The post-budget poll flurry prompted much confusion, amid divergent headline figures from Newspoll and Ipsos (more on that from me in a paywalled Crikey article), but it has made no difference to the two-party preferred reading from BludgerTrack. What has changed is the seat projection, which is entirely down to the Queensland-only Galaxy poll, which has boosted the Coalition by 2.9% and three seats in that state. Labor also loses one of its two gains from a quirky result in Victoria last week.
The other notable movement this week is the upswing in Malcolm Turnbull’s personal ratings, as recorded by both Newspoll and Ipsos. Turnbull’s net approval reading on BludgerTrack is up 6.0% to minus 13.9%, returning him to around where he was at the time of the last election. Bill Shorten is more or less unchanged, and Turnbull’s improvement on preferred prime minister is a relatively modest 2.9%, putting his margin over Shorten at 11.5%. Full results from the link below:
Hmmm–
Meantime, western analysts and activists have also shown interest in the reports on MBS death, saying that the detention of women’s rights activists and the Saudi interior ministry’s warning against attempts to disrespect the religious rules about women indicate that reports on bin Salman’s death are likely true or he has no more control over his country’s political climate.
Kristian Ulrichsen, a Baker Institute fellow for the Middle East, has asked on his twitter page, “Is MBS still in charge? Has he lost control? Where is he?”
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13970230000675
Just a soupçon more:
“All the available information we had about Novichok before March this year suggested that it was by far the most lethal nerve agent ever produced, and we had assumed that even the tiniest drop would kill a person within minutes. However, after studying the movements of the Skripals after being poisoned, we have now revised our understanding, and we now believe that one of its primary effects is to generate in its victims a strong desire to go out for a beer followed by a pizza.”
http://www.theblogmire.com/scientists-revise-their-understanding-of-novichok/#comment-5451
Lovey:
Republicans in Congress have pretty much sat silent on everything Trump has done that cuts across their party’s previously espoused convictions: free trade, free speech, rule of law, respect for the military and veterans, patriotism and America-first rather than kow-towing to the interests and priorities of hostile nations. And on and on .
Only those Republicans retiring have had the courage to speak out against him. The party needs to have a long, hard look at itself.
The Coalition’s devotion to Coal exceeds their devotion to market capitalism. Who’d have thought it?
Good point. The Dictatoe Adolph Kipfler would have been right on to the “threat to our way of life”.
“Far-right activists who invaded mass would be charged with terrorism if Muslim, rector says”
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/may/21/far-right-activists-who-invaded-mass-would-be-charged-with-terrorism-if-muslim-rector-says
p
There are spuds and there are spuds.
ETU goes the way of all real conservationists: bought the Greens story, dumped the fact.
The article doesn’t mention if the Sydney archdiocese(?) had anything to say about the Gosford church invasion. One might think they would condemn the action but who knows – they seem more aligned with the Dutton view of the world. Similarly the ACL and Bernardi’s mob.
citizen
Sydney would be more ‘Inquisition’ fanboys.
J Edgar Tuber: scabby on the outside; blight rot on the inside.
https://www.google.com/search?q=image+of+potato+with+blight+rot&client=firefox-b&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=pnRvX168irEcJM%253A%252CPgbo3I1HVp0MAM%252C_&usg=__5mld5rRy_9rO22kcytj6iPbkhVY%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj75uGuzZbbAhWGybwKHdetA8UQ9QEINzAH#imgrc=pnRvX168irEcJM:
booleanbach @ #799 Monday, May 21st, 2018 – 8:14 pm
Wow!
I had not an inkling of this. I was aware of the supposed rogue drone but the idea od MBS being dead was not mentioned.
And what do Republicans in Congress make of these kinds of deals by Team Trump? Bill Maher was right: Trump is the ultimate mafia boss, using a legitimate front (the White House) to enrich the family. The more you scratch at the seams of these deals, the more murky shadiness is revealed. No wonder Capt Carnival Barker is going off his brain on twitter.
http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/will_bunch/trump-tower-kushner-saudis-uae-qatar-nader-20180520.html
booleanbach @ #800 Monday, May 21st, 2018 – 8:17 pm
What is ‘questionable blog site provides unsolicited, fact-free analysis’?
DTT
In denial, still.
You made stuff up about Flynn retracting his guilty plea. Still waiting for you to advise what your source was for this fake news.
You ignore the fact that the Internet Research Agency, Concord and the 13 Russians all work for PUTIN. None of this activity goes on in Russia without the say so of the FSB, GRU and PUTIN. Low level. Pfft. You are wilfuly ignorant. So what if the IRA is old news? Facts are facts. You are wrong. Have some class and concede as much.
Bla, bla, bla, Venezuala.
“NBC News reported in March that Mueller’s team has enough evidence and is considering charges accusing Russians, including Russian intelligence officials, of violating U.S. of statutes on conspiracy, election law and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.
Such an indictment would lay out the Russian scheme to hack the Democrats and leak embarrassing emails, much as his previous indictment of Russians exposed an alleged conspiracy to manipulate American social media.
That move would be important for two reasons. One, it would establish the crime at the heart of the matter, and make it easier to establish that Trump obstructed justice, if in fact there is evidence to prove that. Two, it would make it easier to charge any American who helped the Russians as a co-conspirator, even if they didn’t participate in the actual hacking and leaking.”
You have completely missed this vital point. Clearly you haven’t been following the Mueller investigation and expert analysis of the case Mueller is laying out very closely. Or rather you choose to ignore it.
“You also conveniently ignore the DoJ investigations and possible indictments of the FBI”
Where is your evidence for this? Again, more fanciful nonsense parroting Trump/Nunes/GOP talking points.
Vox’s reporting in the article is factual and sound. Point out to me where they have gone wrong.
More on the Prince, the King and the Royal Wannabes:
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/coup-saudi-dissident-prince-khaled-bin-farhan-urges-uncles-seize-power-mbs-1776042904
Her Madge had better keep an eye on the Duchess of Sussex, already.
Yes I’d be interested to see the reportage on this too.
a r
The fact remains that after their supposed poisoning by a “military grade” nerve agent they wandered about for quite some time. Not only wandering about but feeling well enough to tuck in to a pub meal.
DTT,
“possibility of the FBI having deliberately planted a spy in the Trump campaign”
Also curious as to where you read this rubbish.
Lol poroti. You can’t help yourself can you? Self flagellation. Like a dog returning to it’s own vomit.
Cameron
Hi there our uber USA Bludger, how da weather in Langley ? 😆
poroti
Lols. Haha. Na. South Eastern Perth metro. Not too far from the domestic airport. I have researched Trump/US politics/Trump campaign/TrumpRussia/Trump admin for two and a half years.
Cameron
So tell us uber US sycophant why were the Skripals able to wander about for hours after being poisoned by what was supposed to be one of the deadliest nerve agents known ? Not only wander about but feel well enough to tuck into a seafood meal a couple of hours after their poisoning ?
Poor Alan, things don’t sound like they’re going well for him! 🙂
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-21/wagner-alan-jones-defamation-court-trial-brisbane/9780586
poroti
But Google informs me that it’s currently 18 degrees in Langley, Virginia; heading for a sunny top of 27.
Where is this being reported?
It will be interesting how this now plays out.
It sounds like he’s ready to sing if the price is right.
But with the change in Government he may be returned anyway if they commute the death sentence to a custodial term.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/may/21/hitman-offers-to-return-to-malaysia-to-tell-full-story-of-killing
Confessions @ #824 Monday, May 21st, 2018 – 9:46 pm
Widely at the time it happened.
Oh FFS Cameron
In denial, still.
I thought I made it quite clear I withdrew the comment on the grounds of his only being charges with lying to an FBI agent. I know there is some other issues and Mueller has delayed sentencing.
No fella. I am not denying that they work for the Russian government. I rather laugh at the idea of Putin managing the minutiae. Does he supervise making the omelettes too? However Mueller finding out that a spy agency is well spying is hardly the stuff of legend. I think the office Intern could have found it out in an afternoon.
To be honest releasing this as a serious finding made Mueller look a little silly and desperate.
Now I realise that this might challenge your reasoning, but the point i was making was that it is not really to the benefit of the USA to unmask an obvious spy agency, since all that will happen is that a new but better campglaged one will emerge. Should be obvious but well better point it out!
Words fail me. You are a bloody disgrace. Obviously the rights of non US citizens matter not jot. Unspeakable arrogance verging on the positively evil.
Yadeda de da. Boring Boring. This might have had political clout in June 2017 and even up until December, but it is like last weeks milk – gone off.
Time baby time. If they want to get Trump they maybe should have moved a bit faster. Yes I know they want to wait for the democrat wave that will sweep the House etc but that is probably pie in the sky
Quite true. I do not follow the interminable minutiae and the he’s got stuff today, got it tomorrow, its coming, its coming . So is Godot.
I think this is the same doco that Judge ellis wants
http://www.newsweek.com/devin-nunes-has-plan-impeach-dojs-rod-rosenstein-and-fbis-chris-wray-880290
Criminal referral of Andrew McCabe
There is probably more coming from Nunes and the possible spy ring.
The Clinton email stuff is also going on – – This is boring too but still will happen.
The FISA abuse is till to be finalised.
Cameron @ #816 Monday, May 21st, 2018 – 9:22 pm
Cameron
Now I know that Langley has to recruit form the bottomm of the barrel but surely you are aware of the NYT article claiming that someone was paid to be a spy in the Trump camp? obviously it is yet to be proven but if true it will explode on the FBI big time.
poroti,
You’re telling the story. Please continue with your theory. Riveting.
poroti
‘So tell us uber US sycophant why were the Skripals able to wander about for hours after being poisoned by what was supposed to be one of the deadliest nerve agents known ? Not only wander about but feel well enough to tuck into a seafood meal a couple of hours after their poisoning ?’
I’m not sure that anyone has yet identified exactly when or where they were poisoned.
DTT,
I have already posted a NYT article debunking your (and Trump’s) nonsense.
F.B.I. Used Informant to Investigate Russia Ties to Campaign, Not to Spy, as Trump Claims
WASHINGTON — President Trump accused the F.B.I. on Friday, without evidence, of sending a spy to secretly infiltrate his 2016 campaign “for political purposes” even before the bureau had any inkling of the “phony Russia hoax.”
In fact, F.B.I. agents sent an informant to talk to two campaign advisers only after they received evidence that the pair had suspicious contacts linked to Russia during the campaign. The informant, an American academic who teaches in Britain, made contact late that summer with one campaign adviser, George Papadopoulos, according to people familiar with the matter. He also met repeatedly in the ensuing months with the other aide, Carter Page, who was also under F.B.I. scrutiny for his ties to Russia.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/18/us/politics/trump-fbi-informant-russia-investigation.html
Wow. Such a lovely compliment! Poroti and DTT both claiming I am an FBI agent posting on PB from Langley, Virginia! Many ROTFL’s!
daretotread. @ #827 Monday, May 21st, 2018 – 6:50 pm
So, you think it should have been finished by now, so they must stop now!!!
That really sums up much of your ramblings! 🙂
DTT,
Lols. What a load of drivel.
Cameron @ #832 Monday, May 21st, 2018 – 8:04 pm
DTT whined and complained when PBers attacked her for being a bot on a Russian troll farm, yet clearly can’t live up the standards she demands of others.
No surprises there.
DTT,
My point about you going off on a tangent about Venezuala, was exactly that, that you are struggling, and searching for a distraction from your pathetic ramblings.
Back to domestic matters and the focus on Guarantees at the Banking RC
It used to be that the Guarantee was handed to the Guarantor with the request that it be executed in the presence of an independent legal practitioner then returned to the bank along with a Solicitors Certificate signed by the Solicitor with that Certificate including that the full purport of the document had been explained and understood
The Guarantee and the Solicitors Certificate were recorded as the banks security
In the event any client did not accept the need for independent advice a Minute Book was maintained and an entry put in that book that the purport of the document had been fully explained, the client had refused independent advice and the 2 bank officers present signed the entry in the Minute Book
Further, every year a letter was sent to the Guarantor advising the document remained in full force and effect
The Guarantees were normally not limited in regards amount but, depending on the circumstances, I would advise that the amount of the Guarantee be limited but that it included the amount and interest and charges on the amount guaranteed
Any variation to the lending was subject to a letter of continuation from the Guarantor
Any default in the lending was immediately the subject of a letter to the Guarantor detailing the default
Complications included a Guarantor wishing to withdraw their support would result in the stopping of the Accounts – which was always a disaster for a raft of reasons including the capitalisation of interest in the stopped Accounts
It would appear something has gone dramatically astray with internal Banking standing orders over the past 20 years since I retired because the protocols around Guarantees were absolutely strict to evade the prospect of legal action against the bank – and the chances of success of any such action
What we hear today is symptomatic of the decay in banking protocols – protocols which protected the Guarantor and the bank
The issue not yet addressed – and my submission has covered this subject – is the Personal Covernant clauses in the mortgage document
There are no such provisions in mortgage documents in the USA for example so the only recourse to the second way out is via the property sale without any recourse to any other assets or undertakings
The PC Clause should be removed from mortgage documentation in Australia
It is the bank that says yes to the lending – and the responsibility is with the bank accordingly and on the basis which led the bank to give that approval in the first instance
To then rely on a PC Clause to recover that debt is not right because it places risk with the borrower not who approved the lending in the first instance
The PC Clause is the vehicle to bankrupt and attack all assets not just the asset the bank has a formal charge over
I trust the RC takes my submission on board – in regards this subject and the other subjects I have raised and which need similar consideration and formality to protect both the client and the bank – not just the bank
poroti @ #815 Monday, May 21st, 2018 – 9:19 pm
So? Everything comes down to dosage and mode and rate of exposure. Po-210 is fucking lethal too, if even the smallest fraction of a gram gets inside your body. But you’ll still remain functional for quite some time before your insides start to liquify due to radiation-induced apoptosis.
Point is, quickly killing a large-ish animal like a person is not easy. Even with military grade chemical weapons. To do that you need rapid exposure, to amounts far in excess of the agent’s LD50/LC50. A more modest exposure produces a more drawn out process. Even the deployment of a relatively large amount of nerve agent in a relatively enclosed space can easily produce far more injuries than outright fatalities.
Anyhow, as I assume you’re not privy to the intimate details regarding where, when, and how the victims were exposed to the nerve agent your skepticism appears to be pure, unfounded speculation. If you want to argue that the victims should have just keeled over dead, there are a bunch of details about their mode of exposure that you have to prove first.
Though one thing at least is clear. All those conspiracy theories that were floated about how the attack was a false-flag operation by the UK and that Skripal would therefore never be allowed to recover are now manifestly false.
zoomster @ #830 Monday, May 21st, 2018 – 10:00 pm
I have read they were poisoned at their home. No further details, but obviously before they went out.
How’s this Texas Govenor defending the school shooting there by talking about abortion, broken families and blaming video games. Good grief.
Three or four big guys run the NBN labour hire companies recruiting all sorts of qualified and unqualified contractors/ sub contractors etc.
Many are 457 visa workers who get paid to get the job signed off. No regard for the network or damage done to other customers. No quality control.
The companies generally are in the “no tax paid in Australia group”. The attitude is snouts in the trough, guzzle as much as you can and as quick as you can, because it cant last. Billions and billions and billions and its going nowhere.
Starting with Telstra selling its clapped out copper network, NBN is a disaster. The powers that be just hoping something gets invented to solve the mess.
This is Malcolm’s lie – copper is better, cheaper, sooner. He has cost us tens of billions of dollars and left an unfixable disaster. An RC into this will be the only way to stop the debt going past $B200. And NBN bosses already saying it will run at a loss forever.
These latest fibre to…. brain farts will be good for diverting attention only. Look over there!!! Nothing to see here. Money managers my ass.
Cameron @ #840 Monday, May 21st, 2018 – 8:22 pm
The Lt Governor did Door Control the day of. Give them a break. It’s hard work bending over to the NRA while simultaneously trying to appear contrite and empathetic to victims and their families.
poroti @ #819 Monday, May 21st, 2018 – 9:35 pm
So, tell us Russian sycophant, why haven’t you deigned to include in your commentary the fact, reported today, that the British government, since the Skripal incident, has learned a lot they didn’t know about the toxicity of Novochok? Most importantly, that they thought it was as deadly as they had previously been informed, but that actual, on the ground experience with it has led them to a new understanding of it. That is, it isn’t. Which is proven by the fact that both Sergei and Julia Skripal have survived and been subsequently discharged from hospital.
Mr Ed @ #841 Monday, May 21st, 2018 – 10:29 pm
Seems you have some good knowledge on this topic. I was not aware of the extent of the use of 457s or the ‘no tax paid in Australia’ aspect.
Labour Hire firms are a scourge.
DTT
If you’d been watching Maddow you’d know precisely what happens of Trump sacks Sessions or Rosenstein or anyone else in the succession in Justice.
She has neatly explained the entire scenario, and how it would not help Trump one iota because he cannot sack the entire system … and attempting to do so exactly mirrors what Nixon tried and it was what brought him undone in the long run.
Following the pronouncements of just the wowser element of media (and I use that word guardedly) does not get you answers to real questions of what is actually happening.
Maddow and her ilk might be slightly left of centre but they know what is legal or what is precedent in their own country, they understand the processes involved. Trump doesn’t understand process, he is a ‘crash through or ignore’ character. He also sees what is customary in dictatorships but appears not to realise his own country is not one of those.
Hard landing for him and the republicans when it happens.
And Nunes? Nunes is what is commonly termed ‘a clown’. Think Malcolm Roberts or some other One Nation tool.
From research undertaken at the IPA/Murdoch academy of Political BS:
Qanda has been very good tonight.
Ged Kearney on next week’s Qanda!