First up, please note the threads below this one dealing with state politics in South Australia and New South Wales.
The BludgerTrack poll aggregate continues to inch in the Coalition’s direction with the addition of the Essential Research poll, the only one published this week. Whereas Labor finished 2018 with a lead of 54.4-45.6, the latest result has it at 53.1-46.9, which is a 0.4% shift compared with a week ago. However, this only makes one seat’s difference on the seat projection, with a projected gain for the Coalition in New South Wales. No new results for the leadership ratings this week.
Full results are available through the link below. There is a bit of bug here that often stops the state breakdowns from loading when you click on the tabs – I will get around to fixing this one day, but for the time being, it should work if you do a hard refresh.
The Coalition don’t deserve incremental improvement.
They deserve a monumental loss!
More National Enquirer blackmail bombshells predicted after alleged Bezos extortion bid massively backfires
The major scandal brewing around the National Enquirer’s apparent attempt to blackmail Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos may be about to get even more explosive.
A source described as “familiar with the National Enquirer’s operation” tells CNN’s Oliver Darcy that Bezos’ decision to go public with the Enquirer’s failed extortion bid is going to embolden more people who have been targeted by the publication in the past to come forward.
So far, New Yorker reporter Ronan Farrow, as well as MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, have all accused the National Enquirer of trying to blackmail them by vowing to publish damaging stories about them unless they agreed to their demands.
Scarborough and Brzezinski went so far as to accuse President Donald Trump of urging the Enquirer to threaten to publish information about their relationship unless they gave him more positive coverage, although the president denied these allegations.
Trump is a longtime ally of David Pecker, the CEO of National Enquirer parent company American Media Inc., who for years ran “catch-and-kill” operations to stop damaging stories from being published about the president.
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/02/national-enquirer-blackmail-bombshells-predicted-failed-bezos-extortion-bid-massively-backfires/
‘Trump is hated by everyone in the White House’ and burnt out staff are scrambling for the exit: report
According to a report in Vanity Fair, White House staffers working for President Donald Trump put on a happy face after his State of the Union address, but privately are miserable and looking to exit.
“Trump is hated by everyone inside the White House,” one former White House official confided.
According to the report, “His shambolic management style, paranoia, and pattern of blaming staff for problems of his own making have left senior White House officials burned out and resentful.
“It’s total misery. People feel trapped,” a former official said. “Trump always needs someone to blame.”
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/02/trump-hated-everyone-white-house-burnt-staff-scrambling-exit-report/
Who can you trust?
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2019/02/08/mafs-experts-match-making/?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Saturday%20News%20-%2020190209
NB. I do not watch MAFS, I only read the crits.
Nancy Pelosi is a brilliant political tactician. She knows how to identify a political opponent’s Achilles Heel and then to kick it with her stilettos until they lie bloody and bowed on the floor.
She has obviously, therefore, observed the signs at Donald Trump rallies saying,
‘Promises Made. Promises Kept’
So she seems to have determined that she will do her best to make Donald Trump seem like a weak shonk every time he tries to campaign in front of his base from now until the 2020 election because he won’t have been able to keep the biggest promise. The Wall. 🙂
lizzie
Saturday, February 9th, 2019 – 7:24 am
Comment #4
A clever ploy to entice innocent people, minding their own business, to satisfy curiosity (what the ….. is a MAFS).
Now I know and consider myself a much better person for the knowledge.
Thank you. Thank you ⏩⏩⏩ Thank you ⁉
Kettle — ☕
Good morning Dawn Patrollers.
Wow! Today’s MUST READ is Jack Waterford’s contribution in which he points the finger squarely at Coalition governments since 2013 for much of the badness exposed by the banking royal commission.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/missing-ministerial-chapters-on-bank-rorts-20190208-p50whi.html
In similar vein Peter Hartcher writes about the exquisite irony of pollies condemning bankers.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/the-exquisite-irony-of-pollies-condemning-bankers-20190208-p50wht.html
And John Wren looks at corruption within the LNP, not just among individuals but also how the Banking Royal Commission was affected.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/wrens-week-corruption-rife-within-the-liberal-party,12355
Paul Bongiorno declares that we have entered the beginning of the end game.
https://www.outline.com/EwuV4k
The Reserve Bank has cut key economic forecasts as risks to the Australian and global economies increase and the odds of an interest rate cut rise, threatening the outlook of Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s first budget.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/reserve-bank-cuts-forecasts-as-fears-grow-over-housing-20190208-p50wiu.html
The RBA is becoming more anxious that an accelerating property market downturn could derail household spending and business investment just as risks from a global slowdown are on the rise.
https://www.outline.com/7AUc7a
The Australian does the government’s bidding again as it says taxpayers face a bill of at least $1.4bn to reopen the Christmas Island detention centre under a Labor-backed plan.
https://www.outline.com/6ZUNAn
Mike Seccombe says that the Phelps fight reveals the Morrison government’s Nauru deceit.
https://www.outline.com/d4T6Ky
An article that was recently published in The Australian has unfairly criticised campaign organisation GetUp!, writes Dr Steven Hail.
https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/getup-and-bank-australia-the-advance-australia-hatchet-job-in-the-australian,12354
Paula Matthewson says that even by the Coalition’s stumblebum standards, this was a bad week.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2019/02/08/stupid-acts-committed-coalition-politicians/
Laura Tingle says that with the banking royal commission and boats it’s going to be a wild few weeks in Canberra.
https://www.outline.com/fsucbw
NSW Labor says a decision by the Land and Environment Court to factor in the impacts of climate change when considering whether to approve a coal mine was “potentially extremely important” for future planning.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/dire-consequences-court-s-mine-rejection-sets-a-climate-precedent-20190208-p50wmv.html
Michael Koziol goes on the road with Tim Wilson’s sham inquiry.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/this-is-a-sham-chaotic-scenes-as-man-ejected-from-tim-wilson-s-franking-credits-inquiry-20190208-p50wil.html
Julia Baird proposes a different sort of MP quota – one for mediocre men!
https://www.smh.com.au/national/it-s-time-for-quotas-for-mediocre-men-20190208-p50wjy.html
Ross Gittins pooh poohs the calls for an interest rate cut. He says the biggest risk we face is talking ourselves into a downturn – for no better reason than it would be something new to talk about.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/the-economy-isn-t-in-trouble-but-let-s-cut-interest-rates-anyway-20190208-p50wio.html
Daniel Moss explains why Australia’s economy is not a freak of nature.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/why-australia-s-economy-is-not-a-freak-of-nature-20190208-p50wfs.html
Kevin Rudd reminds us of the good Ken Henry did before going to the NAB. It really is worth reading in full.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/before-ken-henry-is-crucified-remember-the-good-he-did-20190208-p50whn.html
Karen Middleton writes that in the wake of the Hayne royal commission, the big banks’ share prices rose, raising questions of how much the culture of greed is threatened by its recommendations.
https://www.outline.com/h64xWV
The AFR goes inside the horror week of the NAB.
https://www.outline.com/bgrwkA
Jess Irvine explains the rise and fall of Ken Henry and how the smartest guy in the room came undone.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/the-rise-and-fall-of-ken-henry-how-the-smartest-guy-in-the-room-came-undone-20190208-p50wj8.html
Ros Meyer says that vertical integration will keep the banks growing and gouging.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/finance-news/2019/02/08/how-vertical-integration-survives/
Ebony Bennett opines that it’s time to rein in CEO pay to curtail the banks’ culture of greed.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/it-s-time-to-rein-in-ceo-pay-to-curtail-banks-culture-of-greed-20190208-p50wkd.html
Elizabeth Knight wonders if, following years of addiction to profits, banks can actually change their culture.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/addicted-to-profits-can-banks-change-their-culture-20190208-p50wis.html
Mortgage brokers cracked open the bank monopoly in the 1980s and then went on a three decade tear. Kenneth Hayne threatens to ruin the party.
https://www.outline.com/LBz92n
Paul Kelly writes that we should expect a long term fallout from the banking royal commission report.
https://www.outline.com/vsWkcL
Ben Butler reports that Hayne discussed criminal prosecutions of AMP, CBA and NAB with the corporate regulator.
https://www.outline.com/3XYfya
Eryk Bagshaw writes that Labor has referred Tim Wilson to police over claims he shared voter details with a fund manager.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/labor-refers-tim-wilson-to-police-over-claims-he-shared-voter-details-with-fund-manager-20190208-p50wk6.html
Paul Karp also writes about the fact that the fund manager Geoff Wilson has admitted to part-funding the website through which the Liberal MP Tim Wilson has coordinated opposition to Labor’s franking credit policy, while chairing an inquiry into it.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/feb/08/labor-asks-afp-to-investigate-tim-wilson-over-electoral-roll-information
Michael Pascoe has a confession to make: For a quarter of a century it was his job to provide daily financial market reports of one kind or another. Like all other daily financial markets reports, they were mostly rubbish, he says.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/2019/02/08/michael-pascoe-noise/
The resignation of Greens stalwart Alex Bhathal has again shone a spotlight on the party’s infighting and dysfunction.
https://www.outline.com/LeyKFA
Are former PM John Howard’s ill-gotten Kyoto credits about to be played out again? Experts ridicule PM Morrison’s claim that his government will meet its Paris target “in a canter”. Will he resort to the poisoned chalice of Howard’s land clearing fiddle and risk global condemnation? Sandi Keane takes us back to Howard’s 1997 Kyoto conjuring trick to remind the punters how they were conned.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/is-howards-kyoto-con-trick-about-to-be-played-out-again/
A sophisticated attack on the federal parliament’s computer network could be motivated to acquire “dirt” on an MP or staffer or influence political processes in the lead up to the national election, according to a cyber-security expert.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2019/02/08/china-link-cyber-attack-parliament/
David Crowe reports that migrants will have their visas cancelled if they leave designated areas under one of the first stages of the government’s $19 million population package. What could possibly go wrong?
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/migrants-face-deportation-if-they-move-under-population-control-visas-20190208-p50wkz.html
The Queensland government has announced an inquiry into the historic flooding in Townsville, as evidence mounts that local authorities failed to anticipate the extreme nature of the recent record rainfall. Up to 300000 cattle are thought to have died.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/08/townsville-flood-queensland-announces-inquiry-as-up-to-300000-cattle-die
AGL investors are paying the price as the country’s highest-profile utility tries to balance its profits with government pressure to cut power prices.
https://www.outline.com/JkAbXU
Clementine Ford writes about the demise of independent media.
https://www.outline.com/TKeJDP
A former New South Wales judge has warned that prosecutors are so hesitant to take on corruption cases they should not be relied upon by a federal integrity commission to take criminal proceedings to court. He says the DPP is more concerned with ‘end-of-year statistics’ and avoids complex cases.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/feb/08/prosecutors-reluctant-to-take-corruption-cases-to-court-says-former-icac-chief
Lawyer Josh Bornstein explains how the law is lagging the immense power of the world’s largest oligopolies to plunder our privacy and shape our lives.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/in-this-age-of-surveillance-capitalism-the-law-is-left-for-dust-20190208-p50wh7.html
Michaela Whitbourn reports that Margaret Cunneen will be acting for the defence in the upcoming marathon Obeid, Macdonald trial.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/margaret-cunneen-to-act-for-defence-in-marathon-obeid-macdonald-trial-20190208-p50wlu.html
Health researcher Dr Sebastian Rosenberg writes that the latest mental health productivity data reveals scale of reform that must lie ahead.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/latest-mental-health-productivity-data-reveals-scale-of-reform-ahead-20190208-p50wlz.html
The former Anglican archbishop Roger Herft spent almost half a million dollars for his legal representation before the child sexual abuse royal commission without proper authorisation from the diocese of Perth, which has not asked him to reimburse the money. At the hearings he came across as a real piece of work.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/08/anglican-archbishop-child-abuse-inquiry-legal-fees-authorisation
Elizabeth Farrelly warns that it’s only a matter of time until a high-rise disaster strikes again in Sydney. She makes some telling points on how things have changed with respect to safety standards and compliance.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/only-a-matter-of-time-until-high-rise-disaster-strikes-again-in-sydney-20190207-p50wbn.html
Architecture lecturer Geoff Hanmer says that cladding fire risks have been known for years. Lives depend on acting now, with no more delays.
https://theconversation.com/cladding-fire-risks-have-been-known-for-years-lives-depend-on-acting-now-with-no-more-delays-111186
The Age reports that Australia’s building ministers have agreed in principle to ban dangerous flammable cladding after a fire tore through a residential apartment building in Melbourne this week.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/it-strikes-at-your-soul-building-ministers-agree-to-flammable-cladding-ban-20190208-p50wna.html
Wendy Squires wonders why women’s nipples are still regarded as obscene.
https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/why-are-women-s-nipples-still-regarded-as-obscene-20190207-p50w75.html
Professor Mark Crosby writes that Frydenberg is wrong to support Ivanka and Donald Trump on the World Bank. It’d be better to let it die.
https://theconversation.com/frydenberg-is-wrong-to-support-ivanka-and-donald-trump-on-the-world-bank-itd-be-better-to-let-it-die-111434
A Victorian country cop helped spark an operation that led to the seizure of $1.3 billion worth of drugs in the US.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/record-1-3b-methamphetamine-haul-intercepted-by-australian-authorities-20190208-p50wfp.html
Peter FitzSimons on the role of alcohol in the NRL and he writes on Darren Weir’s fall from grace and the lack of action by the industry.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/booze-clues-barba-case-just-latest-round-involving-common-denominator-20190208-p50wnv.html
Kate Aubusson tells us how sexual harassment, bullying and a contempt for motherhood are driving aspiring female surgeons out of operating theatres. Some of these surgeons qualify for “Arseholes of the Week” nomination.
https://www.smh.com.au/healthcare/kill-myself-or-leave-female-surgeons-reveal-horrifying-conditions-20190208-p50wiy.html
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe and Tim Wilson’s crusade.
David Pope takes grossness to a new level here!
Alan Moir and the bankers.
A cracker form Mark David.
From Matt Golding.
https://static.ffx.io/images/$width_828/t_resize_width/q_86%2Cf_auto/152eb45517d367e0930f2d1b3a1c515a009642e9.j%5Bg
Andre Dyson and a political jigger.
Glen Le Lievre.
Sean Leahy and online funerals.
Jon Kudelka drops in on the political donations department.
https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/d8319e631a2aa96b73745a3c757276f4
From the US
It seems Libs are still trying to learn the lessons of the past 5 minutes before the starters gun.
The coalition should expect a similar outcome to Victoria where they came out with a late, poorly resourced flawed strategy for a flawed candidate, and the undecided went against them.
“Government MPs report the Liberal party’s federal director, Andrew Hirst, is making strides trying to bring the Coalition’s campaign machine into modernity, but they still feel a long way behind their opponents.
Coupled with the structural disadvantage created by Labor’s superior ground resources, there are also changes to voter behaviour, changes that are not particularly well examined, that increase the degree of difficulty in election seasons.”
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2019/feb/08/stand-by-for-liberal-fightback-as-labor-steals-march-in-marginals
This reminds me of a rich man stealing a man’s house by foreclosing on the mortgage and then throwing him a banknote as he passes him lying homeless in the street. And the Liberals trumpet their ‘kindness’.
https://www.outline.com/EwuV4k
Crikey BK —- WOW indeed.
I have had a look at the first item of your Dawn Patrol
I have to update my computer again but intend to devote considerable time today to try to find suitable postnominals for such luminaries as mentioned by Mr. J. Waterford.
Must read ❗ Indeed.
What a great start for the day.
Who knew that this bunch of disaffected, disgruntled, distasteful dreg of a collection of bumbling boors and buttwipes may have been actively engaged in bastardry – rather than accidently aiding and abetting ❓
I can’t access the crikey article nath refers to in the past thread, but I assume it makes the point that ‘the energy sector’ includes proponents of hydro, wind, solar, tidal, and geothermal power…
electionblogger2019.simplesite.com @ #2713 Friday, February 8th, 2019 – 8:56 pm
You haven’t offered anything other than confirmation of Milnes integrity given her evidence based approach to policy rather than ‘politics’.
BK
A huge amount of reading this morning. Thanks for a mighty effort. 🙂
I can’t say I disagree with him, I don’t think it would a positive for Thailand.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-09/thai-king-vetos-sisters-candidacy-for-prime-minister/10796288
This is really what Trump’s election win in 2016 was all about:
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/02/08/warnings-trumpism-forever-senate-gop-rams-through-44-lifetime-judges-one-day
Americans have lost any prospect of a fair and caring society for the foreseeable future.
We should be alert for any attempt to replicate he same ‘stacking’ here in Australia by the LNP.
LR
put me down for 52/48 with very crossed fingers that I’m wrong
LR
put me down for 52/48 with very crossed fingers I’m wrong
Whoops, sorry for double post…
So, all indications are that Bill Shorten is set to cave in and do a deal with Morrison/Dutton to freeze out doctors re their assessments of the tortured asylum seekers/refugees in Rudds offshore internment camps.
How can any decent Australian not be totally disgusted and outraged ..?
booleanbach @ #16 Saturday, February 9th, 2019 – 4:19 am
I can’t understand how people can be so enamoured with the American political system.
For me there there are so many abhorrent elements to it, just like this one.
‘Withdrawal’ from anti depressants includes depression…..
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/nausea-panic-tears-why-wasn-t-i-warned-about-antidepressant-comedown-20190207-p50w97.html
I’ve had a look at some of the threads which come up if you google ‘anti depressant withdrawal’. There’s an occasional exasperated “Of course I got depressed when I stopped taking the tablets, that’s what the tablets were for’ but mostly it’s comments along the lines of this article.
A very common one is along the lines of ‘I feel happy now! If only I could feel this way without being on medication…’ which reminds me of an anorexic who said that she looked at a photo of Karen Carpenter, taken a week before she died, and thought ‘I want to be that thin but not die.”
Barney in Go Dau @ #20 Saturday, February 9th, 2019 – 8:26 am
Citizens of the US and Australia should be totally ashamed themselves for the representatives chosen to manage our laws.
Rex Douglas @ #20 Saturday, February 9th, 2019 – 4:25 am
So we now have virtual disgust!
Disgust at something that may or may not happen.
😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
Rex Douglas is the fly on the wall, doncha know? He sees all, he hears all, he knows all!
😆
Barney in Go Dau @ #23 Saturday, February 9th, 2019 – 8:31 am
How will you feel is Shorten opts for the Morrison/Dutton position ?
C@tmomma @ #24 Saturday, February 9th, 2019 – 8:34 am
You’ll back Shorten either way, won’t you… ?
Rex Douglas @ #23 Saturday, February 9th, 2019 – 4:31 am
As usual you totally miss the point.
Did you a purity recharge recently?
If so I think they may have overdosed you.
Rex Douglas trawling for opinions about something that hasn’t even happened yet.
Disgraceful opportunism.
Rex Douglas @ #27 Saturday, February 9th, 2019 – 8:35 am
And you’ll hate him either way, won’t you? Just like Pegasus, nath and all the others who come here to slag him.
Barney in Go Dau @ #27 Saturday, February 9th, 2019 – 8:36 am
Is there a question there ?
Rex Douglas @ #26 Saturday, February 9th, 2019 – 4:35 am
If it happens, I will make a judgement when I know the details of what is being proposed.
Thanks BK for today’s mega edition! Jess Irvine captures my sentiments expressed the other day. Ken Henry’s stint as NAB chairperson is unfortunately going to be what people remember him for, not his stellar public service career.
Rex Douglas @ #31 Saturday, February 9th, 2019 – 4:38 am
No, more an observation!
I feel apprehensive that something will go wrong, too, but I’ve never been one to count my chickens before they’re hatched. Not a pessimist, just cautious.
@Clem
“Seriously, why do the likes of Andrew Earlwood bother? He says that being a democratic socialist makes me a disgrace. Well I wear that label as a badge of honour coming from a sell out like you mate! I do admire your strong advocacy of Grouper philosophy though. Keep fighting the good conservative fight.”
I was actually speculating whether you were a splitter, quitter or simply a loser. Thanks for clearing it up for me – you are just a dope.
Not once have I criticised you for being a socialist: my criticism of you has always been confined to your intolerance of the ‘impure’ non hardline socialists, social democrats and centralists within the labor movement.
Your Chamberlainesque obsession has blinded you to the truth that socialists, social democrats and centralists have always been part of the Labor Movement. For 130 years now the Labor Party has been the true organ for public progress – a place where socialists, social democrats and centralists come together to make common cause to do good work to advance the welfare of Australia’s people. Frack knows how you coped with that broad church in your time within the party. Now of course you don’t even bother. You call me, and every other ‘impure’ non-socialist, a ‘Grouper’, but comrade at least we are still members and activists. You are neither.
C@tmomma @ #29 Saturday, February 9th, 2019 – 8:37 am
Hate ? No. I reserve hate for a very special few.
I just think Shorten isn’t the ‘leader’ we need to repair our society and environment.
Morning all. Thanks BK. At the end of the week, it does look as though the cartoonists have it right. Despite all the investigating in the Bank RC the wagons are circled, nobody committing crimes has been named, and prosecutions have been referred to the very agencies identified as incapable of handling them. Those millions donated to Liberal (and Labor) were well spent. No wonder their share prices went up.
Andrew_Earlwood @ #35 Saturday, February 9th, 2019 – 8:42 am
It would be a lot easier if the Libs and Labor just got on with the obvious and divided into conservatives/Centrists/Social Democrats.
Interesting to reflect that the Chinese(?) hacking of Federal parliament happened within 48 hrs of this man being denied a visa. Coincidence?
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/billionaire-donor-huang-hits-back-saying-residency-cancellation-on-asio-fears-was-grotesquely-unfair-20190208-p50wm1.html
Dan G:
If you’re around, some further developments on how Bezos’ texts and pics came to the National Enquirier.
https://observer.com/2019/02/jeff-bezos-national-enquirer-spy-scandal/
Barney in Go Dau @ #24 Saturday, February 9th, 2019 – 8:31 am
Rex was at a tea party one day and disgraced himself by copulating with one of the pastries.
When asked what he thought he was doing he replied “I’m fucking discustard”.
Greensborough Growler @ #41 Saturday, February 9th, 2019 – 8:49 am
You’re a day early with your holy Sunday morning humour.
Confessions
There is one ‘government entity’ you can be sure has it. The NSA. They hoover everything up and have keys to pretty much everywhere. If anyone within the NSA did anything with them is another matter.
BK: “The Age reports that Australia’s building ministers have agreed in principle to ban dangerous flammable cladding after a fire tore through a residential apartment building in Melbourne this week.”
This surprised me. I thought they would have ‘agreed IMMEDIATELY to ban dangerous flammable cladding’ after the Grenfell fire. Why wait for a couple more fires before doing the right thing.
What is wrong with our politicians?
Well said, Kevin Rudd.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/before-ken-henry-is-crucified-remember-the-good-he-did-20190208-p50whn.html
Is this ‘dangerous flammable cladding’ being used on domestic housing? Whats its name?
poroti:
Perhaps, however Schindler surmises thus re the NSA:
And even if the NSA did hoover up that private data, what possible reason would they have for turning it over to a scandal rag like the Enquirer?
“It would be a lot easier if the Libs and Labor just got on with the obvious and divided into conservatives/Centrists/Social Democrats.”
Rex – You do realise that there would be no place in that breakdown for our Clem – as a hard boiled socialist he’s more obsessed with the ideological failings of social democrats (he doesn’t even think that is a thing) and centralists as he is with conservatives.
What’s new, Cat projecting her hatred.