberately chosen, good-looking “greeters” deployed to lead the nervous and the lonely to their seats, rock stadium theatrics concurrent with a “collection plate” that took your credit card details, and hand-on-heart gestural sermonising of the prosperity doctrine’s seductive heresies. The biblical pretext cited for material wealth as a sanctification of a blessed elect was provided by bible passages like Joel 2:23-25 and Proverbs 3:10 that my own tradition reads in the precisely opposite way.

The idea was to parody my discoveries, but there’s little one can add to scripts that read “Speak your faith, start seeing miracles ... Owner of your first home! Best-selling author ... Businessman who is prosperous and fruitful! Speak it into being! Speak it into being! Speak it into being! Amen!” – which is authentic Hillsong, by the way. An arena-show marriage of God and mammon was affected with triumphal choruses, syncopated clapping, marching drums, and always – always – the exhortation to consider wealth as an earned blessing of niche piety, something within reach if more donations were handed over, more church-brand merchandise bought. At a service’s conclusion, business directories were handed out. The encouragement was strong that God’s favour should remain in-house.


Scott Morrison vows to move on from spill and make Australia 'even greater'
Read more
“You cannot serve both God and money,” said Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. “The best form of welfare is a job,” said Morrison as treasurer, when shown that his own 2015 budget punished the poor most of all.

Sure, it’s hypocritical, but hypocrisy underwrites the “new” political stability in Australia in many forms. Morrison memorialised his prime ministerial ascension – in the modern way – with a speech made to social media, captioned “I’m on your side”.

The political corpse of the last person to enjoy a similar pledge from Morrison is presently rolling down the Parliament House hill with multiple stab wounds. Australians have every right to analyse just what informs our unexpected – and unelected – new leader’s gall.


-PB

Go and have a gander at the panel.

-PB

Where are the Greens in any of that?

-PB

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-19/greens-slam-new-safe-schools-program-as-caving-in-to-right/8454646
The Tasmanian Greens have accused the Government of "caving to the extreme Right".
"[We have] a Liberal government here that's taking it's orders from hard-right senators like Eric Abetz," Ms O'Connor said.

Senator Eric Abetz takes swipe at Hobart City Council for its Australia ...

https://www.themercury.com.au/...abetz.../6fedba32cd7439c3c4b552ebaae119a6Jun 1, 2017 - Senator Eric Abetz says the Hobart City Council should deal with “the issues actually impacting ... “I don't care for his extreme right wing politics.
This is simple cultural warfare by the extreme right within the Liberals, and it's no surprise to see the likes of Andrew Nikolic and Andrew Hastie involved. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews nailed it when he said "I don’t think these extreme Liberals are actually offended by the structure of the
program, or the teachers who lead it. 

Abbott to the lunatic fringe: it's OK, I'm one of you - Crikey

https://www.crikey.com.au/2010/.../abbott-to-the-lunatic-fringe-its-ok-im-one-of-you/ Feb 4, 2010 - Tony Abbott's decision to meet Lord Monckton was contemptible -- but ... he has been hired to do: dog-whistle to the extreme right of the party.

If you're not going to read then there's no point discussing

Im sorry but bias exists within  all of us.  I can admit it exists within myself, I am prepared to admit that Sky and News Corp is right leaning.  I'm not gonna sit here and put up some pathetic sorry defense about how the Australian is perfectly balanced because analyses facts and uses statistics to supports its claims, its by and large right wing outlet as evidenced by its reader base and comments section (of which I am a frequent contributor).  The difference is, especially on SKy you will find left wing contributors who have regular appearance, if not host their own shows.  With ABC there is no right wing or conservative representation, a few pissy articles on immigration and population do not  prove there isnt a bias agianst consevatives, conscious or otherwise.

But if you want to be a head up your ass lefty who cannot even acknowledge fallibility and you have conquered the scourge of bias congratulations to you.

Ignorance is bliss.

Liberals Lurch To The Extreme Right Continues | Premier of Victoria

THAT WAS THE LITERAL HEADLINE !!!!  ON THE VICTORIA LABOR WEBSITE.  NOT FAR RIGHT, NOT HARD RIGHT, E X T R E M E RIGHT.

Mcjules : but but but but but but but but but but but but ....

True ... however perhaps someone else reading these comments with a similar mindset may think twice about their preconceived opinions. Unfortunately for too many ignorance is bliss ...

Corrected

Classic Gish Gallop :laugh:

Briefly:
1. Labor Premier claiming a lurch (indicating a direction) to the extreme right not that they're extreme right yet
2. Rudd called him the most extreme in relation to the other Liberal PMs. I don't think that's inaccurate.
3. John Roksam is an IPA goon and while strongly linked to the Liberal Party he's not a member of the government
4. The AFR article actually derides the use of extreme left and extreme right :laugh:
5. The quote was from the comment section, who takes that stuff seriously

Rusty, if you're going to link articles please read them first.

^^^ It probably is.